James Cutting - Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Professor: James Cutting

Department: Psychology

College: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH2050
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I didn't read the textbooks, just did my best to memorize the glossary terms from the assigned readings. I took extremely detailed notes of everything he SAYS. Memorize everything you can. His delivery of the lecture was most important. I learned a lot in this class and appreciate Prof Cutting's dedication and passion for these topics :D

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH2050
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Lectures and textbook cover different material with some overlap, and you have to study both for exams. In-class pop "essays" (really just a 2-3 sentence response to a basic question) count for 10%, top two exam scores (out of 2 prelims and the final) each count for 45%. Exams are short answer and require lots of memorization.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH2050
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

His lecture slides by themselves are not too helpful. The real stuff happens in the professor's delivery in class. So attending lecture is key. If you make it, the lectures are fascinating and well-delivered; if you don't, well, good luck trying to infer the content from pictures and random terms. (When I tried that, it didn't go well.)

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH2500
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Knowledgable professor but he cannot communicate information clearly to students. Powerpoint slides are not very helpful. Prelims draw from pure memorization of random definitions.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH2050
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

At the very first lecture, Professor Cutting states that while he knows everyone here are at the top of their game in their respective high school classes, he is here to separate the very best from the best. And he does this by making his notes extremely disorganized and exams ridiculously hard. Knowledgeable professor but horrible teacher.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH2050
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Yes the tests are really hard, but this class is very fair overall. Best formula to get an A: GO to lecture, write down about half of what he says, learn the bold terms in the book, and study hard for tests. Cutting is a masterful lecturer, very intelligent and knowledgeable. Boring every once in a while but usually fascinating, original material.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH2050
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

An incredibly thorough, clear, and well-organized teacher. Exams were detailed, but very fair. He also let the entire class know outright that lecture material and text readings would be distinct from one another, but that both would be covered on prelims. Hands-down one of the most competent people I've learned something from at Cornell.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH2050
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

The subject matter is interesting, but his exams are really hard - you need to know every little detail, even obscure book definitions that have never been discussed in class! But it's clear he's an expert in what he's talking about, and has many different interests. He's a true intellect, and extremely helpful during office hours. Great guy

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH2050
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Professor Cutting is an absolute genius and his lectures are fascinating. He talks a lot about art and is a very engaging lecturer overall. His exams are difficult, but if you attend lecture, read the book, and study a lot, you CAN get an A. Definitely recommend.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH205
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Examinations are a bomb, but if you study you can pass. Very good lecturer and very good prof. overall.Very profesional.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH205
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

This class is hard. You have to be on top of everything and I mean every litte detail. I recommend taking this class if you have a easy course load. If not don't stress yourself out--Cornell is stressful already.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH205
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Very Hard

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH205
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Prof. Cutting is my advisor. Class was decently hard. The tests were very hard because they involved very detailed memorization of truck-load of material. If you have a very good photographic memory of every page of text and lecture then you are garanteed to get an A or better in class. Last minute cramming will definitely not cut. Highly curved!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH205
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Never had a more competent and organized professor. He takes information from a wide range of disciplines and condenses it into these really impressive lectures. It's not easy to get an A, but it's worth it. I learned a lot. Not much reading. Show up, take good notes, and you'll do well. Don't take the optional final!!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH205
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

HARDEST CLASS EVER!!! Don't subject yourself to it unless you like getting Cs.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH205
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Tests are very very hard but material is interesting. Not good to take as a distribution but good but overall it was a decent course

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: 205
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

very enthusiastic, knowledgeable, great use of powerpoint

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH205
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

very clear, knowledgable professor. Difficult exams, but absolutely possible to get good grades if you go to lectures and keep up with the stuff. PSYCH 205 was a really really fun class.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH205
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He shines with brilliance and his enthusiasm for the material. Tests are super hard. But I loved the lectures. Seldom have I looked forward so much to going to class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH205
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Really enjoys the subject. His presentations are very clear, although his tests are really difficult (the curves are generous though). I would definitely reccommend taking a class with him.