Jean Desaix - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC

Professor: Jean Desaix

Department: Science

College: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIOL390
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

The class had really cool speakers, was very helpful for pre med majors. She's very nice when visiting office hours and over email

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO101
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Many people don't like her class cause she doesn't use PowerPoint that often. However, she still uses pictures and diagrams in class that are helpful. Read your notes 2-3 times before the test and you'll be fine

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIOL101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Seems like a very nice lady but would NOT recommend taking a class with her. (freshman year especially) I went to SI sessions and TA office hours every week and still had the hardest time with the class. Test questions very confusing. Not a good experience. Was my first bio class here & honestly it scarred me lol

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO101H
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I took her hnrs section which was only 12 people. She is amazing at breaking things down in ways you can understand, but you need to meet her halfway by being an active participant (which is why I can certainly see why it might be frustrating to have her in a large lecture). She wants you to succeed and to think critically!! Made me love biology.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIOL101
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class was hard for me because 1. As a first-year, I didn't have a way to study for this class. 2. I went to all of her lectures, countless office hours, and outside study sessions and still managed to fail. 3. Her tests are 92% of the grade (they're 40 questions multiple choice and it sucks). Don't take if you did not take AP or IB Biology.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIOL101
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Her class was very demanding and on top of that she is not the best teacher so it was more of a teach yourself the material and hope to pass class. The test are definitely application problems and not just memorization so make sure to do homework and practice problems after each chapter.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

She's definitely not an easy professor but I can tell you that the negative comments on here are from people not willing to put the work in. She is BRILLIANT. She is so interesting and knowledgeable and definitely a gem in the Bio department

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIOL101
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Funny lady, but not a very good instructor. Her tests are HARD, and they count for 92% of your grade. There's homework for every class, but it essentially counts for nothing (6% of grade). Study hard for tests, especially notes on her lectures.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO101
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Tells a lot of side stories and then tests you on them, so if you aren't in class to hear them then you're not going to know the answer on the test. Tests are also pretty hard, she tries to make students make abstract connections on tests that she doesn't teach in class.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO101
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

A very nice professor! However, her teaching and class organization is appalling. Very hard tests and very little to be done in regard to improving grades. It's hard to teach yourself an entire class. WOULD NOT recommend. Take HOGAN instead 10/10!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO101
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

nice lady but lectures are not good or helpful, you have to teach everything to yourself which is very difficult in biology

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIOL101
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I would definitely recommend not taking BIOL101 with desaix. She purposely makes her tests worth 90% of your final grade including your final exam. The material overall is not difficult and is easy to understand but she makes her tests hard. Her test questions focus on specific details of the material and manages to have murky/tricky test answers.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO101
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Class will destroy your GPA for no reason. You can try to read and study but, it will do you no good. Don't do this to yourself.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

"Crazy J Desaix..." If you can take this class with ANY other professor, then do it. She is by far the worst biology professor there is at UNC. The information for bio 101 isn't hard, but her questions are unnecessarily complicated and ridiculous. Also, you won't learn anything in class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIOL101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Worst class I've taken. Tests are 90% of the grade and attendance barely counts for anything. Tons of homework on MasteringBiology (not hard but doesn't weigh much into grade). I personally don't like huge classes like this one, but had no other choice but to take it. Lecture is pointless & she's just not the greatest teacher if I'm being honest.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

There is online homework before every class which isn't too bad, There are also in class activities which help your grade. The tests can be confusing. It's not always clear what she's asking, kinda based on how good you are at guessing on multiple choice to be honest.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The class is taught in a flipped classroom style which is not helpful at all for an entry level class. There is hardly any teaching. She is intentionally vague. Her tests are extremely hard - she is known in the department for giving the hardest tests. I started doing well when I decided to skip class and study on my own instead. Avoid if you can.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Desaix is without a doubt the worst professor at UNC. Her lectures are horrible (she doesn't teach. At all. Instead, she flips the classroom constantly), and to pass you must memorize the entire textbook. Her tests aren't conceptually hard, but the questions are written to intentionally confuse students. If you can take bio with another prof, do.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO101
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

By far the worst professor at UNC-Chapel Hill, It doesn't help that she's also the department chair (which equates to job security). If you can, take Hogan's class, so much better than this class. You will have to teach yourself. Her lectures are long, and filled with personal stories. In the end, a third of her class fails every semester.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIOL101
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

De Saix was one of the worst professors I have ever had in my life. She offers little to no help to her students and doesn't care if they do well on their exams. Her class is basically you teaching yourself an entire semester's worth of biology. Take it with someone else if you can. Her only advice to me ever was I 'overprepared' for her exam...???