John Rao - St. John's University - Staten Island, Staten Island, NY

Professor: John Rao

Department: History

College: St. John's University - Staten Island, Staten Island, NY

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIS1000C
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Just don't take. He is very kind hearted but your whole grade is based on 3 tests. My semester it was 2 because he kept having to cancel class. There isn't extra credit and his notes never seem to make sense ever. If you see him around he is always friendly but if you have him in class you'll probably fall asleep and fail.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIS1000C
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I feel so bad saying this... Dr. Rao is honestly such a nice man, he really is, but his class isn't good. He writes his notes on the board but they're always a bunch of words that don't really connect or make sense. Your entire grade is based on 3 tests. I don't recommend but he is a super sweet man if that helps.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIS1000C
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

There are only 3 Exams, but if you do bad on them, there's nothing you can do because he DOESN'T OFFER EXTRA CREDIT. He's long winded so he just talks for a straight 2 hours, which can put you to sleep if you didn't get enough sleep the night before. He sends class notes but sometimes they go to Junk mail so make sure you check it frequently.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIS1000C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Although very nice and respectful, YOU HAVE TO ATTEND CLASS!! if not you will be very lost on the exams. he send you the notes, DO THE STUDY GUIDE given at the beginning of the year!!! Do not doze off you will be very confused because he goes very fast!!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIS1000C
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Tests are a little difficult but overall not bad.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: 1000C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Too long-winded and boring. If you enjoy lecture-heavy classes and taking lots of notes, then you will enjoy this class. If not, then skip this class if you can. If not, then be prepared to bring a pillow to class.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: 132GRD
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

John Rao is an awesome professor; very insightful on European history in particular. Lectures are long--you may get lost if you have a hard time concentrating--but if you apply yourself you will get a good grade.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIS1050
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very knowledgeable but also very, very long winded. Speaks for the entire duration of class, and if you're not a history buff you'll probably lose interest. That being said, he is not a difficult professor and I do not regret taking him. Attendance not mandatory.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: GLOBALHISTORY
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Rao is a wonderful man and an even better mentor. If you like stories, and you have interest in your cultural heritage, you will LOVE his style. Do not miss class. He is chock-full of information, and extremely passionate about what he teaches. There are only 3 graded assignments: all tests. If you bomb one, it's not looking good.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIS1000C
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Rao loves to talk from start to finish, and does not interact with his students at all. He lectures the entire time, barely gives any notes, and his syllabus is useless. He's not an interesting person to listen to lecture about global history, and it is extremely easy to not pay attention in his class. I'm an A+ student and he gave me a D

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIS1000C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Study guides did not correlate with anything he teaches. Tests are hard.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST3301
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Rao is the best professor I have taken at St johns. All you have to worry about is three tests and going to class so in all honesty there isn't anything to complain about. Pay attention and you'll do fine.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIS3301
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Does not know his students. Does not care. Do not take. I am a 4.0 student and got a C- in his class. His lectures are gibberish and his tests are harder than the LSAT practically.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIS1001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The professor is very nice and willing to help. Make sure you go to class and take good notes. You don't need the textbook but make sure you study in advance for his tests. The class is challenging but then again, it is history.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIS1000
• 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:

This class is a straight lecture. It's really hard, so you need to be a good note taker. Personally, I struggled with this class because I did not understand his input on the topic.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST1000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is very nice, very funny. However, he is very long winded. Be prepared to take notes and pay attention! Don't buy the textbook, he never uses it.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIS1000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Do not take Rao if you are not an attentive listener & good note taker -- I am both & did not adapt until about a third through the semester. Do not buy the textbook. Other than that, just do your best & you'll be fine. Dr. Rao is a very kind, funny, & intelligent professor. If you need help, just ask him after class. Use the study guide too!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He does not use the text book at all. DO NOT BUY THE BOOK. He is pretty boring but the tests arent that bad if you take good notes and actually come to class. The tests are true false matching and essay format...

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST2310
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

You MUST go to class,or know someone who does and takes really good notes. No papers, just 3 exams, and no attendance policy, and no book. Trick is, he's boring and he cant help it, he runs off on tangents with "that reminds me of the time..." but if you write down everything he says and memorize names and events you'll do well.He is a fair grader.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST2290
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

boring but easy to pass if u study the notes