John Somerville - Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, MI

Professor: John Somerville

Department: English

College: Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, MI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENG101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

An arrogant professor who goes on tangents that take up entire class periods. Even if you go to him for help, you will still get poor marks on essays.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENG104
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Somerville is an extremely nice and genuine man who seems to care about his students as individuals. He typically spent half the class telling entertaining stories about his experiences, which wasn't necessarily bad, but I wanted to hear more of his insights about the literature we were studying. Going to his office definitely helps.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENG102
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He goes of on tangents A TON. But he's hilarious. GO TO HIS OFFICE and you'll be okay, but do not plan to get great grades on your papers, even if you revise them a million times. But he gives better grades to people who go to his office and talk to him. Check out Overheard at Hillsdale if you want the humor without having to take him.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENG101
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Terrible professor. Focuses the entire class on writing but will still fail you. There's something he's looking for; if you don't have it, you're screwed. Because of him I switched schools and majors. Not the best Hillsdale has to offer

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENG104
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Extremely arrogant. All he does is tell stories about himself and his experience with zero regard to explaining the materials that are on his exams and papers. Yet he has no problem giving out D's (In his own words D's aren't that bad) to any student who cant regurgitate his exact ideas back to him. DO NOT TAKE IF YOU VALUE GRADES.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENG104
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Somerville's a genuinely wonderful person who cares about his students, but he's the toughest grader I've had, not unfairly, just very high standards for papers, perhaps too high. Perspective: most college classes view C+/B- as a median, but C's are his average. Hilarious/respected in class, but doesn't put much effort into analysing literature.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENG101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Has no regard for students' time. Had an air of arrogance about himself and his grading. Don't waste time in office hours. It won't improve your grades. I learned nothing. He goes off on tangents about his life and family (I don't pay $22,000 to learn about your family).

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENG101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Extremely difficult and barely discussed the class material. Hard to get office hours, and still got C's despite meeting with him. Writing was definitely the focus of the course, and literature got tagged ok at the end.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENG104
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He told a lot of stories that were not relevant whatsoever, but always funny!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENG101
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you take one, just one, of the excellent professors at Hillsdale College, this should be the one. Dr. Somerville will forever change you for the better, if you submit to the discipline and rigor you will need to do well. No other professor will ever take as much time, nor be as detailed, nor strive as tirelessly in their analysis of your work.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENG101
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Somerville is hands-down the best professor I have ever had. This class changed my life; it awakened me to language. Yes, he is a hard grader, but he is not an unreasonable grader. Rather, he holds students to very high standards. He is also the single sweetest human being you will meet in your life.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENG100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Not very helpful in office hours, no real in depth instruction in how to write and revise or any feedback on how you're doing or how to improve it, so just grades badly without improving your writing

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENG101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Somerville is very bright, hilarious, and a wonderful lecturer. However, his papers are nearly impossible to do very well on, though his tests are far less difficult. I would have loved to audit his class, but would never recommend him if you are not extremely confident in your writing.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENG360
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

My emotions are mixed and very strong toward the experience Somerville's class gave me. He was super interesting; he was impossibly difficult. I busted my butt on papers for him, even working with him on drafts, yet still received D's. Passing the class is an "accomplishment," having to take the class is a curse.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENG102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I am neither an English Major nor abnormally talented at writing, and I got an A in this class. It is absolutely possible, if the papers are started sooner than the night before and the readings completed. Dr. Somerville as a lecturer is insightful when on topic, hilarious when not. My writing has improved, as well--all around, highly recommended.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENG400
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very tough. As others have mentioned, you may not get an A no matter how much effort you put in. Still, he is excellent at teaching writing and at inspiring interest in, understanding of, and passion for the text. His lectures are sometimes tangential but great. If you are a math/science person who needs rigorous structure, you won't like him.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENG101
• 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:

Terrible teacher. His lectures having nothing to do with the material. I graduated five years ago and I still get upset thinking about the time I wasted in this class. There are plenty of other challenging courses to take at Hillsdale, with professors that actually teach the subject matter.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENG360
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

One of the toughest English profs at Hillsdale. His standards for papers are particularly challenging, but exams are more manageable. If you thoroughly prepare and pay attention to what he says in class you can do well. Lectures are very funny and interesting, although some might find his "digressions" annoying.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENG101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Freshmen can earn good grades on papers (I did). He will scrutinize your every word choice and comes down very hard on grammatical errors, but in the end you will find out whether or not you are a good writer. Lectures can get a little scatter-brained from time to time, but are always interesting and, when he gets around to it, insightfightful.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENG102
• 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:

You pay for the time you spend at Hillsdale. Don't waste your money.