John Ubels - Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI

Professor: John Ubels

Department: Science

College: Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO115
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Ubels is a very nice guy with some interesting lectures and he tries to make the content applicable. However, the tests are hard. They cover mostly lecture but he throws on 5-10 specific questions from the textbook which are difficult. If you don't pay attention in class, you will struggle majorly.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO335
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Good prof overall. Clear and organized in lecture, though not always really engaging. Sometimes boring. Explains things really well and expectations are very clear. Nice guy to get to know outside of class too.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIOL115
• 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:

Very likable professor. He sometimes gets carried away in lectures with material that's above the class level, but he's fairly easy to understand. Tests are rather difficult, but they're multiple choice, which is good. Overall, a very nice guy and has a passion for his subject.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO115
• 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:

I was really worried about this class at first but soon realized that it wasn't that bad. Prof. Ubels puts lecture slides up online and is helpful when you have questions. His teaching is clear and he wants you to learn. Tests are multiple choice. If you read the book, take good notes during lecture, put forth effort, and study you'll do fine.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO115
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great Prof! His tests are pretty difficult but if you read the book and go to the lectures you will be fine. He is very passionate about what he teaches and enjoys doing it! Makes material easy to understand and overall just a great guy. Highly recommended.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO206
• 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:

Professor Ubels is very thorough. Read the book, follow his lecture outlines, and if you do your assignments well you will do fine in this class! He makes the physiology very understandable in light of the whole body - it's not to micro-focused.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

RED FLAG this prof at all cost get someone else, he only really cares about his research, very brash and illogical, only uses scantrons b/c he is lazy, and tries to have fun making the most complicated and tricky m.p questions you will ever see. Talks about his daughters brilliance and sailing every day.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are not exactly according to the book, but they are helpful if you read the book before class. If you study consistently, the tests are fine.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO206
• 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:

He is a great prof, hard, but fair. He is willing to help as long as you approach him. Learned a lot in his class. Would recommend him anyday.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO206
• 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:

He is a nice guy, but he sucks at making tests. He blamed the class for having an average 20 points lower than the other class (taught by a differnt prof). more than half the class would get below a C on his tests. only 5 out of 30 would get above a C. He was not a good prof. I wouldnt ever recommend taking him. ever.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHYSI201
• 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:

he made me cry

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO206
• 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:

Physiology was my hardest science class so far. You must read the textbook and go through your notes after each lecture and stay on top of it. Then a good grade is possible, otherwise you'll fail. He's helpful outside of class. Lectures/powerpoints are kinda random.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO206
• 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:

ubels is probably the worst professor i have ever experienced at calvin. he is completely unhelpful and just overall not a nice person. he ruined my semester.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO206
• 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:

Horrible prof, absolutely hated him. One of the worse profs in the bio department. not very helpful. does not curve tests, even when a majority of the class got C's or worse. says he wants to help students but doesn't do anything. his tests are difficult and is an extremely hard grader.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO206
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His notes are very organized and lectures are usually interesting. The quizzes are graded very tough. 1/3 of the class failed the first test...he doesn't curve

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO206
• 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:

His lectures are very organized you just have to know which slides on his powerpoints are not important. You pretty much have to read the book before and after his lectures...he teaches at a very fast pace. his tests are easy on the multiple choice and difficult in the concept questions.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIOLOGY206
• 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:

Very kind and helpful outside of class. Lectures and tests are straightforward. One of my favorite classes at Calvin!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: 206
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I think that prof. Ubels is a very intelligent man.- he knows the answer to every freakin question! He may be a bit unexciting in lecture, but are you here to learn or laugh? anyway, the class is quite difficult but he's a good guy, and friendly if you try to get to know him.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

knows what he is talking about, and he loves hormones. boring...yes, funny...no, passable...yes

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Good God this man is boring. I love biology and I love physiology, but this man makes it very unenjoyable. He's a reasonable guy and his tests aren't too bad, but his lecture is ridiculously boring.