Karen Schaffer - Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, MO

Professor: Karen Schaffer

Department: Science

College: Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, MO

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: 04102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Even though she doesnt teach Bio often, she does an amazing job when she does. Be warned, she does occasionally do attendance quizzes (over random trivia. Not bio related). There is no homework. All of your grade from this class will come from the exams.

Rating # 2

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Schaffer is the best Biology professor to take. No matter how boring the subject is, she can make it interesting! She is very funny, also. She only has exams and a final so you will need to study. She also is very eager and understanding when you go into herboffice for help. Great professor!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO1
• Grade Received: D-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you aren't the greatest test taker like I am, I would not choose Schaffer. The only grades given in this class are tests. Each test has a ton of material on it and are quite difficult. Go to SI sessions and go to class even though attendance is not taken!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO112
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This is a tough class that will through my prepare you. If you can't stick it out here, then this class is a pretty good indicator on how you will do for the rest of your college career pursuing biological sciences. All the grades are grades and you have to study. As a student, this sucks, but you'll appreciate it in the long run.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO102
• Grade Received: D-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Only grades Exams. She does not do quizzes, test, assignments or homework. Does not give extra credit. Excepts you to study 3 hours for every hour you are in the class. Would not recommend.

Rating # 6

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:

Dr. Schaffer was an awesome person, but for a Gen. Ed, her class was a lot. I spent more time on this than any other class. Your only grades are tests.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO1
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Terrible professor, you only take tests no other grades go into the gradebook. The tests are way too hard, she over complicates things. She gives out study guides for tests but they don't help at all. Gives out pop quizzes asking questions about her personal life for extra credit. She is awful about grading things.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO102
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

She loves the topics and will explain things thoroughly. However, the tests and final are ridiculous. Out of all the info given in class, she expects you to retain every bit of it. One shouldn't have to spend 5x as much time studying for a gen ed as they would for an upper level major course.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BOT112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great teacher! She is very passionate about the course and loves to teach it. However, be ready to take a lot of notes. Do NOT study the night before, you will not be able to memorized it all and get confused and fail. I had to retake the course because I did not take it seriously. She is willing to answer any questions you have.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: 04112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Covers the material very quickly and makes you know a lot of information inside and out. Though she's very passionate about her subject which makes it easier to learn. The tests are hard but the S.I's help a ton. Overall, she's a very good professor.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BOTANY
• 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:

A lot of people don't like her, but I really did. She is one of those teachers who really cares about her students, and she's very helpful. Her tests cover a lot of material, but I found the class interesting even though I HATED botany in AP bio. A great class if you like learning for learning's sake.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BOT101
• 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:

HARD Expects you to know everything inside and out. She's entertaining and class can be fun but she goes TOO fast and it's all lecture. Know processes and cell types and DONT mispell Botany petal or sepal or its -50 points. SIs are helpful. Lots of studying and time. She takes off points for small mistakes like drawing 2 leafs instead of 1 on test.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BOT112
• 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:

Overall good. About equal to adam in diffaculty of material and exams. Both also try to make things at least somewhat entertaining. Labs in botany are less organized and no presentation of slides like adam. Challenging class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BOT112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I laughed in class almost every time. She is engaging and is passionate about the material which helps students to be passionate. She also keeps up with grades of students and makes sure they not only pass but UNDERSTAND the concepts. She is really really great.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She is a very exciting teacher! You will not fall alseep in her class! Tests are hard and tricky so study, study,study! Going to the SI's will help tremendously! She will challenge you, but you will learn.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BOT112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Gen Botany with Schaffer is more like a course in molecular bio. not interesting and all memorization. good luck. learned Deringer teaches more ecology stuff in summer

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BOTAN116
• 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:

She's great. makes class interesting, and you can tell she loves her job. tests are hard. Practice drawing the charts on a white board, it will help you tons.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BOT2
• 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:

She is an amazing teacher. She is truly inspired by Botany and loves to teach it, if you are writing anything bad it is just because you failed due to your own stupidity or laziness. She gives you everything you need, you have to decide to use it.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BOT101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She is an amazing professor but she really makes you study! Tests are difficult and you need to know your stuff to get a decent grade. She'll do anything to help you and don't be afraid to ask questions. She is a little scary at first but shes very nice and enthusiastic once you get to know her.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

You take tests that don't seem tough at first...until you get your tests back and see how meticulously graded your test is. You misuse one term and much of the time you get no points on a question, even essay questions which is in my opinion unfair. When you take this class and still study hard, you better not always expect a good test grade.