Linda Morse - College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA

Professor: Linda Morse

Department: Science

College: College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: GEO160L
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If I hadn't taken a geology course before taking the lab, I probably would have failed. Her lectures are rushed and unhelpful and then you spend two hours pretty much guessing at the answers to the lab (since they weren't in the lecture). Exams are hard and not usually what I thought they would be. Way too much work for 1 credit.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: GEO160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I thought her lab was fun. Sometimes I'd wonder why we were taking so long on a certain topic, and occasionally got flustered when she wouldn't explain what a rock was well. The tests in the class had an outward appearance of being easy, but Linda grades pretty harshly and is looking for very specific answers. Nonetheless, I'd recommend this class.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: GEO160L
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Linda is an amazing prof and gives an excellent intro to geology for the students that take her lab. The people on here who rag on her are doing so because they likely only took the course because they needed it to graduate and put in no effort. She is always available and responds to emails promptly to answer any questions.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: GEO160
• 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:

I completely agree with the previous negative reviews the geology department really needs to investigate because there are blatant issues with Morse. Unfortunately she is the only one teaching the class which is why she is able to get away with the inappropriate behavior. Not a coincidence so many people are repeatedly reporting the same experience

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: GEOL160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Absolutely terrible. Rushes through lectures in a pathetically ineffective manner to minimize her workload, then gives you a 2+ hour in-class lab filled with questions that aren't covered anywhere, then you are tested on these unavailing labs with exams that are designed for you to fail. Rude, condescending, bitter. Sad state of affairs for W&M.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: GEO101
• 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:

She's a great person and she'll really do her best to help you outside of class, but don't take 101 thinking its rocks for jocks. You're graded mostly on three exams and three problem sets which aren't super easy. If you're just looking to fulfill NQR, look elsewhere.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: GEO150
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Y'all are so hard on Morse! Yes, her tests are hard, the grading is picky and you have to be in class to earn participation points, but she makes an effort to be engaging in lecture and she's great to talk to at office hours, esp if you have an issue with the graders' work. The labs rarely take over an hour. I'd recommend (as a non major)

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: GEO101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Completely useless. Heard she's great if you're a major and you go on her field trips. But she doesn't offer any help (her office hours leave you more confused). Take astronomy if you're grandfathered into the old GERs.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: 101
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I'm not one to complain about a professor just because their class is "hard," but this lady is crazy. Condescending towards questions, unhelpful even when you attend her office hours. The department seriously needs to get another professor to teach this courselab.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: GEOL160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Morse is funny and passionate about geology, but her lectures are confusing and a little disorganized. Problem sets are unnecessarily difficult, but if you ask her for help she'll give it to you. If you want to do well on the exams, you MUST study -- they all cover a lot of detailed info. Skim chapters, do the study guides, and you'll be okay.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: GEOL101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Attend class as random class activities occur and accumulate to become a portion of your final grade. Long, boring lectures. Lots of material to memorize. If you're into that, the class shouldn't be much of an issue.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: GEOL160
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Regarding the lab, Professor Morse is excessively criticized. Her lectures are brief and clear. Her humor and sporadic energy often throw a curve ball at the class during the tedious and exhaustive 3 hour days. Yet her tests do require substantial preparation. To get an A, you cannot treat the lab as a 1 credit course.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: GEOL101
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Long, boring Powerpoint lectures. Test multiple questions very specific and challenging despite review sheet. Problem sets do not reflect the lectures. Drops lowest quiz graded online. Didn't like the material, presentation style. Would recommend another professorclass for GER 2.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: GEOL101
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She's a wonderful and happy person and want you to be successful, but her tests have killed me. Class is pretty typical lecture style and she puts powerpoints online. Overall, the class is pretty laid back until you get to the test and find details on it that you never knew you'd need to learn. Wonderful woman, brutal tests.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: GEO101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She is a strict grader. Her tests are straight forward if you do the study guides, however, her problems can be diffcult. Mandatory to go to class since she randomly has class activities that end up adding up tp 10% of your grade, if you miss the class activity, she gives you a zero. Overall not bad, but I would recommend taking astronomy for GER2

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: GEOL101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I'm on the fence- she's really nice, but assigned weekly quizzes on one or more chapters, even over breaks. Her exams are just facts pulled from over an entire unit, but there are study guides. The problem sets are a nightmare, and the team of trained exam graders consistently make mistakes.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: GEOL101
• 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:

Very enthusiastic and excited about her material. We had 3 problem sets and 3 tests then a final. The tests weren't too difficult be she offered no help for questions you got wrong. Go to the review sessions and the grad students will basically do your problem sets.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: GEOL101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Morse was my favorite professor this semester. The class had a lot of opportunities for raising my grade (class activities) and I really enjoyed learning about geology. She's really enthusiastic and loves what she teaches. I'm considering becoming a geology major because of Professor Morse.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: GEOL101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor is condescending towards questions. Doesn't care much for the students, unless you're a major. Tests are compiled of miniscule facts scattered amid seven chapters. Weekly online quizzes. Attend, because she throws in random in-class grades. Hated the course as Morse turned something that could've been quite fun into a nightmare.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: GEOL160
• 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:

Enthusiastic and intelligent with it comes to the material. She might lose you during lecture so make sure to come to her office hours for extra guidance, especially when it comes to prepping for tests. Not an easy GER filler but not the worst. Overall, quite the kind woman.