Mark Van Selst - San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

Professor: Mark Van Selst

Department: Psychology

College: San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PSYC120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

We did one major project the whole semester which made it very easy. Easy to follow instructions. During lectures if you ask to explain better he will make sure you get it before moving on. The tests are literally almost exactly the same as the study guides. Never leave anything blank on the exams. He will give credit for just trying

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PSYC001
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Mark was an ok professor. he made a lot of jokes in class but his lectures are not very organized. He assigns lots of homework/papers, 4 midterms, and a final. However, he does post-practice midterms on Canvas and many of the questions will appear on the midterms. I had to spend so many hours reading and studying and it was only an INTRO class.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PSYC135
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Worst Professor and Advisor in this University!! Would NOT recommend students to take this professor for this course. Does not care about students.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PSYC135
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Not a good teacher at all. Very pretentious. Just because you wrote a small part of the textbook doesn't make you a good teacher! I recommend finding another professor for this course.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PSYC135
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

BEWARE. Only take this class if its the only option you have. Spent so many hours studying and doing assignments and finished with a C minus. My worst class of my college career.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PSYC01
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is knowledgeable about psychology but makes his Intro to Psyc class very difficult. He posts his powerpoints online but they are very vague, you MUST buy the textbook and READ it or else you will fail. There is at least 2 hw assignments per chapter and a quiz when hw is due. Also there are 4 midterms and a huge final exam. Good luck people.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PSCY135
• 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:

Dont take him if you have another option. Most of my class is currently in danger of failing because his tests are so hard and there is no other way to make points.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PSY135
• 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:

Avoid him at all costs! The tests are the most difficult I've taken in my college career. Van Selst doesn't care whether you pass or not so don't expect him to be understanding of unique circumstances. Neither helpful nor well liked.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PSYC135
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Honestly, I'm half way through the semester and I'm in danger if failing. His tests are ridiculously hard, lectures are pointless and a waste of time as he posts lecture slides all online. Class is out of 100 points and hardly any room for error. DO NOT TAKE HIM IF YOU HAVE ANOTHER OPTION!!!!!!!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PSYC001
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Horrible lectures, very unclear. He always came unprepared and made up lectures as he went. I had to read the entire textbook to pass and I didn't need most of that information. I stopped showing up in to last few weeks of class because i realized it was pointless.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PSYC135
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Extremely hard class. The exams are only 10-20 essay questions, so you will need to come to class and read the book to pass. He is a good lecturer,although, so take good notes and pay attention. More importantly, while taking the exams never leave questions blank. He gives points for trying or even gives full points if you get the gist of it.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PSYC01
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are unclear, I'm never really able to grasp the true concept of what he's lecturing about, It helps to read up on the material before the lecture though. Normal amount of homework, usually gives a quiz when the homework is due. The tests can be difficult and pretty much make no sense to you if you don't study the practice quizzes and tests

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PSCY135
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

gives a very good idea of the fundamentals of human mind. puts a lot of emphasis on research: assignment papers, in his tests and lectures are based on research. advice for future students: make sure to practice before exams (practice exams are provided) and study of his Power Points.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PSCY135
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This guy is a super tough grader! Be prepared to study your butt off for the tests. They are worth much of your grade, and often contain questions about material that you don't cover in class. Even after several nights of studying, I still felt sucker punched at every single one. Don't take this class if you are NOT a psych major. God Speed!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PSYC01
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's my first professor of the day and boy, is he boring. All he does is lecture and talk out of his ass about things that are so irrelevant to the topic of what we're suppose to learn. He is also EXTREMELY pretentious. Probably will mention he is a cognitive psychologist twice per class. Also tries to be funny but just makes DAD jokes. lol

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PSYC135
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I loved this class but it was tough since I did not keep up with the readings (the book is very boring). He helps a lot and is very enthusiastic about the class. He does all that he can to help you succeed. I would take it again, but I would try harder.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PSYC120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Not a very good professor. He seems to be more interested in sounding smart, when he's really not saying anything helpful. My advice is to find a professor who isn't so arrogant.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PSYC001
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Holy mackerel, avoid winter session. Daily quizzes and homework (some with drawing involved... like diagrams, not just writing, which was annoying), a few full tests, online participation in psych. studies, and a couple short presentations, in two weeks! I was very sleep deprived. Also kind of annoyed me as a person, seemed pretentious.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: 195
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Mark is a creep. The class is all busy work and no guidance. His grading doesn't make sense. He isn't prepared for his class. He's a terrible professor.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PSYC195
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Mark Van Selst... Definitely not my favorite teacher. I would not take his class again. He grades really hard. If you ask him for help outside of class, he will just confuse you more. He shows a lot of preference to girls... Some say that he creeps them out. Avoid at all costs.