Michael Sibalis - Wilfrid Laurier University-Waterloo, Waterloo, ON

Professor: Michael Sibalis

Department: History

College: Wilfrid Laurier University-Waterloo, Waterloo, ON

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HI126
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Lowest mark in first year. 25% midterm, 35% Essay, 40% Final...

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HI332
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Terrible prof.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: H354
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Sibal is a fantastic prof. He does an amazing job of lecturing and engaging with students during the class and articulates his points very well, it is clear he is very knowledgable about his field of study. He doesn't not teach out of one textbook but portions of different novels that relate to the course he has put together, go to class!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: 126
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Dr. Sibalis was definitely the hardest prof I've ever had. He is a tough marker and doesn't give his students an idea of what he wants. The paper seems easy enough, but don't be fooled. His lectures are ridiculously boring - he only reads from the slides. I don't know anyone who received higher than a 55 on the final. Good luck.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HI359
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very difficult professor, but also extremely knowledgeable. If you like Early-modern French history or Napoleon, take his courses, you WILL learn a lot. The only tip you'll need to survive his course: see him for every assignment. Every. Single. One. Do this, and you'll do fine.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HI126
• 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:

Dr. Sibalis was the worst prof I had in first year... Very unclear expectations, unreasonable marker, and can be rude. If you don't want your GPA to drop, don't take his classes

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HI126
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

He was always helpful when asked for help. His lectures were very clear and always posted them online the same day.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HI354
• 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:

Unreasonably hard marker. Extremely arrogant. Cares very little for students if at all as if it is beneath him to be teaching undergrads. Not worth the hit to your GPA to take his classes.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: H354
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

TERRIBLE MARKER- UNCLEAR EXPECTATIONS- I worked hard as I could on an essay having taken his course before and gotten harsh marks but got an even lower mark. He is a ridiculous evaluator and does not seem to care the personal pressures of his students at all.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HISTO202
• 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:

He was an amazing professor. SO knowledgeable about the subject matter!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HI202
• 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:

I'm not sure what everyone is complaining about. I read these reviews and was warned several times about taking a class taught by Dr. Sibalis but I find his reputation is unfounded. I was able to speak to him about what he expected on both of the essays he assigned in class and he helped me without incident (I received an A on both).

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HI332
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Everything that everyone says about him is completely true. WORST PROFESSOR EVER!! he doesn't care. I worked my ass off in his class and he marks so incredibly difficult. I have A's in all my other classes but i know i won't in his class because he just so horrible!! don't take his class ever!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HI202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I didn't believe the reviews and chose to take a course with Sibalis, while I have no doubt that he is a well-educated man and his many writings on the subject of French history are excellent, his expectations and marking scheme are way out of whack. Perhaps if this had been a fourth year course, btu it was a second, and it DRAGGED my GPA down.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HI202
• 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:

Michael is insulting, arrogant, and rude. His comments offer zero help. He is the WORST prof I have ever had. Enough said.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST359
• 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:

Not approachable whatsoever; when I confronted him about a mark I received, he was not willing to explain why I did so poorly. Not helpful, does not give guidance and does not clearly outline his expectations. Most of all, he is a ridiculously hard and unfair marker. Oh, and incredibly pretentious.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HISTMULT
• 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:

As a graduate student, Dr. Sibalis was the WORST professor I have ever had the misfortune of studying under. He is cold, arrogant, uncaring, and completely unprofessional. He has no qualms about belittling students or flat out ignoring or refusing to help them. He absolutely does not deserve the title of "Dr."

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST5000
• 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:

As one of his few grad. students I feel it is important to weigh in: he is neither unapproachable nor rude, and he does care about his students.He simply will not suffer fools.His expertise is unparalleled in Canada and his research exemplary.If you want to be challenged and learn then take his courses.Be serious,work hard and you will be pleased.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST260
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Hard marker, doesnt make things clear, rude. Completely unapproachable. And worst yet, I can't retake the course to do better!

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

If it wasn't for the fact that this man, told me to leave during his office hours, refuse to explain a mark I received and responded to my email weeks later and with only one word, he would of been an ok prof. Nope, scratch that he was just terrible-believe all rumors about him!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIHIST
• 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:

I heard bad things about him, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt until now...this man is the most unapproachable prof at WLU. He was so cold, and so rude to me. I came to him with a serious personal problem and said I might miss classes, need extensions etc. and he totally brushed me off like I was making it up. This man should be fired.