Michael West - College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA

Professor: Michael West

Department: History

College: College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST225
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I have actually no idea what I learned in this class. The professor would pontificate on his own thoughts without explaining them to the class. If someone tried to ask a question or disagree with the professor, you will be made fun of, or yelled at. There was very little work but nothing was turned back so you do not know your grade all semester.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST225
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I loved the Civil Rights Movement class I took with West for my History requirement. His lectures were interesting and very conversational. If you're a history major this class will be too easy for you. There's almost no work, so I def would reccommend taking to fulfill a requirement.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: AFRI101
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Somehow I managed to pass with a B. He never passes back work and we didn't get a syllabus until the last day of class. His lectures are pretty interesting

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: 271
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Never gives a syllabus, never passes back papers, doesn't respond to e-mails, sketchy about office hours, but pretty easy.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I did not receive a syllabus until a month into the semester and once I did we never stuck to it. Never got any papers back and had no idea of my grade until the end. He is funny but you will not learn very much. I enjoy history but his class was useless and I didn't learn much

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• 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:

He will argue anything that you say. He plays favorites. He finally gave us a syllabus a month into school. I still have yet to receive any papers from him and have no idea what my grade is. He is funny but if he does not like you he will make that evident. (we get it, you wrote a book..)

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: AFRI101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I had mixed feelings at first, but its the end of the semester and I can not stand his class. Yes he is funny in his weird way, but he will not hand work back, gives no grades, and if you don't agree with him you are wrong.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• 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:

Best Professor I ever had

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• 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:

Never opens or responds to emails. Appears to not even care with in class materials and assignments. Grades are virtually made up because he doesn't read any of your papers.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Terrible Class, never responds to emails, favors some people and not others. Drinks diet coke all day babyyy. but serious this guy isn't good.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: AMTHE100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I wish that someone would have warned me how bad he is. Had us email him reflections and he hasn't opened one. Great class if you hate history cause its a blow off class. I think less of holy cross for giving this man tenure.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST299
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Best Professor at HC!!!!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST299
• 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:

Unorganized, and really doesn't get your previous work back to you. He picks favorites in the class, and loves to here the sound of his own voice. You won't ever really know how you are doing in the class, you'll be lucky if you get one graded assignment back before the final. Also doesn't seem to acknowledge most emails sent to him.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is a very intelligent guy, and knows how to keep class interesting. He is so funny! His class is the best. He is nice about changing due dates. He loves to talk about movies...especially the Matrix.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST223
• 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:

unorganized.lectures don't follow a structure.Very opinionated and if he doesn't like your opinion or argument,he makes me look like an idiot in front of the whole class. You don't learn much because he assigns so much reading and usually doesn't get to it.Doesn't pass papers back until the class ends.postpones everything b/c he's so unorganized.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST137
• 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:

Took his American Slavery/American Freedom class. One of the worst teachers/professors I've ever had. Never saw one grade in the class; had to wait for the report card to know my grade. Also, he cancelled tests in favor of all papers because of laziness. Only take if are seriously interested in material, but I warn you, your GPA will take a hit

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST299
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Makes you take a stand, isn't interested in having you just spit back what you read. Keeps you thinking and involved. The emphasis is on being in class and being engaged, not the grade. Great guy, HC's lucky to have him.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: AD200
• 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's tough.. his lectures don't seem to follow any sort of structure, so that can be confusing. Not to mention, if you make a comment that's incorrect, he's sure to make you feel like an idiot. Class is interesting, it's just really hard to follow everything and do well.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: AMDIL2
• 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:

A very intimidating professor at first... you definitely can't get away with BSing your way through his class. You need to do all the reading and take good notes in order to show him that you know what you're talking about. Very helpful in office hours... overall a good guy, but his class is hard, and the lectures can be a little confusing.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CIVILRIGHTS
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He's definitely extremely intimidating before you get used to him. Although he may shut you down when you speak up, you can tell he appreciates it when you get an A in the class. Downsides is he never grades anything and really classes are about moral debates and he's very quick to detect when you're BSing him.