Mike Bidochka - Brock University, St. Catharines, ON

Professor: Mike Bidochka

Department: Biology

College: Brock University, St. Catharines, ON

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO2P98
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Not that difficult of a class. There were only two formal lab write-ups which wasn't so bad. His lectures were a little dry though, was hard to pay attention the whole time. He posts the lecture slides so you don't even really need to go. Make sure you attend the review lectures though, they are important.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIOL2P98
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

BIOL2P98 was by no means a difficult class if you go into it knowing the midterms are 100% based off of the review sessions held in class every week (seriously don't bother studying anything other than that). Don't bother buying the textbook or even going to class for anything other than the reviews (write them down/take photos for later though)

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIOL2P98
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Posted all lecture slides which were clear and easy to understand. Make sure to go to the review classes bc more than half of the questions shown are on the tests. Both tests & exam were very fair if you focus on the main concepts & go to review lectures. Sometimes wore the same clothes 2 days in a row but is a nice and fair prof

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO2P98
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

The course itself was easy, although he was a boring lecturer. However, if you show up to class your chances of getting an A increases. Is also incredibly lazy and will base his midterms off the course reviews, so make sure you take pictures of the questions.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: 2P98
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I'm actually in love with this prof and I was always smiling in his class. He's the type of person who's just unintentionally funny. There was a lot that needed to be remembered for the exam, but if you actually listened in class he told you almost exactly what you needed to study. You can pass with minimal effort. but only if you go to lecture.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: 2P98
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The course overall was a good one with the content presented and the labs you really had to be onto of your stuff, but overall not the toughest course. The prof was very hard to understand with his mumbling manner of speech. He must be a brilliant guy to have his position at Brock, but overall I did not see that in his lectures this year.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3P43
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Not going to lie, I too have heard crazy stories about Bidochka. I took the third year microbiology anyways. Lectures were little boring but the course material made up for it (also, 8 am classes are brutal). Not much course work, but there was final presentation worth like good chunk of your grade. Biggest hint: GO TO THE CLASS!!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3P43
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Applied microbiology was a great course to take with him, the lectures were engaging, and the work load was crazy light for a third year course. He expects you to read a few papers, but to do well in the class just go to lecture. Last day of lecture he gave us EVERY question on the final, simply going to the lecture allows you to ace the course.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIOL2P98
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Not a difficult class; uses multiple choice as his primary mode of assessment - they're simple A-D options w/ very few "A and B" (or such) options presented. He is not stellar... he provides significant misinformation and is somewhat socially inept; however, he does not try to trick you, and presents the majority of tested material on his slides.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIOL2P97
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Lectures were interesting and informative. All slides were posted on Sakai, and he laid out all the information that would be on the midterm, in class. He strongly recommended using the textbook, and put some questions on the exam that were only from the textbook - but warned us that they would be there. Overall enthusiastic, funny, knowledgeable!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4F90
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

For someone being paid 100+K, he's a part-timer. Rarely around. Shows up to class but other than that, he's around maybe 1-2 hours per day. Odd guy, very much a hippie but without the live and let live philosophy, very hard on students.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIOL2P05
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is a funny guy, and I have had him for other classes and he was great. But for this class he was not very clear on what we were being tested on, and i didn't seem like his main goal was to help the students learn and succeed. Really funny guy though!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: 2P05
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Terrible prof. Does not post notes. Does not allow anyone time to take notes from his slides. Goes off on tangents regarding his personal views on religion and Americans. Very rude. Does not teach. His lectures are his sermon time. Stay home, get rest, read the text and avoid everything he says, you'll get a B guaranteed, an A highly likely.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIOL2P05
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Pretty rude sometimes, if you can handle that you shouldnt have any problems. Interesting lectures but sometimes makes you feel uncomfortable by singling people out and getting mad at them for phones, being late, not paying attention. Overall not a bad prof in terms of testing and clarity.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIOL2P05
• Grade Received: INC
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Not sure what all the negative ratings are about, he was amusing during lecture and more than willing to answer questionsprovide clarification. His lecture style is a bit unconventional, but reading the textbook will fill in the blanks. He does not overwhelm students with piles of info. Midterm was not 'a breeze' but was very fair.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIOL2P98
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He says it from day one, and it's true - just show up to every lecture and you'll be fine. 90% of exam questions are dead easy if you have any common sense.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIOL2P98
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I first enjoyed his lectures in microbiology and liked him for his humour but later when taking evolution I felt discriminated against because I was pregnant and fell short of his expectations. He called me out in front of the class several times and I found it very unprofessional. If a student is behind let it go don't bully them publicly.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: 4P11
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Actually told a group of us to leave the exam at about 2 hours in (out of three)because we would not be able to produce any more answers. Has issues with students, and should not be allowed to continue on with the way he speaks with students. Very intelligent individual, however uses this to believe he is above everyone else.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIOL2P98
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Worst prof by far. No means to teach, dresses inappropriately as a prof. His exams are hard, and he lies whats on it as well. Condescending and pathetic to have him teach anything. Doesn't answer his emails and is never in school

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIOL2P98
• 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:

Not helpful at all! Can't even answer most of the questions asked after class.