Rex Cates - Brigham Young University, Provo, UT

Professor: Rex Cates

Department: Biology

College: Brigham Young University, Provo, UT

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO100
• 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:

Prof Cates was pretty good. He was a little confusing when he was trying to explain certain topics. But it was cool how he applied everything to real world situations. Lots of TA reviews, and he tells you what essay questions are going to be on the tests. i'd recommend him.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

No text book, so hard to study for tests. Tests are very hard, and only has his power points to study. Cool how he applies biology to life. Have to go to class to get i clicker points

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I absolutely LOVED his class. He teaches his class so it is more applicable to real life. His lecture questions basically provided a study guide for the test. As long as you go to class and lab, do the assignments, and study his lectures before the test, you will do fine! I learned so much and even considered a biology minor after taking it!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He's not as easy as people think but he's also not like super hard. Everything from the tests comes from the powerpoints. Just memorize the powerpoints then you will do good. He's retired after this semester btw.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Cates isn't hard. Just attend class and study the slides/voc words for the test and you'll do fine. I would recommend visiting your TA, since they grade written part of the test. There are weekly assignments too but they don't take long and if you do them, they'll boost your grade. Easy IClickers for class participation as well.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

There's no textbook, which is nice, but you might have to borrow one if you don't know a great deal about biology to begin with. You have to go to class for the i-clickers. The whole class is based off a series of PowerPoints, which are unclear at times. TA's are super helpful, just go to them before the tests and you'll do great.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO100
• 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:

Tests are all off of powerpoint slides, which are somewhat unclear at times. Each test is has 25 multiple choice questions and two short essay questions. Your grade on the essay questions will really depend on your TA. Some are way easier graders than others. My best advice is to go to the TA review sessions. Overall, not too hard.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

No text book. Weekly assignment and online quiz. The lectures are kind of pointless except for the iclicker questions. go to the review sessions before a test and know the key terms and you will do fine.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I don't consider Cates my Bio teacher because his TA's do EVERYTHING. Cates just goes through the lecture slides but the TA's really teach you. So if you get a good TA then you'll do fine in the class. Memorize all the slides and know EVERYTHING because his tests are tricky story problems. This 100 level class will take up most of your time.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

BIO100 is a pretty easy class. There's no textbook, so that's saying something. Just go over the powerpoint slides and know the keywords for the tests and you'll do just fine. His lectures are pretty scatterbrained sometimes and he'll refer to the TA's a lot to confirm something that he probably doesn't know... but overall he's not bad.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Cates is the man. Class deals with real life biological issues. Not just tedious textbook application. You study before the tests, you'll be OK. Not hard, not easy.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This class wasn't that bad. There is a weekly assignment and iclicker quizzes every class day. No txtbook. The tests weren't too difficult if you put the time into studying for them. Your TA grades everything and so if you get a good TA then you will be able to get an A.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO100
• 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:

Dr. Cates is interesting. He refers to the TAs a lot, so he might not actually know what he is talking about. Class attendance is mandatory because of the iclicker questions that count as participation points. Dr. Cates is really helpful and provides help for struggling students. The tests are all about application. No text book!!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Great class. If you put in the time it will show on your tests. The TA reviews are very helpful and Dr. Cates is willing to work with you if you are having troubles.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Good teacher. He cares about his students and is willing to work with you outside of class if you are having problems.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO100
• 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:

Study and you will do well.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I'm not a science person and I found this class pretty boring and confusing. Lectures were difficult to follow because his slides were essentially googled images of biology stuff that sometimes pertained to the the topic at hand. His attempt to connect it to real issues was nice but sometimes felt like a stretch. Your TA makes all the difference.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Best Professor ever...this dude knows his stuff and trys to make it interesting! Take it from Cates!! Anyone who hates him obviously didn't try even a little

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Dr Cates is a good professor. Sometimes he will forget to include important topics in his power points, but as long as you go to the TA's before each test you'll have a guaranteed A. This is one of the few professors that i have ever had that taught me how to be a person instead of just memorizing useless information

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is such a sweet man. Unfortunately the class can sometimes be a little boring, but the TA reviews are extremely helpful. This was a great science class, and you learn a lot. You learn how to make an educated opinion on a lot of touchy subjects.