Richard Adler - University of Michigan - Dearborn, Dearborn, MI

Professor: Richard Adler

Department: Biology

College: University of Michigan - Dearborn, Dearborn, MI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO140
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is one of the least personable professors I have ever met, and he made an introductory level biology class unnecessarily hard. Ugh.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

1) Extremely knowledgeable 2) Take note of the history 3) RECORD THE LECTURES 4) Any random phrase he says may show up on the exam 5) if you like conception questions take this class 6) Ask questions 7) Attend class and take notes then take notes again after class 8)read the chapter even after all this you might get an A- lol

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO140
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

extremely difficult to say the least. do not take this class.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO140
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Adler knows his stuff, I'll give him that. But his lectures are extremely boring and he talks about random things that seem unrelated but they probably will show up on an exam. Reading the book is a must, he records lectures and makes questions about the most specific details or things he mentioned once. He is not easy to talk to either

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO430
• 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:

Lectures consist of material not on the exams and often talks about miscellaneous, irrelevant things such as his vacations or stories with his wife. Even reading the book does not help, as exam questions are often trivial. Exams are all written and he does not give enough partial credit for the quality of the answers written. Do not take.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

How to get an A+ in BIO 140 w/ Richard Adler: 1. Read the chapter that is being discussed in lecture before coming to class. 2. Show up to lecture (IMPORTANT MATERIAL NOT IN BOOK DISCUSSED IN LECTURE BASICALLY EVERY CLASS PERIOD). 3. After lecture do the problems in the back of the chapter that was discussed in lecture. 4. Rinse repeat.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

"Freshman killer" is what he's called. Covers one chapter a class. Exams have trick questions. You really have to read and know your stuff for the exams. A B is possible, but you have to really bust your butt to get it and make his class a HUGE priority. There were 4 SI teachers to help. By the end of the semester we went from 75 people down to 23.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO140
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Here's the deal: Adler is tough, but he is not impossible. You need to be ready to do the work on your own to make sure you understand the material. PAY ATTENTION to the specific examples he gives in class because they will be on the test I promise you. He lets you drop your lowest grade. Don't bother trying to speak with him, he couldn't care less

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIOL140
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Adler seems like he understands the subject matter well. However, he does a very poor job of conveying the material in lecture. I passed the class with a C (thanks to lab) but my highest test grade was 67%. The class is very tough. Test material is almost exclusively in the book rather than lecture, so be ready to read a lot.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Pretty good teacher. Tests are really hard as he'll ask you something really specific about something you have to read that he posts on canvas or something he said in lecture. He also stresses an understanding of how things interact with each other, i.e. "What would happen if this structure was surrounded by water instead?" or something like that.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: 140
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Listen up, the man is one of the most knowledgeable people I have ever met. Yes his exams are challenging, but if you attend every lecture and read the book often, you'll do great. My advice is to not take 140 with another science, because you will work for what you receive. An A is difficult, but attainable.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

You HAVE to record the lectures and listen back to them again. That's the only way to pass the tests. They are ridiculously hard. He often words the questions to trick you. He'll go on long side tangent stories that have nothing to do with the class. Skip one class and you might as well drop the class because you'll miss too much.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Test are very hard, especially the last two in the semester. Ruins your grade. Try to get old test, they help out a bit, but not much. You learn in lecture, and lab, but test are just ridiculous. He loves focusing on the history of things (scientist). You will probably have to retake the class if you aren't super hard working and careful.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIOL140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

His tests are really ridiculous. I didn't find his tests to be an accurate representation of what a student knows, more than painstakingly detailed and purposely confusing questions which do not reflect the general information. He does not prepare students for the exams and his homework assignments are also very confusing. Really difficult class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO140
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I hate when people say bio 140 was a weeding out class, this professor just straight up sucks. I had a c+ in his class and ever since i took his class freshman year ive had a 3.84 gpa (after 2 years), so it obviously wasnt because i was a bad student. all he did was hurt my gpa but he did actually make me a better student, i gotta give him that.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MICRO385
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Adler is by far one of the most intelligent professors we have here on campus, and probably at any school to be honest with you. Minds like his don't come around too often. Makes you work hard as sh!t for your grade and he will take off points although you were right, but if you care enough and go to his office he may give them back (sometimes)

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He weeds out the freshman that think they deserve an A. If you have a REAL question about the material, schedule an appt with him. Never skip lecture. Yes his tests are difficult, but not impossible. He wants to know your University of Michigan material. And intimidation does not work, he's been called everything and finds it's humorous.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIOL140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

All of these other comments are right. His tests don't show a reflection of your understanding of the material; they're ridiculous! Having AP bio the year before helped, but I couldn't get an A.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

What students don't realize is that Bio 140 is a weeding out class. Regardless of the professor, it will be a hard course. However, his tests were too difficult. He had conceptual questions rather than simple definitions. If you are a science major, I would recommend taking him because he prepares you for the field. If you aren't, you will struggle

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIOL140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Great lectures and funny guy but he will kill your GPA and his tests don't reflect what you know as much as the tiny details that you find in a footnote. Id never take one of his classes again.