Richard Thomas Briggs - Smith College, Northampton, MA

Professor: Richard Thomas Briggs

Department: Biological Sciences

College: Smith College, Northampton, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Briggs is one of the best professors I've had at Smith! His teaching style is old school in that he writes everything on the board, which is extremely helpful because he goes slower than many professors I've had, explains things better, and gives you diagrams to better understand the material. You will do well if you pay attention and try

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

You will be lucky to get a C in this class. Please do not take a class with richard briggs if all you want to do is take tests.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO200
• 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:

Professor Briggs was extremely helpful, especially during office hours. Overall, I didn't find him to be that difficult, considering that many people had told me his class was hard. Just memorize everything in your notes and you'll be fine. His exams are pretty fair.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO101
• 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:

Prof. Briggs was excellent! I found him to be the perfect balance of having high expectations for his students but not unrealistically challenging, having high energy in the classroom and a good level of patience when asked for additional explanations, and clear in lectures. I wasn't a bio major when I went in and came out with a degree in Biochem.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ANPHY1
• 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:

You have to be smart or hardworking to like this man and appreciate him. If you can't appreciate him, I am sorry for you. He is a hard grader and his tests are hard, but not impossible. Everything on the test is in your notes. Basically, memorize everything. My MCAT score wouldn't have been so high without him.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are incomprehensible and the class travels at a disgustingly fast pace. Reviewing the textbook is no use because he doesn't test from the book. Good luck if you have the misfortune to get this professor.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

HARDEST CLASS EVER. NO HANDOUTS. Just HORRIBLE CHICKEN SCRATCH on the board. Class goes SUPER FAST. No multiple choice questions, only fill in the blanks. The textbook isn't helpful at all. Teaches more than the book. Pompous and ostentatious; writes big words on the board and doesn't bother explaining. Just stares at students as if we're stupid.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are simply a review of the available power-points. Tests are beyond difficult and each question is a fill-in-the-blank. His hand-writing is poor and hard to comprehend. No handouts at all. You'll be lucky to walk out with a C.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO150
• 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:

Briggs was a great teach, his thought process is clear and his lectures were extremely informative. I would recommend taking really good lecture notes. Briggs has high expectations for his students and does expect you to know every word he says in every lecture. Tests and quizzes are HARD.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO101
• 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 had Mr Briggs back in the early '90s and these recent assessments of his teaching mirror my experience. I got a D on my first exam but went to him for help. He gave me the best study advice of my entire college career and was kind and helpful throughout. Micrscopy with him was also fantastic. A GOOD professor, then and, apparently, now!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO150
• 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:

His tests and quizes are hard! but he knows all the materials really well!!! You can always go and ask him questions when something is unclear!! He is a REALLY nice guy :)

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very pleasant old man. His tests/quizzes are hard--but you need to learn how to study right and you CAN get your A. Listen to his lecture carefully; there are things that don't appear in the textbooks that do appear on the tests. Read the textbook before class. Great lecturer. (he's quiet but you can tell him to talk louder and he will do it)

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO308
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Took animla phys and Intro to Microscopy with him. Difficult grader but he LOVES the material. No skipping - you'll miss everything.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO151
• 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:

Basically, he teaches right from the book and very dryly. None of this "make the subject fun and interesting" stuff. He throws the information out there, and it's up to you to catch it. The tests are hard and numerous. Prepare to cram.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Ok, here are some facts: His exams & Quizzes- are VERY Hard His lectures- are hard to hear coz of his volume.His hand-writing- needs a LOT of improvement.Overall, I found him to be a very good professor who covered all the essentials in class. Slipping attendance is easy but trust me it will only make life harder 4 material covered in class is imp.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Went through the whole class with a B average, then did really well on the final and got an A-. Basically, don't lose hope because he averages sections of your final exam with corresponding old exams if you did better on the final. I found him to be a pretty cool guy, and he sure loves his microscopy pictures!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very pleasant man, and material is not really that hard to understand but his exams are brutal. Very SPECIFIC questions and very SPECIFIC answers. If you are going premed, then hopefully you do at least mediocre in his class because it's really not THAT hard, especially if you want to be a doctor. Ask him for help.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class is very difficult and the professor was not helpful

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He doesn't know how to teach biology, all he wants is for his class to regurgitate everything he says in order to do well in the course.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO111
• 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:

Take notes on his lectuer even on the things not written on the board! Small facts mentioned will probably appear on the test. Studied alot (last minute) esp. for the final and got a B. Review notes and ask questions the next day. Don't be afraid to ask questions in class; I wish I did more often. Review sessions helpful if you have specific ?'s.