Sergei Lobanov-Rostovsky - Kenyon College, Gambier, OH

Professor: Sergei Lobanov-Rostovsky

Department: English

College: Kenyon College, Gambier, OH

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENG103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Probably born to be a professor. Make of that what you will. But seriously, this guy knows what he's doing. His ability to lead a discussion is extraordinary, and he does his best to make the material as interesting as possible. He's also super organized and returns everything in a timely manner. Plus, he's sexy in the kind of middle-aged dad way.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENGL103
• 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:

Seductions with him was one of my favorite classes I've taken my first semester of freshmen year. I cannot imagine a better man. Class was so engaging and all the movie screenings were super fun, not to mention the creative options for each paper and rewrites offered. Honestly, everyone does pretty much well if you just put ! in ! the ! work !!!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENGL213
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Sergei deserves his reputation. He handled a difficult class with ease, making some difficult texts and projects approachable and inspirational in time. He's a brilliant lecturer, and his persona tied the class together. I've recommended him to everyone.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENG103
• 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:

Sergei is great. He is great at facilitating conversation and offers rewrites on all of your essays in case you don't do as well as you hoped. I enjoyed going to class and hearing what he would ask. Never made your comments feel wrong and fostered a really great learning environment. Highly recommend.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENGL213
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

So passionate. Sergei made me want to do nothing more than analyze literature for the rest of time, and I don't even like critical theory. He is one of those aggressively smart people who never talks down to you. This class was a joy, but incredibly demanding, time-wise. Over-prepare whenever possible. Not doing the reading = certain death.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENGL213
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Take every class he offers. Smartest professor I've ever had. Demands a lot, but class is never boring.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENGL420
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Is there anything in the world he doesn't know? He is a well of knowledge. Very organized and passionate about what he teaches. Embodies the best that Kenyon can be.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENG103
• 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:

Sergei's class discussions are always fun if you come to class prepared. If you don't do the reading, you will have nothing to contribute and will be bored. His comments on papers are frustratingly vague, but he gives generally fair and leniant grades and always offers you the opportunity to revise your paper. I enjoyed my class with him.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENG419
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A tenured professor who actually CARES about his students? What a novel idea! Sergei is the best English professor at Kenyon, bar none. His classes are fun, engaging and incredibly organized. He encourages students to rewrite their papers and gives tons of helpful feedback.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENGL220
• 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:

Very good at leading discussions without dominating them. Provides helpful feedback on papers and, from what I saw, grades fairly. Midway through the semester people got lazy about doing the reading and he called us out on it, which I appreciated. Less willing to tolerate bs comments than other English profs I've had.

Rating # 11

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Interpret it his way sort of guy. Useless comments on papers. Condescending and disrespectful. Worst professor I've had.

Rating # 12

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Amazing. Insightful. Great professor. Only contribute as much as you want to contribute to the class. Does not force you to speak but makes you think introspectively.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENGL220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His questions can leave you wondering how specific he wants you to be in a response, or if he's asking for opinion or fact. He had us write questions for discussion, but rarely used them. That said, Sergei is a BAMF. He's very kind, and demanding without being absurd. He likes to hear the sound of his own voice, but that's ok, because I do too.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENGL220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I don't know why everyone is saying that he's a conceited jerk. I personally found him very nice. I thought his paper comments were helpful and detailed. In class he lead discussions without spoon-feeding and encouraged us to answer our own questions. He is also very funny.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENGL320
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very intelligent, helpful, and clear. Good use of class time. Very hard grader.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: SHAKESPEARE
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

No, no, no, no, no! I do not understand how a professor can earn tenure and then live off it for decades. This man embodies everything that's wrong with Kenyon, not the least of which is the fact that all these people still eat out of his hand whenever they can.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENGL103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Love him! Extraordinarily accessible and very passionate about what he's teaching.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENGL103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Brilliant and very helpful professor.Take him if you want to learn a lot and/or improve your writing.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENG220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great at leading discussions, brings in material and can tie the plays to current events. Excellent teacher, but not very helpful as far as papers go.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENG220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very condescending. Can be helpful if you give him a chance.