Vicki Drake - Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, CA

Professor: Vicki Drake

Department: Earth Science

College: Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: GEOG14
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Overall she knows her stuff. However, the tests and essays are graded tough. She's looking for a specific style in your writing of geography-something I don't have when it comes to this boring subject I guess. The tests are VERY specific and are to be completed within a short time frame.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: GEO5
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She is a great professor. Taking notes isn't always necessary as she does post the lectures online. But I would write down things she says outside of whats just on the powerpoint. Do every lab and ask a lot of questions (lots of easy points). Lab Quizzes are straight from your labs, study them. Mid and Final are from lectures. DO THE EXTRA CREDIT!!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: GEO5
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I love prof. Drake! She is very funny and passionate about her subject. One or two labs every lecture, so do not skip classes because they will matter on your grade. Two essays due for each exam, I recommend you don't skip any of them. Gives a lot of extra credit. Book isn't neccessary, but it can be good to use as sources for the essays.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: GEO5
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Drake is a great teacher, but her class is not easy. If you want to get an A, you have to come to every class and do all of the labs. The tests are pretty hard, but she drops one and gives extra credit regularly throughout the semester. If you just need to complete a lab-science for IGETC, I recommend looking elsewhere.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: GEO5
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

She doesn't care about students academics. If you want to ask her something regarding your points that you didn't receive or questions about the quiz lab she will point out with her long nails and say what does the question say after that she will say well i did mention that. powerpoints 60+ very strict with grading her essays , LabQ. save YourS

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: GEOG5
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Can be pretty rude and snarky when asking for help, considering she barely goes over the labs you do every class. She doesn't give precise instrucions for everything and gets an attitude when you ask. Lots of work and lectures are super boring. She can be nice *sometimes*. Wish there were more professor options for thisfuchsia class.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: GEOG5
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

3 exams(drops Lowest)+ final+ 2 essays due before every exam. 5 lab quizzes. 30 EC points. Labs due everyday. Hardest class Ive ever taken. Make sure you understand the subject, know how to do the labs, memorize the lectures. TONS OF INFORMATION. It was an overwhelming class but you have to work hard for it, requires lots of studying. Good luck!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: GEO5
• 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:

This was a nice class. If you go over the power points and the labs you will do well.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: GEO5
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Fabulous professor with a great charisma and always happy to see students and take questions after class. 4 Lab quizzes, 4 Exams and 8 , 2-3 page essays. Make sure to build a study guide as soon as you know the chapter. Also lets you start on essays before they are due. Great amount of extra credit available too (30 points)

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: GEO14
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Not an easy class, but she's awesome. There is definitely quite a bit of studying to do and a few papers to write (ugh) but she's very understanding and helpful. Not a hard grader at all, at least in my experience. Just attend class, review after each lecture, turn the hw in on time and you'll be fine. You learn a lot in this class. I got an A!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: GEO14
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

this class is lecture the whole time with each power point being 50+ slides long. Be prepared to write a lot of essays, luckily they are only a few pages long. 4 exams, 2 essays for each exam, final paper, cumulative final- 4 short answer essays. study guides give no guidance on what specifically to study for 50 question test & reviews EVERYTHING

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: GEOG5
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

One of the best professor I've had at SMC, truly inspirational. She has a lot of knowledge and wants you to learn and understand. She is tough and you will have to study and participate, but its all worth it because you will learn a lot. Groupwork, lab quiz, 2 writings per exam. The class went on a field trip together and we always felt like a team

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: GIS20
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Drake's online GIS class is tough because the program you're learning to use is difficult and sometimes counterintuitive. However, once you get the hang of it, it's not so bad. She's extremely good about answering questions, wants students to do well, and seems like a really nice person in general. I'd take another class with her.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: GEOG5
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This was the most challenging class i have taken. If youre looking for an easy grade then dont be in this class. She gives over 10 essays and they are due right before the test day. I really liked this class because of the teacher. She is very helpful and she new I was struggling and help me finally achieve a B. Take this class

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: GEOGRAPHY14
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Drake is the best! She is so kind and helpful. She only gives 3 exams and a final, and your lowest exam is dropped. 87% gets you an A. Her powerpoints are all online and they are easy to follow. She also offers extra credit sometimes. It's not a difficult class, and she even provides study guidesmaps.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: GIS20
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Drakes GIS online class is definitely tough. Only a midterm and a final but many assignments. She is extremely helpful in terms of helping you work through and problemsglitches with the assignments and software used. If you try and care about this class you will do very well. Wonderful professor and great class.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: GEOG14
• 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:

Professor Drake is amazing, I took her California geography class and it is the best decision I have ever made. Come to class, review her PowerPoints and use the study guide for the 4 exams! Not that hard unless you don't care at all. She gives 4 exams and drops the lowest one, tons of e.c opportunities too. Best teacher ever!!!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: GEO14
• 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:

To be straight forward, this class is not an easy A. It's PowerPoint lecture to lecture to lecture then test. 2 minimum 2 page essay due everyone there's an exam. Then lecture, lecture, exam and continue on the rest of the semester. Maps on the tests are easy , tests in general are hard. I studied and got a C.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: GEO2320
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Study the Maps! This class might have boring lectures but I found the topics interesting. She is helpful, and its not mandatory to go to class. Drake's tests are not hard, multiple choice. The MAPS are crucial so study them !

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: GEOG5
• 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:

Passes around grade sheet that shows everyone's grade even if you have a code name. Creates a tense environment of learning and the material is enough to deal with. Isn't that against privacy code?Morris is way better!