W. Brian O'Connor - University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Professor: W. Brian O'Connor

Department: Biology

College: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIOL297
• 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:

Awesome Person. Didn't take any classes from him but he he advised me for medical school. Though I wasn't a stellar candidate initially in 1977 he stuck with me all 3 times I applied. Got into Tufts on 3rd try and have been working as a successful pediatric eye surgeon for nearly 25 years (Tufts Medical 1986). He truly is - The Man! Thanks!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO288
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Everything you need to know is it the lecture notes, so all exam questions are fair game. Study guides, old exams, and review sessions are extremely helpful, so use these to your advantage and memorize like crazy! Old multiple choice questions also tend to be repeated, or are very similar. Take this class! It requires work, but you will love it.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO297A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's a great advisor and yet a pretty weak teacher. Class isn't too hard, but he uses messy, outdated lecture slides and overheads, some of which seem at least a decade old. I wouldn't recommend this class unless you absolutely have to take it because he's the worse bio teacher i've had at umass.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIOAL33
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

he can not teach

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO452
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Great professor and advisor. Truly takes an interest.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO297A
• 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 LOVED this class and Prof O'Connor. He does a great job of explaining things and he keeps the lectures interesting w/ his sense of humor. He does go over a lot of information but you have his notes so its not hard to follow. All the exams from the year before are online-use them and you'll do fine. I would definitely recommend taking this class.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: 297A
• 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:

he is the best thing that happened to the biology dept at umass.its a very com[rehensive course that requires a lot to read and understand but he makes it easier just buy the way he teaches and he is so kind.got a sense of humor too.a course worth taking.pre-med or no pre-med.if u fail its your doing cos he tries

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BILOGY296A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is a great professor. If you study his questions and do the practice exam you will do very well. His study sessions are helpful because you cam ask whatever you need to. He gets to the point and its great! He's an understanding professor in the sense if you don't do well on one he will adjust it if you do well on the last 3.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO297A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Amazing professor, but he covers a lot of stuff in such a short time, so it's really hard to know what to study for. Stick to your notes, diagrams, and study questions and study hard- real hard.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO297
• 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:

Dr. O'Connor is SUCH a nice person. He is an excellent lecturer. He knows his stuff and he makes physiology interesting (?) Yes, he does. Exams are decent, just read the notes and you'll do fine on the exams.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO297A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very dry. Hard to pick out what information he's looking for until you get the test. He requires the student to know a lot. I didn't particularly care for him, but all the pre-med's seem to think he's God's gift...

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO297A
• 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:

Definitley one of the best professors I've ever had. I worked my butt of for this class, but it was definitley worth it. Physiology is tough subject but he teaches it well and obviously enjoys doing so. Really funny guy, and was extremely helpful when I was having problems with another professor.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO297A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Seriously the M-A-N

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO297A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

One of the best professors I've ever had, he's a great guy and will do everything that he can to help you. Tests are relatively easy and the review sessions are really helpful. He's great to listen to and knows his material.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO297A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor O'Connor is one of the best teachers I have ever had. He is such a nice guy and it is obvious he loves to teach. He keeps the class interesting by cracking jokes and going off on some interesting tangents. Everybody should take this class. Do the old exams- they really help.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO297
• 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:

best teacher at umass

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: 297A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Proabably one of my all time favorite professors! He enjoys teaching and wants his students to do well. He is more than willing to help you out if you have any troubles. Just a great guy in general.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIOLOGY297A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

VERY grandfatherly and sweet, and obviously loves teaching and his students. Sometimes he squeezes his eyes shut and goes off on random soapbox tangents, but he is VERY generous with grading and well tell you exactly what to do to ace the course. A great advisor!! Responds to all e-mails.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: 297A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

best bio teacher and best advisor a true asset to umass....must take this classs...must must must

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: 297A
• 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:

Take a class with professor O'Connor if you are a bio major. He is one of the few professors i have had here that actually loves his job.