William Quillian - Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA

Professor: William Quillian

Department: English

College: Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENGL383
• 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:

Delightfully spontaneous lecture-style, but always quick to get to the point. Makes the most difficult texts approachable to all. Very flexible with office hours and helpful with comments. So sad he's retired!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENG200
• 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:

this guy is the coolest most laid back professor i've ever met. i love his lectures simply because he says the most random things during class and makes the simplest pieces of literature works so interesting. Oh and dont forget to ask him about his one good dog and one bad dog!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENGL220
• 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:

Taking a class with Quillian is part of the Mt Holyoke experience. Hes confrontational, and mean, but completely brilliant. Talk in class, and don't be afraid to argue with him, his bark is worse than his bite. Really tough grader, so don't take him if you're planning on just coasting by, but seriously, if you love literature then you'll be fine

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: LIT5X
• 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:

Met him in '89 as my advisor. Knew me when I introduced myself and rec'd I change one of my classes 'cause he thought I'd be bored. Lots of feedback on papers, was my thesis advisor & met w/me every week for a year. Not for those who are used to coasting on glib writing skills (which was me before BQ!) because he will challenge your every word!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENG220
• 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:

Quillian is brilliant, enthusiastic, but also very laidback. He's willing to help if you're willing to put in the effort and see him in office hours.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENGL280
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

My issue with Quillian isn't that he's tough or vague or anything else people usually gripe about; it's that he doesn't care. He does not seem to have anything vested in his students. Class seems irrelevant to him, a hobby to keep him occupied during the day. It's amusing to hear other faculty members talk about him and share the same thoughts.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENGLLC
• 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:

I thought he was pretty nice. He's a hard grader but he was helpful as long as you put in the effort.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENG101
• 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:

Very cool, particularly if you talk to him during office hours.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENGENG
• 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:

Sometimes I've done well in his class, sometimes I haven't. Sometimes he likes my work, sometimes he doesn't. He has high expectations and wants us to excel. I still say he's one of the best teachers I've had.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENG01
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If you are truly passionate about literature and a gifted writer, then take a class with him. However, I noticed that he likes the pretty girls so that helps. But, if you are going through a miserable time and do not take as much care with your work: you're screwed. If you can handle elitism and favoritism, you're set. If not DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENG330
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Class discussions are a toss-up--they're really good when he makes you get particular about the text, but sometimes they're painfully tangential. But he's helpful one on one and really knows his stuff. I think he helped me improve my writing, and I would definitely take another class with the guy.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENGL280
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Worst professor ever. The man plays favorites, degrades students he doesn't like, and behaves like a small kid sometimes. It is so sad that he is the only prof. who teaches the course.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: TWOSECT
• 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:

be cautious. he does have favorites and you don't get grades just comments. comments are great, but i need to know where i stand, so if you're like that, don't take his class. his classes always run late as well.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: LITTHEO
• 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:

best ever!!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENG101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He's a pretty cranky guy but what he likes is students really learning about the actual history behind the work that he is teaching. If you do this, he is likely to give you a good grade.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENGL101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

a good professor once he gets feedback from class. but talks a lot about his family - our class knows all of them by now.. hehe... you have absolutely no idea what grade he's going to give though.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENG280
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

i love bill quillian! so interesting. so funny. so brilliant. if you don't understand what he says in class, it's ok. i don't think you are suppose to fully understand. the morsels of knowledge click later, in the park on some sunny afternoon... "oh that's what he meant."

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MORETHANONE
• 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:

His are not classes for grade grubbers. Not many people end up with a grade above a B+ in his classes, so you need to be one of those people who doesn't freak out when they don't get As. He doesn't just drone on with the things you already know about the reading. He's big on student discussion, and you WILL have to put an effort into his class.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENG201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Horrible professor. He is unclear, rambles, and shows blantant favoritism (and can be downright rude). He doesn't grade projects so you have no clue how you are doing.

Rating # 20

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I liked him for most of the semester--he was helpful and nice to just go chat with. he does grade down--I would have absolutely ended up with grades one notch higher with any other professor. He is worth the time to take a class with (esp. his Joyce class), but realize he can be very cranky and is too picky about student papers.