Benjamin Varat - Boston University, Boston, MA

Professor: Benjamin Varat

Department: Social Science

College: Boston University, Boston, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: SS201
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's the best teacher I've come across at CGS. His lectures are spellbinding and he can make the most boring topic interesting. He's also a very personable guy who's just fun to banter with. His style isn't for everyone though. There aren't slides or visuals. You have to give all of your attention to the lectures if you want to pass.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: NS201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Varat was my favorite professor this semester. He is very passionate about what he teaches, which makes a generally boring class much more interesting and engaging. He gives you a list of terms to know for the exam so you aren't surprised by what you see. He assigns supplemental readings, but you can get by without some of them.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: SS201
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I LOVE this man. He makes you want to show up to class. He is so understanding about personal situations and is a real gem of a human being. His class is difficult and doesn't give out anything higher than a 95 but you genuinely learn so much because his lectures are so entertaining. Go to office hours if you can. Only 3 exams and one paper.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: SS201
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Easily one of the best classes to take at CGS! If you have the chance to pick your Social Science professor, Prof. Varat will exceed expectations. His lectures are far too amazing to miss, and they're even better when the class participates, so make sure to do the reading. Passionate about material, and super helpful in OH. 10/10 would take again.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: SS201202
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Absolutely LOVED Professor Varat. The best professor I have ever had- and so passionate about his class. He makes it hard to get an A, but simply his lectures and passion, as well expertise in the subjects, make the class well worth it. He is great about office hours and cares a lot about his students and class. Wish he taught all my classes. LOVE!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: SS201202
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Love love love Varat! The best professor I've had at BU, and wish I could take another of his classes. Amazing, inspirational, and engaging lecturer and truly interested in helping you. He does talk fast, so get ready to write fast. He's a little tough grader, so make sure your answers are as detailed as possible!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: SS201202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Amazing man! hard class but work for it and you;ll be fine. He's a great person!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: SS201
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The man.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: SS201
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He uses the textbook but it's possible to pass without reading. That said, read the textbook because its helpful and there is so much to cover in this course and Varat works crazy hard to cover everything. The Reader won't be used as much though because his lectures tend to get mushed into class discussion. Awesome lecturer and awesome professor.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: SS201
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Best CGS teacher I've had. It says something that I'm disappointed I will not get to take his class next semester because of high school credit I've received. Always willing to explain concepts and history just makes sense when he explains it. You have to work your ass off for an A, but he makes you want to do well.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: SS201
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Varat is incredible caring and enthusiastic. He wants you to do well more than anything, but won't give you an easy A. If you should show up, pay attention, and participate, the material will be easier to understand. The class covers a lot of material, but Varat is the best lecturer.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: SS201202
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Best BU Professor. Clear, easy to understand way of lecturing about history. Office hours every day and makes an effort to know students. Kindest professor also- he is always happy and excited when students talk to him. I received an A in his class because of how good he is- the midterm all sophomores take was so easy bc our team was so prepared!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: SS201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Probably the best professor I've had in college! He is really caring about his students but is a tough grader, so better pay attention! Don't skip class, it's not an easy A. I never thought I would like social science, but having a professor like him is really inspiring. I wish he taught all my classes!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: SS101SS102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Varat is one of the best professors ever! He is so passionate about history so he makes learning about social science as exciting as possible. I didn't think I would like the class but Varat made it really interesting. He is so helpful in office hours and tutorials and you can tell he really wants you to do well in his class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: SS101
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Literally the best professorteacher I have ever had. He is so passionate about what he teaches and helped me so much with the material in emails or made himself available outside of class. He really wants students to succeed but you NEED to work for it. The most informative and amazing human you'll ever have the gift of learning from.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: SS101
• 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:

Varat is AMAZING! Best professor I ever had! Made my experience at BU. He emails back fast and is always more than happy to help and spend extra time. He cares about you as a person and asks about your life outside of the classroom. He is a tough grader, but he made me try hard and I did well.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: SS102
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The best professor in CGS and possibly BU! Varat cares about each of his students and makes dull material interesting. I always look forward to his class and office hours because he is so kind. PARTICIPATE IN DISCUSSION and beware of his tough grading, but it's impossible not to love this guy. And his study guides are amazing! LOVE VARAT!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: SS201
• 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:

Bawse. That's the word used to most accurately describe this brilliant professor.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CGS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He was honestly the best teacher Ive had. He cares about his students, he's very clear, and he has a great passion in his lectures and discussions. He appreciates participation, so make sure to read the work before discussion. The final was really hard, but everything else was reasonably easy.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: SS101
• 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:

Really obvious that he cares about the subject and about teaching it to his students. Always incredibly enthusiastic and his self-deprecating humor isn't forced. Grades fairly - make sure you put all of your effort into what you write for him because he knows what to expect from each student.