Bill Aarnes - Furman University, Greenville, SC

Professor: Bill Aarnes

Department: English

College: Furman University, Greenville, SC

Rating # 1

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Dr. Aarnes is one of the worst professors I've had at Furman. He is unclear about due dates and is extremely disorganized. He assigns a lot of essays and his lectures are really monotonous and boring. When he grades papers, you can barely read the notes he writes in the margins because his handwriting is so messy. Very very harsh grader.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: FYS11508
• Grade Received: D-
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This is possibly the absolute worst class you can take at Furman. I took a seminar about Benjamin Franklin and it was the biggest waste of time in a class. Dr. Aarnes will try to help you but give you back your essays with crappy editorial marks, sloppy handwriting, and honestly I don't think he knows what he's talking about. DON'T TAKE HIS CLASS

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: FYS1125
• 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:

I really didn't like him. Do NOT take his seminar (Studying Paintings with Poems)! He is very boring and monotonous, and it makes every class seem like it's three years long. His comments are kind of helpful, but his chicken-scratch is so bad you can't see anything he writes. Just try to avoid him.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENG312
• 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:

An excellent writer and a great teacher. Talk more than you think you have to! Doesn't always give clear feedback or expectations, but if you read and remember what you're talking about, the tests and papers will be fine. Funny, interesting, and kind.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENG316
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Aarnes is a good guy, with good intentions, but his class was very unorganized. We were always confused on when what was due or what he even expected. High use of books, a LOT of reading. Not an easy A. Had him for Environmental Writing

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: FYW123
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great guy. Teaches really well. Very accepting of students' viewpoints. Was always prompt in returning graded assignments. Was always clear with his assignments. Overall good experience in the class.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENG101
• 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:

evil plays favorites impossible grader you have no chance no matter how hard you work he is a typical radical left wing libral who is enbedded in the system does nothing to help students that are not like him.he is an old hippy.avoid him at all cost you will fail he doesn't care because he is accountable to NO ONE!

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:

Pretty tough professor. Getting an A in the class is almost impossible. But with his syllabus, a B+ is very possible. Always go to class, be sure to participate and get help out of class. Keeping up with reading is very important! [Surveillance Thrillers Seminar]

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HUM13
• 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:

One of the worst teachers I have had since I came to Furman! He plays favorites and if you are not one of them you are screwed for the whole term! Do not take a class with him!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENG420
• 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:

Dr. Aarnes is great. He just wants students to really be interested in the reading (which there is a ton of) and participate in class discussion. Maybe not a fan of giving A's, but getting a B+ is easy, if you do ALL the work. Definitely a great prof for liberally minded students. Be prepared to think.

Rating # 11

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Very hard grader but there are ways to get around this. He's a nice guy who definitely knows what he's talking about but he always seems like he's in his own little world. Tough nut to crack.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENG64S
• 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:

Dr. Aarnes is amazing. Really funny, loves the subject matter, and very helpful. Yes, he's tough, but I think a lot of the previous comments were left by students unwilling to actually do quality work. Get his help on papers, etc. before the due date; you'll be a better writer and thereby get a better grade. Take his class!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENG32
• 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:

Dr. Aarnes was one of my 3 favorite professors at Furman. He has an off-the-beaten-track sense of humor and he's very challenging -- I could never make that A off of him, always wound up with an A-, but I enjoyed every moment of class time. His classes (and I took 3 of them) expand you as a person if you're open to true learning.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HUM13
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are boring and he is a VERY TOUGH grader. However, he is willing to work with you if you ask. He laughs at his own uninteresting jokes. Overall, not recommended.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENG32
• 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:

Dr. Aarnes screwed me over. I worked really hard in his class, and he shafted me on the grade. Don't take him if you need to raise/keep your GPA high.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HUM13
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This prof is extremely politically motivated. If you have a strong conservative voice, do not take him! I have had a lot of great professors, but he rained pure hell on me and other students in his class. I think it is possible to not ruin your GPA and take him, but he will make you hate the class and yourself for taking it.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENG47
• 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:

His class isn't boring because he's so enthusiastic. The reading load is nothing unmanageable, and for the most part it's interesting. If you meet with him and turn in drafts, you'll do fine on your papers. I recommend him.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENG12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The only "A's" in this course are in the man's name! He says one thing and then does another. I held 4 meetings with him regarding one paper and he told me it would be a B paper. He gave me a D

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENG32
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Aarnes is not only extremely helpful and intelligent, but he is funny and personable as well.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENG32
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Aarnes is a talented poet and a dedicated professor. He challenges you to take your studies to a higher level and is always willing to help you with whatever you need. He encourages you to grow as a student and person. Whether in class discussion or over lunch in the P-den, you can learn SO MUCH from this witty, insightful man.