Carol Rivin - Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

Professor: Carol Rivin

Department: Biology

College: Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BI213
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Her course was impossible. I couldn't understand her lectures, I found PChem easier than this - and I did terribly on the tests. It's like anyone who does well is some kind of genius who knows how to understand her cryptic, loopy approach to genetics. Not recommended, although she's the only one who teaches it. Just muddle thru it. You'll pass.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BI213
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Worst "professor" ever. She reads slides and spend too much time on explaining simple stuff, sometimes making them complicated. Lecture is so boring and redundant. She's also just bad at it. AVOID.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BI311
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Not great for BI311, but much better than Taylor. Between the two, take Rivin. Rivin's lectures are pretty on point for what is going to be on the test, although she rushes through the hardest topics. The book is helpful. She has weekly homework, which is helpful&a grade booster. Tests are hard, but you are allowed a cheat sheet. Go to office hours

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BI213
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Her Powerpoint slides are jumbled and hard to follow; very wordy, very tough to discern the most important components. WordyTricky Test Questions. Often messed up clicker questions; she herself would choose the incorrect answer. Not technologically gifted in any way.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BI213
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

While Rivin's exams are challenging, they aren't impossible. If you need help, ask her after class or during office hours and she'll happily explain a concept to you! Or take advantage of the SI tables. Likes clicker points, so attendance is kind of mandatory; she does post the questions ahead of time though. Nice woman, challenging exams.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BI311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Avoid avoid AVOID. Unless you love spending hours trying to decode confusing powerpoint slides and poorly worded test questions. HAVE to attend lecture, not just for clicker points but to be able to understand whatever she wrote down. Unfortunately, she's also fairly hard to understand in her lectures. Makes straightforward subjects difficult.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BI311
• 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:

Good freaking god. I would shoot myself before I took another one of her classes. I had her for 2 different courses and I will NEVER take that class again... Disrespectful to student, quizzes on material we haven't covered, and posts a due date for the night its covered... Power points? More like useless information taking up valuable disc space...

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BI311
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Rivin may perhaps be the worst professor on the planet. Prior to taking her course I loved genetics, but then I took her course. She doesn't know how to teach the course, because all she does is rant. And treats you like kindergarteners with name tags. And best of all she doesn't respond to emails and if she does she is flat out rude. AVOID.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BI311
• 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:

Worst professor I have literally ever had. First and foremost you are required to go to lectures for clicker questions (no biggie, I go to all my lectures) but her lectures are so pointless and not useful, she honestly made me more confused about genetics. Secondly she is not polite, and does not seem to care anyone's actual education and learning.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO213
• 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:

Without a doubt the worst professor I've had at OSU. Her tests are so poorly worded it's a miracle if you can figure out what she's talking about. AVOID if possible

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIOLOGY213
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The worst professor I've had at OSU. Her tests are ridiculous and often have nothing to do with her lectures. bad bad bad.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BI213
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Her use of clickers must have improved since the other posts. Rivin is a good lecturer! People complain about her tests, but it's fine if you have studied. She provides a lot of resources for studying, and is always happy to discuss interesting topics with students after class. She adds history to scientific discoveries, but doesn't test on it.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BI213
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

She is absolutely horrible with clickers and technology... Half the points get uploaded wrong, and she always messes up something in class. Material covered isn't bad, but she her un-organization is irritating.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BI311
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Her tests are ridiculous, she doesn't know how to write questions. All her lectures are powerpoint based and the questions given on the tests have nothing to do with them. Read the book. I would avoid taking this class if you can.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BI311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She's a good teacher. Some students are complaining about her having trouble with the clicker technology but I think it was because she was using a Mac and the software wasn't working right. Overall, she is good teacher and she puts up all her lecture slides online before class. She also gives lots of practice problems before tests that really help

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BI311
• 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:

By far the worst professor I have ever had. She has no idea how to use anything related to technology. Her tests are extremely difficult, in that there are many implicit parts of the questions that are easily overlooked. As someone who doesn't usually struggle in classes, this class is horrible. Get a different professor if at all possible!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BI311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Carol Rivin is a very poor instructor. She cannot seem to manage any of her technological teaching techniques, and is incredibly difficult to understand. Take it with anyone else if you can!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BI311
• 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:

Carol is honestly the most ridiculous instructor I have ever come across. Not only does she have technological break downs EVERY LECTURE, but her organization is a total mess, and she is incredibly vague with her material. Both classes I have taken with her have been awful.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BI213
• 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:

She was an awesome teacher! She held review sessions on weekends before the test. She gave students the clicker questions before the lectures. It was nice to not be put on the spot. Tests were straight forward, no tricky questions. The material was difficult to learn and confusing. This is not because of the teacher it was because it was genetics.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BI213
• 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:

Worst professor I've had at OSU and it's not even close. Doesn't put any time into the class and really just doesn't care about student learning.