Colin Orians - Tufts University, Medford, MA

Professor: Colin Orians

Department: Science

College: Tufts University, Medford, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO7
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Ugh. I only have terrible things to say about the class. The teachers were alright, but this class is terrible. DO NOT take this for an easy science credit. The work you put into this class is unjustified. This class is basically a glorified story hour with required attendance. My best memory was when Orians mixed up Obama and Al Qaeda in a joke.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO181
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This was easily the best class I've taken at Tufts. Colin was kind, understanding, and really went above and beyond. He's really passionate about tropical ecology and it comes through. He expects you to rise the occasion, and I loved that. Amazing man, professor, and class. Highly highly recommended.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO7
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He was very boring and at times seemed as though he didn't know what he was doing. I could barely stay awake during the class. It's taught by two teachers, and he's definitely the worst one. I took this class just to fulfill the science requirement, but I felt it required much more time out of class than I was willing to give it

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO7
• 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:

BIO 7 was team taught by Professors Orians and Reed, and Orians was by far the weaker of the two. He seemed to get confused while presenting often (probably because he just didn't know how to explain something), which made him seem less knowledgeable. Good thing the subject matter in BIO 7 was pretty self-explanatory...

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO143
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The lectures were all powerpoints that were based completely on the textbook, which made it extremely boring. The course was not tied together very well, and no one was prepared for the midterm. The final consisted of essay responses which averaged over ten pages. The professors were nice though and were helpful in office hours.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO143
• 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:

Lectures are mostly series of examples, not very well tied together into concepts even though exams are based on these concepts. Lecture powerpoints posted on blackboard which eases note-taking. Somewhat unfocused course that I hoped would be more interesting. Tests are harder than expected but grading is not too tough.