Dana Aswad - University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA

Professor: Dana Aswad

Department: Biology

College: University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO98
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Adequate enough when teaching the basics of Biochem, but most days it seemed like he was just reading over the slides--which overall screwed over majority of the class when it came to his midterm. His midterm was overwhelmingly difficult--and the mean was a D-. You'll really have to put in work for his portion.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO98
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

At first, his lectures seemed relatively straightforward. However, his midterm was very detail oriented and he didn't make it clear what he wanted us to learn. Therefore, it forced you to learn the whole book. The cheat sheet wasn't entirely helpful, but make sure to go over his practice midterms.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: 98
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He made the class fun. It was really hard but he is a good teacher.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO98
• 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:

He didn't reply any email before or during the quarter. On rare occasions that he does reply, his tone is "why are you bothering me?". He is also super vague on what you need to know. I don't mean that he should give the entire answers for the test, but he SHOULD be more specific on "the test is based on his lecture only or not"

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO98
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

WORST TEACHER EVER. DONT TAKE

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO98
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I hate how Ratemyprofessors can be so misleading. Aswad is one of the hardest professors I've ever taken, and her tests are extremely hard. I took Bio98 last year and summer this year, and I barely got out with a C-. Avoid if you can

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO98
• 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:

Prof. Aswad was very fair on his midterm...study hard-it's biochem, there's no way around it--but if you have Abott as a dicussion leader, her office hours are VERY helpful. Very do-able A if you keep on top of the material

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO98
• 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:

One of the best teachers on the campus

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO98
• 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:

He must have made is midterms easier because his test wasn't that bad. Nothing too tricky.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO98
• 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:

Dr. Aswad really isn't that bad. Skim through the answers of the book problems and look at the bold terms in each section and you will be fine. Go to lecture even though he is a little boring because at times he will tell you what you need to know. Read over the sections that he misses in class. Don't get behind and you will be fine!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO98
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The only way to do well in his class is to keep up with the readings, do/read over the assigned problems, go to every lecture and understand it like the back of your hand, and attend discussion sections religiously doing the worksheets and asking questions. Basically, biochem will take over your life...even more than ochem. good luck.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO98
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Too many people complain about this professor when they haven't done the assigned readings and problems. Put in the effort and you'll get an A. But yes, he has high expectations. The curve is very generous to reflect this.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO98
• 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:

His midterm and 25% of the final generally rapes the class. I think he checks the class Noteboard so post questions there if u want. Probably worth reading the testbook for his portion of the class. Book problems not too helpful tho. Study hard, he expects you to know things in DETAIL. Do practice tests too.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO98
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He seems really fair when u go to lectures. but he is awful. the midterm was really hard. he expects everyone knows eveything about biochemistry like him. don't ever take him. it is almost impossible to get an A. There is no way u can prepare yourself for the midterm questions. Don't take him

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO98
• 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:

Don't be fooled by his lectures. They make him appear to be a fair teacher, but his tests suggest otherwise. Writes confused and obscure directions to questions, which even he doesn't understand, but expects you to know what he's talking about. The worst part is that when you confront him, he'll pussyfoot away. Absolute and utter coward.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO98
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

His lectures were thorough and decent. Everyone was scared about the midterm because the 06 midterm was "hard", but I think he eased up for the 07 midterm and it wasn't so bad. His part for the final was hard though because you have to recall everything prior to the midterm along with the metabolic pathways material after the midterm. Not bad.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO98
• 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:

He is a pretty good lecturer, but his tests are demanding. Just knowing all his notes is not enough. The book that is used really sucks and he expects you to read a lot and do so many hard, lame problems. There is no winning with this guy.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO98
• 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:

Most of the test material is derived from lecture and homework problems, not the actual readings. Do the readings if you can, but pay attention in lecture and for have that solutions manual handy for studying the homework problems.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO98
• 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:

Aswad was an exceptional teacher. Simply take note of anything specific he mentions in lecture that are not in his slides plus do the HW problems and you'll be fine on his midterm, believe me. If you're someone who typically misses/skips lectures, you're going to regret it seeing the book is awful in explaining concepts. I highly recommend Aswad.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO98
• 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:

He definitely made the test easier for Winter 07. His practice exam which was winter 06's midterm was impossible...was soooo hard. however...he really made this exam more about his notes...memorize his notes and you will do fine...unless he changes it back to how winter 06 was :/