David Davies - Binghamton University (SUNY), Binghamton, NY

Professor: David Davies

Department: Biology

College: Binghamton University (SUNY), Binghamton, NY

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIOL314
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I love Dr Davies!!! Hes SO passionate about microorganisms, and inserts tidbits about his research where relevant (and only where relevant). He has so many interesting facts about microbiology that he loves to share. Hes also HILARIOUS if you appreciate dry, lowkey humor. The class is only 3 exams but if you memorize youll do fine!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIOL314
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He truly loves microorganisms and wants to get us to love them as well. He's very knowledgeable and seemingly has a never-ending trove of cool facts. He has a very dry sense of humor that I was able to appreciate greatly. The class is only 3 non-cumulative exams so you have to know the material well!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO314
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr Davies is truly a great, knowledgeable professor. He knows exactly what he's talking about which matters when it comes to this class. He is very specific on his exams, but you only really need old exams as he copies most questions year-to-year. His lectures can be dull, especially the 2 hour Friday lectures. Overall he's great, quirky, and funny

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO314
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Terrible. Tests are hard. Too much material. No forgiveness whatsoever. This is 20 times harder compared to pre-health microbio, which is completely unfair.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO314
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The lectures for this course were not engaging, and Dr. Davies would frequently make mistakes in lecture. It was evident that he values his research over teaching, and it made this class really unpleasant. The grades are made up of only 3 exams with very specific questions. Skip it unless you need it to graduate.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIOL314
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

3 tests for entire course grade, no drops. Fill in the blank and difficult multiple choice make the tests nearly impossible even with old tests. Need to spend several several hours a week in order to get a good grade because you have to understand all the info inside and out. And he makes mistakes in lectures so good luck.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO314
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very knowledgable but not the best at teaching. Lectures are boring and he just reads over the notes that are available on blackboard. Test material isn't complicated to understand but it's very specific and covers A LOT of material so you need to be studying along the way or plan ahead time to study.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO314
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

You need the old exams to take this course. He questions are worded in a weird manor and if you don't have to old exams you will be behind everyone else. He knows old exams are out there and only changes 2-3 questions per exam. Also he fell behind and just decided to fly through several chapters to catch up but expects us to know them well.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO314
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class is complete memorization, you cannot wait till one day before test to study, YOU WILL FAIL, study ahead and get old tests, they help a lot. He makes mistakes and sometimes you will have no idea what he did. There is no discussion, HE TALKS FOR 2 HOURS STRAIGHT NO BREAK, which i think is unfair. Office hours only once a week.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIOL314
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is a quirky guy and isn't the best at getting all topics across but if you use the book as well you can easily learn everything. He does throw in a couple really specific questions on exams, but this is college. He is one of the better professors I've had in bing. Also he LOVES microorganism and knows a lot of cool random facts.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO314
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This is the worst professor I ever had at Binghamton, his test is so hard, only 3 test for total grade for class. Dont take hime if you have choice, he makes mistakes and is not clear at all.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIOL314
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Davies has to be one of the greatest professors I've had here at Binghamton. His lectures are great and he really inspires you to go into the research aspect of biology that many pre-med students ignore (myself included). You will have to study for his test, but when you see a good grade on your test you'll know you earned it. 5/5

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO314
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If you memorize old tests and his lecture notes you should do okay. The class is based solely on 3 test grades which makes it harder to get a good grade. His lectures are dry and it's not really necessary to attend them.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIOL314
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Davies is smart,but inefficient; you won't learn much besides enhancing your memorization skill. Listen to me VERY carefully. Trust me now and thank me later. Procrastinate 3 days before an exam: you will most likely FAIL. Know the notes in & out. You will get a B+ at best. 3. KNOWING the stuff & gettin old exam is the only way to score A.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO314
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Three exams determine your grade and he grades stringently. Each exam has a lot of material and material is very dense. Does not give any partial credit even if a question may have 5 parts in it. Doesn't have discussion and has a 2 hour lecture on Friday instead, which was quite painful to sit through as he just reads off lecture notes mostly.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIOL314
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are boring. All he does is read the notes he posts online. I read the chapters in the book because i noticed he didn't go into great detail for some things. Come to lecture and write down what he says! Exams get harder each time! If you've taken bio classes, it's the same thing...just micro! He messes up a lot and tells stories.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIOL314
• 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:

Student who has three years of straight As in college so far and got a B in this class. Very disappointed in the teacher; frequently makes mistakes and goes off on story tangents that aren't useful. Repeats a lot from old tests, but asks questions in a very inconsistent way. Aggravating and I did not learn very much, but was required for the lab.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO314
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Shouldn't be that hard as long as you memorize what he writes in his notes. Specifics are not as important as the general concept and even though he says to read the textbook you can do well with just the lecture notes and power points. Old test will help he repeats A LOT of the same questions but you don't need them to do well.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIOL314
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I am pretty sure that a lot of these people didn't go to class. If you pay attention in class and review the notes and powerpoints it isn't hard to do well. His exams are straightforward and directly from lectures. He emphasizes studying from the book, but you really don't need to. Oh, that you need old exams to do well is complete BS.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO314
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Davies is a really nice guy. His lectures are a little over everyone's head but if you have the old tests and you ACTUALLY STUDY THEM AND THE NOTES you can do really well. take this class if you are used to bio classes its one of the easier ones