David Fretz - Irvine Valley College, Irvine, CA

Professor: David Fretz

Department: Biology

College: Irvine Valley College, Irvine, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO1
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The class is tough. But it's very straight forward, and easy A course if you take good notes in all the lectures, which are very enjoyable. The professor also passes out learning objectives every unit, which are basically study guides for the test. Review it along with your notes, and then the tests would be a breeze. Studying is the hard part.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

It is important to attend his lectures and take notes. He gives out a study guide which are so similar to the test. He gives extra credit on each test. I recommend taking his class.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO1L
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took his bio lab with his bio 1 lecture. We had to finish one lab assignment every week as homework (which can take up to 2-3 hours if the lab was long), but his lectures were interesting and he makes a lot of good jokes in class:) Easy A if u go to every class, turn in homework, and spend 1 hour for each quiz.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO1
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I am heavily concentrated on biology (even as a math major). He is the BEST biology professor I've ever had. I never bought a textbook, but his lecture along with PowerPoint was amazing and informative. He gives out study guide 1 week before exams and if you go to classes, take notes and understand everything on the study guide, it's an easy A.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

3 exams and 1 final plus an in-class workbook make up your overall grade (the workbook being only 11% of your grade). I wish I took another science or another teacher that offered HW. Really regretting taking this class, it's the hardest class I have ever taken. I am not a biology major and this subject matter is like a foreign language to me.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO1
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The only way to fail this class is if you are lazy. This professor makes an otherwise dull class very interesting. He is so funny with a dry sense of humor and so engaging. I found myself reciting facts to everyone around me. The expectations are clear and he gives study objectives for tests and allows you to ask questions on them beforehand.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO1ANDLAB
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Fretz is by far one of the best professors i have had in college. Science is not my thing, but he makes class entertaining all while teaching the material. Everything you need to know is on the learning objectives he hands out for the tests. very caring, and is always willing to help, especially during his office hours! highly recommend.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Attend class, take notes, and study learning objectives which he passes out in class. He has office hours available so you can always meet with him if you have any questions. I definitely recommend him. It is biology at the end of the day, so you can't get away with not studying; however, everything you need to study is in the learning objectives!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you had struggled with biology, I would recommend not taking his class. He talks a lot during lecture but it isn't focus on the main point. He talks very fast so it's really hard to note what he says. Test is not easy too.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This professor stressed me out all semester, but overall the class wasn't as bad as it could have been. The labs are graded pretty harshly, scored quite low on the first few. The quizzes are not terrible, he provides a study guides and VERY QUICKLY goes over the answers. Make sure to pay attention to what he says because he is very precise.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO1LAB
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's nice (tho I don't think he liked me) & the class is clearly defined. Participate during labs & show up for attendance. He's kindof funny & tries to finish the labs earlier than the unnecessary 3 hours. Labs are graded on completion AND correctness, quizzes are laid out in study guides but usually fill in the blanks. He's a good prof overall

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO1
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is very particular about the wording on tests. I thought I would do well in this class but unless you are great at memorizing you won't pass this class with an A.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO1
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I really enjoyed having him as a professor. I know a lot of students say hes mean but once you get to know him he is actually pretty funny, nice and caring. He is particular about the wordings on his exam. Just make sure to take lots of notes and study the learning objectives.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO1L61805
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took Fretz for Bio lab and his lectures were extremely boring. He's very monotone and it made me doze off quite a bit. The labs were easy because we were doing it straight out of a lab book. Quizzes were easy too. If you come and do the labs according to his criteria, you'll get an A. He's just uninteresting and sarcastic. Also, he hates phones.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO1
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Fretz reminds me of the high school teacher who's too tired every day and sick of everyone talking. Laughs seem to bother him and gets especially angry if students are being students before a lecture. The tests are long and he's terse when you ask him a question

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO1
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Super difficult professor. I wouldn't recommend you taking his class unless you know you'll be able to handle MEMORIZING the study guide--and the study guide is based off of lecture, so if you miss a class, you're screwed. He is SO specific on tests. If you have the answer correct but you don't word it how he did in lecture, you aren't getting it.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO1
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I am happy I ignored the bad reviews on him and took the class. This summer taking his class has been fun. Made an almost 3 hour lecture not dreadful. He's very straightforward. Zero surprises on exams and makes bio fun. His learning objectives are the test. Study those and A's on exams will be yours. Another plus, no book needed :)

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO1
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Fretz makes bio easy! As long as you attend every class and take good notes, the study guides are simple and the exams are practically the same. No textbook required, 4 exams. Bio is always a lot of info to retain but as long as you start studying the learning objectives early, you'll pass just fine.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO1
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

2 pieces of advice: 1. STUDY THE LEARNING OBJECTIVES. Everything on the exams come from those. 2. DO NOT bother him before class. He is happy to answer questions after class and during. He knows his stuff and offers a class w/out a book. Stellar professor & has made bio (an otherwise horrendous subject to me) entertaining and easy to understand.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

lol know the study guide and all of his definitions word by word and you will pass. It's easy.