David Goldfarb - University of Rochester, Rochester, NY

Professor: David Goldfarb

Department: Science

College: University of Rochester, Rochester, NY

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO112
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His lecture style can be a bit all over the place and the jargon he uses can sometimes make the lecture hard to follow. He does put up the lecture slides so going through the slides in your own time and trying to understand each slide can make class much more doable. Make sure to get yourself together for the tests, they're not easy.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO112
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is a great guy but his teaching style is not for everyone. He seems to assume that we know more than we do. The difficulty of material is hard but his teaching style makes it harder to understand. Makes no effort to "dumb" down the material to make it easier to understand, almost too smart to teach. Office hours and appointments available.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO112
• 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:

The frame of the class is vague, and the lecture is unorganized. A lot of points are too advanced and hard that seem to be unnecessary to be taught in this basic course.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO112
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

BIO 112 is a really hard class. He lectures very generally and tests very specifically. The only class I have ever gotten below an A in. I found the topics interesting yet hard to follow, and you need to study a TON to do well. The curve is supposedly very generous but it didn't help me at all. Most students love him though and he is accessible.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Goldfarb's 112 class was one of the best I've taken so far. I never used the optional textbook, but as long as you rewatch the lectures and take thorough notes you should do well in the class. I found the workshops, where you go over summarized scientific research, very interesting. The final paper was also not too difficult if you wrote well.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO112
• 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:

Dr. Goldfarb is great, super funny, great lectures and really cares about his students. I actually looked forward to having a 9am three times a week because his lectures and stories were so good. The course material is challenging but tests are open ended and a regrade gets you tons of points back. Generous grader too!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO112
• 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:

This is a topic based course, and has several 'stories' intertwined by basic principles of matter. Dr. Goldfarb does an exceptional job at conveying all of these stories in an effective and often very entertaining way. He is non biased towards his research, cares about all of his students and is very apt and available to help. Highly recommended!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO112
• 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:

A really good professor!!! Lecture is not mandatory and he is very funny. You won't feel bored on his class. He replies email fairly quick and he even answered my questions during Thanksgiving. Not only for course content, but you can also ask him for major advice or general college advice.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO112
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Goldfarb is the best professor I've ever had. He is so enthusiastic about biology and gives inspiring, clear lectures. 10/10 would recommend, he makes learning biology fun and exciting.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO112
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Goldfarb was a really great professor. He had great lectures and had office hours 2 times a week that were really helpful. His class was tough but he included lots of interesting and relevant material.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO112
• 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:

Best professor I've had so far. Dr. Goldfarb is passionate about the subject, approachable during office hours, and just a very nice man in general. I highly recommend you take his class.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO112
• 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:

His lecture is definetely entertaining and intuitive. Although the topics and concepts covered are broad, he can really let us make sense out of it. I know nothing about office hour since I don't go to it and only contact him by email. He is always replying. Also, at least for Fall 2016, textbooks and attendence are not required.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Goldfarb is a great lecturer who really cares about his students. He presents really tough material, but go to office hours and pay attention in class and you can get through it. The class is made of really smart students so watch the curve..

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Great man!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO210
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Goldfarb has been my favorite professor at this university . His lectures are interesting but the material is coming quickly at you and he expects you to keep up. He does take time for questions and encourages them! He's one of the most caring and approachable professors I've met in the department.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO210
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Goldfarb is an energetic lecturer and he really wants to see his students understanding the material and by extension, doing well in the class. I have gone to Prof. Goldfarb's office hours often it really helped me solidify my understanding of class material. His tests are fair and usually test on material just in their own context.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

His class is so easy

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Have taken 2 classes with him and know him from doing outside research. Very fun professor and very knowledgeable, but his teaching style isn't for everyone. Very helpful if you have any questions after lecture.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO199
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

awful teacher, and his tests were way too hard

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He tries too hard to be cool. His lectures can be confusing because he presents material unclearly.