Don Ostrom - St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN

Professor: Don Ostrom

Department: Political Science

College: St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PSCI273
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Took his MN State Politics Interim... GREAT experience, as he was able to draw upon his contacts in the Capitol to bring in at least 3 gov't officials as guest speakers EVERYDAY. However, he's still a hard test grader, and his lecture style is still far too dry. The format and subject more than saves this class tho... TAKE IT!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PSCI111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Ostrom sure knows his stuff, but there are times in the class when he calls for student answers, and no student can seem to have quite the "correct" answer--it's as if it was a question that wasn't meant to be solved. For the most part, his political beliefs are pretty well hidden, and I felt that in no way were they impressed upon me.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PSCI300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I had him for the American issues seminar. He made Hugo Chavez look like a moderate, rational individual. I got a good grade, but it wasn't worth having to listen to his socialist rantings and uncited information that wasn't inculded in the otherwise unused readings. Everyone's entitled to their opinion, but at some point he should try teaching.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POLISCI111
• 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: N/A

Comment:

Ummm, yeah, Ostrom's dry. He's been teaching a little too long. He definitely knows his stuff, and his real world experience is great. I didn't really see any bias, but a little more passion and a few less quizzes (they're daily) would have been great.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POLSCI111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Ostrom, AKA Mr. Magoo, is possibly the most...check that, is most DEFINITELY the most dry and boring man alive. Definitely knows his stuff and has a lot of out of class experience, which would be wonderful if he didn't openly hate and mock all conservatives. If you want an uncomforatable hour and a half nap, this class is a MUST!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POL111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The professor sucked all the life out of the subject and each class period I pull out my iPod at least once to play solitaire or sometimes even listen to music. It is also a hard class and nothing good can ever come of it. Don't take it!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: AMERPOL111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Ostrom is one of the most boring individuals I have ever come across. We have a quiz every day (which are hard) and then lecture for an hour and a half. Please, try to avoid this class because you will find yourself learning nothing and hating Ostrom. He does know politics, but he is so damn boring.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POLSCI111
• 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:

The class material was intersting, but the prof was not. He was hard to listen to and very frustrating to talk with on a one-on-one basis. He definitely plays favorites and he turned me off of American Politics.

Rating # 9

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Donny O is by far the one of the greatest profs I've ever had! Although he speaks in monotone, he is still extremely intersting and uses all of his unbelievable real-life experiences in class. It amazes me that some students don't understand and/or appreciate him.I'm devastated that he's retiring!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POL111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

wow. I'm sorry to all of you who think he's a good prof. Maybe it's because I'm in an entry level class, but there has not been a single day where at least 3 students in our class weren't asleep at some point. Blame lack of sleep, but I concur Don's a snooze.

Rating # 11

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Great Prof. Very liberal himself. He's got a PHD, so there's a high chance of that anyway. But he does let that seep in to his lectures much to my content. I like this guy.. He's FAIR and stresses us to not be bios in our assigments. To bad he's only teaching one last semester.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: AMP111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

he never answers questions directly

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: AMPOLITICS111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Horrible lecturer and an arbitrary grader. Plays favorites in his classes and grades down students that he doesnt like. He will try to brainwash you.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PE
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

While he has sufficient experience in the political realm, his ability to connect with students and create engaging lectures is overshadowed by insistence on building a historical framework around each topic. Most of the readings and concepts are dated ca 1970 which degrades applicability.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MASSMEDIA
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

AWESOME PROF!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POL110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Can the man learn to tie a tie? Also, what's up with the transition eye glasses? Average prof. Sometimes can screw you up with what he's saying, but he's retiring, so he won't be able to do that anymore.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POL110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Awesome prof. Very interesting and there is a lot of discussions within his class! He allows you to state your own opinions about things and then challenges them only for the reason to think of both sides of your ideas and to make you think more aboutit

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POL312
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Don Ostrom rocks! He is by far one of the best Profs at GAC. I'm sad he is retiring :(

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

He's been a legislator, worked in Congress, studied U.S. government for years. Excellent prof to learn from and I feel he's still in touch with the current political climate. He'll make you work, but by far it's worth it, especially the upper level.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POL101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

MY FAV professor so far. He is so smart and so nice. I love his class