Eric Cole - St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN

Professor: Eric Cole

Department: Biology

College: St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO150
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I had Professor Cole a few years ago. Sometimes it is uncertain whether these reviews are trust worthy because those who do not do well in the class are likely to review. However, I agree with these past reviews. He is difficult to work with, stubborn on his belief of one answer, and pretty unapproachable. Not hard material, but a difficult prof.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Eric Cole is a passionate man who clearly loves his subject. However, he is not a clear grader, tests were confusing and material was not straightforward. He also is not very accessible or helpful in office hours. It is possible to do well if he likes you and if you work extremely hard.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO150
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Exams are extremely specific, hard, toughly graded, and no amount of studying will sufficiently prepare you for them. Don't even try to negotiate about your grade. The lectures were rambling and murky, and the labs were dull and tedious as heck. Maybe a better upper-level teacher, but I wouldn't recommend him to anyone.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He has very unclear expectations. His test questions seem very random and highly specific. His grading is erratic on lab work. We waste three hours every week in lab going very slowly through whatever activity is planned. His Moodle site is incredibly disorganized and it is never clear what assignments are due when. He's also just plain rude.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO150
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

First off, Cole is a subjective grader throughout his class. He does not teach you anything at all and expects you to know everything for this class. He is mean and unwilling to help. If you go talk to him for questions about his grading, he defends himself until the end. Often times he does not know what he is teaching and flies through his PP.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Hes arrogant, harsh and mean. He has made many terrible side comments about our class. I have literally learned nothing. Its terrible. I do not recommend him at all!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Seems jolly and cheerful. I was excited to learn from him at first, but makes a lot of harsh comments and expects intro level students to know more than they likely do.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO227
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Teaches complex systems first with the system's purpose and how it fits into the broader workings of the cell and organism then explains the nitty-gritty.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO101
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Eric Cole is a B+ teacher.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: 227
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Cole is a passionate, engaging, and generous professor! He genuinely wants everyone to get good grades in his Cell Bio class, and to learn fascinating and applicable topics that you will practice in Lab, and may even use in real life if you become a cell biologist. Lab is very independent and a true test of one's capacity for research.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO248
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The best prof I've ever had! He's super passionate about what he does, but he also expects the same level of passion from his students. He won't babysit for labs, and he expects you to step up and take initiative. If you love biology, he's the best there is!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO372
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

What a great professor! He is uber passionate about what he teaches, and can be crazy excited in class. He will help you if you go to his office, both on exams and papers. The take-home exams were challenging. But he's a fair grader on all assignments. Overall, he genuinely cares about your success and will always help you understand the material.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO126
• 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:

Dr. Cole is a great teacher--intelligent, very funny, engaged, entertaining. I went into his class thinking that it would be my boring class for the semester, but it became one of my favorites. His tests are challenging but doable, and his lectures are interesting and informative. He also has a knack for explaining complicated concepts clearly.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO125
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's a wonderful teacher who is very passionate about what he does and does it well. Tests are based on lecture. Tutorials help a lot as well. He teaches via diagrams and pictures which, depending on what kind of student you are, is in my opinion helpful. He tests pretty strictly but it's all free writing with 0 multiple choice. Great class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO125
• 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:

He's a great guy, but he's one of those teachers who is so smart in what he's teaching... you have to be just as smart and PASSIONATE about biology to pass his class... read, pay attention, and GO TO TUTORIALS. He's tough but not completely impossible.

Rating # 16

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Favorite prof! Funny man who really cares about his students, fascinated by what he teaches. Material is straight-forward, tests are tough (never got above a B-). Labs are boring. GO TO THE TUTORIALS!!! He is very helpful and has great analogies: the golgi apparatus is the Hogwarts Sorting Hat and the basal body is a beer can. Hard but worth it.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO125
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Cole is a good teacher overall. He goes over a lot of material throughout the course. Tests are straight from his lectures, so be sure to take very good notes. You don't need to read the textbook, and he simplifies many aspects that are in the book. Lots of diagrams - good for visual learners.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO125
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He can be quite unclear sometimes when teaching. However tests are STRAIGHT from lectures. Don't bother reading the textbook. If you memorize what he says in lectures and take notes you'll do well. Not the most helpful during help sessions/office hours. Can talk in circles.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO125
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Cole starts off the year by explaining everything very well. As the year goes on, you will become more confused and he will become more confusing. He will help you if you sit down with him, but I agree with the other reviewer that he expects too much out of INTRO bio. Would be a good upper level prof.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO125
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great class to take at 8 am. but Cole is very pretentious and expects too much out of intro. students, especially considering his less-than-stellar style of teaching (all diagrams and no big picture). Recommend going to his seminars before exams. Get on his good side!!