Frank Fish - West Chester University of Pennsylvania, West Chester, PA

Professor: Frank Fish

Department: Biology

College: West Chester University of Pennsylvania, West Chester, PA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO217
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Fish is so very clearly passionate about what he is teaching. However, he seems to care very little about individual students and can be hard to talk to, due to the fact that he makes you seem like an idiot if you don't understand a topic. Other than that, his lectures are full of so much knowledge and can be pretty entertaining at times.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO217
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Good teacher and is very passionate but record lectures to listen back on and make sure you study for everything at least a week in advanced. Doesn't help much in office hours so read textbook.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO217
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Fish knows what he's talking about but comes off very condescending. He doesn't use D2L and will NOT give you his lecture slides if you miss class. Everything he says is fair game for the exams which are way harder than expected. This class requires a lot of outside study time.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO217
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

zoology is just a nightmare in itself. im in organic chemistry and this is a breeze compared to that mess. just horrible. if you do bad on 1 exam youre done for the semester

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO217
• Grade Received: D+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class was very hard in general and there isn't much to help your grades if you do badly on tests. There isn't any homework so you're solely graded off three exams, and the corresponding lab. I would recommend going to office hours.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO217
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Fish is a wonderful professor, zoology is just difficult. It was honestly the hardest class I've ever taken in my life. It's a LOT of memorization and start studying at least a week before exams to make sure you know all the terminology. My greatest compliant is he doesn't use D2l so we can't have access to the notes & graded by few things.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO215
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Fish's lectures are very well put together. He is actually very approachable and has great stories to tell. I have taken him for zoology and now marine mammals and his lecture styles are the same. He tells you great details that are good to know if you are interested in animals. I don't know why people are so hard on him on here.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO217
• 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:

This was the hardest class I have taken. Honestly, if it weren't for the library assignment, I wouldn't have passed. Pay attention in lecture. I also did not read the otter novel and did just fine. Lecture was not the problem, it was the lab practicals. My suggestion is take GREATTTTTT notes.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO217
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Class was a lot harder than I expected. Take good notes and pay attention. Lectures were interesting, tests were a bit difficult. He only chooses 2-4 questions from the textbook on the exams so it's not essential to have. For the assigned book about otters, I never read it and did fine.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO217
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Fish is by far my favorite professor of the semester. He is so funny and is really passionate about zoology. However, he does not use D2L, so you really need to attend class. Make sure you also do the readings from the textbook because he expects that you have done them and will put questions from them on the test.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO217
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Fish is a great professor. I had him for Zoology and got an A. If you go to class and take good notes, you will pass. The questions from the tests are right from his lecture and the readings he gives you from the textbook. READ those pages in the textbook and make sure you understand the bolded concepts.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO217
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Fish is a great professor, very knowledgeable. I recommend recording lectures and reviewing for exams at least a week in advance. The class is made up of minimal assignments, homework not being one, so suffice to say it is tough to make up for bad grade. Office hours are a must. Do not take this class lightly or you will regret it.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO217
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Fish is a solid professor. Honestly, the people that get bad scores on the lecture exams are the ones that sleep through the lecture or don't care. That being said, this is not an easy A. Always start reviewing the weekend before the test, you won't regret it. Also for the lab practicals, PLEASE do not take this lightly. It is so difficult.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO217
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Tries to engage the class. Brought in an alligator when we talked about reptiles, that kind stuff. But if you skip lecture & don't get the notes you will not pass. Lots of details, as expected for a bio class. Overall good teacher, though not the kind that's a pushover. Do the assigned readings, and make flashcards as you go.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO217
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I have taken 3 classes with Dr. Fish and he definitely does grow on you. I can relate to students when they say he can come off intimidating at first, but if you put in the effort and go to his office hours frequently he will appreciate that and see that you are trying. Record lectures and talk to him if you are confused. Best professor in Biology!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO217
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Fantastic professor, very study heavy. Would highly recommend recording lectures, and rewriting the notes a few times. Lab is very difficult. Fantastic experiences for everything. One of the most difficult classes I have ever taken yet would not trade it for anything.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO217
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

At first I thought I would be bored of the class b/c it was about animals. However, after taking this course I have a new profound respect and learned a lot about animals. Dr. Fish's lectures are honestly amazing. He keeps it very interesting and even brings in animals and props! However, by no means is this class an easy A. You will have to work.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO217
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I know a lot of people like Dr. Fish: I'm not one of them. He's rude, condescending, and arrogant, and really doesn't care about the student. He does love his Zoology, and knows his stuff. I studied hard for everything. Record the lectures, read the textbook and other readings, and ask for help. The worst was the 2nd practical. :( Not an easy A.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO217
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I gotta say, I enjoyed this class. This class really required me to keep organized notes and record lectures, and spend weekends memorizing the labs, but if you have good notes you will get an A- guaranteed. Read the textbook (3 questions/exam from the text) and take copious notes from there and you'll get an A in Dr. Fish's class. Great lectures!!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO217
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great professor! Lectures are hilarious. You can tell her really likes his subject. Record his lectures!! Only way I passed. Lab questions are very straight forward. Study the list for 1st one & for 2nd one stay the entire time & make videos identifying structures. Ask for help & its there. Can be intimidating. Read the assigned book its on final.