Gary Walker - Appalachian State University, Boone, NC

Professor: Gary Walker

Department: Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

College: Appalachian State University, Boone, NC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO1801
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Hes an okay teacher, there arent any quizzes or any attendance grades so your only grades are based on tests. Show up to class so you can pass the tests, a lot of the questions on the tests he goes over in the powerpoints.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO1801
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I struggled with this class on the first test so I decided to get a tutor (App state has great tutors, I highly recommend) and I ended up making a B. I would recommend taking his course, it is hard, but he prepares you for 1802 and teaches you how to study and work on your on which I found extremely beneficial.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO1801
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I read good reviews about this prof on this website and decided to make my own because I fell like people were sugar coating it. DO NOT take this class if aren't good with lectures. There were 5 tests total and nothing else. Each one was so dense. I spent 10 hours studying and got a 34 on a test.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO1801
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Gary is great. I would highly recommend taking him for 1801. He knows the material very well, and he is always accessible. Your grade is based on the average of 5 tests, but they are not too difficult. Dr. Walker is super funny, and I loved showing up to lecture just to hear some jokes. TAKE HIM!!!!!!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO1801
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Walker is SO FUNNY but biology is still a hard topic if you don't study it consistently. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE DAY BEFORE TO STUDY FOR A TEST. The five exams are the only things that make up the grade. He gives extra credit quizzes near the end that will definitely help you. Pay attention in class, because he emphasizes future test questions.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO1801
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Devoted, helpful, and funny. Take notes from book before class, or print out the slideshow and try & write down what he says b/c he goes FAST. Effort, attendance, & taking notes outside of class is a MUST. He will say things in class not explained on the ppt. Record the lectures, print the slides and write along with him then go home and take notes

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO1801
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Gary is a great guy, and very funny. But his lectures are so fast, and unimaginably boring, that I find myself skipping class for my own personal health. You'd be much better off going to class occasionally, reading the textbook as thoroughly as possible, and teaching yourself the majority of concepts. Still, a great guy though.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO1801
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I will admit that I adore Professor Walker but I just can NOT learn from the man. I wouldn't take this class unless you already have a stable foundation in biology. He mainly lectures from his slides which he goes through like a bat out of hell. I often don't go to the class and just go to the library and teach myself the material.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO1801
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Walker is a good professor but he covers material very quickly. It can be very difficult to keep up with his lecture. The only grades received are for the tests. Generally, he would just read off of his power point presentation and not go into more depth.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO1801
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Dr. Walker was such a cool professor, constantly making jokes and witty comments. He clearly knows what he is talking about, and may go fast- so just a heads up, take your laptop to class or take notes on his lecture. The textbook readings also help a LOT if you don't understand the lecture, so read prior to it. Only 3 exams & a few E.C. quizzes

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO1801
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

For a 1000 level course, this class is insanely hard. Walker is a fantastic guy and professor, but the material is complicated and there's a lot of it. Be prepared to study like you've never had to study before. Some lectures have 80+ slides.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO1801
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Gary is the MAN. Never knew someone could make Bio so entertaining/funny. Flies through lectures but puts the power points online so attendance isn't mandatory. Test can be difficult but he lets you know EVERYTHING thats on them which is a plus. Lets out early everyday and looks like a crossbreed btw Dumbledore and Willie Nelson. TAKE THIS CLASS!!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO1801
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class is graded solely on 5 tests. The tests are super difficult. There isn't any homework with this class so that makes it easy, however you will(should)spend hours studying for his tests. He flies through lectures to the point it is hard to learn and comprehend the material. I do not recommend if you don't have a college level bio background

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO1801
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

If you try you should be fine. I will give you some advice. Bring a lap top to class with the powerpoints open (he flies through slides) and take notes of what he says. Then read over the lecture at night. I did this, and got an A. Good guy and has witty jokes..

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO1801
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Walker really knows his biology but doesn't know how to teach biology to students who know nothing. He goes really fast through the material and expects you to know and understand it all for the tests. So expect to study a lot!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO1801
• Grade Received: D+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The entire lecture it feels like he is talking down to you. He goes much too fast and skips over concepts he assumes you already know. He's funny, but I have no been able to learn almost anything from this man.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO1101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Walker is a nice, funny guy, but I would not suggest taking him. His lectures are long and confusing, and he goes through the slides very quick. If you take him, be expected to study. I had to basically teach myself the material because his lectures were very confusing.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO1801
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

His lectures are funny, and he puts pictures of himself in the slides. class, read the book, and make flash cards and you will be fine. He holds a review lecture before each test, but there are usually things on the test that he only talks about in lecture. I usually would write down the notes before class and then just listen to him in class.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO1801
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Walker is very informative about the topics that he teaches and to keep the lectures interesting he always makes jokes. He usually always lets us out of class early and as long as you study the power points and go to class to get the answers to the questions on the lectures, you will do fine.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: 1801
• Grade Received: D+
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Walker is super knowledgeable, you can tell that from the first day you walk in. He's also pretty quirky and has a sense of humor, which is generally appreciated. However, he only gives 5 tests. That's your whole grade. Even with tutoring from him and attending the TA review sessions, I only got a D+. If you're really into Bio, he's your guy.