Gregg Recanzone - University of California Davis, Davis, CA

Professor: Gregg Recanzone

Department: Biology

College: University of California Davis, Davis, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: NPB101
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He was my favorite out of those who taught Spring '17. Lecture was very engaging, he took his time to go over the concept of membrane potentials and IV plots, spending like 3 lectures on it alone. He was the only one who held a review session out of all 3 and was super helpful. Midterm was also very fair.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: NPB101
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I found Professor Recanzone hard to follow in class because he talked too fast. However in the podcast, he was relatively clear and funny. His lecture slides did not have much information and his questions were sometimes a little too creative. Overall, I wouldn't take him again but he was a decent professor.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: NPB101
• 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:

Recanzone was great. Out of the other professors who taught NPB101, he was probably my favorite. I never felt like his lectures were unorganized and instead felt them pretty engaging. He provided clicker questions as practice in the beginning of lecture and even gives you study guides for his midterm. His midterm isn't very hard, very conceptual.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: NPB101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very unclear for the lecture and the powerpoints. The material is very confusing even though I attended every lecture and went over the practice problems. Honestly, I would fail the exam if I did not sign up for the discussion. The exam is VERY HARD and made my effort seemed worthless. Fortunately, he only teaches 1/3 of the whole course.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: NPB101
• 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:

He's a really funny guy so he can really keep the class engaged for even the most boring lectures. His exam questions are really hard though. He gets a little too creative with questions which sometimes makes it hard to respond correctly.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: NPB101
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Recanzone is very unclear. He would go on and on about certain topics, but they wouldn't appear on the exams. Slides had little information. Many non-realistic exam questions, so you had to really understand the information in every detail to get it right.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: NPB101
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Neither your worst nor your best choice for NPB 101, his lectures can be all over the place but he is fairly accessible in office hours so that makes up for it. Tests are all MC and memorization is not enough to pass, do not take this class with a heavy course load it is a massive time suck. That being said the curve is fairly generous.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: NPB101
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He has a question he posts the second class starts, so BE ON TIME. I cried through countless lectures until i got my act together and realized how to do well in this class (which I didn't): review the Power Point slides, discuss the practice questions with him during separate office hours, and listen to his podcasts.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: NPB101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I did not like Dr. Recanzone's teaching style. His slides had little information and he seemed to talk about pointless things. He was very unclear on what he expected you to know for tests. I didn't really understand his material until just before the final. Very confusing and difficult professor for a difficult class.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: NPB101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

When i took NPB 101, it was his first quarter teaching it. He can be very unclear at time. He has very bad grammar and poor wording on exams so his exam are pretty hard. After a while, you get use to his teaching and test style but you'll probably get caught off guard at first. He a nice and funny guy though.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: NPB012
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great prof, really knows his stuff! Lecture notes are available before lecture so it's helpful to read those the night before (no textbook required!). Glad I had a background with AP Bio and AP Psych. Go to class, he gives out answers to bonus questions!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: NPB12
• 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:

He has a passion for science and makes you passionate for it, too. If you are considering being premed, this is the class to take because it gives you a basis, and helps you learn how to study. The curve is amazing. I got average 7095 on midterms and got A+ in class. Go to class he gives bonus points that will save your grade more!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: NPB12
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

1010 WOULD NOT TAKE THIS CLASS. I took this class as a junior with a psychbio background and I cannot tell you how many times I caught him teaching the class wrong info. He lectures as if he has no idea what he's talking about. I took this class for units and it sounded interesting but it was so not worth the effort and headaches. The curve tho

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: NPB12
• 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:

Not for the faint of heart. I've never had to work so hard for a GE class. There is an incredible amount of DENSE material. His curve will save you and I ended up with an A but I worked my BUTT OFF! Slave away and you will get an A. The prof is really cool, funny, and cares about students. I feel like an NPB expert now. Thanks prof!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: NPB12
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's got an eccentric sense of humor and although attendance isn't mandatory, it's highly recommended. People say that this is a tough "GE" course;t ry to skim lecture notes before you get there. The material is dense and has lots of memorization and application questions on exams (which are 100 questions). Write fast, he talks quickly

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: NPB12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Recanzone is a great professor. He has a lovely dark sense of humor (which is appropriate for the classes he teaches) and is very clear about what's important for the class. NPB 12 and Recanzone get a lot of unjust criticism because it's often recommended to freshmen as a cool class without expressing how demanding college sciences courses are.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: NPB124
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Greg is funny, and clear. Approachable and helpful, but his class was really freaking hard. The curve is HUGE in this class. As a teacher he is really good, and posts all his notes which is very helpful to study and learn in general. I would really recommend him as a professor.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: NPB124
• 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:

He was great. He posts typed lecture notes before class that are amazing. Study the hell out of them and you'll do great on exams.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: NPB12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

OMG im so interested in brain and diseases but OMG this class was hella hard that i didnt consider NPB anymore as a possible major, his tests are ridiculously hard,its extremely conceptual and i have no idea what he talks about in lecture and the material is difficult to understand and read in his lecture notes,curve saved my butt.DONT TAKE FOR GE!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: NPB12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Has really long notes that are all over the place. Talks really fast during lecture and sometimes explains things in really a difficult way. Tests are EXTREMELY difficult. Huge curve at the end, but don't depend on it to be your savior. TA Adrianna was really rude too. Try not to take this class if you don't need it.