Holly Traver - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY

Professor: Holly Traver

Department: Psychology

College: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PSYC4200
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Traver is great, friendly, and inspirational. While the content of this course (I/O psych) isn't the most interesting for me at least, her lectures make up for it. She frequently uses relevant examples and sometimes tells inspirational stories from her own life. The assignments are very easy, but the quizzes require memorization of the slides.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PSYC4730
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Traver's, Positive Psychology is one of the best classes I've taken at RPI. If you truly listen and do the assignments, there is no way you will not enjoy this course. She is a wonderful human being that truly cares about her students and is very lenient with HW extensions. You don't really need the Positive Psych textbook, PPT's are enough.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PSYC4170
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This was one of my favorite professors at RPI. She really wants every student to learn and succeed. She also genuinely cares about every student's well being and mental health. I looked forward to going to her class every day because she is so positive and her lectures were easy to follow.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH4370
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

She's awesome. Use her study guides and you'll be fine. She tells pretty interesting stories in lecture but attendance isn't mandatory. The exams aren't hard and she is happy when everyone does well on them! Also lots of easy ways to boost your grade.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PSYC4730
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

She gives study guides before each quiz, so if you fill those out using the power points that she posts online or the textbook, you really don't need to come to class. It is very interesting material though, and she tries to have good discussions but most kids don't participate.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PSYC4730
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I had her for positive psyc. Very easy psyc course. No textbook was necessary. Just do her study guide based off of the lecture notes she posts. Just don't forget to turn in mini experiments and such, she basically always gives 100% on those experiments. You don't have to do that well on the tests to still get an A in the course.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PSYC4200
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Traver is awesome! She is so sweet and always gives real word examples while teaching. If you just study the Power Points, you will most likely get an A. She is an easy grader on essays and projects, even letting you redo it if you didn't do it right. Very big on soft deadlines. Definitely recommend taking a class with her!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: 4330
• 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:

The main problem with her Cog Psych class is knowing Too much before you take her class, or studying too much and knowing the material. If you knowdo either of these 2 things, her quizzes get increasingly difficult. Poorly worded, ambiguous quizzes. People who skip class and study the question bank usually get the best letter grade, sadly.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PSYC4200
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Gives occasional extra credit, easy grader, quizzes aren't very hard. Pretty easy class overall.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PSYCHIC4200
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Loved Prof Traver, really easy class

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PSYC4200
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I spent 3 hours of my Sunday before finals completing her extra credit and then was not given my points. Therefore she gave me a B when I should have had a B+. I also had to email her more than 3 times before she responded about being given my points and she has still not added them to my grade. She said "talk to me next semester".

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PSYC4200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Traver is not a bad prof, she sometimes has some very useful info. But you can't trust what she says in class, for instance she will tell you if you are busy you can ask her for an extension, and she will typically grant it. That is not true, she very rarely grants extensions and you will most likely waste your time sending her the email.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PS211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Traver... where to begin. While she is a very kind lady, she is not meant to be a professor. I took her course, hoping to learn about psychology, and left the semester feeling confused and as though I hadn't learned anything. She didn't have grading rubrics for presentations/papers so you don't know where you stand. Study the powerpoints.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH4370
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Study the textbook and u'll do fine. She tends to talk about her life often but I can't blame her. It's easier for her to come up with psych examples from her real life experience I guess.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PSYC4170
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Class is boring but very easy-Powerpoints from lecture are posted to LMS, reading those + skimming the assigned reading is enough to get by. Occasional feminist rants. The course itself is a joke, she makes the occasional useful insight when she's straying from course material.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PSYC4370
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She's an alright professor. Teaches straight out of the book so buy the book and read it. Should be an easy A/A- if you read. Class averages are usually around 32/40 on the exams.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PDII
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Boring class, and final poster project reminded me of a 5th grade show and tell on who you're favorite leader was.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PSYC4200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very interesting class. Make sure to keep up with the material and you will do well.

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

PD II with Traver is all about Feminism. She'll use a lot of samples about herself, and will take any comment/suggestion to heart if you don't say it exactly right. It was supposed to be Leadership, but she makes it clear that's not her goal. Memorize her notes because that is what's on your quiz. Don't plan on getting much out of the class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Had this professor for Cognitive Psychology. Sometimes gets off track during lectures, but nice and easy to listen to. Very understanding when it comes to the students, I made a scheduling mistake that conflicted with an exam and she allowed me to retake it when most professors would not have done the same. Tests were slightly harder than expected