Howard Laten - Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL

Professor: Howard Laten

Department: Biology

College: Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIOL282
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A lot of people say you don't have to read the textbook but I personally did and it helped TREMENDOUSLY to get a baseline of the material since I never paid attention in lecture (he's boring). Exams are based on additional problems and textbook problems. Learn how to do the problems and you're set. Quizzes are based off textbook material!!!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIOL282
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Listen all you pre meds who just want to pass and will not get into medical school, do not skew the ratings with your wrong opinions. this is a man who is one of the best geneticists in the world. He literally gives you everything you need to get an A. you just have to do the work. If you dont want to do work is an upper tier bio go do art history

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIOL282
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I like how everyone expects an easy A and when they don't get that, they rant about how terrible of a professor they have. This class is not easy and you definitely have to put in a decent amount of work, but he's clear on his expectations and he's accessible whenever you need help. His practice problems and slides strongly prepare you for tests.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO282
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Some of these comments are too harsh. Dr. Laten is one of the greatest professors at Loyola. You want an A in the class? DO THE WORK, it will pay off. He gives you all the resources you need so there's no excuse not to do well. He cares a lot about his students and goes the extra mile for them. Take him if you're willing to put in the work.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIOL387
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Laten is a good professor for Genomics. It's a difficult subject, but he's more than willing to help you in office hours.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIOL282
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Stopped attending lectures a couple weeks in because it was better utilized as nap time. Discussion sections are very useful though. Laten is good at answering/explaining questions. The tests have tons of extra credit on them. Read the textbook, look over the powerpoints, do the problem he assigns, and make sure you understand them.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO282
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Laten's lectures are not helpful. After doing pretty poorly for the first half of the class, I realized that if I read the chapters outside of class, took detailed notes on the book, watched explanatory videos, recorded his lectures, and made sure to do all the assigned and additional problems, I could fare pretty well. DO THE ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIOL282
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is actually very snobby. I do not like him as a person, BUT at the end of the day he gets the job done. I would take him again because his exams are straight forward. You have to read, do practice problems, and study extremely hard to get the A's. They are possible.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO282
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

whizzes through about a chapter per lecture. Does not have an SI available. Office hours are by appointment only twice a week for max 30 min appts. Teaches from slides that aren't included in the text. Some slide images are very pixelated. Allows 5min or less for quizzes. Does not give students enough time to jot down notes. doesnt teach. Good luck

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIOL282
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Bring a pillow. Print out the PowerPoints before class and take the notes on them. MUST do: additional problems. And read the chapter before class + try to do the problems before class and ask questions during lecture to explain those problems you have difficulty with.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO282
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Laten is not a professor interested in teaching, he is at Loyola to do research. 30+ years of work and has 0 interest in teaching, there is no point going to class. He reads off power-point slides and he makes it über boring. He does not offer any feedback. My advice is this: 1) read the PP for the general idea 2) DO the Additional Problems

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIOL282
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Laten is a very good genetics professor. You must go to all of his lectures. Some people record the lecture. I did all of the additional problems and the book problems. He is very helpful during office hours! Don't be afraid to ask questions! During discussions he let's students ask questions. You must be willing to put in the work!!!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO282
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

After failing genetics 5 times in the past 3 years, I finally managed to pass the class after crying myself to sleep each night and studying 6 hours everyday. Dr. Laten is truly a good teacher as he always tests you on the material he teaches. But be warned, the material will destroy you if you are not prepared. Good luck!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO282
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Genetics is a difficult class regardless of your professor. However Laten makes genetics very interesting. He really wants students to do well and gives a lot of extra credit. with that being said, YOU HAVE TO READ ON YOUR OWN. Genetics is a difficult class so make sure you read ahead of time and never fall behind.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO282
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Laten is very clear on what's on his exams. Just pay attention, do the homework, especially the additional problems, study and you'll get an A. His exams will be easy if you do all the work. His lectures are very close to the book so the book is helpful but if youre more of a book person you can get away with not going to lecture

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIOL282
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Here are the numbers. Class average was 75. He curved to 92 A and 88 for an A-. About 30 percent of the class would get an A or A-. He wants people to do well, his tests are just very difficult. Tests are out of between 120-130 points with 32-33 questions but only scored out of 100. Can re take your lowest test at end. Bring pillow to lecture.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO282
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Laten wants everyone to do well. He is pretty clear in his lectures and is very helpful during office hours. You need to go over powerpoints AND read his assigned reading and the practice exams/ text book questions he assigns are very very helpful for the exam. Definitely record his lectures too and then you're golden

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIOL282
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Lets you retake a test at the end of the year, gives practices tests. He's adorable and really sweet. Loved this class!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO282
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is definitely one of the hardest 282 professors. It wasn't until mid-way through semester I realized how much easier the other prof's test were compared to his. His averages are also lower in general. Very unapproachable, always seemed in a bad mood. Pickett and Doering are the best Genetics professors overall. I do not recommend Laten at all.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIOL282
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Laten was very knowledgable but very unapproachable. He's not very approachable which makes it hard to ask questions. His tests are quite tough so make sure you study all the powerpoints, read the textbook, and make sure you do ALL of the assigned problems. He also gives sample exams which are useful for exams. The class if not an easy A at all