John Bechtold - Messiah College, Mechanicsburg, PA

Professor: John Bechtold

Department: Psychology

College: Messiah College, Mechanicsburg, PA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PSYC241
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

His tests are the hardest I've ever taken. On a test he would write comments like "oops! hoped we would've done better" and "ugh!" As a person/advisor I really like him, not as a prof. I'm a hardworking student and barely got a C. So many people struggled to even pass his class. I know multiple who failed.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PSYC271
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Although Dr. Bechtold is very nice outside of class, within class he only likes the people who are getting the top scores in his class. He make you feel stupid if you email him questions and does not explain material well. I want to like him bc he is so nice outside of class but its hard bc he's so mean in class. Passionate about topic.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: FYS101
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Horrible. Does not give timely feedback on anything. Seemed as if he did not read your entire essay, then gives vague feedback. :( VERY harsh grader with no explanation. Does not like to compromise.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PSY204
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He prides himself in making the exams EXTRA HARD and comes across as rather pretentious. If you speak up in class make sure you are 100% correct, or he won't feel bad telling you you're wrong in front of everyone. Cognition should be a 300 level class cause almost the entire class bombed the first exam (and he warned us we would too).

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: IDCR151
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Bechtold is the worse professor I ever had. He takes CCC so seriously. It's a class that everyone has to take. He grades your essays so harshly and told the class that it took him long to grade the second essay because they were bad. The only good thing about the class was playing Jeorpardy for the final. If you want an easy A don't take Bechtold.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PSYC204
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I love Dr. Bechtold. I had him for cognition this semester and he does a really good job explaining the material. He's intelligent and funny, and his lectures are interesting. His tests are a little harder than most of the other professors I had, but if you go to class and read the textbook, you should do fine.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PSYC271
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Loved both Cognition and Psych Stats with Bechtold! There are more difficult than other psychology classes, but if you go to class, pay attention, and study, you will do well. I saw many students neglect to do these things and they struggled. Put in the work; you will learn and get good grades.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PSYC204
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Bechtold genuinely cares about his students.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PSYC241
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He's hilarious and more than willing to help you if you ask.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PSYC271
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Makes 8am stats bearable.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PSYC204
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. B is extremely passionate about what he teaches. I had him for both Cognition and Experimental Psych. He is a tough grader and expects you to work hard, but he is there to help you wrestle through the material. He cares deeply for his students both inside and outside of the classroom. Definitely one of my favorite professors.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PSYC204
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Took Sensation & Perception as well as Cognition with him. He is fairly average as far as work load and test are tough. Good professor but you have to learn his teaching style, once you have done that you will succeed in his class

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PYCH271
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor was unorganized and the tests were totally different then the homework or anything else we did in class. He is just trying to compete with other professor to have the hardest tests. He does not care if the students understand the material. He is like this in his other classes he teaches. He is all over the place with his teaching.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PSYC271
• 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:

Took Dr. B for Stats and thought the class was difficult. Tests have two portions. In class is difficult because you must know definitions. Take home portion is time consuming. I spent 4-8 hours on each test. It's required for psych majors so you have to just push through it. I got a better grade than I thought I was going to receive.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PSY101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Took 1 credit class that focused on writing a single, perfect reference page as the one and only class project. Needed to get 100% or you failed the class. I turned in the assignment in the 2nd week of class, missed ONE COMMA (so I FAILED), and prof didn't tell me until the complete end of semester. Not happy with the course or failing grade.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PSYC204
• 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:

Dr. B is amazing, as both an adviser and professor. He absolutely LOVES Psychology, especially Cognitive, his area of expertise. He loves helping people understand, and all he wants is for you to succeed and hopefully love the field as much as he does. Word of caution, tho, his tests are very hard, be ready to work and give time to this class.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: FYS101
• 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:

Nice guy, however, doesn't always follow the syllabus, and directions are sometimes unclear. Class isn't too hard, but it can be boring at times. A lot of pointless work was assigned. Overall, if you are looking for something easy, take him, but don't expect it to be an organized class.

Rating # 18

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Kind hearted guy who enjoys good discussions and well thought out papers. I took him for FYS - I'm in a hurry and I don't know why and we talked a lot about this idea called Margin. He had us over his house for a home cooked meal before a core convocation. Sweet man. His papers weren't terrible and he did a great job reviewing rough drafts.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PSYC204
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Bechtold is a really nice guy who is definitely willing to help his students succeed. He is really passionate about the subject matter, and it shows. However, his tests are absolutely killer. Be prepared to work your butt off.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PSYC204
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He's a really great professor, and tries to make his lectures interesting, but his exams are ridiculously hard!! Know exactly what he is looking for on his exams or else you're likely to fail. Most of your grade is taken from your exam scores. There aren't many other options to boost your grade in this class