John Gilmour - College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA

Professor: John Gilmour

Department: Political Science

College: College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: GOVT391
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He is a bit socially awkward as he sometimes takes long pauses during the middle of a sentence. BUT do not let that fool you. He's a brilliant professor and really knows his stuff. Not to mention that he's super nice.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: GOVT401
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This dude is the chillest professor at WM. He's also super nice and always up for a good chat about current events.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: GOV371
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Not a lot of reading to do, and a good portion of the readings are unnecessary as the midterm and final are primarily lecture-based. The class lacks structure, and Gilmour tends to be a dry speaker. Classes tend to drag on despite the subject matter being very interesting. I enjoyed reading the textbooks much more than I did showing up to class.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: GOVT370
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Smart, great lecturer, and engaging. He makes a concerted effort to reach out to students in his class, treats them as individuals, and notices how they're doing. Works to bring in speakers, and if you go to office hours you'll get helpful life advice. Paper-writing assignments are fairly open-ended. Spell correcly, argue clearly, and get an A.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: GOVT000
• Grade Received: N/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:

Cool dude. If you're interested in politics you can get a lot out of this class. If you're not that interested and don't want to do the readings, it's going to be quite dry.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: GOVPRES
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

If you write good notes and participate heavily in class you're set for an A. Most interesting lectures/discussions. Very responsive to students and doesn't believe his view is the most important. Genuinely the best professor at W&M.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: GOVT201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I didn't think Gilmour was very hard at all... if you know what to study. Basically, before the exam, I would look at the topics outlined on the syllabus..then I'd compile my notes on the topics. His exams were all short essays on random topics he's discussed in class. I did really well! :)

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: GOVT201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If you like government and are into current politics- go for it. If you rarely keep up with elections, don't take this class. Assigns tons of reading that is unnecessary. Take your computer, only way you will get most of the lecture down. Not a bad guy, just kind of unreliable, and he stutters a lot. Not organized.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: GOVT371
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

It took forever to get his paper, but his exams are very straight forward and easy. I wouldn't really want to be in any more of his classes, but then his areas of interest are coinciding with mine. . .

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: GOVT371
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

JG relies heavily on material covered in lecture, and very little on the copious amounts of reading from outside class. Show up to lecture, take verbatim notes, and you're ready for the exams. Papers can be more difficult; he his topics are ambiguous, and he is not helpful in the writing process.

Rating # 11

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Oh, one of the best classes I ever had. Makes you think.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: GOVT201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He's great. I thought his 201 class was pretty easy--I just showed up and took good notes. Don't bother buying the textbook. If you're looking for an easy 201 class, take him.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: GOVT470
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Fantastic prof. Had him for 201, and at first would agree with other comments. But once you get to see him in the upper levels, he's great. He is very intelligent and ethusiastic. Always willing to help.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: GOVT371
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

boring lecturer, plus he's out to screw you over. horrible tests, EXTREMELY picky grader, takes forever to return grades. STAY AWAY.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: GOVT201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Horrible class. Bad lecturer who stutters. Very picky on tests and requires almost verbatim answers for full credit. STAY AWAY!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: GOVT371
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

interesting lectures but completely unfair and unreasonable when it comes to grading. i would never take him again.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: GOV370
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

interesting discussions, very nice

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: GOVT203
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Ugh... worse professor ever. Doesn't know a thing about teaching and terribly boring

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: GOV20101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: GOVT201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

out to screw you over, doesn't know how to grade papers or tests, AVOID HIM!