Laura Olsen - University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Professor: Laura Olsen

Department: Biology

College: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MCDB397
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Laura is truly a gem & very approachable. If you need a Upper Level Writing Class, take MCDB 397! The class is low stress yet I still learned some very helpful and interesting things. Little to no homework and I actually enjoyed writing some papers. At the end of the term she even announced that everyone in the class had some sort of an A grade.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO241
• 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:

Biology 241 was a seminar on cancer, co-taught by Dr. Stern. Super interdisciplinary class, that was really interesting and super chill. Dr. Olsen teaches the science-side of cancer, she's really clear and keeps things interesting. Bio 241 is great, just stay on top of assignments and go to discussion/class for points.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO174
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Olsen is simply an amazing professor. Makes it clear that the course is difficult, but she goes out of her way to help students outside of class. Gets to know almost everyone's names. Picky grader, but definitely fair. Highly recommend 174 over 172, you will learn a lot more and probably get a better grade.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO174
• 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:

DONT TAKE BIO 174 WITH HER the reading quiz that is harder then it should be when its just supposed to test if you have done the reading the class would be alright if they rewarded you for all the work you put in but they dont you do and learn 4 times as much as in 172 just take that class get the same grade with less work and knowledge

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO174
• 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:

She's tough. She is a good lecturer but a harsh grader looking for extremely specific answers. Be careful with re-grades on quizzes because she'll take more points off. Learned a ton in the class, but a lot of reading, reviewing, and studying is required to do remotely well.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO174
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Once she took over, the class became extremely harder. She taught it more like 172 instead of the way 174 is supposed to be taught. Class averages dropped drastically for each quiz

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The class itself it pretty terrible (the lab is PAINFUL), but Prof. Olsen is cool. Overall she's tough, but her lectures are straightforward. I definitely preferred her half of the class (due to the material and her teaching style -- Burnham taught the second part). I'd recommend her as a professor, but I would not recommend the class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO172
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The best professor for Bio 172. She is clear, helpful, and enthusiastic about the material. Her exams are tough, so expect to study a lot if you want to do well. Definitely better than Cadigan. All in all, she is a great prof

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO172
• 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: N/A

Comment:

Olsen is probably the best professor for BIO 172. She simplifies the hard concepts. She's very clear. Her lecture slides are organized. And she's enthusiastic. You still have to study hard for exams, they can be tricky. Definitely better than Cadigan.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO172
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I didn't realize how much I liked her until Cadigan started teaching. I liked her examples to explain certain concepts. I think her exams are pretty fair, just study!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO172
• 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: N/A

Comment:

Olsen was pretty cool. She's very clear and helpful in office hours. All of her exams come right from the lectures, but she tries to make the exam average a 75%, so don't expect an easy A. Even so, Olsen was a great teacher and definitely take bio172 with her if you can!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO172
• 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:

I thought she was alright. I, personally don't like Bio, even taking it with her, it did not sway my dislike for it. She wasn't a bad professor, bio just isn't my thing.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO172
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

this was my first bio class since highschool (been 4 years) and I got an A on all her exams. Didn't buy the book, didn't need to because she explained everything in her lectures. I hated science before this class, now bio is my favorite. except the 2nd half where Cadigan comes in & gets a little harder..

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO172
• 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: N/A

Comment:

I HATE biology but Dr. Olsen made everything so clear and understandable. Exams were based off lecture and memorizing every single detail was definitely NOT necessary.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO172
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Olsen did about as well as anyone could with the tough material that she had to teach. I really appreciated her clarity and approachability. If you're thinking about taking one of her classes, DO IT. She's better than about any other science lecturer.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO172
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

favorite science prof at this school. GO TO LECTURE! she explains everything very well. study as you go along and you should be good! much better than cadigan as lecturer.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO162
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She is very helpful, especially in office hours. She even personally congratulated me for getting an A on an exam.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO162
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

olsen is a great lecturer. she has great in-class examples and shows enthusiasm for the subject. unfortunately, the course is only curved by 1-2%, with ~76% being the class average. the exams are pretty tough no matter which professor you take it with. they're changing the biology program next year so hopefully, they'll make it a little easier.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO162
• 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:

Professor Olsen is one of the greatest in the world. YOU MUST TAKE THIS COURSE FOR FUN! Lecturers are very helpful and they deliver materials to students in a very solid manner. Unfortunately, Bio 162 no longer exists but she is expected to teach Gen. Bio.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO162
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

She's a great lecturer even though she speaks REALLY fast, just be prepared, maybe bring a voice recorder or print out the lectures. She's awesome though, and she knows her stuff plus makes class interesting by bringing in her dog and creating activities that involve the large class.