Paul Mermelstein - University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN

Professor: Paul Mermelstein

Department: Science

College: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: NSCI1001
• 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:

Great lecturer, gave clear and insightful lectures, which put me on the edge of my seat for more. Exams were pretty clear and straightforward (if you attend the lecture and take good notes, they are pretty manageable)

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: NSCI1001
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Mermelstein is a great lecturer. I wouldn't say he was as funny as Professor Meisel, but the two of them both made the material super easy to understand. If you take notes and do the reading, you should have no problem with the tests. It was a great intro course and I learned a lot about neuroscience.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: NSCI1001
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Paul is the GOAT. If you go to class you will do well. The class wasn't super easy, but it wasn't awful. There are 4 tests and no final. The class is based off the book, but honestly if you don't read it you will still do well. There are also extra credit opportunities at the end of every class and it's super easy to get points.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: NSCI1001
• 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:

Paul was a great lecturer! He was very to the point, answered questions well, highlighted upon key points and made lectures enjoyable!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: NSCI1001
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is a great prof that really tries to make everything interesting and entertaining. The book isn't super necessary but I found it helpful. Your whole grade is made up of four tests but doing the daily extra credit helps and as long as you study you should be fine.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: NSCI1001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Paul is overall a very interesting lecturer but, I wish his exams were more related to what he says in class. I also wish that there was more to the class than just exams. The class if extremely interesting and fun. But those exams aren't the best.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: NSCI1001
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Paul Mermelstein is one of the best teachers I've had at the University of Minnesota. His lectures are engaging and he makes himself available for additional questions after class - you can tell he really enjoys neuroscience.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: NSCI1001
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Really caring, laid back, intelligent, and funny guy. The class lectures followed the topics of a very interesting book, which really you don't have to read as the lectures are so in-depth. Only four midterms made up the final grade, multiple choice, fairly easy.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: NSCI1001
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I never missed a lecture, just because Paul managed to explain the information so clearly and made it incredibly enjoyable. The exams are kinda hard and tricky, but if you take notes, and study the material you will do perfectly fine. 10/10 would recommend this class and professor.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: NSCI1001
• 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:

Paul is a great teacher and is great at repeating confusing information and explaining concepts. The tests are a little tough but all you have to do is study for 4 tests which each make up 25% of your grade. I found the material interesting so it made it easier to study for the tests. Extra credit is offered everyday.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: NSCI1001
• 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 class was one of my favorites. Paul is really great at answering questions and makes the lectures engaging and interesting. This class is a GREAT one to pair with Intro. to Biopsychology because they both cover almost exactly the same topics. Overall the tests are easy if you show up to class and study the lecture slides. Definitely recommend.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: NCI1001
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Such a great teacher. Look forward to going to this class every single day. Was interested in a neuroscience minor, and after taking this class with him I am now even considering a neuroscience major. Such interesting material that he explains so clearly. The tests are fair and you should know what is expected from you. Make sure you attend lecture

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: NSCI1001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Mermelstein was a great. Very clear with the slides and reading is very bearable (case study non-fiction novel). Covers interesting topics and he's very passionate about them. For the exams, be prepared. Four 10 question free-response exams.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: NSCI1001
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Excellent! Prof Mermelstein provides a nice introduction to neuroscience. Exams are shortanswer essay, so really knowing the material is a must, but it isn't bad with a reasonable amount of studying. He also was helpful outside of class, so don't be afraid to go to office hours. Inspired me to go for the neuroscience minor.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: NEURO1001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took the Intro to Neuroscience class, and I sincerely looked forward to his class. Just pay attention during lectures, take notes, read the required reading, study for tests, and you'll have no problem getting an A.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: NSCI1001
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Good teacher. Good lectures. Harsh grading.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: NSCI1001
• 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: Not Mandatory

Comment:

A very intelligent professor and a wonderful lecturer. I looked forward to his lectures the most. He often covers more difficult and complex ideas, but he makes them clear for the most part and is very approachable if you don't understand. Great class.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: NSCI1001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He was very clear and delivered his lectures well. I prefer him to Val. The tests are fair and usually as long as you attend class and review the concepts you can make it through just fine. Would recommend the class to anyone whether you are science minded or no.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: NSCI1001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Class itself is pretty easy. The whole grade is 4 short answer exams, which were simple if you went to lecture and studied the slides. His lectures were a little harder to follow than the other instructor's, but overall, it's both an easy and interesting A.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: NSCI1001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Good prof. Good guy for answering questions, as he also teaches NSCI 3101. Wish he had a better book for class. "The Brain That Changes Itself" veers off into pseudoscience and speculation in its sexuality chapter. This is a big deal in a class that teaches neuroscience literacy. Would work better if we covered science/nonscience differences too.