Robert Kimsey - University of California Davis,Davis, CA

Professor: Robert Kimsey

Department: Biology

College: University of California Davis, Davis, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ABI50A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Kimsey is a very rude professor who makes you work very hard in his class. We are supposed to be learning how to write manuscripts but he grades you expecting we are already masters at it. He is very hard to approach when you need help because he has dry humor. For a 2 unit class, this class was way too much. You really have to work to get an A.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ABI50A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Tests arent what you expect and theres no way to prepare for them. For a 2 credit class this took more time than my 4 unit classes. Felt like my grade just dependended on if he liked me.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ABI187
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Kimsey is by far one of the best professors at UC Davis. His class never fails to entertain! You do need to put in the work to do well but it is very worth it! Dr. Kimsey truly cares about his students and wants to see them succeed and find a path that best suits them. Strongly recommend!!!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ABI50A
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

For 2 credits, this class is a lot more work than it seems. However, I think it was well worth it. The entire class is one research experiment which is incredibly interesting and useful. He can be pretty blunt so don't take everything personally.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENT158
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This was the best class I've taken at UC Davis. You can tell that Dr. Kimsey really cares, and puts a lot of effort into his class. My only gripe is that ent 158 is only worth 3 units, but there's a time consuming group project, presentation of your findings, and a paper to top it all off. The interesting subject matter made the effort worth it tho

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ABI50A
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Before I took ABI50A, some people I spoke to made Dr. Kimsey out to be scary and mean, and I was getting pretty nervous. But for the entire quarter, the closest he ever came to that was teasing sarcasm, which was very obviously all in good fun. I really enjoyed his class and can't wait to take another ABI class with him! Only thing: tough grader!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ABI50A
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's one of the kindest professors I've ever had. Amazing man, but his lectures tend to drag on a little. Also, gave out very low grades on the midterm (an essay) and didn't explain why. Was rarely at office hours, but the TA's make up for his lack of accessibility. Challenging class but you'll have fun. He's a great guy, but an odd teacher.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ABI50A
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

a little blunt at first but friendly once you get to know him. tests are very conceptual . harder than you might expect for a 2 unit class but overall it's pretty interesting.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ABI50A
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Kimsey's lectures are pretty forward and exactly from his power points with him giving you little facts not on the slides. He has a lot to say and stories to share, I appreciated that but it can make you drowsy. His tests didn't seem as easy as I thought they were; learn how to apply ALL this knowledge in short sentences.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ABI50A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

For being just 2 credits this class is not worth the work. The majority consists of a group project and presentation, where he expects you to know how to have the perfect presentation with little help. His expectation for his midterm were confusing, saying one things and then expecting other. Worst professor I've ever had, confusing and boring.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENT10
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He loves teaching and it shows. He posts lecture slides and answers questions in great detail in class. He is an expert in Forensic Entomology. His stories are always interesting and the subject material is fun to learn. Great etcher and teaching skills overall. No practice exams.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENT156
• 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:

Great professor, lectures well, and to those who think he's rude or rough around the edge, he's definitely a hate'em or love'em kind of guy. Its very special having a forensic entomologist on campus like this, and he carries a UCD degree well!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ABI50A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Good Professor. He teaches fairly well but can be very offensive. If you ask for help be prepared for extreme sarcasm. The class was extremely hard for 2 units. Definitely don't take it if you want an easy A. Kimsey is very helpful once you get past his sarcasm though.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENTO156
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great professor, clear and funny. Great stories and willingness to help, I have emailed him multiple times since taking his class. His tests are hard, study, and read the questions carefully. I would highly recommend him.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ABI50A
• 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:

I had him for this course & he is also my major's master adviser. He's a great person, laid-back, & super helpful. His lectures are boring & the exam isn't the type where you just spit out the facts. You need to understand the concepts and be able to apply it. If you get to know him...his jokes can be kind of offensive, but he doesn't mean to be.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIS1B
• 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:

I actually had this professor for a number of classes and found him incredibly entertaining as well as very helpful in and out of class. He does know his stuff, even if he forgets sometimes, he'll generally correct himself later. His tests aren't bad at all, just trickily worded.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIS1B
• 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:

Contrary to what my friends think, I actually found his lectures rather entertaining. Different from Rosenheim, certainly, but still useful. He's obviously very passionate about the topic (does alot of field world, lots of stories to tell), and it seems like he wants to tell us a lot more but can't given the time constraints.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO1B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This course was extremely tough, lab was suppose to help your grade but the TA's dont do much in terms of making sure lab material is coherent. My TA was horrible, he'd dock points on everything. I got a 55% in the course and received the first F in my life. By far the worst course I've taken, Not sure if there's any curve at all.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO1B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

OMG...Man this class was tough, he did his best to teach the material but overall this class was extremely tough for a pre req course. I've never worked so hard for a passing grade. Overall UC Davis is a joke, and courses dont truly measure your knowledge of the material, but how well you can memorize information.Slight curve, but it doesn't help.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ABI50A
• 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:

He's a pretty interesting lecturer and has good stories and factoids. I really didn't like this class - I felt like I already knew everything that we covered. He expects a lot, but it's easy to do well in the class if you're smart. Final was super easy if you went over the lecture slides. It was only 10 questions. Easy class, not time-consuming.