Sandra Carlson - University of California Davis, Davis, CA

Professor: Sandra Carlson

Department: Science

College: University of California Davis, Davis, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: GEL012
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Carlson is such a sweet lady and is passionate in dinosaurs. It is a 2 unit, but has only 2 exams. No textbook needed, but it is best to go to class. She does give summaries of her lectures and shortened versions of her slides so I was able to miss a few. The exams were multiple choice and she curves A LOT!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: GEL012
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Carlson is a very caring and energetic professor! Although Gel12 is only 2 units, there is a decent bit of studying needed for the exams. There are 2 exams (45% and 55%, a curve, and is not shy to modify grades positively if needed. Go to lecture because the posted material has missing slides! Overall a wonderful professor and class!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: GEL012
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Carlson is a really nice old lady, I love to go to her class. She loves what she's teaching and cares about students. Grades based on two exams but if you spend some time study for it (study her lecture slides and study materials she posts online) you should do great on both of them. Exams questions are simple and straight forward.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: GEL012
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She was very energetic, and you could tell that she was very interested in what she was teaching. Unfortunately, the class only having a midterm and final made things extra stressful, especially as the quarter came to a close. Make sure to go to the review sections to clear things up!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: GEL12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I really loved this class! It's super interesting and Professor Carlson makes the class enjoyable. It isn't a super easy class, but if you are interested in dins, I would definitely take it!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: GEL012
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I love Professor Carlson and this class, but that's because I am interested in the science of dinosaurs. A lot of people take this class simply becasue they see "DINOS" but then when we're actually learning, they sit in class and moan. So, to be clear, if you just want to play with dinos, go to a toy store, not this sweet lady's lecture.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: GEL12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Sweet lady... extremely dry and boring lectures. The way she teaches makes me disinterested in dinosaurs all together. She refers to dinosaurs by names in passing and expects you to memorize them.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: GEL12
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I loved going to class. One of the better lecturers I've had at Davis. Full of interesting slides and images of dinosaurs! Sandy was so friendly and her tests are not designed to trick you. If you just go to class, you don't even need to look at the textbook. I would definitely take her class again!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: GEL12
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Easy material. Grade was based entirely on the midterm and the final. Go to lectures and do the reading and you'll get a good grade. Carlson gives interesting lectures and is really helpful when you ask for help.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: GEL12
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Carlson was the archetype of a sweet old-lady professor. The class is an easy A if you pay attention, which isn't that hard because she is an excellent lecturer and the material is interesting (who doesn't love dinosaurs??). Exams were easy as they were all multiple choice, but there are only two of them and they count for all your grade.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: GEL12
• 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:

As a science major, I found this class super interesting and easy. She curves like crazy (in a helpful way). Lectures are great. Do not buy the book. Highly recommended.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: GEL12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

She's super passionate and makes lecture exciting. Also, no textbook is required. The midterm and final (which make up your entire grade) only require you to know the information covered in lecture. A good two unit GE

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: GEL12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class is way too intensive for a 2-unit, pretty-much intro class, especially for non-majors. Test Q's are very specific, with the whole "A and C", "all of the above", etc... Just 1 midterm and 1 final, so you can easily not do well in this class. Take only if you're REALLY interested in the material. She says she curves. Hope that goes well.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: GEL012
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I found the lectures uninteresting and repetitive. Your grade sits on just the midterm and final, which seems very unfair. She missed several lectures, especially in the beginning of the quarter, and the substitute was not very knowledgeable. She often said things like "You don't need to know this" or " Don't bother memorizingwriting this down."

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: GEL107
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I thought I was gonna end up with a C/C- but got a B instead. She doesn't joke when she says she curves even though the avg was an 85%. She is super organize and she provides ample amount of help for everything. I only went to lecture 4/10 weeks. She is REALLY nice too, she fixed my midterm scantron. Take her class! Nice and approachable!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: GEL107
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

At least 3 different people told me this class was easy...it's not that easy. The class is memorization-based but there are so many notes and the T/F portion of the exam is actually the trickiest part. I really wouldn't take it if it's not required.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: GEL107
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great prof, I missed many lectures due to conflicts with my internship. I didn't buy the book, or was I able to attended office hours. The study guides were very helpful, and her tests are fair (multiple choice + T/F + small essay). Take this class, its actually quite interesting !

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: GEO107
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I took the class for a fun GE and for the most part that was it. Lectures not mandatory. Just study what she posts online and you'll be fine for the exams. Very friendly during class. I can't comment outside of it. Not even remotely close to a GEO major, most of the concepts were new, yet they were easy to memorize before the exams!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: GEL107
• 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:

Prof. Carlson is a little bit of a tough professor. She only post minimal notes online and her powerpoints are different from those. Officer hours are a little bit rough for me, since she does have a slight ego to her. However, the class itself was not too bad, and even as a BIS major, was a little tough for me. Take it if you must.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: GEL107
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

She posts review slides and minimal notes but does not podcast so going to class is kind of a must. The slides are confusing without lecutre notes to supplement. This class is easy because the concepts are easy (esp for BIO majors), but don't expect any help from dr. carlson. she goes out of her way to be unhelpful and is borderline rude.