Stephen Kempf - Auburn University, Auburn, AL

Professor: Stephen Kempf

Department: Biology

College: Auburn University, Auburn, AL

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4400
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

"This class will prepare you for medschool" I've had 4 lectures on embryology in my first year of medical school. Accounting for less than 3% of available points on each MGA exam. Kempf's perception of his role is inflated enormously beyond what is necessary. I have 0 respect for the man as a teacher. -First year med student -D in Vert

Rating # 2

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I liked Dr. Kempf. I received an A in vert. I recorded his lectures and relistened to them and add to my notes and then crammed two days before the exam. Despite what people say he does want you to do well but won't put up with laziness. You could find almost every answer from his exams directly on his slides, he loves to put pictures on exams

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4000
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Do not take any class he teaches.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4410
• 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:

Lab is 50% of your course grade and is all memorization. Get an old notebook for drawings & germ charts. For lecture, be prepared for a lot of fill in the blank ?'s. Covers a lot of material in class and you need to know it all. Made an A with some effort but wasn't impossible. A serious student should be able to pull off a B without much headache.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4410
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Kempf's class was by far the hardest and worst class I have taken at Auburn. His exams are long and extremely difficult. He expects you to be able to draw from anything and everything he said during lecture and is extremely stingy with bonus points and partial credit. The class is requires a TON of work!!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

THE WORST TEACHER AT AUBURN DO NOT TAKE HIM. I know this isn't not avoidable for some but I promise you he is the worst professor on campus!!!!!!!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4410
• 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:

A lot of work compared to the difficultly of the class but that should be expected. Dr. Kempf is really nice and approachable. He's not exactly the most exciting lecturer but he's also not the most boring. Take pictures of the images in lecture. It really helped. There were about 5,674 pictures on the final but it focused more on the new material.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4410
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is the worst teacher I have had at Auburn. He is miserable, confusing, and gross. He throws gross unnecessary details in his lectures (like smegma). Do not take his class whatever you do.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Although difficult, I feel like I learned a lot in Histology and it will be helpful in my future. The lab project, quizzes, and exercises definitely saved my grade. Dr. Kempf is very approachable and explains things well. It takes a lot of studying for a B, and an A is difficult to get. The lab is open 24/7 to students, so take advantage of that!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Details in Histo may seem pointless or trivial, but the fact is that if you are going to medical school and plan to take the Step, meeting Kempf's expectations now will save you days worth of time in the long run for the Step. It is a tough class, much like Vertebrate so if you have issues with this, you may want to rethink medical school as well.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4000
• 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:

I loved the class but couldn't stand the teacher. Histology is interesting but it's a ton of information and you MUST know it backwards and forwards to do well on his tests (which are very tricky). The lab TA's are wonderful and will help you with anything you need. Ifyou're going to med or vet school take it, but prepare to study your butt off.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4000
• 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:

Histology is just as difficult as Vert in my opinion. The lecture is probably a bit easier, but the lab is more difficult. That being said, the class isn't that bad. It is an easy B, but a challenging A. Histology consists of more multiple choice than vert, but they are tricky (Choices with A&C, etc). Overall, not bad, and Dr. Kempf is knowledgable

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4410
• 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:

Vert Development was a really interesting class. I felt that Dr. Kempf did a great job explaining it. The Lab was easy, and a good way to build some cushion. For lecture, you simply need to know everything. Not a terrible class. I'd say a pretty easy B for a competitive pre-health applicant. Challenging A, but very doable.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4000
• 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:

I'm med school now. Histology was a lifesaver in physiology. Histology will be one of the hardest classes you take in medical school as well, so it's worth getting acclimated to it early on. The amount Dr. Kempf expects you to know is almost as much as what professors in med school will expect you to know which is very beneficial.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4410
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you take this class, be prepared to do nothing but study for it. Your entire life will revolve around studying for just this class, if you want to make a decent grade. You'll have 24/7 access to the lab, which you will need. Exams are ridiculous and he's a tough grader. Make friends with the TAs.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4100
• 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:

Dr. Kempf is honestly one of the better professors I've had. He is great at presenting the material. The class is honestly not as bad as everyone makes it. The lab is a good way to pull up your grade (in my opinion), but he is peculiar. Know EVERYTHING in the notes, and an A is doable. VERY manageable B for a serious pre-health student.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4000
• 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:

Histology is a tough class, no doubt. But if you plan on going to med, vet, or dent school, this class will save your butt later on. He is tough. He's nit-picky. The material is extremely dense. It's not an easy class, but it correlates well with mammalian as wel. Comparative is easier, but histo. will be much more helpful down the line.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: UNIV2710
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Stephen kempf is a great teacher but grades tests very hard

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I found Dr. Kempf to be inspirational. He did not baby anybody. The course was extremely difficult and made me grow up. I am very thankful for having taken this course. Plus, I learned a ton of developmental biology - cool stuff.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: VERTDEV
• 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:

As difficult as it is boring, tedious, and useless.