Thad Polk - University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Professor: Thad Polk

Department: Psychology

College: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH240
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Thad Polk is the man. Super funny guy, makes lectures very interesting and engaging. One of the best classes I've taken

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PSY240
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The subject is boring but easy class nonetheless. I would take the class again. Just study every term and know the difference. The paper is curved so life is good :) Love ya Polk

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PSY240
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great class! Intro course, so a lot of history, but Prof. Polk makes even the most mundane details fun to listen to. 10/10 would recommend.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PSY240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Best professor at this university. Do not take PSYCH 240 with anyone besides Polk. So knowledgable, so engaging, such useful sections. Also has awesome clips of the day. Tests can be challenging but you know what's on them beforehand because of how clear his study guides are. Not an easy A but definitely a class you just want to succeed.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH240
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Polk made lecture material that could have been boring, seem extremely interesting. During lecture, he keeps you engaged with a great sense of humor, fun videos, and demonstrations that keep you involved, all while teaching us the material clearly. If you go to class and pay attention, it would be hard not to pass.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH240
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Polk is awesome. He presents his lectures clearly and concisely and does everything he can to help his students. Provides exam reviews, sends out Emails before each exam with all the questions he's received that unit and the answers. When you do well, he'll Email you to congratulate you. Great dude. If you do the work, you'll get an A.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PSY240
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Prof Polk is one of the best proffessors that I have had thus far at Michigan. His lectures are extremely clear and very well thought out. He gives lots of examples and explains everything thoroughly. Polk is obviously interested in his field. Grading is very fair and exams are based on lectures (little book reading) with generally no surprises.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Thad Polk is such a good man. You can genuinely tell he cares about the students he teaches and I wish I could take another class by him. I thought he was quite a good lecturer and even though the lectures are online make sure you go to class.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

thinking about the best profs i've had and although i took this class a year ago, there is still no one that compares to Dr. Polk. I am so inspired by how much he genuinely cared about his students. Dinner parties, congratulatory emails when you do well on exams, willing to help in any way possible. Also gave an awesome TED talk this year.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH240
• 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:

Thad is the best professor I've experienced at UMich. He's fantastically engaging, excited about cog. psych, and you can tell he enjoys teaching. He's the kind of person I want to grow up to be like. Material can be slightly tough, but he presents in such an interesting way that the class as a whole becomes amazing.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PSY240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The class itself is boring but Dr. Polk really tries to keep students engaged and interested. The first test is the hardest but other than that it isn't bad. He hosts dinner parties at his house and its really fun to interact with a professor in a new way

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH240
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Thad is one of my favorite professors at this University. He really engages in and cares about the material he is teaching. Makes sure his students understand everything he is explaining. Provides study guides, and if you study a decent amount, you'll get an A.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH240
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

If you have to take this class, Dr. Polk's lecture is the one to be in! By far the BEST professor I've had so far. I loved his class so much that I considered taking more classes with him.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH240
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I was thoroughly impressed by Dr. Polk after taking Psych 240. He absolutely goes beyond above and beyond for his students (he always seeks to improve the course, invites students to dinner at his house, etc). He's also a clear and engaging lecturer. Highly recommend!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH240
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Thad is a great prof who genuinely cares about his students. I found the material to be very dry, but Thad keeps the lectures interesting and clear. Blue review and sends out lengthy emails to everyone in the class before exams answering students questionsvery helpful! 3 exams, weekly quizzes and 1 paper. Try to get Daniel Porter as your GSI

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH240
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Polk did a great job of taking dry material and making it more bare able. Good class. Do not need the book but need to do the readings online for the exams. GSI makes or breaks the class and sections are not very helpful (but need to go for the quizzes)

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH240
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Polk actually makes cog psych interesting. Assignments are pretty easy but harshly graded. Weekly quizzes are easy as long as you've attended lecture and somewhat paid attention. Tests are rote memorization, as in any 200 level psych course here. Lectures are blue-reviewed.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH240
• Grade Received: 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:

Professor Polk is the most helpful teacher I've had in my 3 years at Michigan. Before every exam he opens up a question-and-answer email chain and literally takes all students' questions and broadcasts them to the whole class. He makes it super easy to learn the material because he just repeats, repeats, repeats key terms. Loved this class.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH240
• 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:

Doctor Polk will change your life. Take his class even if you have to fight to the death for a spot.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH240
• 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: Not Mandatory

Comment:

There is not a single negative criticism I can say about Dr. Polk. His classes aren't particularly easy, but other than that he is an absolutely fantastic (and incredibly intellectual) professor with a profound interest in the material he teaches. Yet, the best part about Dr. Polk is his genuine understanding of just how students should be taught.