Thomas Gavin - Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Professor: Thomas Gavin

Department: Science

College: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: NTRES410
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The real deal - engaged, committed, funny as heck, a bit crazy, but...too bad he's retired.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: NTRES210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Tom Gavin is hilarious. He makes the dry subject of memorizing almost a thousand specie names fun. However, I hated the class. It is pure memorization and I am bound to forget the ridiculous amount of specie names by the winter. I still wonder why memorizing these names is important. I'd rather learn something then memorize names.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: NTRES210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Tom is the MAN. I took this class my sophomore year, as it is a req. Gavin made learning latin names interesting and purposeful. I liked the class so much that I am going to be a TA next fall. I would highly recommend this class to anyone that is interested in Natural History.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: NTRES210
• 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:

Passionate about field and conservation biology. Strong believer in keeping field biology literally out in the field. Willing to offer career advice and related help.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: NTRES410
• 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:

Tom Gavin is by far the best professor I have ever encountered at Cornell. He is not only passionate about his field, but he also allows the student to speak freely and speak their minds. He makes the class fly by with his awesome humor and stories. This is an awesome capstone to NTRES and I would highly recommend any NTRES student to take it.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: NTRES210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I was not only one of his students, but I was also a TA in this course. it is a requirement, but it definitely doesn't feel like a "have-to" course. It's THAT enjoyable. It's not only about the material, but being that it's a small class, you get to know not only Tom (whos outrageously awesome) but the other students as well. It's GREAT!!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: NTRES210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Gavin is absolutely awesome. Hilarious, helpful, and very interesting. Great class, would recommend it to everyone, unless you can't memorize hundreds of latin names.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: NTRES210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

One of my favourite professors! Very funny, and has an amazing wealth of knowledge.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: NTRES210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Gavin is great, but its unfortunate he teaches 210. The class is graded on pure memorization skills, with some questions on random facts thrown in that you had to be lucky enough to remember him blurbing out in some field trip. I got a low grade so my testominy can be understandbly ignored.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: NTRES210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Absolutely wonderful class! Gavin rocks!

Rating # 11

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Tom was one of my favorite professors ever. I graduated over a decade ago, yet I am taking the time to rate him--that should say it all. He was tremendously knowledgeable, enthusiastic, funny, and kind. A rare combination. A+!