Wendy Rothwell - University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA

Professor: Wendy Rothwell

Department: Biology

College: University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BME5
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Wendy is super sweet, her lectures are pretty slow/broadcasted. Weekly hw based on her lectures due in class, one research paper w/group presentations, and midterm and final. This class is memorization heavy and would be VERY difficult if you haven't taken various bio courses already.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BME80H
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Rothwell is a concise and interesting professor who is super knowledgeable about genetics and is good at explaining things so that even beginner can comprehend. The grading was super clear (3 non cumulative tests, 4 hour long homework, one paper) and she was always reachable outside class. Lectures are webcast so you can make class up if you miss.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BME80H
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

By far one of the best teachers, and coolest classes I've taken at UCSC! She is a super cool, and passionate instructor who genuinely cares about making sure the students understand the material she's covering. If you have a basic knowledge of biology/chemistry it will be a breeze. That being said still study, some of the questions are pure memory

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BME5
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Wendy is a good professor but her teaching style is pretty boring. This class is easy but that doesn't mean you should underestimate it because there's a lot of information that is not exactly common sense to most people. There's a midterm, 3 page research paper, and final which are all fairly easy. Study and don't procrastinate and you'll be okay.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BME80H
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very straight forward teacher and provides a very good outline for you to study. she never required outside reading and everything she goes over in class is what is on the test.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO80H
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Awesome professor. Helps you in any way possible. Uploads lecture outlines, TA notes, and topics of what's coming on the exam straight from her lecture, which you can watch online on webcast. Exams are not tough at all and the final isn't cumulative so as long as you understand what she's saying in lecture you'll do good on the exams

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIOL80H
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The tests are based on her lectures (she gives you outlines to these online and you take notes on them). It helped me to also read the book but it's not tested on the book at all. She's very accepting and was very aware of her influence and made sure to teach acceptance via biology and to question everything. She was amazing!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BME5
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

One midterm and one final. All you need to do is print out her notes and attend lectures. Textbook is not mandatory but it def helps if you want to understand more bc biotech can be confusing. She can go through a lot of stuff in one lecture, so make sure to stay on track. Hw is easy but the test might be a little hard if you struggle in the class.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BME5
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

She can be confusing to some students, but I found that if you take good notes, (even is it feels like you've been in class for all eternity) you will do well. Also, study study study for the midterm and final

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BME5
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She is extremely knowledgeable about biotechnology, and will inform the class about the latest updates in the field. She welcomes questions, even during lecture. If she doesn't have an answer for you, she will research it on her own time and get back to you the next class. The class covers a lot of material, so expect to study hard for tests!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BME80H
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Rothwell is a nice lady who's generally reasonable with grading, and I found that her interest and knowledge in the class material really came through in her lectures. There's only 4 homework assignments, and they're usually not difficult. Tests are based off lectures, but some questions can be asked in a tricky way. Overall solid class.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BME80H
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Rothwell is absolutely wonderful. She's very easy to communicate with and extremely helpful, but don't let this cloud the fact that attendance is required!! A lot of reading, homework packets, good lecture notes are needed in order to pass with anything better than a C+. I'd definitely take another class of hers.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BME5
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Rothwell's a very nice professor who's extremely clear about what you should expect from the class. Her lectures are a tad bit boring, but she basically tells you everything you need for the test via the study guide. The study guide covers EVERYTHING on the test, so make sure you do the study guide and know it well. If you do so, tests are easy

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BME5
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

She does not care to help or care for the students who do not understand the course. The lectures are very long and boring. The homework assignments are somewhat clear but the topics we learn are not very organized. Beware of using a lot of printing paper and ink for lecture notes. Her TA is alright but not very enthusiastic in teaching either.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BME5
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She does not care about your learning and does not put in any effort to help you. Class is extremely boring.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BME5
• 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:

Was very easy to get the A even though I only attended class once a week to turn in homework. Homework was fairly simple and had clear directions and was more of a "Walkthrough" of a site or article than actual work. She tells you in a study guide what topics will be on the test and sticks to what she says. Great, enthusiastic and kind professor!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BME5
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The material is very dry and dense though she releases a study guide before tests narrowing down what you need to study. Know everything mentioned, clarify unknowns in office hours and you'll do well. Homework is worth a very large portion of your grade. Textbook is un-needed as most figures are available online. There is also a minor curve.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BME80H
• 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:

It was easy to get distracted in her class because of how boring her lectures were. You can just study and memorize most of the things from lecture outlines to get a good grade. Just make sure you follow all of her guidelines.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BME5
• 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:

A very knowledgable and respectable professor. She is also quite open-minded. Content was interesting, however she expects you to know and memorize a heavy amount of information for her midterm and final. Do every single homework assignment and you should at least receive a passing grade for the class. For exams, she curves, if that helps you.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BME5
• 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:

Class is super interesting if you put in a the time. I'm a senior biology major and without having a background in biology I think this class would have been very tough. Lots of material but all so interesting and important to know! Wendy is very nice, approachable and enthusiastic. Take this class if interested in science but not for an easy GE