Brian Smith - University of Wisconsin - River Falls

Professor: Brian Smith

Department: Agriculture

College: University of Wisconsin - River Falls

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: INTPLNTSCI161
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This course is graded by 3 tests, 3 quizzes, and the lab quizzes, the tests and quizzes are curved, but only because 90% of the class would fail otherwise. He does offer extra credit, but its a 5 page paper about a plant worth 12 points! Take this class with a different professor, wait a semester or two, but DO NOT take this class with Smith

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: INTPLNTSCI161
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Out of any professor I've ever had, he is by far the most difficult. He takes points off tests for spelling errors and answers questions with questions. The only extra credit given is after he realizes the class is failing, and it is a 5 PAGE paper about a PLANT.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PLSC161
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Worst professor I have had. Questions on tests and quizzes are very very specific from his lecture and you may not be able to find the answers in your notes. Doesnt offer extra help before a test or quiz. He does curve, because he has to or everyone would fail. Not treated as an intro level course, definitely for someone with background knowledge

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PLSC100
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Rude

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: INTPLNTSCI161
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He was definitely not my favorite. He made the intro course very difficult since he does not give lectures that prepare you for the tests or quizzes. He gives a study guide for the tests, but they do not cover most of what will be on the test. You have to know every small side note he says in class. He will turn off the notes so he can talk more.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PLSC100
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Brian is a great guy, and tells some good stories. But you are expected to remember so many details, some that never make an appearance in the notes. His lectures tend to jump around and can be confusing. The quizzes are harder than the tests and more detail oriented. Be ready to study hard. He bumps the class average up to a 76 so less people fail

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PLSC161
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Smith is a very knowledgeable professor but will expect absolute perfection out of his class. He provides all PowerPoints before tests so the best bet is to completely ignore what is on his PowerPoints and write down everything he writes on the board and says. Curves a lots so if you're a decent student you should be fine.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: INTPLNTSCI161
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Can be considered disrespectful to students

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PLSC161
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is a nice guy who knows his stuff. He just doesn't teach very well. And expects us to know every little nitty gritty detail in every subject. Thank goodness he curves our grades. But he probably wouldn't have a job if he didn't.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PLSC100
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is very knowledgeable about plants and very passionate. However he definitely makes you work for your grade (gasp). I technically had a 75% in the class but he curves everything so I ended up with a 93%. I liked him a lot as a professor, he knows his class is hard but it's college, can't have an easy class all the time.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HORT347
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Don't do it. It's awful.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PLSC161
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

One of the more knowledgeable professors I've had! Professor Smith is a great teacher, but make sure you write down everything that's on the board! Unfortunately he doesn't use D2L or any technology really, so just be prepared for that.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: INTPLNTSCI161
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I had him freshman year and was by far my worst and most dreaded class. He gives no supporting materials except for occasional notes on the board and to top it off he doesnt follow the syllabus or book so it makes it hard to study on your own. Hes very smart but doesnt teach this class like its an intro level. Avoid is possible

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PLSC100
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

You need to go to class because his tests are only on what he talks about.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: INTPLNTSCI161
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

There were only three tests and two quizzes for grades. He did provide extra credit on study guides and help sessions before the tests. At the end of the course he had an extra credit opportunity worth 15 points which boosted my grade a lot. If you follow the study guides and make sure you know the material, you will do fine.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PLSC100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He teaches PLSC like a graduate class. He doesn't use any power points which I would be fine with if he actually stuck to the "outline" he writes on one end of the board. When he lectures, it seems like he expects you to remember it, understand it and know it. Easy to get lost and confused.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: INTPLNTSCI161
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This was by far the hardest class I took freshmen year, if you can, avoid taking him. He knows a lot about the subject, but his style of teaching is standing in front of the class and just lecturing, no power points, no worksheets, no nothing, sometimes he writes on the board, but that is it. He does give a curve at the end though.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HORT347
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Brian Smith is a walking encyclopedia. He knows his stuff when it comes to fruit breeding. He has been doing this since dinosaurs roamed the earth. The problem is he has so much information he wants to cover but not enough time for his students to digest everything he covers. Anything mentioned is fair game for exams. Class exam avg. were about 60%

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PLSC100
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Biggest Piece of HorseDung I have ever had the displeasure of being educated by, if you take it for a Gen Ed GIVE UP its absolute Hog Wash.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PLSC161
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Smith is one of the smartest people in his field. He is obsessed with strawberries and making sure nobody gets an A on his tests. His tests are extremely hard. If you are not a plant science or crop major, don't take this professor. I did learn a lot- more than you would learn from any other professor on campus.