Jan Mikesell - Gettysburg College

Professor: Jan Mikesell

Department: Biology

College: Gettysburg College

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO103
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is funny, caring, and endearing! If you show up to class and either pay attention or take notes, you should be fine. You have to make sure you study before an exam but nothing extreme.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO101
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Stay away. Would not recommend. Doesn't know what he talks about. Dodges questions and material. Rambles. Only multiple choice. Predictable pattern on the scantron: he will never have two of the same answer choices in a row. If you know question 1 is A and question 3 is B, you can eliminate them from question 2. Didn't study and got a B. Old tech.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO217
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Sweet man. lectures are tough to get through because of the length but he means well. He uses old technology including an overhead projector and writes everything on the board in cursive handwriting. SO MANY NOTES. He is a genuinely great man who will not give a student a grade lower than a B. He cares about students. Just very old-fashioned.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Yes he's a friendly guy but at least for this general course he is not a good teacher. His explanations use the least clear language possible and the answer to your question is never included. Quiz questions are difficult and their syntax doesn't make sense. All notes are written on the board and quickly erased forever. Just not a good intro class.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

horrible do not take his class

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO217
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He's hilarious and brilliant, as in he can recall everything about plants that has ever been said. The course is REALLY easy at the start but later on he focuses on tiny details and asks questions like "what plant did we study first that had ____." Write down EVERYTHING he says, weekly quizzes, 2 hrs of lecture, sometimes a little dull. Great guy.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO214
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This guy is a boss, nicest teacher at gburg

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO217
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Nicest guy. Will help you if u ask. People looking to easily fulfill requirements shouldn't be ticked, they obviously don't want to put in any effort. Can be confusing but will answer any and all questions. I failed one of his tests and still got a B+ in the class. Plants classes have lots of new info that you need to study to do well on the tests

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I honestly don't know what everyone's so ticked off about. Class was so easy (even for non-bio-majors & even if you don't read the book!) Jan was very friendly and helpful; provides outlines of the next class session, and didn't dock points for late stuff (even late tests!) He was occasionally sardonic, but makes sure you know he's just kidding.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Excellent professor. Plants are his thing so obviously he's going to be a better professor in his field. He is the sweetest man ever and could be my grandfather. His tests are challenging but you will learn a lot. Because of him I have a newfound respect for plants. Recommended for plant classes.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ES126
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Worst professor I had in Gburg. Do not take this class. He admittedly knows little about the subject matter, yet his tests and quizzes are brutal. This man is an embarrassment to academia.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ES128
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Don't take climatology with him. There is not much work but his quizzes and tests are ridiculous. Take if you like pain.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ES126
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I thought this class would help get my requirements fuffilled, but it only f*cked me over, wasted my time, and I had to withdraw b/c I had an F and had no clue what the hell was going on in the class. Don't take Mikesell, ever, unless you want to withdraw and screw yourself

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO217
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Ugh. 2 hours of plants is enough without Mikesell at the helm. He is very knowledgable obviously, so his lectures are packed. Very misleading as well...he will act nice and patronize you a bit in class, then destroy your gpa with one test (or one after another). Not cool.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ES121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Take Mikesell if you don't want to do a lot of work and don't care if you get a C or D. He gives multiple choice tests and quizzes that often do not relate to material discussed in class are poorly written and worded.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: METEOROL
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If you take meteorology, you'll need a No Dose and probably a tutor. His tests don't relate to the material. Bad.

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

go in for extra help and you understand the material better, also 50 extra credit points come on now how stupid are you for not taking his class

Rating # 18

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Had no idea what he was talking about half the time! His tests was so terribly worded even he didn't know the answers. He liked to talk about drinking. "I myself would prefer a nice cold beer." A direct quote. Probably wasn't so sober in class.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ES124
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Be ready to drink lots of coke and coffee!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO217
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Always makes reference to happy hour at the pub. Sometimes we thought he taught us under the influence.