Mark Botton - Fordham University at Lincoln Center, New York, NY

Professor: Mark Botton

Department: Biology

College: Fordham University at Lincoln Center, New York, NY

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: NSLU1413
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Fantastic professor. His quizzes and tests are straightforward, and his lectures are good. The powerpoints are not enough to get good grades on the tests so make sure to take very detailed notes. If you do, it's easy to get an A.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: NSLU1413
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great, clear, straightforward professor. Makes Bio very simple and easy. All tests and quizzes are based of his lecture so no point in buying the textbook. Easy A if you take good notes.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: NSCI1403
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Botton makes his exams strictly reflect the lectures, so sometimes its not worth looking back at the textbook. I would say take good notes, and he's a good source outside of class, if you didn't understand something during lecture. All of the quizzes are announced and very easy.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO1413
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Excellent Professor. He explains concepts so well that a hard course becomes easy. Quizzes are fairly straightforward and gives exam guides and no homework. Highly recommend.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: NSCI1403
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

2 exams worth 20% each, 5 quizzes worth 5% each with lowest grade dropped, cumulative final worth 30%, hw 10%. focus more on his lectures than on the textbook, but definitely use the textbook to supplement your understanding on things he emphasizes. gives a guide on what will be on the exams beforehand.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: NSCI1404
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He speaks like the teacher from Ferris Buller's Day Off. Be ready to laugh at his (unfunny) jokes so he'll like you. Asks questions that don't test knowledge and just lose you points on exams (ex: What DOESN'T xy do?). Discusses and tests on things irrelevant just because he likes them (His specialty is horseshoe crabs). Have fun staying awake.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: NSCI1403
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The class is well organized and time is maximized. The exams are rather difficult, but there are students that do well. You must put a lot of work into studying, and you will have to memorize a bunch things, but then only be tested on half of it. Still, a clear and solid professor, and if put effort in will receive a good grade.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO1000
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great professor to teach the subject, but it definitely weeds out the people who do not want to be pre-med. The tests are hard but as long as you take good notes and study efficiently, you're in the clear

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: NSCI1403
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Definitely weeds out premeds but he's a great lecturer and explains difficult topics in ways that make them easy to understand. Go over your notes and his lecture slides and youll be good to go

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: NSCI1404
• 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:

Your grade will pretty much consist of what you got on 4 out of 5 of your quizzes (lowest of the 5 is dropped) and exam grades (2 semester exams and a final). his tests are really detailed so take good notes and pay attention to what he emphasizes in class and you should be okay.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: NSCI1403
• 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:

Makes bio interesting and he's a genuinely helpful and friendly guy. I plan on taking any other class he teaches in future semesters. Pay attention in class, go over your notes and go through his study guide for exams and youll be golden. Ask for help if you need it, go to office hours, but his lectures are good enough to learn sufficiently

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: NSCI1403
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Exams and quizzes are based mostly off his lectures, so skipping class is definitely going to hurt your grade. If you take good notes and listen intently, then read over your notes thoroughly before exams/quizzes, you should be fine. Exams are very specific, though, so pay attention to the details and look at the textbook diagrams as supplements.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: NSCI1403
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Amazingly engaging lectures, which are necessary to attend if you want to pass. Definitely weeds out pre meds with his difficult and detailed exams but he's there to help and gives useful study guides/outlines for each exams. Quizzes help your grade a lot if you do well. Doesn't give homework. Overall great professor for a difficult course

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: NSCI1403
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Exams are tough and detailed. Gives 5 quizzes, with the lowest grade dropped. Most of the material on exams and quizzes come straight from his lectures and the diagrams from his powerpoints, so attendance is crucial. Cramming from the textbook won't help as much as actually paying attn to his lectures. Gives a clear cut study guide too. & he's nice

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: NSCI1403
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Really tough class, mostly to weed out pre-med students who aren't in it for the long haul. Only grading criteria are quizzes, super-difficult exams, and attendance to save your grade. Get ready to read your book extensively. But if you take good notes, it will be much easier.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: NSCI1403
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Tests are extremely detailed and difficult. Cramming won't work. Mostly lecture based questions rather than textbook based, but images and concepts from the textbook are fair game for exam questions. Doesn't curve exams. Extremely cheerful and definitely not boring to listen to in class. His jokes are actually funny. He's willing to help as well.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: GENBIO
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Easily my favorite professor at Fordham. Extremely clear in what he wants from his students. Lectures clearly and answers questions if asked. Tests are not cakewalks, but if you follow study guide and take detailed notes, there is no reason why you shouldn't do well.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: NSCI1404
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If you do not do the readings before class or go over your notes every weekend, don't expect a A or high B. Its not going to happen. My advice to you is to look at the diagrams he tells you to look at. He puts a lot of the concepts from the images. This class is meant to weed out the hardworking students from the lazy ones for pre-med.

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Very clear lecturer, and doesn't include complicated material which is not relevant for the class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Might as well not buy the textbook, honestly speaking. All his test questions originate from his lecture, which does not come from the textbook. So if you are a very good note taker, then you will do well in this class. But if you are like me and like to study things last minute with the textbook/online material, he will be hard.