Donna Rilling - Stony Brook University (SUNY)

Professor: Donna Rilling

Department: History

College: Stony Brook University (SUNY)

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIS103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She has a condescending personality, and her lectures couldn't make less sense. Do not expect any study guide from this class; the TAs of this class suck too, I seriously doubt some of their academic qualifications sometimes.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIS371
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The previous reviews are correct. She is terrible a lecturer. Often didn't have answers for questions that were asked and at times even gave the wrong information. This class is not about early law rather its about early American culture. I was considering dropping this class early in the semester instead I decided to stick it out. Big mistake.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIS371
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Ive never seen such condescending comments from a professor on my papers before. Her lectures are unorganized, confusing, and her essay prompts are vague but she expects you to know exactly what she wants. Listen to the majority of the reviews. Dont make my mistake.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIS264
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She can be quite stuck in her own ways, and she has a way of accepting only what she wants, but if you go to office hours with your papers you are likely to get a high grade. If she knows your name, in the good way, you are better off in the long run when asking for help. Her lectures are fast speed, so best record audio. Remember fine details.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIS264
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Worst professor ever. Tough grader and her essay prompts are vague and confusing. She loves leaving notes about "passive voice" on your paper yet she does a poor job at explaining what it is. Goes on tangents and her conservative views arise when you bring up an opposing opinion. Readings are useful but exam questions are confusing.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIS371
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The absolute worst professor I've ever had. The quiz questions don't ask about anything that you would remember from the readings. Despite doing ALL of the homework I never passed a single quiz because they don't reflect the reading materials. It's a poorly organized, absurdly difficult class taught by a mean old woman. Avoid!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIS371
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

the professor is controlling, makes snide remarks about conservatives, republicans, right-wing views, which is fine sometimes, but crosses a line often. most students in class were uncomfortable

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIS521
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Took her twice, once as an undergraduate for HIS 371 and once as a grad student for HIS 521. Don't take her if you expect an easy A, but if you are interested in the subject and are willing to do the reading and participate in class, you will have no problems. Among the most supportive professors I've ever had

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIS103
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If you want to take this class, BEWARE! Sis is very boring, with a voice that will put you to sleep. She knows what she's teaching, but her slides are meaningless and lectures are hard to follow because she has NO organizational skills WHATSOEVER. One of the worst History classes I have taken in a while, and I have taken many.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIS103
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Pretty demanding for a 100-level survey course. Only 2 exams: a midterm and a final, plus 3 small papers during the semester. Exams are primarily essay questions and require extensive interpretation and analysis of readings. You won't pass this class with a multiple-choice mindset or if you don't do some research beyond the assigned readings.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIS103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Every negative thing you are reading here is right. She is awful. I am in another history class that is studying the same exact time period but is a higher level class and I am doing better in that class than this one. Ridiculous.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIS103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

For a 100 level class, it is very hard and theres alot of tedious, nonsense work. Shes a tough grader and the TA, Caroline is horrible. She acts like shes the professor herself and will give you bad grades w bad feedback. She assigns hw that the professor doesnt assign. The 2 of them make this class A nightmare. You will regret taking this class

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIS103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She is all over the place when lecturing. Doesn't seem like she knows what she's talking about. She rambles on about random things and nothing that seems to be relevant for the tests. Focuses on what students are doing on their computer more than teaching. Makes no sense and doesn't talk loud enough for a 100+ student audience. Rude also.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIS264
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

While she herself is very smart and passionate about what she teachers, she is not approachable and gives off a very arrogant vibe. It often seems like she could care less about her students, and as for grading you have to fight tooth and nail to pull off anything above a B.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIS399
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

very good teacher. Loved her

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: 264
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Extremely unorganized lecture and no structure, she is all over the place. Test design was different each time, and usually not based off lecture. Lecture was extremely boring and she takes everything personally. Read the books, they will greatly benefit you for the quizestests, which arent too bad. Overall, unpleasant experience.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIS103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Can all these students be wrong? Yes! Got to go in with an open mind, ready to work, ready to learn, ready to improve your writing. Yes, essay exams. This is college! All you have to do is ask a question if things aren't clear. Office hours well worth the time.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIS264
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I've never had such an awful professor before, therefore I felt that this was needed to save the rest of you. She is the absolute worst professor in the world. Don't take her! You'll regret it! There's no textbook to help you, just awful books that you HAVE TO READ. & then w lecture she just rambles & is so unclear. Oh &all her tests are essays-_-

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST281
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Had a panic attack before every test even though I had done the massive amount of readings she assigned. she is not helpful and sort of condescending, gives random pop quizzes, her questions are hard to understand, her slides are all pictures. I had taken this class to fulfill a dec and it was a nightmare, I suggest not taking this class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIS371
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class wouldn't be so hard if the professor was more helpful. There's little transparency in posting grades so I have no idea what my grade is going to be. The comments I received on my first paper were so condescending that I cried. Only class I know where the margins of your paper affect your grade. 0/10 do not take this class