Inder Saxena - University of Texas at Austin

Professor: Inder Saxena

Department: TBD

College: University of Texas at Austin

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO325
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I do not understand why so many people dislike Dr. Saxena. He was my favorite professor the semester I took him for genetics. You can earn 20 points of extra credit (that's an ENTIRE letter grade), he has a drop quiz, and his exams and grading are extremely fair. His lectures are kinda dry but everything is textbook-based. do badly- your fault.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO325
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Extremely difficult class. Tried going to lectures-dry and not very informative. Topics covered in class were not useful for tests or quizzes. Plus, Connect assignments were useless. Studied hard for the first exam using the textbook, discussion sheets, and old quizzes, but it was of no help. And the final exam was just bad....

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO320
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Everything is FRQ except final, which is MC. Quizzes are test-level hard, with curves needed to be applied to everything. He is smart and passionate, but he doesn't touch on the topics he actually tests on. Application questions are not properly taught, and you aren't given a clear expectation of what comes on the test. Must hit books hard.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO325
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I've never gotten an A before in a bio class at UT, but it happened here! Dr. S clearly lays out what he expects for grading, and gives you chances to make points up and drop quizzes (EC!!). Reading the textbook is practically "mandatory", but spreading it out is doable and tests pretty much come from readings. He really cares about your success!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO325
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Get ready to read like crazy. Spent hours reading the textbook because he doesn't go over all the topics in class. Do reviews and discussion sheets, a lot of test Q's come from matl covered on those. Read before lecture otherwise it's confusing and waste of time. Discussion is bonus, attend it'll help at the end. Curves heavily at the end

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO325
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He has clear grading criteria. Theres a curve at the end. He is highly knowledgeable and very understanding. Sometimes goes too in depth about some of the material because hes passionate about it and we didnt cover all the material planned for the semester. Other than that all good.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO325
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

People hyped up Fischer but they had a much worse time in genetics than I did (shes very hard now). I stopped going to class after the first exam and just read the textbook and got an A. Homeworks are easy, only 3 tests, no final, and weekly discussion is extra credit (big grade boost) and we didnt even do anything. TAKE SAXENA FOR EASY GENETICS

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO301G
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Saxena is a kind and caring professor. Lectures can be boring, but showing up to class boosts your grade substantially. Discussion sections were extra credit. Quizzes and exams come from material covered in class - very straightforward if you regularly attend lectures and study the night before. Overall, not a bad choice for non-science majors.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO325
• 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 CURVES CRAZY! He had quizzes and exams which he curves both, the quizzes are great practice and exposure to his type of exam questions. He wants you to do well. Pay attention in lecture, you dont need to read the book. I made a 70 on the final and made an A in the course because I put in the work during the semester!! Its doable.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO325
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He did squarecap so technically lecture was required but you can do it outside class if needed since it's participation points. He was very sweet and easy to get a hold of outside class. Exams were fair - genetics is a hard subject if you aren't good at bio so all the profs are 'hard.' He has easy extra assignments to boost your grade and he curves

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO325
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

My friends told me to take him and I 100% regret it. He is caring, but I need a professor that knows how to lecture and actually teach the material that he quizzes/tests you over. His class made this semester my worst by far. Don't take him; you will regret it. Doesn't help that he expects the TA's to teach you quiz material and they don't.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO325
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This is a hard class because there is a TON of material to cover. Saxena explains things pretty well though and if you talk to him in person he will try really hard to help you. I didn't read the textbook consistently, but I put effort into the online homework which helped a lot. Test questions are really similar to the discussion questions.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO325
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I went into this class expecting the worst, but it honestly was not that bad. The discussion worksheets helped and the quizzes were totally doable. It was hard to follow his lectures but as long as you read the book, you're good. We had online hw, square cap in class, discussion participation, one writing assignment, and 3 tests, no final.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO325
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Nice man but his tests and quizzes are impossible and his lectures are pointless. If you want to succeed, read the textbook bc thats the only way you will. Heard he curves at the end but at this point I wish I took a different professor.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO325
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His lectures didnt really interest me, but he is a sweet man and cares about your success. Theres a lot of curving and extra credit, plus an 88 is considered an A- in his class. Exams got progressively harder, but quizzes werent too bad after I figured out the questions came straight from Canvas PowerPoints. HW is easy, and read the textbook!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO325
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Genetics is inherently a difficult subject but Saxena doesn't set students up for success either. Lectures are textbook slides and tests are extremely difficult n ask convoluted questions. To put in perspective I have a 3.8 GPA and an A in ochem, but a 78 in this class. Hours spent studying do no good because he asks the most difficult questions.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO325
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great professor! Someone on here said, "I had to do a lot of personal study to make up for lectures," but DUH of course you have to study on your own. Read and do the assignments and go to class - those are all easy points. Go to office hours if you're struggling. He will gladly help. The quizzes are pretty easy. Exams are a little more difficult.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO325
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Saxena is very well versed in genetics, but his lectures were very hard for me to follow. He moves very quickly through material, and quizzes are pretty difficult. I had to do a lot of personal study to make up for lectures. He does curve up grades at the end of semester.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO325
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Saxena is the nicest professor I've ever had, he tries so hard and cares a lot. People who complain about him are just too lazy to read the textbook because his tests are doable if you read, and he curves. his lectures are pretty boring but its really boring material and he's funny sometimes.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: 311C
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

GO TO OFFICE HOURS! I see a lot of not too great reviews here but Dr. Saxena cares so much about his students and wants them to succeed! I didnt go to class much but read the textbook a lot and went to his office hours to clear up any questions I had and he helped me a lot! Was very helpful! Be his friend, he is very kind.