Lynn Mahaffy - University of Delaware

Professor: Lynn Mahaffy

Department: TBD

College: University of Delaware

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BISC302
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Her ecology class was not as easy as I thought. After getting an A in all previous biology classes, I got a lower grade in this one. Her exams are challenging, especially the final, and you really have to note everything she says in class that isn't on the slides. I also recommend not rushing through the homework and use it to really learn.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BISC302
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She is a great teacher. Her tests, however, are extremely hard, you need to have a very good understanding of the material. The questions are extremely tricky and confusing- take your time and analyze the questions but do not overthink. I studied a lot for the exam and received high 70s on all of them and ended with a B-.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BISC302ECOLO
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

DON'T JUST MEMORIZE DEFINITIONS! you have to actually understand real world applications. Her exams are in depth and only ask about real world applications of the topics she teaches in class, not the book definition. You don't need to read much but you MUST go to lectures and take detailed notes. The "side-note" examples she gives, are on the exam.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BISC302ECOLO
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She is a great professor and very kind when you go see her for office hours. I was very interested in the material given but I was frustrated cause I did badly on the exams. All I gotta say is, it's a big help if you know someone who took the class before you.. they can tell you wassup.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BISC312
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I've had Mahaffy for 5 classes and loved her for every single one! Her intro class was very specific and hard but she really made you learn the material. 312 is one of the best classes I've taken but the final is hard. She really cares for her students and enjoys her subject material. She has taught me so much and I truly respect her as a teacher.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BISC302
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She has some amazing ability to drag out lectures that could be completed in 20 minutes to an hour and 15 mins. I would say she speaks like she's trying to reach a minimum word requirement for a paper. Exams are much harder than they need to be with applied knowledge questions, so you really need to know your stuff to do well.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BISC312
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

OK SO, I took Mahaffy for bisc302 & hated her exams but thought she was a sweet person. Super nice, tries to be funny, love her. So I took her field ecology lab this semester. This class is the only one I look forward to each week. Write ups are easy but suck if you're like me & save em til the night before lab. Lab usually lasts 2 hrs. TAKE IT!!!!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO302
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She's an okay professor but her exams are not easy for general ecology (and she knows it). If you need to take this course PUT IN THE TIME. You truly need to understand the concepts in order to pass the exams. 3 exams with a cumulative final. Weekly web forums, 4-5 online quizzes as well as 7 paper quizzes. GO TO CLASS to fill in slides for notes

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BISC208
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Mahaffy really makes you work to get a good grade in her class. She gives lots of quizzes (every day, if you take it in summer session) and her exams are some of the hardest I've taken in college. However, she really cares about her students and is very accessible outside of class. It was a hard class but I'd probably take her again.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO302
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Interesting speaker, enough that you wont go online and shop around. Unless you're not a true fan of biology.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BISC302
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Not too bad. Tests are unnecessarily difficult, but still manageable. Homeworks, blogs entries, and clicker points boost your grade. You can find some old test answers on quizlet which sometimes reappear in new exams. I didn't mind this class. You need to go to class in order to fill in the notes.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BISC302
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Her lectures are critical, but not mandatory. She posts semi-filled in power points, so you have to go to class to fill them in. She is entertaining to listen to and is a great lecturer. I was never bored in class. Her exams are brutal because they are very detail-oriented. Flash cards will be your best friend for this class.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BISC442
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Okay so,.... Mahaffy's classes are generally tough. The lab for this class is actually pretty cool one you get past the smell and urge to gag. Her lectures were long, but she knows what she's talking about and so she keeps them interesting and interactive. Exams are nearly impossible, but she makes up for it with EASY extra credit and quizzes.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: 302
• 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:

Mahaffy is a really cool professor. Super nice and engaging, class was always entertaining. However, he tests are ridiculously hard. She makes the exams much harder than what they need to be and purposely tries to trick you it seems. She does reuse old exams so try and get a hold of one if you can.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BISC442
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Mahaffy is a really helpful person when you go to her, she's very understanding and always willing to accommodate. However, this class is the hardest class that I have ever taken. Her exams are unpredictable, but she makes up for it with other grade portions like quizzes and lab participation. Definitely do the extra credit!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BISC302
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Her class was very interesting and she was helpful. Be aware that the test questions often involve a lot of thinking, not straight definitions.

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I've taken every single Mahaffy class out there. She is an absolutely amazing professor who I highly recommend. She lives up to her reputation of being an tough grader but if you go to her office hours and get to know her she's always willing to help you out. Make friends to study with for sure. Overall, take her classes, they're great.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BISC302
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Mahaffy really knows her stuff. If you like the topic, she's great. However, beware of the tests. Everything she says in lecture is fair game and she will use that against you. Write down everything she says, memorize and understand it and you can get an A. By the end of the semester I was afraid to leave class to even to pee.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BISC321
• 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:

This class really sneaks up & bites you in the ass. You go in thinking, "Oh, environmental bio, this'll be a lovely stroll in the park" WRONG! The class material is very interesting, but Mahaffy's tests are the hardest I've ever taken. Even with extensive notes & rereading things I still had a very tough time with the exams. Do NOT take it lightly.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BISC321
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class and the content are very interesting. Mahaffy, however, is not a professor who I would recommend. There is a TON of material on each exam and she gives no study guides or practice tests to direct your studying. Her tests are such that I feel like I can totally understand the material and still not do well. She can also be rude at times.