Turlough Finan - McMaster University

Professor: Turlough Finan

Department: TBD

College: McMaster University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO2EE3
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I found lectures to be somewhat dry but Finan is a nice guy and cracks jokes occasionally. Kahoots in class for practice sometimes. The midterm was easy but I found the final to be harder and more specific than it needed to be. No practice midterms/exams are provided. I wouldn't take this class again but it wasn't terrible.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO2EE3
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. finan is a very kind man. He obviously cares a lot about what he teaches. However his exam was not entirely fair and some of his questions weren't clear, and were misleading. It also wasn't a balanced representation of the entire semester's worth of content. However, he is still a good guy, and that exam does not reflect on his character.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO2EE3
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Prof is too old and demented. Speaks way too slow for those bright students out there. Unfortunately tests are based on what info he spurts in slow speed. Youll have to endure the slowness for the sake of grade. But if ur the typical slow hard working student u will love him. Slowness will not even register.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO2EE3
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Absolutely wonderful! He's such as nice, kind individual, I never felt scared going and asking for help. He sparked my interest in an entire field of Biology which I previously found to be uninteresting. His passion is clear and it really goes a long way!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO1A03
• 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:

Finan has a very orthodox teaching style and it is easy to fall asleep when he teaches. If you do manage to stay awake, he explains clearly, answers questions well and entertains questions that take you beyond the course material. His midterm was slightly more challenging but if you pay attention and read the textbook, the course is quite easy.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO2EE3
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Went for extra help during his office hours and he taught me the entire semester in one sitting. Absolute gem! Would definitely take any class he has again. You need to go to classes with open mind, everything he says HAS a definitive connection with the topic at hand, so he doesnt necessarily trail off.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO1A03
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Nice guy, but VERY dry. Went off topic a lot and didn't seem very knowledgeable as he was constantly apologizing for "not being an expert" on the lecture material. He definitely cares and I'm sure he'd be willing to help out anybody struggling, but overall he doesn't seem cut out for teaching.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO1A03
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Finan is absolutely adorable. He's humor is quite unique but you'll catch on quickly. He'll even talk to himself sometimes and you just can't help but like him. He answers questions directly, his voice is smooth (british) and soft and I found myself going to lectures even though they aren't too necessary just cause i enjoyed listening to him.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIOLOGY2EE3
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Finan has a passion for what he's teaching, but his tone will sometimes put you to sleep in lecture. Fear not, he follows the textbook to a T and you can easily skip lectures and teach yourself with the textbook. Take advantage of the resources he provides on Avenue!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO2EE3
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Kinda hard..

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO2EE3
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

MEMORIZE

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO2EE3
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

very easy.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO2EE3
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Easy prof!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO2EE3
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Great Prof! He's passionate towards microbiology. Tests were easy and reused m/c questions. Exam question were more specific but attending lectures helped. Overall great prof!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO2EE3
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He goes off topic a lot during class. His tests are very specific, but they're not too difficult.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO2EE3
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Nice prof, but goes waaaay off topic every class. Midterm was easy, reused avenue quiz questions, then the exam came along, and it was like someone else wrote it. He also has a semi-strong accent and may say some things differently, but isn't hard at all to understand.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO2EE3
• 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: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Really sweet prof! Goes off topic sometimes, but overall good prof.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIOL000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Interviewed with this professor in the hope he might accept me as a grad student. Many hoops were jumped and after I was blind sided with a rejection from the grad school, this guy didn't even have the decency to tell my why he though I wasn't grad student material.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

One of the most demotivating individuals I have ever encountered. He actually told me point blank that I would never go beyond a BSc. After completing a Ph.D., post-doc, and 5 rewarding years as an industrial scientist, I am glad that I never took his advice. My advice, follow your dreams, and never let people like this discourage you.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: COS220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Loved this class, great teacher. Made me want to take more bio courses