Zhongmin Dong - Saint Mary's University

Professor: Zhongmin Dong

Department: TBD

College: Saint Mary's University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO2303
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr Dong is one of the best prof's at SMU! His lectures are very clear and to the point which not only makes it easy to understand but also got me interested in the material and labs (interesting projects too). He's approachable, friendly, and understanding of the heavy workload science students have.. highly recommend!!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIOL2321
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I had Dr. Dong as my MSc supervisor and had an amazing experience would recommend him to anyone!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO2303
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Genetics is a pretty tough course, however, Dr. Dong makes it easy to understand with his explanations and if further help is needed he is available during lab and office hours. Always willing to help if stopped in the hallway and genuinely wants you to understand what you're doing. One of the best profs I've had at SMU this far!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIOL2307
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Dong is one of the bests profs I've ever had! Although his class can be tough, if you put the effort in, attend lecture and read through important concepts in the text book you'll be fine! He's unbelievably helpful outside of class. He will sit with you as long as it takes for you to understand. Definitely try to take his class!!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3303
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Plant Form and Function taught by Dr. Dong is highly recommended (if it is offered again next year). His lectures are always clear and labs are interesting too. He is very knowledgeable in many areas in science if you talk to him. He is respected by many students so when I saw the rating, I was quite surprised by the low rating.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIOL2321
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Dong is a great prof. Anyone taking bio at SMU has had him for first year bio and knows what he's like. This class is harder than first year bio and requires a lot more studying. I'd recommend taking this class only with a few other bio courses under your belt (if you have biochem you'll get an easy A+). The labs are easy though!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Really nice prof! Lectures really only reflected what he was interested in... if you read the book and skim the slides to see what to focus on, there's really no need to go to his lectures.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIOL2321
• 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: N/A

Comment:

I love this prof! His multiple choice exams are tricky but don't let that discourage you. The labs are easy and you'll rack up the points there. Also go see Dong in his office during walk-in hours (only if you have an hour to kill), he'll talk your ear off and tell you the best stories ever.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIOL2321
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Nice professor but the lectures can be difficult to keep up with. Powerpoints have a lot of pictures, and you need to rush to write down what he says if you want a good mark on the exams (which there were 3 of). Exams were quite difficult... definitely not an easy A in this class! Great in labs though.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Thumbs up all around, I really enjoy this course. It's extremely helpful to stay on top of text book chapters and read them before lecture. If you do that you'll do fine in this course.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

A lot of reading was required in this class but the exams were fair. Dr. Dong was very helpful and approachable. Although completion of assignments was optional, doing so definitely helped me prepare for the exams.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very nice, sometimes unexpectedly funny however classes were Very Boring and pretty much pointless. Very hard to understand and slides with not a lot of information. For exams just had to memorize the text book. A lot to Study!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dong is adorable. He's nice and funny but a little hard to understand. Class is pointless: the course was made up of three midterms all of which if you studied from the textbook you would be fine. If you're taking this course as an elective, DON'T. It's a lot of studying plus the three hour lab that requires a formal lab every week.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Not really too difficult to understand, tough course though. Took until after the first midterm to really get the hang of the course. Decided not to put the slides online until half way through the course. Keep up in the text and study the text for the midterms and final.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO3321
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's a really nice prof who is sometimes confusing during his lectures but the text is a good resource to use. his tests are really application question oreinted and not always expected but he will take the time to sit you down and explain why you lost points so you don't make the same mistake twice. good class overall

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Not a great prof. His explanations werent clear. His exams were difficult and the questions were random. Heavy workload for a first year course.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Decent in class, but great for a lab instructor. Fair lab reports and always willing to help or answer questions; very approachable too. He often went off on tangents in lectures and often lost my attention. Slides were clear, though, and were posted for half the term. His midterms were fair, but his final focused on something unexpected.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO2303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

An amazing prof! accent can be difficult at first but if you don't get discouraged you will have no trouble understanding him and will find yourself really listening to the lectures.His labs are amazing and very helpful for understanding the lectures.I would take a course JUST because he was teaching it!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO1201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

At first I thought the course was hard but then i got the hang of it. If you think that something wasn't marked fair then go talk to him and he will sit down with you and go over it. His English is kinda hard to understand but you get pass that if you take good notes.. Everything on Web CT

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great BIO prof!!! Dont take the course if your looking for a easy A, but very interesting/challenging and very experienced, TA was excellent for this class. Labs were fairly easy, lab exam alil rough, exams were tough but fair, but hard to predict. Talk to him, ask questions take notes and you'll do fine.