David Olster - University of Kentucky

Professor: David Olster

Department: TBD

College: University of Kentucky

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HON101
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

It was a very fun, discussion based class where you learn a lot! Great teacher and disussion

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HON151
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Olster is a rude, inconsiderate professor. If you take his class, prepare to hear disrespectful comments not only about yourself, but your peers. He frequently assigns long readings, which can be interesting at times, but his in-class discussions will mainly consist of asking students questions and then explaining why his own answer is correct.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HON151
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

There was a lot of reading and writing in this class. Your grade was based on about 5 essays: three 5-6 pg essays, one 9-10 pg essay, and one extra credit essay. You also had a lot of pop quizzes, but overall it didn't count that much toward your grade. He's very entertaining and discusses readings in depth. Don't read the readings, just sparknote.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HON151
• 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:

If you like ancient greek plays, boy do I have a class for you. There is in fact a lot of reading and the points system is a bit weird but overall I really enjoyed this class. He is a very likable, realistic, and understanding professor. There are a total of 4 required papers and plenty of plays to read throughout the semester. He doesnt use canvas

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HON301
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Olster is extremely intelligent yet still comes across as a friendly, regular guy. His grading methods are not very clear but he gives you a massive amount of extra credit options, so it's difficult not to get a good grade. He likes to go on tangents a lot, which is simultaneously informative and entertaining. Overall a nice and helpful guy.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIS104
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Olster is a great teacher! Though a bit intimidating but a great professor. Your grade is based primarily on paper writing and those are difficult. So be prepared to work. If you talk to Dr. Olster and the TA, they will do their best to help you. My writing improved dramatically in this class. I would definitely take him again.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIS104
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

HIS 104, This class appears to be an easy history class. Its name can be decieveing "History 104" However this is not an easy class. To get an A in this class you will have to work very hard and meet several times with your T/A. If you are not a good writer do not take this class, if you are, enter at your own risk and be rdy to work to get an A.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIS104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you do not like writing/are not good at it, do NOT take this course. The majority of your grade depends on three papers throughout the year and in order to write these papers you have to read super long readings before hand and only use those for your sources.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIS104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I love Dr. Olster! He makes you work hard for the grade you want, but he tells you how to get a good grade at the beginning of the semester. So just follow the instructions he gives and you should be fine.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIS4
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Olster is the worst professor I have ever had. His lectures are rarely on topic and he insults students frequently in class. He expects students to agree with everything he says and not think on their own. I would not recommend taking his classes. If you need a history credit avoid him.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: 104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Halfway through sophomore year and hes been my favorite professor yet! he tries his best to make the lectures interesting and right when you start to get bored he goes off topic and has funny conversations with the class. I found him very funny.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIS104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Take Olster. This class was difficult however there were not tests, only short and simple quizzes and a few papers. He grades tough but if you ask for help he will do whatever he can. Also there is soo much extra credit in this course. I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIS104
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great teacher! he likes to get off topic and talk about baseball though… a lot! but all you do is write small papers, and no tests or homework! really laid back!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIS10019
• 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 great! so funny, and always checks to make sure things are clear before he moves on!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIS104
• 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:

Incredibly entertaining class. Goes through material quickly, so take notes well and don't rely on other people's notes for substitutes! Incredibly smart professor, come to class and you will be more than prepared. Classes are very entertaining too!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIS104
• 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:

Not helpful AT ALL. During lectures he gets off topic easily and doesn't really talk about the things you need to know for quizzes/essays. Really sarcastic, thinks he knows everything. Makes the class much more complex than it should be!!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIS104019
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He's really funny, and a great teacher!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIS301
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I've had Mr. Olster several times and he's one of my favorite professors in the History Department. Be prepared to read the material and he'll tell you exactly what he wants on his assignments. Do that and stop in the office a few times and you'll be golden.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIS546
• 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:

Great professor and guy. Will tell millions of funny and pointless stories. Very knowledgeable on any subject. Can be kind of confusing for sure. Have to write 3 papers but 5-6 chances to pick what paper topics to write on.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIS104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Your going to have to spend money printing 100s of papers that you only use for 3 or 4 weeks. No text books. No exams. Only have to write papers. He makes off topic political implications and comments but overall interesting. Especially when he decides its Yoga time and sits cross-legged on the lecture table.