Sally Leys - University of Alberta

Professor: Sally Leys

Department: TBD

College: University of Alberta

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIOL361
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took her despite the reviews and i regret it. Her tests are just trying to trick you not see if you understand content. Long answer questions on stuff she barely covers, and makes so much of her testable content from things she goes off on a tangent about. Hard to know what detail from which of her rambles will be on the exam. Wait for a dif prof

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIOL361
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr Leys is very sweet and this class is interesting, but the tests are so hard that it ruins the experience. I'm an honors student and this class destroyed my gpa despite studying really hard. Take the reviews here seriously. Tests are extremely convoluted multiple choice and I would avoid BIOL 361 until the format has been changed.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIOL361
• 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:

Dr. Leys is an amazing prof, great to get career/research advice from, very accessible. Loved the lectures. Two midterms, one 20% and one 30%. They were both pretty fair and not too difficult. BUT the final was tough. A lot of specifics barely touched on during the semester. The midterms saved my grade. Still loved the class though!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIOL361
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Difficult to understand and does not describe concepts well. Seems disorganized and can't keep track of her thoughts. Talks too much and doesn't make any sense...I don't recommend taking her classes

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIOL384
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Very good choice overall and a very nice prof! She brought baked good for the whole class 5 times throughout the semester, which was so nice of her. She gives really good feedback on your writing and presentation skills and this class had no exams. Honestly, it was one of the easier classes I've taken at U of A. Good choice for Biol 384 or 361.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIOL361
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Her MC are hard! "all of the above" "none of the above" "its both A and B but not C". you really have to know your notes inside out... but she is really nice!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIOL361
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Notes are disorganized and have no overall concepts; straight-up memorization. Test are HARD. Even if you know the notes inside out there will be questions on little details that you've never seen or heard before. She is nice but definitely not the best lecturer. Will now have to get an A in all my other courses for a chance at grad school..

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIOL361
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The other raters are right - textbook isn't necessary but can help if you're unclear on some things due to her notes. There is a lot of memorizing especially due to the fill in the blanks on exams. MC questions are almost all "d) all of the above e) (a) and (b) but not (c)." Can be frustrating but know her notes inside and out and you'll be fine.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIOL361
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She's alright. Don't buy the text. Really picky on spelling for some odd reason. Tests are fair, though MC is pretty difficult. Answers emails promptly. There is only 3 tests (20%, 30%, + 50% final). Provides 1 page reviews for each lecture that are super helpful. Provides cool demonstrations. Lecturing style is okay, getting ore boring over time

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIOL361
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

For starters, don't buy the textbook and stick to her slides. She asks really tough multiple choice but her tests aren't too bad if you know your stuff. A little weird in that she doesn't ask questions about ENTIRE LECTURES sometimes. Easy class and pretty interesting. I'd recommend it if you like memorizing species names and the ocean.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIOL361
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Okay prof, horrible notes (disorganized and no objectives), inconsistent marking on web assignment compared to rubric, okay exams. Nice lady though, I wish I bought the textbook to clarify. A lot of info to memorize and dry material being far from any ocean. Skip this class as an option if you can, or put in lots of effort and time. Curved class

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIOL361
• 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:

My favorite class this term. Lots of really cool current research was included. Show up, pay attention, take notes - you'll do fine.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIOL361
• 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:

Really tough exams. She tests on random fun facts that she briefly mentioned in class, but that are not found in the textbook or notes (got to class). But, if you don't understand anything she's definitely helpful outside of class. She seems to be always trying to improve her teaching, which is nice.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIOL361
• 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:

Terrible exams. Very poor way to test students. Extremely tricky MCQs, fill in the blank of obscure words from the notes and pulled out of nowhere, and written response. Her notes are fairly disorganized (outline + ppt)and quite incomplete. She is okay in class, but concepts can be explained better. Overall, pretty bad, but not the worst ive had.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO261
• 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:

bad bad bad, avoid, dosent know how to write exams, or explain concepts, disorganized, avoid if u can

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ZOOL250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Really. Likes. Sponges. Once you get past that however, her lectures are mostly interesting and the diagrams really help get her points across. The exams are so easy if you've read through your notes at all and shes great at making herself available for questions. The annotated bibliography is actually really fun to do. Fun course overall.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ZOOL250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Hated her! As for "teaching", all she did was draw pictures the whole class, but she doesn't explain them. She knows her stuff but doesn't teach it well, especially for an introductory class that has never learned anything about inverts. She throws words out that are commmon sense to her but complete jibberish to any newbie to inverts.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ZOOL250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great prof! Was fun having the close interaction in Bamfield. Exam was fair, but the multiple choice is definitely very tricky! I would definitely take a class from her again in the future.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIOL361
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Her exams are real tough because they are worded poorly. Also it is hard to study from the notes since they contain A LOT of errors.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIOL361
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

A marine biology course taught in the middle of the prairies? Don't expect to much from this course or this prof.