John Riskind - George Mason University

Professor: John Riskind

Department: TBD

College: George Mason University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PSY231
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

One of my favorite professors at GMU. Very intelligent guy, good sense of humor, and genuinely enjoys what hes teaching. I always enjoyed his lectures, and he made everything easy to understand. You have to do all the readings to do good on the exams though, but theyre pretty interesting.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PSYC231
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I loved Dr. Riskind. His lectures are not the most entertaining, but the textbook is actually fun to read. The class is only 4 exams and no other work, but he does offer random extra credit opportunities. The exams are difficult if you don't know the material really well, but as long as you study and master the material you'll get an A.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PSY231
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The only grades received in this class are from his exams. Exams are reflective of the textbook rather than the lectures. Homework was assigned but not graded. Extra credit is "offered" but you have to make sure he actually adds it to your grade. He is entirely too slow to update grades, so you never really know where you stand. 4/10.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PSYC231
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

At first I was worried because of his ratings. However, he was actually a great professor! His class is all about lecture, but the lecture was very interesting and funny. Also he tried really hard for his students to remain focused and entertained, and he emphasized important parts during lecture. The exams were fair enough.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PSYC231
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I found his lectures to be very interesting, not only because I'm a psyc major, but because you can see the passion behind the word he speaks. He's very lecture heavy, but as long as you pay attention you will pass. His exams do get harder as the semester goes along, but that is expected in college. He's an amazing professor!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH231
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Please avoid him. Most of his tests do not reflect the lectures. His exams are really hard. He does give a couple of extra credit opportunities, but they don't really help. Take another professor or the online class. This class really dragged my GPA down.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PSYC231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He's always late, and his powerpoints have no useful information. Even the definitions he gives aren't complete. To pass the class you'd need to read the textbook, and understand the material better than he does. His tests are very hard.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PSYC231
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Riskind lost me my 4.0. Rambled in lecture and was extremely boring. Tests were all that we were graded on and they did not reflect material learned or the study guides given. Even the grad students who do SONA say to avoid him. Don't take him if you can help it.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PSY231
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Riskind is a really nice man who genuinely cares that you're learning, but he often rambles during lecture. A lot of what you'll be tested on is applied knowledge (examples) instead of direct definitions; there's four tests, the last one is cumulative. Read the book and read the slides. The study guide is a good organizer for his tests.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PSYC231
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Boring professor, doesn't seem to care about your grade. Not very helpful when asking questions or help outside of class. Only exams reflect your grade and the exams don't reflect his lectures at all.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PSYC231
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Really nice guy and gives quite a few opportunities for extra credit. However, I felt that the tests did not accurately reflect what we discussed in lecture. The bulk of his tests come from the textbook. Also, he gives 3 pop quizzes throughout the semester. Wouldn't necessarily take him again, but he wasn't completely awful.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PSY231
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Not a good professor! You do not learn much from his lectures and his PowerPoints are crap. You have to read the book or you won't learn anything. On top of all that there are pop quizzes. He's also not helpful at all, on test day he won't answer any last minute questions. He doesn't really seem like he cares about your grade.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PSYC231
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Riskind is a very kind man but his lectures are quite boring. He is always ready to help his students. It was sad because not many people show up. What made this class hard was his tests as they were quite difficult and many people did not do well. Also expected more on my final. This is a very dry class. Take it with another professor.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PSYC231
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you're not a good test taker, you're going to have a very rough time with the exams. He only gives exams in the first place, and he does not give assignments. The book is your only friend.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PSYC231
• 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:

His exams are hard. You need to read the chapters and understand the material to do well. Exams are the only things he grades so it's not unreasonable and the lowest grade is dropped. I find him to be a hilarious and caring professor. If he taught more classes I'd take all of them. Only having to worry about exams helps you focus on learning.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PSYC231
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I passed his class that is all I am going to say for that part. But I would never recommend him to anyone else, he is super unhelpful, take "notes" but mostly read the textbook. Never rely on the powerpoint, the syllabus says there is projects/assignments there is only one. If you want extra credit you have to participate in on campus experiments..

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PSYC231
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's a nice guy, just REALLY boring. Lecture based. Class consists of only 4 exams (drops the lowest) with extra credit through research participation. Tests are kind of hard. Doesn't take attendance. Take good notes and read the textbook and you'll pass.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PSYC231
• 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:

I was very disappointed by Dr. Riskind's class. I had been looking forward to taking this class, but it was a big letdown. Classes were very boring, study guides did not help, and the tests were very difficult. The only 4 grades the whole semester were 3 tests and a cumulative midterm over 13 chapters of material. I found him insensitive and dull.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH231
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Only a month into to the class and it is fine. Very interesting subject but on my end Im having a hard time with understanding the subject. Other than that he is a very good professor.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PSYC231
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Honestly I was very disappointed with this class as the professor didn't even touch well on the subjects. He gives you one thing on the study guides, but the tests are a complete 360. He seems almost as if he's bored of the subject matter. If you can, avoid taking this class with him.