Julie Olson - University of Alabama

Professor: Julie Olson

Department: TBD

College: University of Alabama

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BSC310
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

In class clicker quizzes! And don't try to cheat on them because she is very strict when it comes to academic dishonesty and its definition. Other than that, Dr. Olson is very knowledgable and passionate about microbe, and her lectures are very interesting if you pay attention. Her tests aren't too bad if you study lectures beforehand.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BSC310
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Olson really loves her microbiology and listening to her lectures are entertaining and keeps the student engaged. She has a great personality that she brings to the classrooms. Her tests can be challenging, and you are only graded on tests and in-class clicker quizzes.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BSC310
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I would really advise against taking Dr. Olson. I liked her at the beginning of the semester but after the way she handled the transition to online I have lost the respect that I did have for her.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BSC310
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

After emailing her our concerns due to the changed format of the test, she told us she made accommodations and told us to stop emailing her about it. When I say that students grades suffered, I mean there were SEVERAL students whose grades went from an A to borderline passing. She did not take into account everyones different circumstances. (2/2

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BSC310
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I have had the pleasure of having Dr. Olson during the COVID-19 pandemic. After moving to online she changed the format of our last two tests, increasing the difficulty SIGNIFICANTLY to combat cheating. Everyone in the class grades suffered tremendously and when we all reached out to her she basically told us to stop emailing her (1/2)

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BSC310
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She changed to all multiple choice for her tests. The questions are non-specific but weirdly worded - you may understand/know the whole lecture completely and still not do well on her tests because of weird word choice. Type of person who will make your mood worse if you're already in a bad one. Material is easy (all powerpoints)

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BSC310
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Olson is super sweet. She says her tests are "straight from the textbook", but dont buy it. Not worth it. Tests are super hard. MC is ok, fill in the blank can be specific, but that's usually only a few points off. The essay portion SUCKS. Tough grader and wants specific answers to vague ?'s. Go to class for clicker points, study powerpoints.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BSC531
• 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:

Dr. Olson was a really fun and engaging instructor! She was available after class and during office hours. She posted recordings of her lectures online, which helped with studying and absences. She gave 4 non-cumulative tests (including final, each worth 100 points) and 10 case studies (groups of 3 students, each worth 10 points).

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BSC310
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She knows her material well and ask her about her research, it is very interesting! Go to class for the clicker quizzes, they can help your grade in the end. Slightly challenging, but if you go to class and put in the work an A/B is not that difficult to obtain.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BSC310
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I loved Dr. Olson. She is so kind and engaging in lectures. One of my favorite biology professors so far. Her tests are hard but not impossible. She speaks really quickly so I print out my notes to write on, re-listen to the lectures, rewrite them all later, and then make flashcards from the notes. If you study hard you will do well.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BSC310
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The material for Micro isn't hard, but her tests are so random that it might as well be. She has multiple choice, fill in the black (where you need to memorize her slides and put in the word from her powerpoint) and short answer application questions that are honestly super weird. She grades super harshly and you have easy clicker quizzes

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BSC310
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Shes so sweet and will spend any many hours as needed. However,her test structure is absurd, ridiculous and unfair. Her tests are so short(30?s) :1/3 MC, 1/3 FILL INTHEBLANK(3pts), 1/3 ESSAY . Want an A?miss no 3 .You may understand the whole lecture, but on the test shell ask for a specific minute detail. ?s are non-specific and ambiguous.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BSC431
• 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:

Dr. Olson is very approachable and friendly. She doesn't mind chatting before or after class, even if its not related to the lecture. She wants to help you out and she makes the class interesting and the lectures fun to attend. Attendance wasn't mandatory but I wanted to go as much as I could!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BSC431
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great professor with really interesting lectures. You can tell that she really cares about her subject and whether you do well in her class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BSC310
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Clicker quizzes are sporadic and are VERY challenging. The tests are not too hard, but you have to overstudy because there is so much information you never know what she is going to choose. Do not buy the book, I never opened it. Don't study for the cumulative portion of the final-it's very basic biology. Test 1 & 3 were very easy, test 2 was hard

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BSC310
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Was expecting the class to be easier. Her tests are hard on the simple fact it is a lot of (boring) information. She is a great teacher and didn't mind coming to class! Significant time was spent for each test, and never felt the knowledge know was reflected in the grade due to the way she styles her exams.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BSC310
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Amazingly nice lady. Very helpful. Lots of memorization for tests. Final is half cumulative. Pop quizzes. Tests are multiple choice, fill in the blank, and short answer essay. Don't buy the textbook, never usedneeded it.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BSC310
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

sweetest lady ever. Her lectures are boring as she reads the slides she gives you. Clicker quizzes, lots of memorization for tests. I thought the class would be more interesting. Tests are MC, fill in the blank, and essay. Pretty tough tests in my opinion. Do not buy the book

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BSC310
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great lecturer. Really seems interested in what she's teaching. Tests aren't too difficult but can be tricky and she tends to be a tough grader so be really careful.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BSC310BSC431
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Olson is one of the best teachers at UA. She is incredibly nice and professional. Due to the nature of microbiology her class does require a lot of memorizing. She keeps things interesting and I'd take her every semester if I could.