Rand Brandes - Lenoir-Rhyne University

Professor: Rand Brandes

Department: TBD

College: Lenoir-Rhyne University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENG356
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

In class discussions were wonderful, but if you disagreed with something he said you better change your answer so you can get a good grade. He marks up papers like his life depends on it. If you get a grade higher than an 80 praise God.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENG356
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Brandes has great in-class discussions, but that's the only positive thing that I can say about him. He is very unclear on assignments and is random about how he grades papers. A students will get a B, B students will get a C and so forth. There's nothing you can do to really make your papers "A worthy" like he claims you can.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENG464
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

According to Dr. Brandes, himself, "I am mostly administrative." He does a great job with the Visiting Writer's program, but clearly hates teaching even the 1 course the university requires of him each semester. Don't expect a syllabus. Don't expect a lesson plan. Anticipate confusion and becoming a heavy drinker. Avoid at all costs!

Rating # 4

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

The thing about Dr. Brandes is that he treats you like a college student. He doesn't hold your hand, and I have to think that accounts for many of the negative comments here. If he does play 'favorites', these 'favorites' are the ones that do the work, come to class, and make insightful comments in said class. Coincidence? I think not.

Rating # 5

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Made me want to withdrawl from my English major. Worst teacher I have ever had!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENG231
• 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:

unfair grader. he did not give us much time to prepare a 15 page research paper (appx 1.5 weeks) that was worth 40% of our final grade. gave us 2 days warning of a midterm that was all essay, said that if we knew the study guide, we would do well on the test--no question on the test was on the study guide. tough prof, i recommend not taking him.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENG231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Awful. Gave us two days notice for a midterm exam, and told us as long as we studied that study guide we would be fine. NOTHING from the study guide applied to the test. Very stuck up and arrogant. Doesn't understand people missing his class. AVOID HIM IF YOU CAN.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENG239
• 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:

Not a very nice person.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENG231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I'm surprised to read so many negative comments. He is so interesting, loves his subject and treats his students with respect. I can't believe a professor of this quality is available at a small school.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENG131
• 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:

No Comments

Rating # 11

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HONORS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He made me want to drop out of college altogether. He's full of himself, and even made threats of taking away my class' scholarships (which he can't do). Avoid him, even though rumor has it that he will be leaving LR soon.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENG231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

AVOID AVOID AVOID. This guy is completely stuck up his own butt. A complete jerk to almost anyone.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENG
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Arrogant. Self-agrandizing. Controlling, yet very lazy. Doesn't read papers; only gifts decent grades if he likes you personally, and this is only accomplished by smooching his egotistical behind. Avoid at all costs.

Rating # 15

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

He's not bad if he likes you.

Rating # 16

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

boo!!!! why would a rhodes scholar come to L-R?? talk about an ego rush!! if you arent in honors, dont even try!!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENG
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Not a professor for everyone... Rather difficult, and can be hard to grasp. He knows his stuff though.

Rating # 18

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Simply put: Brandes has no social skills whatsoever. He knows a lot (especially when it comes to Ireland and Heaney) and isn't afraid to show it. I recommend finding a middle-ground between being on his good side and being a suck-up.

Rating # 20

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Brandes's classes are very fun, and if he likes you and you are intelligent the classes are a piece of cake. I really enjoyed his classes.