Marina Van Zuylen - Bard College

Professor: Marina Van Zuylen

Department: TBD

College: Bard College

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: LIT204B
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Marina is a brilliant professor! I had ended up taking her class as a mandatory requirement and was dreading it, but I left loving the course. She engages the class with the readings in such a mind-opening and fascinating way. She also genuinely cares about her students and wants to help you as much as possible.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: LIT3139
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took Geography of Unease with Professor van Zuylen my sophomore year and it changed my experience of texts at Bard. Marina is serious about you doing the readings, but they're worked through is enriching and drives you toward more. Her analysis is sophisticated, well versed and she is personable and consistent with feedback.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: LIT3139
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

i took geography of unease with marina my sophomore year and it changed my experience of texts at bard. marina is serious about you doing the readings, but she incorporates them so well that you u dont mind. her offices hours are great and she is so well versed. plus there are always incredible snacks.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: LIT204
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Marina is one of the best teachers I've ever had. She is brilliant, so nice, and makes students engage in the most interesting conversations. She strikes up a wonderful atmosphere in the classroom. I strongly recommend her! She does, however, expect us to read ALOT, it's easy to fall behind if you don't keep up with the fast paced rhythm!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: LIT3139
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Marina's class was the best class I have taken in my entire academic life. Expect a lot of (excellent) reading, she is a tough grader but she makes you want to surpass yourself. Each class was like a life-saving slap in the face. She is extremely brilliant and knowledgeable. The most caring and respected professor at Bard. I warmly recommend her!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: LIT204B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She is perhaps the best professor I've had at Bard. Incredibly thoughtful and engaging!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: LIT204
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Marina is amazing. Take any class she is offering.

Rating # 8

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I don't know what Bard would be without her! I took her class freshman year and it changed my life (no hyperbole). She is passionate about what she does and it is contagious, just being around her is inspiring. Incredibly intelligent, never overbearing, and gives fascinating lectures that are always engaging & informative and often hilarious.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: LITERATURE
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very Smart

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: COMPL1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Absolutely amazing professor and woman. Unbelievably supportive and profound. I can honestly say I have never had a professor like her, we are still in contact to this day (2 years after graduating). Her accent is as beautiful as she is and she really cares about her students and the books

Rating # 11

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Marina was my advisor and immensely helpful to me in that capacity, but she is also a great teacher. She will, however, call you out for using the word "like" as verbal punctuation. She's a tough grader but an excellent discussion leader. She even took the class to her house at the end of the semester for victuals.Definitely has the hotness factor!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: FREN270
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Marina is among the most passionate professor I have encountered. She really cares about the material as well as the individual progress of individual students. She is knowledgeable and enthusiastic about French literature, and her kind personality makes her truly shine as a great instructor. Last but not last, she has a good taste of music.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: COMPL1
• 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:

Professor Van Zuylen is absolutely the best. Inspirational, funny, brilliant, totally approachable and able to find the rapproachement between Blanchot and Neil Young. After the Goldrush? How about right in the middle of the Goldrush? That's her class. I can't believe there's a book Acknowedgments out there that could fail to mention her.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: COMPLIII
• 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:

Marina is sweet, delightful, and cares about her class and students. It's always really nice to see a professor who is clearly passionate about her job. She's also really understanding if something is going on in your life, and if she knows you're a hard working student she will give you an extension if you need it. She doesn't tolerate slackers.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: LIT271
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great lady, knows her stuff, emphasizes things that come from the soul, relies on text and aqppreciates discussion and is senstitive to langauge--a trait that is all too often rare in literature professors. May seem frouffy, but always means well. Very smart, and very kind. Her cute accent is really enough to wake up in time to hear.

Rating # 16

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

loves what she does, and loves her students. Her classes are basically as good as you want them to be. She offers great readings, great thought, great anecdotes, and the opportunity to talk.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: FRENC2
• 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:

I don't find her expectations ambiguous at all; she's very specific about what she wants. I'm always entertained in her class because she leads class discussions with such flair, energy, and humor.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: LIT204
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Okay, she's pretty and interesting to listen to, and has the same taste as most Bard students (hip literature and philosophy). But she DOES NOT TEACH anything. Offers no direction in discussion. Wants papers to be a very specific thing that she cannot articulate. And just rambles about the private lives of Rousseau and Dostoevsky.

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Guys...she's not a good professor. As in it's wonderful to listen to her talk, but what. a. bully. Kind of cool to read some wacky stuff. She picks favorites and treats the others with a high nose. ambiguous expectations on essays and tests. dare I say it: kind of fake? DON'T TAKE HER THREE HOUR CLASS ARE YOU CRAZY SHE WILL ASSIGN A 20 PAGE PAPER!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: COMPLIT
• 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:

Extremely unclear about expectations, but great class discussions