<p>I know we've all read ratemyprofessor.com, but have any of you had any personal stories that you could share about any remarkable profs, or any who we should stay away from at all costs?
Also, I've already been to CTOPS, and I signed up for a class called "20th Century Popular Music" (Hist 125 with Brundage), has anyone taken that? There wasn't a syllabus, but it sounded really interesting, and I was just wondering if anyone can tell me about it b/c I think it's been around for a few years.<br>
Thanks so much!!</p>
<p>If you can, take Chem 101 with Todd Austell. He’s pretty much amazing.</p>
<p>If you can get one, make sure to sign up for a FYS. They are usually taught by professors who are the best in their department. I was lucky enough to be able to take 3, and my professors in those classes were, by far, the best teachers I had.(in case anybody cares, I had FYS with Andy Perrin, Ted Mouw, and Matt Kotzen)</p>
<p>They are definitely great classes.</p>
<p>I tried to get into my list of 11 FYS and all of them were filled. I’m a little disappointed, but maybe I can try again once the schedules open up–I would love to take one! </p>
<p>The professor I’m most worried about is Kelly Hogan, for my BIOL 113 Issues in Modern Biology class. ratemyprofessor.com says that she is a great teacher–easy to approach, friendly, gives good notes…but then they go on to say that her tests are ridiculously difficult. Has anyone had her? Most of the reviewers took her introductory bio class, so I’m not sure if it’ll be the same with me.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about getting into an FYS at CTOPS. Most of them open up at some time during Add/Drop. That’s where I got all of mine. Trust me, at the end of add/drop, there will be at least 20 FYS with open spaces.</p>
<p>I haven’t had Hogan, but I heard the same things you did. All the biol 101 teachers are hard, so you may as well take her(because she is a good teacher).</p>
<p>Speaking of Biology, is it recommended for freshmen to take it their first fall semester? Should we be taking easier classes? Also, are honors classes worth it? There is a Biology 101 class with DeSaix that is honors. I’m not sure if I should take that, take a regular Bio101, or wait till later to take biology… Please advise me.</p>
<p>Also, can anyone please tell me of some good (or bad!) psychology 101 professors?</p>
<p>I would say that if you are going to take bio with DeSaix honors is the way to do it because she is so crazy and a.d.d and her tests are so ridiculous that it will be a lot easier if you get more personal attention. As far as psych goes that class is so easy that I wouldn’t worry to much about the professor, just find the right time slot for you.</p>
<p>If you are interested at all in English, particularly American, take a class with Dr. Gura. He’s the most brilliant professor I’ve come across in the department and is quite engaging. He has such an impressive academic pedigree and is well known in his field, yet you would never suspect it as he never finds it necessary to mention unlike this next professor…</p>
<p>Dr. Leinbaugh is equally brilliant but a very mediocre professor. He’s gone to all the elite schools and met all kinds of influential people, which he will be sure to let you know about within the first week or so. His grating personality (although, to be fair many people have crushes on him) would not be as bad if it weren’t for the fact that you learn almost nothing in the class I took with him, English 120. We spent 4 weeks on Beowulf, a work that wasn’t even in the course description, and he spends more time informing you of trivial, although interesting, details than he does actually working to familiarize you with a broad canon of literature.</p>
<p>Definitely, definitely, DEFINITELY take English 120 with Barbour. He’s ridiculously intimidating the first few days of class and a ton of people freak out and drop it, but it’s really the best class I’ve taken at Carolina. I think it’s fair to say that he’s the most knowledgeable professor I’ve had, and I spent the entire semester actually wanting to learn anything he had to say about a topic I wasn’t particularly interested in to begin with (Renaissance Brit Lit). </p>
<p>I also want to put in a plug for Nasser Isleem in the Arabic Department. He’s a fascinating guy and cares about every single student he meets – no small feat, since he covers all of the 101 classes. I would almost suggest taking Arabic at Carolina over another challenging non-Romance Language because he makes it so fun (although that certainly doesn’t mean it’s easy).</p>
<p>And a plug for two history profs – Leloudis runs the Honors Program and teaches a class on North Carolina history that was really interesting, even though I’m not from NC. You never have to do the reading, and class is always entertaining. I also really love Kohn, who taught War and American Society from 1903 to the Present this semester – he has a ton of experience in military history and is a really cool guy, and the extensive notes he gave on each of my papers were unbelievably helpful.</p>
<p>I’ve heard good things about Leloudis. Although I’ve heard that NC History is more like (U)NC History.</p>
<p>I was also in that Kohn class this semester. I had one of the TAs lead my discussion group and I found it wasn’t a good experience. </p>
<p>Cadell teaches history of Sea Power in the spring and History of Air power in the fall. His classes are super-duper easy and his lectures are interesting. I’m trying to get into his Air power class right now but nothing is opening up right now.</p>
<p>Do you guys think this class will open up later?</p>
<p>I was also in the Kohn class, and really enjoyed it. The guest lectures he had were great as well. Definitely worth taking at some point in your college career. That guy is an equal-opportunity hater, but he’s funny.</p>
<p>mikey, which of Cadell’s classes would you recommend more: Sea Power or Air Power? I’m interested in both, but what have you heard?</p>
<p>I second that taking Arabic with Nasser is a great experience. The guy is great, and does more to integrate culture into the study of the language than anyone I’ve ever seen. </p>
<p>The guy has over a hundred students over to his house every semester, very few professors do that at a top school, or any for that matter. </p>
<p>He can be intimidating with wanting you to speak in class but in the end it helps you learn the language and he is very fair with grading.</p>
<p>Rose- I took the Sea Power class last semester, and it was pretty easy.</p>
<p>I’ve heard the Air power class is easier because there is obviously less material to cover (about 3000 years less material). So if I could only chose one, I’d go with Air Power, but again that’s just speculation.</p>