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4
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Overall Quality Based on
337ratingsAlaina Garland
Professor in the Biology department at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
68%
Would take again
4.8
Level of Difficulty
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Garland
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's Top Tags
Test heavyTough graderLots of homeworkGet ready to readLecture heavy
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- 337 Student Ratings
All courses
BIO240
May 29th, 2024
Quality
3.0
Difficulty
2.0
BIO240
May 29th, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Mandatory
Would Take Again
: Yes
Grade
: A
Textbook
: Yes
Her content was pretty simple, especially if you took 103 at UNC, but the tests weren't really based on the content, more like application. You get to drop your lowest midterm grade and have cheat sheets for tests. Don't be afraid of her - a lot of her test questions are ripped directly from quizzes and homework problems.
Participation mattersClear grading criteriaLecture heavy
Helpful
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BIOL103
May 16th, 2024
Quality
5.0
Difficulty
4.0
BIOL103
May 16th, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Not Mandatory
Would Take Again
: Yes
Grade
: A
Textbook
: Yes
Wasn't a super hard class. Annoying for sure. Long GRQs and mastering. Dr. Garland is really really nice. Her exams are pretty hard but DO the practice exams. Learned my lesson after the first one. Also, she rounds. Overall, not as bad as people say. Just stay on top of things.
Tough graderLots of homeworkTest heavy
Helpful
BIO240
May 16th, 2024
Quality
1.0
Difficulty
5.0
BIO240
May 16th, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Not Mandatory
Grade
: Rather not say
Textbook
: Yes
Heard bad reviews but took anyways. Test are not knowledge based and weren't knowledge based. Cheat sheets did not help at all. Nothing was thoroughly explained. A lot of critical thinking blooms questions that she never explained or taught how to approach. Avoid at all cost.
Tough graderTest heavy
Helpful
BIOL103
May 15th, 2024
Quality
2.0
Difficulty
5.0
BIOL103
May 15th, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Mandatory
Grade
: B
Textbook
: Yes
Dr. Garland is nice and good at explaining things, but her exams are extremely difficult. I was putting previous exam question variations on my cheat sheet instead of the actual content. The whole class is based on lectures, not GRQS. I knew the reviews were bad, but I still took her out of necessity. It's NOT worth it.
Lecture heavyTest heavy
Helpful
BIO240
May 14th, 2024
Quality
1.0
Difficulty
5.0
BIO240
May 14th, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Not Mandatory
Grade
: B
Textbook
: Yes
The content of this course was all over the place. The exams and quizzes are reading tests and do not test your knowledge. She flies through the lectures so you have to rewatch them after class because she likes to test on what she says rather than what is on the slides. We were constantly a lecture behind and rushing to catchup. AVOID her please!!
Tough graderTest heavy
Helpful
BIO240
May 14th, 2024
Quality
1.0
Difficulty
5.0
BIO240
May 14th, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Not Mandatory
Grade
: B
Textbook
: Yes
AVOID! I had only heard bad things about her before I took this class but had to sign up as it was the only section offered. She is a nice enough person but a HORRIBLE professor. This was definitely the most challenging class I have taken at UNC so far and I took a 400 level CHEM course with 240 this semester that was exponentially easier.
Tough graderTest heavy
Helpful
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BIOL103
May 13th, 2024
Quality
4.0
Difficulty
3.0
BIOL103
May 13th, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Mandatory
Would Take Again
: Yes
Grade
: A-
Textbook
: Yes
She's not as bad as some might say. Many of the questions on tests are reused from previous tests and practice exams. She posts the lectures but attendance is part of your grade. Overall, she's a great professor.
Lecture heavy
Helpful
BIOL103
May 13th, 2024
Quality
4.0
Difficulty
4.0
BIOL103
May 13th, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Mandatory
Would Take Again
: Yes
Grade
: A
Textbook
: N/A
Professor Garland's exams are difficult, but she'll often reuse or rework questions we have already done on the tests, so practicing these is really helpful. You definitely have to put in the work, but she gives a lot of resources to help you
Lots of homeworkTest heavy
Helpful
BIO240
May 10th, 2024
Quality
1.0
Difficulty
5.0
BIO240
May 10th, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Mandatory
Grade
: B
Textbook
: Yes
Exams felt like the SAT reading section. Very poorly written questions that are unnecessarily wordy. Avoid at all costs.
Tough grader
Helpful
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BIO240
May 7th, 2024
Quality
1.0
Difficulty
5.0
BIO240
May 7th, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Mandatory
Grade
: B
Textbook
: Yes
I have taken her for the past 3 years out of necessity and every time I think it'll get better, it doesn't. The content itself is learnable, but her exams are not. They're tested on reading comprehension rather than your actual knowledge of the content. The amount of review I had to do for this course was appalling. Please avoid at all costs.
Tough graderLots of homeworkLecture heavy
Helpful
BIOL103
May 6th, 2024
Quality
5.0
Difficulty
3.0
BIOL103
May 6th, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Not Mandatory
Would Take Again
: Yes
Grade
: A
Textbook
: Yes
Dr. Garland tests heavily based on lecture material. GRQs are fairly long and tedious, but I'd advise to skim the textbook, and focus on lecture material. Her tests are pretty similar to her practice tests and Unit quizzes, so practice those.
Get ready to readLecture heavy
Helpful
BIO240
May 5th, 2024
Quality
1.0
Difficulty
4.0
BIO240
May 5th, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Mandatory
Textbook
: Yes
Sped through lectures so fast you don't have time to take any notes. Slides are extremely verbose to the point of being hard to read. Quizzes & tests are confusing, and many times it seems like questions were written to trick you instead of test your knowledge. Wholeheartedly did NOT enjoy this class nor the teaching style.
Get ready to readLecture heavyTest heavy
Helpful
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BIO240
May 3rd, 2024
Quality
1.0
Difficulty
4.0
BIO240
May 3rd, 2024
Attendance
: Not Mandatory
Textbook
: N/A
I have never been so ready to be done with a class. Garland is one of the worst professors I have ever had at UNC. She flies through lectures. She tests on things she says, but if you cant keep up and she doesn't post the lecture videos, you're screwed. Quizzes and exams are reading tests. Makes you do a group project that is a waste of time. GL
Helpful
BIO240
May 3rd, 2024
Quality
1.0
Difficulty
4.0
BIO240
May 3rd, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Grade
: Not sure yet
Textbook
: Yes
I have never been so ready to be done with a class. Garland is one of the worst professors I have ever had at UNC. She flies through the questions. She tests on the things she says in class, but when you can't keep up with the lecture and she can't get the lecture videos to work, you're screwed. Quizzes and exam questions are a reading test. GL
Tough graderTest heavy
Helpful
BIOL103
Apr 30th, 2024
Quality
2.0
Difficulty
4.0
BIOL103
Apr 30th, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Not Mandatory
Grade
: Not sure yet
Textbook
: Yes
Dr. Garland is a caring person, but her lectures are more confusing than clarifying. She breezes through the material, leaving gaps you must teach yourself. The material itself is not hard but the test questions are always terribly worded. Go to peer review sessions, they are more helpful than the lectures!
Lots of homeworkTest heavy
Helpful
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BIOL103
Apr 27th, 2024
Quality
1.0
Difficulty
5.0
BIOL103
Apr 27th, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Mandatory
The amount of GRQs makes it feel like a biology-themed non-fiction-focused English class. Exams are worded trickily - like an English class. The amount of work is insane for the difficulty of the material. The class jumps around in the textbook, making it difficult to follow. Lecture speeds through content and doesn't put things into perspective.
Get ready to readLots of homework
Helpful
1
BIO240
Apr 25th, 2024
Quality
5.0
Difficulty
3.0
BIO240
Apr 25th, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Mandatory
Would Take Again
: Yes
Grade
: Not sure yet
Textbook
: Yes
Loved her class! she is very understanding and dropped or de-weighted several exam or quiz questions that were confusing. Lectures are long but if you go back and rewatch the class recordings you will do great in the class.
Clear grading criteriaCaringRespected
Helpful
1
BIO202
Apr 23rd, 2024
Quality
3.0
Difficulty
5.0
BIO202
Apr 23rd, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Mandatory
Would Take Again
: Yes
Grade
: Rather not say
Textbook
: Yes
If you can, take a class with another professor. If you cannot, you will be fine it'll just be tough.
Tough graderGet ready to readParticipation matters
Helpful
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BIOL103
Apr 4th, 2024
Quality
4.0
Difficulty
3.0
BIOL103
Apr 4th, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Not Mandatory
Would Take Again
: Yes
Grade
: A
Textbook
: Yes
Don't be scared by her reviews, Mrs. Garland is a great professor who is clearly very knowledgeable and passionate about biology. Her tests are not conceptually hard, they just utilize tricky wording, but you are allowed a double-sided cheat sheet on every exam. The GRQs can occasionally be long, but they are helpful with learning the material.
EXTRA CREDIT
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1
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BIO240
Mar 24th, 2024
Quality
5.0
Difficulty
3.0
BIO240
Mar 24th, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Mandatory
Would Take Again
: Yes
Grade
: Not sure yet
Textbook
: Yes
Dr. Garland is one of my favorite bio professors at UNC! Exams are challenging but fair, and she's willing to drop or de-weight questions if they're too difficult or unclear. She's incredibly knowledgeable and friendly, and she's always willing to answer questions! 240 is super interesting, and the class is not hard. My sole complaint is long GRQs.
Amazing lectures Lots of homeworkCaring
Helpful
1
1
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