This was her first semester teaching such a big lecture and overall was plenty fair. We got 20 points of extra credit and the lowest exam you take is dropped. 25% of your grade comes from super easy reading quizzes and doing recitation work which itself wasn't hard, her exams are half multiple choice half open response which I prefer.

Dr. Abagael West is a great professor. It was her first time teaching Bio 2, so we have to cut some slack. She reads off the powerpoint and have daily quizzes. There are no surprise questions on the exam, whatever you studied is what is on the exam. Very accessible outside of class and explains concepts clearly. BTW, she is paleontologist!

Dr. West is a really good option for bio 2, she is probably one of the easier bio professors. Her lectures can get a little boring, but her power point slides are amazing and so helpful for studying. 4 tests, one is dropped, and lots of small quizzes and work count towards your grade too. There is also an extra credit assignment for lots of points.

Out of all the bio 2 professors available for this past semester, Dr. West was definitely the best option. The exams she creates are not made to trick her students, and assignments are graded very fairly. If I had to take the class over again I'd definitely take it with Dr. West again! She has a great personality, and is an overall great professor.

I really loved Dr. West and her TA's were helpful creating review sessions for the test. I thought this class was fairly doable if you studied. I actually really liked her as a professor and enjoyed her sense of humor. :)

This was like her first-semester teaching at Pitt. I think she'll get better with experience. But that being said, she doesn't have the powerpoints up until 10 minutes before class and she is a little rude overall. On the other hand, she really wants everyone to pass (lots of bonus!!!!) and the tests are a breeze compared to other professors.

I took this class in Spring 2019 but forgot to review before - She was a nice person but the class was hard! She gave us study guides & vocab to know, uploaded the lecture slides before class, frequent textbook readings (wasn't checked but helpful). I put no for if I would take her again bc I thought the class could've been less complicated/hard

Ok the wall of 1.0 reviews is really inaccurate. Her midterm exams are very difficult, but she does curve exams if the average is very low. Her mini exams are super easy, easy grade boost. She can be rude during lectures and her recitation assignments can be ambiguously graded. Overall she's pretty average in difficulty for a STEM prof. Not a 1.0.

What. a. gem. She's the sweetest lady you'll ever meet! Hands down the best bio professor on the east coast.

Being a part of the online class, this woman was a gem. She gave the final to us with the first question 70% of our grade saying, "tell your friends, family, and pets you love them!" However, the first half of the semester in school was rough. The average on her exam/mini was about an 80. If it wasn't for the online, Idk if I would've gotten an A.

I waited to rate because I wanted to see if her first midterm (v hard) was representative of the class-it wasn't. I think she overestimated how much we could do, and probably won't do it again. She made the online transition very easy. Seems like a nice person, a little awkward (not the best with people so she can seem rude). Study, you'll be fine.

These reviews reflect earlier in the sem after a rough first midterm where she overestimated our abilities/exam time. But she recognized this and allowed us to regain points on the exam. In remote learning, she allowed ample time on exams and was v understanding. Use textbook for help & know the specific examples from the lectures and it'll be ok

The first half of the semester was definitely far more difficult but once the class went online the class became so much easier and Dr. West was really looking out for out best interests. The weekly recitation can be tough sometimes but other than that the exams and material second half of the year was a breeze. I would recommend taking her!

Dr. West was such a good professor. I don't understand why she has such negative reviews. Her lecture slides are really clear and her tests are so easy! They're pretty much based right off of the slides. As long as you review the slides (attending class is helpful too), the tests will not be tricky at all.

Dr. West is very passionate about the material and enjoys teaching it. The only reason I gave the level of difficulty a 3 is because I took this class during the first semester of all virtual content and we were graded on a limited number of assignments and assignment types. We definitely had to get the hang of doing well on those assignments.

Semester started a little rocky, but they listen to feedback and make adjustments accordingly. Quizzes are generally fair given textbook readings and lecture material. More than willing to take extra time to cover confusing topics.

I don't understand all the bad reviews that Professor West is getting. Mostly all of her tests are based off the textbook and lectures. She is also very considerate with the grading and helped everyone out at the end of the year by dropping a quiz and a few recitations! If you stay on top of everything then you will surely be fine.

West is passionate about class and the lectures can be fun, but you shouldn't take this class without biology experience/interest. Majority of grades come from quizzes where you are expected to memorize multiple scientific taxa and anatomy. Even with generous regrades, you need to spend hours memorizing every word on the slides.

Dr. West is probably one of the better bio professors that I have taken. I took it online and they were using the benchmark grading format which I was not personally a fan of. Nevertheless their lectures are not boring and they will always answer your questions, just be sure to really pay attention because most of the exam material is in it

Dr West has been the best biology professor I have had thus far. She genuinely cares for your grade and wants the best overall for you. Grading is clear and clean-cut and she weighs in on class discussion regarding grades. She focuses more on learning the information. Quizzes are text-book based and difficult but she is easily reachable and helpful

I highly recommend Dr. West for bio 2. Dr. west is an amazing lecturer and a genius on every topic that is covered. It is very easy to do well in class, quizzes are worth less than participation so if you have test anxiety it is still very easy to do well as long as you attend lecture and do well in recitation.

Quiz questions are sometimes unclear, but if you read the textbook, go to lecture, and know your vocab really well the course should be a breeze. Reading the book is really important bc they don't teach everythingthat's on the quiz in lecture. Also students really need to learn how to use the correct pronouns smh it's really disrespectful

Dr. West is an amazing option for Bio 2! They let us choose how much assignments, quizzes, recitations, etc. should be weighted in class. Lectures are boring and you to have read the textbook ahead of class to succeed. You get to drop lowest homework grades and 2 recitations, and one exam. Not many decent profs for Bio 2, but West is a good option!

As long as you do the homework and recitation on time and go to class for lecture participation, you'll be fine. Grading is not test heavy, 30% for quizzes, 10% for the final and everything else was completion of homework and recitation. Got an A in the class with my average on quizzes being an 81.

The best thing was that we got to pick the weighting for each section of the class. For example, our quizzes were only worth 30% of our grade and the final was worth 10%. You can manage to get an A even if you do not score high on the exams. As long as you do all of the extra work, you will not fail or struggle in this class.

dr. west was a great professor! they are a fair grader, you get to drop a lot of grades, which made the class less stressful. quiz questions had confusing wording sometimes. they also expect you to read, not everything is taught in-depth in lecture. still i think dr. west is probably the best prof for bio 2!! so caring for their students

West is much more passionate about evolution, and that shows in the Vertebrate Morphology course. West's lectures are interesting, informative, and tie together the subject material in a logical way - the class is very well-paced. The exams are biweekly, tough, and memorization heavy, but West offers plenty of extra credit test corrections.

Dr. West is by far the best choice for bio 2. Their lectures can be boring, but if you read the textbook, you'll be fine. The lowest test score is dropped and they provide plenty of other points through homework, recitation, attendance, etc. The tests are challenging, but not totally awful. They are very respectful and care about their students.

Very caring professor whose class I never really had to worry about. Interesting lectures and obviously has a passion for the subject. Recitations were a little annoying but were fine in the end.

West let us set up the weight of assignments so 4 quizzes (1 can be dropped) & final were only worth 10% for the class. Check with a UTA for correct answers on recitation assignments. As long as you study and utilize the textbook, learning curve homework, and lectures, quizzes were not bad at all. Homework is impossible to not get a 100 on.

Dr. West really knows bio, and I learned so much from their lectures. Tests were kind of tricky with ambiguous wording etc. but after students gave feedback, they really made an effort to make tests more manageable.

Dr. West is one of the most caring/coolest professors I've had at Pitt. They actually knew most of their student's names! With that being said, they do expect a lot and can assign a lot of work, specifically within the lab section of this course. The tests were very fair, albeit more short response intensive than I initially anticipated.

Dr West is actually not that bad so far. They are good at explaining concepts during lecture and the diagrams that they draw help a lot. The grading is very fair since everything is equally weighted. Check with UTA for correct answers on recitation assignments.

I think the negative reviews about West are unfair. Contrary to what other people say they did give enough time to study for the midterm exam even though it was the first class after break. You just had to study over break and the midterm was very fair. They do give answers to homework and go to office hours, theirs or UTAs, for answers to quizzes.

Abagael's shouldn't get as much hate as they do. Yes, the lectures can be boring and redundant, but I feel like I've learned a lot from them as they do explain concepts well. Grading scale is AWESOME (20% HW, 20% recitation assignments, 20% weekly quizzes, 20% midterm (theres only 1), and 20% final). Midterm and weekly quiz questions were fair.

(they/them) One of the nicest and funniest professors I have this semester! Lectures are a bit hard to follow, but they like to interact with their students during lecture and are very personable. Grading scale: 20% Homework for completion, 20% Recitation assignments, 20% Check-ins/quizzes, 20% 1 Midterm, 20% final. Love the mullet too!

West is one of the best professors that I have had for biology. They are caring for their students and are funny during lecture. There are two major exams: 1 midterm and 1 final that make up 40% of your grade for the class combined.

I loved Dr. West! I don't why they're rated so low, because lectures were always very clear and engaging. The grading scale is amazing, and as long as you show up to class and recitation, it really isn't that difficult to get a good grade. You don't usually need to read the textbook unless the chapter is tricky, then it can help

West is a very accommodating professor especially given the events that have occurred throughout the past few weeks. I really appreciate this and I can tell that they care about their students.

Honestly baffled at all of the negative reviews on here. Dr. West has been the kindest and most considerate professor I have ever had. Always approachable and willing to help. Awesome grading scale and amazing lectures. Would 100% recommend.

I think Dr. West is a good choice for Bio 2. The weighting of assignments was fair and so was the weighting of the quizzes/exams. I enjoyed their lectures, you definitely have to pay attention and take good notes on the slides. Also, they were very caring for their students' mental health. They did not show us correct answers for quizzes tho.

West is one of the best professors for bio 2. There aren't many good options for bio 2 but West is one of the best. Ended up being one of my favorite professors this semester. Emphasizes the mental health of their students and is a very caring professor. The tests were very fair and covered exactly what was covered in lectures.

Their grading system saved me. 20% for 5 things: weekly quizzes, recitation, hw, 1 midterm, final. Hw is impossible not to get 100% on unless you miss deadlines. Assessments were tough but all tested material was available in their slides/textbook. Hard to access via email but were really nice/accommodating for extenuating circumstances in person.

Thought this class was very straightforward. Unlike a lot of typical pre med courses, this did not feel like a weed out course. The weighting of their class is clutch. As long as you study for weekly quizzes, do the HW, and recitation you will be fine. Their exams are relatively difficult, but make sure you look at old quizzes and you'll be fine.

i liked this class, the grading was extremely fair along with the quizzes and exams. if you went through the powerpoint slides and did reading, you knew everything when it was tested. dr west was so fair and caring throughout the semester, and was especially accommodating during the numerous negative events that occured. overall would reccomend

West is a fantastic professor that ensures you understand the material instead of just memorization. West's lectures (more specifically the hand-made drawings) allowed me to truly understand complex concepts like DNA replication and mRNA splicing. Moreover, the grading system is completely balanced ensuring you a good grade if you do homework.

Tbh the best bio 2 prof out of the options. I do not regret choosing them but you will be thrown off at how unapproachable they can seem. Despite their fast-paced lectures, they are a good lecturer and if you do miss anything they say, you can rewatch the lectures!! They post the lectures and PowerPoints(Slides after lecture). Choose west!

They are a great teacher for bio 2. Very straightforward class as long as you read the textbook and go to lectures. Exams are not hard as long as you study decently.

I loved dr. west as a professor! it's very clear that they care a lot about the students. exams were very straightforward and the grading scale is very logical and helpful. the uta's were also very good at helping out in recitation (loved the activities dr. west gave us!) and study sessions. would definitely take dr. west for another class.

Dr. West graded fairly and exam questions were very straightforward. They used lots of visual examples/explanations and gave "participation points" for being in class. Dr. West didn't allow students to look at their exams, which made it hard to study for the final. They advocated for students learning, but were sometimes a bit too temperamental.

Dr. West is a good choice for Bio 2. The weekly homework was the textbook chapter + the practice set which all helps. Their lectures were engaging and used good examples to aid learning. They seemed a bit unapproachable at times, but overall, they're a caring professor, and the exams were straightforward. Recitation worksheets were also beneficial.

meh. best bio 2 prof out of the worst. v clear grading criteria, so you knew exactly what to get for an A. use the learning curve assignments, summative quizzes, and recitation worksheets to study for tests. didn't let us see what we got wrong on exams, which was annoying. pay attention to lectures + read the textbook and you'll do fine.

They explain difficult concept well, their handwritten notes are very helpful. Their exams are not too bad (4 exams including the final, no drops) Do the achieve and go over recitation worksheets to help you with the exams.

Inaccessible outside of class, rude, can't see old exams, and never replies to emails. However, exams are straightforward, HW is tedious but guaranteed 100%. You will learn a lot and it's easy to do well in the class. Not my favorite but significantly better than the other bio 2 profs. Use UTA study guides & review sessions to your advantage.

They are a good professor, entertaining lectures that were recorded and had credit for coming to class. We had reading quizzes and adaptive quizzes where some questions appeared on the exams. Exams were straightforward for the most part but some of the exam questions were unnecessarily hard. Overall, net positive experience.

I really liked Dr West and am very glad I took them for bio 2 over the other profs. They have a forgiving grading scale- you can lose points and still get 100%. Exams were straight forward- prepped with homework questions and notes from their lecture and was always very prepared. Liked their lectures- incorporated applications of content.

took this class spring 2023 and Dr. West was fantastic. exams were 40% of the grade (+ curved), mainly it was weekly quizzes. but you take each quiz twice, 1st on your own and 2nd collaborative, your final grade is the avg of these two scores. some questions can be a bit iffy but just look over the homework and textbook and you'll be fine.

Dr. West's lectures are engaging and cover content well. Exams can be tricky, but using the textbook, homework, and resources like unstuck ai helps a lot. The class is manageable with consistent effort.

Wonderful professor! She is kind to everyone, and allows us to ask any questions possible. People who struggle in this class are the ones who aren't learning the right way, which is concerning because she places all of her resources to our availability and it is more than enough. Great professor to have by your side, and is there for you whenever.

I must say, it is one of the best classes I have taken. I do think she prepares you well for the MCAT with the appropriate content and reasonable exams. If you study, you will do absolutely fine. She is definitely the teacher to take for Bio 2 out of all of them. Wonderful professor and she cares about her students as well welcoming any students!

I loved this professor!! She is really good at teaching and her exams are not hard at all. Out of all of my friends, in the end it seems like she has the highest passing rate out of all of the Bio 2 Teachers. She explains the concepts well and provides all of the resources for your to thrive and successfully pass the class! Very kind and smart!

Dr. West is not bad at all. It seems like the reviews are bad but personally I am a hard learner and her class was perfect for me. She gives enough content for us to study before our tests and class is manageable. I think she is the best professor for Bio 2 because I have heard bad things about other teach which makes me grateful to have Dr. West.

Some people do not like this professor, but personally i felt the class was very manageable and well taught. Exam topics are all taught in class and reviewed in recitation. You don't get any drops, but the exams are very straightforward, including the finals. Also provided learning goals for each lecture that really showed up on the exams.

Bio 2 has been absolutely horrific, no doubt in part due to Dr. West but I fear for some universal karmic retribution that will strike me down if I am not forgiving in my rating as I still achieved an A in this class. If you find yourself in the halls of L9 Clapp, may the stars be aligned for you as they were for me, and please let them be kind.

Dr. West is honestly not that bad. If you pay attention and take notes during lecture, read through the textbook, and study, you are guaranteed a good grade. Dr. West also responds to their emails and is available during office hours if anyone needs any help. However, I hated that we couldn't see our exams, or there were no drops for exams.

Better than most other Bio profs. Lectures are very engaging however, slides are not posted until AFTER lecture. Exams are harder than they need to be especially for the ecology and evolution sections as that is Dr. West's specialty and you do not get the exams back to see what you missed. Difficult, but to be expected for a STEM class. 8/10

West is an interesting prof. They are decent in lecture, give you so many resources, and interact a lot with students during it. Only thing is that their tests are pretty difficult, coming from someone who has always done pretty well in every bio class. Just lock in a week before a test, memorize the summative quiz answers, and reach out to UTAs.

Absolutely awesome.

Dr. West is definitely over-hated. They are a very passionate and approachable professor, and they clearly want you to learn. Exams are difficult, just as any bio class, but the grade is padded with tons of bonus points and homework points that are easy to get. Also, 8.5x11 cheat sheet on exams helped a lot! I learned a lot from this class.