2.9

Amy Altick

Biology - University of Nevada - Reno

2.9
Quality
4.1
Difficulty
51%
Would Retake
109
Reviews
2.9
Quality
4.1
Difficulty
2.9
Helpful
2.8
Clarity

51%

Would Retake

109

Reviews

Rating Distribution
Official

5

30

4

13

3

13

2

29

1

24

What Students Say

Im a junior neuroscience major with a 4

BIO315 - 1.0 rating

Its amazing she can still teach at this University, she is the worse prof I have ever had and I'm a senior

BIO315 - 1.0 rating
Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

74%

Textbook Required

71%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

B+

95% confidence
Based on 46 grades
Most common grades:
A (16)
B (6)
A- (6)
Grade Distribution
A(20)B(12)C(5)D(3)F(0)A-/B+(7)
Based on 50 reported grades
A: 16
B: 6
A-: 6
B-: 6
Common Tags
Tough Grader (11)
Skip class? You won't pass. (11)
TEST HEAVY (10)
Participation matters (10)
Lecture heavy (8)
Get ready to read (7)
LECTURE HEAVY (6)
Test heavy (6)
Rating Trend

Improving

+0.28 avg change
Nov
Dec
Jun
Oct
Nov
Dec
Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

BIOL395479

5.0

(1)

BIOL401

5.0

(1)

BIOL395

4.8

(4)

NEUROBIOLOGY

4.0

(1)

BIOL466

3.8

(5)
+11 more courses
Difficulty by Course

BIO315R

5.0

BIO315

4.7

BIOLOGY190

4.5

315R

4.5

BIOL315

4.2

Reviews (109)
2.0
4.0
BIOL475
Feb 1, 2007

Post-doc researcher. Doesn't know how to teach. Races through lectures, reads directly from powerpoint. Can't elucidate on topic well. Quizzes were worthless, tests were extremely hard, vague, and too long. She gave alot of extra credit which helped but overall she needs to take a teaching class and come up with some interesting lectures.

4.0
4.0
BIOL466
Apr 25, 2007

She's really nice and helpful. There's a lot of material in the class, but if you study, you'll do fine.

5.0
4.0
BIOL466
Feb 3, 2008

Dr. Altick was one of the best teachers I had at Nevada. My 2 favorite biology classes were taught by her.

5.0
4.0
BIOL466
Feb 3, 2008

She likes developmental biology which makes it easier to learn developmental biology from her. She reads a lot of papers and knows what she is talking about.

1.0
5.0
BIOL466
Feb 19, 2008

self-righteous, arbitrary and irritating

4.0
3.0
BIOL466
Jul 25, 2011

Amy's awesome!

2.0
3.0
BIOL315
Nov 20, 2012

She Doesnt know what she is talking about, type-errors on nearly every slide, doesnt test on what she lectures. Gets frustrated when you ask her a question or challenge her opinion. She ends every sentence with a high-pitch like shes asking a question. Gives 20pts of Extra Credit on each exam and the average is a still in the C-D range, rediclous.

2.0
3.0
BIOL315
Nov 30, 2012

Amy is a nice lady, but she is not a good professor at all. Just reads straight off the slides during class (so it's pointless to go) and always contradicts herself so it seems like she doesn't even know if what she's saying is right. Asking her questions doesn't help either, she usually doesn't know the answer or she will make you feel dumb.

2.0
4.0
BIOL315
Dec 5, 2012

I took this as my easy class for the semester and boy was i fooled. The material was so dry and lectures were so boring that I stopped attending lecture altogether. Altick is TERRIBLE and needs to be teaching honors or grad classes... good luck if you have to take this.

2.0
4.0
BIOL315
Dec 6, 2012

Where to begin... she moves WAY too fast, her test are WAY too long, and her lecture slides are hard to follow along with. She is boring reading off of the slides. Her really structure sucks. Intelligent lady, beyond aweful teacher. I learned nothing and stopped coming to class because it baecame pointless to

3.0
2.0
BIOL315
Dec 10, 2012

She isn't the best teacher but the book is pretty good (yes, I did most of the readings). Her tests require you know you stuff well and be apply to combine diff concepts. If you are a good test taker, this class is easy. If not, you may find it difficult. I found this class easy but I'm a good test taker.

3.0
4.0
BIOL315
Dec 15, 2012

If you can take another professor, do it. This is my least favorite class from my college career (it's my 4th year btw). Slides are hard to understand and she reads straight off them in class so going was pointless...you don't learn anything.

2.0
4.0
BIOL315
Dec 16, 2012

Altick made this class so much harder than it had to be. She was incredibly unorganized with her lectures. She tried to pack so much information into each lecture that it ended up being a bunch of random facts that made little sense when put together. You can do fine as long as you memorize word-for-word the lectures and remember BIOL 190 concepts.

3.0
1.0
BIOL315R
Dec 23, 2012

Not to bad. lots of people got angry at their grade but, alot of people didnt show up to class. Follow the study guides, and define all its terms. people dont realize how much that helps. Sometimes test were bad. but she gives 20 pts E.C. on each test, making it a bit easier. I got an A by memorizing her lectures and defining her guides completely.

5.0
2.0
BIOL300
Dec 24, 2012

Highly knowledgeable of the subject and very interested in her students doing well. A lot of material covered, but if you study, go to class, and pay attention, there's no reason to not get an A, especially with the extra credit offered. My one issue that it was possible to focus on the wrong material for tests, but I still earned a very high A.

3.0
5.0
BIOLOGY190
Apr 6, 2013

I do not like her as a teacher. She seems like a nice lady to talk to which she is, she may have a degree but that doesn't mean you know how to teach the subject. She makes you learn concepts that are supposed to be learned in harder classes. So you fail this test and pass the exam in a harder class. She is a very bad "teacher".

1.0
5.0
BIO190
Apr 23, 2013

Should not be teaching lower level classes. She refuses to recognize the level that most students are which leads to extremely difficult tests. Few pay attention to lectures due to her data overload. I had to learn everything through the book and online videos.

2.0
4.0
BIOL190
Apr 24, 2013

She is intelligent and passionate about biology, but her teaching skills are REALLY bad. She puts way too much information in her slides and lectures are just her reading them word for word. She also goes through slides too fast and commented that if we didn't get it while listening to her, we should "watch videos or something."

2.0
5.0
190
Apr 26, 2013

What a terrible professor. She is intelligent beyond belief! But... Getting that intelligence across isn't her forte. Go find the cure for cancer and stop teaching, please.

2.0
5.0
BIO190
May 2, 2013

Is much harder than any other teacher in the subject. For he lectures she stand and reads her slides the whole class with little to no explanation of anything. Tests are hard very hard to study for because they are so broad.

1.0
4.0
BIO190
May 10, 2013

she just stands at the front and drones on, making you memorize complicated stuff that the other classes don't have to. way too high expectations on her students. tests are over too much info and not enough clarity on what to study. very inconsistant with tests.

2.0
4.0
BIOLOGY190
May 10, 2013

Smart lady, terrible teacher. Although if you go to a weekly review session she will give you a lot of extra credit! Which is necessary because most of the class fails the tests. Tests are broad, no study guide, and way too in depth.

2.0
5.0
BIOL190
May 13, 2013

She is very enthusiastic about biology, but the tests are not the same as the study guides. She expects you to know every aspect of the chapters and treat it like an upper division class. Try to avoid taking this class as much as possible.

1.0
5.0
BIOL190
May 17, 2013

Ridiculously hard for a lower level class. I am RETAKING this class and it was harder than my BIOL 223 class. She may be incredible smart and knowledgable, but her expectations are entirely too high for a 100 level class. I would advise not taking this class if you actually want to do well. She is an awful teacher.

5.0
3.0
BIOL190
May 20, 2013

Everyone complaining about this teacher either never payed attention in class or didn't study as well as they could have for the test. Yes, the tests are hard but if you study all the material covered in the lectures (which are also posted online) then you will do fine. She offers an insane amount of extra credit and practically gives away points.

2.0
4.0
BIO190
Jun 1, 2013

Dr. Altick really knows her stuff. She just does not know how to teach. Lectures are boring and tests are difficult. I would take another professor first.

3.0
4.0
BIOL190
Jul 2, 2013

She is intelligent as everyone says but she reads straight off the slides. Her tests are very challenging. She was the only teacher offering this class over summer, and what a mistake that was. I have never taken a more challenging one-hundred level class in my college career. Take someone else.

1.0
4.0
BIOL190
Aug 13, 2013

Dr. Altick is very smart and is very passionate about Biology but this makes her think that everyone else is too. She often expects us to "already know" stuff from classes prior to this one. Her tests are insanely hard. Take someone else if you could.

1.0
5.0
BIOL300
Grade: Drop/Withdrawal
Aug 26, 2013

I had not commented, but when I saw that Nevada continues to let this woman teach, I am compelled to write to warn others. Perhaps this woman will learn to teach someday, but it will be over the legions of academic corpses of the students. I pray that she will improve, but if you are smart, take Genetics and anything else she teaches, OFF CAMPUS!

3.0
4.0
BIOL190
Aug 28, 2013

Dr. Altick really knows her stuff, but struggles with teaching. She does want students to succeed, but expects a lot. Do the homework and spend time studying and you will be fine. The book is helpful and tests are challenging.

5.0
2.0
BIO190
Oct 30, 2013

Most people on here must be super lazy! her tests are not hard if you take the time to study. also if you go to office hours she is extreamly helpful. but I guess people are used to having things handed to them. she actually wants you to try. I failed the first test because I did not study not becase of her.

5.0
1.0
BIOL190
Nov 10, 2013

Dr. Altick is a great professor. people who don't study and are lazy will not do well. if you want things handed to you take a different class. lots of extra credit and very helpful. study and youll do great.

2.0
4.0
BIOL315R
Nov 24, 2013

I've taken other upper division courses and this is by far the hardest I have ever taken. Lecture is dry, uninteresting, and not engaging enough. Her exams are difficult and hard to study for, but she has a 20 point extra credit buffer on each exam (except for the final), which helped a bit. I found her slides to be unorganized.

2.0
5.0
BIOL315R
Nov 25, 2013

Altic knows her stuff, but cannot teach it. Her tests are all but impossible to study for, as she tells students their study guide is the 350+ slides per exam. She only gives 20pts extra credit on three exams (the easiest 3), and then 10pts on the hardest exam and none on the final. The lecture slides are unorganized as well. Avoid her.

2.0
5.0
BIO315
Nov 27, 2013

Probably one of the worst classes I've ever taken, and I'm a good student! Her exams are hard to study for and barely correspond to her lecture slides. She really just can't teach efficiently for me to retain information. Her slides are unorganized and packed with too much information. Take it with someone else.

2.0
4.0
BIOL315R
Dec 11, 2013

Her first 3 exam are cake if you study the slides and know ever detail. The 4th exam is the worst and the avg. was a 66 for the class... mostly everyone failed that test. She is a boring professor and doesn't given any examples of her questions. Test questions are not even clear. Her quizzes are ridiculous. Be ready for a Hard class if you take it

3.0
4.0
BIOL315
Dec 12, 2013

Here is some great advice-JUST DON'T. While Dr.Altick is extremely intelligent, she is not an effective professor. She speaks fast rather than thoroughly explaining concepts. Includes lots of neuroscience when it's not a neuroscience class and expects you to know it! Quizzes=ridiculous. Tests=ambiguous. Too bad, as I had high hopes for BIO315

2.0
4.0
BIOL315
Dec 15, 2013

Dr. Altick is incredibly intelligent. Unfortunately, none of it carries over into her teaching- she couldn't care less if you understand her. The first three exams are easy, then the fourth one is needlessly difficult. Quizzes have nothing to do with course material and are graded harshly. Take it with a different professor, avoid it if you can.

5.0
3.0
BIOL395
Dec 16, 2013

Though the cell bio lab was run by TA's, Altick attended all of the labs. My entire view of her changed (as her BIOL 315 class was horrid). Yes, the lab is hard, but they redid the format this semester and it's MUCH better. Altick was super helpful and patient with the challenging material and got to know each of us on a personal level. Loved her!

2.0
3.0
BIOL315R
Dec 17, 2013

A lot of extra credit is offered- 20 pts each on the first 3 exams, 10 pts on the 4th exam, clicker participation. Dr. Altick is very knowledgeable. That being said, she is NOT an effective professor. Lectures are rushed. You're expected to know 100s of slides of info in excruciating detail. Quizzes brought down the class average significantly. No.

1.0
5.0
BIOL315R
Dec 19, 2013

HORRIBLE. 100s of slides covered, zero guidance as to what's important. Fully HALF the class got D's or less on one test w/no curve given; every research paper quiz was wretched and killed grades. Non-biochem students were LITERALLY robbed of grades and money; studying well was outright impossible without foreknowledge. DO NOT TAKE THIS PROF.

2.0
5.0
BIO315R
Dec 21, 2013

Exams are hard to study for & I've taken the practice quizzes that came on the CD w/the txtbk. Quizzes don't correspond the course. The TA is unhelpful. When I went in to look at my exam, she tells me that if it makes me feel any better, she would've gotten the questions I got wrong, wrong as well. Isn't that a concern? This class was unrewarding.

2.0
5.0
BIOL315
Dec 23, 2013

BE AWARE: Your efforts will absolutely & truthfully not be a reflection of your grade, whatsoever. You will be robbed by poor teaching, rushed lectures, RIDICULOUS quizzes, and ambiguous and intentionally tricky test questions (which your hours of studying, reviewing, and lecture attendance will not pay off for). Save your time, efforts & money.

5.0
4.0
BIOL395479
Feb 26, 2014

I have had Dr. Altick for several lab couses. All I can say is that she is one of the best, and most well informed professors I have had. I have heard she was not great for cell bio, I did not take it with her, so I cannot comment on that. For the labs I have taken with her, she has been nothing short of stellar. Get to know her!

5.0
3.0
BIOL190
Jul 25, 2014

This was among the most well organized courses I've taken through undergraduate and graduate school. She uses various methods to accommodate all learning styles and makes very clear what she expects from you. Her test were consistent and fair, as was her grading with plenty of opportunity to earn the grade you wanted, if you put the work in.

4.0
3.0
NEUROBIOLOGY
Grade: A+
Nov 9, 2014

Dr. Altick talks very fast, but always encourages students to ask questions, knowing she's a fast speaker. Her tests are very straight forward, focus is on general concepts and not specific details. She enjoys getting to know students on a personal level.

2.0
4.0
315R
Dec 16, 2014

I have now taken three courses with this instructor, cell bio, neurobiology, and cell bio lab. I have been wildly disappointed in Cell bio 315 compared to the other two courses. I feel like I have learned nothing, despite efforts to prepare. Dr. Altick is incredibly intelligent, and a great instructor for any class besides 315.

1.0
5.0
315R
Dec 17, 2014

Not a good professor. Very difficult and ambiguous tests

3.0
3.0
BIO315
Dec 23, 2014

Test questions are really poorly written. You can understand the material and have no clue what she is asking for. The quizzes are on research papers and ask obscure, confusing questions that will destroy your grade. She is friendly and helpful but the testsquizzes are incredibly frustrating.

5.0
4.0
BIOL315R
Jan 8, 2015

If you UNDERSTAND the notes, you will pull off an A or B. She's super nice and her exams are fair. You need a good background in BCH400 to do well in this course, a lot of overlap. She'll only test you on her notes and the 'big picture' stuff, so don't waste your time memorizing every detail on the notes or papers (for the quizzes).

2.0
5.0
BIO190
Mar 7, 2015

She goes through slides very quickly, sometimes skips over them, last clicker question is when class is over, and that is every time. If you work hard you might get a good grade but she is not the type of professors that would want their students to get good grades.

2.0
5.0
BIO190
May 11, 2015

Very nice teacher overall. Tests are very difficult and she doesn't seem to understand how hard they really are. Her grading system is awful, she goes off of points and makes it much harder to get a good grade. She required a certain grade on the final to even pass the class even if you have gotten an A on everything else. I would take Sandstrom.

2.0
4.0
BIO190
May 13, 2015

Probably the hardest class I have taken. She gives you the "tip" of the iceberg and you are required to pretty much teach yourself everything else. Goes through slides way too fast and her test are difficult. You need to dedicate time to this class and study. She is nice and is very knowledgable and she knows her stuff. Just a difficult class.

2.0
5.0
BIO190
May 14, 2015

Professor Altick was a nightmare for an introductory Biology lecture. I would definitely not recommend her due to her incredibly hard tests. I always overheard everyone talking about never passing a test, and I can confirm that I hadn't either. DO NOT TAKE HER.

1.0
5.0
BIO190
May 16, 2015

HORRIBLE. AVOID AT ALL COSTS.

1.0
5.0
BIO190
May 18, 2015

Unclear on what material to study for exams, unclear what it is you will cover in that day's lecture, unclear where she wants us as a class academically, unclear if she really understands what it is she is trying to convey, unclear if her system is her own or some broken knockoff of Sandstrom, unclear if you are really getting anything out of this.

4.0
3.0
190
Grade: A+
May 20, 2015

Bio 190 is hard anyway but she gives extra credit on her tests.

3.0
3.0
BIO190
Grade: B
Jul 10, 2015

I took Bio 190 over the summer so it was a fast course anyways, but she was extremely helpful. Her tests are more "application" so you have to think through what you know. Go to the review sessions, definitely helped me

3.0
4.0
BIO190
Grade: A
Jul 11, 2015

Took this class as a 5 wk summer class, so it was hard. She wasn't any easier, but did give extra credit. You need to know almost every aspect of a subject then be able to use that knowledge to answer a completely new application question that builds on your knowledge. Her tests are really hard but if you put in a lot of effort, you can do well.

4.0
3.0
BIOL190
Grade: B
Jul 13, 2015

If I needed a good grade in this class, I probably wouldn't have taken it due to the previous reviews. Which makes me so glad I did because I loved the setup and organization of the course. Mine was a summer session so... Grade comes from 4 tests, cumulative final, Mastering hw, clicker, and discussion. Use the Study Area of Mastering for tests!

4.0
3.0
BIOL190
Grade: A
Jul 17, 2015

I was scared to take Altick over summer because of her low rating, but this class was great. She teaches fast, but its not her fault, it's a tough course. She uploads all her Powerpoints online, so i would HIGHLY recommend reading and taking notes on them before showing up to class. These low rating are just form lazy slackers who expect an easy A.

4.0
4.0
BIO190
Grade: A-
Aug 7, 2015

I wouldn't recommend taking this test over short terms. The study guide is helpful but there is a lot of information to know but the tests are short.

4.0
3.0
BIO190
Grade: A+
Aug 14, 2015

Everyone says she's bad, but those people are just lazy lol. If you read the chapters before she goes over them in class and do the homework and study a lot before the tests you'll do fine. She does go fast through lectures but so does the other teacher because there's so much information to cover in so little time. I didn't bother taking notes.

5.0
3.0
BIO190
Grade: A+
Aug 29, 2015

First of all, this is a hard class for most people. Know that up front. You have to put work into it. You have to read the book, pay attention in class, and study - like any GOOD college class. There's also a TON of places to get help, and Altick is super helpful. I think she's a great teacher, but there were a lot of lazy students.

2.0
3.0
BIO190
Grade: B-
Jul 8, 2016
Wouldn't take again

Altick seems like a genuinely great person. That being said her teaching was lacking. I am extremely interested in the material but found her lectures didn't add any value. Blew through a hundred slides quickly leaving students lost. Tests featured small details rather than concepts. I found it difficult to study for what was actually on the exam.

5.0
4.0
BIOL190
Grade: A
Aug 27, 2016
Would take again

Dr. Altick gets a bad rap because many students aren't willing to put in the work and time for her class; however, she cares and is very helpful if you go to her office, has material organized, and is extremely smart and knowledgeable. The course itself is hard no matter what professor you get. I really liked her as my professor.

1.0
5.0
BIO315
Nov 2, 2016
Wouldn't take again

You can go over all of the powerpoints and have a clear understanding but get a D on the tests. The quizzes are also extremely difficult and irrelevant. Avoid if possible.

LECTURE HEAVY
1.0
5.0
BIO315
Grade: B
Nov 4, 2016
Wouldn't take again

On her second test in cell bio her classes average was around 70, and the other professor was above 80. She says you have to be able to draw stuff but like none of it will be on the test. She has a bunch of optional problems you can do, but almost all of them are not like the test questions. Not worth it wait a semester if you have to

Tough Grader
TEST HEAVY
4.0
5.0
BIOL315
Grade: C
Nov 7, 2016
Would take again

She is an incredibly caring, yet firm, professor. She wants her students to succeed, but at the same time, her tests are ridiculous and the wording is very ambiguous. 44% of the class got a D or worse on her second exam (which is after most people who decided they couldn't/didn't want to take this class dropped). You will learn your stuff.

Tough Grader
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
Caring
1.0
4.0
BIOL315
Dec 17, 2016
Wouldn't take again

She is a nice person and good lecturer but made the class extremely difficult. The class grade was based purely on test and quizes. Test questions were often ambiguous and on details that weren't covered in class. If you're going to take her make sure you know absolutely everything on the chapters for the exams, questions are very specific.

TEST HEAVY
GRADED BY FEW THINGS
4.0
4.0
BIO315
Grade: A
Jan 13, 2017
Would take again

Altick gets a bad rap as being an awful professor, but in reality she just expects a lot from her students, especially in actually understanding material in depth and being able to apply it when presented with difficult questions or scenarios, and is very fair grader. Tough class, but easily one of the most valuable I've ever taken.

Get ready to read
TEST HEAVY
LECTURE HEAVY
3.0
5.0
BIO315
Grade: B-
Mar 28, 2017
Wouldn't take again

She is intelligent, passionate, and really caring. She wants to help and will help if you seek her outside of class. I found the tests to be impossible and unfair for a 300 level class. Do not be fooled by the easiness of the first exam, and if you don't read the book don't expect better than a C. She has quizzes that will not help retention.

Tough Grader
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
TEST HEAVY
2.0
4.0
BIO190
Grade: D+
Aug 14, 2017
Wouldn't take again

She is intelligent and knows her stuff, but is so unclear. I had to take her because I needed this as a summer class in order to graduate sooner. Massive regrets. She flys through these heavy power points, gives you a bunch of points and drawings to memorize and then you don't recognize half of the stuff on the exam. Dont do it.

Tough Grader
Get ready to read
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
3.0
4.0
BIO190
Grade: A
Aug 26, 2017
Would take again

Took during summer- the quality of teaching was great, but no extra credit, curve, or the like was offered, meaning you really needed to know the material. Very accessible outside of class, really willing to help you learn. Will go over tests (which are very poorly written and graded) and will give you back some point if you really earned them.

Skip class? You won't pass.
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
GRADED BY FEW THINGS
5.0
3.0
BIO190
Grade: B-
Aug 28, 2017
Would take again

I took her BIO 190 class over summer and it was everything I expected. Put the work in to study the material and you WILL pass. She gives an extra 10 points on her tests for extra cushion. Participate too! Let her get to know you and she will really make sure that you pass

Participation matters
Skip class? You won't pass.
Clear grading criteria
1.0
5.0
BIO315
Oct 24, 2017
Wouldn't take again

Im a junior neuroscience major with a 4.0, and this class put all of that in jeopardy. After taking the 3rd exam, of which there are 6 (not to mention 4 quizzes), I realized I was not going to do any better than a C. This was the first class i've ever dropped because she makes it unnecessarily difficult. Trust me, stay away for your own good.

Tough Grader
Participation matters
TEST HEAVY
1.0
5.0
BIO315
Grade: D+
Dec 4, 2017
Wouldn't take again

I'm a chemistry major, senior, A-B student, and this class will be my first D because she makes it ridiculously difficult. Her expectations are unclear and she is loud and condescending when you ask her questions outside of class. If you are a full-time student and work and cant dedicate 20 hours a week to her class alone, AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!

Tough Grader
Get ready to read
Tests are tough
1.0
5.0
BIO315
Grade: C+
Dec 4, 2017
Wouldn't take again

Its amazing she can still teach at this University, she is the worse prof I have ever had and I'm a senior! I would've rather waited an extra semester to graduate than to take this class with her. Quizzes are hard and irrelevant and despite your hours of studying you'll still get Ds and Fs on the exams. AVOID!!

Tough Grader
TEST HEAVY
Tests are tough
1.0
5.0
BIO315
Dec 5, 2017
Wouldn't take again

Amy clearly chose the wrong profession. I would not even recommend this class to my worst enemy! Her tests are unnecessarily hard and gives quizzes that have nothing to do with the material. Seriously, quit teaching and find a new job, you're ruining dreams and wasting everybody's time and money.

Tough Grader
TEST HEAVY
Tests are tough
5.0
5.0
BIOL315
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 14, 2017
Would take again

Hard But doable. You have to learn, not memorize. If you can thoroughly teach the material on your own then you're set, if not, keep studying! You can also think of this course as a weeding out process. If you can't pass this class then you're probably not passing any grad school entry exams as this is basically a prep course for those. Grade: A/A-

TEST HEAVY
Tests are tough
LECTURE HEAVY
5.0
5.0
BIO315
Grade: A
Dec 15, 2017
Wouldn't take again

She is very knowledgeable and a respected professor. Studying in a group for at least 15 hours a week, going to all the lectures and going into her office hours regularly is the key to success. Hands down THE hardest class I've taken, yet the most rewarding. Study the learning goals and go into her office after exams are graded.

Respected
TEST HEAVY
Tests are tough
1.0
5.0
BIO315
Grade: C
Mar 28, 2018
Wouldn't take again

By far THE worst professor I have ever taken at the UNR. I am an A student double majoring in Neuro and Chem and this professor did not care about handing Ds and Fs. Did everything to get a high grade and ended up with a C. AVOID HER ESPECIALLY YOU PREMED STUDENTS!!! She should find another job because teaching is not her thing.

Tough Grader
BEWARE OF POP QUIZZES
LECTURE HEAVY
5.0
5.0
BIO315
Grade: A
Apr 3, 2018
Would take again

Was warned to not take Altick, but honestly one the best choices I've made at the university. I had a study group that met religiously after each lecture to study, rewrite notes, etc. She gives a study guide. Everything on the exam is mostly from lecture, slides and learning catalytics. This class set the foundation for my other classes.

Get ready to read
Skip class? You won't pass.
LECTURE HEAVY
5.0
5.0
BIO315
Grade: A-
Nov 6, 2018
Would take again

By far THE BEST professor I have ever had at UNR. Altick pushes her students to learn an incredible amount in a very short period of time. If you put your head down and use the resources/slides she gives you, you will not regret taking this class ESPECIALLY if you are going pre-med. If you make the right choices you can get so much out of her class

1.0
5.0
BIO190
Nov 14, 2018
Wouldn't take again

Would never take a class with her again. She is a very arrogant professor and treats your failures as a "life lesson". I asked her for help from the beginning of the semester until the end and her response every time was to retake or go to TMCC. She also does not follow the curriculum and makes the class too difficult for a 100 leveled course.

Tough Grader
Participation matters
Skip class? You won't pass.
1.0
5.0
BIO315
Grade: Rather not say
Dec 13, 2018
Wouldn't take again

This Professor was ridiculously hard. I took this class as a retake to improve my original C+, it would be a miracle if I even get a C. I like to think I am not a complete moron but her tests are absolutely outrageous. Its just not fair. Try and avoid her as a professor.

Tough Grader
TEST HEAVY
LECTURE HEAVY
5.0
5.0
BIOL315
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 10, 2019
Would take again

Cell Bio is the hardest class Ive ever taken. Dr. Altick is a great professor and is extremely knowledgeable. Her teaching style is learn rather than memorize and regurgitate. The exams are highly detailed, study hard and do well. There are quizzes based on primary literature which teaches how to read and analyze research papers. Solid choice.

Gives good feedback
Skip class? You won't pass.
Test heavy
1.0
5.0
BIO315
Grade: A
Dec 20, 2019
Wouldn't take again

By far the worst professor on UNR. Took this class and it is the only class I had time to study for. She doesn't care about your grade and she doesn't care if you succeed. went to office hours at one point to discuss an exam she said the class did bad your fine. I would never recommend taking I don't want to be a Biology major anymore because ofher

5.0
5.0
BIOL315
Grade: A-
Jan 24, 2020
Would take again

Dr. Altick is the hardest professor I've ever taken. She expects a ton out of her 315 students. Needless to say, this class is all about how you can best manage your time and use the tools given to you. Details matter and there is no room for error. Show up, pay attention, study hard, and you will be successful in her class. Godspeed.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Test heavy
Lecture heavy
5.0
5.0
BIO315
Grade: A-
Mar 13, 2020
Would take again

Notice how all her ratings are 5's or 1's. The good students were pushed to their limit and took away an amazing amount. The poor students floundered when provided a real challenge. This was a very very difficult class- I put in HOURS and half a year later, I still remember so much content. Do you want to get handfed an easy A or be pushed to learn

1.0
4.0
BIO190
Grade: B
Jul 7, 2020
Wouldn't take again

Class isnt taught by the professor but the TA. I took it for the summer which is in person but still online since its the pandemic. They kept switching formats of the exams and never gave enough time to all the students to be able to complete them confidently. Break out groups are too quick and always goes over the time of when class is done.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Lecture heavy
Tough grader
5.0
4.0
BIO315
Grade: A
Nov 25, 2020
Would take again

Many people on here rate Dr. Altick badly because of the difficulty, but that is exactly why I am rating her so high. She definitely is not the type of professor that will hold your hand through her class, you have to work for it. Her classes are the reason why I learned my study ethic that has carried me through undergrad and 2yrs of med school

Get ready to read
Skip class? You won't pass.
Lecture heavy
4.0
5.0
BIOL395
Grade: A
Dec 3, 2020
Would take again

The difficulty of this lab is dependent on your TA but just be ready for lots of papers especially now during COVID, the number of writing assignments have doubled due to hybrid model of lab. Dr. Altick is really helpful in lab in explaining concepts and is very helpful and accessible via email. Class graded by quizzes, papers and final exam.

Lots of homework
Accessible outside class
So many papers
3.0
5.0
BIO315
Grade: B-
Dec 14, 2020
Wouldn't take again

An already hard class prior to covid, made harder with the extra baggage that comes from the pandemic. Wouldn't recommend as an online professor but in person could be a solid pick if you like hard but rewarding classes.

Get ready to read
Skip class? You won't pass.
Lecture heavy
5.0
4.0
BIO315
Grade: A
Dec 15, 2020
Would take again

Dr. Altick's class is hard but rewarding! Studying in a group on a regular basis to hold yourself accountable is very helpful. She uses both learning catalytics and group activities to encourage lecture attendance and participation, which is good for staying motivated to attend class, and is willing to help as long as you reach out to her.

Gives good feedback
Participation matters
Skip class? You won't pass.
5.0
4.0
BIOL315
Grade: A
Dec 15, 2020
Would take again

Dr. Altick was one of my favorite professors i've had at UNR. She is extremely knowledgeable in this field and gives upper-level instruction of the class. With that said, the class is very difficult and requires a strong foundation in biology to get an A in the class. It's a lot to learn but it covers everything you'll have to know about cell bio!

Participation matters
Skip class? You won't pass.
Inspirational
4.0
5.0
BIOL315
Grade: A
Dec 19, 2020
Would take again

Dr. Altick is a professor with lots of knowledge. The shift to an online format was hard for her, but about halfway through the semester, all the wrinkles were smoothed out. Dr. Altick is an extremely hard professor. She requires you to fully know the material, but as a premed student, it is what I needed. I studied 20-35 hrs per test, so prepare.

Participation matters
Group projects
Lecture heavy
5.0
5.0
BIOL315
Grade: B
Dec 1, 2021
Would take again

Dr. Altick is brilliant and her class is by no means easy. However, you will take away immense amounts of knowledge with you afterwards. Go to her office hours she wants to help! You need to know the ins and outs of her slides and go to class to get assignment points. The rest of the class includes exams and research paper based quizzes.

Participation matters
Test heavy
Lecture heavy
5.0
4.0
BIO315
Grade: A
Jan 2, 2022
Would take again

Dr. Altick is amazing, it's a difficult class, go to office hours, read textbook for clarification, review the slides for exams. Group assignments are a big part of the grade, so you have to attend lectures. Quizzes are challenging and are based off of research papers that you get access to beforehand.

Respected
Participation matters
Amazing lectures
5.0
2.0
BIOL395
Grade: A
Feb 5, 2023
Would take again

For reference, I took this class in the Fall of 2021. It's not a hard lab, especially since you only meet once a week. The lab content is pretty easy but you need to know the concepts well for your lab write-ups. It was a bit confusing with what TA you should be contacting for help with your lab write-ups but theres always the BIOL help center.

Clear grading criteria
Lots of homework
2.0
4.0
BIO190
Grade: B-
Jul 21, 2023

I took this class over the summer, you don't need to learn as much as a normal session but it's still difficult. There are discussion points that can help your grade. She has a policy of getting an 87/150 on the final and if you didn't get that you don't pass the class. I didn't receive that score but I somehow still passed. Would not take again.

Tough grader
Lots of homework
Lecture heavy
5.0
4.0
BIOL395
Grade: B+
Nov 9, 2023
Would take again

Amazing professor. I have taken BIOL 395 from her and am now a TA for one of her classes. She genuinely cares about her students.

Clear grading criteria
Inspirational
Caring
2.0
5.0
BIOL315
Grade: C
Dec 12, 2024

I think that if you are pre-med and need the information for this for the MCAT, this class could be really good for you. I'm not, therefore I hated this class. The lectures are dense and there is a ton of information to learn, I was overwhelmed the whole time. Studying weekly is necessary if you don't want to fail. No good study guides for exams.

Tough grader
Group projects
Test heavy
1.0
5.0
BIOL315
Grade: B-
Dec 18, 2024

This class was unreasonably dense given the material covered. There were group projects and papers that required meetings with the writing center that felt like a waste of time, the writing fellows, to no fault of their own, did not really know what to do when you approached them with a group scientific poster based on a TikTok video...

Group projects
Lecture heavy
5.0
2.0
BIO190
Grade: A
Jun 27, 2025
Would take again

I took BIOL190 with Dr. Altick over the summer last year and absolutely love her. Quizzes are really closely based on her lecture slides! I just studied the slides and passed the quizzes fairly easily. She gave me a really amazing foundation in biology that I'm really putting to use in my upper division biology classes now

Participation matters
Caring
5.0
4.0
BIOL190
Grade: B
Oct 2, 2025
Would take again

Literally my queen. GO TO OFFICE HOURS. She is very willing to spend hours sitting down with a group of students to go back over the exact same things she said in class. She cares so deeply about her students, had everyone's names memorized in < week. Class itself is hard, but Dr. Altick does her very best to make everything as clear as possible

Participation matters
Gives good feedback
Caring
1.0
4.0
BIO190
Grade: C
Oct 16, 2025

This ran me to the ground. As someone who already struggles in school and wants to really enjoy learning about biology, I constantly felt as if I was walking on thin ice. And holy smokes, her TA was RUDE.

Tough grader
Lots of homework
Test heavy
5.0
2.0
BIOL401
Grade: A-
Nov 20, 2025
Would take again

Dr. Altick is a great professor! She is super understanding and you can tell she likes teaching this course compared to other classes) She gives students many chances to redo assignments and even exams which is amazing! At first this course seems hard but with all the tools she gives you it's not bad at all. I found it easier than regular anatomy!

Clear grading criteria
Gives good feedback
Caring
4.0
3.0
BIOL315
Grade: A-
Dec 4, 2025

She's just okay

Tough grader
Get ready to read
Test heavy
Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

74%

Textbook Required

71%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

B+

95% confidence
Based on 46 grades
Most common grades:
A (16)
B (6)
A- (6)
Grade Distribution
A(20)B(12)C(5)D(3)F(0)A-/B+(7)
Based on 50 reported grades
A: 16
B: 6
A-: 6
B-: 6
Common Tags
Tough Grader (11)
Skip class? You won't pass. (11)
TEST HEAVY (10)
Participation matters (10)
Lecture heavy (8)
Get ready to read (7)
LECTURE HEAVY (6)
Test heavy (6)
Rating Trend

Improving

+0.28 avg change
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Ratings by Course

BIOL395479

5.0

(1)

BIOL401

5.0

(1)

BIOL395

4.8

(4)

NEUROBIOLOGY

4.0

(1)

BIOL466

3.8

(5)
+11 more courses
Difficulty by Course

BIO315R

5.0

BIO315

4.7

BIOLOGY190

4.5

315R

4.5

BIOL315

4.2

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