Reading the chapters and taking good notes is the key to passing her class. She gives bonus points almost every class. She's got a bit of a dry sense of humor but don't let it intimidate you. She genuinely wants everyone to succeed, but she also isn't going to hold your hand and walk you through it. Work for it, and she'll meet you halfway.

Dr. Rao, while strict, is a very good professor. She genuinely knows the subject and will answer questions about small details if you ask her. Don't be too intimidated by her or the other comments, she just has a dry sense of humor. This is a weed out class. It is not easy, but it is definitely possible.

When going into this class I was scared by reading the reviews. To my surprise Dr. Rao is really funny and helpful. People say she is mean, but she just has a dark sense of humor and is very sarcastic. If you go to office hours she is really helpful. The class is a difficult one but not impossible.

Dr. Rao scared the living hell out of me in the beginning of the semester. She was tough, made her class seem unreasonably difficult, and seemed just plain mean. However, as the semester continued, she lightened up and showed that she really wants her students to learn biology and accepts only the best. Tests are really hard, but she a good prof.

She has a very dry sense of humor, but IF YOU ARE VERY DRY BACK, this becomes an enjoyable class. She's intimidating, but if you ask questions she will respect you more and help you a ton. This is a weed out course,so the material by nature is REALLY tough, it's not just Asha. She expects a lot, and as long as you read, you will be fine. Made an A.

I know a lot of people say she is tough, but honestly she's not that bad. She is always willing to help in office hours but be prepared to be challenged. As long as you attend all her classes, write notes or print out her powerpoint notes, read the textbook if you don't understand, you will be good. She will randomly take attendance for points.

The tests cover 6 chapters of material & are very specific. You need to understand every detail & concept. This is a difficult course, expect to read. I recommend being on top of the reading & going into class already knowing the material. If not you'll be completely lost bc she goes fast. She's blunt & can be harsh, but will help in office hours.

I have never taken any biology classes and I've gotten mid A's on all of the exams thus far. All you have to do to pass this class is read the book and focus on what she highlights on her slides. Dr. Rao is one of the most intelligent individuals you will ever meet and you'll be reminded every time you speak to her. If you enjoy biology, take her.

Dr. Rao is definitely very helpful if you show effort during her offices hours. However, very intimidating at first and its a very hard class. Her test are very VERY HARD. . She is very friendly and takes time to get to know you if you show effort! she does have dry sense of humor which I enjoyed. Be ready for a bunch of tears after taking a test!

I was very nervous to take asha because of all the bad reviews of her, but she ended up being one of my favorite professors. She sets high expectations for her students, but if you go to class and read the textbook you will be fine. Most of her questions come from her lectures, she was so funny and had a dry sense of humor. Made an A in her class

It was a very difficult class, but Dr. Rao does not sugar coat things. She warned us ahead of time to take things seriously in her class but she's also a very enjoyable lecturer. She is very passionate about biology and really wants her students to succeed. She always told us "I believe in you," even though it was usually before an impossible exam.

Look, I did not have AP Bio or a bio background at all and I really struggled with the material as she expects you to already know a lot of basics. Would SOO recommend her for those that did take AP etc as she is hilarious and VERY nice during office hours; she wanted me to succeed! If you don't have a good background, take a different prof.

Dr. Rao is a very unique individual. If you are a biology major and looking for a challenging class I would probably take her. Her exams are tough and tricky, you really need to understand the concepts. I recommend going to her office hours and really read the PowerPoints she post. I was able to make a B, I did not take AP biol in high school.

Dr. Rao is a very passionate professor. She makes it clear that she will not waste time on students who won't try in her class. Read the chapter material before you go to class, and go to office hours often. I didn't pick up on this until after the second test, but I talked to her and she realized how hard I was working and saw my improved grades.

Dr. Rao is a tough prof, but it is obvious that she cares about her students. She is very helpful in office hours and remembers who you are. Her lectures are interesting, she knows the material extremely well, and she is very funny. She will intimidate you at the beginning, but passing and doing well is definitely doable.

She is incredibly tough, but if you work hard, she will help. At the end of the semester she adds participation points which can actually give you a whole letter grade. The class is tough, she is sarcastic, but do NOT give up. If you go to A+, and go to her office hours, (don't let her know about A+), she is phenomenal.

This is a hard class, but Rao gets an unfair rap. This is the kind of professor that expects you to be able use high level thinking skills. Tips: Go to her office hours (she's much nicer there), participate in class (my final grade got boosted like 5 points for participating), read the textbook, and this class is good for people in science/pre-med.

Rao is hands down the most difficult of the 111 profs, but it IS possible to succeed (& get an A) in her class. She is clear with her expectations, & will reward you (points at the end of the semester) if she sees you working hard. READ THE CHAPTERS for each exam, GO TO OFFICE HOURS, and take good lecture notes (recording some classes helped me).

THIS CLASS IS HARD BUT IT IS POSSIBLE. If you read the textbook the questions are there. If you fail this class its because you didn't do the work. Dr. Rao is VERY intimidating but if you go visit her, she is very funny and welcoming. If you go to class and do the LC, she will help you on your final grade. I was VERY borderline and she gave me a C.

Dr Rao is cool af. Those who are intimidated by her just dont get her humor. Do the readings, go to her office hours if you need to, ask questions. Put in the work and you'll be fine. I had no biology background and hadnt had a biology class in like 7 years and if you just put in the work you can get an A or B in that class without too much stress.

Go to class, do the readings.

Asha Rao is a very good professor. I made a 96 on the first exam. All she expects you to do is try to learn the material and pay attention. She takes attendance for bonus and also does LC for bonus. It's a fun class, and it is not at all hard. I am a chemical engineering major and this class has made me want to switch into biochemistry. Take her!

She is very passionate and knowledgable about Biology, however her exams are very difficult. You have to read the textbook, powerpoint slides, and do the pre-exam assignments to do well. Don't just memorize concepts, you have to actually understand them. She gives a lot of extra credit in class so GO! I missed out on a lot of attendance points.

Her tests are extremely tough and her lectures are very fast paced and in depth. she makes lecturer interesting with dry jokes and extra credit points. If you go to A+ (don't let her know) and read the book, her class is definitely passable. she eases up after the drop date, she is the most difficult professor for this course but also the best.

Yes, her tests are tricky and difficult, but that does NOT mean they are impossible. She expects you to read for her tests (it really helps) and pay plenty of attention in class. She is an amazing professor who really does care about your grade and understanding of the class. If your not afraid of a good challenge then take her! (summer session)

I LOVED PROF RAO! Pay attention in class because she will literally tell you what to study for the test. I would print out the powerpoint & right them if that is your style. She is super sarcastic but loves helping you out. She will make sure you understand the material. She kept asking if we understood the material and wouldnt move on until we did

Love Dr Rao. She seems strict but she is very willing to help and be available to your needs. The course requires a lot of memorization but she is ready to adapt to students' needs. Offers extra credit, as well, depending on attendance and study habits. Would definitely take again if I had the option to.

She has an attitude but shes cool! You'll learn a lot working for that passing grade. Don't goof in class because she'll call you out.

I absolutely LOVED Professor Rao! She's so incredibly funny and makes a lot of jokes! Her tests are manageable as long as you go over her lecture slides and read the chapter. She offers bonus opportunities but doesn't curve. Ten out of ten would recommend. Really cares about what she teaches. The lab isn't too bad either.

I'm one that can learn by Rao's teaching style. She goes very fast and expects you to do reading and studying outside of class. She expects you to take on responsibility, your not a baby anymore. If you can handle a fast paced, intense class: she is perfect! However if you just need the credit and don't actually want to learn, find another prof.

Tests are fair and not as bad as people make them out to be but you better be ready to study from a textbook. I honestly had to teach myself a lot of the material but the textbook does a great job at it. I would definitely recommend Rao to any science major because you will LEARN in her class!

Dr. Rao was an amazing professor!! The class was challenging, but not overbearing. I learned sooo much from taking her class! I'm a biomedical sciences major, so it is crucial to start with a steady background in biology, and I know for sure that Dr. Rao gave that to me! Tests are application - know your stuff and you'll be fine!

Her lectures are amazing, but she is scary as hell. Probably the hardest BIO 111 professor, but I enjoyed her class. I wouldn't really bother going to Office Hours. Just go to SI, study the power points and/or go to A Plus.

Her class is difficult but it is not impossible. She is very passionate about the subject and she is tough because she wants you to learn. There are easier professors for the subject, but I don't think there is a better one. Her test are tough, but if you study and attend some SI getting an A is pretty doable. She can be intimidating but she's good

Rao is one of the hardest professors I have ever taken. She is very intimidating and makes you feel stupid. You really have to know the material to do well in her class, and SI helps a ton. If you put in the work, an A is doable. She does extra credit questions in class, so go to lecture.

Dr. Rao is not a bad professor whatsoever she just has really hard tests. However, if you go to A+ test reviews you'll be fine for her tests. She pushes her students to make sure they know the material so if your a biology/science major I would take her because textbook is not needed and she knows her stuff.

She'll do whatever it takes for her students to understand biology and sometimes that means being a little mean and blunt. Her lectures are very interactive. She asks a lot of questions and won't go on until the majority answers it right. She'll also call you out if you're not paying attention. One last important tip, GO TO THE SI SESSIONS!!

Although Rao was tough, 10/10 would reccomend. Tougher then others but not impossible. Definitely prepares you for classes in the future. Great!

Asha Rao was incredibly smart and witty. Every detail she went over in class was on the tests. The tests were hard, but only to make sure you understood the material. Don't take her if you're not willing to go to class, read the book, and study for hours. Take her if you're willing to work and want a solid foundation in biology.

I really loved Dr. Rao's lectures, she made things really clear and wanted us to learn the material. I was reluctant to take her for 111, because of how other people made her seem. I barely got by with a B, make sure to do good in lab, it helps! Also her LC questions are bonus points and can boost your grade too.

Ok, extremely tough professor, but if you are ready to commit about an hour or two a day to studying/reading/going over general concepts then you can succeed in this class. I highly respect her and a lot of the people who complain about her just didn't put the effort in that was required to do well. Would only recommend if you love biology.

If you love Biology take her!!!! Her lectures are interesting and her tests really aren't bad if you study a lot for them. Always read the corresponding chapters in the textbook to understand the material. Put in the time and effort and you will get an A in this class!

She goes through powerpoints a lot but also asks specific things on tests from the textbook. Has LC questions during class for extra points. Fairly interesting. Expecting an A but might get a B.

Loved her lectures. She'll make you work for your grade, but that's important in the sciences for professional fields. If you want to do well in your field, take her. If you're taking Bio as an elective, you may have better luck elsewhere.

She can be a hard teacher, but you will learn so much!! Go to her office hours and get to know her. If she sees you trying then she'll have more respect for you. I'm glad I took Dr. Rao.

Rao is a great prof. Her tests can be tricky but if you read the questions carefully and know the material then you'll get a decent grade. She also lets you keep your test which helps a lot on the final. She does extra credit questions randomly in class so make sure you go. She also posts slides but not all of them so make sure you take notes.

Rao is definitely the toughest bio prof but you WILL learn!! If you want the easy way out don't take her. She really pushes you!! Don't memorize! Actually try to understand the material. Her exams are tough but if you study hard you will be fine. GO TO OFFICE HOURS. She really wants to see that you care about the class! Goodluck!

Dr. Rao is one of the best professor I have had. I did not have any biology background coming in, so I had to read the book before lecture. She is a great lecturer and actually wants you to LEARN. You will only get out what you put in, and this is definitely not a class you can slack off in. Study for lab quizzes every week, and go to SI!

Her lectures can be kind of fast but she posts slides. Exam questions are very specific. A+ tutoring helps. Handwork but you will not regret it i the long run.

I was pretty leery going into the semester because of other reviews on here, but Professor Rao turned out to be my favorite professor that Ive had so far. She is straightforward about what she expects from the beginning. If you actually pay attention, she will help you out immensely. You get out what you put in. She wont hand you an A for nothing

I took Professor Rao's Biology 113 online class and it was honestly such an easy A. There wasn't really any "tests", just quizzes and problem sets. The assignments are so easy and the labs were a breeze. This was my easiest A at A&M so far. Plus, the content was super cool to learn about all kinds of biology branches. Highly recommend.

This online class was such an easy A. Most of the work that we did was just weekly quizzes there is a lot of reading involve with the content but it wasnt like hard content. There was one group project and she assigned partners but other than that the class is really easy. She also gave extra credit at the end.

Asha Rao demands respect and she receives it. There have been a lot of bad ratings left here, but honestly they don't seem quite fair. She is straightforward and she plays no games so don't even try- trust me, I tried. I took her for BIO111 and BIO112, and I would take her again if I had another BIO course to take. TLDR: Difficult but great prof.

I recommend taking Dr. Rao because, although her class is kind of tough, she gives you the information you need to be successful in any science field in the future. You have to put in lots of work, but she is so willing to help when she sees you are putting forth the effort. She is hilarious and I enjoy going to the lecture. 10/10 would recommend.

I understand how she can come off as difficult and harsh but she really does want her students to truly grasp the basics of biology for their own good. She is actually very chill and funny, but yeah her tests and lectures can be difficult but if you do will, you'll be prepared for beyond!

This class is definitely worth taking if you want to get a good grade for a biology course. There were a few assignments every week (all due on Sunday), and as long as you kept up with the online module throughout the week, it was easy to accomplish. Some modules were longer than others, but its very doable and she isn't super tough on grading.

Dr. Rao is a tough professor but she genuinely cares about her students. As long as you utilize SI sessions/lectures, getting an A is totally possible. She pulls all of her material from lectures slides so you don't need the textbook, and her questions are straight forward and multiple choice. If you want to actually learn the material, TAKE HER.

Dr. Rao is very straight forward with what she expects. She is a great professor, but will make you work for your grade. Going in to this class, there were a lot of bad comments about her - but she makes lecture enjoyable with difficult application heavy tests. Would recommend if you REALLY really want to learn the material and not just pass

She points out when things in the textbook or powerpoint are not needed. Every thing, including the textbook is online and free. Does surprise attendance checks but you need to go to lecture as she explains exactly what she means. She posts power points online. Go to SI sessions. I failed all 3 tests and got a c because there are many HWs/others.

She's tough but as long as you put in work and go to class you'll be fine. She makes awkward jokes sometimes and goes really fast in her lectures though. You'll probably be better off with Tag but she's a solid prof.

Super easy class. I finished with a 99. Each week is a seperate online module with certain things to complete (discussion and a quiz) or "watch this video and write a 2 page paper". As long as you are on top of things and don't miss deadlines you will get an A.

Dr. Rao is a great professor and makes you really learn biology, rather than just memorize definitions and functions. Although at times she can get angry and take it out on everyone, it makes the lecture all the more interesting. I would recommend going to class because there are extra credit opportunities, and make sure to keep up on the readings.

Dr. Rao was my favorite prof this semester. Her exams are VERY detailed (SO GO TO CLASS & PAY ATTENTION), but you get a good amount of extra credit. Study IN ADVANCE, you cannot cram for her exams last minute. She's hilarious & very understanding if you go to her office hrs if you're confused about something. Also, don't be afraid to ask questions!

I really enjoyed Raos class, but you might struggle if you dont have a strong background in Biology. She gives learning objectives that you can use to study for the tests. You have lots of chances to get bonus points. I know you cant choose your TA, but if you end up with Aishat O. then you are blessed. She is the best TA!

People complain about Dr. Rao, but if you do the work you should be fine. She's very clear about what you need to know and what you don't. She posts her lecture slides and learning objectives, which she uses to make the tests so go over them. She likes to crack jokes in class, but she also isn't afraid to call you out if you're sleeping.

Prof Rao's course is pretty interesting and easy However, there was a total of 12 lectures in powerpoints, maybe 5 of them were pretty long and had very long homeworks The quizzes are simple some of them even being 3 open ended questions

Pros : No Quizzes, extremely easy homework, posts lecture slides to study, sassy comedic teacher, 6% Extra Credit through participation activity, fair grader and is amazing in office hours. Cons : Tests are difficult and heavily impacts final grade, morning classes are hard to wake up for, and if you slack off she will call you out (It's fair). JC

She's very approachable. You have to put in work to do well, and Dr. Rao will give you all the keys to succeed.

Dr. Rao was the one of the best educators I've ever had. As long as you participate, she genuinely wants you to succeed. She makes you work for your grade, but as long as you study lots and show interest in biology, she is willing to teach you. I truly recommend her as a professor if you want to learn the material, and she's an awesome person.

Dr. Rao definitely had a great personality and was fun to listen to in lecture. A lot of what's in her exams is from the lectures so I'd definitely suggest going to every one. Her tests are a bit harder than others but still passable as long as you put in the work to study for them.

I really enjoyed her online biology class. While it's a very easy A, you still have to put in a decent amount of effort. There are 12 modules that cover some very interesting topics and we usually either had a quiz or online discussion after each module. Theres also a group project and a few research papers. Not too bad at all. Great biology class.

Easy A, if you put in effort. 12 modules were assigned throughout the semester each covering different topics (about 1 module a week). Professor Rao always responded in an effective manner, in addition to providing clear instructions on assignments and making herself available to her students. This has been one of the best online classes Ive taken

This is one of the easiest science credits at A&M. There is a module per week with about 2-3 assignments. Sometimes it seems like a lot of work, but it is not very difficult or time consuming compared to other classes. No tests. Highly recommend, don't let the title BIO scare you.

Dr. Rao is super great. BIOL 112 is not the greatest class, in my opinion, but Rao focuses on just the material you need for the tests. She really listens to her students and is a great lecturer. She also offers up to 30 points extra credit for coming to class! She will not just hand out A's, but she will help you out if you put forth effort.

Dr. Rao is probably the best bio professor at A&M. Her class is hard and she makes you work for that A, but she truly teaches you biology, not just memorizing lectures. Lab is HARD, but no matter what prof you have it will be. There are some extra credit points, but do her learning objectives as review for exams and youll be fine.

While Professor Rao's class required a LOT of work, it was an easy A! Simply doing the assignments with very little studying got me an A+! We had no tests for the class, our grade was based off of all of our assignments. This is the EASIEST class I've taken in college!

Dr. Rao is my favorite professor at A&M. I took her for both Bio 111 & 112. She got even better in the second semester. Be prepared to study by rereading her lecture slides a few times before the test and do the practice problems. Make sure to go to class so you can get LC points which are extra credit. She gives you every opportunity to succeed.

Rao may seem a bit intimidating at. first but she does so to help students out. She will call you out in class if you do not participate but it is simply her way of making sure you understand the material. Rao just want to set up a good foundation for your future bio classes. Attendance is not mandatory but does provide extra credit sometime. SI's!

Online biology for non majors is a good science choice if you need one. You have to do the weekly work and put forth some effort. That's all there is to it. If you know how to take an online class successfully, this should work out for you. A big focus of the class was on saving the earth as well as climate change, which seemed a bit political.

Professor Rao class is lecture-based primarily, I thought the textbook was helpful although we were not required to read it most of the lecture was word for word from the textbook. she offers extra credit through LC and her tests are hard and applies all the knowledge you learned in class with a few topics not covered during class time.

I absolutely loved Dr. Rao. Many people will say she was harsh and mean but don't let that perspective fool you. She is sarcastic, witty, and will make sure the entire class understands the material she lectures. She took extra time on more difficult topics and even drew them out together with us. Dr. Rao truly wants you to get A's on her exams!

I took Bio111 and Bio112 with Rao and she is amazing! She makes her lectures engaging and is clear of her expectations. If you study you will succeed.

Dr. Rao is a real gem! She is funny but very sarcastic so if you're thin-skinned, she may not be the best. Very clear on what you need to know for exams, I rarely had to use textbook but it's free online. There is LC during lecture so it's best to show up. Her SI was great this semester as well. A good bit of memorization but a very solid choice

Dr. Rao is so funny and really cares about her students. I had her during COVID19 and she was always checking in on us. She will teach you biology well and does LC during class! Lectures are dynamic and she wants students to participate. Tests are straightforward if you read the learning objectives. She is a really great choice for this course!

Her lectures are very involved and she loves participation and truly wants the best for you. Go to lecture to extra credit points through Learning Catalytics. She lectures pretty fast so I recommend going to SI sessions to reinforce the info and hear it from another perspective. Weekly quizzes on eCampus and 3 detail heavy exams plus the final.

gave extra credit so i ended up above an A the modules are super easy and there are no tests would usually complete the modules sunday night and still finish on time just make sure to complete the modules and don't forget about them

I took online bio in the spring and it was a great class! Everything is due on Sunday, not many assignments and a very easy A if you put in minimum effort!

Be sure to attend class (though technically not required), review the learning objectives and lecture slides when studying, and stay caught up with any online assignments. There's lots of material to learn throughout the semester, but Dr. Rao provides a well taught class. Her sense of humor is an added bonus.

Very easy class as long as you do the weekly assignments, that are also extremely easy for the most part. No exams, only a few quizzes that are not proctored. Definitely take this course if you need a science credit, it is a very easy A.

Bio 112 is very hard because there is a ton to memorize but its going to be tough with any prof. Rao is tough and will tell you how it is, yet cares about her students, sort of a tough love. She makes class very entertaining though and is funny so really helps make a hard class doable. Be ready to study tho and show up to class to do LC

Asha is a literal queen. All of her tests come straight from her powerpoints. She loves her students and will work with you if you need help. She is super freaking funny and will tell you some great jokes. She really pushes you to learn your stuff and she gives great tough love. I would take her over and over again if I could. Asha I love you

I had Dr. Fletcher for my freshman BIOL111 class. I didn't choose her my advisors did, got stuck with a C grade because of how horrible she was. Then comes Dr. Rao to save my life, I ended up loving biology because of her. Dr. Rao was the light I needed in my life. I got an A in her 112 class. A professor can really impact you. C to an A everyone.

she is definitely one of the better bio professors! if you attend class make sure not to zone out and interact she WILL call you out. tests are generally easy as long as you listen in class and read over the powerpoint.. also the textbook is free online :)

This class is SO easy! A must take for an EASY A! There are assignments every week but usually take less than an hour. There is an extra credit assignment at the start of the semester and it is worth 20 points to your overall grade. Just do the work and you are for sure going to make an A.

I know a lot of people don't like her for her attitude but she's honestly pretty chill and a cool prof; she just wants to see her students do well. I liked her teaching style and the course load wasn't exactly heavy; you might need to do a lot of textbook reading though. The online COVID labs made things harder tbh; the lecture itself was solid.

Class is pretty basic. No zooms just one module per week to complete. She gives you a week or 2 to do it but they come with a lot of reading and assignments. The assignments were sometimes easy or sometimes tough and time consuming. I never knew what to expect. However, there were no tests or final. She is a tough grader on the homework!!

Dr. Rao is the professor to take if you really want that A. Her exams are based on power points, BUT she doesn't post lecture videos. Make sure you go to class! LC points count so make sure you participate. Her personality is in fact strong so be ready to be called out. Rao wants the best for you so pay attention and you should be fine!

Good choice for a science credit (if you have time to spare), The modules are easy to understand and the grading criteria is very straightforward. The only downside I would say comes from the few group projects, at that point it is just luck of the draw

Participate in class or she'll yell at you. Kinda scary and makes you find your own answer but it's pretty helpful. Understand the powerpoints and the Practice Set questions and the tests are easy. She does a lot of active learning activities to help you understand. SI is also fun and helps you make friends while social distancing.

i personally dont think you could pick a better professor. its a hard course but she makes it fun+is very accessible outside of class! the SI is such a cool dude, make sure to go to his sessions. she will make u participate (+she comes off stern sometimes) but thats just her personality and you can tell she genuinely wants the best for you.

Very good and interesting lectures. Dr. Rao really knows what she's talking about and all her material is relevant.

She is difficult but you actually learn the content. Take her if you are a bio major or are looking for a good foundation in bio. She is sarcastic and will call you out if you don't participate. The definition of tough love, but she cares. Textbook was free cause she wrote it. Very little homework, but learning the content takes time.

Dr. Rao is an amazing professor for getting biology majors a solid start. She will call you out in class if you are falling asleep, which helps you stay attentive during lectures. She does not just read off of her slides, she takes the take to make everyone draw out and make sure that people understand what she is teaching. She gives extra credit.

I was really worried to have Dr. Rao after reading her reviews, but I really enjoyed her class. She was never as extreme as other people are saying. Sure, she would get frustrated when people got easy questions wrong but she would never get super rude or anything. I learned a lot in this class and really enjoyed her and the class.

Dr. Rao is a great professor! She is very lecture heavy and tests are difficult but if you attend class, understand the powerpoints, work through problem sets, and do l.c. it is not too bad. I will say that this class did require a lot of hard work and studying, but she is really funny and I always really enjoyed coming to her classes!

The class is hard but if you pay attention, you should be good. She gives extra credit if you go to class so make sure you go.

Rao is a humorous and caring teacher. She puts effort into knowing her students on a personal level and knows every face. She comes off as cold but it is just tough love and she repeats things that the class doesn't understand as much as she can afford to. Make sure if you don't understand you verbalize your concern or she won't go over it.

Dr. Rao is a great professor, she genuinely cares about her students and wishes for all of them to succeed. I know some students may not like her more aggressive style of teaching, but her love of biology kept me focused and ready to learn. She is not afraid to challenge your knowledge so be prepared to ask/answer questions during lecture.

Disorganized so don't bother to email her. Great lectures and always incorporated the students into it. Problem sets and lectures are basically the exams. Go office hours so she gets to know your face. You can see she genuinely cares about her students once you get past her facade.

Professor Rao teaches this asynchronously, so you don't interact with her outside of office hours. She lays out everything clearly, and the content of the coursework is well explained and simple. This is one of the easiest courses at TAMU if you do your work.

This class was asynchronous and the prof would give you all the assignments on Monday and they were due Sunday. Pretty straight forward class. If you don't get an A you probably legit just didn't do the assignments.

Dr. Rao is tough, but she cares about her students. She pushed us to learn and be thorough with our understanding of biology. Her lectures were relatively straightforward, but it was also important to review all the material on your own and focus on learning objectives. Extra credit for attendance if you did learning catalytics.

She teaches very fast so be able to retain information really quick.

Great, detailed, useful slides. Funny & kind but will call you out for not trying - wants you to do well. DENSE lectures - pay attention. Weekly mc homeworks on canvas w 3 attempts each - she puts questions from them onto the exams. /Attend the lectures/ - extra exam points for participation with LC. 10/10 prof, wants you to succeed, teaches well.

Dr. Rao is intimidating at first but she really cares. She encourages attending office hours and tries to be available to students. 3 exams & a final. Weekly problem sets on canvas (problems show up on exams). Not much work outside of class. She uses Learning Catalytics to check attendance/understanding, uses it to give bonus points for showing up.

For context, I didn't take AP Bio. Exams are multiple choice with each question worth 2.5 points. They are easy if you study. 30 points extra credit more than cover up for that. Will keep reminding you to study on a regular basis; if you don't ... well, you're at a loss. Encourages people to show up to office hours if they're confused.

Dr. Rao is the definition of tough love. She emphasizes actually understanding over memorizing. Go to her office hours! She seems intimidating in class, but she's very approachable during office hours. Study the problem sets and learning objectives for the exams. You're set if you took AP Bio. She's become one of my favorite professors!

At first she comes off as mean, but she genuinely wants her students to succeed and always mentioned they could come to her office hours for extra help (which actually did help). This class isn't difficult, especially if you study the slides and just do your best on the problem sets and lab assignments. Taught well and offered extra credit.

This is a great class to take if you need a science credit! It is asynchronous with weekly assignments that normally do not take too long. There are some longer assignments, so I would not suggest waiting until the due date to start them. There is one group project, but it is not very complicated. Also, this class does not have any tests.

The class was relatively easy, just read the textbook or watch Dr. D videos. Dr.Rao was an amazing professor and made lectures entertaining, and was super open to helping you during office hours. She is a professor who gives you tough love, as long as you try and go to her office hours she will give you extra credit or round your grade up.

Prof Rao was not a terrible prof but the class itself is not the easiest since it's biology. Although she made it easy enough just stay on top of deadlines. Also, there are no tests which was a plus but there is a group project towards the end of the semester which could be hard since it's an online class. You also have to use respondus for quizzes

Come to class because her lectures is more than just the slides. She explains the processes and material very well and honestly loved her class. She tries more than often to have the students participate in her lectures. The exams were hard but everything she covers in class shows up in the exam.

This professor makes the class a real cold and harsh environment but she has good intentions behind it. She just wants everyone to be engaged and participate. She's actually pretty good a explaining concepts if you just pay attention and the exams are not horrible. Just keep up with the material, review a bit everyday.

My favorite prof! People think she's mean but she's caring and wants everyone to do well. The class is a lot of material but if you study the slides thoroughly and use Dr. D youtube videos you can get an A. The homework and labs are pretty easy too. If you care and pay attention, you'll find her enjoyable, funny, and end up doing great in her class

I had Dr. Rao for Biol 111 my freshman year and she is one of my favorite professors. She believes in putting in the work you will get the grade you want. Her exams are fair and her lectures are very informative and funny. Make sure to go to her office hours and do LC for extra points. Also talk to her if you are lost she is very helpful! Take her!

Dr Rao is an amazing instructor. While she can be brutally honest and hard on her students, she truly cares for you to succeed. Her tests are semi-difficult but her learning objectives will 100% prepare you. She answers questions quick, it can be difficult to keep up, but she demands the best from her students and believes in every one of them.

Dr.Rao is a good professor, but she makes you WORK and STUDY. She wants her students to succeed,but will get annoyed at times.Shes very upfront and give it to you as it is,dont let this scare you tho. I feel her course taught me how to study. Barely any homework just lab assignments .She gives extra credit and will drop lowest test grade for final

Rao is harsh and very strict with students. She expects a lot out of her students, but that is expected since she wants us to be smart individuals. Despite her more brazen motivation methods, she is a great lecturer. I think her lectures are pleasant to listen to and very comprehensive. Though she can be fairly intimidating, she's an amazing.

Dr. Rao is a very good but busy teacher. Her lectures are easy to understand and she draws a lot of stuff which is helpful if you are a visual learner like me. Her handwriting is awful and she says she will post stuff but often forgets due to how busy she is. She also gives out a lot of extra credit especially if you attend the lectures.

She knows how to teach and explain things. She cares about her student and want them to do well. The down side is her being harsh and a tough grader. The only thing that matters in her class are exams. I would take her class again. Would take her class again. TIP : It's easy to fall behind. Study the details (her exams ask about the details)

Very good professor. Lectures are good, and while the material may be tough, she offers a lot of ways to clarify any questions you may have and is available all the time. She is pretty funny as well. I would def take her again.

I loved her! She was hilarious and was always making jokes, which made the lecture so funny. She also hands out extra credit like candy- you must go to class! Her tests are relatively easy if you study, and she genuinely cares about her students. I wish I could take her again! Also, the deadlines are strict, and you must meet them.

Biology 113 was genuinely an easy class. As long as you got all of your work done on time, and actually tried, getting an a was easy. There were lockdown quizzes once a week, with either a discussion, an essay, or a project to go with it. All of the grading was straight forward and followed a rubric. I would definitely take this class again!!

Rao is genuinely a great teacher. Knows what she's talking about + holds your attention. She can be a bit harsh/rude to students but funny. Offers lots of extra credit (mostly in class so go to class!!) - only reason I got an A. Weekly assignment to learn content. If you understand the concepts/processes, you will be fine on exams. Go to study hrs

Rao was harsh and discouraging to her students but I think its just a tactic to make you want to work harder. Overall, she is a great teacher and communicates directly. She gets the whole class involved. Read the textbook, watch YouTube videos, there are weekly homework, and several extra credits. Go to group study hours and work with peers!

She's accessible through the group hours, which are helpful in reviewing the lecture material. Attending lecture is incredibly important, and while her slides are helpful, her lectures better set expectations for what material you should know, and there is extra credit offered in lecture. Tests are very hard though and incredibly in depth.

She is alright, her lectures are tough to follow. The exams are tougher than other professors but all the information you need you can get from the textbook. Seriously, read the textbook and you will be good for the exams (she helped write it). I usually just went to class for LC but I learned from the textbook. She offers a lot of extra credit.

REALLY GOOD PROFESSOR the class is designed super good, the exams aren't insane, she cares a lot. she holds group study which is really helpful and she gives you EVERYTHING you need to succeed.

Very easy A. Just have to do every problem set, post lab assignment, show up to class for extra cred, and do the surveys cause they are EC too. These will pretty much bring your grade up to an A every time you get a meh exam score. I personally never got an A on an exam but ended with an A on the course w/ these boosters. Nice office hr/group study

Dr. Rao is amazing! She cares about student success and enforced good learning practices throughout lecture and her group office hours. I learnt how to study for future biology classes because of her! Especially making concept maps, which I found was critical to my understanding. Go to extra group office hours. Don't wait last-minute to study.

Tough lovin' prof, but will benefit those who make it through in the long run. She sometimes added points back on the exam if enough people missed that question, but if you didn't miss the question then you didn't get the bonus, which was a little unfair IMO. She's very helpful in office hours. Her exams are more straightforward than Dr. Tag's.

Lectures were posted every Sunday at 11:59 and closed the following Sunday. You don't have to really read the stuff she posts, just look at learning objectives and study that. Very easy to reach out too and TA's are a great help as well! Easy course, but does require effort. No Exams just weekly or bi-weekly quizzes.

Tough but fair professor. Exams are straightforward if you do the readings and attend group study sessions. UnstuckStudy AI was really helpful for preparing. Worth taking if you're willing to put in the work.

Dr.Rao cares about what she is teaching and wants you to learn. Don't have phones out or talk during her lectures because she will call you out. I know many people who used the textbook, but you can get by without using it (I never did). One or two questions on the exam would come from her quizzes/practice exams.

Took Biol 113 online. If you're able to set aside approximately 4-5 hours a week to really read the modules, you'd probably be able to get an A. But there's a lot of work and the quizzes that are proctored ask specific questions you'd only know if you studied the modules. Definitely not easy, but not the hardest LPS out there.

Took BIO 113 online. Weekly proctored quizzes, no exams, and various projects. Study for the quizzes more than you would think because some questions are extremely specific. The projects boost your grade so it makes up for the quizzes. If you set aside a couple hours a week for this class, it's not awful but definitely will require some work.

Dr. Rao has a unique sense of humor that can come across as mean but she is an engaging lecturer. She uses Learning Catalytics for LOTS of extra credit. Homework is roughly weekly problem sets on Canvas with multiple attempts and some questions can appear on the exam. Her exams are all MCQ. Lab often didn't correlate with the class topics.

Dr. Rao has great slides that clearly explain the material, and on some days she's really funny. The exams are very detail-oriented, but if you put in the effort are definitely doable. I didn't take AP Bio or anything and did just fine.

I love Dr. Rao! Her lectures can be very information heavy, but great information. Also, be sure to utilize group study hours, she is much more willing to explain things on a basic level than in lecture. She very clearly cares for her students' understanding of the topics discussed, and I w

Really nice, you can tell she wants her students to thrive, if you study, do extra credit, and attend class its a A. Her office hours are not my favorite but if you like questions and student collab they are good to go to, read textbook and slides.

Rao's favorite topic is how we are terrible students. She spends 15 mins each lecture talking about how we should be doing more. She gave frustrating feedback on questions. We were once 2 weeks out from a test, and she said, "If you haven't started studying, it's too late." She is passionate about bio, but frustratingly so. She taught effectively.

Dr. Rao is honestly a great teacher! When she is harsh it's all sarcasm, but honestly listen to her warnings about studying. She's a very busy person so she's not always available. She also is strict on deadlines. She does give you good advice, and the content is easy to follow. Not at all as hard as people say as long as you show up and do work.

Take Dr. Rao!!! She is so funny and always filled with energy for lecture. She loves talking to her students and will occasionally do in class demonstrations involving them. Her exams are relatively easy compared to other professors. Prepare yourself to read the textbook frequently, though, as she sometimes skipped units for the sake of time.

Rao could've been better but definitely not as bad as some of these reviews say. She has a super dry sense of humor which can seem mean at times. Her lectures were off the slides, but she'll spend extra time to explain something that we seem confused on to make sure we get it. Her tests were detailed but if you study the slides you'll be fine.

I LOVED Dr. Rao's class! She cares so much for her students, and goes to great lengths to ensure that what she teaches is understood. She is strict, but just do what you're supposed to do when you're supposed to be doing it and she won't call you out. Utilize her group study hours. Overall, straightforward class. Put effort in and you'll get an A.

Dr. Rao's sense of humor could be harsh at times, but it was never with ill-intent. I would recommend you complete the learning objectives and study the iClicker questions because the exams aligned heavily to what is asked there. It is possible to score 60's on all the exams and still maintain a B if you complete all the assignments. Lab was easy.

I enjoyed this class because of Dr. Rao's humor and interesting lectures. I would highly recommend attending her study hours as that is what helped me the most, and studying the learning objectives for the exams as they outlined basically all the concepts on the exam.

I took her for BIOL 111, and she genuinely wants her students to succeed. She holds very helpful study hours and is always willing to answer questions. Some lectures can feel slow at times, but the material is important and she does try to make it engaging. Exams are fair if you keep up with the material, and she offers extra credit opportunities.