2.6
Quality4.4
Difficulty42%
Would Retake182
Reviews42%
Would Retake
182
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
26
4
32
3
24
2
38
1
62
What Students Say
“Miles is an excellent professor”
BICH410 - 5.0 rating“Worst handwriting I have ever seen by a professor, Insanely hard to take notes and follow along”
BICH409 - 2.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
41%
Textbook Required
4%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.38 avg changeRatings by Course
BICH410
3.1
(48)BICH411
2.5
(26)BICH409
2.3
(108)Difficulty by Course
BICH409
4.6
BICH411
4.5
BICH410
4.0
Reviews (182)
he is not helpfull when asking questions his tests are way to hard cover way to much information that you will have to be responsible for all if it and tests are often designed to trick students you dont get your old exams back and you are not privileged to any of his old exams
Horrendous professor. Talks about nothing for 25% of the class and breezes through the important stuff. A lot of people fail all of the tests, and he has said nothing about a curve.
Getting an A in this class is not impossible, but it is not easy. Like any other science class you have to study hard if you want to succeed. If you go to class everyday, take notes, read the prof notes, and study the objectives there is not reason to get anything lower than 90% in every exam. Take Dr. Miles if you plan to go to medical school.
I hated ochem, but I love this class. He repeats random things a lot, but will also breeze over other things, so make sure you're paying attention the first time. Not very personable in office hours. Doesn't give partial credit on workout which can hurt. The homework can be a pain but really helps come test time. Make sure you do it. GO to class!
Biochemistry is a tough class. The lectures can be a bit overwhelming because there is so much information. His objectives list is a big help and his prof notes has what you need. His exams are hard. No curve. Apparently this semester's students in his highest achieving group in his teaching career. I am getting a B. I sticking with him for 411.
Dr. Miles is an excellent professor. The people below are just butthurt because they thought they could get by in a 400 level class with 100 level effort; that doesn't make it "hard." If you want to go to professional school, Dr. Miles is excellent. His guidelines are clear, he gives HW that is exactly like the exam, and he doesn't trick you.
Don't take this professor for 411. You will certainly learn the material better with him than any other professor, but a "C" in his class is pretty much equivalent to an "A/B" with another prof. His note slides are incomprehensible and he rambles. He was good for 410, but DO NOT TAKE for 411.
If he an Pozzi had not team taught through the summer I would have been screwed. He barely made it through his lectures and then tested us over the material he never taught. He is the most unorganized prof I've had. During lectures, he would forget about his slides and say I'm not sure what that is, y'all should look that up after class. Bad prof!!
Biochem is hard no matter which professor you take. Miles tends to ramble, and goes over material quickly, but he repeats things that we need to know for sure, and almost all we need to know is posted in lecture slides/prof notes. Some material is only said in class, so definitely go. Tests are hard, but fair.
lectures are a drag. He speaks way too fast and his exams are silly. Be ready to memorize every detail of biochemistry. Avoid this prof
Lecture notes are unusable, but he does have these very detailed prof notes that you should worship before exams- those are the whole test. Exams are fair but are graded tough- no partial credit (I once got 15 points off an exam for missing one hydrogen after drawing 20 AA). Dont take a heavy semester if you are taking Bich with him.
Biochem is one of the hardest classes and 411 is even harder than 410. There is just so much info to memorize, it won't be easy with any prof. Miles' lectures don't help at all. He rambles and scribbles all over the slides. His prof notes do a much better job teaching. His exams are also tough with mc from nowhere. Take a different prof if you can
Miles is a lot less intimidating than he seems. Hes also scary passionate about biochem. You dont have to go to class but I always did because he points out important things to know for tests, and he will workout homework problems during his lecture. Def the hardest prof but it sucks regardless. If he knows u he will gladly write u a rec letter!!
Mile's teaching style is designed to provide you with details before you understand the big picture. But, he makes it to where you have to learn the big picture on your own, which means lecture isn't really useful and the class requires a lot of outside study time. Tests are tricky and require you to memorize unnecessary details. Take another prof.
His lectures are very difficult to get through because he is so brilliant that it seems like it is a bit difficult to get his point across. The professor notes are a life saver and the lectures make more sense if you read those. He gives a lot of homework but they're exactly like the test so I thought of them more as reviews than homework!
t Dr. Miles gives you all the materials you need to do well on the test. He posts all the notes online so going to class isn't necessary and he explicitly tells you what you need to know on the test in the objectives on each chapter. The tests are hard and require a lot of memorization but he gives you all the materials to succeed
Dr. Miles gives you all the materials you need to get an A. He gives objectives for each test and so you know what is going to be on every test. There is so much material and memorization required. I recommend him 100% but you have to start studying WEEKS in advance. He has so many resources available. An A is not easy but very doable.
He is not as bad as everyone says. He gives you everything you need but the material and tests are very difficult. His HW is very long and difficult but isn't worth much credit overall and he doesn't give updates on how the class as a whole is doing. He never discusses the tests and never tells you what the curve will be. Causing unneeded stress.
I was a 4.0 student and I had to FIGHT to get a C in this class. Miles expected us to know far more information than any other professor teaching the same class. Lecture was pointless because he sat at the front and just scribbled all over his powerpoints (truly illegible). The most useful information came from his prof notes online. DO NOT TAKE!
410 was an absolute breeze compared to 411. The amount of info you are required to master in order to answer multiple choice questions, let alone free response, is insane. You will be required to know so much extra information compared to other profs it's not even fair. Apparently the class is curved but you never know by how much.
If you have miles for BICH411, you're better off taking another professor in a different semester. 411 is probably 3 or 4x harder than 410, but Miles makes it 10x harder. There is so much material to learn, but Miles adds even more for no real reason other than just because. He also gives long assignments that take a few days to finish each.
Dr. Miles knows his stuff. Biochemistry is hard, but he does a great job of explaining the information he wants you to know. Homework assignments are long but worth it in the end as it helps you understand the material, prepares you for his tests. He does talk through the material quick so I recommend recording his lectures. Prof notes help as well
This prof. barely has the ability to communicate; one word answers and never makes eye contact before quickly getting away. Class average was a 68% so he had no problem giving a majority of his class Cs and below. Avoid at all costs if possible.
His lectures aren't helpful toward preparing you for exams. You are better off using his prof notes as your main resource of info. Took him & Pozzi over summer & liked Miles more was bc he curves and has a clear set of objectives. Not gonna lie, summer was miserable and stressful. If you can avoid taking in the summer, I highly recommend doing so.
I personally really liked Dr. Miles. He isn't the most approachable professor but he makes it CLEAR CUT what you need to know for his exam. Biochem is a tough course regardless of who you take it with. Dr. Miles offers 'professor notes' which is all I memorized to make A's on all his exams. Also, he is quite generous with partial credit and curves.
Biochemistry is a hard class no matter who you take, but I really enjoyed this class. I had to work my tail off to get the grade i got, but miles is very clear about what you need to know. He gives so many opportunities to practice the material. Study the profs notes!
Biochem is a hard class but Miles is a fair prof. His tests clearly reflect his homework and prof notes. Memorize his prof notes and practice the homework problems and you will do well. He also offers extra points on the exams. However, because of those extra points he will not curve at the end of the semester. Miles is a solid choice for a prof
I personally did not like Dr. Miles's class. I feel like he's very hit or miss. He's very scatterbrained when lecturing and you CANNOT read his handwriting at all. Exams are very specific and difficult, I felt like you had to know every little thing. He also moves faster than the other BICH profs. The good thing is that he does curve.
The amount of material in this class is cruel. The stress and workload is debilitating. Think twice before loading your schedule with other sciences.
I had Dr. Miles for BICH 411. He gives you everything you need to succeed. Study at least a week in advance, a little every day and you should be perfectly fine. He is available during office hours, very quick response. Emails sometimes take a while to respond. Very straightforward and is the sweetest person ever. Loved his class
Anyone who complains about the difficulty of this class isnt applying themselves. Made a 100 on every exam by watching lecture, writing down every word he says, understanding it, then memorizing it. Easiest class Ive ever taken. DrMiles is a fantastic lecturer as well. Highly recommended.
Stay away, especially if you're required to take it online due to covid. I felt like Dr. Miles stayed up long nights thinking how he could make the online format as hard as he possibly could for his students. He showed little to no empathy for the current situation and still held students to ridiculous expectations. Talks a million miles/minute too
Stay away from miles whatever you do. weekly quizzes are ridiculous. he does not give enough time and they are closed notes. He is impossible to reach, he does not answer emails. gives you a week to memorize things and he expects you to understand them as good as he does. Clearly does not care about his students. His TA is hard to reach as well.
Completely non-responsive: does not communicate with students, ignores emails. On top of this being a difficult course and online, I expected more effort to work with and help the students succeed. He does the absolute bare minimum as a professor: posts lecture videos, and disappears. Massively dissatisfied with the quality of Miles as a professor.
Biochemistry is a tough class regardless of what professor you take, but Dr. Miles makes it especially miserable. He is impossible to reach, never available for students, and whenever you do get to him, he is unhelpful (and rude). He really does not care about his students. He was reported to the department heads by many students bc he is THAT bad.
Don't take if you procrastinate. He gives you everything you need to succeed, but you have to work a little bit everyday. Tests are VERY fair (usually 15 bonus points on each) & all info is from HW and lectures. The TA makes review videos for weekly quizzes. He can be unresponsive to emails but overall GREAT prof. Will be taking again for 411.
Dr. Miles is a good guy. Biochem is hard in general, I think he is a solid prof and tells you everything you need to know for exams. He does give a lot of homework, but I prefer it that way so I am prepared for the exam. I never write reviews but I think he should at least be a 3 because he isn't bad at all.
Miles is by far the best prof Ive had at TAMU. Hes so good at explaining things and makes lectures fun. People who dont do well just straight up dont try. There are 15-20 bonus points on EVERY EXAM so its possible for you to get 120% on an exam. He tells you exactly what you need to know for the exam in both his lectures and professor notes.
Honestly one of the worst professors I have ever had, and one of the most poorly designed classes. 90% is just memorization and regurgitation of structures and names which only get harder and more complex, and he is entirely ineffective at communicating back with students as well. Just take something else.
He and his T.A. took a long time to answer emails or ignored them entirely. He wanted students to remember EVERY SINGLE piece of information from each lecture which is insurmountable. Lecture is super challenging because he talks too fast, becomes distracted by random stories and has completely illegible handwriting. AVOID HIM AT ALL COSTS!!
Miles is a good professor who teaches to his exams and gives you everything you need to do the weekly homework assignments. The homework assignments themselves are exactly the type of questions he asks on exams, so studying the hw means you're going to get an A on the exam. People who say Miles is hard just aren't trying in biochem, a hard class!
Miles was definitely the hardest professor Ive ever had at TAMU. He gives 50+ question homeworks every single week, and he gives extremely difficult quizzes every week on lock down browser that take a ton of time to prepare for and are worth almost nothing of your grade. He was the only biochem prof to use lockdown browser. He NEVER answers emails
This is a hard class no matter who you take. Miles gives test objectives for each exam that are extremely helpful in preparing, but you still have to put in hours of preparation for each exam. If you go to A+ tutoring for this class and put in the work, an A is very attainable. He seems to be the easiest of all BICH profs.
Dr. Miles was a good prof. This course went through so much information that you can't doze in lecture or you'll be lost. The prof notes he gives is helpful (used rather than textbook). I think an A is def been doable for this class, just hard for me as a transfer student taking 15 hrs. HW every week--helps with recitation quizzes and exam prep
The hardest prof Ive ever had at TAMU. I cant imagine how people have the brain capacity to memorize everything he expects you to know on top of taking a full load of classes. He expects you to memorize EVERYTHING and its a lot every single week. Hes so knowledgeable in biochem that he doesnt realize its too much to learn in just a few months
Dr. Miles covers a lot of information at a fast pace, but he is so clear in what will be on the test. 15-20 bonus points every exam. HW and quizzes are annoying but tests were not nearly as hard as he could have made them to be. Go to A+ for big picture explanations, fill out objectives, read prof notes before class, and study 1wk for tests.
Way too much content to memorize. Quizzes on lockdown each week are very difficult and harder than tests. Be prepared for homework due each Friday that will take you at least 5 hours to finish because you have to draw out long cycles. Cant even understand what TAs are saying in recitation half the time because their English isnt the best.
Professor Miles is by far the WORST professor I have ever had the misfortune of being instructed by. He does provide pretty much everything you need to know but the man does not know how to effectively teach at all. He test over rote memorization and regurgitation, lectures complete mess just like his handwriting.
Had him for two semesters & he is honestly the worst. Never emails or communicates important info, homework takes forever each week, and he teaches way more than what you have to know. Luckily the exams have 20+ bonus points built in which saved me. He is just so unsympathetic and distant that this class was 10X worse because of his personality.
Dr. Miles, though a great professor, is a very tough teacher. There is A LOT of homework in this class. The tests only cover the things he says in lecture, but questions can be very specific. This class will require a lot of time in order to get a good grade, but Dr. Miles prepares you for the MCAT if you are taking it.
Miles goes over a TON of information. It's borderline impossible to be fully prepared for any of the quizzes or exams. The quizzes and homework due on Friday were such a hassle to complete, you had to somehow study for the quiz while also completing homework that would take at least 5 hours to do. This class is really brutal.
The homework takes a very long time to complete. The quizzes are also relatively tough. The thing that saved me were the extra credit points given on each exam. I feel like he overcomplicates the stuff and tests over a ton of information. Try to get the other profs if possible, or plan to study extremely hard for your grade.
These reviews are honestly a bit ridiculous. Hard class. HW takes a while and is due each week. But tests are very similar to homework and the materials he gives you are plenty prep for the tests. His lectures can be confusing, but he literally provides you condensed lecture notes. Also a very nice guy, not sure why people are saying otherwise.
Prof Miles had a clear grading and the prof notes were a holy grail for doing well on the exams. This class is hard. Its BICH 410 and 411 in one semester, so go in expecting that. Material is covered very quickly. Lectures are very bland and he often overcomplicates things. Also, there are long recitation quizzes and class assignments every week.
Dr. Miles does his best to teach a 2 semester class in 1 semester (410-411). He is passionate about what he teaches and knows the material really well. If you take this class you must study and the professor notes provide all the material needed for his lecture exam. His recitation exam is based on the recitation quizzes and the homework.
These reviews are wack. Dr. Miles gives you everything you need to be more than successful. I ended with over 100 in there with very minimal effort. His prof notes have everything you need. BICH is a hard class. Miles is one of your best bets here.
With Miles, it's quite simple. 410 with him is easy. 411 is hard and you'll be studying multiple hours to ensure a good grade and 409 is just flat out awful. For 409, he gives 12-15 bonus points every test so the avgs have not been terrible thus far but a class with 410 and 411 is almost next to impossible to end with an A and not lose your sanity
Dr. Miles get a bad wrap because nobody actually wants to try. Averages on exams were in the mid to high 80's and he gives 10-20 point curves for every exam. Homeworks can suck but they are the exact way he asks stuff on the exam. Prof notes are a great to understand concepts. This class is biochem, it's difficult. There is no easier prof to take.
All the reviews saying Miles isnt a good professor are just from people who dont want to put in work for this class. Its biochem and its supposed to be hard. He gives 10-15 bonus points on every tests, so its almost impossible to not do well. If youre taking the MCAT, take Miles because he will prepare you better than any other professor.
Might be the most generous prof I've taken. Gave so much extra credit/ chances at extra points on every test. The content might be overwhelming at times but that's just how biochem can be especially with this being a condensed version of 410 and 411. Pay attention in lecture and read prof notes. Fantastic MCAT prep as well.
Go to class, read his prof notes, learn the objectives, and know how to do the homework - youll be fine. I worked super hard for this class but would of done much worse without the 15 bonus points he gives on the exams. If you try, its not hard to pass.
He's pretty intimidating and asking questions felt like it was a pain for him, so I definitely taught myself the material. It is a hard class since it's BICH 1 and 2, so you gotta work for it to make the grade you want. Built in extra credit on his tests and final. Lots of homework that helped for the exams. Good for MCAT prep. He's alright!
Lots of extra credit( almost a full letter grades worth) on every exam, exams are easy if you study prof notes hard, make sure to draw pathways a lot. Quizzes are very stressful due to quick turnaround and TAs but study the slides posted from TAs. I thoroughly enjoyed Miles. To ask him questions, ask an in depth question about application first!
I cried after my final because I was so happy to never see this man again. He put me through so much trauma. If you are okay with tons of homework & very detailed exams, hes your guy. Otherwise I wouldnt recommend him. The only good thing was that he has about 40% of each test that was free response.
409 is a really hard class, but Dr. Miles make is possible for you to do well. You need to attend lecture and take homework seriously since the exams are close to the homework. He curves the exams by a lot, and at the end of the course each letter grade was curved slightly as well. Be prepared to do a lot of work and stay focused.
The class is just a tough class. He's a good professor and a fair grader, you just have to come to class! Textbook isn't necessary, he writes up his own professor notes that are fairly straightforward. Everything you have to know for tests is in the objectives and a lot of times he'll tell you in class if something will be on a test. Good guy.
I had Miles for 2 semesters bc I q dropped and retook him. I recommend going to lectures but really focus on the prof notes, objectives, and hw. He's honestly a good prof but it is a lot of work. Do not get behind and you will do fine in the class.
Miles is a solid prof. Lecture is like drinking from a fire hose, but his slides are good- look back at them (lots). DO THE HOMEWORK and use his SELF TESTS- they give you an excellent idea of what the exams will look like, and you'll need the PRACTICE. The class is hard af, but it will be with any professor. Miles gives you the resources to succeed
Took the summer 5 week miles/5 week pozzi class. Miles talks too fast and arrows are not clear when he draws mechanisms. However, his study notes clear up any confusion! His tests are very similar to the homework and practice tests, but you do have to put in lots of work outside of class to actually understand his fast paced lectures. Study hard
His lectures are extremely fast and he doesn't stop to answer questions. Covers an extreme amount of unnecessary material and will not explain things further. Lots of homework and relatively short exams. 3rd exam is very difficult but the first 2 exams are very manageable. ATTEND CLASS and PRINT SLIDES AHEAD OF TIME.
This is a hard class, but not because of the professor. Dr. Miles does a great job of explaining everything that you need to know to be successful in his class. He even provides summaries of each section that will be tested. Biochem is a hard class that people complain about because they expect an A to be handed to them. Just study.
Miles is interesting... Office hours are like being interviewed, have to know what you want to ask before you ask it, or else he tells you to read textbook. I can't tell if he's rude or socially awkward. Tests aren't horrible. Go lecture, highlight prof notes during, and then fill in objectives after class. Rewrite pathways until you die.
Biochem is a super hard class but Dr. Miles is a good prof. While the material is hard he has very clear expectations and the homework and self tests go a long way for preparing you for exams. He also includes extra credit on all exams. Lectures are super fast and if you don't read the prof notes ahead of time it all blurs together.
He is not very approachable, awkward, and a bit condescending. Lectures are very fast-paced. We had in-class/online quizzes and long assignments very often. They DO help for exams, so study those and his other resources (objectives, prof notes, self-tests) on Canvas. His exams are free-response and multiple choice - MP can get very specific.
GREAT prof, I had Pozzi for half the summer semester and Miles for just the last 5 weeks. Pozzi is also a good prof but after the switch my grade sky rocketed. He tells you exactly what you need to know. The homework is lengthy but looks exactly like the quizzes which look just like the tests. 10/10 professor.
This class is hard, but it's fair. While it's true that he can be a little intimidating, it's ultimately just his job to lecture and for students to put in the work for good grades. An A is definitely achievable as long as you pour your life essence into studying for this class, so I would recommend taking other easier classes with this one or 410.
Dr. Miles is an intimidating guy but he is also very clear in what he wants students to know for the tests. Solid prof notes. Lots of homework. Biochem is a difficult course so try not to fall behind.
Prof notes, Homework Assignments, and Self Tests are your life savior. Although he is intimidating, he really gives you all the resources you need for the exam. Your job is to study study study. Always study ahead for this class. You cannot cram.
BICH 410 during Fall Semester. Prof Miles provides professors notes and objectives. These are all you need to look over for the exams. Lecture is mainly for exposure. Is passionate about topics. Provides extra credit on each exam (about 10 points for exams and 30 points for final). Homework and quizzes serve as great practice. Curved A to 88!
This class consists of a lot of information being given to you at a very fast pace. Dr. Miles expects you to memorize a lot of material for the exam. His professor notes are helpful but very long. Get ready to memorize a lot. Do home works and self tests to prep for exams. It's easy to fall behind on work so stay on top of it.
he does curve/add extra bonus questions to the main exams. I missed one exam because of a death in my immediate family, and he refuses to curve or give bonus questions on the makeups because "if i wanted those opportunities i should have made sure to make it to the main exam and not take a makeup even though you had a death in the family."
Worst handwriting I have ever seen by a professor, Insanely hard to take notes and follow along. Insane amounts of information and memorization are required. 4+ hour assignments due weekly.
This is a really hard class to begin with, he is not very understanding to help with that. He is also very intimidating during officer hours. Recitations are super helpful! It is exhausting trying to balance this with any other class and he acts like this class should be your only focus
Good luck
Sucky all the way up until the end. Thanks for nothing
I was holding out on writing this hoping there would be something redeemable to write about but no
Dr. Miles is not as bad as everybody says. His lectures are not very helpful and the class is fast paced but getting a good grade is not hard. Free response portions of the test is just like the homework problems and MC is from prof notes. If you put in the effort it is not difficult to end up with over a 100 in this class due to extra credit.
Miles might not be the nicest or best professor, but he gives you all the tools to succeed. As someone who got over an A on all three of his tests and his final, his class is doable, but you need to start studying early. My suggestion is to study his prof notes as well as you can, that is the only way to do well on the tests.
Traumatic. Good luck.
Do yourself a favor and look up the course code in the TAMU grade annex, that explains everything.
Literally why is he still allowed to teach? This is a relatively new course, so I understand there are things that need to be worked out. But he should be way more forgiving as a professor because of this new format and instead he is even more vindictive.
Recitation is a free 100. This class was so miserable, I studied around 70 hours per exam and barely got an A. Its terribly hard, but doable. use A+ tutoring, ask questions (he is mean sometimes), and don't forget little details. The amount of content is insane, but if you put in the work you can do okay. This class was the hardest I've ever taken.
Anyone who is giving this prof high ratings either hasn't actually taken him or cheated. This is one of the worst classes I've taken. He's rude, a tough grader, a bad teacher, and the homework assigned is insane. Every TA is different, so you can get a great or bad one. Just take BICH 410 with a different prof if you can. BICH 409's a joke.
Extremely information heavy class with a teacher that expects the students to spend all their time on his class. Each test requires many hours of studying only to pass. Study ahead of time. Basically requires you to study at all times.
This is in the top 10 worst classes at TAMU. Avoid if you can. Lectures are bad, crazy hw, recitation is hit or miss depending on TA, and exams are tough. So many people fail on every test because this professor throws everything he can. The few people getting 100s is beyond suspicious, but take BICH410 if u have the option. If not, good luck!
When the reviews say trauma, believe it. IDK how he's still teaching. I am retaking 409, which isn't uncommon. His lectures are confusing, his writing is bad, he scribbles, he doesn't answer questions & he never reads emails. His exams are hard & there's no partial credit. Be prepared to cry a lot. Recitations w/ Zach is the only hope for passing.
Dr. Miles is an extremely knowledgeable person who is passionate about biochem. Dr. Miles does his best in conveying all the information and his exams are very fair. Things I wish I knew in the beginning: his hand writing sucks, use PROFS NOTES, start on HW early. The class is doable. Don't let other comments push you away from taking it.
Everything you have read about this professor is true. However, I still scored above 100 on all three lecture exams. Advice: Dont stop going to class. He will say "on the next test" or "this is what everyone misses." Star it. Record his lectures and listen to them within 24 hrs of class. He makes some sense when you can slow it down. Prof notes!!!
Miles is a horrible professor. He is hard to understand and follow along with in lectures, and his grading and difficulty of exams makes it impossible to do well in his course. No curve or extra credit. Half of my recitation dropped the course. If you have any other choice please do not take him.
Here is how I got an A in Mile's 409: 1. Skip lectures and use prof notes. 2. Go to office hours every opportunity with a clear list of questions about the material. It is always a dice roll whether or not he will be in a good mood and sometimes you strike gold and he will straight up tell you if something wont be on the exam.
He is not a good professor or a necessarily nice person. If you another option, take it. He isn't nice during office hours and usually not helpful with questions. His handwriting is atrocious, so you really can't read it. Getting an A is possible with a lot of work, but I just lost mine after the final.
First two exams are not too bad but the third and final exams have TONS OF CONTENT so be prepared. Lectures are boring to sit in but they will help; biggest advice is READ PROF NOTES BEFORE LECTURE and focus on homework+self-tests! MC on exams is like the self-tests, homework is like exam free response. TA slides help a lot too. DO NOT FALL BEHIND!
This professor's lectures do NOT correspond with the homework of the week. You will be confused on homework and recitation hardly helps in my opinion. His exams are very difficult and his lectures have about 90% pictures and even when you go in person to take notes, it's difficult to understand because he expects us to be at his level of knowledge.
Lectures are boring and way more detailed than they need to be, but go anyway and record them bc he gives hints to hw and test q's. For hw, use prof notes and TA slides. For exams, use self-tests, prof notes, and hw. Hard class but very doable to maintain an A bc there's a lot of built in extra credit. Exams were pretty fair. Just dont fall behind
One of the worst profs and classes I have EVER taken. Weekly assignments that took a minimum of 4-5 hours to complete. The amount of content in this class is insane. So much info covered on exams and Dr Miles would test over the most obscure concepts. Do not take this class with A&P (it was awful). Be prepared to dedicate HOURS to this class.
First 2 exams are easy, but Exam 3 and the Final are the Grinch who stole your GPA. You can ask what mechanisms to know, there's built-in bonus on the exams, and there's recitation: these are your only help. Homework takes hours, this is 2 classes of material, and he's a tough grader with no sympathy. He also writes in hieroglyphics. Cuneiform? :(
Biochem is a difficult class but Dr. Miles did a great job of teaching it! If you go to class, do well on hw and quizzes, and go to office hours when you need help, you will do great! He has so many tools to help you learn the material and offers a lot of extra credit! His exams were very fair and a nice professor once you talk to him a few times.
I tried asking him questions to confirm a few of my understandings during office hours but he showed attitudes which really pushed me away. Exams are fair, I basically got high A's on the regular exam except for one which I bombed because I was very ill. Final exam is tough, study a lot for it, best of luck to those who take it.
unfortunately dr miles lectures at the speed of light and many people do not learn at that speed- including myself & he is quite unapproachable as he does not look at you when you are speaking. this class is doable if you go to every lecture and go to a plus. you got this! I know he's the only option rn!
The mandatory recitation, professor's notes, and self-tests make the course ok, you'll probably have to teach yourself a lot tho. If you get a bad TA, recitation isn't helpful. Lectures are most helpful if you already somewhat understand the material. His handwriting is very difficult to read. Hw is long, but has extra credit (tests have it too).
Not great. Was very fast paced. Lectures were hard to follow. I recommend you look at the profs notes before class. Have an A right now but am expecting that to drop after this final. First two exams were easy, last two were hard. DO NOT GET COMFORTABLE. He does have lots of extra credit, yet the average on last 2 exams was in the high 50s. gl guys
DONT DO IT! Unless you have an amazing understanding of bich, no social/extracurricular life, or no other classes, this class is devastating. He goes FAST thru lectures so prof notes + recitation end up being the only helpful things. He now does 4 exams + a final so after the first exam, prepare to be taking a VERY HARD exam every two weeks.
Words cannot express how happy I am to finish this class. It is fast paced and involves a lot of self-teaching. Prof notes are helpful; recitation depends on the TA. Homework and tests have extra credit. An A is doable for the first 2 exams but the last two had averages in the 50s. His handwriting is awful to put it kindly. Good luck.
He isn't so bad like people are saying. The class is very fast paced but a lot of extra credit was offered. We got a course evaluation bonus. Lectures aren't very helpful, I'd recommended the profs notes and drawing the structures over and over again. Recitation is also very helpful. He also rounded up my grade to a B and I appreciate that.
Not as bad as people think it is. Attend lecture because he tells you what will be on the exams. A ton of extra credit built-in to exams and hw. Would recommend going to lecture and then taking notes over the Prof Notes with a focus on what was covered in class. The last two exams are harder than the first two, but doable; practice the pathways!
GO TO CLASS, READ THE PROF NOTES, AND PAY ATTENTION IN RECITATION! This is a difficult class and Miles doesn't make it any easier (bad handwriting, not helpful outside of class) but if you put the effort in for the full semester and pay attention then you'll be ok. Make friends to study with, it will help. It won't be the most fun but it is doable.
I completely understand why people struggle with Dr. Miles; he can come off as very prideful and can struggle with people skills. However, he is extremely passionate about biochem and his prof notes are excellent. I was very successful in this class using 3 resources: prof notes + rec. slides + hw keys. Relax & don't make an enemy out of biochem.
Expectations are clear. His notes and exams are well made. Not the most personable but a good prof. only gripe is the home-works are insanely long and due everyweek
Had him for the second half of a summer course. He is extremely hard to understand during lectures and does not cover many topics that he includes in the homework. All learing must be done outside of class.
His lectures are a little all over the place and I rarely ever looked back at the slides. One thing I loved is that he lists out all of the objectives you need to know for the exam and his professor notes are extremely helpful in answering these objectives. Do the homework, a lot like exam FRQ, and follow the objectives and you will be fine.
Do not take Dr. Miles if at all possible!! This class is composed of FOUR regular exams AND a final. His lectures do not make any sense and do not help to prepare for the exams anyways. I studied for exams for five days minimum and still didn't pass. I was also a degree candidate, but that meant nothing to him. DO NOT TAKE!!
The tests are difficult. I made on all 4 and final by reading and studying the prof notes and drawing all variations of the homework writing parts. Biochem is hard and students take the anger out on Miles. If you bring him oreos after class when asking for help it butters him up. He likes thought out questions with an attempt done on your own.
If you follow what's on his announcements for the exams, and go through the objectives thoroughly, you can get an A. I've made an average of 95 on all 4 of his exams (haven't taken final yet). Not saying its an easy class, it definitely takes a lot of effort, but its not as bad as everyone says it is. Would highly recommend 409 over 410/411.
The class is doable. He provides the materials to be successful, but it requires far too much work out of class. Homework's are 10 page assignments with problems that he does not go over in class. His lectures don't really support what we learn and he has terrible handwriting. He does not answer questions in class and is just not a nice person.
The concepts and the class is FAST. You will have no time to think but just take notes and be very confused in lecture. Dr. Miles is very passionate without a doubt but it is SO much memorization. You will have lecture slides, H.W., iClicker, and prof notes to help but this is the busiest you will ever work for a class. A is possible but very hard!
Class moves fast. The tests require you to have every detail of the prof notes memorized and consisted of 4 exams AND a final. Expect weekly assignments (8+ hours to complete) that are worth a small portion of your grade. Miles is incredibly disrespectful to students, tells students to get out of his office and rolls his eyes when we ask questions.
Dr. Miles is very passionate about biochemistry, however this doesn't carry over to his teaching and exams. Be ready to teach yourself everything and study for 20+ hours for each exam. Many exam questions are hyper-specific details that were never taught in class, that you have to be a robot to remember. The class is doable, just very annoying.
Better off to just zone out during lecture. Prof notes explain things better, though there is a ton of things in it not needed to know. Recitation helpful for homework, but homework each week still takes many hours. Exams all have bonus points. Takes a long time to study everything.
I was fighting for my life. 12 weekly assignments took hours to complete, and all of them combined are only 1 point in your final grade. Recitation "quizzes" are worksheets for completion. All exams are fair, but just looking at the sheer amount of content makes your stomach hurt. This is what you get when you take biochem 1&2 in a semester.
BICH 409 with Miles wasn't as bad as reviews made it out to be. He has extra credit (10-20 pts) built into all of his exams, including the final. The homework takes a while, but is super helpful for the exams. If you pay attention in recitation, review the homework, do the practice tests for each module, and read the prof notes, you'll be fine.
Miles is passionate but can be off-putting in office hrs. Don't take it personally. Weekly HW is long & difficult but prepares well for exams. Use recitation to help w/ HW. Memorize & learn EVERYTHING from prof notes, self-tests, & HW by heart for exams. Create a formula sheet & reference it. Find/make a study group. You have to work hard & smart.
Horrible. Passive aggressive, rude, discouraging, and creates an environment in which you don't desire to learn. Lectures are a waste but does attendance. Study everything pretty much. If you depend on a good teacher to succeed, this class will be difficult. But you can do this, just put in the work and you can at least pass with a C.
Follow the calendar he shows before each exam & go over each objective for those topics. I felt that memorizing all of the prof notes was unrealistic & objectives allowed me to excel in multiple choice & free response. Attend lectures and write as many notes as possible! Redo all homework & self-tests as practice problems for the exam! You got this
Key to success: PROF NOTES, Recitation, HW, and SELF TESTS. It's a lot of self-teaching. He's not the most personable. The first 3 exams were easy, but 4th exam & final made me spiral. Lectures weren't helpful for me but I did dissociate during them tbh. An A is achievable but takes a lot work. You got this!
Dr. Miles is not as bad as people make him out to be. Remarkably fair grader compared to some other profs. Biochem is an inherently a difficult class, but he prepares you well with lectures and prof notes, so as long as you dedicate time to studying the tests will not catch you off guard. Homework and self-tests consist of past exam questions.
bro needs to retire and slow tf down.
Very RUDE professor. He grabbed someone's calculator and threw it across her desk before the exam even started saying that if someone uses their own calculator they are cheating. Wouldn't recommend this guy to my worst enemy.
He is not the best lecturer honestly, I do zone out. If you do the HW, attend recitation, study prof notes, objectives, and self tests, you will be fine. It's a lot of work honestly, but he gives you everything you need to succeed. He will never test you on things you have not seen before. If you put in the work, you have nothing to worry about.
This class is intolerable. He is extremely rude and ignores students who raise their hand to ask questions. When anyone goes up to him before or after class with questions he is extremely rude, short, and usually scoffs and rolls his eyes. Almost weekly homeworks that take hours on hours and he's knit picky and will fail you on them. Stay away!
The lectures are super boring but if you pay attention they are helpful. His tests are very fair and are easy if you study a good amount. The exams also have a lot of extra credit which makes it a lot less difficult to make an A. The homework assignments take forever though.
Thanos of A&M. He collects student tears like they're infinity stones. If there is hope, he has consumed it. If there is joy, he has vanquished it. I have many crazy old profs. He has taken the cake.
BIMS majors- one of the most challenging class in undergrad. Lecture heavy as it is two semesters crammed into one. Very easy to fall behind- so important that you stay on track. I spent around 8 hours per day studying (M-F). Practice mechanisms on white board. Memorize prof notes. Miles is not friendly, and will be rude. USE YOUR TA. Good luck....
I found Dr. Miles to be straight forward, fair, and generous of extra credit. He tells you exactly what you need to know for exams. If you cheat on the homework and skip out on the prof notes, you will fail the exams. BICH is hard but people take it out on Miles bc he's grouchy. He also said attendance was graded but it wasn't.
worst prof i've ever had. he is mean and doesn't understand that this is our first time taking biochem. The class is extremely fast paced which was expected but he has impossible standards for his student to meet. I did all the homeworks and went to TA sessions and still failed. dont take this class unless you absolutely have to.
One of the worst professors I have had. He makes you feel dumb whenever you ask questions and goes extremely fast. He has extremely high standards for his student to meet, and all of the homework is either free response or long and difficult. His rescissions were also no help, and the pop quizzes/ tests are all free response.
DO NOT TAKE! His slides are bare, so if you miss something he said or can't read his handwriting, you miss important information. Unless you study beforehand, the lectures are useless. Homework is difficult, I spend 4 hours on each. I survive only because of the posted prof's notes. Very egotistical professor.
Dr. Miles is okay. His lectures are hard to understand and keep up with so make sure you figure out a way to study. HIS TEST ARE LIKE THE HOMEWORK. When studying for the test try redoing the hw a couple times to understand the concepts. Make sure you know how to do the written portion of the hw they are worth alot of pts on the test.
I have never written a review until now because this class is that bad. Taking as a summer course (split with Pozzi) and have never regretted a class more. He is VERY hard to follow in lecture, gives an outrageous amount of hw (pages and pages of all write out), and specific exam questions. Do NOT take this course with him. Not worth your sanity.
He is terrible at teaching if you can even call it that. He would just come into class, blabber on about random stuff in between important things, and then leave. It was more presenting than teaching. This man is clearly knowledgeable but horrible at transferring that information to students. His final exam was horrendous with an average of 57. RUN
Dr. Miles is severely misunderstood. He's very nice just awkward. Ask questions! He knows everything lol. For exams: review HW, objectives, prof notes, and self tests. He is great about extra credit, adding points to exams. He speaks very fast/listen and write down what he repeats. Tests are straightforward. Take in summer if you can (no quizzes!)
When I first saw the reviews I was really scared but I was wrong. Really he is just a no BS teacher he does everything fast and efficient. He was so intelligent and eager to teach the subject. If you study what he teaches you will do well. There's plenty of curves in the tests so it's hard not to make an A if you try.
I took the joint Pozzi/Miles summer course—it was very difficult to do this course in 10 wks instead of 15 like a normal semester. Take normal semester if you can. Miles had worse lectures than Pozzi and went on tangents all the time but his online prof notes were helpful. Each test has a bit of extra credit and you get 1 iClicker point per class.
He hates students. He does not engage with them and makes an effort to avoid them. He lies about TAMU policy and tries to blame the school for protocols he should be able to manage. He does not try to help students, in fact he would prefer that they failed. I had a lot higher expectation being at Texas A&M. This needs to be addressed.
I found this professor to just be unavailable all the time. Quiet, unemotional and un-caring. Uses I-clicker to avoid engaging with students. Does not like to assist anyone. His lectures are long and uninformative. I should probably take it again to get better grade but I won't until there is a different professor available
If you put the work in, come to class, and memorize pathways, you will do well! Dr. Miles is genuinely nice, and the class is not as scary as people make it seem! You've got this!
Lectures were sparse and he talked too fast. Probably just a tough class but he made it harder
Dr. Miles sucks. His handwriting is very bad. He does not even try to write neatly. He will scribble out the last few letters of each word so that if you lose focus for a second, it is impossible to read what he just wrote. This makes his lectures very hard and annoying to follow.
BICH is mostly rote memorization unfortunately, but he has no strategy outside of lots of HW. He initially gave me a zero after the 1st test, accusing me of cheating. Eventually gave me back my grade with conditions to sit separately for other tests. I stopped going to class and just memorized everything, ended up with A+. Really dislike him.
absolute worst prof. handwriting is not legible, talks too fast, gives no partial credit on exams, homework takes hours to complete, there's an exam every other week. this class is genuinely not realistic and the amount of material to memorize for every exam is insane. you will see some stuff on exams that you have never seen before. do not take.
do not take this class if you want to live. lectures are terrible, handwriting is not legible, he is disrespectful, exams are near impossible. average for every exam has been in the 40-60's. grading is not fair and the class is not reasonable.
I don't know who hurt this man or why he chooses to take it out on poor BICH 409 students. Handwriting is illegible and he talks so quickly you can't understand him. If you have the misfortune of taking this class, the prof notes on Canvas are your best resource.
This is the worst class and professor I have ever taken in my whole life. Lectures are not helpful, you cannot read anything he writes, and will go on information tangents that will not be asked about on the exams. You'll think you know all the material until you get your grade back 3 weeks later with no curve. If you have other options, take them.
I was a FIRM believer in putting the work in to get a good grade...this class is the exception. This material is hard to learn, Dr. Miles makes it harder. Plenty materials to study: homework (takes hours to do)/prof's notes, it's lil help for exams, he asks about the little details you overlook bc there is so much material to cover.
Don't let the handful of good reviews fool you into thinking you'll have the same experience in this class, average student was FIGHTING for a C. Need the class-> pay attention to the tiny details in Prof's notes, record the lecture-he talks SUPER fast, find good TA from recitation. Bless who's reading this and had to take him like me, SURVIVORS!
He isn't as bad as people say, he seems to genuinely care about teaching but there is a LOT of information covered in lecture and consistent studying is crucial to not fall behind. Assignments are long and help to prepare for the exams which have extra credit. READ THE PROF NOTES!
He adds extra multiple choice questions on his exams. His multiple choice is hard so it makes it difficult to get said extra credit. As a non bims major, I felt constantly behind. The assignment get super long at the end. I wished I didn't take this class during the fall with football season (as someone who goes to all the games and isn't a 2%er)
I typically take RMP with a grain of salt, but his grade distribution aligns with his reviews. It is an incredibly tough class and I quite frankly lost my sanity. I ended up Q-dropping because I was barely fighting for a C, and I know now what to expect after finishing 80% of the class for when I retake. DO NOT TAKE UNLESS YOU HAVE TO!!!!!
He acts a little acoustic so don't be offended if it seems he doesn't like you. His exams are typically out of 110 or 115 so you have opportunity for bonus points. The class is hard yes, what tf did you expect its biochem. Its not that hard tho and if you know everything in the slides you will easily get an A.
Biochem is a very hard class. It's even harder when you try and combine Biochem 1 and 2 into one semester. If you bomb one exam, you're going to be fighting for a C, maybe a B if you recover very well, for the rest of the semester. If you think you'll get any sympathy or help from him, think again. Might as well drop and get a diff prof.
“I usually don't rely on RateMyProfessor, but I wish I had before taking this class. Miles is easily the most frustrating and disrespectful professor I've had. His attitude feels dismissive, and the class environment is unnecessarily stressful because of it.”
Dr. Miles is not nearly as bad as people say. His class is VERY hard, but he himself is not evil. Prof notes are SUPER important. He gives bonus points on exams, and his TA's are very helpful when it comes to the homework. It's two semesters of biochem in one, you can't expect it to be easy, but if you stay diligent you can def pull an A or B! :3
Class is super hard but thats a given w/ BICH. Miles is def better than Carr. Recitation mandatory to go to, but can sign your name on a peice of paper and dip. Miles can seems cold sometimes, but he loves teaching. Talks really fast & handwriting is not the best. 10% HW, 10% Att, 4 exams 12.5% each, Final cumulative 25%. abt 10pts EC in each exam
He writes in hieroglyphics. He also does not foster a very welcoming environment. But he does have prof notes which I found very helpful. Review ALL the objectives to study for tests! You can get up to a 110, but there is ZERO partial credit on the free response. Fast paced, but honestly not hard if you read the prof notes and do the objectives.
He's passionate about biochem, but I found his lectures unhelpful and had to teach myself most of the material. Expects a LOT of effort, and the homework gets very difficult later in the semester. That said, I think the exams are generally pretty fair, lots of EC. If you stay on top of things and are willing to put in the effort, you can succeed.
Pain. The class is manageable if you are careful to review the professor's notes to learn the material, but the lecture itself isnt too helpful. It could be worse as he does build in bonus points to the exams and gives a bonus for doing the course evaluation, but overall, it's still not a fun time.
I finished this class with a high A, strictly due to his prof notes. I memorized EVERY word on those prof notes, used a supplemental tutoring company for help, and BREATHED biochem for several hours a day. Miles gave me the sunday scaries every day, and is so demeaning to his students. Big curves on exams, but theyre tough. GL future doctors.
Not as bad as he is made out to be. He gives at least 15 points ec on exams, but it does have to be earned. Its 2 Biochems in 1 semester so be prepared to be in the library almost every day. profs notes are a must in order to be successful. The class is what you make it, and he's VERY generous on the final with ec.
Okay professor. Seems intimidating in office hours but he's genuinely a nice guy and wants you to succeed. If you're taking 409 you've already signed up for a tough course so expect that. You have to put in the hours and do his assignments multiple times over and the exams will be easy.
Dr. Miles posts objectives for every chapter on canvas, so I would fill them in to prep for exams. Use the prof notes for this. I would recommend to go to every lecture bc sometimes he just says the answer for a homework question, and gives hints for test #s. Its about 10hrs/week, but knowing objectives + going to class will def get you the A
The class is a TON of work. It's not fun but most of the hate comes from the amount of effort required from taking biochem 1 and 2 smashed into a semester. Dr. Miles seems to love lecturing and he cares about his students. Very generous with EC on exams. Put in the work, don't slack off, and an A is very achievable. I learned a lot in his class.
It's possible to pass, but it's rough. Read the prof notes, do the self tests. Those are clearer to understand and know what to expect on exams than what you get in lecture. He has bad handwriting, doesn't take questions, and teaches you how to do the homework after it's due. There's extra credit on exams. Good luck.
Dr Miles is not as bad as people make him sound. He is actually really funny and extremely intelligent, so it makes class interesting. He is SOO generous with bonus points. There's at least 10 points of bonus available on every exam and over 45 on the final. If you work hard you will succeed. YOU MUST STUDY A LOT(slides, prof notes, and self tests)
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41%
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BICH410
3.1
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BICH409
4.6
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4.5
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