must attend lectures for hand-outs and homework. not hard if you study moderately and do online quizes. i got an A and im a bio moron. gives many study sessions.

She is really awesome and i would recommend to anyone that needs to take biology to take this professor because you will get the full information in great clarification to pass this class with an easy A Good Job Dr. Shillington

She is a hard prof. but if you go to her office hours and show that you are making an effort she will be more then willing to help you. She was extremly helpful for me and I would recommend her.

Extremely helpful, went out of the way to help when I needed it. Not hard to get a C or B but have to attend class. Almost daily assignments so you have to be in class, but they aren't hard. Tests aren't just testing memorization, you have to apply it.

I loved the class, she does not teach the class like most other profs where they expect you to be dumb becuase you are non majors. You will really learn the material and assignments will make you attend class..

I loved this class! You can tell she knows her stuff and that she has a passion for biology. She is very very very easy if you do your part and attend classes. If you skip a class you will lose points! Besides your paying so u might as well GO! Very good biology professor!!! TAKE HER IF YOU CAN! :]

The level of difficulty depends on the lab instructor. Her lectures are good, she is very nice, and clearly loves her subject. She explains things well, but make sure you totally understand the subject, because it's not just memorizing things out of the book, tests actually have problems you solve using the concepts you've learned, so learn your st

wow,really hard class. there is a lot of things to do, but she is a really good teacher. it all depends on who your lab instructor and recitation teachers are ...mine have chinese accents so that doesnt help at all...but if you get someone good you will be fine!!!!

By far my favorite professor so far (and I'm a senior so I've had many). She knows her stuff and is committed to your success. The class by nature was hard, but she does her best to make it easier for you. Extremely friendly and approachable, and will go out of her way to help you with anything- even topics outside of her class. Take her!

I thought this class was very easy. She expains the information very well. The Lab on the other hand is a little more difficult but is not too bad if you know your stuff. There is a lot of work in this class but they are simple short assignments which help with preparing for the exams anyways. Overall I really liked this class and teacher!

The class really is easy. I still got an A and hardly went to class. Read and do the outlines and you will know the info. The multiple sections ( lab lecture and rect.) are a little over kill, but its not a bad class.

There is a lot of work in her class, but despite this I did not find it difficult. The lab section is basicly free points, and though you have to study a lot for the tests they are by no means unreasonably difficult (I got 100% on 2 of them). Her accent and her personality also combine for an entertaining class.

This professor is AMAZING! She really knows her stuff and I learned so much. Her tests are hard but if you attend class and fill in the outlines, you'll do just fine. The text book is crazy expensive ($120!!) but you use it every day! I found one copy online for $80 at http://product.half.ebay.com/_W0QQprZ31002690QQtgZvidetailsQQitemZ340059512088

I did well in this course, but with all biology classes i've taken the tests are hard. Be sure to go to class and take notes. If you have a problem learning something ask her and she is very friendly and helpful.

She's teaching Biology 105 like a 300 class. Too much individual work outside the classroom and a lot is expected of you. The information is far from basic and simplified. I spent +$150 just on supplies for the class.

This class was somewhat difficult, but she is helpful and clearly states requirements and material covered on the test. Pretty intense class for considering it's for non-majors, but her lectures are very interesting and helpful.

Not a difficult class, but a lot of work was involved. She clearly states in the outline what is to be expected from you, as long as you follow that you'll be fine.

she was great. alot of people didn't like her, but i found her teaching style really easy to comprehend.

Pretty cool lady. The subjects that she teaches are difficult, she presents them well, however.

Her subjects are tough and she isnt the clearest. Her tests are definitely killer.

Shillington's exam questions are explained in class but she expects you to be able to apply the knowledge that she gives you to such an extent that it's very difficult to get a good grade unless you memorize the information from lecture inside and out. Lectures aren't clear but she is helpful during office hours.

She is a fantastic teacher and always ready to take questions. Go to lab, do the homework, she makes it hard to fail. The tests are hard, but it's the nature of the subject. You have to go to class everyday, but you shouldn't be looking for a class not to have to attend anyway! Take her class! It's an easy A!

Dr. Shillington is the professor you'd want to teach you if you are interested in biology or want to get a brief but WONDERFUL overview of the field. Great way to start a bio program at EMU. Use her office hours, make extra appointments, talk to her if you do poorly on the first test. She will try to work with you!

I was very intimidated by taking her class in the beginning because of comments people left on this site, but she is really a great teacher. She really wants her students to understand the subject. She puts alot of effort into her class and expects her students to do the same. I had to repeat bio twice in high school, and i have an A- in her class.

You can't do well in this class if you don't study and attend lecture. If you have problems go see her and she'll do her best to help you. The tests are not easy. You have to understand the material. The lecture points help at the end so get them while you can. Interesting class, use the online study material. Lowest test score is not counted.

Her tests are hard, but she does all she can to make sure you understand the material. She has great outlines that students need to fill out before classes and you get extra credit for answering questions from them. She is extremely helpful and very sweet. I have had her for 4 classes and I will take every class she offers. She is hard but good!

Dr Shillington is extremely helpful. I had been out of school for about 7 years and hadn't taken a Bio course for about 13 years. I was terrified about switching majors and going into a science based field. Took this class and scored extremely well. Tips: do the outlines, attend class, LISTEN and ask questions, she always helps out. Office hrs!

Ok...She is hard. However, if you attend ALL classes, do the outlines, homework, etc, you will get at least a B. If you go to her offic hours, she will give you extra points. She is soooo nice when you sit down with her. Lab is very easy. DO NOT SLACK! The tests are hard but very applied to the subject, so study study study. That is the secre

The class is hard. You better go to all lectures and labs. Dr. Shillington is very helpful is you need help. Do all the homework and clicker points.

I wonder why people think this class is soooooooooo hard?? Its called coming to all the lectures and you will know whats going on!! She is very helpful, knows her stuff, and is willing to answer any question at all. She is a great prof, i think!.. You just cant slack, thats all. And her tests arent as hard as everyone makes them to be.

I can't believe how many people are complaining about her! It's pretty straight forward, if you go to the lectures, you can do well. If you don't, you probably won't pass the class. She is very helpful at answering questions during lecture, just raise your hand and don't be afraid to ask a question. Tough class for sure, but shouldn't college be?

Dr. S is brilliant, wonderful, understanding, and very helpful - talk to her outside of class and you'll see what I mean. Show up for lectures, do the homework, ask questions, show a little RESPECT, be an ADULT, and you'll ace the class. It's really that easy (and if you can't handle that, you probably shouldn't be in college).

Difficult class, but a lot of information is covered in a short amount of time.

Teacher is very hard. Over 300 students in the class and extremely hard tests, but with the lab and the extra credit with the clickers that she provides, there shouldn't be a problem getting a decent grade. I got a 97% in my lab, and my exams were never over a 65% and was 1% away from receiving an 80%. Should attend every class but not mandatory.

Reading the prior posts on here before taking her class I was preparing for the worst and was so nervous to take her class. It's not as bad as I thought. If you attend every class (I would recommend it) and actually study you'll get a B or better. Just make sure you don't slack and take good notes.

Natural History of Invertebrates. Course very challenging--it's a ton of information but dr. shillington is probably my favorite professor that i've had in the bio department. very knowledgeable and her enthusiasm is contagious. read the book, come to class and do the outlines. if you love biology you will love any of her classes.

Class is not that hard. She is by far my favorite teacher at EMU so far. She is so down to earth and easy to talk to outside of lecture. There are some very tricky exam questions but just couple through out the course

**She is SUPER helpful.** Class is hard but mostly b/c of workload. There's no makeup or late work accepted. Basically required to attend class (clicker points). Lab manual and website are a mess; you can miss assignments. Her accent is fine. Tests are tough. Take her! You will learn, and probably do better in higher classes because of it.

The best teacher I ever had so far. This class is very intense and you need to attend for clicker points. You should talk to Dr. Shillington outside of class and work with her all the way through the course. She wants to help you to succeed and will be your #1 cheerleader. She really cares about her students!

Dr Shillington is a class-A Educator. The tests are difficult, one our 1st test the class avg was mid-70's & she said it was the best class ever for BIOL120. She wants you to understand the material, so if you don't, she will spend time with you until it sinks in.

She is snooty if you ask her questions outside of class, but it's not difficult, she tells you what you need to memorize for the test. very straight-forward.

I loved her! Get to know her, go to office hours and she will be so helpful! She really wants you to succeed & it shows. Tests are a challenge so you really need to know your stuff. I thought it was really the workload that was the most difficult, but they help out w/your grade. Show that you care about the class, it'll go a long way.

She is a very nice lady, and even very helpful if you visit her in her office hours. Yet, her exams are hard. You must know the material like the back of your hand, I've yet to get an A on one..but I must admit I am not a fan of reading the text, I do go to every lecture and do the homework..which you must also do to succeed

most interesting bio course I've taken at EMU! She's extremely hard,a very tough grader but you will learn more than you thought possible, and she is fair. She is very nice and enthusiastic about what she teaches which is great. Do not take this class if you're looking for an A as you are unlikely to get it, I worked very hard for an A minus.

I really liked Dr. S. She is extremely passionate about biology and knows her stuff. Tests were not easy, but manageable.Good test averages. Class started with 24 people and 15 were left at the end. Took this class in 7 weeks and got a B+. Very helpful. Provides outlines of chapters, but book use is still required.

Dr. Shillington is a TOUGH cookie, but she is a sweetheart who wants you to succeed. Her exams are very thorough, but by the end of it you KNOW your subject. She is very excited about biology, and in turn it makes her students interested.

Just do the book work before class and you'll get extra credit and you'll pass the class with flying colors. If you don't do the homework or fill out her lecture slides before hand though, don't count on a good grade. She's very helpful in class but maybe not as much outside of it. Really helpful lecture notes though, just do them!

Wonderful professor that cares about her subject and her students. Lots of in class activities to help you learn and check your progress. Tests aren't easy, but they're not supposed to be easy! Take good notes and actually study and you'll be fine.

She is an extremely strict grader, yet I must admit her lecture is pretty awesome. The subject matter is difficult and she tried to do what she can. You HAVE to do well on the exams to do well in this class. Make sure you do ALL extra credit given, it may save your butt.

Although this class was redundant, she knew her section well. You won't receive a good grade if you slack any amount. Tests were much harder than they needed to be for a 100 level class. Pretty sure the people who got an A studied this class 24/7 or are unemployed. Definitely made many change their major. Extra HW points are given=life saver.

I though Cara was a fantastic professor. She was knowledgeable and passionate about the topic. I was able to learn something in the class instead of just going through the motions to get some credit. An A is attainable if you work hard--but you really do need to work hard. Read the book and study all the material.

One of my all time favorite professors. She is a great instructor, not because her courses are easy, but because she makes you reach for more than you had thought you could. I found her very inspirational, but there was definitely work and reading. If you want an easy A, you are likely a bad student. Mediocre work warrants a C, work hard for an A.

To all the BIO488 people who responded, I have gotten an A on all the tests and honestly haven't worked THAT incredibly hard. Do the work, talk to your peers, and never slack off to do well in Cara's classes. This is what should be expected of any college course. She is amazing and I plan to do research with her on spiders' personalities!

She assigns a lot of homework that makes you think so you learn the material really well. The 10 hours a week suggested study time is a must so don't take with a lot of other study intensive classes. Overall a great prof who loves her subject, lectures were fun.

I love this class and this teacher. This course was amazing, I had a great time, learned many new information. There wasn't many tests because we weren't in the class room we were in the Bahamas studying invertebrates. I would totally take this class again it was so much fun.

This class was difficult, but doable. I went to her office every week to make sure I understood the material and she gave great feedback. She is intimidating at first, but she cares so much for her students and wants everyone to succeed. Do the pre-lectures, read the book, and ask a lot of questions and you will do well.

I hated this class so much because I didn't know to think in the way she wanted us to. After going to her office hours every day after class, I realized how helpful and caring she was. SHE IS THE BEST. Although she is tough and confusing at times, I would take her again--the best thing you can do is go to her office hours if something isn't clear!

I think she's great. Everything on tests are from material she has given. I barely read the book. Put in an little effort and you'll get an A as I did.

I love Dr. Shillington. She cares about her students. If you are struggling GO TO OFFICE HOURS! She saved me. I got in a hole during the animal section and she pulled me out. I have an immense amount of respect for her. She's tough and makes you think which is good - if you are studying biology you need to learn to think in new ways. TAKE HER!

I absolutely adored Dr. Shillington. If you are able to, take her with lecture and lab, I think it really helps to have the same professor because you really get to know her and she gets to know you. There were 5 tests but one is dropped so you may not have to take the final. You definitely want to show up to class, great notes and points everyday.

She is going to give you work and expect you to do it. But this is college, cmon guys. The reading, lectures, and more reading do set you up to learn an incredible amount of information. And Dr. Shillingtion has a great wealth of experience and anecdotes to illustrate the material and inspire if youre at all paying attention. Recommended for sure.

Bio 120 is the most difficult bio class at EMU for a reason. Dr. Shillington has very high expectations for her students, but they're not impossible to meet. She may seem intimidating in lecture, but she's very approachable in office hours and she really cares that her students do well.

I took BIO 120 and also went on a study abroad with her. In class she was VERY tough. She wants you to memorize everything and expects A LOT from her classes. She is definitely very intimidating, but don't let her scare you! She is very nice in office hours and SO passionate about her field! Do the reading, study, go to class. You'll be fine.

In a big lecture hall she seems mean and tough. She's a tough grader but she's actually pretty cool and funny. Lecture was long but there was A LOT of information to learn. Very passionate about animals especially arachnids

Dr. Shillington is the reason I continued on to become a biologist. Throughout my years at emich, I enrolled in several classes with her. I've learned so much. Yes, her classes are tough.. but she's fair, and the difficulty makes you actually retain the information. Don't judge her based on a 100-level course.

Super clear on what is expected of you, that is what I like the most. She will answer your questions so you understand and make sure that you are prepared for the upcoming exams. Cut and dry great professor.

Dr. Shillington is very passionate about the subject she teaches and has a very effective method of teaching. The exams are a little bit challenging, but as long as effort is put in, a good grade is achievable.

This class is supposed to be hard. Dr. Shillington was so helpful during the semester. Shes a wonderful prof. I went to her all the time, she explained a lot of material that didnt make sense to me. I would most definitely take her again.

Love her as a person and I really like her teaching style, but she can be disorganized, and expects a lot of her students. She moves through difficult lecture material very quickly (but is willing to help if you don't understand things). The class is amazing, but you need way more time to dedicate to her class than I have available tor really excel

I had Cara for several classes and research and she has always been incredible! There's a lot of work involved but she makes things interesting if you like biology/ecology. She's caring and enthusiastic about what you're enthusiastic about. If you have a chance go on the trips with her; she knows her stuff and makes sure you get the most out of it!

The best professor I've had at Eastern. She's amazing, she actually TEACHES you which is honestly so under appreciated. She takes so much extra time for questions during lecture and absolutely encourages and engages when you ask questions. If you want to learn look no further. She is amazing, highly recommend. Would take again.

Cara is an AMAZING professor. She is very passionate about her field of work, and although she may seem intimidating, she is more than happy to help students in office hours. I cannot recommend taking a class with her enough. Her classes are very tough, but if you put the effort in you will learn a lot in any class that you take with her.

She loves the content she teaches and she's a great lecturer. Since COVID, I think she has had a hard time with the online transition, with syllabus confusion and slides not always being posted. It's a little tough to know exactly where to get materials we need.

Dr. Shillington is a very understanding professor who truly wants her students to succeed. She is a little disorganized and takes awhile to grade things, however if you devote your time to intensely understanding the material, you will do great. Take every assignment seriously, as it will more than likely be on the tests in some altered form.

Dr. Shillington is very passionate about what she teaches. She makes herself available to students through office hours so take advantage of that & GO TO SI. The tests are pretty content heavy so you really have to work to keep up during lecture (student learning outcomes are SUPER important on exams). The lab was disorganized because of covid.

Dr. Shillington is hands down the best professor at EMU. If you want an A it will not be handed to you, you have to study, take good notes, go to office hours, and do assignments that she gives because there is a lot of information in this class and you will see it on the test. She is caring and if you ask for help she will do whatever she can.

Dr. Shillington has amazing lectures, the class is very interesting and Cara really knows her stuff. This class moves extremely fast due to all the content and all of it will be on the test. Take good note and Study!! Go to office hours, redraw those phylogenies, and start assignments early you can't wait until the last minute!

Professor Shillington is by far one of the sweetest professors I have ever had. Super kind and knowledgable in her field. Is always willing to help and wants to see everyone succeed. I had her for BIOL120 and she gives amazing lectures that keep you listening and interested. I would recommend her to anyone.

Dr. Shillington is great! Shes accessible outside of class, respected, gives good feedback ( you have to ask her for it), she does group projects in Bio 121 lab, shes also a tough grader on quizzes, she gives a lot of homework in Bio 120! The workload is heavy, but not hard to learn or understand after you seek help from her or SI instructors.

Dr.Shillington is very passionate about her work, and it shows lecture. Lectures are very inclusive and have you use jamboards / group discussions. The pre-ectures are easy and sorta fun. Tests are difficult, as she expects you to truly understand the concepts and information, and all tests are written format only. but allows retakes. very helpful!

Dr. Shillington is one of my favorite profs in the Biology department. She is very kind and understadning, and always willing to take extra time to work with you outside of class time and office hours. Tests are given in an all written format, but there are opportunities for retakes. There are also lots of opportunities for extra credit.

I had bio 120 with Cara and she was super sweet. She offers help when you need it but you need to ask. This is also not a blow-off class you need to read the textbook, attend SI sessions, and do your work. This class has written exams but they are definitely manageable if you prepare. An A is possible but you will need to work for it.

Dr. Shillington is INCREDIBLE. She is so passionate about her work and is so understanding towards her students. She's very caring and kind and she genuinely wants her students to learn. She definitely does a good job of prepping her students for the real world of research!

Challenging but rewarding - Professor Shillington's class pushes you to learn, yet she's caring and wants students to succeed. unstuckstudy and the free textbook were helpful for study prep.

although she has high expectations, i like being in her class. not bad overall

Dr. Shillington has high expectations. When it comes to KSCs, you must be very specific with your language, otherwise you're not getting the points. Luckily, there are plenty of retake opportunities. She seems passionate on the topic, and like she wants her students to succeed.