2.5
Quality4.0
Difficulty33%
Would Retake409
Reviews33%
Would Retake
409
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409 total ratings5
57
4
61
3
75
2
96
1
120
What Students Say
“The F in his middle name is the grade you're gonna get”
101 - 2.0 rating“Carr is a super nice guy, but not a great teacher”
BIO101 - 2.0 ratingClass Info
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100%
Attendance Mandatory
18%
Textbook Required
35%
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Reviews (300)
Carr's not great at lecturing, and goes on tangents A LOT. But he's passionate and knows what he's talking about. Go to his office hours especially after tests. Yeah, his tests are hard, but you just need to devote a lot of time to studying. Going to class/studying notes is NOT enough. You need to read the textbook and go to SI/preceptor sessions!
DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND TAKE ANYONE BUT HIM! There's a reason more than half our class dropped by November 1st, he's impossible!
Such a hard course. The material is not difficult, but the in-class lectures are nearly pointless. Speeds through material and cannot clarify well. Knows what HE is talking about, but no one else does.. Even reading the text and knowing all material is not enough. Over half the class dropped halfway through semester.
He claims his tests are based on his lectures, but his lectures are too spastic to understand. His tests have multiple choice, fill in the blank, essay questions, and drawing. Some tests have every type of question, some only have two types. There is no set way of studying for his tests, he has no sympathy for those struggling to get a good grade.
Professor Carr honestly is a good guy, but his class is ridiculous. I put in a lot of work, which is the only reason why I have a decent grade in the class. It's an entry level course, it shouldn't be this hard. I feel like his lectures are good, but useless for his tests because he expects you to know everything and be able to apply it.
He loves biology, and that is very clear, but this class shouldn't be a 100 level class. You MUST read the text book cover to cover to do well. He wont tell you specifically what will be on the tests. memorize all diagrams. Harsh grader. I got a 79.5 in the class and he would bump me up to a B :( killed my GPA
I dont understand why a professor would make an intro class so difficult. I put 30+ hours of studying into tests and I only get low C's. He wants you to study the textbook, but textbooks dont give you the understanding of bio that you need to pass his tests.
Carr is a passionate professor however his lectures are fairly simple and come straight from the book. His tests on the other hand are incredibly hard. The class average on the tests was either a low D or failing. To get a good grade you have to intensely read the book and keep in mind that the tests go into great detail.
Ridiculous. His lecture notes are all over the place and does not know how to explain simply - botany is not a hard course but he makes it more difficult than it should be.
Carr is a smart man with a lot of knowledge to offer but unfortunately, he is not a teacher. His lectures are disorganized and hard to follow. He doesn't stick to the syllabus whatsoever. I relied mostly on outside sources to clarify concepts. If you don't need this class, I wouldn't recommend taking it. Not as rewarding as I hoped it would be :(
Not a bad teacher, somewhat helpful if you go to his office hours but lectures are pointless, the textbook is a better teacher. Tests are unnecessarily difficult. Avoid taking him if you can
Powerpoints are broad and test are very specific. AVOID AT ALL COSTS
Basically you have to teach yourself, and even then you might fail. This class ruined my gpa. DO NOT TAKE CARR, for your sake get a different professor.
Prof. Carr is a great teacher. His lectures are helpful but you definitely need to read/understand the textbook in order to do well. You need to study more than you usually would for other tests. I studied about 15-20 hrs before each test & I got an A on all 3 tests. His tests are pretty hard, but if you read the textbook thoroughly you'll be fine.
Professor Carr is not a good teacher. He gives the worst lecture and his tests are incredibly difficult. I advise anyone that take Carr to have the worst bio class of their life. DO NOT TAKE HIM!
Professor Carr sucks!!!! His tests are very hard and he doesnt care about what his students say. I go to his office hours many times and he just tells me to do better on the next one. His mustache is rather distracting as well. Im going to fail his class....
I think he is a good teacher. His tests are difficult. I would say you study you get the grade but that does not always happen. However, he is a nice guy and can explain what you need to work on. Interesting mustache.
Just avoid him. worthless lectures with notes that are all over the place. did not enjoy this class AT ALL
I am very unsure how I feel about Carr. He really loves teaching bio but he thinks there is too many bio majors so he tries to take matters into his on hands. Dont take this class if not prepared to put in many hours of studying and still receive an "ok" grade on. with that being said, i feel i have learned so much this semester because of him.
Carr is a great guy, and he will make the lectures so interesting with all his animations, but his class is hard. He grades based on specifics and doesn't use a book so it's pretty difficult to know what he wants. He's always swarmed in office hours but he will come in on a weekend if you need help.
TESTS ARE RIDICULOUSLY HARD!! AVOID TAKING THIS CLASS IF YOU CAN!!!
His tests are like a carr crash, the sense of panic and stress just the same. The tests are at a level above what the introductory class is. Even with previous knowledge and the textbook, it takes a lot of studying to get a decent grade. SI sessions are limited to 30 people, so it's difficult to make it to them. Try to avoid taking his class.
His class is hard, I'm not gonna lie, but you learn SO much. I studied about 2-5 hours a day average and managed to pull off an A. If you aren't willing to put in the effort, don't take his class because his tests are really demanding. I wouldn't say they're hard, just really challenging. If you know what you're doing, you'll be fine.
He is a nice guy however is class is extremely difficult!! You have to use every resource that is offered for this class to get an A. If you want an easy A... this is not the class for you. You definitely get what you work for in this class.
His lectures are disorganized. There's NO BOOK, from which to study. He makes massive grading mistakes, & procrastinates grading, so there's no way to learn from mistakes before the CUMULATIVE FINAL. His tests are all open ended questions, but what constitutes a complete answer is randomly decided by him, on the spot. He shouldn't be a teacher.
SWITCH OUT. I absolutely dreaded this class! His tests are hard and he doesn't post notes. I didn't go to class for an entire month but got a B in the class because I read the book. That's pretty much the only way to do well. Not an easy class AT ALL and he takes forever to grade tests. He's passionate about the subject but not great at teaching.
Absolutely avoid him. He is very rude and a horrible professor. Horrible teacher, worst person in biology department in VCU.
Professor Carr was a difficult teacher. SO difficult!!! His notes did not help me at all in preparing for the exams, I had to outline the chapters on my own. He uses bad language and doesn't care when his class has an exam avg of 38 (my class) switch out! You will regret it if you don't!
How has no one mentioned that he is crazy sexy?! Anyways..Definitely not an easy teacher, but he is a great teacher. He's a smart guy who always knows exactly what he is talking about. The people that complain about his class just don't want to put in the work. I was surprised how detail oriented the class is for an intro class though.
His tests are difficult, but if you attend class, read the book, and study, you will do well. He is really good at explaining concepts clearly and pauses for students to ask questions. You will come out of the class with a thorough understanding of the material.
Carr is a brilliant guy, and he expects his students to earn their grades. That being said, essay formatting tests can be tough. Show interest, and it's easy enough to learn.
do not take this teacher, unless you want to literally dedicate all of your class time, the si sessions helped but the actual teach was not helpful at all. he moves through every lesson so QUICK it was truly the hardest tests Ive taken
Class is a dreadful lecture. You might think you understand but when it comes to exam time you really don't. First part of exams are online and multiple choice, second part is really simple short response in class.
Honestly, people always say he's an awful professor, but he really isn't bad. Yes, you will put in a lot of time for this class, but if you read the book/do the assignments, you will do well. He genuinely cares about his students' standing in the class & will always ask if anyone needs clarification. Take him! (Fair warning, he makes corny jokes!)
Awesome guy, but gives out really difficult tests.
Carr is by far my favorite professor at VCU. Everyone who gave him bad ratings just didn't put any effort into his class. If you won't put in the work, you'll fail any class. He is the most helpful professor and truly cares about his students grades. His short answers are slightly difficult but if you read the book and his notes, you'll do well.
First off, Carr looks like an older version of Ezra Fitz. He is a pretty attractive guy and his mannerisms are hilarious. He makes jokes all class and is the most interesting lecturer I have had in all of college. He will bend over backwards to help a student out, and this semester his tests were online. That being said, STUDY and you will do great
Don't take this class. I don't know if he is organized now but from what I hear his still not organized. I recorded his lectures and always thought I was prepared for his exam but turns out I wasn't. Not sure if I was a bad student or the other way around.
Carr is a difficult grader, and his exams tended to be harder than any other professor teaching BIOL 151. That being said, he's very intelligent and knows a lot about biology. If you're looking for an easy A, he's not your guy. He does give some extra credit and curves, but reading the textbook and studying is pretty much required.1
He is by far the worst teacher in my history of VCU!
He says the notes are important but I took my first test and studied my notes and most of the textbook and still failed. He clearly has a passion for Biology but he thinks his students should be on the same understanding level as him. He isn't very clear and it makes it hard to understand. I emailed him once with a problem and he NEVER responded.
His tests are extremely hard, you could study for weeks and still not earn an A. The tests are beyond unrelated to the lectures (because he spends most of his time rambling) however, the lectures are always interesting and he is always asking if the class understands. He is a nice guy, and is generally funny, but again you will have to work HARD.
There is no reason to go to class. He literally lectures the same thing that was in the textbook but some how he manages to make it longer and extra boring. The tests are made in a way you cant just take notes and pass. you have to know EVERYTHING and then know it again BACKWARDS. Its ridiculous! stay away from this professor!
Carr is very knowledgeable. He has the "curse of knowledge" when it comes to his teaching ability. His explanations are generally more complicated than the concept he is teaching. He would be better off teaching upper level bio courses. I learned most of the concepts straight from the text. I don't recommend him for basic level courses.
His lectures were nice to listen to, however rushed towards the end of the semester. His class takes more studying than the upper level biology class I'm in right now, and you'll spend those hours reading the textbook over, and over, and over. 30 plus hours every week were spent reading the textbook to get an A on one of his exams.
Prof. Carr is a great! A lot of people complain that his tests are really difficult but if you show up to the lectures and actually do the reading, they aren't that hard. He is also available for extra help AND there are other chances to learn the material in the many SI lessons offered. He knows what he is talking about & he's pretty funny too.
HORRIBLE. I would never take his class again. He talks about non sense in class, skips around with notes. If you ask him a question he tries to explain but sucks at it. His tests are the hardest. The slides he has in class have nothing to do on the test. The criteria on the test is always WAY more complex than the book or his notes.
Really sweet guy but totally the worst class do not do no i repeat do not take.
Dr. Carr is a great professor, you can really see that he is passionate about what he teaches! He also likes to crack a joke here and there and they're actually pretty funny. There are a lot of complaints about him on here but they're from the people who don't pay attention and expect the info to be hand-fed to them, it's not a hard class really
Absolutely the worst class Ive ever taken. I'm a science major and I found this class horrible and really difficult. His lectures are long. he has no extra credit. No study guides for any of the texts or exams. His exams are NOTHING related to his lectures. A class of 300 when we started and less than half dropped outstopped coming to class.
Incredibly tough tests. You can pop Focalin and stay up all night studying but no promises. Avoid Carr at all costs.
If you read the book, there is no need to go to class because all he does is repeat the book, only more confusing! Do NOT take him if you can avoid it.
Carr is trash. He gives lectures and notes that have NOTHING to do with the exams. The exams are impossible. Your only chance of passing is getting straight A's on the homework
Listen to the others and AVOID Carr at all costs... He doesn't teach the material needed to successfully pass any of his tests. You are better off reading and studying than going to his lectures.
Studied for hours on end for every test in Carr's class and still ended up getting C's on all of them. Going to class doesn't help, he just regurgitates the information from the textbook in his slides and lectures. Do well on all the online homework assignments, they're the only thing that will keep you from failing the class.
Worst teacher ive ever had. Lectures are boring and unhelpful. Test are really hard, and he gives no handouts or review materials for any test. Make sure you love your TA.
He gets off topic way too easily, so it's not like you'll learn in his lectures or anything. I haven't gone to a single class and still passed with a B. All you really need to do is read the textbook. If only he understood why his students are failing his class the tests would maybe be easier.
The F in his middle name is the grade you're gonna get
Okay first things first. The secret to mr. Carr. No he this is not an easy class, unless You go to all SI sessions and go to his office. Yes I was one of those who thought he was awful until I met with him. He is such a great guy and solo funny and will work with you, if you ask. He doesn't give rower points either. Go and talk to him and he help
Carr is a really cool guy. He's super passionate and has a great understanding about biology, but expects everyone else to, as well. The tests were tough and are straight from the textbook and so are his lectures. He goes off on tangents. If you just study your notes, then you won't pass.
If you do not attend every SI session available and read the textbook three times, you won't pass. By far my worst professor at VCU. He is rarely clear on what he is talking about.
Tests are majority of your grade, but he does let you drop your lowest test grade.
Carr is a very tough professor and will not stop what he is doing just to help you out. You have to be the best you can be at all times.
Being in this class made me want to pull my hair out because I would study for days and still fail the tests. They were so hard. And the only thing in the grade book would be 3 tests, the final, and hw. The lowest test grade would be dropped, but it didn't really help my grade at all.
Find another teacher. He won't put the notes online so you HAVE to show up to class and take notes. A lot of the time, he'll spend talking about brewing beer in his garage and bicycles which doesn't help. He is a very tough grader and almost seems to want students to struggle. Once, he had a test on 13 different chapters!
Carr is my fav prof at VCU. If you take good notes his classes are NOT THAT HARD. If your notes suck, so will your grade. And he *is* available at office hours to help you out.
Dr. Carr was a great professor! He was funny and also seemed to be quite passionate about biology. Obviously if you don't crack open the book to study the class will not be easy, but if you take the time to read it's a breeze. Don't expect the information to be hand fed because it definitely won't. Read, take good notes, and you'll pass the class.
He is not an "easy" professor, but no Bio 151 class is. He makes sure you really know the material and is very helpful if you see him in his office. I have loads of respect for this man because he genuinely cares about his classes and is always looking to improve them. DON'T be turned off by the other reviews - I don't find them accurate at all.
Tests were hard, taught to a lower level than what was on the test. Did not teach as a 101 class. Got off topic easily.
the test were on a way harder level than his lectures. You have to come to class to take notes, which wouldn't be a problem if he didn't speed through the powerpoint. As a person he is really funny and kind of laid back and he normally goes of on a tangent in class.
1) Instead of going to lectures (or even if you do) read the textbook and take notes. A lot of his tests contain direct wording from the book. 2) Do the online homework, really easy to get a good grade on this. 3) Honestly if you read the textbook and take notes and you will do fine on the tests.
As a "freshman level" class, I found his tests to be pretty difficult. Yes, the questions are often straight from the book, but they are also usually incredibly specific. One issue I had was that he was very, very slow in posting grades. In fact, our 3rd test grade wasn't up before we took our 4th test. You can tell he's passionate though.
Tests are very hard, but here is the suggestion: keep going to lecture and taking notes, keep reading the book and studying carefully. The key is DO NOT GIVE UP. Remember 40% of the grade comes from homework, which you can get 100 easily with patience
You think I'm exaggerating when I say this can possibly be the worst professor? I wouldn't recommend him to my worst enemy. He has passion for the subject but he can't handle a class that size. He gives the HARDEST tests. If you think this is a joke you are more than welcome to join this class. R.I.P to your GPA. Best of luck.
I was warned of professor Carr entering my freshman year, but decided to not back out of the challenge. What you must understand is that Biology is difficult. If you come to every class, and take notes on his slides you will pass! His tests are from his pp oints and the online book practice test. Go to SI and preceptor sessions and youll get an A
Test are hard. Doesn't teach clearly
Great guy, loves his subject. Can absolutely not recommend though, tests cover so much pointlessly overcomplicated material and requires memorization. Take another teacher
His tests are hard, but if you take the online practice tests from the books website, you will be perfectly fine. (Almost all of his questions come from them) Also remember to do your homework, it's really easy and counts for 40% of your grade!
He is the worst. Tests are absolutely impossible and contains info not in your notes or textbook. Take Bio with another professor. Seriously.
He is a very funny guy but his tests are really hard. He expects you to know every little thing he lectures about. The tests are really hard, if you just go over the bold words in the book and PowerPoint you will end up with a C! Read over every little thing in the book and PowerPoint!
his lecture's are very confusing and easy to get lost during. he goes off on a lot of tangents and i ended up having to teach myself most of the material from the textbook. his tests are really confusing as well, it seems like 90% of the questions are trick questions. beware honestly he's a chill person but a really confusing professor.
Fairly tough. Gives test based on the book, not the powerpoints he shows in class. READ THE BOOK. A funny and cool guy, just wish he taught a little better. Read the book, and take the online practice questions the book offers and you'll be fine. Don't get the book and have a have a fun time trying to get a B
He's a passionate professor. His test are quite hard if you do not understand concepts. Other than that, he really wasnt bad. Just read ahead of class to grasp all concepts.
Carr is very passionate about his subject. He really wants you to understand the big picture, which can be hard for people who aren't super passionate about biology. Weekly homework quizzes that can be taken multiple times. Drops lowest test grade. Tests are hard, so go to lectures and read the textbook. Lectures can feel long and dry.
Professor Carr is really enjoys biology. He gets deep into topics, but he makes it confusing. He's a really nice guy, but the way he teaches just isn't for everyone. I had trouble understanding topics because of how long and drawn out the lectures were. He really wants you to understand the material through and through
if you can avoid taking bio with Carr, please do. he's a really cool guy to converse with, but the way he teaches isn't ideal for a lot of people. for a 101 non major bio class it is difficult when you have zero passion for the subject and try desperately to understand concepts.
Stay AWAY! If you think " as long as I study, I'm good" then you're in for a surprise. Tests are hard and not to mention boring. Definitely the WORST class I have taken in VCU. I don't rate professors but I'm trying to save people from this mistake.
The tests in this class are horrific. His lectures are so long and CONFUSING. I tried to pay attention, but in the end ended up more and more confused. Do yourself a favor, and do not sign yourself up for his class.
Dr. Carr is very passionate about Biology. The problem is, it is a GEN ED. This man makes the hardest tests because he expects everyone in his classroom to be a bio major. Carr can also be really rude. I asked him a question about my grade once and he treated me like I was stupid. Lastly, STUDY FOR TESTS!! NO EXCUSES. NO STUDY FAIL !!!!
Okay class
He is just not a good teacher, especially for the way that he makes his tests. He lectures in class, and then gives out homework questions for the assinged chapters but thats it. I feel like he should have given out more review material online in order for students to better prepare for his tests. Only take him if you are good at teaching yourself.
A lot of comments make him seem worse than he is. He's really passionate about bio but it is a very tough class. SI and review sessions really helped me. Also, read and annotate the book. Its doable if you work for it!
Brought my gpa down even though it was supposed to be a hard class.
This teacher was absolutely HORRIBLE!! I got warned so many times to drop and switch out of his class, but I unfortunately didnt. He didn't answer any questions, even if you raised your hand! He had no extra credit, and his tests were insanely hard. He also ended up showing up to our FINAL EXAM over AN HOUR AND A HALF LATE!! Do not take his class!
He teaches too fast. His lectures are long. Doesn't give extra credit. Doesn't make anything clear. MEAN. Rude. Weirdly obsessed with bikes. Good luck with this guy.
Professor Carr is very passionate about what he teaches and is a pretty cool guy. However, he is not willing to really help you and he doesn't offer extra credit. Because of this, you need to know the chapters in the textbook like the back of your hand. I didn't learn anything in class but I got A's on his exams by HEAVILY studying the textbook.
DONT TAKE THIS CLASS!!!!!!! Professor Carr is a terrible teacher, he's so smart and expects everyone to understand what he's saying. its a GEN ED and he treats it as a bio major class. his tests are insanely hard!! If you want to lower your GPA then take this class. I had to withdraw because I was struggling SO much.
hard class! He is a very tough teacher. His lectures will put you to sleep and his tests are insanely hard!
Nothing he does makes any sense and the way he teaches is not helpful at all.
Daniel Carr unfortunately was probably one of the worse professors I have ever had in my academic career. He was rude and always joked about things that did not pertain to the actual subject that I was paying for.
Yes, Carr is tough when it comes to Bio 151/152. But here's the thing, teaching an intro class is tough when you are used to teaching upper level bio classes. The class is designed for a freshman who is a BIO major and the material learned in this course is intended to be applied to future bio courses. Intro bio is basically a weed-out class.
Clearly knows what he's talking about, but lectures at the speed of light in ridiculous amounts of detail, way beyond the scope of a 101 course. Tests are no better, demanding understanding down to very tiny specifics and have questions that seem designed to trick you. Do not take this professor if you can help it; no idea how I passed.
Just stay away.
Tests were super hard, lectures were long, never got above a 70 on tests. Being that I hate science and it is not my major, I did not enjoy this class even more, but 101 is for non majors so you would think he would take it easy on the students, but no.
He teaches the whole class like its just a review (in my experience at least) and he makes it unclear what will/will not be included on the test
I feel like there was no relation with students. Not much detail explanation. The test are based off examples moreso indirect questions, very challenging. I regret taking it. Lecture was bland boring and monotone. I feel like im paying the professor to teach me and I do more learning on my own and this is only a level one class??!
His lectures are straight from the book, uses TopHat for attendance questions. His tests are worded weird and are designed to trick you. He reads straight off the powerpoints which is very boring. Very little hw assignments and are usually just 5 questions or so. Does not give test feedback which is very annoying.
Hardest class I've ever taken. I still only received a B, but had a profound understanding of the information. Stay away from Daniel Carr.
I would NEVER suggest this professor to anyone, he rambles on about things unrelated to lecture and his tests aren't related at all. I read and outlined the chapters before every class and still failed the tests because of the trick questions.
For a 101 class, he makes it too difficult. It's better off to encourage people than to scare em. Avoid him at any cost, or else be ready to hustle.
I have heard from many students that this instructor is rude and yells a lot at his students. I decided to give him a chance but it turned out that they were right. This guy was extremely rude. So rude that I had to walk out of class at times because he was being nasty towards students. He yelled at a professor once in front of entire class.
I really like Professor Carr as a person. His class is very hard because his lectures aren't helpful for exams, & you need to know the textbook very well. Anyone who didn't do well didn't use the book and just relied on lecture. Do not take him if biology is not your forte, but if you do and you get an A like me, a recommendation from him is gold.
Not a hard class if you just read the book. He's very passionate about the subject and does ramble on a lot so if biology is not your thing, you won't get much from his lectures. All of his powerpoint are straight from the book so even if you only show up to class for the tests, read the book and you'll be fine.
Not half bad
I am a nursing major and was told that I needed this credit for my nursing school. The class was actually not mandatory and I suffered for almost an entire semester for no reason. The tests were cumulative and I didn't pass a single one. He tracks attendance and has questions weekly. Make sure you attend class and read the book or you won't pass.
I was told that I had to take this class for Nursing school, but it turns out I don't. This was the worst semester of Bio I've every taken and it's an introductory course. I had to withdrawal from this class because I was failing due to answering the short answer of my test "too in depth" which apparently means that I "can't read".
90% of your grade is tests, 10% is attendance. The tests are extremely hard and tricky and he goes off topic a lot during class. He's a nice guy and will explain things to you if you go to his office hours but it's hard to get a passing grade with only 4 test grades and a final.
Personally I just don't get Bio but Carr's class makes it more difficult to understand. He seems like a decent guy but, at least for me, it's hard to keep up with his lectures. If you decide to take Bio 101 he has few tests with no other assignments, he takes attendance often and everything he says is directly from the book.
Talks to much. Heavy content on each slide. Only has test grades in so far and it's November.
Carr is not nearly as bad as everyone makes him out to be. He's never been mean or rude like other people have said, and he's helpful if you show that you're trying. Lectures are boring and don't help with tests at all, but go because he randomly takes attendance. Tests are out of the textbook, so keep up with the chapters and you'll be golden
He lies about giving homework, made my class buy tophat AND never freaking uses it like what the heck .-. GO AWAY CARR.
Decent professor, he knows the subject well. This is not a class where you can do nothing. Reviewing the lectures and reading the book are key. Come to class, stay involved, and study you will do fine. He is willing to answer questions.
Rambles about unimportant things in lecture
Mr. Carr is a great professor. Test are easy as long as you read the textbook and study. Lecture are full of information but all the powerpoints can be accessed through blackboard.
He is lecture heavy, truthfully if you read the textbook, you will do better than showing up to class. Classes are very boring, most of the time people will walk out. Rude in some cases, does not give homework, the only grades we really have in Blackboard is test grades. Basically, if you have him switch out, do not set yourself up with failure.
This professor has left a poor impression on my once good impression of biology. i had to reconsider my major because of the grades and the lack of feedback i had to improve the grades i was receiving.
His tests are extremely hard- start studying atlas a week ahead. Go to all the SI sessions and take good notes. His lectures aren't too boring, but there's a lot of information. Read the book and STUDY. His tests are basically the only thing that is factored into your grade. Good Luck!
The only grades that factor into your final grade are the tests, about 2 homework, and a few attendance. Tests are not given back so you can't see what you did wrong. He lectures the entire class period, and still asks for you to read the textbook. If you're not someone who can learn from heavy lecturing nor by reading the textbook, don't take.
It wasn't an easy course for non-bio majors. However, it wasn't hard to get a passing grade in his class. I learned this late, but it helped a lot. Just read the textbook. Everything you need to know is in the textbook and his lectures give added context. Honestly, this isn't even a trick because he told us this the first day. Just read.
Carr is genuinely excited about bio which is nice, but he has scattered lectures which are hard to follow and he doesn't explain things very well. Difficult tests and random attendance. Hated this class and gave up near the end, which is something I never do. Don't take this class especially if you're not majoring in a science.
I like Dr. Carr as a person. He is very kind and very cool, as a teacher he cares less about the performance of the students in his class. He takes pride that he his class is the toughest class . No extra credits , no curve.. I studied so hard and still got a very bad grade and I have to repeat the class because Biology is my Major.
If you know you won't read the textbook or attend any SI sessions or ask questions, do not take this class. He is very approachable and if you come with questions he will answer them. Just read your book and you will do fine.
He doesn't simplify any of the content and he talks about biking too much. His tests were nothing like the actual material and he was really rude to students when they leave early. I wouldn't if I were you there are so many other good BIO 101 professors.
Nice guy, really cool, and you can tell he's passionate about his work, but he's one of those people that is so educated on the subject he has a very hard time relaying that information to others. I learned everything from the book and made my own study guides before tests.
I think most people bashing him here took his class at underclassmen and failed to realize if you don't read the book you will not pass; which he explicitly tells you on day one. I failed the 1st exam, read chapter to chapter for the rest of the semester and have gotten A's and B's. Lectures are long and out of the book but highlights test mat.
You can tell he's really smart and is passionate about biology. Sometimes it's hard to grasp what he says in class but if you read the book you'll do fine.
Prof. Carr is very enthusiastic about biology that he tends to ramble on with few breaks. Don't expect much from him, just read the book. (PS: an SI preceptor has a really helpful quizlet page containing materials that will be on the test. "SUNTHESUSHI." Helped me out on chapters I didn't feel like reading).
Test heavy class, hard to get good grades, I read the text book and still got a final C. Heavy lectures that isn't relevant to what you need so it gets boring, I played chess on my phone I got so bored. Also, he gets annoyed when people walk out and says some annoying remarks. Overall don't take Carr as your bio teacher, pick someone else. --------
No syllabus was given. Tried to go to every class even though there was no attendance rules. Tests are very book heavy. Give long lectures, and is extremely knowledgeable about everything. He is a tough grader, but he wants you to know the material. Attend class and try. I got a 87, its possible to do well!
He's super nice but he teaches directly out of the book in PowerPoints. It's extremely boring. I often skip class and study the book on my own time.
If you go to sleep easily, this is not the class for you! He is nice, but his class is very boring. If you don't read the book, you will not understand the material. I recommend not taking the class if you are not serious about Biology.
He is very into his job, but he easily gets distracted into different topics and can't find the right words to answer questions. It can be hard to follow his lectures. He is a good guy, but it is a struggle to stay awake in his class.
His class is lecture heavy but he is definitely passionate about what he teaches. He is really funny, but overall the lectures make it so easy to tune out. I thought the tests were pretty hard but ended up doing really well on them, so you will be fine as long as you read the textbooks. Attendance is not mandatory but the final is.
He was a nice guy and really enjoyed the subject he taught. I learned nothing in his lectures and they were basically a waste of time. The tests would have material barely even covered in class and were far more descriptive than the PowerPoints or lectures he gave us. He was out for a month, during that time was when I got my highest test grade.
Terrible class, only take if you have to , I'm a humanities major and was put in this class by mistake and figured he was a funny prof so i should take the class; biggest mistake ever. He tends to over describe a lot of topics in class and tries to be funny a little too much. The tests are pretty hard and he never curves.
He is a super nice guy and very smart, definitely has a passion for what he teaches. The only thing is the tests are really hard. There are online quizzes that you can take multiple times to get a 100. Showing up to class for me didn't't make a difference on my test grade. Everything is from the book even if he says it is from lecture.
Carr is so passionate about Bio that sometimes he gets off track, but he is funny and I liked him. Tests r VERY difficult, not something that you can finesse without studying, I went to SI sessions and found it to be helpful,I recommend doing that. Ppts gone over in class r sparse/don't have enough information on them so I had to teach myself a lot
He is a very smart man, but he does nothing to help prepare for the tests. I did better when i didn't attend class and learned on my own pace. I would not take unless you love Bio.
This was one of the hardest classes I've ever taken. Carr is a very nice guy, but his teaching methods were not great. You're given slides with little information and then he throws a bunch of detailed material at you expecting you to memorize every word he says. Exams are extremely hard and worded awkwardly.
He doesn't teach the subject well but seems to know a lot about it. He just isn't the professor you would want for a class that you need credit for.
This is not a class you can skip. The tests are hard and there aren't outlines given to know what you need to study.
He's a really funny guy, but can definitely get off topic during lectures. He was gone due to health reasons during part of the semester so it was hard. The textbook is your lifesaver for this class. Most of his tests are book heavy. Despite other posts, it really isn't THAT bad.
Dr. Carr is one of those professors who obviously knows his stuff but isn't the best at teaching it. I wouldn't have done well without the textbook. His slides tend to be vague and you really need to be in class to be able to fill in the gaps in them. Make sure you do the online homework on Blackboard too.
I really liked his class. His topics usually go along what the textbooks saids. His humor and stories really made the class much more exciting. I really liked the textbook too so make sure you read it
Carr knows what he's talking about however his lectures are so boring, its not an interactive class whatsoever, I got Cs on each test and then a D on one of them- but because of tophat attendance and questions I ended up getting a B in the class. You need to have read the textbook pages BEFORE class starts or else you're left feeling behind.
DO NOT take bio with carr. just don't. you'll basically be teaching yourself, he puts 7 units in ONE exam. A lot of material for a 50 question test
Carr is very passionate about plants and environmental subject matter. He tends to go off on tangents while lecturing but I found that info just as interesting as the actual material. He is a bit scatter brained, but I really enjoyed his class.
Professor Carr didn't take attendance when I had him and I never opened my book for his class. He seemed like a nice guy, but he over complicated everything. His tests were easy at first, but then they got a bit harder. The only reason I ended up with an A is because I took AP Bio in high school. If you can teach yourself, he's a fine prof.
ALL TESTS, NO EXTRA CREDIT
This dude is THE WORST. He goes off topic and tries to be awkwardly funny, and on top of that he makes a Bio 101 class seems like a 400 level class. He does not curve and takes up to 2 weeks to finish grading exams. AND THE icing on cake was he had us take a unit 4 exam followed by the cumulative final 2 days later. Don't take this scrub.
Carr is a great person, but he does get off topic in lecture and you HAVE to read the textbook and somewhat teach yourself, However, if you need clarification he can help. The tests are hard but as long as you study in advance it is not that bad. He's HILARIOUS and not to mention HOT AF. Overall a great person and okay professor.
Carr is a cool guy outside the classroom but he often goes off topic during lectures and his tests also don't coincide with what he talks about during class. He uses powerpoints which he also posts online but he goes into so much detail on the slides that you either have to go to class or basically teach the material to yourself.
Ok. So this professor in particular will make you test your ability to self teach. Bio 101 is straight out of the book, but some of the questions on the exam are from the lectures and the lecture powerpoints. You don't need to attend class very often, but keep up with the chapter readings. 5 exams, and one final. Lowest exam grade is dropped.
Very cool and funny but do your work!!!
My only regret this semester is taking this professor. I read the book, and have been part of multiple tutoring sessions, and still am struggling. NONE of the material on the slides, in the book, or on the homework is on the test. I have no idea where he gets the test questions from. You have to self teach, however who knows where to find it.
This class was one of the worse classes I have ever taken. He's a nice person but an absolutely horrible teacher. His teaching is out of order and he's never on the topic sometimes I felt like having major breakdowns before his tests mainly because of the way he words simple concepts. DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS IF YOU WANT TO PASS!!!!!!!!!!
I had Carr for BIO 101 Lab. The lab itself is pretty basic, there is a fair amount of homework though. Quiz at the beginning of each lab. Labs are interesting, and Carr makes sure everyone is clear with the instructions. I would take him again!
From what I've heard about the other bio 101 profs, this guy is definitely the hardest. But he's super nice and cares. Pretty funny. Makes your work for your grade. Not a lot of homework, just a couple of questions per week. 4 tests but he drops lowest grade at the end.
This guy is awesome. I sit in front&I love to listen to him passionately talk about bioe. He is an honest guy who will always throw in cool information that can be applied to real life, not just from some textbook. Show up,do your own research(TB/YT) for clarification, and be ready to learn about not only the science of life, but life itself.
Lectures don't teach a whole lot, he goes off on a tangent for most of the class. He didn't take attendance this semester. Very nice but really you can just read the online textbook and get solid grades on the test. Not hard to understand if you took any high school biology and go to the SI sessions.
He is a sweet and caring teacher but his grading is honestly so tough on tests. I literally end up with C's on his test no matter how much I study his power point notes and attend every lecture he has and I also read all the chapters from the online textbook plus attending the SI Sessions. I'm confident about the test then end up getting a C :(
Daniel Carr is one of the worst professors I've ever had in my life. He does not know how to teach. I would retake his class to get a better grade but he unfortunately is the only teacher for next semester. I bought the book which was optional this semester, it hasn't taught me anything. His lectures doesn't make any sense. VCU needs to fire him.
Hardly anyone shows up to class or reads the very clear free online textbook!! If you show up, read as youre supposed to (or skim) Youll be fine! his lectures are so funny and so is he and he applies the subject to real life which is something you dont just get out of a textbook. love him!!
Super difficult course unless you are a bio major. There is absolutely no study guides on anything, and when you ask what is most important/ how to study he simply tells you to just get a good nights sleep an you will be fine. Very unhelpful outside of class, and does not know how to use blackboard
While Carr is a nice person, his class was lecture heavy, I attended the lectures, read the textbook, and studied, but still only scored Cs, Ds, and Fs. The tests are the majority of the grade so if you fail them you fail the class. If you don't plan on majoring in Bio, don't take this class!
Funny and caring professor, keeps you intrigued and does not grade too many things. Reading is extremely important for this course
This class was by far my hardest class this semester. No matter how hard I study the PowerPoints and slides I never get more than a 75% on any test. I got a 59% on my first test and that put me at a disadvantage for the rest of the semester. His tests include 60% random unrelated questions to the slides we go over in class.
I do not understand why Carr has so many bad ratings. This is BIO 101. If students are struggling now, good luck in your future classes. Carr was a great Professor and he was always available if I needed help. Current freshmen may be struggling because it is their first semester in college, but trust me it only gets harder. Take him for bio!
Ecological Service learning is a 1 credit class that also counts as a bio capstone. All you really have to do is volunteer 25 hours with ecologically related organizations (like RVA Clean Sweep) & write very easy reflection papers. It was such a great class! Take this class as a capstone, EASY A and you get to help out in the community as well!
Carr is a super nice guy, but not a great teacher. Lectures are okay, but they go off topic, your grade consists of 4 tests, 1 final, and a hw grade. All of these are weighted equally (20%) and he drops a test grade. Tests are pretty hard, very random specific questions, very hard to get As on. No study guides or much guidance at all on his part.
So Carr is a really nice guy and a good professor. A lot of the reviews are from freshman who are right out of high school. This is college and he has a lot of students so he can't hold your hand 24/7. Im not going to lie, you have to work for your grade. I got an 82 on my final but I worked for it. If you go to class and READ A LOT, you will be ok
Carr is a nice guy, but not the best teacher. He often goes off-topic and his test questions are weirdly specific and are not necessarily what he's covered in class. It's definitely a tough class but if you stay on top of your reading you should be able to get an A.
He knew what he was talking about and made corny jokes. He talks a lot and even gets off topic. His lectures are very boring. You really do not need to come to class because he does not do top hat questions or takes attendance. If you read the topics from the online book and powerpoint slides you should be ok.
Professor Carr is a nice man but a terrible teacher. I enjoyed his humor but if you don't go to tutoring (SI sessions, marathons or one or one) then you will not pass. He does not keep up with grades and you could be failing and not even know it. Around midterms he told me that my official midterm grade was wrong but did not change it.
So this is meant to help Carr, not insult him. Hes a good person, but he really needs to improve his teaching method. He says he doesnt just want to throw info at us just to have it spat back at him, but traditional teaching isnt that. Carr please, for your future students, dont get rid of study guides and try to stay on topic in lectures.
Dr. Carr was a great professor! For many of the students complaining they will not be continuing Science, since it's a class that is not required by many science majors. Honestly, coming from a student who missed many classes due to time restraints, I still passed with a high A. Read the material, study the review questions, don't just rely on ppts
Carr is a good professor. He loves what he teaches and will sometimes get too caught up in a subject. He posts his notes online but you should copy them before class and take extra notes when he explains them in more depth. Pay close attention to the diagrams and his explanations because that will be on the test. make sure you actually study too!
Mr. Carr intolerable. He is loud and has even yelled at a few students in class.
Aw this man is so sad I like genuinely did not care about the content and neither did the other 14 people who bothered to show up of my 150 person lecture but I did appreciate him getting up there and giving his useless talk about how much he cares about the james river. a limp noodle of a teacher but i loved him out of pity. easy b.
He talks SOOO much. I recorded his lectures, thinking that it would help me when it didn't. The most I got out of this was attending all the SI and preceptor sessions as well as going to hius office hours, even though he talks a LOT. He also gets off subject to, so beware of that.
I stopped going to his class and started teaching myself, you're better off doing that. But don't slack off and think you can cram everything a week before the exams, this class covers SO MUCH for a 101 class. He's a cool person, but as a teacher... that's a different story. Just teach yourself and go to the SI sessions; he gets off topic A LOT.
Carr reads directly off the powerpoints and at some points you'll have to teach yourself through the textbook. Although the tests are difficult if you keep copying his lecture notes and learning outside of class the material can be understandable. He is very nice and always willing to help. I would take another class by him if I could.
He is a cool person, very chill, and lively in his lectures. Although the great power points and him explaining things the tests are no where near relevant to anything. I go to SI sessions and every lecture and i have a D good luck.
Honestly I didn't go to class. All I did was go to the ppts and make a quizlet. Then I would just do the quizlets and get 80s on the test. He reads from the slides but he was really funny for the classes I went to
Dr. Carr is an awesome professor! I really enjoyed his classes, the content was very interesting and he kept me engaged with the course even though I'm not particularly interested in Biology. He is very approachable, and overall a great person.
Professor Carr is a really caring person, but his class is extremely hard because there is no structure. His tests are nothing like his powerpoints because his ppts are just pictures. He also tends to go off topic a lot in class, so it's really hard to pay attention to him. DO NOT TAKE HIM IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE IN BIO.
daniel carr is extremely knowledgeable in biology, he shows that in his lectures, but he has a tendency to over-complicate things for BIO 101. often times he'll get off topic, and while it's interesting it takes away from material we needed to know for the tests. use every single SCI session you can. practically vital to passing the class
Professor Carr is extremely heavy with lecture, I stopped going to class eventually and started going to SI sessions and teaching myself(studying) the lectures. When test came I was prepared and passed.
BIO-101 is just naturally a subject that contains a lot of material. He doesn't take attendance, but PLEASE go to class! He posts the notes WEEKS before he gives the lecture in class. I suggest taking the notes BEFORE the lecture and then coming to class to follow along and add anything he says. Go to the SI and Marathon sessions! You CAN pass!
Prof. Carr is not a bad professor! He's a nice guy, like if you just go to class, pay attention, take notes and study there is literally no reason why you shouldn't pass. People are lazy, if your a good student you'll pass. I'm literally an art major, no background in biology, and I'm lined up to get a high B to an A. Just try. lol
Honestly as someone who started as a non-bio major he made me realize I really enjoyed science. This class is actually a fairly easy A as long as you show up and actually pay attention to the notes. SI is a great way to learn the materials. If you end up taking up level bios he will deff prepare you for it. Literally just pay attention super easy.
Probably a nice guy at heart but absolutely not suited for a job in teaching much less in teaching this class. His PowerPoints and lectures are so long and dry you couldnt focus for six minutes even if you tried your hardest. You would be better off skipping class and teaching yourself the material during that time.
Dr. Carr likes to get off track in his lectures, so make sure to read his powerpoints and the online textbook because the majority of what he says isn't on the test. He's easily accessible outside of class. SI sessions are what helped me through the exams.
As a person he is very helpful but as a teacher he is tougher than he needs to be. His exam are heavy and not really related to his lecture. If you like to be independent then this class is for you. You dont even have to show up at class, you can go through slides and go to marathon session, you will do good. I wish he had option for extra credit
This class is pretty easy if 1. you've taken biology before 2. do the homework 3. you're good at test taking. The homework are easy online quizzes you can take as many times as you need to, and test questions are sometimes on them. Other than that there isn't any other homework. No projects. No papers. Pretty straightforward.
Daniel Carr was okay. His lectures are pointless. He takes 15 minutes to talk about one slide. His test are standardized, which makes studying hard because most of the material he talks about in class isnt on the test. During our final exam, he yelled at cursed at us. Never again.
Daniel Carr is a very rude instructor. He is just an instructor. He is not worthy of a professor title. There were multiple times where he yelled at students for no apparent reason. He is extremely difficult to get a hold of you and he is even rude when he sends you emails. I would highly recommend you not take this instructor.
He got a little overexcited sometimes and went off on tangents. I think I would have enjoyed the class more if i understood science.
If you go and listen you're fine, i never took any notes i just made study guides like 2 days before the test
Definitely not the professor to take if you have no prior knowledge about biology. Very scattered in his lectures, but going to them is useful. Nice dude, cares a lot about the subject, but not a great professor. Attend SI and precepting sessions!! They are essential to passing this course.
Nice guy who obviously cares about biology a lot. Attendance isnt mandatory but was mad when there werent many people (lecture class). His tests were HARD and I showed up to every class and took notes. Go to to SI sessions they really help. You have to work for your grade but lowest test grade is dropped.
Carr cares about Biology, but I would not take him if you've never taken a Biology class before. If he expects you to know something, he simply skims over it. Homeworks are online quizzes that can be taken multiple times. Your grade is mainly based off of 4 tests and the final. The lowest test grade is dropped. Not a hard class if you try.
Go to SI sessions and PRECEPTING SESSIONS. Chase and Ed (the preceptors) SAVED MY LIFE and are the only reason I didn't fail. Carr's lectures are long and boring but if you go and actually pay attention, they kind of make sense. Make friends and have lots of study sessions, read the textbook as much as u can & GO TO CLASS and you should be fine
Carr is not the type of teacher you want if you actually want to learn about the subject. He goes off on tangents regularly and people barely show up to his class. He's also unapproachable, and can be condescending when asked questions. Other than that, SI sessions make his class more understandable. But not a good teacher overall.
Professor Carr is an awesome biology professor. He gives great feedback (when you ask the questions) and is willing to go out of his way to answer questions he doesn't already know. He is easily available and is willing to help you in any way he can! He's also really funny and I enjoyed going to his lectures. The grading he does is very fair.
He is a very good man and an even better professor. Do not slack off. Follow his course calendar/syllabus and go to SI sessions and/or office hours if you need his help and they will help A LOT!!!! Read the content and you will be fine.
Daniel Carr is your average professor. He does his job, but it is up to you to to truly learn the material. He drops the lowest test grade, but he will not round your 89.9 to an A. The homework are 5-10 questions on blackboard that you can redo as many times as you like. Go to class, do your homework, study and you'll be fine. Not an easy A.
Overall, Professor Carr was good. He was very specific in his syllabus of what he wanted and expected. There is a lot of quizzes and discussion posts, but as long as your good at time management, you'll be fine.
Disclaimer, this class may have been neutered by being forced into an online format. The lectures were boring and long, and uninspiring. The homework seemed excessive for an 1 credit easy class. Otherwise, the class was relatively average, and it isn't too difficult to get an A if you attend everything and just follow directions.
he is a great professor, he cares about his students, is understanding and his tests are fairly easy if you read the textbook and listen to his lectures and he is very kind
Professor Carr's class was interesting and enjoyable. He is an articulate and easy-to-understand teacher. He is always happy to answer questions, either in class or by email. The tests are easy if you read the textbook, which he provides online, and study beforehand. If not, they will be hard, since the questions are generally on specific concepts.
Do your work and youll pass. He doesnt count attendance and will answer any questions you have. He does teach a bit fast and his lectures are boring but the class is easy.
professor carr isnt a bad professor at all dont get me wrong his lecture are long and boring but overall hes a very nice person. just do all your reading question, homework questions & study for the test ( go to SI sessions or make a study group ) and you should be fine.
Professor Carr was an awesome teacher who genuinely wants you to succeed. If you have any questions or concerns, you can always talk to him after class or through email and he is very responsive and helpful. Tests and homework questions are extremely easy, especially if you took AP Biology in high school and struggled in that past class.
Honestly, he's improved judging from the past ratings but he is kinda awful in some regards. Some days all he does is drone on what's on the powerpoints then wonders out loud why his class gets smaller and smaller. Once he literally lost all copies of our first exam so we had to REDO IT which is awful but whatever class was a repeat of HS so easy A
In my experience, Professor Carr was not a great professor. The way he explained things almost never made sense to me, and I often found myself lost and unfocused in his lectures.
This is an easy class material wise but he was such a terrible teacher it became difficult if you have to take him like there is no other professors left DONT just take the L and take the class the next semester its not worth it. Youll be reading a textbook all semester in your dorm room I dont even know what they pay this man for.
Honestly I'm a little confused at how good some of these recent reviews are. I just had Prof Carr last semester and I had an extremely hard time in his class. Lectures are very long and confusing. He's pretty difficult to understand and tests are pretty much your entire grade. He assigns few things besides them.
Do not take bio with this man. On the first day of class he said that when he took bio he got a C, and he didn’t even major in anything science related. He was a history major. All he does is ramble non stop in his lectures which makes it very hard to follow along. One of those teachers who takes pride in the fact that he’s a harsh grader.
Terrible with communication, not understanding when students cannot make it for exams (which are basically your entire grade, Lectures are pointless because he shows zero enthusiasm or expression and slides are not telling of what will be on exams. DO NOT TAKE!!!! ABSOLUTELY ABSURD!!!
He a was really great teacher and was able to give a lot of real life applications of the material, was really knowledgeable and I found the class very interesting. great contact for envs/bio students.
I truthfully believe Professor Carr has no idea what he is teaching. The lectures are pointless, long, and he is never on topic. The tests are phrased weird and make zero sense. He doesn't care about his students, and for bio 101 the class was very hard (Nearly everyone would fail the exams). Avoid this professor at all costs.
not the best with communication and gives you so much detailed information to understand in such a short period of time. i would get it if this was a higher level course but this was supposed to be a 101 class
the class is weighted heavily on tests that the entire class struggles with and it's an intro class
if you want to take a bio course that you'll do well in and actually gain something from, this class/professor is not for you. tests are basically the only thing you get graded on aside from reading questions, and the tests themselves are miserable. the lectures are borderline unbearable, to the point where i would rather watch paint dry. flop.
I am pretty sure this garbage of a professor wrote any review above 1 because this man genuinely cannot teach. If you take Carr be ready to fail alongside your classmates your grade will be solely based on exams. For an intro class it was a nightmare. Don't bother emailing you won't hear back, just accept defeat.
This was supposed to be an intro course, and I ended up reconsidering my entire major because of this class. He made it so much more difficult, and his lectures are tangent heavy and drone on for way too long. The tests are also hard but that might also be because it's so difficult to even learn in his class.
I genuinely think I would have had an easier time learning Mandarin Chinese than taking this class. It is an extremely test heavy class and the tests are very difficult and hard to prepare for. I do believe Daniel Carr is passionate about what he teaches, however, he does not explain the topics well.
Anyone who put a 1 review either a.)didn't study in enough time or b.)freshman that assumed since it was an introductory class they wouldn't have to study to pass. Mostly everything on his presentations are on the test and he offers SI and marathon sessions to prepare for tests. Only giving a 3 because lectures were boring and it was test heavy.
Daniel Carr has admitted to nearly failing this same class when he took it in college. He fails to proof read the tests he creates for his students, he keeps each student's cumulative grade on canvas locked, and he waters down the lecture material. If you have a question about a test or assignment don't even bother emailing him.
Daniel carr is the worst professor Ive had in college, his way of teaching was to lecture for an hour on material that didnt even help on the test. All the students I talk to are failing on account of the course grade being 80% test grades, I hate the way the tests are written the questions and he doesnt give study guides.
Took this course online Spring 2021. As a humanities student who struggles with STEM, it was not an easy class at all. Get ready to "teach" yourself everything- plus some of the quizzes had questions that weren't in the textbook readings.
I had attended every lecture with open ears, and I never understood anything that was being communicated to me. At first I thought it was just a me issue because I flunked our first exam, but as I went around asking others it's clear that this wasn't the case. Your grade is heavily reliant on tests, not the 10 pounds of homework or reading needed.
I don't like his grading policy at all it is very easy to fail his class even if you are a good student, who does all the work and shows up to every lecture.
Read the chapters before class and youll be okay. Lectures can drag, he gets preachy when he enjoys the topic and loses focus. Still pretty interesting, and hes a good guy. Homework is easy, you have multiple attempts, but studying for tests is important if you want a good grade.
He is honestly such a drag, but I preferred going to lecture just because it sort of helped me know what we were talking about, but almost never actually taught me anything. He's pretty hard to understand b/c most of his lectures are based off of tangents. Def study before tests, your grade will thank you.
He speaks very monotone and it can be hard to differentiate what matters from what doesn't. Slides are very heavily dependent on what he verbalizes. He's a passionate guy but if you ask him for help he's the type to not give you a direct answer but give you more things to think about. Had to depend on tutoring to get an A.
Confusing teacher. I struggled in this class and spent way too much time studying for exams. I feel like he did not cover the important material in class and left it to us to study for homework. Wish he would change up his lesson plans. Bad explainer and often goes off on a tangent
i do not recommend this class at all his lectures are boring and are very off topic at some points to the point people stopped showing up, the grading isn't that great either with 4 tests my entire class got averages of a D for the majority of the tests and he just is unable to convey any material in an interesting way especially for non-bio majors
Only tests and homework are graded for your final score. Tests are really hard and you have to attend lectures to see what he elaborates on based on the slides. Write slides before class and do homework to come to the lecture with questions. Go to SI marathon sessions before tests.
He didn't respond to an email I sent about being sick and missing a test. I handed in a doctors note, but he never got back to me about making up the test. According to Canvas at the end of the year, I was passing the class & when I looked at my grade, I had an F. It says I have a passing grade in Canvas, but I'm missing 3 grades for exams I took.
Take anyone else for bio 101 or drop it and take it next semester if necessary.
Lectures were boring and hard to follow. Grade was calculated through tests and homeworks. Had to buy online interactive homework/textbook which was expensive. Very hard to reach outside of class, and bad with putting in grades. If you study and do the work the tests aren't bad at all, just be ready to help yourself more than he will help you.
Car's Bio 101 is the hardest class I've taken so far. The content that the online homework was on was almost never on the tests bit required. He talked heavily about the topics he was interested even if they weren't going to be a majority of the tests. I only passed by going to sessions with the TA. Take a different professor to save yourself.
Carr was an okay professor. He talks a lot, specifically about plants. His lectures are long and boring. I personally, wouldn't take him again, but if he's one of your only choices, he's not horrible.
its difficult to stay engaged for the whole lecture. the tests are usually 50 questions and on paper, also difficult if you dont write down everything he says.
Expect long hours of studying and all-nighters. Very homework heavy & it's easy to pile up. Lectures can often time get off track. There are 4 tests and a final exam that are 50-60 questions. He seems like a great person and is very intelligent, but lectures are hard to follow and often get off track.
Be ready to read &take notes! The textbook will help you understand each chapter &Professor Carr's lectures. The homework can help test your knowledge of what you know. If you cannot reach him, I recommend going to his office hours! I also advise going to SI &marathon sessions. If you put in the work, you can pass! I have gotten A's on all my tests
His lectures were completely unrelated to test. Would start on one topic and change to another in seconds. Lastly rude!
just no. he did not put in one of my exam grades in and i told him and he still has not put it in even when he told me to email him.
In my opinion, he is a great & caring professor! I enjoyed his class. Some tips: Always read the textbook (it's more in-depth than notes from slides), do not procrastinate on studying (study ahead of time!), do the homework to see your level of understanding before the test, attend SI, ask questions during lectures, or go to office hours if needed.
Just study and you'll be fine. he's a good professor, very approachable and kind. He knows what he is teaching and he is very knowledgable. do not stack off in his class! be on top of your assignments and create a schedule for studying. attend SI sessions. I know its tempting to skip class because attendance is not mandatory but don't.
Professor Carr's class isn't difficult make sure to study ahead of time. So far, i enjoy going to his class. he's very caring & will answer your questions. take advantage of his office hours & attend SI. find a way to study the material effectively. you will definitely pass if you stay on top of studying, homework, and pay attention in class
he is not terrible but i would not take professor carr again. i struggled in his class. never again. good luck to those who are taking him
- i would rather take another professor - i don't like his teaching style - test heavy - he gets off topic a lot during lectures
Professor Carr is a nice guy and extremely engaged in what he's teaching! Although, I wouldn't take bio with him just because it's such a test-heavy course. You REALLY have to study the material BEFORE class and go to SI sessions to have an understanding of his lecture. He creates powerpoints but they're vague so you have to read the textbook!
I really enjoyed his class!
I had a positive experience with Professor Carr. He's not only knowledgeable but also approachable, friendly, and genuinely cares about his students. In terms of the class, I found it to be quite manageable and not overly challenging. I was able to keep up with the material and assignments. Overall, I would recommend Professor Carr's class.
Professor Carr is a good lecturer and it's clear he enjoys and understands biology. This was the biology 101 for non-majors so he didn't get too heavy into large concepts. Make sure to read the online textbook before lecture if you want to understand what the lecture is about. Tests aren't too bad as long as you put in the effort to study.
You're only graded on the four tests he gives you throughout the semester, so you gotta ACE them. Just study the PowerPoints he posts on Canvas and read the textbook. He's not the most engaging lecturer and I'd get lost during his lectures pretty quickly. It's better to study at home and then show up for the test days because those are in person.
Prof. Carr is pretty nice but gets way off-topic during lectures so you have to read ahead yourself. HW is worth 40% of the final grade and 4 tests each at 15%, the tests aren't too bad if you study for a couple hours, but if you don't study you will fail! Literally just go to class and spend a few hours studying each week and you'll have an A.
I didn't do well in Professor Carr's class, but I appreciate his assistance. I didn't take his class too seriously during the first month, which was a terrible mistake on my part. He's a great professor and will occasionally crack jokes during lectures. Give him a chance! I recommend his class. He's a wonderful guy
Dr. Carr was a good Professor and knew how to explain things, but you have to know part of the material as well if you want to succeed. You have to show up to the lectures and pay attention in his class, because part of the material which will appear on the test comes from his lectures so, watch out.
This class was not difficult for me because I took many bio classes during high school. From my perspective, this class was a refresher and I also learned new material. For ex, kreb cycle, pyruvate oxidation, etc. Professor Carr is a great guy love him and would take him again!
He's your standard biology prof, really into his work, and funny. There were only 4 tests the entire semester, which account for 60% of the grade, and the online homeworks the other 40%, so definitely focus on those. His lectures sometimes got complicated and he moved fast, so I mostly relied on the textbook and SI sessions offered.
hw is 40% and each exam is 15% each and we get 4 exams. The exams are pretty hard unless you study hard and pull all nighters. Prof Carr is a great guy and I appreciate his hard work
Only take this class if ur prepared to read the *expensive* textbook you have to get. I could coast my way thru high school easily w/out much studying, but for this class, I def had to sit down and just read the textbook. Don't take notes from his slides, just the textbook. Otherwise, you'll get lost in his unorganized and wordy lectures.
I enjoyed having Professor Carr as my biology professor! He is very kind and approachable. The class wasn't hard for me.
I wanted to share my friendly experience w/ Professor Carr. Not only is he super knowledgeable, but he's also really caring and approachable. I had him as my bio professor, & I loved it. If you ever have the chance to take one of his classes, I highly recommend attending his lectures & office hours. He genuinely cares about his students, & it shows
Carr is a decent professor, but not one I would want to take again. Textbook is free and online, and you will need to read it to understand. 4 exams are 60% of ur final grade, with the other 40% being homework. The tests cover material that we did not learn, and many of his classes do only okay on them. However, homework is very easy to figure out.
If you don't read the textbook every single day, you will probably fail the class. The only real assignments in the class were four exams, and they make up a combined 60% of your overall grade, while the other 40% is from homework.
tips for success: you do not need to read the textbook everyday. the syllabus will tell you what topics and chapters are going to be on the test :) some chapters you can skip. just understand it well enough so you can explain it to others! test yourself and you can pass the class! the textbook and the lectures cover everything on the test.
This class was a good start as an introduction class. While the textbook was required to buy, it was essential to have in order to succeed in the class. Professor Carr was very interesting to listen to and was passionate about what he taught. To succeed, you get what you put in, just like any other class. SI sessions were very helpful.
This class is a challenging class, but totally possible to get the grade that you want if you just put in the time and effort. Most of your learning will happen outside of lecture. Prof.Carr is a fair grader, really cares about Biology and he is a really good guy if you get to know him.
There a lot of negative things said about this professor, especially for Biology 101. Yes, the grade is heavily weighed by tests, but there are only 4 tests. I am not interested in biology at all, yet I found this class interesting because the professor was enthusiastic and reasonable. Don't trust these ratings, it's a good class!
This guy's class isn't necessarily hard but I think he expects us to already know what he is talking about so his explanations are lacking. Aside from his lectures, he tends to ramble or rant about his life problems a lot and his past which takes away from the lessons and is kind of awkward.
I took this class as a gen ed and hated it, the professor rarely talked about the material on the tests during lectures, and he goes off on tangents not related to the content, you have to teach yourself through the homework modules, and is overall a professor I wouldn't wanna take again.
Terrible class, he talks at you for an hour while going through slides that summarize the textbook. He rants about his life issues and often goes off on unnecessary and unwanted tangents. I like biology but I found myself falling asleep during this class because of how boring it was. Grades are based on 50 question tests, no study guide ever.
Dont take this class unless you have to
Daniel Carr is an amazing guy, but his class was extremely difficult with little to no opportunity to make up grades. Don't take his class if you're likely going to fall into the loophole of skipping class because attendance is optional. I went to a rigorous Private High School and always did well in sciences so I was surprised by the difficulty.
This class requires consistent effort and engagement. The textbook is essential, but Professor Carr's lectures provide helpful context. Unstuckstudy AI proved a valuable study tool alongside other resources like ChatGPT. Challenging, but manageable with dedication.
I loved this class
I took Professor Carr's class last semester. He was (and still is) very knowledgeable about biology. I loved his class, and I am very happy that I got to experience his teaching!
As a person, Mr.Carr is decent. But as a professor he's one of the worse. No study materials, no grade recovery, no chances to bring your grade up. Just reads off a textbook on a big screen and hopes you understand by the end of the class. No classwork but his lectures and homework does not relate to the test.
He himself was chill but he just reads off the slides and talks about it as if you already know the topic. Isn't very clear and class was boring. You have to teach yourself or else you'll fail. Tests every unit and he never puts the homework into the grade until midterm so you'll never know your actual grade. No grades except the test & textbook hw
Attendance is not mandatory, but he gives pretty good lectures. Very understanding, but the tests are hard and the homework is as well.
Do not and I mean do not take this class if you can avoid it, and if you accidentally do, go to SI meetings from the start. He lectures and goes off track so easily it's almost impossible to retain information. Additionally, the only things that matter are the four tests that decide your grade.
First off, Mr. Carr is a great guy who I believe cares about his students. You can tell he is knowledgable in Biology, but it doesn't translate to teaching. The lectures are very hard to follow and not very helpful. Be prepared to read all the chapters on your own and watch videos related to the subject ( I suggest Pearson+). I would not take again
Overall, the class isn't the worst 101 to take. You're mainly graded on homework and have 4 tests on it. But beware that the book is 80$, he rambles a lot but most of the work can be done async (it was just easier for me to teach myself).
Lecture is very heavy, if you slack off you will likely fall behind. Make sure to understand every slides, ask for help if needed!! Studying is extremely important for this class!
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Attendance Mandatory
18%
Textbook Required
35%
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