2.5
Quality4.4
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Reviews26%
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171
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44
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44
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“Immunology is the toughest class ever”
BIOL455IMMUNO - 1.0 rating“STAY AWAY FROM IMMUNOLOGY”
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Reviews (171)
Boring as heck, aviod him if possible
AVOID AVOID AVOID. he gets mad when you ask questions and even though he knows his stuff he cant teach
DO NOT TAKE ANY CLASS WHERE HE TEACHES. He puts information on his quizzes and tests that he has never gone over, he's boring, he can't explain things well, and he won't answer your questions. Class wouldn't be hard if he tested on what he went over in class. Worst teach i have this semester. Avoid, avoid, avoid.
HE IS THE WORST PROFESSOR I HAVE EVER HAD. no exaggeration, he has absolutely NO idea what he is doing. I couldn't have said it any better than anyone else. He doesn't test on his lecture material, you need to be a biology wiz to understand; which is rediculous for a 101 course. AVOID THIS PROFESSOR. HE SUCKS!!
Absolutely horrible. He knows what he's talking about, but he can't explain it clearly. Test questions are almost impossible to understand and there's information on the tests that isn't covered in class. He's very unhelpful and his answers for almost everything are check the syllabus or ask me during office hours.
he is a nice guy overall but his class is probably the hardest biology class I have ever taken and I am a biology major...his test questions are very unclear causing most of the class to do terrible on them (he will not curve either)...I study for days for his tests and still end up with C's...good luck if you need to take this class with him
Guy doesn't know how to teach. He's more of a researcher definately not an intro bio teacher.
The material covered in class does not at all correlate with the test. Your questions will be left unanswered or answered in a way that you can not understand. He clearly knows what he is talking about, however he can not translate it to his students.
DO NOT TAKE HIM! Everything everyone below me has said is correct. His test questions make NO sense. I know ALL the material, yet he doesn't test on the material. Really considering withdrawing. The class average for the first test was in the 40s and the average for the second test was in the 50s...
I am a biology major with a pre med concentration and I like the way he teaches, its what I thought college was about. Get the outline in class and then you have to look EVERYTHING up online and understand it completely. Book is kinda helpful but its not enough, you have to go into more detail about everything in order to get at least a C.
He's awful. He talks his way through multiple choice answers in a way that more than one answer can be right and puts more than one right answer on test questions. I had a 70 in his class before I withdrew, even though I was maintaining a 99 in the lab. Worst teacher ever, don't take his classes!
best professor ever *extreme sarcasm* ive never had a professor this unclear.
Dr. Straus is a nice man. He is very intelligent, however has a difficult time relating to the students. His test questions are not representative of the material he teaches. My advice would be DO NOT worry about taking notes. Listen very carefully and then go over his slides on blackboard and you will get a B.
He is very intelligent and very helpful, but his teaching style and testing styles are difficult to follow. He is willing to help you, but you will have hard time getting used to his test styles. My advice to you, if you HAVE to take the course for prereq, wait until you absolutely need to take the course. He needs to get adjusted to VCU first
Avoid Avoid Avoid. Take another professor for this course and you will get the grade deserve. He is very smart and nice but does not know how to teach a 101 course. If you are an upperclassmen you may be able to handle it but do not take as a freshman. Teaching style and testing style are too advanced for a 101 course.
Very nice and smart but his teaching and testing styles are very difficult, especially if you are a freshman with little experience. Take another professor if you are a freshman and if you are an upperclassmen you may do better. He will become a better professor eventually
Prof Straus is probably not one of the easiest teachers in VCU! His exams are extraordinary hard due to the way he frames the questions that make it to come down to two relavent answers that you need to put your gut feelign into! Even when you feel confident you get shattered witht the results in the end! I wouldn't recommend him!!!! EVERRRRR!
He is not a good teacher at all! He doesn't know how to teach this course. He says his exams are based on his slides of notes but thats false! He just makes up questions and phrases them in a very complicated way so you don't even know what he is asking for. I do not recommend him for biology.
His class was not easy! But it forced me to figure out new ways of studying I wasn't used to, and also pushed me to become a better student. I tried as hard as I could in this class and it paid off.
Straus is a very intelligent and kind man. He can be a bit disorganized but he knows his stuff. Study the lecture slides carefully and reinforce it with book material.
So far I have agree with the majority (- personal attacks) Tests reflect material not directly covered in class, the phrasing of questions may be more approprriate for graduate students, some terms are not discussed in class but put on tests making them more difficult. The material is not hard. The professor would best fit teaching graduates.
What is this I don't even.. But for real, his tests questions have nothing to do with lecture material. This is, to say the least, irritating. Nice man though.
His class is Hard, Very hard and by far the worst class I had attend in my college career. His exam was ridiculous. The material that he covered in class is irrelevant to the exam. It difficult to comprehend what he try to said or asked in the exams. Do not take the class if u don't have to. It was a mistake and I paid for it.
Terribly class, avoid if possible. Tests are nothing like lectures in class, even if you study.
Horrible professor, wish I wouldn't have wasted my time. Tests you on hypothetical situations that he makes up on the fly that maybe you went over the information, maybe not, who really knows??!! Verrrryyyy condescending and not willing to help...avoid at all costs
DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME!
This is the worst teacher at VCU! do NOT take him! You will be frustrated all year. His tests are hard, he phrases the questions so that its impossible to know what he's asking. If your taking Bio 101 DO NOT TAKE WITH HIM. Even if you do pass you won't learn anything. He has hardly any grades besides the tests, and they do not come from lectures.
This class is not that difficult. VCU students just don't put the time and effort into it. If you study his lecture slides and understand them you will do fine! It's college you should have to work for your grade. I came from UMW and VCU is a joke compared to the work I did there.
The class isnt difficult. He drops the lowest test grade, gives you plenty of opportunity to get 100's on all your quizzes at the end of the semester. For the test, use his study guides and powerpoints to make your own notes and you will be fine.
Not sure what everyone is complaining about...This wasn't a required course for me, I put in MINIMAL effort and ended with a high B. Tests are straight from the slides. if you arent doing well on the exams, he allows multiple attempts on quizzes and offers more points than he uses for grading on quizzes and clicker, which is MORE than generous.
Love him. A very smart man and this class has a lot to offer if you put in the time. Use the book to understand the slides, ask questions and use the study guides and you will do well. He is really nice to boot.
Very difficult to understand his teaching ethics. MEMORIZE EVERYTHING, and you'll pass
He only reads notes from his slides and talks so dry. Its very hard to concentrate in that class.
Worst class at VCU. If you have to take MicroBio take it elsewhere or with someone else. He is terrible. One attempt at quizzes that are 10 questions in 10 minutes, that are awfully hard. 30-35 questions on tests-hard again. Does CPS questions. He does drop your lowest test grade, but tests are worth 65% of your grade. Good luck.
Seriously wouldn't recommend him.
Dr. Straus is not an easy professor, his test are worded hard. Just learning his lecuture like he says is not good enough. Do NOT take his class. Ever.
DO NOT take this class. I am usually an A B student. This class is ridiculously hard. He words things to purposely confused you. He is never straight forward at all.If you care about your GPA, forget about taking it with this professor.
I have lab with strauss. 1-2 quizzes and 7-8 labs. grades them very hard!! Out of 24 people in class, maybe 3-4 have an A. I have lecture with him in the spring. theres no way around it. he's only teacher for bio 209. in order to take it a vccs you have to have 2years of college chemistry(something i don't have) i'll have to make the best of it :/
In order to do well in this class, you HAVE to know this man's thought process. His reasoning defies most common sense. I have an A in the class right now. I recommend you record his lectures (which are extremely dry and boring) and write down every word he says so you can know how his brain works. You dont need the textbook.
In order to do well in this class, you HAVE to know this man's thought process. His reasoning defies most common sense. I have an A in the class right now. I recommend you record his lectures (which are extremely dry and boring) and write down every word he says so you can know how his brain works. You dont need the textbook.
do yourself a favor and take your one year of college bio and chemistry so you can take this class at a communty college. its ridiculusly hard!! 7-8 lab reports only worth 10points. i've never heard of such lucariousy!! same go for quizzes. none of your lowest grades are dropped eithr. right now i have 77. i've gotten 80s and one 75 on labs so far
DROP THIS CLASS IF YOU HAVE HIM. I am usually an A/B student but I am struggling to keep a C in the class. His lectures are very broad but the tests and quizzes are very specific. His wording and examples are impossible to understand. DON'T TAKE THIS CLASS
Honestly if you are a freshment and it is your first semester. drop this class immediately and get an easier teacher that can actually explain the information being taught. The way he words things on test and quizzes is impossible to understand. I BARELY have a C, the stress isnt worth it! GET ANOTHER TEACHER!
Whatever you do don't take this teacher! No matter how hard you study you won't get a good grade. His test questions are worded in ways that make it impossible to understand what he's asking. He's not helpful either.
This lab is probably one of the hardest i ever had. Even anatomy wasnt this bad!! He grades them really hard. all the reports are worth 10 points except the lst one(25 points) Google is your best friend it comes to answering lab questions. right now i have C- or D+. dont take this class if you dont have to.
the first test that we took more than 50% failed and then he was really concerned but still depends on how smart you are. this could have been a very easy class or a very hard class. he doesn't really teach but is a very knowledgeable but very boring to listen to.he tries to answer everyones questions bu no usually has questions.
Would not recommend, take another teacher, doesn't teach the class as a 100 level class,teaches as a 300 level class
DO NOT TAKE THIS PROFESSOR. He never makes sense. More than half the class has a C or lower. His tests are very hard to comprehend!
Prepare for a journey through hell. This class is ridiculously hard. Lots of scenarios and questions pulled from thin air. Dont plan on getting anything higher than a low C. right now i have 45 and its only the 2nd week of class. He really tries to trick/trip you up. Alot of people are taking it twice. This is my lst time taking this class.
Mr. Straus is incredibly nice, he is clear in his explanations and tries to push the students. If you go to class and study the material, you will do well.
This class is ridiculously hard. The questions are unfair and unclear. Coming from an A student who is struggling to keep a C- trust me. If you can find a way around this class do it. It's not about learning the material and more about deciphering his insane questions.
the person who commented about bringing a recorder to class was right!! Bring a recorder and write down word for word! the book is heavy on chemistry terms, kinda useless. Even with the recorder the test are still tricky, but easier then cps and quizzes. Still hard though, 1st test is easiest so far and 2nd test prettty hard, no grade up yet :/
At first I didn't like his class, but it became interesting . He's a nice guy & explains if you have questions. He does CPS questions & they hard. I did bad in most quizzes, but I did well on TESTS. I recommend attending class & take notes. Also, go over the powerpoints before quizzes/tests. It's an easy class if you study & go to class.
Avoid this professor if you can! He refuses to answer your questions directly, complicates even the most basic of concepts, and is extremely boring and dry. I am an A student struggling to get a C. Hours of studying do not help because most of your time is spent analyzing his insane, oddball questions on exams.
Print out the slides, copy your notes from class onto the slides and study ONLY that slides+notes. Only use the book if you don't understand something mentioned on slides. If you study from the book you'll be wasting your time. Study like it is a higher (300-400) lvl class. If you do this you'll get a good grade and learn alot about microbio!
Do NOT take bacteriology.He makes things so much more complicated than they have to be.The avg exam grades were a 50.I finished w/88.He didn't apply any curve to the class or to the students who came close to getting an A despite the terribly poor performance of the class.Disappointing when you work hard and don't even get a reward for it.
There are no curves in this class or retaking of any of the quizzes to get better grades. This class requires ALOT OF TIME!! I brought a recorder and wrote down word for word and studied the powerpoints. Quizzes are based off powerpoints, book is useless. I ended with 85, probably could of been an A if he curved. You will learn alot.
Difficult
At first I hated this class because I had a hard time learning how to study for it. During the midpoint of the semester I had an F, but he was very helpful and I learned to ONLY study the powerpoints and I ended up with a B. It also helps that the material gets interesting towards the end!
Put it to you this way, I had to put more than enough effort combined into this class than what I did for orgo and anatomy. I ended up with a B but it took extreme studying. He combines work with this class and his 303 class. If possible, take with another professor otherwise, be prepared before class!
I am a B student and I got a borderline A in this class. This class is not really that difficult and the material isn't what is bad. It's the way Straus words his questions on his exams that may be difficult to comprehend. Read the test questions carefully word for word. And the quizzes were 10x harder than the exams so try to do at least average
HE IS THE WORST TEACHER EVER!!!!He makes no sense at all. The quizzes are timed and the questions he asks are ridiculously hard so the only way to pass them are if your him. The test are worded terribly to trick you and he doesn't curve them at all! He is definitely the WORST professor i've ever had at VCU.
AT first I was terrified to take BIOL 209. But I still got an A in the class. Best way to study for his exam and quizzes is to memorize his notes that he puts online.U MUST go over those sections in the book. Record lectures n listen to them. And I looked for key words in his questions which helped me ace all my exams.DO NOT MISS CPS questions!!!
Dr. Straus voice is amazingly soothing, not very useful in a morning class. His class is extremely boring. Unless microbiology is your thing, his class will be quite boring. His notes are very irrelevant to his exams. He expects you to read the book and teach yourself for both quizzes and exams. Must go to class, he has in class activities.
One of the worst professors I have taken at VCU. I had him for both microbio and bacteriology and his quizzes and tests are ridiculously hard for no reason. He takes a simple concept and makes it hard. All I can say is don't take his class.
Here is the thing, this professor is difficult because he is one of the few left that ACTUALLY challenges his students. I am an A student in Psychology, but struggled in his class because I've never been forced to use applicative knowledge on a test. I will get a B in his class, after pouring HOURS every week into studying. You will learn a lot.
The grading scale is unclear, will not give you percentages per exam. I spent more time on this class than any of my classes. Avoid, because most likely you'll not be given the grade you deserve for all the hard work you put in.
This class requires more than other classes; however, that is because there is a lot of material and you need to really understand it. Dr. Straus is VERY fair in grading (even has 2 extra credit quizzes totaling 20 points max!) If you have any trouble, go to his office hours and he will clarify everything for you. I received an A.
He is very intelligent but his quizzes are ridiculous. I studied so much for this class and I struggled to maintain a passing grade. His quizzes are timed good luck. You have a 4th exam and a commutative exam on the last day. There is no extra credit. He drops 1 quiz but he should drop more since people fail them. His exams are okay.
Great teacher, but bad reputation
He is a very confusing man. DO NOT buy the textbook. All of his tests are from his power points. He has a hard time explaining the material in a different form if you have questions.
It is very difficult to understand Dr. Straus during the lectures as he goes over his slides very fast and the material is not easy. But he is very helpful if you go to his office hours. He briefly reviews old material every lecture.There are 4 exams, the lowest exam can be dropped. Recording the lectures helps a lot.Also, find good study partners
Amazing professor; he is extremely knowledgeable and intelligent, but has a bad reputation. Record his lectures and you will do fine.
He is a terrible professor. I got 79.4 and no matter how much I asked he wouldn't increase it to a B. His exams are extremely difficult and he is not helpful. Avoid this class because no matter how hard you try its not worth wasting your time!
I was terrified to take his class after all of the comments but I enjoyed his class and I wouldn't mind taking him again. Not the most clear professor that I've had but he gives a cap on the clickers and gives you a chance to replace a test grade with the final, so an A is very possible. In the end, I actually learned a lot. Studying is a must.
Be prepared for a lot of studying and suffering since he gives the worst quizzes and tests that I have ever seen. Good luck trying to actually earn the grade you deserve even if you did study. He is definitely more of a researcher rather than a professor so do yourself a favor and save your GPA. He needs to start learning how to curve!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, he has a bad reputation but he really is an AMAZING teacher. He really knows the material inside and out and is crystal clear during his lectures. The only thing I don't like about him is how he forces conversation between people for something as minor as clicker questions. Overall, I enjoyed him and I would not mind taking Straus again.
He knows alot of info but the class is VERY rigorous. You really have to know the info in and out to do well on test. Regular studying will earn you a C on a test. Have to put in ALOT. SO you gotta really know the powerpoints. Making flashcards to make sure you understand each topic helps. Good luck.
Ok I took this class twice. I bs'ed the first time and ended up with a D because I wasnt taking it serious. Now taking it again with minimal studying I will be getting a low B. The material is somewhat difficult but is really needed to move forward in the medical field. Tests are only hard for certain questions that he doesn't ask clearly.
The first two tests are hard because he purposely makes them confusing but the last 2 tests are a piece of cake. I did minimal studying and I am ending with a solid B. He is very helpful if you go to his office hours. Don't buy the textbook; all the info you need to know comes from his slides. He is overall a GREAT prof, he's just tricky at times.
DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS UNLESS IT IS A REQUIREMENT
I took this class along with Anatomy so I barely put any studying into this class. I studied for his exams the weekend before and got two 97s and two 100s. He's a great professor who is very clear during lectures. People who complain just dont study.
I actually real like this class. The test come straight from his slides and the clickers come from the book. I have a A so far. Not a bad class.
This class is okay if you really know the material. He is kinda confusing to listen to in class, and is a really smart guy.. he just doesn't put into words where you understand. In order to pass you have to put in alot of work, I mean alot! I study in between all classes, highlight in my book, answer study questions, and I'm still failing.
This class is extremely difficult so be prepared to read the textbook thoroughly. It will take much more time then most courses. Tests and test questions are extremely vague and misleading so know the material inside and out. Strauss is a nice guy though and really know's his stuff. Very group oriented and he loves people who participate in class.
Professor Straus may have a strict grading criteria, but if you listen to him and take notes, then you will have no problems. The tests can be worded differently then what you see in class, but if you take notes on his power points, you will do well on the tests. Forming a study group is a great way to make this class a breeze.
Honestly I don't think he's that bad. I don't read the textbook and have an A in the class. You have study and know EVERYTHING on his lecture slides and you should be good. His clicker questions can be difficult. Reading the textbook helps a lot for those but me and my friends just work on the clicker question together and we usually get them right
I don't read the textbook and have an A in the class. You have study and know EVERYTHING on his lecture slides and you should be good. His clicker questions can be difficult. Reading the textbook helps a lot for those but me and my friends just work on the clicker question together and we usually get them right
Dr. Straus has a terrible reputation for being difficult and he sure lives up to it. His exams are worded to trick you and he pulls even the tiniest piece of information from the slides into the tests. Quizzes are timed (with not enough time). He posts his PowerPoints online which is helpful, but try to wait and take Dr. Batestelli if possible.
Dr. Straus has a fascinating overall understanding of this course, and his lectures are very well taught. BUT as much as that seems appealing if you don't put in work you will fail. Exam based class with participation points and quizzes. If you don't have a love for bio and this is not required save yourself!
Before u take this class understand that ur going thru a whole semester of death and despair. Clickers are capped at 80%, but there is not extra credit in the class whatsoever. Quizzes will pwn you in unimaginable ways (also timed, 25% of ur grade). The exams are ridiculous with many open ended questions, super hard. I got a B with tons of studying
The class is very interesting and he is a great teacher but exams, quizes and clicker questions are EXTREMELY tough. He tests you on the tiny details and just assumes you know the broader stuff so be ready for extremely picky, detail oriented questions. If you get an A in this class, it is because you prioritized it over everything else going on.
He has learning objectives. LEARN THEM. For tests, answer the learning objectives in detail and you'll do well. He caps clicker questions at 80%, so if you can get an 80 average on the clickers, you'll have a 100 there. I never studied with other people, but I feel it could be helpful if that's your deal. Just take it seriously. Really.
quizzes are hard, and it will eat into your grade, exams are fair, but also very hard to ace (B's possible most of the time), gives extra credit on exam (but not much, like 5 pts), group work and hw grades are your only bumper!. They help you at the end. This is a very hard class in and of itself, so don't expect it to breeze through it.
immuno is a very difficult and confusing subject, and it can be vague sometimes. Here's the bad news, Dr. straus doesn't make it any easier for you. He expects a lot out of students, and he will not be easy on you. He is there to help you, but quizzes and exams are there to really test your knowledge, not to make you proud. STudy!!!
If you know your powerpoint slides really well, you will do okay, but textbook will reinforce the material,so it's good to have it. the bad thing about his exams are that he tests you on both details and comprehensive(big picture) knowledge. Good thing is that most questions are free response, so you can BS through some. quiz are very hard too!
Great teacher that has earned a bad rap. He teaches pretty well and his class is really interesting if you participate. You will need to know everything from his slide and the bigger picture of how they all work together. Honestly if you cannot handle him in this class then maybe you should not be a bio major (assuming that you are).
Quizzes and exams are harder than I expected. To do well on the exams, remember EVERYTHING on the powerpoints (dont even bother with the textbook). No seriously, try to remember every single little detail you can on those powerpoints. Clickers aren't too bad, never read the textbook but still got full points on clickers because he caps them at 80.
Listen to his explanations during class, jot down a couple important footnotes. After class go back over the power points (which he posts online!!) in more detail. Make sure you get a handle on the big picture he's referring to, that will help with test questions! He was a great professor, I loved the class! If you've taken 151 and 152 helps a lot!
Passionate about micro. Go to his office hours & he will sit down with you & go over your exams or any questions in detail. He isn't the fairest grader and is pretty harsh on class work (group), which is essentially attendance. His PP's make you study for way more than you need to. Use book for diagrams. Reference PP's and MUST do study Q's!!!
This teacher makes you feel stupid when you ask questions. I would not recommend taking him. The class is interesting, but he makes it dry.
I had low expectations based on previous ratings, but Dr. Straus is a good instructor. His teaching is very logical and scientific in a way that promotes learning and understanding. The study questions are not optional. If you want to be prepared for an exam in Microbio, just answer the study questions on schedule. You'll learn, and you'll do well.
Straus makes you work for the grade but you learn A LOT. Prepares you for professional school. Must attend lectures for group work. Pick good group members many students won't read before class and rely on others to do all of the work. Be able to answer any question on his slides along w/ the book study questions and you're set for his tests
for exams: study the slides & group work questions/ refer to study questions but don't write out long answers do the reading before class (group work is not always announced beforehand). the reading isn't too long. your final group work grade will be curved up quite a bit from the raw score. online quizzes count A LOT toward your final grade.
Straus is one of the best and most underrated professors at VCU. The class is tough but people seriously exaggerate it. You have to go to class. You have to read the assigned readings. You have to participate in group work. If you can do those things you'll get an easy A. If you can't do those things switch your major. Phenomenal professor.
Are you ready for the worst professor you have ever had ever? Then good because he is your guy! You want a question answered? Thats great and all but dont bother asking because hes not going to answer it. You enjoy organized powerpoints? Even better but dont get your hopes up! Worst professor I have ever had and would never recommend ever
Attendance is mandatory and he gives clicker quizzes everyday on readings. Tests are VERY tricky! You think you pick the right answer but then realize that one word screwed you over. He did help me learn a lot, but for a 200 level class he made it overly difficult. Don't ask questions bc he'll make you look stupid.
do NOT take him. his tests are so hard and he does not teach in class and if you go to office hours he is not helpful.
I thought anatomy was the hardest class I've taken but I was wrong after taking this class. He doesn't explain topics well and is rude when you ask a question in class if you don't understand something. My advice is study everyday, go to tutoring and SI because that's the only way I got a B. He does post power points, which is nice.
He's the only professor for medical microbiology.
This guy was extremely difficult. Supposed to be a low level class and will take up all your time. Stressed me out to no end, put in all my time only to come out mediocre. He is the only one to teach this class though so good luck to me next semester lol. I hate him.
This class is no joke, and Straus really makes you work for your grade. His exams are 40%, quizzes 25% and classwork 15%. He mainly gives 2/3 on each classwork, so that grade is like a 69%. The tests come mainly from his slides and study questions. I enjoyed the material in the class, but I did not like the way he taught the class at all.
So far his class has been the most challenging course I have taken, and I am about to graduate... I personally wasn't a big fan of his teaching style. He doesn't explain concepts in a clear matter. His PowerPoints aren't detailed, they mostly contain pictures, limited notes, and questions. If you can avoid taking him, I recommend to do so.
Underrated! I listened to the horror stories and was scared but just got a 100 on the first test. Just read before every lecture for the group work and online quizzes. Record his lectures and when tests comes around just study off of his power points and your lecture recordings. Test questions make you apply knowledge and are similar to Qs from PPs
Tests are very difficult because two answers will be correct, but one will be more correct to him because of a single word. Clicker is capped at 80, which is nice, and if you go to his office hours, he will go over tests with you in terms of any questions you may have. It is a difficult course, but bio is hard to teach. He is a nice guy, just tough
He's fine, just study the power points (as in memorize don't just read them over the day before). If you actually learn the material, you're fine. Quite honestly anyone that wants to be a health professional, should be willing to work this hard & learn this stuff. Got an A.
He's okay as a person but his class is very difficult. In order to do well in his class you have to know the material extremely well because his answer choices are very similar. MAKE SURE YOU PAY ATTENTION DURING LECTURES!!!! He tests students based on what he says in class and participate during class discussions to better understand the topic.
Not sure why so many students complain about him. You think this guy is tough? Good luck in med school. He's not gonna give you an A but if you work for it then it's totally attainable. Never got less than a 90 on a test. Read for quizzes, record lectures and listen to them for tests. He gives you what you need to do well. Underrated professor.
Straus definitely is not the worst professor. He challenges you to learn in a logical way. You can get by without reading but the lectures are easier to follow if you read beforehand. Exams are mostly straightforward but you have to study. I only had a problem with the quizzes and they count a lot towards your grade but overall enjoyed the class
Easily one of the hardest classes at VCU on par with physiology/cancer/neurobehavior. Straus is a great professor in that he knows the material extremely well, but his tests are extremely tricky. I would recommend taking micro prior to immuno because the amount of information covered is hard to fathom. If you struggled in micro STAY AWAY!
45 people in class this year. 4 tests with subsequent quizzes in class. No extra credit this is a 455 level class. Much harder than endo/phys with stewart, but still an A is attainable if you work hard. Expect 150 slides of raw info per test with what he says in class. Studied 45 hours per test and was able to get an A. Class not for slackers!
Don't know why everyone on here is bashing Dr. Straus. Immuno is definitely one of the harder classes at VCU if not the hardest, but very doable. If you can't get an A in immuno you're def not ready for med school. Work hard and you can get an A
TAKE MICRO BEFORE you take this class. that was probably my biggest mistake. My class had a pretty high withdrawal rate, so be cautious. This class is similar to cell but harder then orgo. the tests are mc(66%) and free response(33). You need to read to be successful. Memorize everything then apply it, Everytestquestion is application based!!!
He's not as bad as some say, but he is the only professor for this course. I will say that reading the text assignments after his lectures help because you'll know exactly what you need to pull from the textbook. Otherwise, you'll find yourself writing a lot of extra stuff that he won't even mention in lecture. Health Professionals, WE GOT THIS!!
He does not know how to teach
Honestly, hes a good professor. This is a class that you cant slack off with. You must learn the material on your own time so that you can understand and apply your knowledge. Read the textbook along the lecture slides if you have trouble understanding the concepts. Focus on the slides for for his quizzes and exams. An A is definitely possible!
Dr. Straus is honestly a good professor, however the material can be tough so you have to study and attend class. This is not a class where you can slack off. He offers a good amount of opportunities to boost your grade with easy online assignments so even if you don't do too well on the quizzes you can end up with a solid B.
My experience with Dr. David Straus was great. He presented the information in a professional and clear way. It is important to study early but the A is very achievable if you do the work. There is very little homework and is more exam and quiz heavy than anything. People who struggle in the class do so on their accord and at no fault of Straus.
Strauss is great at office hours, and the class is tough, but doable. The tests are HEAVILY BASED ON HIS SLIDES. I repeat do NOT focus on the text. Slides or die. Textbook only helps on quizzes (which he always warns you about the class before) and online work which boosts your grade immensely, so take them seriously. Study groups are very helpful
Chances are you are taking this class because you have to and this guy is the only one who teaches it, so good luck. He is a very bad teacher so be ready to teach yourself. His slides are his tests so know them backwards and forwards. His lectures are miserable but try to force yourself to listen. Go to office hours and be ready to study.
Dr. Straus is a great professor, he truly made me interested in the subject. Show up to class, there are tophat questions that are worth a lot of your grade. I would recommend sticking strictly to the powerpoints when studying and only using the book for clarification. You should definitely skim/look over the readings before lectures.
Dr. Straus is a great professor! If you do not do well in this class - it is on you, not Dr. Straus. Don't wait until near the end to ask for help, go see him immediately if you're having trouble. He's easily reached via email or office hours. This is a hard class, but with hard work and understanding the material, you can do it!
Immuno is a complex subject, so yes, it is a difficult course. Dr. Straus stresses knowledge of the "big picture", but does ask you to know some detail. Wording sometimes obscure. GO TO HIS OFFICE HOURS TO REVIEW QUIZZES, HW, and EXAMS! And though not mandatory, GO TO CLASS!! You have to work for it, but any pre-med/pre-dent should expect no less!
Hes not the easiest but he definitely gives you all you need to succeed. He also expects you to put in a ton of work outside of class to pull it all together and be able to succeed on his tests and quizzes. The only reason you wont succeed in this class is if you dont go to class or dont put in work outside of class for the quizzes or tests.
Heads up. This class is HARD AS HELL. But passable. Take it seriously from the getgo when the tests are pretty easy (only the first one). The quizzes are really hard though. Also, don;t study the textbook, study HIS SLIDES ONLY AND DON'T DO HIS STUDY GUIDES THEY'RE A WASTE OF TIME!! Good Luck!
Definitely not a class you can study the night or even 3 days before for. GO to EVERY single class and pay attention to what he is presenting AND saying. Record his lectures and screenshot the tophat questions because they will be brought up again.
No extra credit. Never checks email. Does not want you to succeed. TopHat is used but questions are not based on slides... Does not round your grade up. Monotone voice. All exams are cumulative. Textbooks are needed for online quizzes but are useless for exams. With all that being said... he's the only professor so good luck! :)
Hardest class I have ever taken in my life. Every question is application based and he expects specificity down to the smallest detail. Expect 40+ hours a week to stay afloat. Class not for the faint of heart. Only take if you have the guts to prepare for professional school. You've been warned.
Hardest class I've ever taken -- Not because of the material, but because of how this professor lectures and the questions he expects you to be able to answer. Quizzes often announced the class before. The text is far too dense. Lecture slides are not made available ahead of time. Prof is smart but he doesn't teach, so group work is wasted time.
Without a doubt the hardest biology upper level offered at VCU. Every question based off of application and true understanding of material. 4 tests/10 quizzes. To stay afloat you need to be test ready before every new lecture. Comparable work load to med anatomy. Very difficult.
64 on exam 1. Withdrew from the class yesterday. Respect to students taking the class right now. It is not for me.
STAY AWAY FROM IMMUNOLOGY ! GOT 51 ON THE FIRST EXAM AND IS CONTEMPLATING TO WITHDRAW.
A very. very. very. hard class, but doable. Know material in every shape and form and review his study questions before exams. Study with others and read before lecture. Very possible to get a C or B in his class; An A requires mastery and complete understanding of EVERYTHING. Did well on exam 1/2 expect 60-70+ hours/week.
straus is difficult but if you work hard an A is manageable. Test 1 was difficult because nobody knew what to expect. Managed a 99 but was expected as I did did devote 40+ hours every week for 2 weeks leading up to exam. Slackers beware. Took endo last fall and can easily say this class is much more difficult. Dont even try to compare
Exam 2 grade out. Decided to withdraw before November 2. Class is on another level. Insane amount of work. Difficult worded test questions. Studied as much as I could but still didn't get the result. Good luck to everyone else. Recommend not taking class. Only take if you truly want a challenge
This class is not meant for the faint of heart. Dr. S will challenge you to master material and to keep up with paramount volumes of info. Weekly paper quizzes which in my opinion are more difficult than the exams. Exams (50%) build so material is essentially cumulative. Do not expect an easy A. More than half the class withdrew leaving only 20.
Straus is one of those Professors that has devoted his entire life to his field of study and has trouble understanding an leveling with students who can't wrap their heads as easily around the material as he can. He's a genuinely nice guy, but the class is beyond difficult and I'd advise that it be taken at a community college versus at VCU.
Read the text before each lecture, record the lectures (if you can), sit where you can easily ask questions, and use the study questions that he posts on Blackboard to prep for his tests. He also has review sessions for every test - going to them literally saved my grade.
Immunology is the toughest class ever. It is not for the faint of the heart. Straus does not make it any easier. Exams question are obscure and tricky. Got a 50 on the first exam, 65 on the second exam, 59 on the 3rd exam and a 58 on the final and failed the class. Stay away from immunology.
I have to wait one extra year to graduate because of immunology. Immunology sucks !
This class was a HUGE mistake. Took as a junior because my biology advisor highly recommended the course for grad school. 4 exams and cumulative final with quizzes every class arguably harder than exams. Impossible. Ended with a 69.5% and he did not curve to a C. I failed the course and will retake another upp level NOT immuno. Please stay away.
The key to doing well in his class is his slides. If the info isn't on a slide it won't be on a test. However, his tests are apply your knowledge styled questions. You will need to fully understand the info to be able to answer his questions. Most of the time the textbook was further in detail then necessary. Read the slides over and over again.
Extremely difficult course. Dr. Straus makes the class much harder than it needs to be. Studied roughly 40 hours a week just to keep up. This medical microbio 209 course was the hardest I've taken yet at VCU. I can only imagine what his 455 immunology class is like. Only recommend if you're a striaght-A student - not for slackers.
Study the slides. Cant emphasized that enough. Thats how Im passing this class with a solid B.
he doesnt round grades which is so frustrating; I have a 69.6% so basically I have retake this stupid course all over again.
Never in my life have I had a professor as horrendous as him. In all my years and of all the professors I have had, he is THE worst. He does NOT teach you anything, you are expected to know the material before you come to class. I even memorized the ppts before showing up yet the quizzes & assignments had nothing to do with it. DON'T TAKE HIM
This class was very interesting but the professor needs serious work. I maintained my A by basically studying from the slides but his exams are applied. Meaning you have to know how to apply the concepts. He treats this class like its a graduate level class but it isn't. Grade is only based on quizzes and tests.
Recommend but beware this is class is very demanding and content heavy. I found the textbook unnecessary to pass the class since exams are based on slides and lecture. Definitely go to the preceptor sessions. Do NOT wait until the last minute to study! He wants you to succeed in the course and he is helpful if you reach out.
Horrible. He doesn't care about his students and he makes the class way harder than it should be. Almost everybody in the class is doing horrible and he does not care.
PLEASE DONT TAKE THIS CLASS AT VCU. no tutor,no si leader,no ta. I wish I had taken this class at a community college.I have3.8 gpa, straight A's besides a B in anatomy but this class is set up for you to fail.Straus admitted to making the quiz and test questions tricky on purpose EVEN THOUGH MATERIAL IS HARD ENOUGH AS IT IS. SAVE YOURSELF
I have never done so terribly in a class in my entire life. He truly does not care how you are doing in the class. Moves way too fast in his lectures while expecting you to already know material. It was like I was writing notes for one thing and by the time I looked up he was already on to something else. Don't take his class if you want to pass.
Do not take this professor!!!! Easily harder than anatomy and the professor does not teach. He answers questions with another question and you basically have to teach yourself. Take this class somewhere else and save yourself and your gpa.
NURSING MAJORS RUN! Everyone warns you about anatomy no one warns you about this class or Straus. My class started w/ 125 people now there's only 60. Half of us are failing. Teaches us like we're graduate students or like we're in med school. Moves fast. Horrible at explaining things if you're confused. Wish I would have done this over the summer
NURSING MAJORS RUNN!! that's it that's all!! I cannot recommend taking this at a community college enough.. This class is difficult for no reason!! there were 150+ (give or take) students in august. Now we are down to no more than 60. Straus is a good person in general, however, as a professor, its a no go!!
Dr. Straus cares deeply about the subject, sadly this makes it hard for him to dumb down some information. There's very little support for the course in terms of tutoring or SI. Overall, the course is a lot of work and memorization of minute details, and how they relate. Be sure to study lecture slides and do study questions before the exams.
Please do not take this class at VCU. He is the only professor and doesn't go over things like he should. I am usually an A student and I got a D in this class. He assumes you come to class knowing exactly what he is talking about. In class questions sometimes relate to what we're talking about, sometimes not and the exam questions don't at all.
Lots of reading is required for this course! I joined the last day of add/drop and was already behind. Unfortunately I was never able to catch up + full-time commitments. Still, I learned a lot and Dr. Straus was very cool and understanding. Also, I love that he assigned everyone to groups. It made it so much less stressful. Good Luck! You got it!!
Do not take this professor for BIO209 if you can help it. The information is not difficult to learn, but the professor asks the questions that makes the material difficult. I have never written a review for any other teacher, but this one I had to warn everyone about.
DONT TAKE UNLESS REQUIRED! I have gotten no lower than a B in any other class including higher level ones in all of college & am barely holding a C. The information is so vast it's almost impossible to learn everything & his quizzes and tests are on small details. Don't take unless you want to spend more time on this than all other classes combined
Strongly recommend this class if looking towards professional school. Professor is very caring, knowledgable, and encourages everyone to succeed. Remember to keep on top of things by reviewing regularly or being familiar with the material ahaed of time.
Dr. Straus is a very nice person and he will answer any questions you have on anything. It was just a hard class overall, but I highly suggest attending lectures, SI sessions, even tutor sessions. Before tests, I would got through his study questions as well.
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