3.0
Quality3.3
Difficulty27%
Would Retake85
Reviews27%
Would Retake
85
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
21
4
17
3
17
2
12
1
18
What Students Say
“You have to honestly work hard for this class”
BIOL205 - 3.0 rating“Took this class over the summer”
BIOCHEM - 4.0 ratingClass Info
Attendance Mandatory
16%
Textbook Required
68%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.79 avg changeRatings by Course
BIO360
5.0
(2)BIOCHEM350
5.0
(1)BIOFO1
5.0
(1)CANCRBIO
5.0
(1)CRBIO000
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
BIO301FOUNDS
5.0
BIOCHCHEM
5.0
R120201
5.0
CELLMOLEC
5.0
BCHM360
4.2
Reviews (85)
He is a very good Biology Professor, one of the best in the Department
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one of the worest classes i took
He's straight to the point.
Very good professor. Very clear. Lectures very well. Exams are hard. Come out of class learning a lot.
He is one of the easiest professors. Especially if you've gotten a B in gen chem and gen bio. If you go to class you can easily get an A. He is a little boring but so are a lot of professors in this department. The lab is also really easy.
His lectures are incomplete and not helpful. He doesn't like when students ask questions.
This guy is a joke. This class is a joke. It's highschool AP bio being taught with a teacher less credible than your highschool professor. I don't see how this guy got his job. I think I learned absolutely nothing in this class easy A. No work = 104 on my final.
One of the best classes I ever took. Really a great teacher. I new nothing going in and knew a ton at the end. He's so smart and not bad looking for a guy his age. :o) He really knows his stuff, you should take advantage and ask him questions.
this is a tough class. he is a good professor though. he tries to explain everything clearly but his exams are very hard. the good thing is that he curves like crazy for each exam.
He is an ok prof, but if ur not willing to put in the time dont even think about passing his class. Watch out for his wordings on the exam. He will ask one think on the exam that might be a part of the right answer trust me it not the right answer. learn the book inside and out. I passed with a B
This class is a walkover. i did nothing, slept all semester, copied someoneelse's lab book, and above all learnt nothing form the class.Easy A. just go to his reviews,solve his practice exams , get his syllabus and u r guaranteed an A
YO...JUST STUDY! THE CLASS WON'T KICK YOUR AZZ!
He is very nice professor. His exams are a bit tough but he has a good curve. He is very clear. he knows what he is teaching and i learned a lot of things from the class. his exams are helpful for preparation for Standardize exams like MCAT, DAT, PCAT, OAT
He is one of the best professors I have ever had. He is very clear, and gets right to the point. He teaches exactly what will be on the exam,so make sure to take good notes!! I read the book only when I didn't understand something, but other than that, just study your notes, and read his exam questions very carefully. I got an A.
He is the BEST.just go to his class and take notes.u'll get A.but if u think that u'll be fine without going to class then ur going to fail BIG TIME.
very easy. kinda boring. but repeats stuff over and over again. which is pretty helpful cuz it sticks with you. exams are no surprise. has a very good curve and gives practice exams and reviews. overall an easy class.
HE IS THE BEST..just go to his class or study from friend's notes..u'll get an A
took him in the summer, don't know how he is in regular semester but very good lecturer, I actually became interested in what he spoke about, exams are hard and tricky but the curve is HUGE, he is a JERK when you ask him questions, make you feel stupid but overall he knows what he is talking about, go to classsss
Honestly, I had him for foundations and he was absolutely wonderful, but DO NOT TAKE HIM FOR BIOCHEM!!! He was allllll over the place. Exams were HARD. Wasnt helpful. Would get all flustered as soon as you asked a question. Take him for foundations, but NOT BIOCHEM!!! you'll study your @$$ off for a B the highest.
avoid him... like the person stated below, he started off well, but gradually forgot how to teach. Knows his stuff, but doesnt know how to deliver. Exams are ridiculous. Big curves, but 20pnts isnt going to do much for you when class average is a 40%. I worked hard for a C+, which was the majority of the grades in the class.
Took Biochemistry during the summer, and I must say, I thought he was an excellent and very effective professor. Definitely learned a lot from him! Very clear, although he does get annoyed with questions (especially stupid questions). Exams are fair, straight from his lectures & boy does he curve! Easy A (but don't miss a class & take good notes)
the professor is awesome! He teaches well. Don't spend too much time reading the text, pay attention to the class notes and you will cruise through the course. If u have your bio 102 notes w/u, bingo! they will be at help. good thing about him is he curves tests as well as the final exam! ATTEND ALL LECTURES!! Remember u r paying $ profs to teach u
Took him for Foundations of Biology. He's a great professor, very knowledgeable and clear in his teaching. He gets annoyed at time with questions, he'll simply answer w/ take Biochemistry. His tests are tricky on the other hand. You might think you know the material but the tests throw curveballs at you.
He knows his material but is not meant to be a professor. He is very boring and is not helpful with any questions the students have. The BIGGEST problem is that his tests are very tricky. Even if you go to class and read the book the test will make you feel like you know nothing. AVOID him if you can.
Really nice professor but he has the trickiest exams.
He's a good teacher. Sometimes he can be repititous and stay on the same topic for too long, which can get annoying. Exams can be tricky but you can get an A with a little effort.
just take really good notes. book is useless and outdated. you can study all you want but if you cant get past tricky questions..you wont do well on the exams.
Took him in fall 08 for foundations (w/ cervantes). His exams can be tricky, but if you attend class and take notes and study them, you'll be okay. he goes over typical problems that you'll encounter on his portion of the exam, so don't miss it. Not an easy class, but definitely do-able if you put in the work. I got an A.
This professor knows his stuff but not a good teacher. He is boring and his exam questions trick you. He's a nice man but I would avoid his class!
He is an EXCELLENT teacher - he makes very difficult, almost impossible concepts, seem really easy. Record his lectures and re-write them at home and read that - he asks questions from his lectures. His exams can be intense. He would sometimes ask questions about the same topic in different ways and confuse you. Take him if you are serious.
BIOCHEMISTRY: go to his lectures and take notes on what he says and write down everything that he puts up. He explains things well, however, his exams are very tricky. Use the text to supplement. I didn't use the required textbook, but I did use another one. I got an A! just work at it and you will be fine.
Dr. Frenkel is incredibly awesome.He explains things well!People say he's tricky, but to avoid getting fooled you need to understand the material.Although exams are based on his lectures,the book helped me to master the concepts.If you study HARD and understand the stuff,you'll see that his exams are actually easy!I DON'T get why people hate him.
The best professor ever!!! I'm still in this class, but I'm so impressed with his teaching style that I vow to take anything he teaches, so he'll be seeing me next semester in Biochem. If you take really good notes, you love this professor...but only if you take REALLY GOOD NOTES!!!
The best professor ever!!! I'm still in this class, but I'm so impressed with his teaching style that I vow to take anything he teaches, so he'll be seeing me next semester in Biochem. If you take really good notes, you love this professor...but only if you take REALLY GOOD NOTES!!!
His exams come straight from his notes. I missed most of his lectures and got an 85/91 studing from the book. His teaching style is great for those who take meticulous notes and can stand listening to his pretentious remarks.
He is the best. If you pay attention to his lectures, which are interesting, then you should be able to well in his exam. No need to read the textbook unless you feel you need to. A word of advice though, read his exam questions very carefully because sometimes they are tricky. Of course they are not hard if you studied. Again, highly recommended.
Couldn't be clearer in his lectures, a huge relief from Cervantes who was all over the place when he lectured. Got an A with little studying and attending all lectures. Exams are not tricky at all as long as you understand the material.
The bad news: EVERYTHING ON THE EXAM WILL BE COVERED IN CLASS. The good news: EVERYTHING ON THE EXAM WILL BE COVERED IN CLASS. This is the first lesson Frenkel gives his students. This is a MUST-ATTEND class. To prep for the exams understand his notes from class. He is however cocky and does not like when students correct or question him.
Best professor HANDS DOWN!!! Doesn't matter what class. Dr. Frenkel is square business. If you don't like Dr. Frenkel somethings wrong with YOU... Really
Frenkel is without a doubt one of the best professors i had as an undergrad. I had him four foundations, biochem and bio of cancer and got A's in all 3 classes. His explanations are crystal clear, he is very knowledgeable and passionate. Admittedly he may be a little antisocial but if you show genuine interest, he'll become more approachable.
He is very clear in explaining everything. You must go to class! Everything on the test the notes from class and study the slides too! Come to class, pay attention and take good notes and you'll be fine!
Took him in 2012 fall bio found. Wasn't exact my cup of tea bc doen't explain everyhting in details, I love to understand it all so I had to do my own additional studying. However by doing that and having his notes I was able to get A. But must stay on top, attend his class and do extra work.+know his slides.Bit cocky
Great professor. Majority of exam material comes from class slides and lectures. Textbook is a good supplement but not necessary. He is great at explaining the material.
He is a really good professor and really knows how to explain the material in a way where people can understand, but he is the biggest jerk if you talk to him one to one, rude as rude can be.
He is a very rude person. He isn't considerate what so ever about anyone's situation. Won't be afraid to put a student down for asking too "many" questions in class.
I would say that this class is one of the easiest classes that I've taken. Attend all of his lectures, take really good notes and you'll get an A because his exams are directly from his notes. There is a negative side to all of this though, Frenkel is a very rude person. He's by far the rudest professor that I've seen on campus.
He is very clear in his explanations. He does kind of ignore questions in lecture. His exams are tricky and certainly not easy. This class is easy to those who took Conc/GenBio already. attendance is not mandatory. bring a tape recorder or use your phone to record his lectures, it will help tremendously as his exams are based off the lectures ONLY
He is not clear at all in his notes i dont know what people are talking about. He spends 95% of the lecture blabbering and then the exam will contain things you never heard of. He is not organized, his exams are not based on his lectures, he probably doesnt even make them himself. I read the book will confuse you because of how he assigns readings
His exams are a little tricky, you have to pay close attention to the wording. But he gives a nice curve, and explains the material well. An A is not too difficult.
Best most clear professor ever. I recorded all his lectures reviewed and got a perfect A. He made me understand respiration like the back of my hand best professor ever!!! Take good notes get attend his lectures and your good to go!!
Honestly, he doesn't know how to teach and his exams have nothing to do with his lectures. Hes also a really bad lecturer, hes so boring.
horrible, just horrible.
HORRIBLE CLASS!
Take good notes, and get previous exams if u can. it really helps.
This class was easy. However, his tests are difficult because the wording is tricky. They come strait from the lecture - didn't crack the textbook open once. Get old exams if you can -- they barely change through the semesters. 3 tests, and he drops the lowest grade. Big curves (15+ points). Boring lectures, but easy class.
His lectures are super boring I went before the first exam and almost fell asleep, after the 1st exam (which I actually did worst on) I just never (and I mean literally never) went. It isn't hard to pass. I forgot that the 2nd exam was coming up, so I only studied one night and (thanks to the curve) got a 100. 3rd one was an 82. He drops the lowest
Not rude AT ALL! I always approach him with a smile and he does the same. Show him you care and he's extremely helpful. What I love most is he is honest when he says study ONLY what he covers in class. Just take great notes AND study the slides! Tests can be picture heavy. They are only tricky if you don't read carefully. On top of that he curves!
Frenkel is a tough grader. He says in the beginning there are no curves but after every exam there was a curve. If you don't go to class you will miss out on his lectures and that's what he puts in the exams. He puts a lot of diagrams on his exams as well so study the powerpoints. You must read the textbook to pass the exams.
Took this class over the summer. All the exams were open ended, much to everyone's surprise, but thats only because our class was only 35 students or so. The class averages were surprisingly high! Dr Frenkel is good at explaining concepts, but it is essential to do some reading on your own. He's not rude at all, unless you talk while he's teaching
Attendance is not mandatory, but if you come take good notes because usually his lectures are what's on the test. Most of the things we learned were things from high school BIO, so nothing too new or fascinating. I would say if you go over lecture material you should be guaranteed at least a B.
I found this professor extremely confusing. The material is not that though, but the way he presents it makes it looks a lot harder, which ultimately confuses you to the greater extent. Tests are hard because of the way the questions are worded. Practice questions for exams are a lot easier that real exams.
People say that his exams are tricky, but they're actually very straightforward and easy. The PPT slides that he uploads will be useless unless you attended the lectures. Don't waste your time reading the book. His lectures are very good, and he gives you everything you need for the exam. Go to class, pay attention, and write down what he says.
His lectures are very interesting. He uploads practice questions about topics after lecture and his ppt slides. Make sure you look at them as tests can be picture heavy. 3 exams and final. Drops 1 exam and curves each exam. Get previous exams for help on midterms, questions don't change but don't rely on them for the final, which is very hard.
Okay, so the rumors of the class being an easy A are a complete joke. You have to honestly work hard for this class. I attended every lecture, took DETAILED notes and still found the exams to be decently tricky. I wont say hard, but tricky. If you come to lecture you will know the material and I suggest talking to past students on how to prep.
Wrote down everything he said or wrote on the board and studied. I still failed the first two exams. The mean average in his biochemistry class is a 70 after the curve, there is obviously a problem with the professor or his method of teaching. I would go into every test confident of the material and would still fail. Avoid like the plague.
He gives three exams and a final. The third exam he had planned so late during the semester that he wasn't allowed to give it that late. So what does he do? He makes us take BOTH the final exam and the third exam on the designated final day. He goes slow and repeats the same things over again. His video lectures are better than his in class.
Don't take him- awful professor. His lectures are long and Dr. Frenkel has a very mocking tone in his voice whenever a student asks for help. He's making his spring course take the last midterm WITH the final for the class due to his own carelessness. He's so removed from what it means to be a student that he simply doesn't care about our concerns.
Be warned, his exams are extremely tricky. Things you think are not important because he only briefly mentions are on the exams while things that he emphasis's are left out. I heard how difficult his exams are so I never missed a lecture and started preparing since the 1st class for exams and I still failed. There is no need for tricky exams.
Best professor ever!! The people who say he's hard are the ones that are too lazy to put in any effort. I went to every lecture, sat in the front, and took good notes, and I got above a 100 on the first exam. I barely had to study for the exam too. I love him, would def take him again.
I found it very difficult to learn. He never caught my interest in bio. He clearly gets nervous with large classes. If someone has a question that might require him reaching from beyond the context of foundations, he quickly shuts them up and tells them they don't have to know it. He curved the 1stexam 7 points, 2nd by 3-4, and none for 3rd/final
I see all the reviews about this class being an easy A, but it's not. You have to show up to lecture, because without it, the slides are useless. They're mostly just pictures that he explains. He just sits up front with the pictures behind him and expects you to write everything he says. If you don't, you won't do well. Try to stay awake.
Curved exams. Drop the lowest one. Three midterms and a final. lectures cover the content that needs to know for the exams. Study lecture slides carefully and thoroughly. Always go to his lectures. Take good lecture notes. Pay attention to what he says during lectures. Make sure you understand the concepts, not just memorization.
It's important to go to the lectures. Keep good notes, detailed lecture notes. 3 points for extra credits, three midterms, drop the lowest one and a final exam. Pay close attention to his lectures, the materials covered in the lectures were tested in the exams. Study the lectures slides carefully and thoroughly. Record the lectures if possible.
lecture slides are not labeled 98% of the time. The lectures consist of him going from one random topic to another without ever connecting the material. The level of teaching is poor. The average of the class was a D after major curves. I would have never taken this class at Rutgers had I know what it was like. Take it at NJIT and save your GPA.
Going to class is an absolute waste of time. I did not set foot in class between second and third exam. I did get an A given that I was a super senior at the time and I already knew my stuff. He is a disgrace in the teaching profession. Shameful slides, lecture, exams. I could teach his class better than him any day of the week and twice on Sunday.
Worst professor in the history of academia. His slides are an unlabeled mess with no rational order. You cannot hear him or understand what he's saying. Material isn't hard but the fact that he's incapable of teaching makes it hard. Future students do yourself a favor and demand another professor to teach this. Would not take again.
took this class in fall 2015. i think he caught on that students have just been using past exams and not going to class. you now have to either actually go to class and take notes during lecture or diligently take notes from the textbook and memorize everything. beware: start ahead, because there may be 100 or more pgs of the textbook per exam.
Despite what everyone says, I think his exams are very fair (though the wording can be tricky), you just have to study hard and make sure you KNOW EVERY DETAIL. Come to class and record his lectures. Also, DEFINITELY MAKE SURE TO STUDY THE PICTURES ON HIS POWERPOINTS!!! He can be all over the place so make sure to look up the things you don't get.
DONT TAKE FRENKEL! Just saying if I wasn't arrogant, I would've never taken this class with Frenkel, it was nerve recking, his exams are literally unpredictable, and very tricky. Withdrew from his class and ended up taking it in the summer with Cervantes, the class was interesting and exciting to go to. DONT TAKE FRENKEL!
MC exams that can be so confusing. Really need to take precise and good notes. Failed the first time I took this class. Often has many video lectures instead of actual in-class lectures, which is good. Study hard to do well. Sometimes old exams help a little so make friends.
DO NOT TAKE FRENKEL. He is so unorganized, the lecture slides has no words on it, just pictures, and he's is no help. His exams are so hard and unpredictable. You must know EVERYTHING to pass his exam. Worst experience ever.
The thing with Frenkel, it's not just basic science memorization (like it may seem at first). You have to learn the processes and the reasoning behind each action because his Exam questions are difficult. Show Up to class. Print slides. Take Notes. Record lectures. Review multiple days before Exam. Learn from your mistakes! Use strategies!
Class Info
Attendance Mandatory
16%
Textbook Required
68%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.79 avg changeRatings by Course
BIO360
5.0
(2)BIOCHEM350
5.0
(1)BIOFO1
5.0
(1)CANCRBIO
5.0
(1)CRBIO000
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
BIO301FOUNDS
5.0
BIOCHCHEM
5.0
R120201
5.0
CELLMOLEC
5.0
BCHM360
4.2