sounds weird, but i actually like this class. prof. elmendorf is really helpful and very clear. she makes a concerted effort to connect what we're learing to current issues. this semester we're learnig about aids and other viruses and diseases and other relevant issues. I could do without the labs.

SUCH a great class, really dedicated to her students and always available to meet if you have problems or questions. She's very clear and concise in class - straightforward notes and lectures

A lot of work! Atleast a paper or project due every week. Relevant and interesting topics, just a huge time committment.

The microbes class was sweet. I am a philosophy major and hate/am really bad at math and science, but this class was really interesting. She keeps the really technical and dry science stuff to a minimum and focuses more on policy and current environmental/health issues. If you need to fulfil the science requirement, take this class!

One of the few teaching professors in the department of biology-- clearly cares about pedagogy. Much more concerned with thinking about the material she teaches rather than memorizing lists and pathways that you're mostly going to forget anyway.

a COOL professor and a good lecturer who makes the subject fun. She is truly focused on teaching the students how to think. Three take-home exams and a take-home final which are intense but you have a week to ask her questions and she is very helpful.

She's the best.

i think she's kinda cute...i felt things were fairly straight forward and it was a good idea to attend class...reading the text beforehand. first test difficult, second test easier. tries to be available for office hours but with 250 kids its tough to see her

She is very nice, very helpful, loves biology and loves teaching. Her lectures are for the most part interesting and in order to do well you must go. Her test questions and problem set questions though are a bit random and it's hard to know what answer she wants. Tests are extremely difficult but she wants the class to do well so it works out.

I love Heidi. Her lectures are engaging and she makes the material relevant to real life issues (H1N1). Even though the line to see her during office hours is ridiculously long, it's worth the wait because she is incredibly helpful. She's hilarious, friendly, and wants you to do your best. Highly recommend it.

Heidi is an excellent teacher. I found the class pretty challenging but it was worth it because I learned a lot. She doesn't focus on little details but instead wants her students to understand the larger concepts, which made the course much more enjoyable than I expected. I would definitely recommend her.

highly recommended! the class is demanding, you must attend all lectures to do well, a lot of work (e.g. weekly quizzes, labs, research paper), but worth it - you gain a strong foundational understanding of bio. prof. e is very helpful outside of class, cares about each student individually, and is overall just a really sweet person!

One of the best professors I've had at Georgetown. Don't get me wrong, unbelievably difficult, lots of work, but all worth it in the end. You'll learn a lot, and remember it all for a long time. I worked my hardest and got an A-. This class isn't for you if you don't like reading from a textbook, but I definitely recommend her.

difficult class and a lot of work, but Prof. is amazing!! She is very willing to help and can explein things until you understand them - also in a class of 250 I had one interaction with her and she remembered my name - I was shocked.

She is what a science professor should be. I didn't realize how much I loved her teaching style until I took the 2nd semester of Intro Bio (w/ Hamilton). She is clear, helpful and engaging. Be prepared to work for this class, but tests are fair and Elmendorf is clear on what will be emphasized. The grading system is set up so that you can succeed.

Prof. Elmendorf is caring, involved professor who lectures in a clear and understandable manner. Intro Biology with her is not easy and requires a lot of work outside the classroom. Nonetheless it is a very rewarding class. Recommended!

Glorious! She requires a lot of work, but is caring and helpful to all her students. Would recommend to everyone.

prof. elmendorf great. the tests are difficult but her lectures are engaging. lots of reading if you want to do well

She is the one teacher who could genuinely care about everyone in a class of 262 people.

I looved her. She is sweet, engaging, and inspiring; and she knows soo much. She know exactly what things to pick for the course. Really fair. Take her.

Dr. Elmendorf is amazing. She really wants all of her students to do well, and she really wants everyone to understand the information. I feel like I understand biology much better now and can actually apply what I learned. I would recommend here to anyone and I plan on taking any classes she teaches.

AMAZING. LOVED LOVED LOVED her. crystal clear, wonderful tests. rewired your mind. take her.

Not necessarily an easy A, but you learn a lot and she's one of the nicest professors here.

Incredibly kind professor and patient teacher. The tests are daunting but if you understand the material and review previous tests you should do fine.

She is odd, quirky, and brilliant. Makes use of the weirdest analogies to make difficult concepts make sense. Tests are the majority of your grade,(and they are a challenge) but first test is worth less than the second, etc. so always room for growth. That's what she's about, she wants to create a cooperative learning experience.

Elmendorf is an absolutely amazing professor. Enjoy her while you can. While her class is difficult, you will learn an amazing amount of material in a very interesting way. Her exams are difficult, but she makes sure her students know the material, and is extremely helpful along the entire way.

Prof. Elmendorf is AMAZING. her lectures are interesting and she is a gifted teacher. She is very helpful and great at answering questions. Her tests are all short answer, so there is lots of room for partial credit. TAKE HER if possible! She is also incredibly nice and funny. overall awesome!!!!!

Professor Elmendorf is fantastic. She really wants everyone to understand and do well in bio. Her tests are hard but she works hard to make sure you can improve and as long as you work hard, you can do well in the class. It requires quite a lot of work but she makes the class a lot of fun.

Professor Elmendorf is the best professor I've had at Georgetown thus far. The class is definitely not a cakewalk, but her lectures are incredibly clear and well-organized. Connects the concepts that we learn in class to stuff in our daily lives, so I felt that this class actually meant something. Overall, a fantastic professor!

This class will seem pretty hard at first, but gets much better as you go along! You will learn a LOT, even if you took AP Bio in high school. Elmendorf is a great teacher!

Difficult tests, but one of the best professors I've ever had. Her lectures are fantastic and you will learn a tremendous amount of biology over the semester. Highly recommend!

Elmendorf is great! Her class will really push you, so don't take it if you're not prepared to put in about 5-6 hours/wk outside of class. She's very clear and is great at helping students understand the fundamental concepts in biology.

Loved Elmendorf! Bio is a tough class with lots of info covered quickly, but she presented it clearly and in an organized layout to help with studying for exams. Course is structured to help student. Class was close to 300 people, but she really made an effort to get to know everyone. It can be tough to get in to her office hours, so line early!

She is awesome! never thought i could meet such a great professor in my entire life. Really clear on lecture content, and willing to help you whenever you come. Put a lot effort to her teaching. Love her. Take her! Don't assume that Georgetown is only about politics; Prof. Elmendorf is the best proof against this idea!!

Prof. E made Biology more about learning rather than memorization. I have learned a lot more in her class than I thought I would. She records her lectures which is very helpful if you missed anything. This Biology course isn't like most where the teacher tries to "weed" people out, this prof. makes the effort so that learn in the best possible way

Professor Elmendorf is great. A lot of material is covered in the course but she always keeps it interesting and makes you focus on the big ideas of biology. Class is very difficult, but if you put in the time you can get a good grade.

Wonderful teacher! Revolutionized my ideas of how one could teach. Very difficult course LOTS of work, but she truly helped me grow as a student. Developed my critical thinking skills, logical flow of ideas. Love how she emphasizes the big ideas instead of worrying about silly details. so incredibly helpful and understanding. THE BEST TEACHER EVER

MOST AMAZING TEACHER EVER. Elmendorf re-teaches you all the bio you have ever learned in a way that makes TOTAL SENSE. You'll learn more than you could imagine, and the class is truly exceptional. The labs are ok, Hickey makes them better. Elemendorf ROCKS! 3 midterms are hard, but if you memorize it all and put in the time, you can get an A/A-.

The best!!!!! Dorf is a great teacher but tests are hard. Definitely would recommend taking her. She makes all topics interesting.

Elmendorf is THE BEST. she knows all 250 students' names and truly cares about her students' well-being. Funny, passionate, energetic, I'm lucky to have taken her! VERY demanding class: tests are hard, lab assignments are long, but if you study and put in the time, you can do well. Don't buy the textbook, just annotate and study her PPT slides.

Elmendorf was BORN to teach. Honestly, as someone already passionate about biology, I left class almost every day feeling inspired by her lectures. Her tests are pretty damn hard, but you'll learn so much it'll be more than worth it. If you put in a lot of work, a B is totally attainable. The labs require a lot of work, so try to start them early.

Come to lectures and GO TO OFFICE HOURS. Getting to know her helps you understand what's on her tests and you'll need all the help you can get on her tests. Very hard and nitpicky almost. Great professor, but you'll have to work through the nose to get an A or A-

Elmendorf is really loved by students. She is an awesome lecturer and is very quick to respond to emails and provide help. She is a great professor, but her tests are very difficult. Labs can also be graded harshly. I loved the class, but she does not give out may A's.

One of the most AMAZING, INSPIRATIONAL, and HELPFUL professors at GU. She's incredibly passionate about Biology & hilarious during lectures. If you go to office hours she will explain things with even greater clarity. Tests are hard so study well in advance and actually DO the practice tests she posts on Bb, they're very similar to the actual test.

Fantastic teacher; not an easy class (absolutely have to attend lecture), tests are hard, but you'll learn more in this class than you ever expected. If you attend class and study hard you'll do fine. Prof Elmendorf cares a lot about what she teaches and her classes are informative and straightforward. Definitely recommend

Prof. Elmendorf is one of the greatest people to walk this earth, no exaggeration. Foundations kind of consumes your life, but she is absolutely AMAZING and I would love to take every class she ever teaches ever. Be prepared to study a ton and study in ways you don't have to for other classes. But it's a GREAT CLASS.

Prof Elmendorf is one of the truly great professors I've had at Georgetown. She's always there to help, and will know your name after hearing it once, even in a 300 person lecture. However, the class itself is hard, and will really make you work. DO NOT take as an elective unless you really hate yourself.

Prof Elmendorf is so passionate about her subject. She knows how to explain well and makes an effort to know all her students. However, this class is very difficult; it's really hard to improve on tests; I often felt like I knew the entire topic perfectly and still got a bad grade. It's possible to get an A, not likely. Lab depends on the TA.

Professor Elmendorf is a truly amazing professor and person. The course is difficult but you get out of it what you put into it. I found going to her office hours to be very valuable. She will remember your name after hearing it one time, even in a lecture hall of 200+ students. Very passionate about her subject, lab depends on the TA.

I would highly recommend this class! Professor Elmendorf is an amazing lecturer, focusing on students' understanding of overarching concepts rather than memorization of facts. The tests are challenging, but the practice ones on BB help out a lot.

Professor Elemendorf is so knowledgable and great. Her lectures present the information very clearly, and I feel like I learned a lot. Everything connects in the end, which is really cool. The tests were extremely difficult. The practice tests posted online helped a tremendous amount. Be prepared to work as hard as you can for this class.

Professor Elmendorf is an incredible teacher and a superb lecturer. Her class is very difficult, but definitely doable if you attend class, seek occasional help, and study hard.

Prof E is the best professor at Georgetown. Her class is hard but if you put in the work and study the old tests you will be fine. She is passionate and caring so get to know her

Heidi is amazing. She makes you work for your grade, but if you go to her office hours and read through the notes and do practice exams carefully, you will definitely do succeed.

Heidi Elmendorf is the greatest Professor I've ever had. Her lectures are beyond fascinating, she's brilliant, and I promise you, she will remember your name. GO TO HER OFFICE HOURS. Only "negative" is that she's an extremely tough grader. Class is tough, but the most interesting one I've ever taken - this class alone makes tuition worth it.

This is the coolest and best professor you'll ever interact with. Do not miss out on an opportunity to engage with her. Go to office hours. Foundations 1 is really special, and so is she. Cherish this class.

The hands down best intro-to-science class you can take at Georgetown. She is incredibly knowledgeable about biology and even more passionate. Her class is a challenge, but you will come out of it knowing so much more about biology.

AMAZING professor, but hard grader. Absolutely take her class, but be prepared to work hard and don't expect an easy A/A-

Foundations I: BIOL-103 is definitely one of the hardest classes I've taken at Georgetown. The tests are graded harshly and the expectations are high for the assignments. Yet, Professor Elmendorf makes it all worth it in the end. She teaches all you need to know. You learn a lot and gain a great appreciation for Biology. Do the practice test.

Professor Elmendorf is one of the best people I have ever met in my life. Truly an inspiring, caring, and amazing human being and professor. Foundations 1 is an amazing intro class but you have to put in the work. It's obvious that she and the other professors care immensely about individuals, so you should care about this class too. Cherish it.

I'm not going to sugarcoat it- this class destroyed me. It beats you down and forces you to work. But it was the most interesting and greatest experience I've had at Gtown. This is the hardest class, but it teaches you everything. I would have done much better as a sophomore, but that defeats the purpose. It is meant to train freshmen for science.

Prof. Elmendorf is an amazing professor who truly cares about her students. She tries to learn everyone's name, and she is easy to talk to. Foundations 1 is extremely difficult and relies on 3 midterms, a final, your lab, and some problem sets. The exams are graded harshly but if you study hard and memorize previous years' answers, you will do ok.

Amazing professor, absolutely take this class. The hardest class I've ever taken but it prepared me well to continue studying science at Georgetown. Don't let this class discourage you from continuing as a pre-med or bio major because it gets easier afterwards. Heidi is so nice and cool I wish I had gone to office hours more!

P. Elmendorf totally loves her students, and she loves to answer questions! It is beneficial for both the highly curious and the highly confused. She puts 110% into this class, and even though it is difficult, it is a great way to acclimate to the rigor that is Georgetown. Well-respected as well. You will have a good time while buried in work.

Elmendorf is a great professor. Her lectures are interesting, and you really learn a lot about biology in the class. Tests are all free response and really hard. You can know exactly what you're talking about, but if you don't add a specific key word in your response you won't get credit which made it hard to do well.

Heidi is an incredible lecturer, and her Foundations of Biology class is very well run. However, she's not very available outside of class to talk with students.

Heidi is simply the best when it comes to teaching a foundational biology course. I came out of this class feeling like I learned a substantial amount of material, and she really presents it in an interesting and comprehensible way. It's not as hard to do well as everyone says, just become acquainted with her grading style and you'll be fine!

I loved her. Hard class though.

Elmendorf is THE BEST and this class is amazing. I was so worried to take this class because it has a reputation of being really hard. I worked hard, but never felt like the class was impossible. Elmendorf wants you to succeed; definitely go to office hours. It is a difficult class but she is such an amazing teacher that you will want to work hard.

great prof, difficult class

Prof E is simply one of the most caring professors at Gtown. She is clear about what is expecting on the 3 exams. Weekly problem sets (approx 18 questions) that can be worked on in groups or alone. This course goes along with BIOL113 (lab) and the grades are combined. Few chances for extra credit. Also, she posts a voice over of every lecture.

Elmendorf is an amazing professor! Her foundations bio class was definitely difficult and she warns you at the beginning but i definitely learned a lot from the class and would not have wanted it any other way. It is a weed out class but if you follow her advice from the start you should do well in the class.

Great prof, difficult class due to the nature of microbiology. I prefer Foundations II but that's just because of the content. Prof. E is generally a nice person but she doesn't tolerate bs.

This class seems extremely daunting at first but is not too bad if you stay on top of it. For such a huge class Heidi is very accessible and caring. Her lectures are super engaging and worth it (despite being at 8:30). Don't bother buying the book, you only need to know what's on the slides. She records all lectures so you don't always have to go.

You will be expected to learn a lot for this class but Heidi & the whole Bio 1 team make it both engaging and doable. She is easily the best teacher I've ever had and her genuine passion for the subject is inspiring. Print the slides & bring them to class for most effective notetaking; this will be your textbook, don't bother buying the real one.

Heidi Elmendorf is an inspiring human being. She is brilliant about biology and ALSO fantastic lecturer, really cares about her subject & her students. This class was a lot of work- weekly problem sets, 3 exams, paper about mental health and a cumulative final (+ lab)- but there is ample opportunity to succeed and you will learn SO MUCH. love heidi

As someone without a strong science background, this class was super difficult. Exams are tough, but there's a lot of extra help available. Prof E is a very engaging lecturer and makes class super interesting. She's passionate about what she's teaching and really cares about her students. Take this class! Even if you're not a "science person."

Prof Elmendorf explains everything extremely well. The course is definitely hard, but I learned SO much.

Took Prof. E's "Blobs and Globs" senior seminar and just wanted to pop in and say that Prof. E is amazing and you should take as many classes with her as possible. It's a Pass/Fail senior seminar, so you show up and pass, and you get as much out of it as you want (or don't want), but Prof. E is great obviously.

Professor E was the best professor Ive ever had. She demands a lot from her students but she gives you all the tools you need to be able to succeed. She was extremely knowledgeable and always worked to integrate the things we were learning into real, relatable scenarios.

Professor Elmendorf is the most impressive and kind and wonderful and spectacular human being you will ever meet in your entire life. She is an icon. We all love her. She is a tough grader, but she explains concepts so well and is always happy to help out extra. You definitely need to go to lecture to go well, but she keeps them fun and engaging.

Prof E is very nice and accomodating. The tests are hard because she looks for very specific answers that are not clear from just the question. But her tests only cover what she lectures. Lots of memorization and she makes you work for an A, but she is always willing to help and answer questions.

The absolute greatest lecturer I've ever had the privilege to listen to. Professor Elmendorf is a true expert in her field and never skips a beat. She answers every question with incredible insight. Professor E holds her students to the same high standards, which can sometimes hurt on tests. While the class can be difficult, it is well worth it.

Wow! Prof E is an incredible professor!!! She does an excellent job of explaining concepts and she's very approachable and accessible for office hours, etc. Foundations of Biology is difficult simply because the content is difficult, but if you put the work in, this class will pay off!!

I loved professor E. The material was very well delivered. It took me a pretty bad outing the first exam to get a hold on the particular structure they look for in answers, but once you get a hang of it they're not too bad. Prof E is warm and exudes love for biology. Great class.

Prof. E is a great teacher and genuinely cares about her students. BIOL103 is information and lecture heavy, but Prof. E is super accessible and will do everything in her power to help you succeed. Her tests are hard, but the exams from past years she provides are super useful. I didn't really use the textbook, but it's nice for additional help.

Prof E is a queen 10/10 an icon. So knowledgeable- made me feel grateful to be lectured by her. Very accessible and warm. Go to office hours! A tasking class; in-depth, complex content. Tests make you dissect your understanding and are pretty brutal. Going over answer keys are a must. Despite the work, I learned so much and feel inspired by Prof. E

Prof Elmendorf is a fantastic professor, always excited to teach and eager to help students in office hours. If you study past years exams thoroughly you should be good!

absolutely love Prof E-- clearly cares about her students and explains everything in understandable terms. Took her class online, and she made a huge effort to make the most of the online platform instead of just slightly adapting her regular plan and to build community. Tests were hard but fair-- make sure you pay attention in lecture.

Prof E is a great teacher. She is great in lectures and really tries to help those who struggle in her class. Her Foundations 1 Bio class is by no means easy, but if you work hard and listen to her advice, (she will give you advice if you ask) you can succeed in her class. She is also very helpful in office hours, you should definitely attend those

Prof E is one of the best bio teachers I've ever had. She is super caring and understanding, especially during covid. The class is hard, but she does a great job of teaching the content. I loved this class so much!

Professor E is one of the best professors Ive ever had. She gives incredible lectures. If you want to succeed in this class, do the practice exams! Pay attention to understanding the why of concepts, not just memorizing things. I cant recommend this class enough. Youll hustle for a good grade, and its worth it.

This was my first semester here, but this class has definitely been the hardest class I've ever taken. The content is interesting and Prof E (very nice!) is great at lecturing, but the tests were very difficult. Ppl say that you should look at past answer keys, but honestly I didn't think that helped. If u want an A, get ready to work hard.

Quite simply, I would take a bullet for this woman. Professor Elmendorf is brilliant, she goes above and beyond to help students succeed in this class and managed to make 8AM lectures engaging and enjoyable. This class was tough and the grading can seem unreasonable, but Prof. E herself is a fantastic teacher and worth the few moments of struggle.

Professor Elmendorf's F1 class made me love biology. Professor Elmendorf is brilliant and an excellent lecturer. As someone who had a very tenuous background in biology, I felt as though the class was a lot of work, but the tests were very fair representations of class content and similar to past exams.

Prof E is great! She is very sweet and is always willing to help us. The only thing is that the tests are graded unfairly. You have to hit the exact terms in her answers to get the credit, and it is extremely hard to do so when the questions are vague. Besides that, she's great.

Professor Elmendorf is an absolute GEM in the biology department. She is the most caring, understanding, and inspirational professor I've had at Georgetown so far. Her lectures are worth getting up before 8 a.m. for, which is rare! However, beware the exams. Hit buzzwords, or else you'll get points off. Grading can be quite nit-picky; prepare well.

Prof E genuinely wants you to succeed. Her lectures are informative and interesting, and helps you learn the material. If you want to do well, do the HW's with a study group, and MEMORIZE the answers to specific questions from past exams. I would start studying at least several days before the exam, or be ready to pull all-nighters.

Everyone loves Prof E!!! The class itself was very difficult and the material covered was heavy. Make sure you know HOW to study because it definitely would've helped me.

prof E is extremely caring and accommodating-- she wants to see you succeed, and there are lots of resources available for help outside class. super important to attend lecture and take good notes. definitely start studying at least a week in advance bc the tests are hard, long, and all free response. start studying EARLY for the final!!!

Prof. Elmendorf is the best teacher I've ever had. She's an incredibly knowledgeable prof as well as an excellent teacher of the class content. She made me fall in love with bio again. Foundations bio itself is rather heavy, and the grading can seem weirdly specific at times, so it might be a bit of an adjustment getting used to it. Go to lecture.

Elmendorf is a true gem of Georgetown and I'm sad I didn't go to many office hours with her...she knows her stuff well but beware of the complete short answer tests - unlike many things at Georgetown, these are NOT BS-able. You need to know a huge amount of info and be able to apply it. Faculty is super accommodating and grade has boosters tho

The bottom line is that you will do well in this class so long as you work hard and follow all instructions/guidelines. The professors are very clear about what they expect with all components of the class. All of the professors are kind, knowledgeable, and approachable. Watch lecture recordings, use past exams to study, and get help from the SAAs!

Prof. E is fantastic, and works to be engaging during 80 minute lectures. I never used the textbook, but recommend attending office hours and GUSS, and especially practicing previous years' exams, as they require complete understanding and synthesis of the material. Some questions can be frustrating as they look for very specific answers.

Professor E. is awesome and very accommodating during office hours, as well as if you are having any difficulties in the class. The problem sets are designed to challenge you so work with a group. The tests were a lot harder than I anticipated. This class is nothing like AP Biology. It includes a LOT of content, but it is do-able.

This class was fairly difficult, but Professor E is an amazing person and professor. I would not take this class again, though, as there was a lot of material and the tests were overly difficult and largely based on memorization.

Prof. E is one of the most amazing Professors I've ever worked with. Her knowledge of the field is truly unmatched, and she's quick on her fee too! The way she has designed F1 to run is truly like a well-oiled machine. It's a challenging class, but taking Prof. E for the lab made it worth it and led to me really learning a lot from the course.

I don't think I ever left her review sessions confused. She does a great job at breaking down tough subjects and is hilarious while doing it. She is very caring and knowledgable in the field. Truly made me love biology so much more. Would highly recommend. It's clear she put a lot of thought into F1 and making it run smoothly.

Had Prof. E for F1 Bio Recitation. She is an excellent communicator of difficult and abstract concepts in biology. She really made sure people understood the most important themes/ideas in the class, which we have to employ during midterms/the final. F1 Bio is a brutal class but Prof. E's explanations, excitement, humor and knowledge help a lot.

Prof E gave a lecture during GAAP weekend, and she was the final reason I came to GU to study bio. When I had her for F1 Bio recitation and office hours, she didn't disappoint. She explains difficult concepts in an incredibly clear and engaging way, and I genuinely enjoyed the time I spent in office hours/recitation. Highly, highly recommend.

amazing prof who nurtures a true passion for learning about bio. put in the work and you will be ok, but it's definitely a challenging course. really great attitude towards students; wants to see everyone not only succeed but really fall in love with science.

Had her for Race, Power, and Justice. Really understanding and willing to be open on controversial topics. Amazing at facilitating discussion and making sure class doesn't dry up.