4.0

Holly Westell

Computer Science - Seneca Polytechnic

4.0
Quality
2.7
Difficulty
74%
Would Retake
89
Reviews
4.0
Quality
2.7
Difficulty
4.0
Helpful
4.0
Clarity

74%

Would Retake

89

Reviews

Rating Distribution
Official
89 total ratings

5

56

4

11

3

6

2

6

1

10

What Students Say

Her sense of humour is her strength

HWD101 - 5.0 rating

She is a very knowledgable teacher about linux cuz she made OPS courses with Andrew (we miss u)

OPS335 - 4.0 rating
Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

54%

Textbook Required

18%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

A-

95% confidence
Based on 32 grades
Most common grades:
A+ (13)
A (10)
B (4)
Grade Distribution
A(23)B(4)C(1)D(1)F(1)A-/B+(3)
Based on 36 reported grades
A+: 13
A: 10
B: 4
Not sure yet: 3
Common Tags
Hilarious (13)
Gives good feedback (9)
Respected (7)
Caring (7)
Inspirational (5)
Amazing lectures (5)
Skip class? You won't pass. (4)
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS (3)
Rating Trend

Declining

-0.22 avg change
Nov
Dec
Jan
Jul
Nov
Dec
Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

HWD301

5.0

(1)

HWD101L

5.0

(1)

INT100

5.0

(1)

DCN386CISCO

5.0

(1)

OPS235335

5.0

(1)
+10 more courses
Difficulty by Course

Unknown

5.0

OPS335

3.7

HWD

3.0

WIN200

3.0

OPS235

3.0

Reviews (88)
3.0
3.0
CDD301
Nov 5, 2002

have another coke....

4.0
2.0
CDD301
Nov 8, 2002

full of tricks to keep you coming to class...

2.0
4.0
CDD301
Nov 18, 2002

Likes to sware a lot. Damm boring.

5.0
1.0
HWD101
Nov 25, 2002

Funny Teacher, gives practical examples, very fair on tests and assignments

5.0
1.0
CDD301
Nov 25, 2002

Genuinely nice, very knowledgeable, very fun! Great prof.

5.0
2.0
HWD101
Nov 25, 2002

Willing to help students, talks a little fast (might be all the coke she drinks!

5.0
1.0
HWD101
Nov 27, 2002

THE BEST TEACHER IN THE WHOLE SCHOOL, FIGHT TO GET HER AS A PROF!!!!!

5.0
1.0
HWD
Nov 27, 2002

poor body odour and dandruff, but a great teach

5.0
1.0
HWD101
Nov 28, 2002

best teacher there, willing to help ANY student, not just her own!!!

2.0
4.0
HWD
Nov 28, 2002

she's soo bad... pray u don't get her

1.0
5.0
HWD101
Dec 12, 2002

NIGHTMARE

5.0
1.0
HWD301
Dec 16, 2002

Great Teacher. Knows a lot. A nightmare for lazy @$$holes

1.0
5.0
HWD
Dec 19, 2002

Every idiot will love her. she did noting except cheating.

5.0
1.0
HWD101L
Jan 6, 2003

If you're serious about being successful get this teacher!

5.0
4.0
OPS335
Jan 20, 2003

Good UNIX instructor, makes you think instead of memorizing info. GET HER!

5.0
4.0
OPS335
Feb 10, 2003

Finally, a UNIX course that makes sense!

1.0
5.0
Unknown
Mar 5, 2003

rudely refused to let me use a computer in the lab after I asked nicely.... thank g0d I don't have her for any of my courses

1.0
5.0
OPS335
Feb 19, 2003

it is a nightmare if you have her,doesn't teach well

5.0
4.0
OPS335
Apr 18, 2003

Amazing teacher, gives up her days off and weekends to come in an run extra tutorials and give extra help. We give her two thumbs up!

5.0
4.0
OPS335
Apr 18, 2003

great lady, kinda tough but very helpful and REALLY funny

4.0
2.0
OPS335
Jun 24, 2003

VERY GOOD TEACHER, AS WELL AS CHARACTER. FUNNY PERSON.

5.0
5.0
WIN200
Jun 26, 2003

Great teacher. Funny Jokes. Could uses some coffee in lectures though, it's not her just microsoft!

5.0
1.0
WIN200
Aug 12, 2003

Great teacher, takes up tests with you, makes sure you understand everything, very helpful, gives up days off to come in and help her students.

5.0
2.0
OPS335
Aug 17, 2003

had for HWD101 too..very nice and friendly person...doesn't explain well..but very easy quizes and tests..very understanding..and trusting..can be sarcastic at times ;)

5.0
1.0
WIN200
Aug 25, 2003

Make sure to ditch the apple and bring a coke for her. Very good teacher, fair marker. Very good at playing worlds smallest violin.

5.0
4.0
OPS335
Nov 9, 2003

Amazing teacher -- lent me a hard drive when mine died (for the term). No other teacher in the college lends their drives out, but Holly does! Incredible person and instructor.

1.0
5.0
OPS335
Dec 1, 2003

She wrote herself so many good comments! The truth is she doesn't know LINUX at all if you take her course, you should know she is not able to answer any question in the lab. Except saying"that's your assignment,I won't tell u anything,WHAT A FUNNY W

5.0
4.0
OPS235
Mar 11, 2004

Win200. Amazing teacher. Knows her stuff. Lent me a harddrive during the pratical test cause I forgot my password. She is actually a good teacher. Wow.

3.0
5.0
WIN200
Nov 10, 2004

The multiple-answer test and quiz questions are the most annoying stuffs in the course!!!

4.0
5.0
OPS335
Jun 24, 2004

Although sometimes it might seem like she is a mean old lady. She is really a great teacher, and she *actually* cares about her students. I recommend her! You will learn in her class!

5.0
3.0
OPS335
Dec 1, 2004

Alright now. Holly's a great teacher and she kicks ass. As long as you listen in class or pretend that you do and as long as you know something about what's going on, she likes you. She'll be on you to do well, but whatever. Too bad she's gone next semester.

5.0
3.0
OPS335
Dec 6, 2004

Holly is one of the most unique teachers I have ever had. She is able to teach students in a way no other can. She is ablt to prepare us for exams like no other can... And she can make up laugh like no other teacher can... Holly, were gonna miss you here at Seneca!!! I know I will...

5.0
1.0
OPS235
Jan 8, 2005

bye bye Holly! we gona miss you

5.0
3.0
OPS335
Mar 1, 2005

Holly -- I'm glad you are back at Seneca (even though we have lost Andrew Petalik -- another great teacher)

5.0
3.0
OPS335
Apr 12, 2005

Shes really a nice teacher but also has her down fall. Had her for 235 and I really learned alot...Sometimes I avoid asking questions because she likes to broadcast it to other students to make you feel dumb but dont mess with her...she knows KIRATE...BLACK BELT!!!if you want the BIG $$$,learn Linux

3.0
5.0
OPS335
Apr 15, 2005

This year I noticed she marked a lot harder than usual. She ended up making it harder for some students than others...

4.0
3.0
OPS335
May 17, 2005

She is a very knowledgable teacher about linux cuz she made OPS courses with Andrew (we miss u). She marks harder than usual but I can gurantee you will learn a lot in her class with her help and Mohammed (genius guy!). She likes to make fun in her class but don't piss her off or you will suffer(she change ur admin passwd so u have fix it yourself)

3.0
4.0
OPS235
Jul 19, 2005

Hard marker. Her attitude is not what I expect for a college professor. All the swearing is not neccessary. She does know her linux though.

5.0
1.0
INT100
Aug 14, 2005

She is very helpful and knows her teaching material really well. When you go in for extra help, she really helps you. She is a very positive and motivating person. It was a pleasure to be in her class. We need more teachers like her.

5.0
2.0
DCN386CISCO
Grade: A+
Sep 7, 2005

Wicked prof.! She's addicted to "Coca-Cola" and knows everything about Linux. Why was she teaching CiSCO ? Beats the hell out of me. To bad shes gone now :-? She likes to teach in her own style.

5.0
2.0
OPS235335
Oct 21, 2005

Amazing teacher! Too bad she has left Seneca (along with Andrew Petalik, Scott Laforet, and Lyne Bourque). All the good ones are gone!

5.0
1.0
HWD101
Sep 25, 2013

Holly's stories in class make this very boring subject manageable. Her sense of humour is her strength. Glad that she is back at Seneca.

5.0
1.0
HWD101
Dec 5, 2013

Awesome teacher, she makes the course super fun to attend her classes too. She has interesting stories and lots experience in the field. Not to mention she has a clear passion for what her job entails.

4.0
2.0
HWD
Grade: A
Jan 19, 2015

She is alright.

5.0
1.0
HWD101
Grade: A+
Jan 28, 2015

The best prof I ever had. She will open your brain and put information into it. She will help you as much as you can if you are sincere in her class.

4.0
3.0
HWD101
Grade: A
Feb 12, 2015

Actually cares about what she teaches. Relates to video games and fun real life situations. Offers help to those who struggle.

5.0
2.0
HWD101
Grade: A+
Aug 14, 2015

What an amazing prof! Take without a doubt!

5.0
2.0
HWD101
Grade: A
Mar 11, 2016

One of the best profs, she actually cares for you, lectures are fun and she has a lot of work experience, good stories too haha!

5.0
2.0
HWD101
Grade: A
Apr 17, 2016

Just really involved and a genuinely good person. Amazing prof. She understands how much students pay for school, and wants every single student in the class to pass. Will go way over the top for you if you need help. Seriously wish she was my prof for every class. If you have the opportunity, take this class. You wont regret it.

5.0
3.0
HWD101
Apr 26, 2016

Holly is a great teacher for introduction of HWD. She possesses all the critical elements that a student requires when learning a new topic. She was informative in her lectures, and had patience to explain concepts until the "eureka moment". She has a great depth of knowledge and has a good sense of humor.

5.0
4.0
HWD101
Grade: B
Jun 8, 2017
Would take again

One of the best Profs I have ever seen. She is a no BS kinda gal. She's super funny, smart, and I would Highly recommend her.

Respected
Skip class? You won't pass.
Hilarious
5.0
2.0
HWD101
Grade: A+
Aug 10, 2017
Would take again

If you want a really good and patient professor. Take her or its your loss. She will spend hours with you if she has to for you to understand the information. Very passionate and caring professor. I indeed will not forget her.

Gives good feedback
Inspirational
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
5.0
4.0
HWD101
Grade: A
Aug 31, 2017
Would take again

Great professor caring and understanding if you attend class and pay attention you will pass

Tough Grader
Gives good feedback
Participation matters
4.0
2.0
HWD101
Grade: A+
Sep 14, 2017
Would take again

Best hardware teacher with full of experience.

Gives good feedback
Clear grading criteria
Hilarious
5.0
2.0
HWD101
Grade: A+
Mar 9, 2018
Would take again

Best prof in Seneca , and she's funny

5.0
5.0
WIN213
Apr 9, 2018
Would take again

Holly is the best professor I've encountered at Seneca. It's unfortunate the course WIN213 is horribly structured but Holly went out of her way to help me and other students understand the material. She always put the students first when it comes to learning. Holly has the best stories to tell to the class which makes the lectures enjoyable.

Gives good feedback
Respected
Hilarious
5.0
3.0
WIN213
Aug 3, 2018
Would take again

I fall in love with Holly. Great great teacher and person. Don't miss the chance of being part of her class.

5.0
2.0
WIN213
Grade: B
Dec 6, 2018
Would take again

holly is amazing if u get a chance take her. She is hilarious and will make the class fun . Most importantly she will help u when u need it . I love her

ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
Hilarious
Caring
3.0
2.0
WIN213
Grade: A+
Dec 18, 2018
Would take again

Holly is a good professor. Very funny, caring and accessible outside class. She has the knowledge of the content.

Gives good feedback
Skip class? You won't pass.
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
5.0
3.0
HWD101
Grade: B+
Jan 22, 2019
Would take again

REAL good professor, take her if you can

2.0
3.0
WIN213
Mar 10, 2019
Wouldn't take again

Get ready for tricky quiz and test questions. TEST 1 was most-scripting! (I do not know if it will be the same for you) SO do not be a fool to study only lectures and try to pass the course, actually know scripting.

Test heavy
5.0
2.0
HWD101
Jul 12, 2019
Would take again

She is really nice

5.0
3.0
WIN213
Grade: B
Aug 8, 2019
Would take again

I had C+ and needed couple marks to get B so I can opt out of the final exam. She asked me to do the final lab and plus she gave me the rest of the marks for me to get a B and opt out the final exam. Definitely recommend her.

Gives good feedback
Respected
Accessible outside class
5.0
2.0
WIN213
Grade: B
Aug 13, 2019
Would take again

Had her this semester in WIN213. I had heard very negative things towards her but don't understand why. Holly is a great prof and cares for her students. If you email her because you are having trouble with course material, she will go out of her way to help teach you. I highly recommend her.

Accessible outside class
Hilarious
Caring
5.0
3.0
WIN213
Oct 25, 2019
Would take again

Took this course with Holly in Winter 2019 The course itself is tricky for people without a background in scripting(Like myself) but trust me if you show up to class seek help, and try your best by showing interest Holly will help you. I've never met a professor like her at Seneca before that cares for the success of her students. ur Israel student

Gives good feedback
Inspirational
Hilarious
2.0
4.0
HWD101
Grade: A+
Apr 18, 2020
Wouldn't take again

Holly always boasts about having lots of experience and et cetera but she is really insensitive and offensive at times. She calls out people in class; people who send her e-mails asking for help and people with accessibility needs. She is unpredictable; she changed the time frame for the final exam last minute and is bery aggressive over e-mail.

Tough grader
1.0
3.0
HWD101
Grade: A+
Apr 18, 2020
Wouldn't take again

She tries to be funny by cracking offensive jokes and stories in her lectures, causing her to sidetrack a lot. I wish she focused on teaching and actually being helpful instead of wasting her energy like that.

5.0
2.0
HWD101
Apr 19, 2020
Would take again

Excellent ability to convey the material in simple terms. Explains subletting clearly. If you cant figure it from her lectures then you are wasting time and money in this program.

Clear grading criteria
Hilarious
Amazing lectures
1.0
2.0
HWD101
May 20, 2020
Wouldn't take again

Messed up our final grades and when inquired about it didn't even reply back. Really passive-aggressive, even when things are her fault. Don't believe she cares that much since she doesn't communicate properly with students. Don't feel supported at all by her.

1.0
5.0
HWD101
Grade: F
Apr 30, 2021
Wouldn't take again

WORST PROFESSOR EVER! Poor communication with students after course time. No sympathy. She tried to be funny during course time but its not funny and its somewhat offensive. She say you can always hand in your labs late but she doesn't care if you do your labs right or wrong. She is a tough grader when it comes to test. Don't choose her!

Skip class? You won't pass.
Test heavy
Tough grader
5.0
4.0
CSN105
Grade: A
Aug 21, 2021
Would take again

Test heavy but teaches good

Skip class? You won't pass.
Test heavy
Tough grader
4.0
1.0
CSN105
Grade: Not sure yet
Mar 13, 2022
Would take again

She knows what she's talking about. She is a veteran in the industry. She is great for CSN105 and is an easy grader, the only bad thing about Holly is that 20% of the time she will be talking about her dog, family, husband, or other non-computer related things :) but take that with a grain of salt.

Hilarious
Caring
5.0
3.0
CSN105
Grade: A
Aug 26, 2022
Would take again

She is the best , both as a proffesor and as a human being. She really cares her job and gives her best. It was a pleasure to take her course.

5.0
3.0
CSN105
Grade: A-
Dec 20, 2022
Would take again

Holly's a really nice and funny teacher. She's really experienced with computers and IT so she's got a lot of stories and stuff to tell. Personally, these stories of her helped lessons to stick in my head better. I absolutely 100% recommend getting Holly as your prof.

Hilarious
Caring
Respected
5.0
3.0
CSN105
Grade: A+
Dec 21, 2022
Would take again

She is very good to communicate with. For example I submitted the raspberry pi project by the wrong way and she allow me to resubmit again. Btw she is going to Australia, good luck Holly!

Gives good feedback
Hilarious
Respected
5.0
1.0
NWK680
Grade: A+
Mar 27, 2023
Would take again

The best professor.

Amazing lectures
Inspirational
Caring
5.0
1.0
CSN105
Grade: A-
Dec 4, 2023
Would take again

good take it again

3.0
2.0
CSN105
Grade: C+
Dec 10, 2023

She is good but she forgets to teach. She just goes on with her stories. all i studied or just got to know from here is that she had surgeries. thats it.

Amazing lectures
Inspirational
Respected
5.0
2.0
NWK680
Grade: A+
Feb 7, 2024
Would take again

As long as you submit your lab and do the test, you will get A+. Wish you all the best, Holly.

5.0
2.0
CSN105
Grade: A
Sep 9, 2024
Would take again

I can't even begin to explain how amazing Holly was. She has a way of explaining things in a way that everyone can understand, even if it's a complicated topic. She will even turn those hard classes into a game, so not only are you actually learning but you're having fun doing it. 10/10 one of the great ones.

Amazing lectures
Inspirational
Hilarious
2.0
2.0
CSN105
Grade: Not sure yet
Oct 12, 2024

I feel like I got scammed because a lot of people here are saying she's a great prof. Sure, she's an easy marker, but she talks a lot about her personal life, it gets boring and you won't learn anything. Sometimes her jokes could be offensive, but besides that she just talks too much and she doesn't teach. I regret taking her tbh.

1.0
2.0
CSN105
Oct 30, 2024

she's an easy grader, if you want to pass without learning anything by all means, take her. if you seriously want to learn, take another professor. she talks about the lesson for 5mins and then talks about herself or about her fam for the next 20mins. during tests she talks and talk and talk and more talk about whatvere, i cant concentrate.

4.0
2.0
NWK680
Grade: A
Nov 21, 2024
Would take again

Holly is nice in terms of interacting with students and she likes to talk about her life and family. She is not a tough grader and is also good at explaining.

Amazing lectures
Hilarious
Respected
2.0
2.0
NWK680
Dec 3, 2024

Holly's ok, her lesson is a hit or miss. Sometimes she talks about the lesson but sometimes she talk about her life a lot. Her way of teaching is really not for everyone

1.0
3.0
CSN105
Grade: Drop/Withdrawal
Jan 9, 2025

She needs to retire. The course was completely unorganized, with poor communication and constant distractions from her bringing up random, unrelated topics during lectures. It felt like a waste of time and money. If you're at Seneca to actually learn, avoid her course. It's only worth considering if your main goal is immigration.

4.0
2.0
CSN105
Grade: Not sure yet
Jul 29, 2025
Would take again

She is kind and is willing to teach you if you genuinely ask for help

Participation matters
Caring
Online Savvy
5.0
3.0
CSN105
Grade: A+
Nov 20, 2025
Would take again

Holly was one of the best profs I've had here. Very engaging lectures, really makes an effort to help students understand difficult concepts, goes above and beyond with providing resources, guidance, and support even after finishing the class. Wonderful experience. 11/10.

Amazing lectures
5.0
1.0
NWK680
Grade: A
Dec 18, 2025
Would take again

She is sharp and knows exactly what she is talking about. She has tons of industry experience, so the stuff you learn is actually useful. Tests are fair and her feedback is top-tier. Definitely take her if you want to learn from a pro.

Gives good feedback
Hilarious
Caring
Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

54%

Textbook Required

18%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

A-

95% confidence
Based on 32 grades
Most common grades:
A+ (13)
A (10)
B (4)
Grade Distribution
A(23)B(4)C(1)D(1)F(1)A-/B+(3)
Based on 36 reported grades
A+: 13
A: 10
B: 4
Not sure yet: 3
Common Tags
Hilarious (13)
Gives good feedback (9)
Respected (7)
Caring (7)
Inspirational (5)
Amazing lectures (5)
Skip class? You won't pass. (4)
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS (3)
Rating Trend

Declining

-0.22 avg change
Nov
Dec
Jan
Jul
Nov
Dec
Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

HWD301

5.0

(1)

HWD101L

5.0

(1)

INT100

5.0

(1)

DCN386CISCO

5.0

(1)

OPS235335

5.0

(1)
+10 more courses
Difficulty by Course

Unknown

5.0

OPS335

3.7

HWD

3.0

WIN200

3.0

OPS235

3.0

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