2.6
Quality4.0
Difficulty20%
Would Retake109
Reviews20%
Would Retake
109
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
17
4
19
3
16
2
35
1
22
What Students Say
“Also, her lectures are horrible”
BIO101 - 2.0 rating“She's a nice person but a TERRIBLE professor”
BIO101 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
55%
Textbook Required
85%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.58 avg changeRatings by Course
BIO011
5.0
(1)BIO101H
5.0
(2)BIOL390
5.0
(1)BIOL101H
4.7
(3)BIOL011
4.2
(5)Difficulty by Course
3284
5.0
BIO
5.0
BIO101
4.5
BIOL118
4.0
biol117
4.0
Reviews (109)
great teacher and woman! def. take!
easy to understand though talks like she's talking to group of children
very nice
Actually curved one of her tests down instead of up.
teaches to the lowest level, tests to the highest level - very frustrating.
The class was very easy and boring. It was a major waste of time although great for sleeping in.
Really interesting, helpful but very hard class. Attendance is mandatory 4 ur benefit. Neva miss class. Take EXCELLENT notes, go 4 SI, get a study partner, put Xtra effort, & u might make a B. Curves help. Tests r detail-orinted. DON'T SLACK OFF!!!
I would take Reynolds if I were you; if bio/science is not a strong academic area for you, this would not be the class to take.
The average score for her tests is a D. Can know material and still flunk tests. Seems to like her hard reputation, tests are impossible.
Tries to be confusing on tests. More "out to get you" than out to teach you.
Very difficult but really gets you to know material. Her tests are hard but not impossible--with little to no studying I have gotten high B's and low A's on all three. Go to the SI's before class.
zzzzzzz. *yawn* < insert sound of head hitting the desk after falling asleep here> I did more crossword puzzles to stay awake, and even that didn't always keep me up.
I took this class in the summer and made a B, but I studied a lot. Her tests are tricky. It's very helpful to study from old tests. Don't bother reading or buying book b/c the test is mainly on her notes.
hard test even if you know the material!!
good teacher. she's really funny, but her tests are EXTREMELY hard!!! you have to go to all the classes, and take really good notes. good luck!
Went to 9 or 10 classes all year (counting test days), have an A. Read the chapters associated with each lecture and you'll pretty much get everything you need to know. Best bet may be to get a friend's old notebook from the year before (b/c you don't always need to know *everything* in the book.
DO not take this class! Tests were horrible and class was dull.
It doesnt really matter if you study or not because even if you do you wont understand her test
Awesome lady...very nice and funny...however...biology is hard no matter who teaches it...hard to tell what to study...must take good notes...tests are not easy
Exams are very difficult, even though the material may seem easy. Notes are very important, and she seems willing to help in class, but in office hours, she's not very approachable or helpful. Her theory is that if you go to class and take notes, you should be getting an A, but this is rarely the case.
Listen really carefully and write down everything she says. Dont bother reading the book unless you dont understand a concept. She gives a good curve. She's challanging, but not impossible.
Everyone has said to not read the book, yet if you read all the chapters before the test, then apply them to your notes, you will get a high B or A. she says she makes test questions where you have to APPLY what you have learned, and the book applys it for you, so you already know whats comming. Shes a great teacher, but def hard.
It is very important to take notes in class, even on what seems to be repetitive or just a rant. Her tests are hard but not impossible and are entirely based on the notes, though outside reading for topics covered in class is a good idea.
Tests were impossible and lectures were boring. I felt the class encompassed entirely too much information.
i don't know how i passed this. i got a 78, 50, 52, and 74 on the final and got a c, so odd. your grade is based on 4 tests. says she takes attendance in a 400 person class but it doesn't really add to your grade. tests based on notes only. jeremiah hinson (ta) does help sessions weekly for her & they are very helpful. curves by test but i hate her
Overall a very good teacher who knows her material well. She analogizes vague and boring bio concepts in her own funny, and witty manner, which makes the class interesting. The assigned book SUCKS!! Tests are NOT hard (although they get progressively harder): I got a 96, 92, 84, and 88. She curves , so everyone is competing!
Went 2 all her classes and took notes, but made terrible grades. Stopped coming to class & relied solely on the book, & my last 2 test scores went up an average of 20 points! Basically class was useless, tests covered way 2 much info, & she claims 2 take attendance (in a class of 400 people? I don't know, I never got penalized for not showing up)
This class is absurd! You think you understand the material in class, but then you get the tests and they are worded all weird. The tests are VERY hard...but thank god for the TA..he helps alot!
If you go to supplemental instruction Jeremiah is a lot of help. 4 tests count 25% each and are very hard. It is easy to skip this class but in my opinion it really helps to be there instead of just getting the notes.
Now that I'm done with this class, I want to die. Desaix's class is ridiculous because you pay almost $200 for a book that you don't even need to read if you go to class. The tests are 95% off of notes. She's hard to understand, always tells off-tangent stories, and you'll want to cry.
So her curve didn't turn out to be so great. You think you know the material and then the tests are nothing like what you know. I honestly think she tries to make students do badly. If you aren't considering a major in Bio, don't take her as a professor. Attend class and write down everthing she says because even her tangent stories will be tested.
Teaches to the lowest level and expects you to test well to the highest level. Her tests are impossible - be ready to study ALOT to get a C or D. Not recommended.
HER CLASS RUINED MY LIFE...and my gpa. if you decide to take her class, make sure you have: lots of time to study, a mindset that thinks out of the box for her exams, and lots of alcohol to celebrate your D on her exam :)
She didn't really... teach. She had PPs that she used, though often skipped over, and they didn't cover all of the notes. The notes didn't always cover material in the book, or even material being taught. The tests weren't that difficult, assuming you went to the review sessions that her TA gave twice a week. GO to them, they improve your grade.
AVOID HER AT ALL COSTS. Don't commit GPA suicide! Most of the material taught in class was on the test even if she didnt go into detail. Reading the book is an absolute must! She was not approachable in office hrs and thought a class average of 65 was too high...a 60 was better according to her.
Shes a very interesting lady, her lectures won't bore you but they will leave you with scattered notes. Don't bother reading the book, but going to class is a must. If your having trouble the SI sessions are amazing.
serioulsy, dont take her. i wish i would have been warned. i wish someone would have told me to take hogan! now im screwed
not a good teacher at all. do not take this class. IT WAS AWFUL. she goes off on tangents that don't apply to anything you really need to know. book is useless..take good notes and go to class. worked hard and still made a C.
I didn't hate her with a passion, and the class wasnt impossible, i rarely read the book. just take good notes on her lecture, but not off the pwrpt because her pwrpts were useless. sit in the front because there are 400+ people in a single class. I would still recomend Hogan even though i still managed an A- with minimal studying (bio major tho)
Great teacher if you enjoy bio.
I would go to class just to listen for her random stories which often show up on tests. In general though, you'll get more out of reading the book and attending SI sessions (I just went to the test reviews). It wasn't a boring class and I pulled out of it with an A without having to do a whole lot of work (mostly just reading).
Tests are very in depth and specific. You don't know your grade until you get the curve.
You're not gonna get too much out of the class with this one. Go to the SI sessions, read a little, and cram alot before each of the 4 test and you will be fine.
This class actually made me choose biology as another minor. All you need is to go to class and the SI sessions. Reference the book if you are still confused. I just did the work, didn't stress too much and mad an A.
She's not always very straight forward when lecturing or on tests, but if you take good notes, ask her to clarify things, and (DO THIS!) go to SI sessions with Jeremiah Hinsen, you will get a good grade.
Overall, she was a good teacher. The problem was the tests trick you. Read through the questions carefully, go to class, and GO TO THE SI SESSIONS!
Going to class wasn't too bad -- she helped with some material, and sometime she told stories that showed up on tests. As for doing well on the test, the book is much more helpful for understanding concepts. Test questions are tricky but not too bad. Just keep up with reading and you'll be fine.
I've never prided myself on being the smartest person in the world, but neither am I dumb. However, I made 60's on both of my first two tests. That should say enough. Yes, I did study. Her tests are just too difficult.
Makes the tests unnecessarily difficult. No idea where her questions even come from because they were certainly never addressed in the book or in her dry lectures. Try to get Hogan.
Really a good teacher...tests very difficult and picky..but she tells you that up front...committed to providing a great introductory biology experience..(oversees the lab, teaches honors section, makes sure review sessions with TA's are useful)...come ready to study...If you want to learn some biology she's the place to start at carolina...
I love her stories, and they often show up on the tests. The tests are INSANELY difficult, but as long as you study hard and ask questions about the material as you're studying and try to think outside of the box, you'll be fine. Go to SI and read the book. I took this during a summer session so it was really fast-paced but I still did all right
Very strange tests, but funny stories in class. Powerpoints hard to follow.
Like everyone else, her tests are terrible. I read the book, studied like crazy, and went to supplemental instruction but still did poorly on exams. I came in a Bio Major, but after this class I don't think that's possible. I also find her incredibly inappropriate-I've thought a lot of her stories and jokes offensive.
She is a great professor! Be sure to pay attention in class, take good notes, and listen to her stories.
she is a great professor and has really funny stories in the class and puts them on tests to make sure you go to lecture since she doesnt take attendance. the tests were not that bad if you read and go to class.
she knows her stuff, but tests ask questions that require you to pay attention to every detail in class; don't have to read txtbk if you go to class; has an attitude at times
This class is really hard...her test questions are extremely tricky. However it's not impossible to do well...I find reading the textbook helpful because her lectures are sometimes unorganized. listen to her stories and study really hard for exams
Class can get pretty boring but if you're engaged in writing everything she says down then its not. Tests come from lectures not book, attendance is mandatory. Took during summer with lab, lab is mor annoying that the lecture.
I am a senior with a 3.7 GPA. I took this class because it is required for PA school. I quit my job to take this class and statistics this summer, in which I made a 97. The book is useless, I don't know where she gets test questions. I studied my ass off for barely a B-. Don't take her, interesting, but a useless teacher.
I find her comments on written assignments to be unclear at best.
focus on what she says in class...book is less important...i really enjoyed this class and would definitely recommend it!
I took Bio 101 with her before dropping it. She's nice and her stories are interesting, but her exams are very difficult. Since she randomly tells stories, it makes you want to zone out, but she actually puts her amusing, but pointless stories on the tests. It seems like her Bio 101 is more of a weed out class than Hogan's because Hogan will at lea
Dr. DeSaix was a great professor for Biology 101. She does tend to ramble a lot in class, but she uses her ramblings on the test. Attendance isn't required but, everything on her tests come from the lectures. I really enjoyed her class and got an "A." Just go to class, take notes from her PowerPoint slides, study for exams, you will be fine.
Very poor professor who obviously doesn't care about her students. She always seems very lazy, like she's going through the motions. You have to read the textbook, but you also have to listen to her pointless stories because they'll be on the test.
She is an amazing teacher. She is truly dedicated to teaching biology. Her tests are tricky because of the way they are worded, but overall they are easy if you go to class and read the proper sections from the book. She is also very organized. She keeps all notes in order with the exam and you should know what to expect on the tests.
I went to her office four times and talked to her and she still had no idea who I was.
Absolutely terrible. She doesn't give two sh**s about how her students do. If you can get Hogan do it! She ended the last class before the final 1/2 way through and refused to review or even answer questions. She also spent a portion of one of the classes before an exam telling us how she was going to go out of her way trick us on the exam.
I really enjoyed having Dr. DeSaix! She is a fascinating woman and I learned a ton in her class. It's not an easy class, but it's worth taking with her. Beware of her tests! She's helpful when you need it. If you have her, GO TO SI. STUDY HARD. I'm a business major and pulled out a C+.
Worst professor I have ever encountered. I asked her for power points to assist my understanding since I was a student enrolled in distance education, and she said she had none. Grades extremely hard and often does not give partial credit.I am glad she retired finally. Unfortunately, she retired after I finished my course. Very knowledgeable lady
She alternates between being nice in a grandmotherly sort of way and being sarcastic and condescending. Also, her lectures are horrible. She rambles a lot and much of what she does in class is pointless and doesn't prepare you for tests.
Does not teach, lectures are basically pointless, tests are insanely difficult and are basically your whole grade. AVOID if possible
This was possibly the worst class I have ever taken at UNC. You have to teach yourself all of the info and everything is basically online. The lectures are basically useless- I only show up is to get the in class question credit. I emailed her several times throughout the semester asking questions and she told me "find someone who can do it".
Some people are able to pull out a good grade, but nothing I've done has helped me. Pulling through with a D.
Don't take BIOL 101 with her. All I'm going to say
Worst professor ever! Lectures are BAD! She doesn't teach material well and isn't clear! On tests, you have to apply, and her question are so TRICKY! Please take Hogan. Desaix is nice but her in class would make you hate her with passion. DO NOT TAKE HER!!! I didn't listen to the ratings from last semester and I have regretted it since day 1.
She's awful. She's a nice person but a TERRIBLE professor. You WILL do poorly in her class. I'm a science major, I understood the material perfectly and STILL got a D because her tests are impossible. They are much too subjective for a science course. Her lectures are useless and you must teach yourself. Either way, prepare for a low grade.
DeSaix was a nice lady, but her lectures could've been more clear and helpful. To do well on every test all I did essentially was start at least 3 days beforehand and absolutely scour the textbook from the sections we needed to know. Unfortunately there is no good way of knowing what kinds of questions will be asked. Just study a ton.
Hated lecture because it was boring and not helpful. Read the book, do the homework, and pipe your ears up when she starts to tell a story, because it will be on the test.
The tests in this class are impossible. Out of 30 questions so you can only miss 2 and still get an A. Desaix even admitted that she gets questions wrong on her own exams. She doesn't explain things clearly or help if you have a technical issue when doing homework. Good luck if you take this class.
I just took her Honors seminar in the Spring, and loved it! Class consisted of a discussion, powerpoints with pictures displaying main concepts, videos, or guest speakers. There was a short group research projectpres due but we had plenty of time to work on it. Fun, great office hours, tests aren't bad -understand concepts, do hw, attend class!
Summer 2015. Great professor! Follow instructions on what to study and you'll do fine. Do not over read and do not study only from the book, you'll be wasting your time! Focus on main objectives for each chapter and learn general concepts.. and lecture notes. Dr. DeSaix is pretty witty and funny... her exams are no joke though.
Her lectures are helpful, but she doesn't get through her whole powerpoints usually. I wouldn't take her if I had the opportunity not to. She's not clear at all and not very helpful.
Her class was HORRIBLE! Don't take it with her. She makes her tests tricky on purpose, and doesn't care about her students succeeding. I went to her office hours for help, and she basically pointed me to the door because she had a line of students waiting to see her. No help. No partial credit. Her lectures are boring and pointless.
I took DeSaix for honors bio 101 and oh my god, she was incredible! I heard some bad stuff about her lecture, but in a smaller setting, she was an exceptional teacher. She was always pushing us to expand our knowledge, but never shaming us if we couldn't get the answer. She's the grandmother I always wanted xD
If you have the chance to take someone else do it please
De Saix was one of the worst professors I have ever had in my life. She offers little to no help to her students and doesn't care if they do well on their exams. Her class is basically you teaching yourself an entire semester's worth of biology. Take it with someone else if you can. Her only advice to me ever was I 'overprepared' for her exam...???
By far the worst professor at UNC-Chapel Hill, It doesn't help that she's also the department chair (which equates to job security). If you can, take Hogan's class, so much better than this class. You will have to teach yourself. Her lectures are long, and filled with personal stories. In the end, a third of her class fails every semester.
Desaix is without a doubt the worst professor at UNC. Her lectures are horrible (she doesn't teach. At all. Instead, she flips the classroom constantly), and to pass you must memorize the entire textbook. Her tests aren't conceptually hard, but the questions are written to intentionally confuse students. If you can take bio with another prof, do.
The class is taught in a flipped classroom style which is not helpful at all for an entry level class. There is hardly any teaching. She is intentionally vague. Her tests are extremely hard - she is known in the department for giving the hardest tests. I started doing well when I decided to skip class and study on my own instead. Avoid if you can.
There is online homework before every class which isn't too bad, There are also in class activities which help your grade. The tests can be confusing. It's not always clear what she's asking, kinda based on how good you are at guessing on multiple choice to be honest.
Worst class I've taken. Tests are 90% of the grade and attendance barely counts for anything. Tons of homework on MasteringBiology (not hard but doesn't weigh much into grade). I personally don't like huge classes like this one, but had no other choice but to take it. Lecture is pointless & she's just not the greatest teacher if I'm being honest.
"Crazy J Desaix..." If you can take this class with ANY other professor, then do it. She is by far the worst biology professor there is at UNC. The information for bio 101 isn't hard, but her questions are unnecessarily complicated and ridiculous. Also, you won't learn anything in class.
Class will destroy your GPA for no reason. You can try to read and study but, it will do you no good. Don't do this to yourself.
I would definitely recommend not taking BIOL101 with desaix. She purposely makes her tests worth 90% of your final grade including your final exam. The material overall is not difficult and is easy to understand but she makes her tests hard. Her test questions focus on specific details of the material and manages to have murky/tricky test answers.
nice lady but lectures are not good or helpful, you have to teach everything to yourself which is very difficult in biology
A very nice professor! However, her teaching and class organization is appalling. Very hard tests and very little to be done in regard to improving grades. It's hard to teach yourself an entire class. WOULD NOT recommend. Take HOGAN instead 10/10!
Tells a lot of side stories and then tests you on them, so if you aren't in class to hear them then you're not going to know the answer on the test. Tests are also pretty hard, she tries to make students make abstract connections on tests that she doesn't teach in class.
Funny lady, but not a very good instructor. Her tests are HARD, and they count for 92% of your grade. There's homework for every class, but it essentially counts for nothing (6% of grade). Study hard for tests, especially notes on her lectures.
She's definitely not an easy professor but I can tell you that the negative comments on here are from people not willing to put the work in. She is BRILLIANT. She is so interesting and knowledgeable and definitely a gem in the Bio department
Her class was very demanding and on top of that she is not the best teacher so it was more of a teach yourself the material and hope to pass class. The test are definitely application problems and not just memorization so make sure to do homework and practice problems after each chapter.
This class was hard for me because 1. As a first-year, I didn't have a way to study for this class. 2. I went to all of her lectures, countless office hours, and outside study sessions and still managed to fail. 3. Her tests are 92% of the grade (they're 40 questions multiple choice and it sucks). Don't take if you did not take AP or IB Biology.
I took her hnrs section which was only 12 people. She is amazing at breaking things down in ways you can understand, but you need to meet her halfway by being an active participant (which is why I can certainly see why it might be frustrating to have her in a large lecture). She wants you to succeed and to think critically!! Made me love biology.
Seems like a very nice lady but would NOT recommend taking a class with her. (freshman year especially) I went to SI sessions and TA office hours every week and still had the hardest time with the class. Test questions very confusing. Not a good experience. Was my first bio class here & honestly it scarred me lol
Many people don't like her class cause she doesn't use PowerPoint that often. However, she still uses pictures and diagrams in class that are helpful. Read your notes 2-3 times before the test and you'll be fine
The class had really cool speakers, was very helpful for pre med majors. She's very nice when visiting office hours and over email
Dr. DeSaix is a wonderful person (very sweet and caring), but I would not register for any of her classes in the future. The tests (which were 80-90% of our grade) were very ambiguous, hard, and based off material somewhat different from what we read/viewed in lecture class. Definitely be ready to study for very hard tests.
I took her for just a seminar class but still needed to warn everyone. I think she is very rigid in her teaching style and habits and doesnt accommodate students well. Shes highly knowledgeable about the medical fields and would be a great letter of rec but this woman is so scary.
Online course, strict attendance.
Dr. DeSaix is the course coordinator who seems to have an angry demeanor. She has no flexibility whatsoever in the class. Class is all online and has occasional bouts of interesting teaching when the health care professionals talk. Overall, I would not recommend this class if Dr. DeSaix is the coordinating instructor.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
55%
Textbook Required
85%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.58 avg changeRatings by Course
BIO011
5.0
(1)BIO101H
5.0
(2)BIOL390
5.0
(1)BIOL101H
4.7
(3)BIOL011
4.2
(5)Difficulty by Course
3284
5.0
BIO
5.0
BIO101
4.5
BIOL118
4.0
biol117
4.0