Tough teacher. Doesn't give out +'s or -'s. Good lecturer. Hard quizes. Really nice and approachable. It's a hard course, so study!

Very detail oriented. Lectures were hard to stay awake in. His lectures and readings don't overlap completely so you need to go to lecture and really study. Not a lot of room to sit and think during exams. Very speedy responses when you email him.

This teacher is what sparked my interest in biosci. If youre looking for free handouts avoid this teacher. dont miss lecture, or you have about 2hrs studying to make up for it. good lectures/email. TAs are pointless. I got As on most assign./quizzes. A- overall in class. It really is the student's fault for a poor grade. VERY fair teacher!

bio is one of my favorite things to study, but before this class, i thought bio ap covered pretty much everything. this class is a real eye opener for me, appleman taught me so much in these past four or five weeks than i learned for a whole year back in ap biology. great teacher, helpful in office hours.

Appleman is hard .. his homeworks are confusing and his quizzes are hard .. however, he does curve at the end .. he gives extra credits but you have to do them right to earn those points .. his mc questions are hard .. you just really need to read them carefully (like helpful - useful) anyways, basically you need to be good at taking mc questions i

This class was tough as hell.

Absolutely LOVED HIM! However, he demands a LOT from students. If you have him, you MUST do the homework I really recommend going to both his Office hours and your TA's. At first you think you might fail the class, but the exams get easier and he eventually gives some extra credit or booster points, since he does NOT curve. Overall, I loved him!

He is a very hard professor. You have to know all his lecture materials and reading in book specifically in order to do well on the exams or quizes. By the way, his lectures are so boring which are hard to stay focused for 1 hour and 40 mins long and 4 days a week. So, if you are taking the class in summer and he is the professors, just drop it.

Difficult and demanding teacher on what you need to know for quizzes for this summer MIC. Lectures are hard to follow since he talks and then writes short handed notes on the board. I recommend a recorder since he always doesn't put important info down. Quizzes were fair-hard, although you have to keep up w/ lecture and book reading. Very helpful

Dr. Appleman is a great professor, his tests and quizzes are fair. He is extremely helpful in OH. Dr. Appleman is willing to help his students if you spend the effort to go to OH. He sparked my interests in microbio. The key to get an A in this class is to go to lecture and OH. I got an A and i rarely use the book.

This class was a challenge! I feel like I learned a lot, but it is a difficult class to get an A in. Going to lecture and doing all of the readings is very important! His tests are extremely tricky, for he tends to go over general ideas in lecture and uses specifics for exam questions. Great class but definitely one of the hardest I've taken.

Dr. Appleman is a great professor that motivated me to learn more microbiology. He makes us want to learn more. His tests are quite challenging, but if you follow his review questions and go to his office hours he'll make sure you understand the information. I got an A-.

No Comments

Definitely a hard class. If you want to really know biology, take this class. However, I warn you this requires active participation to get a good grade or good test-taking skills and writing skills. Appleman is always at his office to help and an A is possible...but, you will have to work it! A lot.

Very hard class to get a good grade in. Even if you think you are a good student studying is not enough for this class. He is very helpful but the test are just over the top. I learned more after I got the test back than I knew before I went into the test which he claims is one of his goal. Hard class but learned a lot!

I don't see why people would consider him a bad professor he taught well, gave semi-easy tests, and has the easiest grading ever. He basically gave the class a 10% boost with his extra credit assignments

ahhhh this guy is amazing! take his class if you can, avoid gerhart at all costs

<3

No Curve = LOTS OF STRESS!! If you're a confident student and think you can learn fast, then this class is for you!

One bad ass lecturer,...His hat gets annoying sometimes. If you really like microbiology you will do well...interesting lecture...No need for text book at all...He gives out lots of extra credit...Attend office hour is important

i scores ~80% on each midterm n final and ends up an A because he gives us INSANELY LOTS of extra credit. That's why he doesnt curve. The mean was about sixty sth before the extra credit but ends up te be 79% after the ec, so why does he curve?Just make sure u do the extra credit, go to class(extra credit in each class)u will learn a lot!highly rec

Going to office hours with questions is really helpful. Appleman is very helpful and easily approachable.

If somehow Arthur Schopenhauer and Britney Spears had a child who <loved> microbiology, his name would be 'Dr. Appleman'. This man lectures like an asteroid 6 miles across striking the earth near to the (now) Gulf of Mexico, filling the atmosphere with fire, dust and information about microbiology. ALWAYS available during office hours.

Not the worst professor in the world, but far from the best. HE DOESN'T CURVE, no matter how much you beg him. His lectures seem clear, and he's very helpful in office hours, but when you get to the exam the WTF?!? factor kicks in. His exams have nothing to do with the review questions. Every exam will have new material he has NEVER mentioned.

This class is very difficult!! especially over the summer. His exams are very complicated...not very similar to the lecture. Lecture is simple but when you take the exam its a lot different. Picks a theme for each exam and asks about 25 question based on just that one thing! He DOES NOT CURVE but he does give extra credit which helps A LOT!!

Appleman is a good professor if you pay attention in lecture. Tests are ridiculously difficult but if you study lecture notes you will do well. Office hours are probably recommended.

I took BIS2A twice. Got an F in Gerhart's class, so I took Appleman and had an A going into the final. He doesn't curve, but he does a lot to make sure students are learning and he's VERY willing to help you. An A is achievable if you try. DO THE EXTRA CREDIT. It can add almost 30% to grade. He's very helpful and clear, but has high expectations.

Awesome. I have to admit that the class is notoriously difficult and Appleman definitely is not going to make it easier for you. However, he is an excellent professor. He makes himself available for office hours, writes notes on the board, provides lecture materials and review questions, and not to mention he is very detailed when teaching. He i

He is not just a lecturer he is a teacher with a lot of patience ,which is not something you always get. His exams are challenging and requires critical thinking. He does not curve but does give extra credit. If you want a good learning experience, I'd highly recommend him. Its just too obvious how much of better he is than most others at Davis

He is not just a lecturer he is a teacher with a lot of patience ,which is not something you always get. His exams are challenging and requires critical thinking. He does not curve but does give extra credit. If you want a good learning experience, I'd highly recommend him. Its just too obvious how much of a better professor he is than others.

This class is very difficult, but I am very glad I had Appleman as a professor. He is hard, yes, but he is always available for office hours where he will answer any questions you have. He really goes beyond what most teachers do.

All you guys complaining about Appleman must be one of two things, horrible students or just plain lazy. Material presented in class is covered on the final. He is very learned in the material he teaches and goes far beyond what he must to help students. Maybe some of you should have opened the book or showed up to office hours.Appleman is the man!

One of the most helpful and selfless teachers I've had at Davis. His test are very hard. DO THE STUDY QUESTIONS, and you'll ace them. Holds OH before and after class as well as his assigned ones. Fairly clear on what he wants you to know. more so if you go to said office hours. worth the struggle for the better understanding of the subject.

You know how when you look at the cover of Zeppelin IV you can't figure out what's going on? And then, after listening to the album, like, two hundred times the whole thing kind of comes together into an organic whole, and you say "It couldn't be <any> other way..."? Dr. Appleman's lectures are like all 200 listenings packed into one semester.

You know how when you look at the cover of Zeppelin IV you can't figure out what's going on? And then, after listening to the album, like, 200 times the whole thing kind of comes together into an organic whole, and you say "It couldn't be <any> other way..."? Dr. Appleman's lectures are like all 200 listenings packed into one semester.

Dr. Appleman's tests are insane-in-the-membrane hard, but if you prepare via the study questions you won't find any surprises. He's a monster-of-helpfulness during OH; goes out of his way to help you. I wouldn't be surprised if the guy could bench 350, just using his brainpower. Once he set a student on fire just by thinking about him.

OK -- Imagine you were taking a class in alligator wrestling, and the professor taught you everything you could possibly want to know about wrestling alligators. You'd still get bit the first time you wrestled, I bet. J-App (as he likes to be called) will teach you all you need to know, but his tests will still bite. GO TO OFFICE HOURS!!

Those who aren't serious about academics are going to say "Veni vidi fugit" and be gone -- but if you're interested in learning something, Professor Appleman is more than happy to teach you. I agree with previous comments -- GO TO OFFICE HOURS and DON'T BE SHY ABOUT EXTRA CREDIT. If you're a serious student, he's seriously the guy for you.

In an alternate universe, where academic sincerity made people hot, the following proportion would hold. Dr. Appleman : UCDavis undergrads :: that guy from twilight : shy and bookish tweens. If you <must> take this course, then you <must> take it with Dr. J.App.

Simply The BEST!!!

I took his class during SS1 with another class. this was simply one of the most interesting classes I never want to take again. Appleman is passionate about bio (esp. bacteria), but not all freshmen are microbiologists at birth. You MUST work hard to succeed/pass, as there is no curve. I'm now going to go burn the Gerhart reader we used, kthnxbai.

Picture this: Ovid comes to your town and lectures on classical poetry. You think Ovid has time to mess around? By all that's holy, he's been dead for two thousand years, he doesn't want to screw around. Appleman, too, doesn't want to screw around. Just do your work and go to office hours -- you'll be fine.

This is a hard class. That said, if you really want to learn about biology and get something out of it, Prof. Appleman is the one for you. He really knows and loves what he does, you just have to be willing to put in the time and effort. He is not interested in having you regurgitate facts, but rather in actually understanding the material.

Lectures are very interesting and his office hours are really helpful. Yes, I will admit that his test are hard, but no where near is it unfair. If you put time and genuine effort into this class, you should be fine. People should learn to not rely on a curve for a crutch. Take the class seriously and you'll be rewarded.

Dude rocks. I had to tape his lectures, and then transcribe them at home -- pausing the tape to look up all the shizzle that he assumed I knew from previous courses -- I did more work in his course than in my previous two courses, but IBF if I didn't learn more in his course than in my previous two courses.

I would strongly recommend this professor. He really tries his hardest to help. Great Professor. No curve, but the extra credit really helps, so attend lecture. I was put off first by some of the comment on this site, but I soon realised that those were the people who maybe didnt attend lectures and could not be bothered, and just relied on curves.

There are better ways to kill time than by going to J-App's lectures -- stay home, get a bowl of cereal, watch reruns of The Soup. But if you're at Davis to learn something, there's really not a better professor to have. The guy works with you during office hours, answers emails, gives you extra credit. Exams are hard -- it's true.

There's one thing that Dr. Appleman loves more than bacteria - nah, I'm just kidding. There's nothing he loves more than bacteria. For what it's worth - I love them too, now. He's not giving a course that'll boost your present GPA, but he will teach you everything - I mean <everything> you ever wanted to know about micro. VERY helpful officehrs.

A complete freak -- who will freakify your mind. He never phones it in - his lectures are intense and demand a kind of active attention. He WILL work with you patiently during office hours (personal experience) but he never lets up - he just wants you to know everything there is to know about the subject. FREAKIFY! I've never been the same.

This is a hard class and Dr. Appleman doesn't make it easy. He is willing to work with you at least as many hours as you're willing to work with him. He's got a kind of Christopher Lloyd / Christopher Walken vibe to him; like if "Back to the Future" were about microbiology instead of time travel.

His class is hard, but if you seriously do all the reading and study guides, then you can definitely get an A. He gives a lot of extra credit. I took it during the summer so it was really fast. Don't fall behind and read every night. Make study notes and review weekly. He's a good, clear, and organized lecturer.

He's really cute. That cuteness wears thin as he starts to give exams, but it returns when he's giving you extra credit. I get tired just thinking about how much work the class was, but I have to say I did learn a lot about micro. It's like he's eye candy that hurts your brain.

Okay, stay with me here: Taylor Swift is your GPA, Beyonce is microbiology and Dr. J.App. is Kanye. He's **** on microbiology, he's totally making your GPA uncomfortable, but it's all because he just _loves_ microbiology so much. Trust me -- your GPA will survive if you go to office hours, etc. It's well worth the spectacle.

Rate below has wrong numbers. He is an awesome teacher, you'll love his notes. Explains everything clearly. Has tons of office hours. His tests were difficult but give a lot of extra credit. Not that bad. I got a B+. He's very nice. I took this class in the summer.

I don't really understand some of the remarks below -- "Freakify"? Dr. Appleman is a perfectly pleasant and nice enough man teaching a very difficult subject. He didn't make it easy, but maybe that's because the subject just isn't easy. I didn't have any worse of an experience with him than I would with any professor outside my area of interest.

It's a difficult class because there is a lot of information plus it's fast paced, but that's expected already. There's no curve but there are tons of extra credit opportunities. Overall, a doable class if you attend lecture, attempt review questions, and go to office hours.

Well, if you were wondering what happened to Rod (or Todd) Flanders when they grew up, Professor Applman is the answer. His lectures are okally-dokally, but not Flandertastic. It helps if you're already familiar with the subject before you take his class-a-rooni. Going to office hours is almost a requirement. He's a good professor-eeno.

D'you ever see the original Hulk show? With Bill Bixby? When he used to turn into the Hulk, his clothes would all rip off -- but NOT HIS PANTS! You ever wonder -- how can his pants still fit? Well, that's what going to J-App's lectures is like. You wonder -- how can his head not explode with all that information? He's not green, though.

I've NEVER had a teacher who was more welcoming or helpful during office hours. I've also never had a teacher whose office hours were more necessary, just to pass the class. Take advantage of the extra credit and ask him your questions as often as you can. A helpful and selfless professor, but a touch blinded by his love for the subject.

I felt like I was keeping up with the material, and then when the first exam came I crapped my own pants. He just kills you with his exams. I went to office hours before the second exam and not only is the guy really nice but the second exam went smoo-oo-ooth. I don't know if it's really fair, but office hours are required in order to pass.

Do you want an easy A? Then what the hell are you doing taking microbiology at UC Davis?! The reviews below complaining about his difficult exams are completely correct, and as far as I can tell miss the point. He offers enough office hours, reviews for the exams and extra credit so that you can get any grade you want -- if you put in the time.

Once I fell asleep during lecture. When I woke up I wasn't quite sure if I was awake, or if I was still asleep and having the weirdest dream ever. JDog Appleman is trippy in class, but he's crystal clear in office hours. Do the extra credit. Take the reviews seriously. He assumes that you're serious about the course, so you better get serious.

His class is difficult. Office hours are basically mandatory to know what material he emphasizes on. Class attendance is a must to earn extra credit which will really boost your test scores/grade. Go to all office hours and ask questions and you'll be sure to at least pass the class.

Appleman is a great professor. He is down to earth and very helpful during office hours. His tests are crazy hard, but he gives extra credit to boost your grade. One of the best professors I have had at Davis. :D

Great professor, tell you exactly what you need to know for the exams. Exams are kind of written like story based on something that interests him, so those examples he give in class? Yeah, they'll be apart of the exam. Definitely go to his office hours (He made chocolate banana nut bread for his last office hours!).

Appleman is a serious teacher who teaches the state of the art in micro. He uses the socratic method so you have to understand, not just memorize. If you do all the problem sets and go to OH with all your questions, you will do fine. Honestly, people who did poorly probably didn't realize they needed to go to class, or were distracted by his hat.

Dr. Appleman is a genuinely helpful professor with fair tests. His lecture questions aren't all intuitive, but they get you to think about the material. Go to office hours if you can, for your own benefit. His tests are unlike most other professors', but fair, and he gives plenty of extra credit. No textbook required.

Please don't study superficially in Dr.Appleman's class. His exams will reflect how thouroughly you study. I got screwed on exams because I stopped doing problems he gave out. U must do them! Thanks to generous extra credits I got 80%, but I learned a lesson. Also I visited his OH whenever possible and he was extremely approachable and patient

Exams are extremely hard but he gives lots on INCLASS extra credit so by showing up everyday you can get maybe 20% more on the exam. Liked his lectures alot although they didn't correspond much to the exams. GO TO CLASS EVERYDAY!

Dr. Appleman is the best lecturer in biological sciences. He doesn't expect you to memorize every detail, but to understand and think critically as scientists are supposed to do. Lectures are more about questions than they are about memorization

Dr. Appleman's class is exactly what you come to college for--for a stimulating, question-oriented class discussion. You leave lecture feeling more engaged and understanding of the material. Say goodbye to the days of rote memorization, strict curves to sift through students, and endless one-man lead lecturing

Dr. Appleman is one of the best professors I have ever had at UC Davis. He makes his lectures interesting and engaging, and is extremely approachable and patient during office hours. He posts helpful review questions that stimulate discussion of the subject matter and ultimately a better understanding. I would recommend him to all students.

NO CURVE! which is needed! he does make use of clicker questions for extra credit. he gives pop quizzes and discussion is mandatory. it's crazy how much you can learn, but the way he tests you is impossible. if you want a good grade, look for a different teacher. if you want to learn a lot. then definitely take him!

Quizzes are pretty hard, but he will teach you more than any other class will. The class is uncurved, but he gives out so much extra credit it doesn't even matter. If you go to class and actually try to understand what he is saying, you'll get an A, no problem. His mandatory discussion sections are pretty pointless though. Clicker questions ftw!

I really like Appleman, he uses examples in class to make you really understand his material. You have to go to class and as long as you take notes and pay attention the quizzes should be fine, also he posts review questions, do those. Most of the class got A's and B's because he has clicker questions so buy a clicker, it's pure extra credit.