Berkerly PhD, great knowledge, great fun

Hard, but a good teacher! jokes are corny

His class is a lot of work, but YOU LEARN A LOT. His exams require solid understanding of material-but all the work prepares you. And he puts in as much (if not more) work into teaching and grading as the students do learning.

Really Hard. But it's worth it. You learnt alot. He prepares you for the rest of your life.

Has a very unusual sense of humor. Fairly knowledgeable, however wants EXACT answers in his exams, or you get it wrong. Sometimes unfriendly. Extra work in his classes, ie. bug catching.

He is very hard, you should study for just that class alone a minimum of 10 hours per week, and he is a bit unfair in the grading, i felt that he had favorites, and if he didn't want you to pass his class, there is no way you will pass. NO MATTER WHAT YOU Do. IT'S A KILLER CLASS.

We learn a lot not because he is a good teacher, but because his tests and quizzes are so insanely hard that we are forced to teach ourselves word for word what that man says or else we'll fail miserably. If you take him, count on neglecting all of your other classes. Also, this class lowers your self esteem dramatically.

It was a great class. You NEED to have the time to put into this class. Attend ALL lectures.

Awesome teacher!!!

He's a really nice teacher. He's fair in grading, but the material and his wordings are hard. He often takes points off for small mistakes, but other times he gives points for wrong answers. Taking this class is like taking 2 classes, having many things: a long-term project, pre-lab ex, prelab quiz, lecture quiz, lab exam, lecture exam, graphs.

Wow. This class is hard. Too many stuff to memorize. The prof. is cool. He is really helpful. It's just that you have to know everything about the materials. I had my personal issues out of class so i didn' do well

This class is hard. I had it with Organic Chem..so if you take those two together..HARD. RECORD LECTURES! That is the key and then retake the notes from recorded lectures and you will be fine. But, do not expect to BLINLDY MEMORIZE.do both understandthen memorize because he will switch questions on te test and GET ALL PREVIOUS EXAMS. HE USES IT.

Wow, this was the hardest class I have ever took. He goes really deep into detail with his lectures and his test are REALLY HARD. If you plan on taking this class, make sure that it is your main focus and that you dont take another really difficult class because this class demands a lot of time.

He's a very good & funny lecturer, but his class is hard. Be prepared to put in a LOT of time outside of the 10hr classroom time!!!

He's an excellent teacher and a really fair grader but be prepared to put a LOT of work into this class. I spent several hours each week studying and I still only got a B, but I think I would've gotten an A if I worked harder during lab. See him in his office before exams, he's a BIG help and really interesting guy to get to know!

Highly recommended to those who take their studies seriously. Lectures are great, record them and listen through as you rewrite your notes. If you are not 100% sure about a topic, go to office hours. Dr. Baxter is very approachable and is always willing to help. This class is VERY challenging, but it really is worth the effort!

He's a good teacher. Clear and helpful. However, he's RIDICULOUSLY hard and demands a level of detail not even found at most UCs in upper division classes. If Biology is not on your mind 24/7 you will struggle to get a passing grade unless he comes down to Earth.

I wish there were more than one teacher for 101 A and B because his teaching style is not for everybody. I had to keep going to office hours, his lectures were very confusing and the labs always took too long because he really expects too much. In the end he gave me a B, so I'm cool.

This class is really hard; Dr. Jim is really hard. But, he is really really nice and helpful. I strongly recommend you to take his **class**!!

He is incredibly difficult, but also very entertaining. Devil's in the detail. If you think you studied 'enough,' you get a C. If you think you know the material very well, maybe a C+. If you think you've reached a new height of studying, B. IF you think you know the material like the back of your hand, those fine wrinkles and scars,then MAYBE an A

Professor Baxter is a great guy and an exceptional teacher. Sure, his class might be a bit taxing compared to other schools, but you really do learn a lot more and you can probably rest assured that if you can do well in his class, you can do well at a university. I wish all teachers were as engaging, knowledgeable and friendly as him. Highly rec!

Probably the the hardest class I've ever taken. I never studied phylogenies so hard in my life. You need to extensively know the material to succeed. There is Lab work that relates to lecture. You must attend Lectures and take notes. Tests are hard and specific. There are lab projects-Bugs collecting.

Dr. Baxter is a very good teacher. His lectures are interesting and go beyond the basics of biology (okay, way beyond.) I have studied a lot of biology, but this class was almost entirely new material for me. His tests are very, very difficult, but I definitely left this course with a deep understanding of biology.

This class prepared me for medical school. I must say, I owe much of my success in my academic career to this man. If you take this class seriously, and prepare for his exams, you can succeed in any academic level possible.

UNDOUBTEDLY THE TOUGHEST BIOLOGY CLASS WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. A SUPERB lecturer; details can be overwhelming if you're not a seasoned student. This class is HELLA WORK, but if your field is Bio/BioChem/BioEng, what you get from this class will put you miles ahead of the competition and you will surely fall completely in love with biology.

This class is ridiculous for an intro bio class. His expectation from students is way too high. Crazy class. Avoid whenever possible.

Took both A and B with him. All I can tell you is that if you are planning to go to Med School, take him because it will help you prepare with your studying and time management. I know that going to easier professor can give you less stress and better grade but you should realize that Med School classes are way harder than his class

I'm ALMOST through with this guy for 101A and I think this is the time to write a review because I feel like my final grade is going to bias my opinion afterwards. He's very passionate about what he teaches and his explanations are very clear. Not as difficult as people put it; I've had worse ones in HS. Definitely fell in love with bio cuz of him.

Dont listen to the folks who say to avoid him. If your major is biology and you go to Ohlone, TAKE BOTH A AND B with him. His knowledge of the material is incredibly vast and sophisticated. He's easy to approach and his challenging exams keep you on your toes. His class made me fall in love with biology even more.

Definitely not an easy A class. Tough class. But if you learn the materials well in his class, you will be more than prepared when you take all the other upper division classes in the future, such as biochemistry. I feel like you learn everything, stuff beyond general biology. BTW, he writes questions for the MCAT. dont cram, you will die lol.

Attendance is not mandatory but HIGHLY SUGGESTED or you will fail because of missing material details. He is extremely good with teaching and the class is fun. He presents and updates the class with front of science, which will make it HARDER.I got an B and C, but I still recommend him.

You will learn so much in Professor Baxter's class. He is a great lecturer, and will go out of his way to make sure he answers your questions in a complete way. His tests are really tough, but kind of fun at the same time. He is a kind guy and has the weirdest but oddly funniest jokes!

By far the toughest class I have Taken in my undergrad. The amount of detail you're required to learn is much more than that of an upper div UC biochem course. Dr Baxter is a very nice and approachable man however his exams are brutal. You can never be sure what he will ask on an exam. Dont regret taking this class at all. Prepared me well

You lose sleep, his tests are excruciatingly hard, but Dr. Baxter is the best professor I've had so far. Most of the learning in class is very fast paced, so take notes and record lectures. If you love biology, Dr. Baxter is the professor for you, he's a very knowledgable man, and is very willing to help. Dedicate a lot of time to this class.

Take him if you're pre-med and a hard worker. I got an A by recording his lectures and then listening to them again at home to write down anything I might have missed in class. Anything on lecture is fair game which is why I recommend this. Ask classmates if they have previous years' quizzes and midterms, and practice ALL of em! Very approachable!

Hard class but doable as long as you record his lectures and study efficiently. You get weekly quizzes which helps you pace yourself with studying so make sure to study! Don't even bother buying the textbook because everything is based on what he says in class. He's got the best dad jokes (make sure to laugh at them) and a great sense of humor!

Jim's class was the hardest class I've ever taken, but it was worth it. To pass you need to record lectures & dedicate time to study for quizzes and exams. All labs, prelabs & online hw need to be completed bc these are all easy points that help boost your grade. He has cool dad jokes, is knowledgeable and very helpful! Hard work but worth it:)

This series was by far the hardest series I've taken to date. Biology is heavily memorization based but Jim takes it to a new extreme. Tests will include vocab he mentioned maybe once/twice. Labs aren't too hard but lab exams are difficult. Weekly quizzes & the lecture exams are killer. Record the lectures if you can, makes all the difference.

Very hard class. I got C for both 101A&B but I could say my love toward Biology has nourished ever since. Record lectures, understand and remember every single little thing on the notes, do labs and online homework, those are easy points. Lecture exams are hard. STUDY! Each exam has 5 topics. Final is cumulative, relatively easier than exams.

Honestly, one of the hardest courses I have taken, but worth it! Classes after you transfer are much easier because Baxter's already introduced you to almost everything. Advice: Show up to every class, write EVERYTHING down, form a study group, go to office hours! Makes dad jokes, very friendly, but you really work for the grade. Catch bugs early!

In order to pass this class you need to go to his lectures and write EVERYTHING down. He usually tells you what things he will test you on in the quizzes, which are weekly. In total, you will have 3 tests and 1 final so make sure to study your lecture notes very well. He is very reasonable and will curve your final grade if its borderline.

Jim is a very knowledge person and he prepares you very well on a good amount of biological topics. He's fair and reasonable but the amount of resources that he puts out for the problems that he asks is insufficient. You are expected to remember objects that you've seen once and he's overkill on taxonomy. Nonetheless, a nice rigorous teacher.

Clearly an expert in his field, Baxter has high expectations for his students. Advice: record lectures and only study his slides. Weekly quizzes should help keep you on track with the material. Phylogeny is hell to remember, so start early. Despite the suffering, I'm coming out of two semesters with him with a renewed passion for Bio.

Baxter is one of the hardest professors I've ever taken. I studied practically every day for this class. I took both BIOL101A and BIOL101B with him. He expects a lot from his students, things that you wouldn't expect. So know EVERYTHING. Although, this was a hard class, my love for biology grew immensely after. It's extremely hard, but it's worth.

This class is the most hardest class I have ever taken in Ohlone.I highly encourage to take both bio 101A and 101B with professor Baxter. Avoid taking other 5 unit classes when you take bio with him. Record his lectures and know every details he said. Practice drawing phylogeny again and again and plan your study schedule ahead of the time.

For the quizzes, just read over lecture notes. The class has a lot of fill in the blank so go over the vocabulary printed at the start of the lecture notes and the vocab he goes over in class. For tests, know calculations (especially when you get to genetics), and just go over lecture notes. For lab tests, just study what he tells you. Good luck!:)

Hardest class I have taken outside of Stanford. Hardest intro biol course anywhere, I guess. Recording and listening to his lectures helps. If you put in the work, at the end, you will know the material, not just remember disconnected facts. The work, well, yeah, there is lots of it. The problems in his tests are gems that force you to learn.

Took a full year of Baxter and got B's in both classes, he honestly is a great professor, his teaching is generally clear and explains a lot of things in depth which does cause confusion if you don't pay attention. There are a lot of easy points, especially homework, its either in textbook or quizlet so getting a B is easy, but A is decently hard

Best teacher I've ever had. So accepting and understanding of my disabilities, and very inspiring. The material was challenging, but always engaging. The insect collection project was probably the most fun I've ever had in school.

This was the hardest class I've ever taken. I took 101A and 101B w/ him and boy was it a challenge! I studied hours every day but once you get used to the way he teaches its definitely doable! Super lecture heavy -make sure you pay attention & write EVERYTHING down. prelab quizzes and online hw help boost your grade too! & STUDY 4 WEEKLY QUIZZES!!!

Professor Baxter is a smart guy, can be funny, and somewhat helpful, but he's definitely tough. His class isn't impossible, if you're an average hard worker you'll probably get a B, but it takes some serious ramping-up and smart studying to work for an A.

His class is still one of the most difficult I've ever taken, even after transferring and graduating, but I found it's also the one I most reference to and the one that's benefited me the most. If you're planning to go into the biology field, there really is no better professor to prepare you for what you'll face when you transfer. Thanks professor

Dr. Baxter is an expert in Biology. This class, while incredibly difficult, made me SO PASSIONATE about Biology. He goes over basically everything you need to succeed in upper division biology courses- its a breeze for me now. his class was so challenging but so so worth it. wish I could be his student again. Thank you Professor.

Prof. Baxter knows bio. His course covers pretty much all the introduction you would want and then some. You will find, down the road, your biochem, genetics, cell bio, zoology, and animal physio courses that much easier for having gone through Baxter's exams. As to the difficulty, rating 6. Not the course for a non-biology student, though.

IF YOU ARE WILLING TO DIE FOR BIO, YOU WILL BE ALIVE. Tbh, it's like 10 credits quality/quantity class despite 5 credits class. That means you are super tired with the class, but also means that professor will be more tired and he is willing to sacrifice for your learning. Please promise yourself to die for this class, then you are being alive.

A very challenging professor and has high expectations for you. Anything said in lecture & info on the slides can be on the lecture exams. Highly recommend attending office hours to get extra support if possible.

Very knowledgeable and inspirational. He gives you way more than just Intro to Bio, and there are so many things he wants to talk about xD. Super nice, funny guy, and a fair grader. Although you have to put a certain amount of effort in his class, he puts in an equal or more amount too as a professor. Definitely learned a lot!

Thoroughly enjoyed his courses. Made me enjoy bio even more! Bio101 is a nightmare for many, though. A few tips: his courses require A LOT of time--prepare for intense memorization. Manage time well during labs. Pay close attention during lectures. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Quizzes/exams can be extremely hard. It helps to study with others.

Jim is the best professor I've ever had. He teaches primarily through lengthy lectures & slides, but he is very clear & concise. All the other reviews are on point; his class isn't easy to pass, but you will learn so much. As a previous non-bio major, I came out of his class loving bio so much that I am changing my major to neurobiology.

Super great professor, he's really nice and knows so much about biology. After taking his first 101A class I feel like I know so much about bio and I love the subject. He gives great advice and he goes into so much detail during his lectures. Only problem is his exams are insane and labs usually take most of the time.

Jim Baxter is a great professor. I was new to science level courses because I didn't try hard in high school, so this was my first Bio 102 class. The lectures are very engaging and the test questions come from the lectures, so no need for textbook. Quizzes are easy points, so take advantage of them. Overall, great professor, he will help if asked.

Prof. Baxter is a great teacher and also hilarious. He's also reasonable and has a clear grading criteria. Bio is a heavy subject so there is a lot to memorize and learn, but if you set aside time to learn the material you should be fine. His tests are always very thorough though, so make sure you go through the material carefully and ask questions

Just make sure you set aside ample time to memorize the material in his class bc his tests cover a lot of material. Teaches well and doesn't make you feel dumb for having questions. Also a little funny too.

Great, passionate, and thorough professor. His class is extremely difficult because of the content of the course however, I don't think any of the work given was unnecessary or just busy work. Expect 3 quizzes per week and very VERY difficult exams. This professor is very reasonable and approachable.

He's a nice guy and the kind of professor you want for a hard course. Very approachable and reasonable with grades. Only issue is that his tests are hard, and the stress of studying for them probably permanently methylated my DNA.