2.2
Quality4.4
Difficulty20%
Would Retake273
Reviews20%
Would Retake
273
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
273 total ratings5
42
4
25
3
24
2
55
1
127
What Students Say
“DO NOT TAKE this class you will be miserable”
POLI1 - 1.0 rating“WOW WHAT A CONFUSING GUY :D If you love being left in the dark and confused do take this class”
POLI1 - 2.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
82%
Textbook Required
60%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.21 avg changeRatings by Course
15
5.0
(1)POLI12
5.0
(1)ALL
5.0
(1)POLISCI237
5.0
(1)PSC123
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
POLI12
5.0
POLI1215
5.0
POLI7
5.0
POLITICALSCIEN
5.0
PSC123
5.0
Reviews (272)
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Prof. Woolcock was the worst professor I have *ever* had...this coming from a straight-A student. The course material could have been interesting, but he was so rigid, formal, mean, and childish that signing into class every day was simply excruciating.
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I hated every moment of this class. And I usually love school and learning. Be careful..you will get brainwashed. I am a 4.0 student who was practically traumatized from this class.
he has ideas ... ideals and he's forcing it :)
His class changed (in a positive way) my worldview and broadened my understanding of international issues. His class teaches you to work independently and to analyze concepts properly by looking deeper into every aspect of it.
mean and boring
woolcock is a great teacher but he knows toooo much so if you dont know your materials 10000% then you are not gonna do well. He demands alot of work and you have to know beyond the materials you are learning!!
He is an extrememly mean, and tough teacher!! Never thinking of taking his class! NEVER!!
His teaching style involved mostly class discussion. I often felt like class was an utter waste of time. I would have liked regular lectures to reinforce the reading. He let his own political biases be known. He was very interested in helping students.
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Very hard. Took him on an online class. Not recommended.
AMAZING teacher! I haven't learned as much as I did with him in any other classes. He is amazingly hard, but in the end it is all worth it.If you want to learn and not slack off, pick him.
Good teacher. Strict in the sense of that if you don't do your work then u won't get a good grade.
NEVER EVER!!! Woolcock only likes a certain few students who know him. You learn alot in class, but he doesn't seem to be fair at all.
Great!
The man belongs in a university...Doc Woolcock will give you good preparation for his alumni...get on his good side (if you can...) Women tend to have an easier time in his course, but all students must work hard. THE toughest Ph.D at Foothill College.
In love with himself. All he talks about is black history, and how he is from stanford and "could be" and elite...all bs, if he could be an elite, he would be one....unless you want your phd from harbard, dont ever take an arrogant guy like him
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Dr. Woolcock is a very hard teacher but he's great! He expect a lot from you, you need to read the newspaper daily and do the readings in order to be prepared for the class. try to stay on top of material, express your own thoughts and opinions.
Will grade fairly, your writing will improve 100%, great teacher
The worst instructor that I've ever dealt with. He should not be teaching at the college level, let alone anywhere!!
tough class. Can be mean if you don't follow the order. And don't forget things or be late.
Lousy, absolutely lousy.
useless professor
This man should not be a teacher (or anything else that requires interaction with people). High paranoia level, and the course material is completely biased. Erratic assignments.
This guy is completely self-absorbed. During office hours, he offered no helpful advice and cut me off before listening to my ideas. TIP: Flattery will get you everywhere with this guy... a good paper, maybe not as much.
I looked at the ratings before I signed for his class and figured it couldn't be THAT bad, it was. They say unless you're carrying a hammer in one hand and a sickle in the other, do not take the class.
i haven't taken any of his classes but i know this professor personally. all i can say is that he is biased, arrogant & only helps those students he likes. he grades ppl, not work. If u take the class, be ready to flatter him.
Great professor. Highly recommended! :-)
Words cannot describe how closedminded, arrogant, and unhelpful Dr. Woolcock is. Makes me wish that Senator McCarthy was still in power...
****.
If your views are not his, don't expect to get a good grade. Your paper must be written to reflect his beliefs--else you fail. He blatantly favors minorities while blaming the rest of the class for slavery. He is a biggot. DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS.
I dropped this class on the second day! The HW that he assigns weekly is unbelievable. The only way that I would be able to pass his class was if it were the only one I was taking. WAY TOO MUCH READING!!! He expects the work of graduate students at a community college! he's crazy
HORRIBLE TEACHER SHOULD BE FIRED
Of all the teachers here, his classes are the easiest. This does not mean you can slack it, like most here. I learned a lot in his classes. He may not agree with your views, but he wants to see you back it. There is some reading to do-usually 3 books. Easy stuff. I like him and I am an elephant!
if you can avoid it, DON'T take his class. If he doesn't like your political views, you will not get a good grade on your paper, regardless of how well written and supported they are. He's totally arrogant and unhelpful
Should be US Hegemony 2.
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his class requires a lot of reading and is writing-intensive. however, he's entertaining & introduces you to political views outside your bubble. he'll really make you think! take him, he's the best!!!
Homework: The work itself was not too difficult, if present in non traditional you may lose 20-30 points! The teacher took off over half the points for participation/posting and attendance, and I posed 3 times a week. He was rude usually. At the last week asked students to post through the weekend.
Fine mind. Tough but determined to help us succeed when we transfer. Demanding, but the universities will be demanding. Spends hours seeing students. Really cares. Sounds like lazy folks do not like his classes. Too bad.
This guy is terrible. He's inappropriate in class. He's smart and brilliant, but it does not make up for his overwhelming propensity for being inappropriate with students. He definitely plays favorites in class. Be ready to be picked on. Gross. Bad. Retire, please.
Absolutely the worst teacher I ever had. I transferred onto USF and nailed a 3.8 GPA, graduating****laude--and yet I got a 'D' on all of my papers because he did not agree with my point of view and what I had to say. By the end of the class, only 8 people remained. Unapproachable, dismissive, rude.
*Very* partial towards women.. Class supposed to be taught as a seminar but generally if he wants to talk he will interrupt you and talk the whole time .. Of course then your grade is based on the presentation you were supposed to have done.
Does not respect anyone else's opinions but his own and at times can be downright **** and anti semetic. Mostly spends class time preaching in order to hear himself talk or praising his TAs for repeating everything he says. Barely touches upon basic political science curriculum.
Bad Prof. dont take class, Spend money on books that never used. Very bias...
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Dr. Woolcock requires that his students think! He does teach one of the mose demanding courses at Foothill which lazy students seem to despise. However, his class requirements are excellent prep for university. I learned how to write a research paper in his class. He is bright and very helpful.
One of the most challenging and uplifiting professors I encountered at Foothill. One of the few willing to devote a great deal of extra attention to his students to assist their transfer to a University, and offering a course of sufficient caliber to prepare them.
Interesting class. Moderately hard, but remember to write assignments, post, etc. from a liberal perspective.
Worst teacher I've had since being at Foothill! Rude, unapproachable, gave me a horrible midterm grade and wouldn't explain what I was doing wrong. Was told (after dropping the class) that he is majorly unpopular with many of his students and over half of them tend to drop - DON'T TAKE HIM!
very difficult unhelpfull, often times favors students...be prepared to finish the class with about 1/8 of the original students who enroled
How is he? He is a good teacher. How is his class? Tough! I am a hardworking person, but his class screwed me. I did get a GOOD grade, and I did learn a great deal, but only because I worked my ass off. If you are willing to take him, do every thing he says and be prepared for a real work.
Dr. Woolcock is by far the hardest teacher I have ever had, but the overall reward from the highly rigourous workload was amazing. If you are interested in LEARNING then take his classes. However, if you just want an "A" then I suggest you look elsewhere.
A real college professor. He doesn't beat around the bush, that's for sure!
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This teacher is only fabulous to those few favorite students that are deemed worthy by him. If you are one of the unfortunate students standing on the outside of his favor, he is arrogant, condescending, and rude. I dropped the class half way through simply because I couldn't take being treated as if I were nothing any longer.
i hate him. i have recently dropped because of his unhelpfullness and refusal to fully explain his requirements. He favors students and disregards everyone else. He looks down on you and ridicules you for not knowing the answer. DO NOT TAKE HIM!
This guy has been away too long from his academic studies. Talks about common knowledge social issues, and gets personal.
Unprofessional, show's major bias to women in particular, really should look for other form of income. Do not take him, he needs to leave.
I worked my butt off in this class and got an A. But I agree, Woolcock needs to retire and probably shouldn't have started teaching in the first place. He will go off on weird rants. He talked a lot during my class about how much he hated the Stanford police. It's a shame because he is a smart man but let his personal hangups take over his life.
Publicly berating students is not the way to win them over. I never had a problem with this guy and still hated him. I actually never even met him in person. In an on line environment he was actually able to make me loathe his existence!
This TEACHER likes to SCOLD his students ALOT and he also has a problem with loosing his temper! If you want a mean teacher and like to be SCOLDED then go ahead and take his class! I am taking the class now but wish I would of looked here first.
This Professor needs to take a chill pill. He has sent my class like 6 E-mails with CAPS ON telling us to follow directions. He really has a problem with his temper. He needs to quit talking down on the students and quit sending us like 6 E-Mails to follow directions! He needs to send email to individauls NOT the whole class! HORRIBLE TEACHER!
Worst teacher I have ever seen. Lazy, ****, rude, and IF he lectures (which won't happen to often) he proves that he has no clue what he is talking about. Grading is absolutely arbitrary based unfortunately not capable to argue his grades. Just simple minded, uneducated and therefore dangerous. Should not teach at all. If trouble go see the dean
Very rude teacher, and not helpful at all. This professor did not instruct the class very well at all, and he has a high drop out rate. This professor should not be teaching any longer.
Very unhelpful teacher, changes due time in the last minutes for the dicussion forum. I really think he wants his student to fail the class. I would not recommend him. I think his final exam's averaged about 50% and he does not curve!!!DO NOT TAKE HIM
No one got an A. Highest was B to my knowledge. Unhelpful, hates students. Don't ask questions unless you want to get ridiculed publicly. Worst experience of my life. Not kidding. No curving, extra credit, happiness. Take this class if you can pretend to be a socialist/pro-Bush and like doing 300 pages reading/week. He'll like you. Be forewarned.
Picture the worst teacher imaginable & this is it. NO STUDENT RECEIVED AN A. This included some Berkeley students. Refuses to curve. He wouldnt even tell the students specifically what was on the midterm and just wrote "FOLLOW DIRECTIONS" x50. Tests vague. answer choicses included "not sure, maybe, depends on the case, yes , no"--how vague is that?
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THIS GUY IS A REAL JERK, NOT HELPFUL, PUT EVERYONE DOWN, YELLED, AND A TYRANT. UNLESS YOUR WILLING TO KISS HIS BUTT LIKE ALL HIS PERSONAL AIDS, YOUR HIGHEST GRADE WILL MOSTLIKELY BE A C.
boring......
I think he is the best teacher at Foothill. His classes are very hard and yet they are the only classes that I actualy learned something in. Great teacher but with a tough demeanor.
Woolcock is kind of a weird guy. He is sorta smart in the sense that he went to Stanford and stuff byt he can be a real jerk to some students. I got the only A in the class, but I don't think it was an easy A. There is a ton of reading and he is unclear about a lot of things. He gives some crappy assignments, too. Take this class with caution.
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not a good instructor
Professor Woolcock is an amazing teacher and a very willing and helpful mentor.
I gained very much from his class however it was not because of his lecture or helpfulness. He has a good collection of material however he does not explain content and does not grade fair if you do not conform to his idealogy. I do NOT recomend taking his class, I did not appreciate waiting to talk to him for over an hour in front of his office
Unless you become one of his "favorite" students or a T.A. forget about a good grade. Out class started with 42 ended with 5. Previous class ended with 7. Hardest class you will ever take, no matter what college you go to. Don't do it.
Worst instructor I've ever had. Yes, he's hard, but not in a positive, constructive way. In fact, you could be a political savante with a Harvard PhD and STILL only get a 'C' if Woolcock doesn't quite like the way you comb your hair. It's always the pretentious, brown-nosing as*es who get the good grades, not the students who really deserve it.
Probably a CIA plant to sabotage the appeal of communism and left-wing politics.. lol
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Woolcock doesn't lecture, his text books are very hard to understand, and he will discreminate (pick on you)if you look like the type that can be taken advantage of. This man set up his class where he only BS for the first two weeks of class and after that each group give their presentation for the whole class time for the whole week. At each
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Before taking him, go to google search to look him up "Joe Woolcock" and you'll see what you're getting into. There was 35+ students at beginning of class by final time it's down to 8 students left, is been going on for last 20+ years he work there. Why is he still there? Because the 8 students who pass his clss doesn't go to the dean to complain
Most unreasonable teacher I have ever had, treats students with disrespect, swears, uses dirogatory terms when refering to other races and has students teach 90% of the material. He had no review for any test. I'm not bitter just speaking the truth. Avoid at all costs, out of the whole class all but 2 failed the midterm. I
One of the hardest classes I've ever taken. I attended Foothill years ago and transferred to Univ. of CA, Irvine. Woolcock is ****, only likes certain people and his class is extremely hard. However, this was one of the best classes I've ever taken to prepare me for college and the real world. If you want to be challenged, take his class!
Does not like differing opinions; conceded
Good lord, register early and take someone else. His first exam was multiple choice and had questions with NINE choices (a through i). Class average was a 62. Teaches like he's at stanford, won't accept the fact that his class is GE. Thumbs down.
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Complete ****. The definition of infact. Listen, Woolcock is ill. It's not about easy A's or everyone failing. Yeah, that stuff's important but the real problem is that he treats you as his subordinate. Just because you went to community college doesn't mean you're stupid right? So, just because he went to Stanford doesn't mean he's any smarter.
IF you take this guy, you're the **** stupid person , he let the students do the work for him, hi multiple choice is so stupid, based on his opiniion. goooood luck if u take him, D and F if u looking 4
If you care about your sense of self and your ability to transfer do not take his course. Trust me. He favors a select few students, often his TAs. His classes are hard in that he does not prepare you for the exams (either the papers or the choice exams)...He often never lectures (group presentations make up about 75% of the course).
Although much of the course material was interesting, I took the class online and I didn't like how there were only 5 assignments graded including the final and midterm! many people did bad in this class because of lack of clarity I believe. tests were hard because, they were multiple choice and were ambiguous. I would not take this professor again
He's a strange guy, for sure. But, he's still a good teacher. It's not an easy A. He doesnt just try to teach the material, he's trying to help create effective study habits, analytical skills, and other tools to help people through college. He's a tremendous help for potential transfer students, who aren't afraid to work for their grade.
Agenda, he is not someone you want to waste your time with. GPA is important to those of us trying to make it into Stanford. His intimidation tactics, refering to my ancestry as WASP, asking if I am a WASP, when I am not even slightly American, but a global person. He isnt interested in the whole person. Only his idea of what he determines you are.
His teaching technique is questionable. It is not an easy A class, it requires tedious outside class reading and research. He doesn't go further into depth with the material, but I still learned a good amount. You can do well in the class if you study hard and speak up. If you want to be challenged and aggravated at times, take this course.
Graded on discussion ?'s,a midterm,& final. Requires you to buy 3 books and have you read NO JOKE 3-4 chapters a week per book (aprox. 30 pages each ch.) RIDICULOUS! The highest score on the midterm was 60%, but he still blamed it on his students for not reading. Though its very apparant he should really re-evaluate his teaching strategies!!!
The test questions were very ambiguous, and the professor announced that most of the people failed the midterm. I am taking lab sciences and advanced math and my grade is lowest in this class... Not sure if this is relevant to most people but I felt the professor was confrontational, and my submitted self-evaluation was questioned several times.
It was hard! I really thought poli sci was going to be fun and easy but was I wrong. I also thought I was going to fail but I didn't. I'm glad I didn't use this site to make a judgement upon the class because I'd probably be enrolled in someone else's class. The only thing to worry about are the TWO exams he gives. That's it! Good luck!
Hands down the best instructor at Foothill. Yes you work harder than any other class but you actually learn some useful skills you can use when you transfer. This class is writing and reading intensive. Just make sure you turn in your work and come prepared to class or he will make you regret it in front of the entire class. Justifiably so however.
This instructor is the most negative, hostile individual I have ever encountered in my academic career, and that is saying a lot since it was an on-line class. How can you made a "hostile environment" online? He proves it possible. A difficult class does not bother me, but a really bad attitude does.
I don't know how it's possible to be a jerk when teaching an online class, but somehow he manages. The texts he chose are awesome, but I am very turned off by his holier-than-thou attitude and hostility towards students who aren't his select few favorites. The class is not hard, but it is a lot of reading. I hope to never meet this man in person.
I agree, he is the hardest and not polite teacher. Even if I worked hard he wouldn't be satisfied. I had to drop the class, even though I don't ussually do it. I don't reccomended him at all.
He's the most difficult offensive proffessor on campus. That said, if you can survive and perform at the level he expects from you. You will never have a problem anywhere you go. I currently transferred to UCLA with honors, and now am considered by some faculty as the best of their students due to Woolcock and Professor Feig pushing me flourish.
Wonderful professor. Be prepared to actually learn in his classes, but know that they do require effort. The reading load is high, and be prepared to always actively discuss what you read. Most people give him a bad rep simply because they cannot keep up with the class and skim on the reading. Flexible office hours,help readily offered if needed.
Alright, all you whiners need to understand this class is not a joke. Know that Woolcock has an opinion and will let it be known. So be prepared to not like what you hear if you're a hard line republican. His class is VERY interesting and is relevant to all our lives. Grow up. He is hard though. Just do your best and you'll get a good grade.
He barely teaches, uses students to facilitate a discussion, during which, he falls asleep.
Sorry for those who already took this class, and had a terrible experience. Go to class, if you miss one day he calls you out in front of the whole class. At first,you think he is nice, and caring. After being in his class you begin to see a hole different side of him. He is disrespectful and mean. And don't compare him to Dr. Feig!
All you whiners need to calm down. sure, dont take the class if you don't want to work hard and blame your laziness on your teacher. and seriously, learn how to take a joke and realize he is not serious 90% of the time. the best teacher i have EVER had and cares more about his students well-being than his own.
I just want to say that this person should not be teaching. He is rude, inconsiderate and much too strict for a community college. He is too eager to get students in trouble and his criticism is harsh. The online discussion sessions were a waste of time, his tests were unrealistically hard and required extensive knowledge of all texts. Aweful class
This professor has a core group of sycophants - keep this fact in mind as you read reviews. Key words: favoritism, special privilege, will go above and beyond for those he feels are worthy (see above: sycophants). Thankfully, he does not teach ethics.
AWFUL! Woolcock did no teaching the entire quarter, and gave the impression that he would fail everyone unless they rewrote their papers multiple times. He's extremely unreasonable. He says he's available anytime, but is unwilling to meet outside of his office hours. This is the worst class I have ever taken, and I say this having gotten an A!
This professor is more interested in format than content and expects you only to regurgitate the books. If you do not follow format instructions and state the book exactly, you are counted as wrong. He cares not to teach anyone anything, but wants the student to only agree with the book and its opinion.
An obvious Marxist that will FAIL YOU if you attempt to disagree with his America-hating, marxist views. After 6 class sessions in which we were forced to watch Noam Chomski and the generally evil Chevron Corporation, I had to ask if we would get to the Constitution, Balance of Powers and maybe even Clarence Thomas (he hates Clarence Thomas).
Bad prof! Stupid dude. Don't waste your time with this dude.
Professor is hardcore about attendance and reading all materials before class starts. He assigns a huge amount of readings and his exams come directly from the text. For this class we have 3 texts, online links, and mandatory online discussions as well as group presentations. This class is not for slackers.
awful professor. doesn't do any teaching. just sits back and will occasionally tell the presenter that they're wrong. avoid him like the plague.
strict, high expectation of students, a lot of work for presentation, focus a lot on class discussion
if you want to pass his class you need to do all the work, read a lot of the text, and go to class everyday. he makes you write online every week in a group discussion, give a two hour group presentation, mandatory ordering of the New York Times, and the final is the hardest**** in the world. bottom lines is the class is very diff.
Excellent instructor. You will learn a lot! Reading is a must as is attendance, and you will be glad you did! Not only will it prepare you for his Midterm and Final but will learn so much! Everyone who says bad things or doesn't rate him well on this is because they are all LAZY and don't do the work asked of them!
He plays favorites. It is easy however for him to like you. Speak when you have something meaningful to say and you know your material. Write along his ideals. If you disagree too much with him you'll be asking for a bad grade. His class is useful later in 4 year schools. In seminar format class, the presentation is easy, the paper VERY hard!
Horrible class, plain horrible. This class is online, and yet it is the worst class ive ever taken. it is only of GE and it is the most difficult class you'll find. It is not that the reading or participation is hard, although it is very time consuming, it is his two tests. the mid term is 5 short essays, and the final is even worse, hard to pass
DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS. I am double majoring in Microbiology, and Biochemistry, have a 4.0 and I couldnt pass this class. Ive done all the reading in the 3 text books, but the midterm is retarded. for example i listed 5 of the 6 items for one of the questions and received half credit, AVOID AT ALL COSTS, now i have a W. AWFUL class
The professor has assigned a book that students bought and he then decided we were not to cover the material but instead study the comparative economies during the cold war in view of communist scholars of the 1970s. While that might be interesting to talk about it is NOT comparative government!
I've never read so much in my life, seriously. I failed the midterm because it was ridiculous, 5 fully essays in 90 minutes. I'm pretty sure if you just read the lectures, which are based on his opinions, and turn those into an essay you'll be all good. I'm pretty sure I bombed the final, but I finished with a C, I think he'll pass anyone who trys
Do not take his class! You will regret about your decision!This is from a student who got A-, his midterm and final exam gave me heart attack. And you have to read hell a lot of things. He made this class like a graduate level.
Strict as a drill sergeant and harsher than a CC instructor should be. That being said, its easy enough to get on his good side and you will learn something either way. The subject is already challenging and Woolcock isn't about making things easier. Proceed at your own risk.
DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS!!! I came out of his class more confused about politics then I was before I entered his class! Choose someone else if you can
Some of you simply need to rise up to the challenge. FYI, many professors from many different colleges and universities teach from a slightly left or slightly right point of view. Hardly anyone is centrist thinking.
The level of discourse must be high! That's the one thing Woolcock kept saying. He would delete posts that wouldn't conform to this level. BE WARNED! If you're not willing to commit time and a high level of discourse, think Berkeley and Stanford status, this is not the class for you! If you are...good luck...still hard!! Got an A, veru surprised.
MOST difficult teacher I've ever had. Would have dropped the class except I needed it for graduation. NOT helpful at all. Very confusing teaching style. Online section of course not explained thoroughly. He actually GETS MAD when you ask questions. He yelled at me multiple times. DO NOT TAKE HIM.
RIDICULOUS CLASS.. Unclear about anything except that we're suppose to read a 100 pages a night on articles that you cant get. Impossible office hours if you dont have your own transportation. People were waiting from 6:30AM to see him and still didn't make it.
Impossible teacher and class (online)! Started giving us orders about class before term even started - love to USE CAPS and treat people like they are STUPID. If you like intimidation and fear, then this is the class for you! Aren't teachers supposed to teach or encourage or at least guide a student?
This class is for those intending to go onto their bachelor's. I got an A...but it took a lot of effort. Many 3 am nights. If you're not prepared to make that kind of commitment, this is not the professor for you. If you are though, Woolcock will prepare you for the elite institutions. Who knows, you might surprise him like I did.
This class is a lot of work , dedication, reading, writing. He is very, very strict. You have to read and make sure you comprhend what you read, and turn it into an essay based on the two questions he has, have to show how it relates to everyday life, I had to get a tutor, but nver in my life have I learned so much about the constitution.
This teacher is impossible to please. I have never had a teacher like him at Foothill to date. There really isn't anything I can say that others haven't said already. Just look at his whopping 27 pages of negative comments, and that should be an answer enough.
Woolcock needs to stop teaching, I don't mind hard classes, but when the entire class is failing or dropping out, there's definitely something wrong with his teaching style. He likes to think of himself as a ivy league professor (huge ego), but if he was such a genius why is he still an associate professor after all these years?
very rude and condescending, midterm was ridiculous.
His class is hard, but he isn't as bad as people make him seem. If you do all the reading and meet with him when he asks you to, you will be just fine. He definitely has a liberal bias, but it's hard to find a political science professor without some type of bias. This class was the hardest that I've ever taken, but definitely the most rewarding.
So ridiculous how people are saying that he prepares you for "elite" schools. Why are people perpetuating this myth? I'm actually at Cal, and Woolcock's arbitrary, abusive teaching style would absolutely NOT be allowed at Cal with student instructors (who usually do the direct teaching/grading) and would be highly discouraged with faculty.
Professor Woolcock was the best college professor I have had in my entire life. I have had over 20 professors and he was by far the best. He demands a lot of hard work and time out of his students. He is one of the most caring, devoted, and passionate professors I have ever encountered. I got an A in the class so it's proof that it's possible.
Prof. Woolcock is a totally basic teacher. If you do the reading, participate in discussion, and go to all the meetings you will do fine. The midterm was based solely on the reading. Those who think it was difficult obviously didn't do the required reading.
He doesn't know how to teach. Also,he would spend about 30 minutes to an hour everyday to yell at the students. Our class started with 50, and it was approximately 15 when I dropped. I've done all of the readings before class and attend every single class meeting, but the results turn out to be like I did not study at all.
He may be smart but he does not know how to teach. Most of the class is spent with him telling the class how dumb we are for not knowing our own government. You never know how you are doing in the class. If you take the time to meet with him in office hours then he acts like he cares. otherwise, he won't even talk to you.
I knew I was not the only one having a difficult time from announcememts made. When asked for help got it which was essential to me passing this class after a horrible mid term. Test are tough and lots of reading. Does have a way of making people feel stupid. Tough professor who does want to see students pass. I passed so it is possible.
A very difficult class. Get on his good side as early as possible. With that being said I survived and got an A, just be willing to meet with him and work hard.
great teacher
There is no reason for this man to treat his students so poorly. If you get something wrong he automatically writes you off as a slacker who does not do the reading. Instead of giving helpful advice on assignments he leaves snide comments that do not foster improvement. Any learning done or improvement made in the class was independent of him.
DO NOT TAKE HIM!!!! if you are a political science major, he is the teacher for you but if you are just taking it to meet G.E requirements, this is not the class for you. He spends 20 minutes in class just to pick on a student who does not know the answer rather than explaining the answer. His grading is ridiculous.
Please don't take this professor. If you are still intent on talking his class please first do a Google search for his name and read the associated news articles. I can't speak to the veracity of said news articles, come to your own conclusions. I found the midterm to be very difficult and the grading policies to be strict.
This is probably the worst teacher at foothill. His grading is completely unjustified and you will need to somehow be on his good side to get a decent grade.
He is the worst teacher ever. I'd prefer to not go into any detail to refrain from vomiting all over my computer. DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASSES!!! HE NEEDS TO BE FIRED ASAP!
He is slightly challenging, but a good professor. The books he assigns are interesting, not your typical text book. If you love politics take his class.
RUN FAR FAR AWAY!!!! Avoid this guy at all costs. He is rude,attempts to make you feel stupid constantly,loves to point out any little mistake you might make,tests require you to know literally every line of all THREE books! The most miserable class of my life if you get stuck with him just attempt to get through it it's a chore believe me!
Loves to use CAPS to emphasize things but it just make him look childish. Felt like I was in some sort of a dictatorship regime! Seemed more interested in insults than a positive learning environment which got old quick. Seems to go out of his way to correct you but if you notice an error he made don't even think of trying to correct him. AVOID!!!!
Please, for your own good, stay away from Woolcock. He is by far the hardest and strictest teacher. He is very demeaning and his teaching style is horrific. He doesn't help students learn but merely takes pleasure in insulting them if they don't know everything about politics. Belittles everyone and no student will ever live up to his expectations.
This guy made my life a living hell for 3 months. His insults and personal attacks left me crying often and his extreme expectations gave me severe anxiety. Never willing to help and just directs you to the texts if you have any questions, but not before he makes you feel like an idiot for not understanding in the first place. Awful teacher.
This man is a monster. I have taken a number of online courses and he is the worst. He will belittle you, insult you, and then constantly follow-up in a demeaning way. DO NOT take his courses. DO NOT.
I signed up for his online poli 1 course. DO NOT TAKE HIM!!! He is the worst professor I have ever had. I was excited to take this class, but he screams at you over the internet. It is very time consuming and tedious. You must post everyday and reference everything. If you want to pass this class take it with someone else.
Prof. Woolcock's course is definitely a full work load. There is no way of slacking off at all, so just know that before you register.( He is also very clear about that in the syllabus). The key to passing is simply doing what is asked. If you choose to take this course you will certainly feel accomplished in the end.
He is a fabulous prof. He takes some getting used to, and I can see how his online students could take what he says the wrong way (mine was NOT online), but he WANTS you to succeed. Once you understand how he is, and if you take him up on his offers to come to his office hours, he is very helpful, and you CAN succeed in this class. DON'T SLACK.
During his polisci 1 he assigned a group project for groups ranging from 3 to 5 people. My entire group dropped the class, and he refused to put me into another group. He expected me to do the work of 5 people, and offered me no help. He is hard to understand at times, and in my opinion he was extremely rude and inappropriate with students.
I was very interested in politics before joining the class and now thinking about them makes me angry. He was very boring and had bad grammar. The class is partly online and the homework is online during really awkward hours and difficult.
This class is HARD. You ABSOLUTELY need prior knowledge of philosophy to be ok in this class. However, Woolcock is a great professor and if you actually ask questions he will gladly answer them. Huge workload. If you enjoy philosophy, I recommend it. If not, stay far, far away.
Avoid him if you are taking an online class over summer. He has high expectations and yet fails to properly give instructions. His standards are scattered all over his syllabus, announcements, and comments. He is also quite irresponsible and has a bad attitude. Don't be surprised if your polite email is responded with a condecending remark.
While I received an A in this summer class I was surprised at how condescending this professor was to everyone. He provides a lot of instructions that you MUST read and follow, otherwise he will rip you apart. If you can you should avoid this professor.
Everything he writes is in NEON PINK. He is rude. He is not willing to help and rants off. I have never met another adult that is so insulting.
The online class is in three equally weighted parts: the essays, the midterm, the final. Strict requirements for the essay posts, yes, but not impossible to adhere to. No feedback at all ever except a percentage grade on the multiple choice midterm/final. Easy A, I suppose, if you enjoy memorizing textbooks. Very rude.
Great professor! It is important to keep in mind two things: You most read until the congress chapter to be ready for mid term, focus your attention in statistics and philosophy because he loves them! follow all his instructions, if you work hard you are going to pass even though you had a terrible mid term. I made it and I'm a foreign person.
You know a professor is bad when he wastes an entire class explaining how difficult the class will be instead of teaching. Oh the irony... He is full of himself and it shows through his off topic ramblings about his personal life and past. He takes his subject way too seriously and he needs to seriously analyze his class and teaching methods. MHO
It's not a pseudonym. DO NOT take this class. He is unclear with his expectations and then grades very harshly. To do well on the exams you have to have ALL of the smallest facts within the text memorized. He is rude and highlights his mean, unhelpful comments in pink and is overall a sour person.
Probably the hardest/worst class ive ever taken. Was never clear on his expectations, gave little guidance to what he wanted and was a super hard grader on everything. Be warned that this is not a class for the faint of heart had i known he was remotely like he is prior to the class i wouldve taken another class. GOOd LUCk
This guy is clearly some type of sadist. He enjoys watching students struggle and gets off on ridiculing your work. Wait a quarter and take this class from Heiser who is nice and actually cares.
Honestly he is one of the best professors I've ever had. I was so scared to take his class after reading all this stuff online, but I'm so glad I did. He did push me and there were times when I thought I couldn't do it, but its all worth it in the end. Go to his office hours, seek help, do the work and speak up in class. You'll be fine. I got an A!
I took Professor Woolcock's Political Science 1 class as my first online class, and it was a horrible experience! The class was disorganized because you can't tell what's going on until he sends you a nasty condescending email, which in case I dropped with a W. If this was my first college class overall, I would have dropped out of college by now..
Horrible experience. Took this course online after reading the reviews and counselor warning on teacher but gave it a chance since this is my intended major. Teacher is horrible! The way he interacts with students is as if we were inferior. I could tell he knows a lot on the subject which is the sad part. Needs to work on the teacher part.
What a mess! I wouldn't mind a hard and strict professor but Professor Woolcock is very excessive in the way he teaches. He doesn't show up for office hours and doesn't even speak to students after class unless you want to get yelled at. I took his as a Poli Sci Major and later dropped. I will take this class again with another professor of course!
I myself love this subject however I would never recommend Woolcock as a professor. He's very smart no doubt however is very belittling of his students, first prof to make me cry while speaking in class. His "help" is never clear. Class consists of seminar lead by a group teaching and a 15/20(honors) pg research paper. If you take this class READ.
Must read and write at college level. A hybrid class, lectures/notes were online. Dealt mostly with essays, harsh in his critique. I enjoyed the work but wished he had tact when dealing w/ others. A teacher who makes an example of others doesn't encourage a conducive learning environment. He HAS helped improve my writing & analytical skills.
The class is very difficult and he isn't very clear, but most of the class is taught by your fellow students in a discussion/seminar format. You learn a huge amount, although not from the teacher. There are no tests quizzes or midterms, jut one massive paper and a presentation.
Mean. Tough. Makes you feel inadequate and inferior. He sits on his Ph.D. high horse and expects all of us to be equally as intelligent in our analysis and approach to answering our papers/discussion questions. Don't take him unless you have nothing but time, your a super nerd, you have rich parents & you don't work AND go to school!!!!!!
Wow! I cannot believe this man. He talks to everyone like they are retarded. There is no outline for the tests. his lectures do not prepare you for the exams. his attitude makes your stomach churn. Do not take this class if you work or are not your parents tittie baby. three texts books anything can be in the exam. he makes a hard class harder
This professor is hard and he never gives any help to his students. He never encourages students to try their best, and yet he makes them look stupid at the same time. He really needs to give out positive discipline and give constructive, but not condescending criticism to make sure students positively learn their mistakes, not demonizing them!
He truly cares about his students. He is very firm. He is passionate about the material. Read, even re-read directions he gives or you will get a bad grade. Be proactive pay attention to statistical information in book and theories in his lecture, that helps tremendously!
WOW WHAT A CONFUSING GUY :D If you love being left in the dark and confused do take this class! He could care less about whether you succeed or not. Totally rude and will not even answer certain questions when you question him.
WORST professor ever!! Please stay away from this class. The biggest problem in the class is him. His attitude is awful, he makes you feel unworthy. He highlights people's mistakes in front of the whole class. He wants Engl 1B writing skills. I don't understand how he's still teaching. He has had a lot of problems with students.
I thought he was an incredible professor. The material came easily once you actively engaged yourself, and he was always open to answering any questions. Make sure to go to office hours! It helped with my grade a lot. Funny, easygoing, and passionate about the subject. He really connects with his students. I'd take this class over again if I could.
DO NOT TAKE this class you will be miserable. Out of 28 students 6 actually stay. 3 pass 3 failed and the highest grade was a B-. He doesn't teach much, his quizzes are 100 questions. He expects perfect writing from students but his writings are full of misspelling and grammar errors. Do your self a favor and take someone else.
The WORST teacher I have ever encountered in college. I cannot stress enough how disrespectful he was towards students and discouraged any sort of political belief that clashed with his own. I think his teaching methods are contradictory to this class. If you want t a good grade, and have a good experience, I highly suggest you don't take his class
Prof Woolcock is probably the most inspirational professor I've had so far. I walked in on the first day fully expecting a harsh, strict guy, but that wasn't the case at all. He also doesn't assign any hw except for a seminar group project and one term paper: that's it. If you show up, participate, do your work, you'll pass with flying colors.
For a guy who graduated from Stanford University, I can say as someone who has visited the university that professors at Stanford aren't (this two word phrase here). Having taken his POLI 15 honors class is that if does not want to motivate to succeed others, he needs to find another profession. A good professor is constructive, not condescending!!
Worst Professor ever. Rude, unclear. Do not take his class.
Do not expect an easy A. It's essential to keep up with the material (100 pgs a week). As a seminar course, participation is crucial. Half of the grade is a 15 page research paper, which is the only written assignment. He is full of inspiration and insight, but at times impolite. Learned more in his classes than any other I've taken at Foothill.
I am a great student & stay on top of my school work but this was the hardest class I have attempted to take. I had to withdrawl because nothing was clear all the discussions were all over the place & I care more about my grade than guessing on work and turning in unclear discussions. I would not recommend this teacher for this class.
He's going to ask you what your major is on the first day of school and your best bet is to say political science.
stay away from him guys, it really hard, especially if you have no interest in political science..
Amazing professor
I would not recommend this teacher to anyone, he has a way of talking to students as if he was superior to them . He is an extremely picky and tough grader and I have not enjoyed his class one bit. He has an accusatory tone and is overall not a nice person.
Really disgusting, never take his class!!! No helping, rude, unfair grade for students, unfair judgement !!!
really great professor! You need to understand politics and read a lot , be aware of news and not be scared of talking in class. I would recommend his class for people who are really into politics and who need wants to learn about it. He knows what he is talking about always and he covers a lot of topics :)
In this class you'll right a 15-20 page paper, which you have the entire quarter to write it. Otherwise, there are no tests or outside classwork. There is required reading, but it's easy to get by with doing minimal reading. The class itself is entirely discussion based. I thought the class was great though.
Professor Woolcock can come off as intense, but his class is one of the most rewarding classes I have ever taken. There is a 15 /20(for honors) page paper you are given an entire quarter to write. It is essential to participate in discussions, and you cannot do well if you slack off. I highly recommend the class for anyone interested in politics.
It is an honor to know this incredible man.
The best professor I've ever had the chance of meeting. I've taken all of his poli classes, and the guidelines and routines are the same: one research paper (can write by yourself or with a partner) and seminar-style classes. It's hard NOT to get an A in Prof Woolcock's class. I peeked at his grade sheet and nearly EVERYONE got A's on their papers.
This man is extremely Rude!!! He talks down to his students and is not helpful. I took his Poli 1 online class and do not recommend it. WORST professor I have every came in contact with.
Where to begin... Grading criteria was unclear, he is a stickler on grammar and spelling but things he has written are full of errors, the final seemed to have very little to do with the class (open book/notes and still failed the final), midterm was difficult (5 essays in 2 hours closed book). Most of the class dropped out during the first week.
He is a hard grader and expects us to do lots of work, which I do not mind at all. However, he is very unclear with his grading policy, never answers specific questions from students, definitely does not come off as friendly, and is quite rude to say the least. I would not recommend anyone to take a class from this professor. He's discouraging too.
Took his class regardless of bad reviews bc I heard he was a good teacher. Regret. The instructions are clear however his grading is completely harsh. Did all assigned reading, assignments and still managed to fail. Midterm was hard even with open books/notes, everyone failed it. Forgets it's an intro course. Talks down to students. Rude person.
Professor Woolcock is an amazing professor. He has a bit an intimidating personality, but as soon as you get used to and along with it, he is great. The course format is always a seminar, so you have to talk. There are no Midterm and Final; your grade is just a 15-page paper and discussion. It's possible to get an A without being a native speaker.
I took his classes 20 years ago, and they changed the course of my life. After passing his Pol101, I took a summer class in Political Economics that included 4 weeks at the UWI in Jamaica. Rigorous academic work, no vacation, that shredded the veil of privilege that had shaped my world view. Changed my major, and my life. I'm grateful. Thanks, Joe
I wish I would have checked this site before signing up for his class. STAY AWAY FROM THIS TEACHER!!!! Extremely rude and is on a complete power trip. Grades super harsh. He apparently doesn't understand how to be positive and encouraging, instead only wants to criticize and be negative. I don't understand how he is a teacher!!
participate in discussions and work on your paper, it's the only thing he assigns.
Professor Woolcock is the most difficult professor I have ever had. However, his dedication to his field and his students is unmatched. He is not an easy professor and he will fail you if you don't perform. However, he knows what you are capable of and will push you to your limits so you can grow as a student and as an individual. TAKE HIS CLASS!!!
Not accessible outside of class. Grade is based on few things. Assigns reading but nobody does it so participation is usually based on who can say something argumentative and back it up. Course structure is disorganized. Lots of class time spent talking about preferred work ethic. Barely an economics course; almost no economic analysis.
Great professor! I was going to drop during the first two weeks, but am so glad I didn't. The class is a seminar so it depends on you reading the materials/participating in an in-class discussion. Luckily the reading is incredibly interesting. Do your reading, make thoughtful comments in class, submit your research paper and you should do great.
I took Mr. Woolcock's class back in 2003. He was by far the worst professor I ever had. At one point he gave me an F on a paper simply because the spacing was not done to his specific requirements. He did not even bother to read the paper. Why this man still has a job is a mystery to me. He had a chip on this shoulder like I have never seen.
All you need for poli 15, 3, and 9 is to participate in discussion and write your paper. You need to make an impression and contribute. The class is literally just discussion run by students everyday, thats it. Start on the paper early and get your outline approved (it takes a while to get an approved topic). He's a wonderful professor!
man this class was a trip. Woolcock seems like a nice guy, but I found his class to be too disorganized. There was no listed requirements for the paper, which is half your grade. Only formatting was him drawing it on the board. He lets the students who need help fail and the spends his time with those who are ahead. Save yourself the stress.
Woolcock will challenge your ideals. He will make you think, he will insist that you have ten reasons to defend your position - he will challenge you on all ten- and if you can earn a B from him you will be thanking him for broadening your horizons.
If you ever wonder why we are so divided in this world, this professor is an example. I'm a liberal and all I wanted to do was learn about political system. Except I had to listen a 2 hour anti-trump tangent from this professor. I dropped the class. Not recommended for people with soft ears.
He does not provide study material for midterms and finals, so you're on your own. He forgets POLI1 is an INTRODUCTORY class. His online class has a discussions forum; you submit your assignment there and he will publicly grade it in front of everybody. Not the best for those who aren't good with MLA and essay writing. Beware.
His class is graded almost entirely on discussion assignments and papers with vague prompts. Tough grader (class average has been an F for every discussion so far). Textbook is hard to access. I took this class for transfer credit, but will be taking it class again at my four year university where I am confident any professor can do a better job.
His class is graded almost entirely on discussion assignments and papers with vague prompts. Tough grader (class average has been an F for every discussion so far). Textbook is hard to access. I took this class for transfer credit, but will be taking it class again at my four year university with a different professor.
His "seminar" approach lets him get away w/ napping in class, have students lecture instead, & have a few things in grade book (25% participation, 25% leading class for 2 wks, 50% 15-20 page research paper). You're pretty much screwed if you haven't written a big paper before. Didn't give me any constructive feedback, I don't feel I learned much.
I would strongly advise anyone to not take this class or any class that this professor teaches. He is very creepy (I actually had to file a complaint against him), frequently yells at the class for not meeting his standards when he gave us no indication of what his expectations were and is just generally a mean-spirited person.
Professor Woolcock does not care about any student who is not going to stanford, harvard, princeton and yale. Is assignments are unclear and have criteria that he doesn't tell you about and expects you to know. He grades you mostly on his invisible criteria and the way the stars might be aligned that day because of how random it is. Avoid this man.
Although his grades depend mostly on discussions and papers, if you show up and listen, you will get good grades. You must be good at writing though. Very stingy with his discussion points. Liked the format of the class though. If you do your work, you will pass with no issues.
Woolcock is very hit or miss. The reviews here look bad, but everyone in our class except for one student got an A. It is definitely a lot of work (15 page paper for regular, 20 page paper for honors and leading a lecture) and Woolcock is very eccentric and sometimes judgemental, but I did learn a lot. I feel much more prepared for the real world.
This subject was a tough one for me. I had no (and still have no) interest in deep political theory and it was difficult to understand. The 20-page essay itself is not as bad as I thought it was going to be. I got an A- and the lowest grade in my class was a B.
Horrible professor. He is completely disorganized and confusing. It is very frustrating to be in his class because he is very unclear about what he wants . He responds to emails in a very unprofessional and unhelpful manner. I highly regret signing up for this class and would have dropped had I been able to get a refund. Do not take him.
Unclear and not helpful
I was in honor society my entire time in junior college and this was my only C grade. He told me I would need to rewrite my paper before he read it because he didnt like the subject even though it was on his list of topics. He really likes having the power to screw with you. I advise waiting to take whatever class with a different teacher.
Holds students to unreasonable standards, makes offensive comments about ethnicity, religion, and gender. Falls asleep during class. Avoid at all costs, I'll be lucky to end with a B and I have all A's otherwise.
Dr. Woolcock is unclear with his instructions for assignments, lacks feedback, and is a tough grader. He also takes several weeks to update grades, so you won't know where you stand until it's time to drop. I truly had the most negative experience with him and don't recommend anyone to take him. Many students in my class were failing like I was.
Dr. Woolcock is the worst. He doesn't grade any work until weeks too late, is unhelpful and uncooperative. I took his online class, and this having been the 4the online class I've taken at foothill it is by far the worst. His responses via email and to student submissions are rude and angry. Drop this class ASAP, not worth it
DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS He takes forever to get back to messages and to grade. You'd better agree with the authors of the text or disagree because you agree with other "elites". For the midterm and final, he expects you to basically quote the text w/o actually quoting it because it's closed book lol Doesn't fully answer q's and gives vague feedback
I have found that this class has expanded my horizons and has given me an appreciation for the social sciences. However, I found that the standards posed by Mr. Woolcock have been very high and almost unrealistic. As a result, his standards got the better of me and it reached a point to where I had to drop a very interesting class. Such a shame
This class isn't a realistic class to pass. He will rip apart all of your assignments and tell you to write more and say you lack information etc. I DO NOT RECOMEND this class for anyone. Final is 2 hours with a 5 question multi part. Not possible unless you're a history major etc.
He operates the class in a very odd manner that will be difficult for anyone expecting a normal classroom experience. Basically he's the kind of teacher to let your class participation influence your grades on other assignments, so that could be good or bad depending on the kind of student you are.
Professor Woolcock is a careful person. However, he is way too careful and meticulous. His warnings and instructions are strict. His class lecture bases too much on the readings. Also, he DOES throw curves ball in tests: subtle differences mean difference expectation from him.
I do not necessarily think his class is hard just chaotic. Students lead by teaching and you must write a 20 page paper. I wish he taught more and spoke less about himself. He offers all the critique and the world and no constructive criticism. Hes a smart man stuck in his own head. He would be much better if he could just losen up a bit.
I do not necessarily think his class is hard just chaotic. Students lead by teaching and you must write a 20 page paper. I wish he taught more and spoke less about himself. He offers all the critique in the world but provides no constructive criticism. Hes a smart man stuck in his own head. He would be much better if he could just losen up a bit.
very vague about upcoming assignments. Does not give clear feed back or often will give feed back that does not make sense in context of the requirement. Gives examples of what he is looking for that do not meet his own requirements. For example you can only use 250words, but he writes an entire essay in his example.
Do not take his classes and if you're already enrolled, drop it before the non-W deadline. Professor Woolcock is unprofessional at best. He is very knowledgeable but his execution in being an educator is below mediocre. If you ignore all these bad reviews hoping for something better or unique in your experience you deserve what you get. GL
This man is an absolutely terrible human being. I made a comment on another student's post regarding the assignment (no instructions were given to not do this) and he gave me a 0 for the assignment. Even worse - he sent out an email to the ENTIRE class calling out my mistake. Extremely unprofessional and a total waste of my time.
I don't understand how this man has a job. You will receive close to zero feedback. By midterm, I had 1/4 assignments graded with a single sentence "did not fully understand material". The feedback he does give is public, rude, and unhelpful. I have never withdrawn from a class. I made an account to specifically dissuade anybody from taking him.
ABSOLUTE WORST PROFESSOR! DO NOT I repeat DO NOT take him. He is a horrible communicator and absolutely rude to students. He accuses students of things that are not relevant at all and makes them put in tedious work for no reason. He grades SUPER hard but fails to provide any sort of feedback about the reason for grading. Do yourself a favor please
He is a challenging professor, but he will help you grow as both a student and human being. You may not like him while you have him, but after you will absolutely appreciate him.
I should note I took his courses years ago (15+). And he and I had a personal falling out. However, I took three courses with him, eventually becoming his TA as well. Having gone to UCLA, Columbia, Penn and Cambridge, I know without the rigor of his courses as a foundation, and his support, I would not have succeeded.
I'm not one to usually complain about my professors, but this guy was the absolute worst... and I had him as an ONLINE class. Expects a lot but gives a tiny word limit on assignments. He also gave a four-hour midterm with topics that we did not read until weeks later, and when I emailed him he never responded. Also no online textbooks available.
Woolcock is rude, inconsistent, and grades on trivial matters rather than the content of our written assignments. Early in the class, take care not to exceed word count, use personal pronouns or contractions, or fail to capitalize things like Congress. You will lose the bulk of your points just trying to learn what he's looking for. Hope this helps
The feedback he gave was public and viewable by everyone. It helped me get a sense of what to improve on my own discussion posts. However, the word limit was unreasonable at times, especially for the research paper we had to write in the end, which was a maximum of 250 words. The final exam gave questions that I felt weren't aligned to the readings
If possible, I would avoid his classes. Feedback is public, grades arbitrarily, questions on final unrelated to readings. Otherwise, my advice is to read his instructions and questions carefully. Read the textbook and his lectures, they contain crucial info for discussions and midterm. I did learn a lot from his class, but it was very stressful.
This professor had absolutely no good attributes. He slept during class, wasnt available outside classroom, and as a Political Science professor was extremely inflexible. Only if you like suffering and stressing to the point that would compromise your grade and your future Id recommend you take this persons class. I wish more people spoke up.
He is an insanely hard grader. There is no point in trying to argue back any points, he does not care. Hell just tell you that now you know for next time.
He is the worst professor I ever have. He gives 280 words count for a midterm essay that is worth 100 points! What sense does it make? Not enough space to put content in and then he complains about how little I put in the essay. His feedback is very vague and that suppose to help me how? You will only read in the class. Please avoid this guy!
His instructions and grading are unclear and he will knock you for things not even mentioned in the specs. When your grade is just midterm and final you will be blindsided with an awful grade and little hope of recovering. He takes forever to respond and is very condescending in his communication. Makes inappropriate comments in class.
300 word midterm that he complains you didn't write enough about the prompt, gave zero real feedback. You are graded only on a midterm and final. Didn't show up to zoom meetings. By the time you get your midterm grade it is too late to withdraw without it being a W. I have gotten stellar grades on essays in other classes. I should have checked here
I had a very positive experience with the professor so here's what worked: 1. Participate early on in the class and offer thoughtful insight, try not to ramble 2. Be communicative, even if you have a small question he respects people who self advocate 3. The textbook is crazy so watch summary videos instead and it will make your life 10x easier
Instructions super unclear and broad, he wants specific things done yet won't tell us, expects us to know what he wants. Good luck trying to get a clear and direct answer from him. He cares about his students I'll give him that but I would strongly suggest going to another professor, would not take him again, and strongly advise against it.
Took his class twice, first comparative government and political economy. At first I was wary. He teaches class in a very unique way: students lead, participation is MANDATORY (you will be dropped if you miss class without a good reason), and you must carry the bulk of your weight. If you read up before and PARTICIPATE, you will do great here.
He is nice and caring BUT if you can avoid taking his class, I HIGHLY recommend you do so. He makes groups teach the class material but I feel like that is just laziness on his part, because he will criticize your presentation If it didn't meet his expectations. Certain students run the class and the grading system doesn't reflect your knowledge.
Most definitely the worst teacher I've had, and I had bourgoub for Calc 1D at De Anza. This professor is so condescending and unorganized. I got an A in his class, on my transcript it states that I got a C. I had to talk to him and getting Ahold of him is the worst. Truly the most rude professor I've had
This is by far the WORST professor I have encountered. He NEVER replies to your emails. He does not attend his "office hours" and his vocabulary toward students is not professional. He sounds very cynical and his grading is awful, he says he is disappointed in your work but gives you actual feedback. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE HIM.
I took his class 2. The first time there was a mix up and my final didn't open. I tried messaging through out the whole class never got a response. Second time he failed my final because he said I answered the questions too literally and straight from the text book. Also the he just assigns books to read in the beginning then you take a final.
Get ready for an epic gaslighting experience with this professor. It's not the class material that's legit difficult. It's because his expectations are so unclear & the games he plays. The only students who do well are the ones who take advantage of the situation in various ways.
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