3.8
Quality3.1
Difficulty75%
Would Retake157
Reviews75%
Would Retake
157
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
75
4
40
3
7
2
10
1
25
What Students Say
“Lectures are useless but attendance is mandatory”
Biol-101 - 1.0 rating“Do not take 104 with Claytor”
Biol-104 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Attendance Mandatory
90%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Improving
+0.20 avg changeRatings by Course
Biol-101
3.9
(123)Biol-104
3.6
(34)Difficulty by Course
Biol-101
3.2
Biol-104
2.8
Reviews (157)
This was his first year teaching and I was in his Biol 101 FY Launch class and he did a great job. Was very accessible outside of class, gave plenty of opportunities to look for help, and was enjoyable to listen to even at 8 am. Class is only hard if you don't prepare, if you do the homework beforehand, the class is very easy.
If you are looking for a Biol 101 professor, he should be one of your top choices. There will be a little bit of homework before each class that you need to stay up to date on(little room for late work). Our year got a cheat sheet(front and back page) before each class which made tests a lot easier(and we allowed to drop 1/3 midterms).
Dr. Claytor is an amazing professor! I had him for Bio 101 freshman year. He assigns about 2-4 hours of homework every week (not busy work). Read the syllabus! It explains his expectations, methodology, and essentially step-by-step instructions of how to succeed in his class. Very funny; lectures are helpful; he is accessible outside of class.
Professor Claytor is AWESOME!!!!! He cares about every single student in his lecture. It is not easy, but he does a really awesome job of teaching the material and clarifying for understanding. You have to study very hard and do your homework (2 GRQS per week), but he drops your lowest exam grade and you get a cheat sheet for every test!
This was Dr. Claytor's first year teaching at UNC and he was awesome. He is knowledgable and passionate about the material. He helps class be relatable through modern examples and humor. There is frequent homework, but it is reasonable, helps you learn, and isn't busy work. Exams are a heavy weight, but are reasonable and related to the material.
Professor Claytor is great. He is super caring, always reminds you that a test grade does not define you (which allows you to feel better about it and do better next time). He typically ask how everyone is doing by a show of thumbs. I definitely recommend you take Biol101 with him.
Dr. Claytor was an amazing professor. He really cares about all of his students, and really takes the time to assure that everyone is confident in themselves and the material. Do all of the GRQs and mastering because they are great notes/study materials. Overall Dr. Claytor is an excellent professor and you can definitely succeed in his course!
Claytor deserves every 5.0 he gets. You can tell he is passionate about his students and work. There is a good bit of homework but it isn't hard, just time consuming. The HW makes the lectures easier to follow, and there is a lot of wiggle room if you happen to miss an assignment. We got a cheat sheet for our exams this semester, which was great.
Dr. Claytor is AMAZING!!! He is very knowledgeable about the class topics and cares about his students. He connected with the class and created a fun and comfortable learning environment. There is a decent amount of work outside of class, but it is beneficial for mastering the information. I would definitely recommend Dr. Claytor for BIOL 101!!!!
He is a first year professor and is not very confident in his teaching abilities. His powerpoints are very poorly structured and unengaging.
Dr. Claytor seems like a nice person, but honestly his homeworks were not very helpful in regards to the content covered on the exam. He also holds office hours, but with 400+ students, you are lucky if you have one question answered. He also did not answer many of my emails, although I understand this is a large course.
Very very good professor especially for his first year here. Writes hard quizzes and exams though. Very caring and willing to help. Fosters a very good environment
He's new. That was glaringly obvious. He tried to connect with us, but was often very condescending. His style of reading off slides and relying on learning catalytics was not a favorite, and everything I learned from this class I taught myself. YOU HAVE TO STUDY FOR EXAMS!! the three midterms and completion of the homework will determine success.
Honestly, he doesn't know how to teach. Take with another professor if you want to learn.
no way everybody is giving him 5s. he literally had a panic attack during his first lecture and would almost never face the students. simply reading off his boring white powerpoint turned the other way
There is no point in going to class because this person will just read off his slides. The bad news is that he takes attendance through the stupid Pearson website. His office hours were useless and I had to spend hours learning the material on my own. Claytor encourages peer teaching, but I'm convinced he says that because he doesn't know how.
I highly recommend that you take Dr. Claytor, as he was a great professor. His exams are heavily weighted, with the midterms being 25% of your grade each, but 1 out of the 3 midterms are dropped. The readings can take a while, but they aren't that bad and they do help you understand the material if you put in the work.
Be ready to teach yourself the material by reading the textbook because lectures are pointless. His homeworks are tedious too but I guess that's the only way you learn the content. Tests make up your entire grade and if you do bad on 2, you are pretty much screwed.
This is Jordan Claytor's first year teaching at UNC Chapel-Hill. He attended Elon University for his undergraduate degree and studied dinosaurs at the University of Washington. He may be a better fit to teach an upper-level course, because he made topics more difficult than it needed to be.
great guy, outstanding fits. feel like he wouldve be mean to me if we had gone to the same high school but i don't even blame him. yes you are expected to know content before lecture, but that's just the structure of the course. he goes at a very reasonable pace. exams are tough with 1-2 missed causing like 10 points off. to be expected in 101.
I had a nightmare taking the lecture with Jordan Claytor and the lab with Barbara Stegenga and her TA. Absolute worst combination possible at UNC because they make nothing clear, and you are expected to learn on your own. I wish I could at least go to one of them to ask questions, but they never answer emails and have minimal office hours.
Claytor was an amazing professor who genuinely cares about his class. He offers several opportunities to make up missed assignments. Several people have rough grades because exams make up 70% of the class but he dropped the lowest midterm. He's a great guy and you'll do fine if you study. He makes things clear and easy to comprehend.
Claytor is a new professor who clearly does not know how to teach an intro-level biology course. Tests make up most of your grade and the homeworks are clearly not the same difficulty as the exams. Do not take.
All I learned from this class is that you have to rely on your peers to pass BIOL 101. Whenever I had a question he would say "talk to your peers" and not give a definitive answer. This man is clearly new, does not know how to answer questions, and often gets uncomfortable when asked questions he doesn't know the answer to.
flipped class so know the material before. often asks you to interact w peers. in class participation marks your attendance. 3 midterms, one dropped. hella homework. funny guy tho and young. you get a full page front back cheat sheet for exams. not the best teacher and mainly read off slides but that's just because you should know material before.
This was one of the first bio classes I had ever taken other than Bio 1 in high school, so I pretty much had to learn everything from scratch. He does an okay job explaining, but the GRQs and mastering do the majority of teaching for you. It's important to know the concepts before class because he just talks more about them during his lectures.
All the ratings say that you have to teach yourself. I don't understand why people are giving him 4's and 5's when they are admitting that he just reads off his slides in lecture. Isn't the point of a professor to teach not to read?
Tests dominate your grade, leaving no room for error, with their inflated point values. GRQs and mastering, though mandatory, contribute next to nothing. Succeeding hinges solely on acing tests, as the professor's idea of teaching is essentially making you self-tutor. At least he's a stand-up comedian and decent cheerleader. Best of luck.
I felt like the lectures were great. Dr Claytor breaks down concepts and even relates them to current events which was nice. The exams make up 70% of the grade but one gets dropped and there are other grades that get dropped if needed. The workload is to be excepted for a UNC bio courses. An A felt impossible but a B was manageable. Studying is key
Is a flipped classroom so you definitely need to learn how to learn by yourself (although all of the information you need is in the textbooks and from GRQs). Claytor is a great professor, super concise! I recommend taking the course with them!
What's the point of taking bio with him, if he makes you learn the material by yourself? Lectures are useless but attendance is mandatory. GRQs take forever to complete but they contribute to nothing for your final grade. All he does is talk about how his students are capable of teaching themselves the material.
You will do good in the class if you do the GRQs (which aren't that difficult) and show up to the lectures. His lectures use cool, real-life examples with helpful diagrams/flowcharts and your lowest exam grade gets dropped. He also posts recordings on Canvas and drops 20% of missed LC points. Obviously he cares about his students' success.
Dr. Claytor is AMAZING. Interesting lectures, very easy to access via email, and I go to his office hours fairly regularly, and he's always prepared to answer questions or to just talk about anything.
Claytor was very easy to reach outside of class and tried to make the lectures fun. You get to drop your lowest test grade and have a front and back cheat sheet.
Genuinely a great professor. He was engaging and fun in lectures. The way the class was set up made it super manageable, even if the content was tricky at times. 14/10 would recommend.
Lots of reading outside of class and attendance is recommended because it contributes to your grade. Cheat sheets allowed on tests and he drops lowest grades. Very caring and easy going- would recommend! Just really study for the tests!
Boring and useless lectures, basically reading the powerpoint. A ton of readings on SimuText and reading quizzes. Quizzes and exams have very few questions, so no room for mistakes. Final grade is largely based on tests. A one-sided cheat sheet is allowed but useless as the exam questions are mostly application-based.
Do not take 104 with Claytor. Lectures are pointless and so boring, and he seems like he doesn't even want to be there. Doesn't accept late work, tests don't align with what we learned in class, and reading the book is pointless because it doesn't align with the curriculum/tests at all. All tests were the same day as chem, and they knew it.
Do NOT take this class with him!! He is a horrible professor who says grades don't define you, but then every little thing we do in class/out of class is graded for accuracy, even participation. He purposely will try to drag your grade down. He does not care about teaching and he does not want to even be there, so avoid him.
Dr. Claytor is a good professor, however this class is a bit difficult in general. 70% of your overall grade is exams (with one dropped) so if you aren't great with understanding in depth content and then applying it to test questions then you will most likely struggle. His tests are not the greatest, but it is manageable if you need a credit.
Dr. Claytor is a super chill guy. As long as you complete the pre-class assignments and study for the exams, passing this class isn't difficult. In-class participation is required and that's how attendance is taken (Learning Catalytics), so just make sure to show up prepared. He's a bit dry but can be funny when he tries, but personally I'm a fan!
DO NOT TAKE! You basically have to self-study, since all he does in lecture is read off the Powerpoint with no emotions. As boring as the lectures are, he makes you show up to class because he takes attendance. Not to mention that with BIOL 101, you have to take BIOL 101L which is a story for another day.
So much tedious homeworks from billion dollar education companies. Also his exam questions are awful and unclear. When you try to submit a regrade response he'll deny it even if his question is confusing and your logic makes sense. The material isn't difficult, the exam questions just make it harder than it needs to be.
GRQs are the worst, and take forever to complete. Essentially, how his class is structured is that unless you do your GRQs, you aren't going to learn anything from the class because all he does during lecture is go over the GRQ content. He is also not the best at communication, and is almost impossible to reach out outside of lecture.
He was nice but I did not like how he lectured. There is a lot of self studying because the lectures assume that you know what things mean. The tests weren't that hard if you study based off of the learning objectives. He is dry and not really exciting. Attendance and participation grade was based off of learning catalytics.
I loved this class. Not the easiest but definitely not the hardest and I love Dr. Claytor.
Overall, Dr. Claytor was a good guy and actually cared a lot about his teachings. The problem with this class was the lack of material outside of lectures. Few topics were covered during lecture, making it very boring. The assigned textbook readings were a huge waste of time because we were only tested on 20% of the material from the textbook.
One of the most boring biology classes at UNC. Be prepared to self-study because the lectures are absolutely worthless. To add to this, I was never able to reach out to him outside of class. I had to get help from a senior who already took the class to barely pass in Claytor's class.
No completion grades. No extra credit or curves. Exams are weirdly hard to do well on. The more I studied the worse I did. The final exam's graded questions aren't released. He does not care and reads off the slides word for word. Sounds bored; only offers one office hour a week. This semester many people said they did better in chem than this.
BIOL104 is not a challenging class. 3 exams, one is dropped, and a final exam, a few quizzes a week from readings, a project split into 3 parts spaced in the semester, and attendance is an important part of the class. The only downside is that lectures can be quite boring and mundane, but overall pretty easy class with clear guidelines.
Love Dr. Claytor. 104 is not a difficult class by any means and his exams are fair (one-sided cheat sheet). Additionally, he gave us an extra credit opportunity for learning catalytic when 20% of them were already dropped. I enjoyed the course content but the simutext has got to go.
I like Professor Claytor, I didnt really get to know him at all, but this was the only bio class I have taken that hasnt made me want to switch my major (Im switching my major).
Dr. Claytor was a very caring professor and always provided resources for his students. I'm not a BIO major so I didn't enjoy the content, but he did his best to make class engaging. The tests are really hard, though, so it's important to do all homework and Poll EVs to get as much credit as possible outside of tests.
We had a lot of textbook reading that barely related to what we learned in class. But Dr. Claytor was really nice and seemed to really enjoy teaching us, which made class more interesting.
One of the hardest classes I've ever taken at UNC. The exams are nothing like the content we cover in class so I'm not sure how I was supposed to prepare for them. He gives no partial credits and grades very harshly. When I went to his office hours, he just talks about how students need to relax and that grades do not define you.
One of the worst lecturers at UNC. He tries to be funny but his jokes are often cringe. During the entire lecture, he basically has his back towards the audience and reads from the big projector, which is only helpful to the people in the back who can't see. But for the others in class, it's basically a waste of time since those notes are posted.
LOTS of reading that turned out to be not very helpful (better off just skimming and reading the chapter summary). His lectures are fine--the content is not super interesting itself, but he tries his best to make it enjoyable. Cheat sheets are allowed on the tests, so it's not too hard to do well on them. In class questions are counted for accuracy
104 is easy; dont underestimate it. Youll get an A if you read & go to class. Sometimes readings are extra so skim. Def take it with Claytor; the other prof is harder. Doing just hw & projects, you'll get at least a B. Premeds take this class seriously! Claytor's lectures are boring sometimes, but he's really cool 1:1 so set up a meeting fs.
I absolutely loved BIO104 with professor Claytor. He's an all around really nice guy and really cares about his students. The grading criteria is very clear and all of the homework answers come from the readings. There is a project that is done in parts throughout the semester, but it isn't challenging and I actually found it enjoyable.
I love Dr. Claytor! He is one of the professors that I feel as though I had the opportunity to connect with outside of the classroom. BIOL101 at UNC in general is tough just due to the nature of it being one of the 1st you take, but Dr. Claytor made it fun. Take notes, do homework, form study groups and you'll be set. Go to office hours frequently.
His 1st year here & he slayed it. If you take time to understand the material the class is good. Many readings/GRQs outside class (common for any bio course @ UNC) but easy A's; DO them. He makes silly jokes in lectures which is nice. He/TAs are easy to reach & provide many resources to help if you are struggling. Tests are 70% of the grade; STUDY.
Dr. Claytor is awesome! BIOL 104 is a pretty structured, big lecture style class, but he does his best to make the material interesting. He's super funny and passionate about ecology, and we do cool case studies in class. He's really clear about assignments, and the exams aren't necessarily easy, but the class is super manageable.
Dr. Claytor himself is a decent lecturer. However, the way he structured his course could use a lot of work. The textbook readings/reading quizzes were due BEFORE he gave his lecture on the topic, and most were not even on his exams or discussed during lectures. I recommend using his powerpoint slides to study for midterms/final.
In this class you are going to have to teach yourself everything because the quizzes based on readings are due before lectures. Yet, you still have to go to lectures for attendance. This along with the lab is arguably one of the worst intro classes at UNC.
Reading through his reviews and I feel as if everyones being a bit harsh. Does he give a lot of HW? Yes. Are tests a cakewalk? No. But its a bio course, its not going to be insanely easy. Going to class and actually doing the readings brought my exam scores from a D in the 1st to an A in the 2nd. Claytor is a fantastic guy, highly recommend
I feel like people are being harsh because it's a Bio course, but then again, it's a biology course; it's not meant to be easy. He does good during office hours and is easily available. The homework is reading heavy, but the textbook is helpful. I got a 50% on my first exam. Got a 88% on the second with his help. I'm a freshman and I love him!
Don't take Dr. Claytor, he makes the course and exams very difficult and there are MANY exams/tests. You have to learn basically everything on your own, his "practice exams" are nothing like the actual exam, so you fool yourself by thinking you're ready, then bomb the exam. Every practice he posts he doesn't check and the content is very outdated.
This class isn't too bad, there is a good amount of work before and after class but it's pretty easily managable. The exams are pretty difficult, but one gets dropped and there is a bunch of resources to help get you ready. In general, Dr. Claytor is really caring about his students and he's very engaging.
For me it is difficult to do very well in this class, but I don't think this is due to Claytor's teaching. He is very accessible and provides many resources for the students and wants them to succeed. He's outfits slay and if you're lucky he will run around the class singing HOT to go. Not the biggest BIO 101 fan but I would take Slaytor again.
Dr. Claytor's lectures are always fun and engaging. BIOL 101 does a good job of balancing content between homework (textbook reading) and lecture. There is about 2 hours of homework per week. Participation and completion grades make up a decent portion of your course grade; only quizzes (at home), exams (easy if studied for), and masterings graded.
As long as you understand the answers to the TA review session slides and the practice exams, ur set for an A on the exams. It isn't hard, just show up because everything you need to know is said in the lectures and he breaks it down pretty easily; reading takes long but most of the info in readings is used for a quiz you take when ur done reading.
Do not take this class if you have the choice. He is a good person, but his lecture style is weird and you have to learn everything on your own. There is also limited resources for studying for exams which are also much harder compared to the content covered in class. GRQs take way too long and don't help either.
Professor Claytor is a great professor, this is just a hard class. The GRQs tend to take a while and then you have mastering on top of it and the exams are extremely difficult for no reason. It's a weed out class, so get the credit before if your grade really matters unless you're willing to spend your life in the library before any test/exam.
He is honestly great and the tests were not too hard. I didn't put enough time into this class because I was focused on other classes but could of gotten an A if I had worked just a little harder.
If you do the homework and read the textbook on your own, it is easy to excel in the course. However, this course is extremely test reliant and the lectures alone are not really enough to understand the material so it is crucial to put in maximum effort on the homework.
Biology is in itself a very difficult course, especially for freshmen. However, Dr. Claytor did a great job at making the class friendly. His lectures are sometimes boring, and your grade is very test-reliant. Be prepared to struggle on exams, but that isn't directly his fault. Dr. Claytor is a great professor and is passionate about his subject.
its obvious he cares about the subject and his students.
Dr. Claytor was great, but nothing special. Honestly, the class could be completely learnt on your own, he was less of an instructor and more of a facilitator - but I guess that is just how a lot of the STEM classes at UNC are. The exams make up most of your grade, but are quite similar in difficulty to the practice exams, assignments and quizzes.
Dr. Claytor explained things well for what the class was, the worst unit was the phylogeny unit but honestly that wasn't his fault it is genuinely just a confusing unit. Class grade is majority midterms and the midterms contain A LOT of stuff from lecture so you really have to show up to class.
This class was very boring, but ecology isn't really my thing. Just study lectures, practice exams, and peer mentor review slides and you'll do fine.
The syllabus is very clear. Do your GRQs, go to lecture, and do practice exams and you'll be fine. This course is really easy but for some reason I got worst exam grades than my other chem/bio tests. Almost didn't get an A, but I think I underestimated the class, the exams were kinda tricky.
i love prof. claytor (hes so bonita). even though bio 101 is a huge class he's super chill. tests are very heavily weighed though, which was a pain. lectures got boring sometimes because the class is structured to where we teach ourselves the concepts before going to class by reading through the textbook.
Dr. Claytor is honestly a great professor and cares for his students. He drops your lowest exam score which was nice. I recommend coming to class, doing GRQs and Masterings, and the quizzes. Take advantage of his office hours because that was very helpful. This course is exam heavy which sucks, but is expected. Y'all please take him he's funny.
Dr. Claytor is so kind and wants you to succeed. Although the content may seem straight forward, don't underestimate it and study for the tests. There are online textbook readings with online quizzes twice a week, but they are fine if you do the readings. Lowest exam is dropped and so are lowest 2 reading quizzes.
I took this class as a non-bio major expecting to not like it and struggle, but I actually really enjoyed it. The exams were definitely stressful, but him dropping the lowest one provided some flexibility. Dr. Claytor is an awesome lecturer. I wish I had a reason to take another class with him!!
This was my first STEM class at UNC and having Dr. Claytor as my professor has raised the bar high! Absolutely loved him as a professor and he brought great energy every lecture; he kept the classes engaging and all material was interesting. As expected though, this class is very exam heavy, so be ready to study consistently to get a good grade
I LOVE Dr. Claytor, he is such an amazing person and his lectures cover the material comprehensively. Homework consists of guided reading which is due before the lectures, but shouldn't take longer than 1h. There are also take-home quizzes and in-class tests which are difficult but as long as you do the GRQs (pay attention to them) you'll do great!
Professor Claytor was an amazing professor. He is an inclusive and encouraging professor, and he never failed to keep me engaged. His tests are a bit harder due to them being application-based, but the course overall wasn't too bad. There aren't many busy-work assignments, and everything was informational. I'd definitely recommend Claytor!
Prof. Claytor did a great job of engaging the class despite it being a very large lecture (more than 300 people). He was very funny and his fits were always fire. Tests were fine, but sometimes had confusing wording. The lowest midterm is dropped, and there is no curve. Participation is required, but a certain amount are dropped.
BIOL 101 is tough in general. There's a decent amount of homework (GRQs and Mastering) assignments outside of class that are hit or miss on how long they take. The class is very exam heavy and questions can be tricky so take advantage of your resources and STUDY! I found Claytor himself caring and entertaining; I'd definitely choose him again!
Dr. Claytor is incredibly kind and a great professor. I wish I had listened to his advice at the beginning of the semester to be consistently studying for the final exam throughout the course. He was a pretty perfect teacher.
He is awesome! While Bio 101 is difficult, Dr. Claytor provides a ton of resources to help succeed and is very accessible outside of class. Tests make up a large part of your grade but are not too hard if you pay attention in class and study the material. Take Claytor!
Bio 101 is very content heavy so it's pretty difficult no matter what. There is weekly homework in the form of guided reading questions that are hit or miss on how long they take. Tests are heavily weighted so you HAVE to study. Claytor provides students with lots of resources and I found him to be kind and entertaining. I would choose him again!
Dr. Claytor is really good at explaining hard material. He is also super fun and is accessible outside of class. However, this class is hard! Test are super hard and are meant to trick you. Claytor is a really good lecturer but the class is hard.
Super fun and conversational, wears fun costumes, exams were harder than rest of material
I really enjoyed this class! BIOL 101 is definitely difficult but Dr. Claytor does a really good job at providing adequete review and going over questions. The class itself is going to be difficult because it is a weeder but he does a good job.
Dr. Claytor is funny and a good lecturer. His exams aren't too bad in my opinion if you study the learning objectives.
Dr. Claytor is a little dry and kind of just speaks off the slides. However, I do think he is a pretty good lecturer and definitely knows what he is talking about. For the class, you do GRQs before almost every single class, a few quizzes, and then 3 exams and a final. The exams are fairly difficult, but nowhere near as difficult as Chem 101.
Claytor is an interesting lecturer and a really cool guy. The lectures apply concepts you are expected to have a basic understanding of from the reading before class. I would strongly recommend actually doing the readings. The material is not difficult but the tests are worded in ways that feel like they're made to trick you, so be careful.
Great teacher, kind of reads off slides but def makes lectures as interesting as possible for bio 101.
It's clear that Claytor is super knowledgeable about subject matter and he breaks down content in ways that make it much more understandable. Homework and quizzes are straightforward but you need a really good understanding to do good on exams, especially because exams are weighted really heavily.
I LOVED professor Claytor. I loved his lectures and teaching style. He makes sure to keep you engaged. If you pay attention in the lectures and pay attention to the readings/the GRQ's, you are set. Claytor is also super nice and funny. TAKE BIO 101 WITH HIM
I hated biology before taking Bio 101 with Dr. Claytor. He is very passionate, and even though there was a lot of work, he made me start to love biology. He gave a lot of opportunities to get help outside of class and just really wants his students to do well! Definitely take his class!!
Dr. Claytor is an AMAZING professor. He makes the lectures engaging and there is a lot of partner activities. The content can be tough, but as long as you complete the GRQ's, mastering, and go through the learning objectives it shouldn't be too bad! I highly recommend taking this class with him!!
I loved 101 with Dr. Claytor, and he is very engaging in class, and encourages participation. The class content is definitely hard, so it's important to get help with the tricky content (there are so many resources for this class!! use them!).
He is such a kind and funny professor although his exams could be considered challenging. I felt like there was trick questions often but he was a very good lecturer and always kept them interesting. Homework is very helpful, especially the GRQs, and I also found the textbook very helpful!
Dr. Claytor is an amazing lecturer! He's a super cool and funny guy, and you can tell he cares for his students. The tests are somewhat challenging, but if you participate and focus on the Learning Objectives, then it's not too bad.
Dr. Claytor has a really calm air about him. He's not stressed out about bio, so you're not stressed out about bio. His midterms are very reflective of the lectures and readings. Sometimes he even straight up tells you what some of the questions will be. Great prof.
Goated BIOL professor, his lectures were never too difficult and I thought his exams were pretty fair. As long as you do all the required homework and readings, you'll be fine. GRQs were sometimes annoying but the homework overall wasn't too demanding. Claytor has a super chill vibe which gives the class a very comfortable environment!
Dr. Claytor was amazing, I would definitely recommend him for any intro course. The class itself was fairly difficult, and just know if you want an A it takes a good bit of work. Go into this course knowing that they will try to "trick" you on tests, and lean into it by working hard to figure out how to see through the deception. You've got this!
Super nice, chill guy and very good lecturer. You can really tell he cares about his students and wants us to do well. As long as you pay attention to the readings and lectures you will do fine. Only complaint is that GRQs were time-consuming and a few times felt like a waste of time, but all bio 101 sections have to deal with that.
Class is easy if you're intentional about doing the readings when you're supposed to. If you read, GRQs are not only easy, but helpful in making studying for tests super easy. (Started studying the day before midterms and did well, but ONLY BECAUSE I LEARNED OVER THE COURSE OF THE SEMESTER). Claytor is super sweet, and lectures are lighthearted.
Just paying attention and taking notes during lectures and on the homework was enough for me to do good. I feel like some test questions were a bit tricky so make sure to read questions twice.
All my homies love Dr Claytor. BIOL 101 is not an easy class, but Prof Claytor is a great professor, and he tries to be understanding of students with the course content, assignments, and grading. Would DEFINITELY recommend for a good bio professor.
Super chill and nice professor! He actually wants to interact with students! Simply do the readings, ask questions, do the work and you should get a good grade.
course is entertaining but the lectures are almost useless and everything relies on self-study. Each question is 3 points out of 20, and one mistake means losing all 3—dropping to a B. It counts heavily toward the grade. Covering 150 pages in three weeks all on our own makes the setup unreasonable, with a grading system that feels truly unfair.
Tons of Homework, GRQ and lecture that do nothing with the exam. YOU WILL BE COOKED SO BAD BY ATTENDING THIS COURSE. Impossible to get A since do one question wrong will dropped to B immediately. SAVE YOUR GPA
I LOVE Claytor. He was such a good Professor. Bio 101 is pretty easy in itself, but Claytor made it fun. He's funny, keeps you engaged, and teaches the content well. He really cares about his students! Anyone I know who has had him has loved him.
Have quiz each week and homework everyday for up to 2 hours! I just got depression from taking this class. He never teach in lecture. This class is 101 and shouldn't be that hard. IS FOR PEOPLE WHO JUST START THEIR BIOLOGY JOURNEY BUT NOT A PHD STUDENT! The quiz is extremely hard and the exam calculate for 70% percent of your grade.
Never take this professor's class, When you doing the GRQ and Master quiz at 2:00 AM, and its only calculate for 10percent of your grade, you will know what I said.
Dr. Claytor is phenomenal. He is a young professor which makes him able to relate to students a lot more. His lectures are engaging, but I have noticed in both BIOL101 and 104 that his tests are so tricky. Even when you really know material the wording/answer choices can seriously trip you up. Wish he would make his exams more clarifying.
I loved his sense of humor and the energy that he brought to every lecture. His slides and teaching was engaging and he was always welcome to meeting after class or helping in any way that he could. I had a difficult time in my life at the time of taking this class, otherwise I would've likely gotten a high A, but even through it, he was very kind.
Good professor, pretty engaging. Young and personable, makes jokes, and has lots of tools to help you succeed. Drops one exam grade. Material isn't that challenging if you follow along in class and do the reading questions outside of class.
Dr. Claytor is a great professor. He is very hilarious and his lectures are EASY to pay attention to. I would highly recommend him, but the tests are much harder compared to the hw in class. Definitely go to BioCell or office hours to get extra help. Make sure to look out for Trixxy on his slides.
Very good professor. Lectures everyday and homework due before class. I do not think he does a great job at preparing you for the exams, he will only give typical test questions every once in awhile in lecture. He will also talk about things in class that are not on the lecture outlines. Bio is hard but he is very nice and explains concepts well.
I really enjoyed Dr. Claytor's teaching style and his ability to keep the class engaged. It was a massive lecture hall but I still felt like I was participating in the class through the active learning breaks he adds into his lectures. I would highly recommend trying to take a class with him at some point during your time at UNC.
He's a great guy, and gives great lectures. The tests feel kind of unfair at times, but that's to be expected in Biology classes.
Overall great lectures, If you pay attention and do the homework you should be able to do pretty good. Test content is gone over in class, no curves though. A little homework heavy, quizzes are online on your own. Drops 2 lowest quiz and HW grades and your lowest exam grade. Probably the best Bio 101 teacher though.
super sweet but god did those tests make me question my sanity.
Prof Claytor is one of the best in the bio department at UNC. His lectures are clear and concise. Exams are difficult but nothing ridiculous if you studied and do the practice exams. GRQs can be long and take a lot of time but do really help you understand content. Would recommend that people jump at the opportunity to take a class with Claytor.
Good professor, questions can be tricky, definitely conceptual
Most of the material in this course is learned through the textbook readings and homework. The lectures are mostly review of the homework. I felt very prepared for exams after doing the homework because half of the homework is multiple choice questions that served as exam practice. The exams were decently short, usually less than a class period.
Absolutely ELITE Bio 101 teacher. If you have the chance to take him I would highly recommend. Yes the material and work load can be hard, but thats just Bio 101 at UNC. Dr. Claytor makes this as seamless and easy as it can be.
Although Claytor is nice as a person, this can be easily overlooked when the exams are worth so so so much of your grade. From someone who is OOS and always had an A in high school bio/chem this is super difficult esp if you have other hard classes. The tests are there to stump you and really are tricky even if you know material.
This class was not very difficult if you put in the right amount of time to study. There are three exams and the lowest one gets dropped. There are GRQ's and Mastering assignments that are fairly easy, they just take a bit of time. His lectures are helpful and he does Learning Objectives in class which is what he also uses to take attendance.
This was my first stem class in college and although it was a lot of work, I never felt overwhelmed and he only tested us on the material and the exams weren't too hard. There are 3 and the lowest one gets dropped but they are worth a lot of your grade but as long as you put in work outside of class you'll do fine
A nice professor and accessible outside of class. You need to apply yourself to succeed, so attend lectures and ask for help when needed. STEM classes don't really require an extraordinary professor, and it's more about what you put in to do well.
Love Professor Claytor, lectures aren't boring and are very helpful. Midterms are tricky sometimes, but one is dropped. The first midterm is supposed to be the hardest, so make sure to really study for that one. Other than that he's the best possible bio professor you could have!
He was a good prof but the exam questions were designed to trip you up and some of the questions were very poorly worded. The exams make up 70% of your grade so you're out of luck if you get lower grades on two of them. The written responses were easily misinterpreted and worth a lot of points, so I would say to make sure you read carefully!
He makes the lectures very fun by making it interactive and responding well to his students. He is extremely caring and accessible outside of class. Amazing teacher overall.
As long as you attend class, actually do homework instead of using AI, and study hard for tests, then you will do well in the class. Dr. Claytor is very caring and understanding and wants you to succeed in this class.
The content of this course is not difficult. However, the exams are weirdly worded and confusing. He definitely does this on purpose to confuse you. He is a nice guy, though, but if you don't do well on the exams, you're cooked.
Content is easy, but midterms feel much trickier so don't underestimate them. Often take questions in class and somehow make them weirder? Tests are weighted 77% so big part of the grade. Really cool person, often gives Trixie stickers and wears costumes. Final felt easier than the midterms.
Claytor is a really cool guy and a good lecturer. In terms of BIOL101, he's probably the easiest professor. That being said there is A LOT of homework. Attendance is technically mandatory but it's only 6% of the grade so it doesn't matter much if you miss a few lectures. Tests can be confusing and are weighted pretty heavily.
Professor Claytor was great, exams are very difficult with trick questions so make sure you know how to study. There is lots of homework but in the long run if you do all the homework it will boost your grade in the end and it will help your studying.
Dr. Claytor is a super kind and funny professor. Tests are pretty tricky but he does drop a midterm. GRQs are SUPER time consuming and a lot of the stuff that you read isn't even covered on tests. Tests also have material that we talk about in class but isn't included on the slides so I had to rewatch the lectures to study for midterms.
Claytor is an engaging instructor, and his lectures are pretty clear. Either him or the peer instructors have office hours multiple times a week, so it's always possible to get help. As long as you listen to his studying tips and focus on the learning objectives, it's easy to obtain an A.
very understanding and entertaining! he doesnt take himself or the class too seriously and he finds ways to make the content more engaging. GRQs lowk take forever and for the most part all of the test content is from lecture, so hw can be time consuming but never hard. midterms had some specific questions that were kinda hard but final felt easier
Professor Claytor is great, teaches things in a way that is understandable and fun, and truly cares about students. BIO 101 is just a very difficult weed out class. Tests are weighted super heavy. Claytor made it enjoyable, but it is a lot of work and difficult to get an A.
This professor is AMAZING! I loved his class the most, and he actually made biology fun. The tests can be hard, but manageable. If you're struggling, def go to office hours as he is extremely helpful one on one. Overall, amazing professor and person!
Lectured all class; all slides and class videos up on canvas. He drops 1/3 midterms, 1 quiz, and 2 GRQs/ masterys. Grades are fair, and you'll do well if you're actively studying and not just cramming before exams.
Made exams tricky, grqs are not helpful and take time
Good and chill professor, lecture content is pretty easy but the tests are lowkey ridiculous, questions are unnecessarily tricky and I still don't understand the logic behind his answers a whole semester in.
An engaging professor with good lectures. A lot of homework, though. The lowest midterm is droped and the final is pretty easy comparatively. Would recommend.
Exams were unnecessarily tricky, and the hard questions were all weighted more. GRQs are long and a waste of time- not helpful for lecture. He is a nice guy, but not a fan of the way he writes tests. Still a pretty easy class- lots of common sense.
I absolutely loved Dr. Claytor. He is such a wonderful professor and I learned so much in his class. His lectures are very well structured and easy to learn from, especially doing the GRQs before hand. Exams are very reasonable and follow exactly what has been covered. I can not recommend Dr. Claytor more!
There are 3 test, and the final. With the lowest test grade dropped! You read the chapter, do your GRQ, and mastering homework before the lecture. He records lectures and post presentations! For a biology class I did not feel like there was a lot of work, just make sure to study for exams!
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