4.3

Larry Symons

Psychology - Western Washington University

4.3
Quality
2.7
Difficulty
83%
Would Retake
146
Reviews
4.3
Quality
2.7
Difficulty
4.3
Helpful
4.3
Clarity

83%

Would Retake

146

Reviews

Rating Distribution
Official
146 total ratings

5

86

4

42

3

12

2

5

1

1

What Students Say

Lectures can be boring but he tries to be funny

PSY101 - 4.0 rating

I recommend taking PSY 101 with Czopp instead

101 - 3.0 rating
Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

5%

Textbook Required

43%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

B+

95% confidence
Based on 47 grades
Most common grades:
B (12)
A (11)
A- (9)
Grade Distribution
A(12)B(15)C(5)D(0)F(0)A-/B+(15)
Based on 48 reported grades
B: 12
A: 11
A-: 9
B+: 6
Common Tags
Lecture heavy (15)
Test heavy (11)
Get ready to read (10)
Clear grading criteria (8)
Respected (7)
Graded by few things (7)
Caring (6)
Accessible outside class (6)
Rating Trend

Declining

-0.28 avg change
Nov
Dec
Mar
Oct
Nov
Dec
Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

303

5.0

(1)

PSYCHO101

5.0

(1)

PSYCHOLOGY101

5.0

(3)

PSYCHOLOGY410

5.0

(1)

PYSCH101

5.0

(1)
+12 more courses
Difficulty by Course

PSYCH410

3.7

310

3.5

PSY310

3.4

303

3.0

PYSCH101

3.0

Reviews (145)
4.0
2.0
PSY101
Nov 6, 2003

He is very clear what is going to be on the tests and his teaching style is very straightforward.

5.0
3.0
PSYCH101
Dec 2, 2003

No Comments

5.0
2.0
PSYCH101
Dec 3, 2003

Symons is such a cool guy. He got really into the lectures and uses cool powerpoints to help. His tests are a little difficult, but he tells you exactly what is going to be on them.

5.0
3.0
PSYCH101
Dec 4, 2003

great teacher..

5.0
2.0
PSYCHO101
Dec 4, 2003

Great guy all around. Even in a class of over 300 he trys his best to keep us interested and entertained. Dr. Symons it great!

5.0
2.0
PSYCH101
May 1, 2004

Crazy, cool guy. I loved Psych and I had to study very little becuase everything just settled in from lecture. Very cool info and presentation. Funny.

5.0
1.0
PSY101
May 21, 2004

Best psychology 101 teacher. Go to class everyday & take notes, you don't have to buy the book, I didn't open it once & still got an A out of the class. He's a great teacher & keeps a HUGE class interested.

5.0
3.0
PSY101
Jun 2, 2004

He's absolutely fantastic. And hilariously funny. And a very in-depth lecturer. (Make sure to go to class - you may not need to take the notes, but you don't want to miss the wacky things he says.)

5.0
3.0
PSYCH101
Aug 6, 2004

He was hiLARious, and I enjoyed the class a lot more than I thought I actually would. Also helpful was that he would have late night study sessions the night before the test, and that's always helpful for any last minute cramming.

4.0
3.0
PSYCH101
Sep 14, 2004

He's the best.

4.0
3.0
PSYCH101
Sep 15, 2004

hes good, but challenging. hes the one that made me interested in a psych major

4.0
3.0
PSYCH101
Nov 29, 2004

I LOVED his sense of humor. Definately a cool guy. Boring class though, but thats not his fault.

4.0
3.0
PSY101
Nov 30, 2004

Fun class, super interesting examples, he makes it easy to listen to lectures although they do tend to be a bit long. Fascinating stuff.

5.0
2.0
PSYCH101
Dec 2, 2004

i loved this class - he is interesting and has a great sense of humor, though i got the impression that many people didn't get his jokes. be sure to pay attention to the section on childhood development; he says great things about babies being stupid.

4.0
2.0
PSYCH101
Grade: A+
Dec 30, 2004

cool guy

4.0
2.0
PSY101
Feb 7, 2005

I think that Pyschology is very interesting, and Symons does a good job teaching it! :)

4.0
2.0
PSYCH101
Grade: A-
Feb 19, 2005

Actually makes lectures interesting, he's awesome.

5.0
2.0
PSYCH101
Feb 27, 2005

Symons rocked and so did this class. I learned tons and have become really interested in psychology. A great intro class.

4.0
2.0
PSY101
Feb 28, 2005

He is a great prof and makes his lectures interesting. He is funny and his tests are fairly straight forward. The only thing is that his wording is kind of funny for tests but all in all it was a pretty easy class. You don't really have to read anything out of the book either.

3.0
3.0
PSYCH101
Mar 1, 2005

Could have been worse. does pre-exam study sessions 1-3 days prior. Like others have said, his wording's weird. tests are example based, he'll give you a real like situation and have you evaluate it through mult. choice Q's. this works for some but maybe not for others. still do recommend.

5.0
1.0
PSYCH101
Mar 3, 2005

Dr. Symons is by far the BEST instructor in that I have ever had! He is so funny and his class is the bomb! I didn't really study and I have an A. I've never done any reading out of the book. Even though you don't have to go to class to get an A, I haven't missed 1 class cuz he's that interesting

5.0
2.0
PSYCHOLOGY101
Mar 3, 2005

Symons rocks! He explains everything really clearly and makes it so us students can understand and relate it to the world we live in. He is probably one of the best professors I've had all year, I loved his class.

5.0
2.0
PSYCH101
Mar 4, 2005

Good prof, just read and you'll be fine.

5.0
2.0
PSYC101
Mar 7, 2005

Very good instructor. Make things very clear. Is you stay somewhat awake in class you will pass with absolutly no trouble... but if you have trouble... he is more than happy to help.

5.0
2.0
PSY101
Mar 8, 2005

No Comments

5.0
3.0
PSYCH101
Mar 8, 2005

He was really cool. He had really good lectures and the tests were right off of the lecture notes. If you go to class and listen, this class is hella easy.

5.0
3.0
PSY101
Grade: A
Mar 9, 2005

Larry is a great guy, i didn't really talk to him personally just because his lectures made so much sense. I even found my self laughing quite a bit. If you're taking Psy 101, I STRONGLY suggest larry. 4 tests a quarter and not every week like other teachers.

4.0
3.0
101
Mar 10, 2005

Really funny and nice guy. Tests are pretty fair and he gives you a study guide. Most the stuff is in the book if you miss class. He is entertaining though. Would take again.

5.0
1.0
PSY101
Mar 15, 2005

Symons was a great teacher. He's a really nice guy and his class is easy. The tests are a bit tricky, but just study his notes, and you'll be fine. All of his tests are based on his notes. Don't need to buy the book, unless told to by him.

5.0
2.0
PSYCH101
Mar 17, 2005

Good lecturer, the tests were worded a little weird though. Overall, he made the class very interesting. GO to the lectures and study sessions if you want to pass!

5.0
3.0
PSY101
Mar 17, 2005

Dr. Symons was the clearest, most interesting teacher i've had so far at western. he always went in depth on the topics, and his class was never boring. what a good guy.

5.0
1.0
PSY101
Apr 17, 2005

One of the best lecturers that I have run across in college. I definitely recommend Dr. Symons' classes. He great with a class of 300 people and individually he is personable and helpful.

5.0
3.0
PSY310
Apr 20, 2005

Greatest professor in the psychology department! Period. He's EXTREMELY nice and helpful. Not to mention HILARIOUS! He's very well organized and tells you what to expect for the class. He's absolutely perfect. Dr. Symons is the best out of any prof in the psych department, without a doubt.

5.0
3.0
PSYCH101
May 12, 2005

Very good teacher. Clearly outlines his lectures with powerpoint presentations, and is apretty funny guy. Definitely one of the teachers you should take a class from.

5.0
3.0
PSY101
May 23, 2005

I had in interest in PSY 101 as anything more than a GUR but Symons is such a great teacher I'm considering taking more! He is very very helpful with students questions and manages a 300+ student class very well. Hilarious and awesome!

5.0
3.0
PSY101
Jun 1, 2005

This prof was amazing! He is so funny and interesting! I enjoyed every one of his classes and I really want to take more from him. He tests right out of his lectures, which makes his tests really fair but still challenging enough to make the class interesting.

5.0
2.0
PSYCH101
Jun 4, 2005

This class was awesome. The lectures were amazing and funny, the tests were fair, and all of the notes are online. It was easy and enjoyable. Plus, the prof sounds exactly like Ross Gellar from Friends when you close your eyes and listen to him.

5.0
2.0
PSY101
Jul 25, 2005

I was only a bit interested in Pyschology when I first took this course and this professor made me even more interested in Psychology. He's very funny and his powerpoint presentations are very clear. He likes to sum up the reading in the book, but I read the book a lot anyways. Not a hard teacher, but make sure you're doing your half of the work.

5.0
2.0
PSYCHOLOGY101
Grade: A
Aug 1, 2005

Symons was very good. He was interesting and very organized. Lectures were easy to follow and tests were written well. You have to study, but he gives you a study guide and test q's are right off guide.

1.0
5.0
PSYC101
Grade: B
Aug 30, 2005

20 page study guides for every test......need to know very specific details.....had a 69.7 and gave me a d+----didnt like this professor

5.0
3.0
303
Aug 31, 2005

Great class! Very easy to understand, very interesting, and I learned A LOT! I am totally prepared for the Psychology field after taking his class. He made Stats a breeze. Super nice and funny too. Definitely approchable.

5.0
1.0
PSY101
Sep 1, 2005

No Comments

5.0
2.0
PSYCHOLOGY410
Sep 11, 2005

Awesome professor. Dr. Symons is so easy to talk with and his assignments are laid out well in an easy to understand king of way. I really enjoyed taking his class!

5.0
3.0
PSY101
Sep 19, 2005

this guy is great

5.0
2.0
PSYCHOLOGY101
Oct 3, 2005

funny guy. i'm liking the class

5.0
2.0
PSY101
Oct 11, 2005

His teaching is very clear and concise. And he is really funny.

5.0
3.0
PSYCH101
Oct 11, 2005

No Comments

5.0
3.0
PYSCH101
Oct 18, 2005

This is my favorite class. By far the most engaging professor. His class is the only class I don't dread going to. Very clear, makes everything very understandable and he's funny. He cares a lot about his students and is always there to help.

5.0
3.0
PSYCH310400
Grade: A
Nov 3, 2005

It's been an honor taking classes and doing independent research with Dr. Symons. A great guy- funny, intelligent, and outrageously nice. He brings a more humanistic approach towards teaching psychology. His passion for teaching and helping students is incredible. One of the best professors I've EVER had. Thank you Dr. Symons :)

2.0
4.0
310
Nov 15, 2005

BORING!!!!!!!! I COULDN'T STAND THIS CLASS!!!!!

5.0
2.0
PSY101
Nov 20, 2005

Loved this class! Dr. Symons is really interesting, and he has a large collection of video clips to enhance his lectures. He's funny, too, which makes the class not seem as long as it really is.

5.0
3.0
PSYCH101
Grade: A
Nov 20, 2005

Very interesting class. He was a little disorginized with time, and thus had to keep cutting material, but that wasn't so bad. All the information was interesting and clearly lectured, with a sense of humour. He is also very good at answering questions.

5.0
2.0
PSYCH101
Nov 29, 2005

Awesome class, he puts all the notes online and provides study sessions the night before the test. Class is interesting, he shows a lot of movies and pictures in his lecture. Really helpful teacher for how big the class is

4.0
1.0
PSYCH101
Nov 29, 2005

i thought this class was so much fun. the symons is a great teacher and made me want to major in psych. take this class from him!!! the tests are soo easy as long as you go to class and listen, you probably don't have to read even. just listen and take notes. it's that simple.

4.0
2.0
PSYCH101
Nov 30, 2005

Class is very interesting, has fairly interesting lectures. He has a sense of humor and shows a lot of videos and pictures to keep things interesting. Tests are easy as long as you go to class and listen. Tests are all multiple choice and are not cumulative.

5.0
2.0
PSY101
Grade: A
Dec 8, 2005

Very amusing, but still on topic.

2.0
5.0
PSYCH101
Dec 9, 2005

Symons is tight, he is funny and all, teaches straight from powerpoints though. Tests are written for like a 300 level class, def not 101. All multiple choice selective **** and each one has at least 2 possible answers, only take it if u have a background in psych or are VERY intererested. This class is a pain in the ass and a waste of time

5.0
3.0
PSYCH101
Dec 19, 2005

First I had Prim for about 2 weeks, but he is the WORST. So I switched to Symons. Can I just say that he is AWESOME? He's hilarious, and he actually cares how you do if you make the effort to go to his office hours. It's easy to get bored in a 400 ppl class, but he is soooo great that I don't think I ever slept in his class. He's the best 101 prof!

5.0
1.0
PSYC101
Feb 21, 2006

Best professor ever. If you can take a class from him do.

5.0
2.0
PSY101
Feb 23, 2006

This guy is awesome. Knows his stuff, and his lectures are very well designed. Symons can be very witty, and he keeps class interesting. The tests aren't too challenging, but pay attention and study. I would love to take another class taught by him.

5.0
3.0
PSY101
Mar 7, 2006

This teacher is very amusing and funny. If you take his class you won't be disappointed. The material is easy to learn. If you take the time to study for his exams you should be fine.

5.0
3.0
PSY303
Jun 4, 2006

Dr Symons is a great professor for 303. He is helpful and if you have any fear about taking psy 303, don't worry. Just keep up with the deadlines.

5.0
1.0
PSYCH101
Sep 25, 2006

This guy is really awesome. I didn't expect Psych 101 to be so interesting. He has a great sense of humor and generally just makes lecture enjoyable.

5.0
1.0
PSYCH101
Nov 30, 2006

Symmons is great!! Very clear so that you know exactly what will be on the exams, so be sure to go to class. He has a great sense of humor that made the class time go by quickly. Definitely take class with him, you won't regret it!!

5.0
4.0
PSYCH410
Jun 17, 2007

This Professor his great! He made my last psychology class a great one. I learned a so much about perception. Warning though, he uses the two books heavily and you have weekly one page papers. You also have to lead a class discussion twice in the class but it is not too hard. Symons is the man and if you can get into his class it will be worth it.

4.0
5.0
PSY101
Oct 19, 2007

He is a nice guy and it is a fun class. Tests are very hard if you don not pay attention to detail. Take lots of notes and read your book and you will be fine.

5.0
4.0
PSYCH101
Nov 19, 2007

Really nice, funny guy. He kind of reminds me of Hugh Laurie in his mannerisms... totally off-topic but I love Hugh Laurie, so this guy is awesome! Class material is very interesting, and I'd recommend it to anyone. Tests are fair if you come to class and study.

5.0
2.0
PSY101
Dec 2, 2007

Super clear--tells you exactly what pages need to be read, reminds you about when the tests and assignments are due, you always know exactly what you need to do. Funny, too, his goofiness makes class fun. Material on tests is never a surprise. Great teacher!

5.0
2.0
PSYCH101
Dec 11, 2007

I enjoyed this class. He is great in lectures, and always gives a study session before exams that is awesome. Study the concepts hard though. 25% of the class failed the first test he gave. Other than that thugh, funny friendly and helpful. I'd recommend

5.0
3.0
PSYCH101
Dec 20, 2007

I loved this class. It was really interesting and he is a good instructor. You know exactly what should be on the test. The tests are a little hard, but overall the class is interesting and entertaining.

2.0
5.0
PSY101
Dec 22, 2007

Lecture information provided in class was completely useless and not helpful when studying for the test. Memorizing terms from the textbook will not help because the tests are concept based. His tests are designed for a 300 level course not a 100 level. Take from different professor!!!

5.0
2.0
PSY101
Mar 3, 2008

Symons is a GREAT lecturer. He makes difficult concepts easy to understand, he really gets how to teach the material to people that don't have any background. Very fair tests. No homework, you just need to participate in a couple research studies (or opt to do a paper instead, I highly reccommend participating in the studies, they're interesting).

5.0
3.0
PSYCH101
Sep 27, 2008

Cool guy, class can be hard if its not an interesting topic. Probably the best prof to take it from.

4.0
5.0
PSYCH101
Oct 16, 2008

No Comments

4.0
5.0
PSY101
Nov 12, 2008

Tests are pretty hard, my class usually averaged a 74%. Good teacher though, and a pretty interesting topic. Don't skip lectures!! The first few weeks are kind of boring, but it gets a LOT better after that.

3.0
5.0
PSY101
Dec 2, 2008

Interesting teacher. Every day in class it was "we're really behind so lets race through the powerpoint and watch 5 more videos and be another half lecture behind". The videos were all really good though and helped somewhat. His tests were rediculous... Only 30 multiple choice that were incredibly specific so if you miss a couple you're screwed.

2.0
4.0
PSYCH101
Dec 3, 2008

He makes very simple concepts very very confusing. Also, tests are really hard cause they are like 35 questions that are on tiny details from any of the chapters so its hard to study for. but he shows interesting video clips every now and than

3.0
3.0
PSY101
Dec 5, 2008

He was constantly behind in lectures and at times came across as VERY confusing. May have been funny, but I didn't think so. Sometimes was unable to answer student's questions about the topic. Would not recommend for 101!

4.0
4.0
PSYCH101
Oct 20, 2009

He's pretty funny and makes lectures easy and good to listen to. Tests are pretty hard and even after he says they wont be uber specific they are.

4.0
4.0
PSYCH101
Nov 29, 2009

Larry says to study the cross-over of material in class and in the book. Come to the lectures, because they ARE important. If your lazy, you can always just look at his slides online and listen to his podcasts. He's got a dry sense of humor, so come to class ready to laugh. Tests were hard but learned a ton!

4.0
2.0
PSYCH101
Dec 8, 2009

This class is a great GUR. However, the mandatory research requirement sucks. Larry is cool though. His lectures are slow and easy to follow. He posts his powerpoint slides with info. from the text on blackboard day-of the lecture and gives breaks during the long-classes. Plus, you watch a lot of video clips. Exams are MC, pretty straight forward.

4.0
2.0
PSYCH101
Dec 8, 2009

This is a straightforward class IF you actually study. Try not to get behind, it will screw you over. Tests are worth most of your grade, and you have to read the textbook pretty thoroughly to do well on them. Larry is an awesome professor, I enjoyed his class.

5.0
1.0
PSY101
Mar 17, 2010

LOL i rarely went to class, all i did was read the book when i had time... i did pretty well on the tests.. pulled off an A.. but there are some material thats from the lectures/clips he shows u. but overall easy class

4.0
2.0
PSY101
Mar 28, 2010

This class was pretty easy if you study the book & attend lectures. Dont wait until the last minute to read the book because the test questions are just from book and lectures. Very funny sometimes, and his presentations are always interesting.

5.0
4.0
PSY310
May 6, 2012

Larry is awesome. Great sense of humor, great knowledge of his subject. Awesome human being.

5.0
2.0
PSY310
May 22, 2012

Dr. Symons has a great sense of humor and teaches this class well. The material is relevant and very useful (especially to neuro majors). Lectures and book material run very close, so studying is pretty easy. He brings in some cool demos and keeps things light. One of my favorite profs at WWU.

5.0
2.0
PSY101
Dec 11, 2012

Great class, some wil complain but that's because they dont put in the work asked. Tests are 96% of final grade with 4% on studies. Read your text book, make flashcards, and read the lectures. He also posts them online if you don't want to go to class. Overall good!

4.0
2.0
PSY101
Dec 13, 2012

Posts all the lectures online, so you don't have to go to class really. Uses really interesting videos that are helpful. But...he's really boring. I hated going to class at 8:30 am, he's just so monotone. And he's not funny. Tries way too hard. But his tests are based on the lectures, you just have to really think the questions through.

4.0
3.0
PSY101
Jan 21, 2013

Good teacher, however at 8:30 AM he could easily put you back to sleep. However he was very good at explaining confusing concepts.

4.0
2.0
PSY101
Jan 23, 2013

Very boring teacher. Attendance is not mandatory, lectures are online. I never went to class and just read the book & I got a B. Pretty easy class

5.0
3.0
PSYCH101310
Mar 1, 2013

I absolutely loved his classes. I took both 101 and 310 from him, and would love to take more. His teaching style perfectly matches with what helps me the best. He's great at explaining tough concepts, and has an incredibly dry sense of humor, if you catch it. Symons is a great guy, super nice, a little monotone, and teaches well.

5.0
3.0
PSY310
Oct 30, 2013

Larry Symons is a fantastic professor! He explains complex concepts really well, his lecture notes follow the book almost exactly and he has a great, but modest sense of humor that may be hard to catch if you aren't paying attention but is super adorable. He quoted Spinal Tap! His demos make the class super interesting, too.

5.0
2.0
PSY101
Dec 11, 2013

Larry was an awesome professor! He has a funny sense of humor that not everyone may get but he's still very good at explaining psych concepts and has interesting examples. However, he posts all his lectures online so attendance isn't always necessary. Also as long as you study lecture notes and the text exams aren't too difficult!

3.0
1.0
PSY101
Dec 17, 2013

Larry was a pretty easy professor, his lectures are somewhat boring because all he does is read off the powerpoint, but he posts the powerpoints online, and he gives you online quizzes to help tell you what is important from the book. Great easy GUR.

5.0
3.0
PSY101
Mar 2, 2014

I loved this teacher his is so cool and fun. Helpful and willing to give you anything you need to help you understand in office hours! Interesting class 90% of the time. Very fun. Tests arnt easy though so study and keep up with the word. Got to the pretest Q&A!!!

5.0
3.0
PSYCH101
Mar 22, 2014

Dr. Symons is very educated in the subject and makes the content easy to understand. It is important to keep up with the reading though or you might feel lost.

4.0
4.0
PSY101
Grade: B
May 8, 2014

Loved this class! Lectures can be boring but he tries to be funny. Slides are online but I found it useful to go to class anyways because sometimes he would show videos or say something not on canvas. Tests were challenging but if you studied and took decent notes, you will be ok. He holds pre-test review sessions, be sure to go!

3.0
3.0
PSYCH310
Jun 16, 2014

Great guy, boring class. Teaches thoroughly, need to study for tests!

4.0
2.0
PSY101
Grade: C
Sep 3, 2014

I liked his teaching style and he is a very laid back prof who likes to be called by his first name and will answer any question at any time. He does take time to explain if not clear and cares about the subject. I would take another class from him!

4.0
4.0
PSY310
Grade: B+
Oct 15, 2016
Would take again

Dr. Symons is one of the tougher professors I have had at WWU. He is very smart and definitely has interest in his subject matter. His lectures are long and can get pretty dry at times, but his tests are based mostly on lecture so it's important to pay attention. Reading the text is recommended. Don't take this class for an easy A.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Clear grading criteria
LECTURE HEAVY
4.0
3.0
PSY303
Grade: A-
Mar 2, 2017
Would take again

No textbook assigned, but you wouldn't have time to read it anyway between an onslaught of assignments and a crushing research project. PSY 303 basically takes over your life for 3 months but Symons makes it bearable.

ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
Caring
GROUP PROJECTS
4.0
3.0
PSY303
Grade: A-
Mar 5, 2018
Would take again

This guy's awesome! He's a great and straightforward professor who doesn't ask too much of you. Don't fear 303! And take it with Symons if you can. He makes the task load very tolerable.

ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
Clear grading criteria
5.0
3.0
PSYC101
Grade: A-
Nov 10, 2018
Would take again

Larry is a good teacher, and his psych101 course is not all that challenging. If you do the readings, and pay attention during the lectures, you shouldnt have any trouble passing the class. Professor Symons is very easy to work with, and is a very nice guy. I would highly recommend his course.

Respected
Get ready to read
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
4.0
1.0
PSY101
Grade: B+
Nov 30, 2018
Would take again

Don't stress missing class, the lectures consist of him reading, word for word, the powerpoint slides he posts online. The grading consists almost entirely of four tests, so prepare to take a lot of notes and read the textbook. He's an okay teacher, I bet he would be much more engaging in a smaller setting.

Get ready to read
TEST HEAVY
LECTURE HEAVY
5.0
3.0
PSY101
Grade: B
Dec 3, 2018
Would take again

Great guy, very willing to meet outside of office hours to review your notes to make sure you're ready for the test. 96% of the grade comes from four exams, the other 4% comes from psych experiment participation, so be ready to study HARD.

TEST HEAVY
GRADED BY FEW THINGS
LECTURE HEAVY
5.0
3.0
PSY101
Grade: B
Dec 13, 2018
Would take again

Larry is awesome! On the first exam, I got a D. I ended up emailing him and we found a time to meet up. He told me how to study for the exam and it really helped! The class day before the exam, I would meet in his office and he would review my textbook notes and cross off anything that I didn't need to worry about. You won't be sorry taking him!

ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
TEST HEAVY
LECTURE HEAVY
4.0
3.0
PSY101
Grade: B
Dec 15, 2018
Would take again

As long as you pay attention in lecture and read the textbook outside of class, you should be fine. Exams are 96% of your grade which is tough but Larry is a good prof and cool guy.

Get ready to read
GRADED BY FEW THINGS
LECTURE HEAVY
5.0
3.0
PSY303
Grade: A-
Mar 15, 2019
Would take again

At first, Larry seems super dry and boring, but he grows on you. Content wise, exams are unlimited notes/slides, so not difficult at all. With regard to the final paper, he's willing to give lots of feedback. He sent me six revised drafts back. Also has office hours every week day. He really cares about his students. Highly recommend!

Gives good feedback
Respected
Accessible outside class
4.0
3.0
PSY303
Grade: B+
Mar 23, 2019
Would take again

you want exciting lectures? this aint it. you want an easy class? this is it. well not easy. but easier than I expected. the research part of this class, hell make you work for an A. hard grader when it comes to the paper but exams, EASY. he basically gives you the answers. overall, good class.

Respected
Lecture heavy
Caring
5.0
2.0
PSY101
Grade: A-
Apr 2, 2019
Would take again

Larry was always a good time. Lectures could be kinda boring, but he tried his best to make them interesting. Tests were easy if you studied, and there were always lots of quizlets available that helped a lot.

Respected
Graded by few things
Hilarious
5.0
3.0
PSY101
Grade: C+
May 22, 2019
Would take again

If you need to take Psy101 Larry is a great option. Great lecturer and nice person. If you pay attention and do a bit of pre-test studying you will ace it.

Clear grading criteria
Hilarious
Lecture heavy
5.0
4.0
PSYCH410
Jun 4, 2019
Would take again

Really interesting class, but get ready to give a presentation every week. Dr. Symons is awesome though, quality guy

Gives good feedback
Accessible outside class
Group projects
3.0
3.0
PSY101
Grade: C
Jul 19, 2019
Wouldn't take again

What you would typically expect out of a large lecture class. Almost all your grade is based off of multiple choice examinations. Reading the textbook will help to better understand the material. Not everything on the tests will be discussed in lectures, some stuff will be in your readings, so make sure you read if you want to do the best you can.

Get ready to read
Graded by few things
Lecture heavy
3.0
4.0
PSY310
Dec 18, 2019
Wouldn't take again

The class is graded based off 3 non-cumulative exams and an annotated bibliography. Attendance is not mandatory, but recommended. In class, he just goes over power pints and does some demos. Definitely not everyones learning style, but works good for others I'm sure. No extra credit or assignments to help boost your grade if you do poorly on exams.

Graded by few things
Test heavy
Lecture heavy
4.0
5.0
PSY101
May 5, 2020
Wouldn't take again

Larry is a great guy, very caring and tells dad jokes in the middle of lecture. It was a tough class considering tests were worth 96% of my grade. No matter how much I studied, I would still get around the same grade (it wasn't great). I recommend going to test Q & A's and asking any and every question you have... it will help for tests.

Respected
Get ready to read
Test heavy
3.0
3.0
PSY101
Feb 26, 2021
Wouldn't take again

I took this class online during the pandemic. Make sure you actually take notes from both the slides and the book, it will help for the exams . Watching the lectures isn't really needed because he just repeats everything from the powerpoints he gives you but a lot of what is on the test comes from the book and book exercises too.

4.0
3.0
PSY310
Feb 26, 2021
Would take again

310 with Larry for this quarter was asynchronous, so it's super self directed. The only deadlines are for quizzes on each chapter, the three exams, and then a annotated bibliography. If you aren't good at keeping up on your own, this class wouldn't be ideal. But I really like Larry, he's super nice and funny. Tests aren't too hard.

Graded by few things
Test heavy
Amazing lectures
4.0
3.0
PSY101
Grade: B
Mar 10, 2021
Would take again

Async PSY 101 with Symons wasn't that bad. 80% of your grade comes from 4 tests, which is frustrating, and sometimes the lectures feel like a slog, but it's no big deal. HW exercises are either skippable or very annoying (using diff. words compared to lectures). Pay attention and stay on top of the (well-spaced) deadlines and you'll be fine.

Graded by few things
Clear grading criteria
Lecture heavy
3.0
5.0
PSY310
Dec 29, 2021
Wouldn't take again

Firstly, Dr. Symons has a great sense of humor and is a kind professor. However, PSY310 was the absolute HARDEST class I have ever taken. The material was inexplicably difficult and dense. It's textbook-heavy, with many pages in each chapter (which NEED to be read to pass). I wouldn't recommend taking this course unless you're a neuroscience major.

Get ready to read
Graded by few things
Test heavy
5.0
3.0
PSY101
May 3, 2022
Would take again

Such amazing and hilarious lectures. He is a great lecturer and the coursework isnt heavy. Just a chapter or two of reading online and short quizzes throughout. I love this professor and I would totally take classes with him again

Amazing lectures
Hilarious
Lecture heavy
4.0
3.0
PSY101
Grade: B-
May 27, 2022
Would take again

This class is interesting, but the lectures are long and basically just go into the same depth as the online book you get to read. There are 4 60Q Exams through the quarter. The class isn't super hard but the lectures get boring and it's about 3 hours of reading the online book per week. If you are interested in psych, you might like the class.

Get ready to read
Lecture heavy
Test heavy
4.0
3.0
101
Grade: C-
Dec 2, 2022
Would take again

Professor Symons has great lectures and he also has it in the canvas for you so you shouldn't be afraid to miss a class or two. Exams were also open notes so it was pretty easy also. He is overall a very great professor and I would take one of his classes again.

Get ready to read
Lecture heavy
Test heavy
5.0
2.0
PSY101
Grade: B+
Dec 24, 2022
Would take again

Larry was a great professor who I would love to take another class from. His lectures were always so interesting and insightful. The class was very structured and there was no confusion about due dates, everything was on repeated weekly schedule. He was also funny and made a point to add fun things into his slides. Larry, you are so great.

Caring
Respected
Lecture heavy
5.0
2.0
PSY101
Grade: A
Dec 30, 2022
Would take again

He was a really wonderful teacher, he always tried to slip comics in that related to the material we were going over. All tests were online, open note + book which was SO helpful. He also cares a lot about the success of his students. If you're missing something, talk to him and he'll help figure something out.

Get ready to read
Caring
Lecture heavy
5.0
1.0
PSY101
Grade: B
Jan 3, 2023
Would take again

Larry is an excellent professor, especially for a 101 class. I would highly recommend him to anyone planning on taking a psych class. He cracked small jokes in class often and released us early almost every day. I had a bit of trouble with the tests, but other than that he was amazing. Expect about 2 classes per textbook chapter!

Clear grading criteria
Lecture heavy
5.0
2.0
101
Grade: B
Mar 9, 2023
Would take again

I love Larry, honestly I feel a little bad I missed a few assignments, but I can't say anything bad about him. Larry gives amazing lectures, sometimes the info can get a little tiring. The resources and exams were easy to use and get good grades on. Study and pay attention in class, and you will do well on exams.

Clear grading criteria
Hilarious
Respected
4.0
1.0
PSY101
Mar 14, 2023
Would take again

Larry was a very good professor. Lectures were engaging and everything was accessible outside of class. There are a few weekly online assignments but they are very easy as long as you put the effort in. Tests are online and very straightforward.

2.0
4.0
310
Grade: B
Mar 16, 2023

The lecture material is hardly reflected in his exams. I attended every class and took extensive notes on his lectures, yet I struggled significantly on his exams. The way he words and explains concepts in class is nothing compared to how those same concepts are articulated in exams which makes it almost impossible to feel confident in exam answers

Tough grader
3.0
2.0
PSY101
Grade: A-
Mar 29, 2023

I did not enjoy this class. The lectures were boring and I stopped attending halfway through the quarter (reviewing the ppts he posted was just as effective as coming to class). Test were online which was nice, but they had covered more complicated concepts than what he talked about in lectures.

Lecture heavy
5.0
2.0
PSY101
Grade: B+
Apr 5, 2023
Would take again

This dude is awesome! Most tests and quizzes are online but you can still get a decent grade if you bomb a test. He made me giggle.

Lecture heavy
Accessible outside class
Online Savvy
3.0
4.0
PSY101
Grade: C+
May 9, 2023

I struggled with his class, they were boring and repetitive. Went through notes very quickly and vaguely, got to the point where I was racing to keep up and didn't retain any info and it was the same as skipping and taking notes at your own pace. His tests only allow one chance per question so you better be confident in your choice.

Get ready to read
Lots of homework
Test heavy
5.0
3.0
PSY101
Grade: B
Dec 6, 2023
Would take again

Pack backs were way more important than the chapter tests which kind of felt weird. Other than that, though, it was really nice to have him, and it was easy to do the work online.

Amazing lectures
3.0
3.0
101
Grade: B
Mar 15, 2024
Would take again

I recommend taking PSY 101 with Czopp instead. Although Larry is a funny guy, the tests are worth 80% of your grade and your grade with get really low if you do not do good on the tests. The inquistives and packbacks are super easy though! Lectures get boring but if you miss class sometimes, it's fine. He is okay but there are better.

Tough grader
Test heavy
5.0
3.0
310
Grade: B+
May 7, 2024
Would take again

Larry grades with pretty little feedback, but his classes are super engaging. The reviews do not give him justice! If you know the material, you will get a good grade- hands down. He loves people coming to office hours and you can tell he really enjoys the material he is teaching. Just make sure to read the text.

Caring
Test heavy
Accessible outside class
5.0
3.0
PSYCH310
Grade: Not sure yet
Aug 4, 2024
Would take again

I think that Larry Symons is a great! I took the summer async class so he could be different in person. He does lectures for all the topics and is personable in them. His lectures have some quizzes built, but I've found them to enhance learning. Textbook isn't a must, but questions about it are in exams. Overall really great and I would recommend.

Amazing lectures
Lecture heavy
5.0
3.0
310
Grade: A-
Nov 19, 2024
Would take again

I took this class async but his lectures were very entertaining, concise, and not rambly. I learned exactly what I needed to know for exams and just general knowledge. He is also very easy to reach outside of class by email, and is supportive.

Amazing lectures
Gives good feedback
Accessible outside class
4.0
2.0
PSY101
Grade: A
Nov 21, 2024
Would take again

This class is pretty easy, everything is online, you don't really have to show up. I think I only went to like 3 or 4 classes and I ended with a A.

5.0
1.0
PSY101
Grade: A-
Dec 8, 2024
Would take again

He's so kind, helpful, and encouraging. Lectures were extremely helpful; he allowed plenty of time to write things down and allowed questions. He was very good at connecting topics and providing examples. It's easy to get an A on all homework. Definitely read the chapters all the way. The only thing I didn't like was that exams were worth 80%.

4.0
3.0
PSY307
Grade: B-
Mar 11, 2025
Would take again

First of all, Larry is SUPER nice. He's also one of the fastest email responders I've ever met (it's kind of impressive). He's super willing to work with you if you have DAC accommodations. He is unfortunately a professor who has a few big projects that make up your whole grade, so it's hard if you struggle, but he's very chill and nonjudgemental!

Participation matters
Graded by few things
Accessible outside class
4.0
2.0
101
Grade: B-
Mar 19, 2025
Would take again

Larry was kind and accommodating, this course was super easy overall. However beware of the exams and study hard for them, I got an A on everything except the exams, which brought down my grade by a lot. (The exams are worth 80% of your grade) I hope for the future he will lower it down.

Clear grading criteria
Test heavy
4.0
4.0
PSY310
Grade: B
Mar 20, 2025
Would take again

This class was very interesting! Professor Symons definitely knows a ton about this subject and it shows in his lectures. He always did his best to make lectures interactive and had some pretty good jokes. Though attendance is not mandatory, show up for your own benefit. Exams are online and open note but can still give you a challenge so study up.

Tough grader
Participation matters
Gives good feedback
5.0
2.0
PSY310
Grade: A
Mar 24, 2025
Would take again

Sensation and Perception was the hardest easy class I have taken at Western. Lectures are not required but I found them both interesting and fun. A lot of the content on the tests is covered in class and it helped me to retain a lot of it. There were three online open book tests but they were challenging!

Amazing lectures
Hilarious
Online Savvy
5.0
1.0
101
Grade: A
Oct 29, 2025
Would take again

Such a good professor!! His course is so easy and the homework is super easy and online. He adds humor to his lectures which makes them fun and makes me want to go to them. Only thing is his grades are exam heavy and kind of tricky. But just study vocab and pay attention in lecture and you'll be fine. Would take his classes again!

Clear grading criteria
Inspirational
Test heavy
5.0
3.0
101
Grade: A
Nov 5, 2025
Would take again

My fav professor ever! He's so funny, his lectures are entertaining and very interesting. A lot of homework, but it's graded on completion so it is very easy. Exams are open book/note but still quite difficult. I would absolutely recommend his class to anyone even mildly interested in psychology.

Amazing lectures
Hilarious
Lecture heavy
4.0
3.0
PSYCH410
Grade: A
Dec 9, 2025
Would take again

Supportive and kind! Very reachable outside of class

Participation matters
Group projects
Caring
Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

5%

Textbook Required

43%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

B+

95% confidence
Based on 47 grades
Most common grades:
B (12)
A (11)
A- (9)
Grade Distribution
A(12)B(15)C(5)D(0)F(0)A-/B+(15)
Based on 48 reported grades
B: 12
A: 11
A-: 9
B+: 6
Common Tags
Lecture heavy (15)
Test heavy (11)
Get ready to read (10)
Clear grading criteria (8)
Respected (7)
Graded by few things (7)
Caring (6)
Accessible outside class (6)
Rating Trend

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Ratings by Course

303

5.0

(1)

PSYCHO101

5.0

(1)

PSYCHOLOGY101

5.0

(3)

PSYCHOLOGY410

5.0

(1)

PYSCH101

5.0

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Difficulty by Course

PSYCH410

3.7

310

3.5

PSY310

3.4

303

3.0

PYSCH101

3.0

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