bio 150 is the hardest class at Pitt and Dr zapanta does NOT make it any easier, stay away from this class, pick any other teacher

She is an engaging and helpful teacher. Lectures are very organized, and she is clear as to what material will be covered on the exams. You will have a lot of reading and small online assignments to do, but it is not overwhelming. Probably the best teacher in the department.

Zapanta (Zapanther as we called her) was one of the best teachers I've had at Pitt. She is thorough, partakes in "Active Teaching" (which is actually quite helpful) and wants you to succeed. Her class is not a "weed out" class, if you study the right topics and review her slides that she posts online you will definitely get an A.

Great bio 1 professor! Lectures are very clear, her active learning style helps you understand the material and keeps class interesting. No iclicker which is nice, there are pre-lecture mastering bio quizzes but they are pretty easy and make you read before class (helps you learn the material). Test questions are very straightforward if you study.

Very clear lectures and powerpoints. Office hours and extra study sessions were very helpful and often gave tips for the exams. Fun and likes to joke around, but also knows how to make the content understandable for most students.

She's the best choice for Bio 1 in my opinion. She cares about her students more than most intro course teachers and that reflects in the tests, which I thought were fair and taken from the textbook/ lecture. The class is nonetheless challenging and a good sample how hard bio can be at pitt.

Dr. Zapanta was one of the best professors I've had here at Pitt. She is very clear on her expectations, and she has fair tests. Zapanta kept lecture engaging and was very helpful outside of class.

Zapanta is truly a great prof. Had her as a freshman in my fall semester this year, and to start off with a teacher this great is definitely encouraging. She keeps her lectures entertaining, and is always there to help (without making you feel like you're back in middle school). She is clear cut, explains well, and will always clarify. Take her!

This class has been tough for me. If you really work for it, you can definitely get an A, but you have to put in the time. I didn't and am paying the price. Overall, highly recommend.

Very fair tests. half her test questions come from lecture notes

Bio 1 is not as challenging as people make it seem if you are actually willing to work to understand the topics. If you're not strong in biology, going to class is a must. Tests are not tough if you dedicate time to study. Dr. Zapanta tells you everything you need to know in her lectures and is very organized and helpful.

Good teacher. Had a lot of quizzes for the in-class activities so skipping class is not an option. Test are in depth. I found it very helpful to read the textbook of the assigned pages. Overall good teacher.

Dr. Zapanta is definitely one of my favorite professors. Her lectures were very clear and she allows you to print the notes. I recommend taking your own notes along with the ones she gives you. Tests are tough so get ready to study and do all of the homework.

Dr. Zapanta presents the material in a clear, organized way. She gave in-class questions that really made one think about the material. For a former AP bio student, her tests were really straightforward and seemed primarily based on memorization. Some people rely a lot on powerpoint slides, but what she says is clarifying, helpful, and relevant.

Great professor. She really cares about her students and is very helpful. Lectures are important and not too boring. Definitely read the book to help understand topics. Tests were a little tricky but if you did all of the homework and mastering biology it can really bump up your grade.

Like all Bio 1 classes, this one was a lot of work. But Zapanta definitely made it manageable. She is the best teacher I've EVER had at Pitt. You learn important stuff that you need for MCAT or PCAT or any other test, and she's extremely understanding and lenient if you need help. She makes sure you understand everything. TAKE HER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So helpful. Really cares and tells you what to do to get an A

Best bio prof hands down

Zapanta is a fantastic teacher. If you actually do what she asks you to do and put in the work, you'll be fine. Obviously Bio 1 is hard for many incoming students, but if you reach out to Zapanta she will definitely be there for you 100% of the time. Made me really interested in bio even though I'm an english major. Fantastic teacher!

This class is way too hard for an undergrad biochemistry class. Very interesting but she was way too tough on grades. I took another biochem class this year in grad school and it was much more flexible with grades than what she made it.

Dr. Zapanta is a nice lady. She's always encouraging students to come see her during office hours and has UTA's that we can meet with throughout the week if we're struggling. That aside, the class isn't easy. A majority of our grade is based on four exams (which seem to get harder each year) and a final. Utilize all the resources you can to succeed

Amazing prof. Her ability to lecture well makes the class much easier.

She's gotten much harder since being put on probation no doubt. Still has lots of easy points to boost your grade but tests are tough and graded very tough. Having said that she's still the best biochem prof you'll find here. Very willing to help you, just be prepared to study alot. Get a hold of old exams. Easy class to get a B in, but a hard A.

She was a decent lecturer, only annoying part was learning catalytics, which just felt like a waste of time. The tests were tricky but its bio 1 so if they made it as easy as the material really is, everyone would pass. Shes accessible if you need her to be. The UTA's mostly were not very knowledgeable (how?), except for David, he knew his stuff.

Dr. Zapanta is an amazing prof. Her lectures are clear and learning catalytics is super helpful to solidify concepts while learning them. Tests can be tricky, but are manageable. Definitely have to put in the work to get the grade you want, but she gives cushion with homework and one dropped test! She WANTS you to learn. 10/10 would recommend

Dr. Zapanta is a really great person. Even though I have a low interest in biology, I really enjoyed her lectures. She is a very organized person and she is very passionate about biology. There are a lot of online homework assignments and there are points for in class online questions. Attendance is taken in recitation.

If you read the book and understand it, you will get an A. Her lectures are almost 100% based off of it, but the details in the book can be nitpicked on in the tests. She explains concepts very clearly and tells you exactly what she wants when it comes to graded assignments/tests. Could tell she was eager to help students too!

Dr. Zapanta is really great! She is super helpful in office hours. Bio 1 is a weed out class so any prof is gonna be difficult, but Zapanta makes it very manageable.

Dr. Zapanta was great, she was very accessible with after lecture meetings, long office hours, and many UTAs that are there to help. Her lectures are straightforward and she doesnt use clickers (saves you $40), her tests are mostly application of biology so they arent the easiest but if you read and study you will do great, she was a great prof!

Like any first level bio class, you have to read A TON! This class is a lot of work, but Zapanta gives you everything you need to succeed: uploads powerpoints, lecture guides, useful links, etc. She's straight forward and does practice problems during lectures! Would take again!

Test questions were very ambiguous at times, she made them tricky on purpose. Old exams have a lot of the same questions, lectures are very clear & organized. Loved her teaching style, cares a lot about the students, recitation is mandatory and group work, in class questions online for attendance.

Definitely difficult, but it is a difficult course. Tests are tough, no partial credit on short answer. But she is fair. lectures are long and sort of boring but it's more the material not her lecture style. She is willing to help if needed and her TAs are pretty good. She does offer a lot of other points though that can really help your grade.

Great class and great teacher. Her lectures were pretty interesting in a class about basic biology. She did a lot of class activities in order to keep you awake and thinking. Recitation is a must since she gives some pop quizzes in them. Would definitely take her again.

Dr. Zapanta has a good class room set up for lecture, it's interactive. Study lecture slides not from book. Should go to class to know which topics to focus on plus learning catalytics counts for credit.

Dr. Zapanta is amazing at her job. She describes everything so thoroughly in lectures. As long as you show up, pay attention, and do your work, you will be fine. If you do not understand something, she is more than willing to meet you after class to help you out. She is super caring and shows that she wants you to do well. TAKE ZAPANTA!

While Biosc0150 is a weed out class, Zapanta makes it much more difficult to get weeded out. Interactive lectures also take away from boring powerpoints.

The class is very highly structured. Great lecturer. You have to read every night because of the daily in class learning catalytic quizzes. Exams are tricky and relatively long with partial no credit. 35 multiple choice and some short answer. Test avg about 70% curved to 75.

Dr Zapanta gives you lots of opportunities to earn the best grade you can. She explains things pretty well, and the tests are all fair.

Dr. Zapanta was such a great lecturer! Any college level Biology course that you take is going to be tough, but she did a great job at making it as easy as possible. She is interesting and also extremely helpful. I definitely recommend her!

Bio 1 is a tough course because of the volume and complexity of the material; however, Zapanta is one of the best professors out there. She genuinely wants all her students to perform well, and you'll realize this pretty quickly. You have to put in the work to do well, but definitely not unreasonable or impossible.

Dr. Zapanta was extremely nice and caring. She does make you work hard for your grade though. Her recitations were a bit frustrating - she's VERY nitpicky about your answers. Don't take the small points for granted like I did. Print out the slides and write down what she says. She's tough, but you'll appreciate it. Extra credit at the end.

Dr. Zapanta is a great person and professor. Definitely have to study, though. Recitation quizzes were graded very hard, the answers much be detailed and accurate. Every point helps.

Overall, a teacher worth taking. Homework and pre-reading quizzes are worth 20% of your grade, so be sure to do them (you can just google the questions to get the answers). The tests are pretty standard, but I found you needed to be very specific for the part 2 questions. All previous tests are available to students, so be sure to take advantage.

Zapanta is an amazing prof. Makes you learn a lot and is extremely fair. Tests are a bit tricky but easy to get at least a B if you go over practice tests. Also gives other easy grades and few points of extra credit which can bump you from A- to A. She also makes you learn some extra topics that are relevant for premed. 10/10 take her.

Zapanta is great, but really tough. College is a lot different from high school, so get ready to put in a lot more work than you ever had to succeed in the class. But she is a great lecturer and really prepares you for the tests and future classes. Highly recommend.

I had Dr. Zapanta for Bio 1 fall semester. She is a very great teacher and her exams are clear, fair, but somewhat difficult. But as long as you study and know the material, you'll do fine. Definitely one of my favorite professors this year.

Very straightforward class that makes sure you learn the material. If you work hard you can pass. Great teacher with clear lectures and some great dry humor. No complaints here.

Biochemistry is a hard class, but taking it in the summer with Dr. Zapanta made the class manageable. She has notes for the lecture topic of the day and you can take notes in it as you go. She was a fair professor and very friendly. She gives practice exams and online homework that is easy points.

Dr. Zapanta is very clear in all of her lectures. She is very thorough in explaining biology and the way she conducts her lectures makes it easy to learn. Her tests are straight forward but make you think. MAKE SURE YOU STUDY!!!!! If you do not put in the work, you won't do well on her exams.

Best biology teacher at Pitt. Works so hard to make sure you understand it. If you put in the time, you can get an A. She's there to help you succeed.

Best science teacher at Pitt

Dr. Zapanta is my favorite professor this semester. She wants her students to do well, and makes the subject material interesting. She isn't a pushover though, so make sure you study and show up to lectures if you want a solid grade. She knows what she's doing and her tests are very fair in my opinion. I would love it if she taught Biosc0160!

Dr. Zapanta knows her stuff! Her lectures are extremely informative & are usually an accurate representation of the tests. She makes herself available outside of class and has SO MANY UTA's to help out. The UTA discussion groups will save your life - you NEED to go to pass! Overall, I recommend her, but expect to study 24/7!

She knows her stuff and expects you to put in the work

This class was extremely hard, but don't regret it in the slightest. Her class taught me how to study and how to succeed in a difficult class. She is always there to help, and even though she teaches big classes, she wants to get to know you and treats you like your one of her kids. Tough exams but it was all taught. Attendance is near mandatory.

Dr. Zapanta is very dedicated and wants to make sure you get the most out of her class. She's very knowledgable and her tests are fair. You need to work for your grade and she takes your grade into consideration at the end of the year! LOVE HER

Dr. Zapanta is a very good professor. She is very knowledgable and her lectures can be quite interesting. Her exams are not easy, but as long as you study the material and go to office hours, you will be fine.

Success in Dr. Zapanta's bio 1 course largely depends on how much work students are willing to put into it. Her exams (and her course in general) is very tough, but it is also fair. As long as you have a desire and motivation to learn, you'll be fine. Her lectures are also very engaging and interesting, and almost never boring and dry.

Dr. Zapanta is amazing and I highly recommend her if you ever get the chance to take her! She has amazing lectures and is accessible, personable, and a fair grader. Her tests are on the easier side, and as long as you read along with the textbook and do the in-class/pre-class assignments you will be fine!

Very long lectures, but can ask questions during recitations. How to pass: - Take her recitation session to ask her qs afterwards - Copy notes from lecures b4 class and then update after - READ THE BOOK!!! WILL MAKE HW AND TESTS EASIER - Make sure you know the diagrams and the systems - Study two weeks b4 exam and take practice exams

I'd say pretty good compared to some of the others that I've heard of. I never really had personal contact with her, but I heard office hours could have been helpful. She seemed like she cared and was pretty encouraging for the most part.

Dr. Zapanta is hands down the best BIOSC0150 teacher. While some questions on her tests are worded to "separate the A's from the A+'s" (her words) and the Tophat questions can go by fast, so long as you've read the assigned readings and studied the slides, you should do well. Office hours are very informative, even if you don't ask questions.

She's the best teacher I've had at Pitt. Yes you have to put in a lot of work because it's a hard class, but if you do you'll be so well prepared for the MCAT and all your other classes. Really cares about her students' learning. She's brilliant and does an amazing job of conveying her knowledge.

Dr. Zapanta is a great lecturer. She does sometimes fly through her lectures, but her slides are very clear and explains everything. Make sure to study the lecture slides before an exam; I didn't do that for the first 2 exams, got Cs but did for the last 2 plus the final and got high 80s. However, her exam questions are overly specific sometimes.

If you are willing to study you can pass this class no problem. Dr. Zapanta gives you all the materials you need to succeed in her class and the TA's are always holding review sessions. 10/10 would recommend

Posts all slides before lecture and whats on those is what to focus on for the exams. Great lecturer and interactive with in-class questions. Seemed bad but definitely helped

Professor Zapanta is a very good biology teacher, the beginning of the semester in BIOSC0150 can be a little daunting but if you head her advice she gives in class about what to specifically study, rework through all of her tophat questions and review her lecture slides before exams, I can't see a way you wouldn't do well.

Although her exams were a little challenging at times, anything that was on the exam could be found in the book or on her lecture slides. LaunchPad and recitation really help even out your grade as well as prepare you for exams. She genuinely wants you to do well in her class and you'll learn a lot in it. Stay ahead of the readings and note taking.

I loved Dr. Zapanta, I learned everything I needed to know from her lectures and power points. She makes all resources very accessible and her tests were very fair. She made bio interesting and gives you the resources to do well. It is a lot of work, but if you put in the work you should be fine.

I love Dr. Zapanta. She is extremely friendly, organized, and knowledgeable. The tests can be challenging, but as long as you study the material you will be fine. She lectures a lot, but I always find her lectures interesting and helpful. Definitely a solid choice for bio 1.

Dr. Zapanta's a great choice for Bio. She offers a million different resources (office hours, discussion groups, pre-exam reviews, Facebook question groups, etc.) for us to use for our own benefit. The TopHats can be a bit annoying, but you get some points for just trying to answer. You really gotta study for exams, but that's a given with anyone!

Zapanta is a very intense professor, but I really respect her. Her lectures are fast paced but very engaging. She gives you all the resources you need to do well in the class, but you have to be willing to put in the effort. Overall a great lecturer. I feel like I learned a lot

Dr. Zapanta is a good professor. The class is tough, but she gives you all of the resources you need to succeed (past exams, ample practice questions). You don't need to be the smartest person to get an A, you just need to put in the work. There is a lot of material to learn, and if you do not say on top of it, you will drown.

Show up to class and you'll be good. Make sure you study everyday and go to office hours! Outside of class she's such a mom. I definitely encourage you to go talk to her outside of class!

She's your best choice, just take her. My best advice is to practice your application and your test taking. Learn from my mistakes and review your math without a calculator. I personally felt that the concepts she tested us on were not difficult, but we lost points from small mistakes and very harsh grading. I lived in my textbook and managed a B.

Overall Zapanta is a good choice for biochem. She doesn't give partial credit or let you use a calculator on her tests but if you memorize all of her slides you will be fine. Don't bother reading the book.

You really need to attend lecture. She is very nice and will work with you if you're reasonable. Her class is manageable especially if you have some high school bio background. She has lots of TA's to help

Dr. Z is the best option out there for biochem! Yes, her class is really freaking hard and she grades very harshly, but that class was amazing. She prepares you VERY WELL for the MCAT and you will have a large appreciation for biology after her class. She is awesome!!

She is definitely one of the better bio professors out there. Her class does require a lot of studying but she also offers review sessions and discussion groups several times a week with her TA's (they help so much especially right before the exam). If you take bio I would definitely recommend her. She has a good personality when giving lectures.

She's is a great professor! She knows what she's talking about when it comes to Bio. Definitely go to her lectures and make sure to be familiar with the textbook and you will do well in her class. She is very sweet and makes the lecture material easy to understand.

Dr. Zapanta is one of the best profs at Pitt. Although she is difficult, her lectures are very well put together and rarely dull. She is truly a pioneer when it comes to educating, using the newest technologies, such as TopHat. She truly cares about her students, offering countless office hours and TA discussion groups. Great job Dr. Z!

Doctor Zapanta's class was one of my favorites this semester. She's very organized and it's hard to miss assignments. She explains hard concepts very well and her lectures easy to understand. She provides lots of extra help and office hours which is amazing. If you put the work in, you will do well. Definitely recommend and would take again!

Dr. Z is a great lecturer and her use of TopHat encourages you to pay attention in the class. Her exams are hard as they are primarily application questions but if you put in the time to study and get help when you are confused about a topic you will do fine.

This class was pretty difficult and I thought I was gonna fail but Zapanta is very helpful and very sweet. As long as you study the material and do the work, you should be fine.

Her lectures are fast-paced but she knows the topics where students most struggle and slows down accordingly. The tests are difficult but doable with enough studying and your lowest test grade can be replaced by your final exam score.

Zapanta is a good option for gen bio 1. She's tough but if you're driven then you can succeed. You'll have advantage if you've taken AP bio or have solid biology background. Her lectures are important even if notes are online, but she can come off as pretentious in her tone of voice (just ignore it). Her tests were difficult but comprehension-based

Dr. Zapanta's tests were all multiple choice, but difficult as they require you to apply the material. I scored lower than I expected on the first exam because I didn't know how to study yet. If you actively study for her class, you will do well. Also, all the material is on her lecture slides and she makes clear what you don't need to know.

Zapanta is very clear in her expectations and during lecture. There's a lot of material, but most of the time the questions are not looking for complex usage of the material. Exam questions are very straight forward. Textbook is really only used if you want extra details for something.

This class is very difficult and you will need to read the textbook and put in a lot of time outside of class. Tests are VERY hard and you really need to understand the material in depth. That being said, she explains the material very clearly. She is super clear about what material to expect on tests and review sessions help a lot.

Zapanta is really tough when grading her exams (but there is extra credit!) and flies through lecture so I recommend taking notes on the computer. She has a good chunk of points from hw and recitation so it is easy to bring up your grade. Definitely study her slides the most but I supplemented with the book and did well

People are very dramatic about the difficulty of this class but tbh it is very doable. Start studying at least 7 days in advance and you will be solid! Ochem was significantly more difficult than this course. Don't be intimidated hunker down and you'll do great

This class is very hard. IMO you have to REALLY stay caught up with the class because the exams very hard, very long, and have a short time limit. No "curves" but hw/quizzes/etc make up a decent portion of the grade. Dr. Zapanta is a really good lecturer though, and she's incredibly nice and helpful in person so I highly recommend office hrs.

Dr. Zapanta is a challenging professor that expects a lot from her students; however, with that being said, she prepares you extremely well for the MCAT and provides the chance to learn biochemistry in great detail. Her exams are intense but doable if you study well. This was not an easy class by any means but doable if you commit yourself.

other reviews are dramatic. tophat modules had a collection of vids (OF HER TEACHING!) about a specific topic followed by questions to check understanding. quizzes were hard but fair. total point system good grades easier. and the "bashing" video was just her joking abt ppl asking if the solution was water. unprofessional, but not that deep lol.

I thought her extremely clear grading criteria made it easy to work toward a goal. Yes, her quizzes are difficult, but not impossible. I quite liked the prerecorded lecture speed even if that meant pausing it often. Otherwise the assignments definitely prepared for the exams and the questions got me thinking. Bad thing: no full post-exam review.

She was a highly organized professor who laid out her expectations clearly. She allowed one out of six quizzes as a buffer for receiving a zero assuming you got a 93% for the other exams. This allows you to get an A with obtaining a B for her quizzes. That being said, her quizzes were highly challenging and wayyy too detail oriented.

All of her lectures are very in depth and easy to understand. Her tests are very difficult but all of the questions are from the lectures. My only complaint would be the in class assignments as Zapanta gives grades based on benchmarks, and missing enough could drop your letter grade to a C even if you got 100% on every other assignment and exam.

Dr. Zapanta strikes a perfect balance between requiring a substantial input of effort and being very fair with grading. Each step through the semester-long project was clearly outlined and she was available for assistance at all times. She's very receptive to the fact that not everyone is a writer, but honest work is still what matters most.

Zapanta is a solid teacher for foundational bio. While her grading may be harsh (but fair; this class is going to be hard no matter what professor you have), her tests are straightforward. Lectures are important as she bases all of her quizzes on them, while the textbook is mostly for supplemental reading.

Great choice for Bio 1. Lectures are very clear and she uploads them to rewatch after class. She offers so many chances for extra help outside of class between her office hours and the UTA discussion groups. She wants her students to succeed and will help. Her grading is a bit harsh but if you put in the effort, you will pass.

I appreciated Dr. Zapanta's way of teaching and she explained things well. The only thing that I have to complain about is the benchmark grading...a lot of people would have better grades if she used normal grading, but its purpose is to weed people out. Study small details, that's what you're tested on. Provides lots of resources to help you to.

Everything covered in lecture that will be on the quizzes, so u can do well without textbook. She does a great job explaining topics and if u have more questions there are multiple TA review sessions daily that are helpful. Lectures are recorded so u can rewatch but in-class participation points. U must study, but other reviews are too harsh.

Dr. Zapanta is a great teacher. She understands the life of a freshman undergrad in their first semester. She is accessible outside of class and highly organized. She runs a very organized class with clear instructions and great resources and slides. If you show up to lecture, study hard, and do the work you can do good in this class. I recommend.

Although the grading system is not ideal, it actually helped me get an A+ compared to the low A that was shown in canvas. Her lectures are interesting and the in class top hat is a great study tool. The UTA sessions are very helpful and I thought that the quizzes were challenging but not impossible if you study the whole week before.

Zapanta is a GREAT teacher and helps you understand. Her lectures are packed with info and it helps to rewatch. She does benchmark grading so it is not easy to get an A (you need enough points in every category to get an A). Her quizzes are the hardest to meet the benchmark for an A (abt 23/25 on them all) so study a lot and ask her for study tips.

Most of her quizzes are based off the slides she presents in class, I did not use the textbook at all. She is very sweet and very accessible to go to with issues, but my biggest issue was her grading system. You can have an 88% in quizzes but 100s in homework and assignments, you will get a B. One criteria thats a B will get you a B for the class.

Professor Zapanta was very prepared and organized for class, and though I sometimes felt like I was rushing to keep up with her during lectures, I never really felt left behind. Id say my main complaint is the fact that there was no way to see what questions you got wrong during quizzes and the semi-confusing grading system. Just pay attention!

Dr. Zapanta is a great choice for bio 0150. Her lectures are very clear, and she only quizzes based on material she covers in class. 7 Quizzes, drop 1 with a benchmark grading system (must get an A average on quizzes to get A in class). Dr. Z is very fair, buttt be prepared to work for it! Quizzes are tough, but you can succeed if you work hard!!

I really liked her. She takes time to reinforce topics through in-class questions about the topics at hand and link them to past topics.

I think the lectures were pretty engaging and clear. The exams are pretty hard having you know some pretty specific stuff, but doable if you study. Lots of practice problems provided in the form of Hw and recitation (which count as extra credit) that were the same as the exam questions. Also lots of other extra credit was given outside of these.

Don't know why there are so many negative reviews!!! I loved Dr. Zapanta - she got rid of block grading, her exams are very fair and easy if you study what she covers in class and her recitations/homework is very doable. She's really not a bad choice for biochem at all!! Definitely recommend her!

It is difficult and the content can be a lot, but she is actually a really good professor especially for bio majors! I struggled for a bit because I didn't understand how to study, but when I needed her she was there with advice and ready to help in any way she could. I actually learned in this class, which is the most important thing for me.

Dr. Zapanta is outstanding for Bio I. Do not listen to the negative reviews! Her lectures are straight-forward, engaging, and she even got rid of the "terrible block grading." Definitely take her if you can, her exams are difficult to fail if you attend discussion groups (some TAs are terrible aka Lydia) and lectures frequently. Highly recommend!

Her lectures are engaging and her tests go along with the content that we go over in class. She gives short pre class assignments so it's nice to have an overview of what the lecture will be on for that day, along with weekly homework assignments that are really nice to review the material over the past week. Would definitely recommend taking her!

I recommend Dr. Zapanta. The setup of her class is clear and there are lots of extra credit opportunities. Her exams are definitely difficult, but take advantage of UTA groups and test review sessions. She is not the most understanding with missing class, but she builds things into the class so you can miss occasionally. No curves on tests either.

I would highly recommend taking Dr. Zapanta. Her lectures are engaging, organized, and easy to follow. Additionally, she has many opportunities for extra help such as office hours, UTA discussion groups, practice exams, review sessions, etc... There are not many points in the class but as long as you put in the work, the class is manageable.

Would take professor again. Attend discussion groups (strongly disagree there is a terrible TA/she was actually one of the most most helpful). Attend lectures. Had friends that skipped lectures then fell behind and not a good idea. Lots of information to retain. Professor not very personable but very knowledgeable. Keep good notes Ask questions

TAKE HER. That's all I'll say. She even gave us extra credit opportunities for exam 4 and final! TAKE HER!

I love Dr. Zapanta!!! She has 3 exams and a final, and you can drop one including the final, which was really nice because I didn't end up taking the final. She also included extra credit on our exams, which were relatively easy to figure out. She also gives extra credit from doing the TopHat in class. Overall, highly recommend!

I have not taken my fourth exam or final yet but by the way its looking right now I will end with an a (moderate effort put in). Dr. Zapanta gives up to 9 points in extra credit (and then some) so make sure you do them. This class is a decent amount of work but if you pay attention during lectures exams will be easy. Overall highly recommend!!

Dr. Zapanta is very funny and down to earth. The exams can be tough at first because they are very conceptually based but once you know how to study for them they are not bad. Do all the extra credit opportunities because they really add up. I recommend reading the textbook because lectures are primarily based on it.

I loved having Dr. Zapanta for Bio 1. She made lectures interesting with tophat and allowed us to actively learn. As long as you study, I found her tests clear and concise. She is very sweet and genuinely cares about her students. She also drops your lowest grade and gives out a lot of extra credit opportunities. I would recommend her!

Don't listen to the negative reviews. If you show up, pay attention, and put the effort in, you will do well. She is very clear on her expectations and the exams were really well written. She also offered a ton of extra credit and let us drop our lowest exam!

Zapanta is great for bio 1. Her lectures are very straight forward and interesting . Exams are difficult but if you study the lecture material you will be fine. She never curves but the TopHat homework and assignments boost your grade by so much! Highly recommend!!!

I love Dr. Zapanta. One of the best options for Bio I if you are ready to put the work in as the exams are difficult, but fair. Shout out to my favorite UTAs this semester - Josh, Hannah, Tammy, Henry, Payal, Jenna, Christina, Jhanvi, Yulin, and Akash. Take her if you can!

Seemed scary at first but she turned out to be my fav prof this semester. I like her lectures, they are very engaging. Does not curve no matter what but extra credit TopHat is basically a curve. NO MORE BAD BLOCK GRADING! Regardless, I have learned a lot from Dr. Zapanta, so I'd 100% recommend. Shoutout to Hannah and Josh for being awesome UTAs.

The way that Dr. Zapanta grades is GREAT for your gpa - my test average was about a 90 or 92 and I ended with a 98 from extra credit. She wasn't my favorite professor, but her class did teach me a lot.

Lectures are fairly clear and directly applicable to exams. Lecture notes are posted ahead of time, which are super useful for notes and studying. There are lots of opportunities for extra credit. There is not a lot of flexibility in the course, but that is the same for any of the other bio 1 sections -- no extensions on homework or exams.

Zapanta was an overall good professor, would not recommend taking her class if you didn't take AP Biology in HS, I know a few people that didn't and struggled as she goes through content rather quickly. With that being said, I took AP Bio in HS, and the way she taught didn't bore me despite it being "old" content.

Dr. Zapanta was an amazing professor. If you attend the lectures and study the material covered in lectures you will be fine on the exams, they reflect everything the lectures cover. Make sure you do all of the pre-class assignments, homework, and in class top hat questions, it gives your grade a big boost.

Dr Zapanta's tests were a little application heavy. With that being said, all of the material was clear on the lectures and not very textbook heavy. Go to lecture, do the Tophat questions, and study before the tests and you will be fine. There is also a lot of extra credit which can bring your grade up

Zapanta is probably the best bio 1 prof you could take. She dropped 3 lowest hw assignments, 3 lowest recitations, and we got up to 7 (I think) extra credit points between in-class top hats and pre-class assignments. Her lectures were very easy to understand and her homework was very straightforward.

The best professor I have had at Pitt thus far. Her lectures are engaging and informative. That being said, her exams were hard, but as long as you use the resources she gives you should be fine. She is very helpful with the amount of UTA's available for extra help. Her questions were more application than memorization.

Zapanta actually adds to her lectures and doesn't just read the slides verbatim. Your grade isn't only dependent on your exam scores, she drops your lowest exam, and I believe she curves as well. You are also able to keep your exams after you take them which is great material to study for the final. Highly highly recommend.

Overall, the class was pretty good. As long as you show up to lectures and take notes you will be fine. There were 6 exams, and the lowest exam grade is dropped. Many resources and discussion groups are available for help if needed. The practice exams and weekly worksheets are very helpful for preparing for the exam. Lectures are a little boring.

It's sort of a flipped learning class, but her lectures were very straightforward and served as good study material for the quizzes. 6 MC quizzes, she drops the lowest score, and all pre-class + in-class questions count towards extra credit. Gives practice quizzes and hints at what will be on quizzes during lecture. Very sweet woman!

Dr. Zapanta's class is a really good one. If you are a student who is willing to put in the effort to do well, you will do well in this class. I took notes on the book each night before class, attended lectures and did the homeworks, and that made me feel prepared for tests. She also offers a lot of extra credit which is really helpful.

Given that I took AP Bio before taking her class, I expected the course to be easy, but she made bio1 as simple as possible. If you read the book you will be fine even if you don't go to the lectures, which have in-class questions that only are for extra credit. Quiz questions are very straightforward. Study for an hour and you'll be fine.

I really liked Dr. Z for biochem. Although it is a tough class, her expectations for us on exams were pretty reasonable. Four 60 pt exams (3 EC points/exam) and a final but one can be dropped so I am not taking the final. This was my favorite class this semester by a longshot, and I think it's possible to succeed if you put in the work.

Best option by far for Biochemistry. Does not give partial credit. If you have a C+ exam average you can end with a B or better. 3 points of extra credit on every test. GO TO OFFICE HOURS. Test questions can be pretty specific so just study well in advance.

Dr. Zapanta was clearly very knowledgeable and passionate about biology. Her lectures were very helpful and informational. Lots of extra credit opportunities were offered up, which ended boosting my grade by five points at the end of the semester. You could also drop one test or not take the last one if you were happy with your grade.

Zapanta's class was my easiest class this semester, and she offers A TON of extra credit (my grade increased 8% because of the extra credit). I will say the class doesn't cover as much information as other classes, so it doesn't prepare students as well for future biology classes or exams like the MCAT or GRE.

Dr. Zapanta is a great lecturer. Her slides are concise, offers a lot of visuals, and she emphasizes important concepts. She offers 19 extra credit points as bonus questions on exams or from pre-class assignments. The TopHat questions in class are very useful for applying the knowledge. Helpful explanations in office hours. Lowest exam is dropped.

I loved Dr. Zapanta. In the begining it was just an adjustment as it was for every freshman but once I got the hang of her class I did a lot better and was looking forward to seeing my grades constantly improving. She also offers a lot of extra credit and that boosted my grade to an A in the end.

I loved Dr. Zapanta. She does everything in her power to help her students pass by providing lots of extra credit at the end of the semester and on her quizzes. Your grades are made up of 6 quizzes all 30 multiple choice questions. The quizzes were all fairly made and she also drops your lowest quiz grade at the end of the semester.

One of the best science teachers I have had. She gives SO much extra credit making the class very fair. Tests are all multiple choice. Attendance is mandatory for a good grade would definitely recommend.

I loved Dr. Zapanta. Her grades are very test heavy but she also offers extra credit, she has a ton of resources if you need some extra help; and basically all the material you need for the tests will be in the slides, homework, or recitation assignments.

Zapanta was a wonderful professor, her lectures were straightforward & to the point. The tests were difficult, but studying a few days in advance and making flashcards/quizlets will help greatly. Showing up to lectures is important, she uses TopHat to mark ur attendance by answering questions and being there to hear her explain the topic is useful!

Nice professor, clear lecture, straightforward quizzes even though they make up most of your grade. Tons of ex credits opportunities.

quite an information overload, but doable. solid pick and not that hard to cram for. a lot of buffer points in general and is lenient with docking points on exam.

Biochem with this prof is a challenge, but doable if you put in the work. No partial credit on exams, but extra credit points help. Unstuckstudy AI was a lifesaver for study prep - better than cramming alone.

Biochemistry is a hard class, but I think Dr. Z does a good job. Her lectures feel a little disorganized with a lot of memorization, but it's just the nature of the course. Graded on 4 exams with one drop, homework, pre-class videos, and recitation assignments. The final was deleted. She gives a lot of bonus points on exams.

1/2 flipped class structure - before every lecture there's a pre-class assignment w content youll be tested on. annoying but not bad. Doesnt record in-person lectures that cover other topics. Recitations preclass and weekly homework also apart of grade. xtra credit on exams CARRIED; doable - has lots of resources to get practice, just memorize!

Her tests can be detail-oriented but she often includes extra credit and there's LOTS of other assignments that boost your grade (HW, recitations, pre-lectures). She responds to emails quickly and was nice during office hours. She gives you lots of resources to study.

Great balance between lecture and in-class work which works with the longer class times. Exams were tough but fair, and she works with you to help you improve!

Dr. Zapanta has a really clear teaching structure and her lectures are hilarious. She explains things super well. BUT, we spent too much time reviewing the foundations and too little time going over everything about metabolism. If you're premed and do want to study metabolism, think twice before you go for her.

You learn a lot in the honors version of Intro Bio 1, and I did study more for this class than all my others combined, but I recommend taking it with Dr. Zapanta 100%. Even though lectures were over two hours long, it was still my favorite class to go to. Tests were challenging but not horrible; gives points back in mysterious ways.

Dr. Zapanta was incredibly approachable! I don't know why she has such a bad reputation in the department. I love the way she teaches but have to agree that we had to rush through unit 4 on metabolism, which made exam 4 the hardest. The grading is really helpful with an exam drop. stay on top of readings, pre-class, and HW assignments.

While Honors Bio 1 is a tough course, I would recommend taking it with Dr. Zapanta. She used a good balance of lectures and in-class work to teach, and was willing to answer all my questions. The tests were fair with lots of extra credit offered. This class required more work than my other ones, but I am glad I took it.

Honors Bio 1 was tough and most of my studying during the semester went towards this class. However, Dr. Zapanta made the topics easier to understand with her explanations and diagrams! She also has an "open-door" policy for office hours, which was really helpful. Grade consists of HW, project, TopHat activities, 4 exams (drop lowest), and a final.

During lectures, Dr. Zapanta did not stray too far from the slides. Recitation, HW problems, and In-class TopHats served as good practice for exams. Exams were fair and had extra bonus questions that tested the concepts that were most missed on a previous exam. Overall, her class was a good experience for my first year at college and learned a lot!

Although she taught a tough class, I enjoyed Dr. Zapanta as a professor. Her lectures were thorough and neatly organized. Her in-class activities really helped me understand the course material. Her exams were initally difficult, but as the course progressed I adjusted to her testing style. I hope to have her again in the future.

Her class was really tough, but she's a great teacher and if you put time into studying and reading the textbook the material isn't that bad. I learned so much from her class that I know I wouldn't have in a regular bio 1 class. Loved her.

Dr. Zapanta was one of my favorite professors last semester! I could tell that she was very passionate about the subject and about teaching, which brought a positive vibe to the class. You definitely need to study well for the exams because they cover a lot of content, but the questions themselves are actually not too difficult. Slay queen Laura

Biochem is a hard class no matter who you take. I wouldn't be scared by her reviews. She is prepared, gives a ton of resources for outside of class, is very accessible, and overall a wonderful woman. You will have to study a lot, and I recommend starting the second you get the material, but it's not difficult if you are willing to put in the effort

Dr. Z is a great choice for Biochem. 4 exams 1 final you drop one (INCLUDING FINAL-- CLUTCH!) first two exams are free, practice amino acids and really dedicate some time to memorizing pathways and you're golden with one less final to take. Took BC and orgo II at same time and it was still manageable. She reminds me of a high school teacher

Great lectures and a lot of practice material. Cares about her students and made sure we understood material. We were only given 15 minutes of class time to go over exams and only 4 solution manuals for >100 students. I didn't do well on early exams which dropped my grade but it is possible to get an A. No partial credit on MC and easy final!

Zapanta is difficult if you do not put in the work. There's pre-lecture assignments MWF and HW due friday nights. You need to read and study AT LEAST a week before the test. 2 extra credit question at the end of the tests. Lock in if you want something higher than a C.

Very nice teacher. Exceptionally nice and understanding. Give your full attention for lectures, study a bit, go to UTA discussions (whatever works for you), and you'll do fine in the class. Those who do bad don't do anything and come here to complain about how much they hate the class because it isn't completely free.

I took AP Bio, so was well prepared for this class. There are 6 quizzes (keep 5, drop your lowest score) that make up most of the grade. There's extra credit (quizzes are 32 MCQs, scored out of 30). I did great on my first 5 quizzes, with a month left in the semester I already have an A+ secured and can drop the final quiz. Reread notes to study.

Loved having Dr Zapanta for my first science based class as a freshman. Study hard, review the pre-class, HW, and recitation assignments and you'll do just fine. She also offers plenty of discussion groups for additional help and usually responds quickly to email. Highly recommend for BIOSC0150.

The format of the class made it difficult to keep up and be prepared to study a lot if you didn't take AP Bio in high school. But Dr. Zapanta is super helpful and wants all her students to succeed so she definitely helped me adjust to the college pace.

If you remember anything from high school bio, you're good. Gives bonus opportunity on every test and also gives bonus if you attend class right before holidays (day before halloween and thanksgiving break).

This class was nice. Whoever is complaining is just hating. Her exams are fair and aren't that hard. Read over the lectures and the HW problems and you'll do just fine. She is nice and loves to teach and cares about her students. She is a very good option, take her.

She is a good teacher overall, she just tends to move extremely fast to cover all the content. Quizzes make up most of your grade but she drops one quiz each semester and she tries to give you many methods of studying.

Dr. Zapanta provides a perfect intro to bio course. Her expectations were clear. There is a ton of wiggle room. Lowest dropped quiz (including final), dropped homework, a BUNCH of extra credit. The first quiz is a bit difficult, but she gives a ton of resources to do well. Her lectures are engaging and helpful. She's very caring! Highly recommend!!

She is a very good Bio one professor. Exams (30 questions 2 bonus questions) were very fair. You can take 6 and drop the lowest one. Homework, pre-lecture assignments, and in class assignments are all on tophat, and she drops a ton so you can mess up a few. With her teaching, I feel very prepared for Bio 2 and I would take her again if I could.

Slides have all of the material for exams. She talks fast so take notes on the slides PDF or print it out. Final is optional & replaces 1 of the exams. Lots of work & activities so I crammed before every exam. I did not really use the textbook. Lots of little extra credit. I did not have a flipped classroom but she is hoping to implement this soon.

Dr. Zapanta is the best. Her lectures are clear and conscience and super helpful when preparing for quizzes. Her quizzes are 30 questions each with 2 bonus points, and your lowest out of the 6 is dropped. She provides numerous materials to study from and has an open door office hour policy. Overall I would HIGHLY recomend for bio 1.

This class felt like an appropriate level of difficulty (w/ AP Bio background). Worked hard for each exam, but not too much stress overall. All content needed for exams is in the lecture ppts. Exam drop is amazing; didn't have to take the final. Exam questions felt fair and Zapanta follows her ppt slides closely! Down-to-earth, experienced prof.

very clear what information is on exams, drop lowest of 6 exams, all multiple choice, i didn't read the textbook and still got over 100% in the class

Professor Zapanta is an amazing professor and her BIOSC0150 class is not difficult. There are 6 total quizzes throughout the semester and your lowest one is dropped. They're all 30 multiple choice questions and she usually gives 2-3 extra credit questions at the end. Just study her lecture notes and her quizzes won't be a problem at all.

Dr. Zapanta teaches directly from the textbook. She encourages students to attend office hours with either her and her TA/UTAs who are available practically everyday. Most quiz questions have little to no application questions, so they are fairly easy. Simply memorizing the textbook will get you a good grade. 6 quizzes with 1 dropped (no final)

definitely one of the better options for bio 1. i didn't read the textbook at all and did fine. 6 quizzes with lowest dropped that make up most of your grade. questions are fair, you'll be fine as long as you don't cram, study the lectures + lecture objectives/vocab and go to office hours. you can tell she cares and wants everyone to pass :)

if you want to do good you have to use all the resources. go to class, use the lecture slides, read the textbook will help A LOT. dont sleep on the credit from in class questions and recitation. overall good materials provided.

The best professor for Bio 1. The class has 6 exams and you can drop one. The exams are 30 questions and there's almost always extra credit on each exam. Tons of extra credit opportunities. If you actually study and attend lecture you will do super well in this class. Definitely my favorite class of the semester!