2.6
Quality4.3
Difficulty28%
Would Retake198
Reviews28%
Would Retake
198
Reviews
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198 total ratings5
41
4
23
3
39
2
26
1
69
What Students Say
“Like HARD in depth Qs* This 2x a week”
BIO3200 - 2.0 rating“Good prof, TOUGH subject”
3200 - 5.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
61%
Textbook Required
100%
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B+
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-0.19 avg changeRatings by Course
BIO2600HELL
5.0
(1)CELL2600
5.0
(1)BIOCELL
5.0
(1)PHYSIOLOGY
5.0
(1)SIGHTLIFE
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
2600
5.0
6330
5.0
BIOLOGY2600
5.0
BIO5XXX
5.0
BIO6330
5.0
Reviews (197)
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He is a horrible professor coz he teaches intro to Cell Biology like a graduate class, no point of going to the class. Test are out of no where and his grading scale is too high (95% is an A). never take this class to kill your GPA.
one word: UGH!
Please, Please take all Cell Bio related classes with Parkin, I wish this guys name was on the site before I took his class. Do not take if you don't want to take it over, fail, or C to D range grade.
This professor is out of his mind. He tells you one thing in class and test you on another. If you are interest in learning and getting a A Tips: Dont show up to class and read your text 2 hours per day. For 25% of his test he covers in lecture and 100% you will find in your text.Passingrate 0%
BAD!!!!!!!
He is a horrible man. He teaches at a graduate level with no consideration for the students. After studying for two weeks, I managed to get a 54%. He told me he didnt care and that I should make up my own mind whether to drop the course. He is a disgrace to the department of biology.
he is a horrible professor and teaches a 2000 level class as if it is a 5000 level bio class. he's not at all understanding and wants you to fail. he personally told me that a C is a good grade. yes you will learn a lot from the class, but i would still HIGHLY RECOMMEND NO ONE TO TAKE THIS CLASS
if you want to ruin your gpa, take this class. i studied constantly for this 3 credit course and could only crack high C's on the test. wait to take parkins for this course
if you wanna ruin your future and your gpa i advise you to take this tough professor. he is one of the worst teachers i ve ever had in my life. he thinks we are a graduate students and his questions are the hardestttt. i regret big time taking this class with coz i wasted time and moneyfor this f--k
Do everything possible to avoid the class. Wait for other profs. He would cover one full 40page chapter in one day because "he was behind." A 95% is an A. Very hard and demanding on tests.You have to know every picture/page of the book. If you do take it, expect to study like it's 3 classes in one.
I strongly recommend taking another prof. I have never had a hard time untill this course. His lectures are pointless and he has no ability to teach, the only reason you learn anything is because you must study endlessly. He has no regard for the fact that you prob have 13 other credits.
Really, no one should enroll in his class. his lectures are usless since the exams dont cover anything discussed in the lectures and you have to study all by your self and should kow every single concept and every single thing by heart! if u want to fail then register 4 this class or else dont!!!!!!
chutya hai sala. take it aur wat lag gayi. kya??? if u take this class u better be ready to read each chapter 2 to 3 times before the exam. ye admi students ko samaj ta hai ke wo log frankenstein aur enstien ke pote hai, sala. khoon chose ga aur thuke ga bhi nahi, kya.
Personally, he's a nice guy, however, this man shouldn't be teaching undergraduate level students. He has no sense of where his students are and what they know. Save your money and time by not signing up for any class that Vanberkum teaches.
PLEASE DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME, ENERGY AND MONEY IF U R TAKING CLASS WITH THIS GUY. ITS MUCH BETTER TO WAIT FOR A SEMESTER AND TAKE THIS CLASS WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
for someone who had a 4.00 goinginto this class and studying like it was my job getting a C plus must have been the highest grade in the class.. everyonei knew got that mark.. tests are ridiculous and might as well just guess, u ahve a better chance. TAKE IT WITH PARKIN, much easier should have waited the semester, would have not been as draining
you are supposed to have PhD in Molecular Biology before you attend his introductory course.
His teaching style is one of the worst.
NEVER STUDIED SO HARD FOR and have NEVER DONE SO POORLY IN A BIOLOGY CLASS BEFORE HIS BASIC BIO 2600 COURSE.. MAY BE DROPPING.. CAN'T HANDLE THE PROSPECT OF GETTING "B" OR EVEN "C" IN THIS CLASS!! HE NEEDS TO WAKE UP FOR THE SAKE OF HIS STUDENTS AND HAVE STRAIGHT FORWARD QUESTIONS ON EXAMS. QUIZZES SHOULD BE "READING CHECKS; NOT DETAILED EXAMS.
The worst prof. ever. Please don't take cell bio with this guy unless you have a bachlor, master and PHD in Cell bio. Even then there is a 95% chance you might fail. If you don't want to waste time and money PLEASE WAIT AND TAKE CELL BIO WITH SOMEONE ELSE. A guy off the street would be able to teach better than this wrdo.....
If you really want to LEARN cell bio, take it with him. These other people obviously look for the easy way out. His tests are fair, but YES YOU DO HAVE TO STUDY...AFTER ALL, THESE PEOPLE ARE PROBABLY PRE-MED RIGHT? GOOD LUCK GETTING IN MED SCHOOL KIDS!! YOU SHOULD HOPE FOR MORE PROFESSORS LIKE THIS ONE!
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U learn A LOT!! He is very clear but gives very hard questions on exams and quizzes. He really gets u thinking on the exams. Make sure u read the notes for the pictures in the book and read the notes. If he has clicker questions go to his lectures and right down the questions within the time limit he gives because those questions may be repeated
professor cant teach students very well do to him trying to zoom thro' too much material/day, if you do take him make sure read book and rely on book to help you follow his lecture notes, i done pretty good in his class and wound up getting an A, but do to the fact that i had to excessively study+he curves a bit at end of semester, good luck
This guy is hard but if u study u should be fine. However, he has no personality adn be willing to look out for yourself. read teh text!
I have to admit I hated the guy during the semester, but now that I look back I love him because I learned SO MUCH! To do well, you have to have VERY STRONG self-discipline skills and study in detail constantly! I just made an A before his final curve...so ended up getting over 100 in the class. His final isn't too killer...u get what u put into it
bad professor. Sicks big time.
AWESOME PROFESSOR.. very helpful if you visit him during office hours or approach him with good questions. Dislikes students who play the what he calls "pt game" and encourages students to be proactive. You learn a lot from his class! Tests are detailed, but they should be.. takes you to a diff level. He is very enlightening and teaches well! :)
I was in class for most of semester, studying my @$$ off and still getting C's and always getting at least 1 wrong on each quiz. I read each chapter about 3-4 times, but his exams had bunch of questions out of nowhere. I am taking it with Parkin now so far my 3 exams average to 99%. He told me change majors, I'm 3rd year straight A Pre-Med.
Dr. Vanberkum needs to learn how to teach. Nothing personal, but he seems to have the average attitude of many science professors at Wayne-- let 'em sink or swim... who cares if they fail and waste their time... so long as I retain half of the class and only 10% gets an A.
Honestly, Dr. VanBerkum is a good teacher and you do need to study to succeed in his class BUT the material is tough. So study go to class, do the study guides and the chapter tests (an easy 75 pts.) towards your grade and you should do fine. F.Y.I He does care about his students but don't wait 2 days before the test and say you need help. BIG NO N
This course is not a cakewalk.But I learned a great deal.Expect to put in at least 8 hours a week of studying.Exams are hard (but just review previous year's exams that he posts!).I was doing poorly midway in the semester so I went and talked to him. He is surprisingly very helpful, easy to talk to.Don't hesitate to challenge his exams-welcomes it.
Not easy but not impossible. If you do your chapter tests and review all of the previous exams as well as study guides you will do just fine in this class. Dr. Vanberkum welcomes questions and is helpful if you need it.
He is very nice and helpful. don't be intimidated. you will learn /understand a lot and i promise he is not as bad as people make him out to be - most people are stupid anyways. He has a style for his exams: do ALL practice study questions from the book, study guides, practice exams, and review quizzes, and don't just memorize and you'll get an A!
He really tries to help in anyway he can, but holy crap was he hard. KNOW EVERYTHING. His tests are designed to make sure that you have a perfect understanding of everything. So that's realy the only way you'll do well. Have a good understanding and expect a C or lower.
The class is hard but good. Little whiny babies like to give this guy a bad rating because the material is tough. But he's clear and the text is great and the fact is after taking this class I aced the bio part of the MCAT. So if you want to have an easy time stay away from him but if you want to get into med school and learn something he's awesome
Good professor, very smart. Tests and quizzes are painful. He is very wordy and tries to trick you on nearly every questions. You'll learn a lot in his class but don't expect and easy A.
I learned a LOT from this class and did get an A. However, you MUST MUST do a lot of work if you want a good grade. Read the textbook, take notes, do the practice tests, study guides and blackboard tests. He is very helpful during his office hours. He goes at a fast pace, so try to keep up as there is a good amount of material
He is difficult, but provides many useful resources that should help you succeed in the class if you put forth the effort. His study guides, old exams, online quizes, and classroom quizes are extremely useful and help you learn the material. Great professor, I'd take him again.
Very good teacher - tough grader but will learn a lot in his lectures.
Not that bad. Just do the study guide and READ THE BOOK.
Professor Vanberkum is difficult but it is not impossible to get an A. Study from the practice tests and quizzes. Reading the book is more helpful than his lectures. Pay careful attention to little details, he usually changes a word in the actual test so you have to pay attention. Learned quite a bit overall.
The KEY to the cell biology class is to read the book: focus on the slides that are in the power point and find them in the book: read all the details/information provided by the book. ALSO, a good idea of what you should have an understanding of before the exam are the main ideas discussed in the Chapter Review at the end of each chapter.
i loveee professor vanberkum! this class is not as bad as all your friends who want and A but don't want to study for it tell you! lectures are boring but he knows this and doesn't care. learning is up to you! i learned a great deal. read the book and take notes as you go. make sure you go over practice exams and study guides the night before.
Read The Book, and do old practice exams & its gonna be the easiest A ever.
Wonderful professor. Exams can be tricky if you choose them to be (you have to study hard)! He makes you read the book, which is great since you pay a fortune for it. His class is intercative so be prepared to answer questions, otherwise you will fall asleep (and fail). Take his class if you want to get into med school.
Wow, talk about getting your money's worth! Prof. V is a great teacher, and will prepare you for the MCAT! Don't be like those cowards who wait for an easy teacher for this class. What are you guys going to do in med school? I don't think you can choose your teachers!!!
Aside from the knowledge part. This guy needs lessons in ethics and core values. So you decide.
So much information to remember! Lot's of little details that can be easily forgotten. I read everything but still didn't get an A. The exam is VERY TRICKY. The multiple choice has lots of "both A & B" and "all of the above". Be sure to read exams carefully because of the wording. He won't argue about semantics, so have a scientific explanation.
What a snooze. Didn't learn a damn thing going to class. The subject was interesting and learned alot...from the book.Got an A by reading the book and studying the slides.
He's an ok prof. you really have to teach urself. if you read the book n take good notes from it u'll do fine...n u def learn a lot in this class but not from the prof. but by reading the book.
He is very knowledgeable, and expects his students to be as well. He is basically friendly one-on-one, but can be a little mean when addressing the class as a whole. The tests are detail oriented, but one can pass them with diligence and skill. The class isn't his first priority, and he won't expend more time or effort than he sees fit.
Best science course ever at Wayne. Most of the answers are simply slightly modified from old quizzes/exams. Be sure to go to SI and study the old exams, and you are sure to succeed. There is a slight curve, and he goes over details by asking clicker questions in class. Don't let the bad ratings fool you!
Lecture is USELESS,they are literally copy and pasted out of the book. the diagrams were straight out of the book. Although the class is awesome, this guy drains the fun out of it. We all sorta have to go to class cause you have to attend lecture to get all the clicker points. I really wish I could just study at my own pace, but he blocks that.
Horrible Prof. Lectures are POINTLESS. Just read the book on your own. Exams are Hard, he is VERY wordy. Forget the HW in the back of the book, study the practice Quiz and the Study Guides.
By far the best professor in the Biology department! Despite what many people are saying, it's really easy to succeed in this class. Not only that, but you learn a ton by going over clicker questions. If you have him, be sure to write all the clicker questions down, go over things in SI, and study the old exams which he GIVES AWAY!
Most pretentious prof ever! This guy talks down to students and acts as if we are wasting his time. Lecture is completely unhelpful. Read the book and study old exams he posts to do well. The sad thing is I've heard that he's one of the better profs to take this from.
This class was a waste of time. Once he took away our clicker points it was no point in going. his lectures are very unclear and is not helpful for the exam. to do well read the book and study old exams that he posts...most questions are exactly the same!
He started out giving us 25 points for using clickers. Halfway through the semester, took them away and had to give extra credit through questions. Nice guy if you go to office hours, but even with all the extra credit, studying the old exams, and going to every lecture, I still got a D+. I studied a ridiculous amount too.
PROF VANBERKUM IA PROBABLY ONE OF THE WORST PROFS I'VE HAD. HIS LECTURES ARE TERRIBLE AND HE GIVES NO GUIDANCE AS TO WHERE TO FOCUS FOR HIS EXAMS. HE EXPECTS YOU TO "FIGURE HIM OUT". I REC'D AN A, BUT DID SO BY READING THE BOOK, DOING THE QUESTIONS AND REVIEWS FOR EA CHAPTER AND BY REVIEWING HIS OLD EXAMS.
I may not have been in his classes but I will say this, If you know how to listen, you will understand. If you know how to ask, help will be offered. I learned a lot from just being around him. With the proper research, anything can be learned, any problem can be fixed.
Not as bad as everyone says. I've taken same course with a different professor in the fall and I prefer Mark Vanberkum instead. I dropped the course last fall because of the professor. Like any ordinary class, read over powerpoints, attend class to understand it, and ESPECIALLY read the textbook and review old exams that he posts.
Great Professor, has a different approach to learning, if you read the chapter before class, he will tie in all the concepts.He does not spoon feed you, self teach! Review old exams, use the Interactive phys videos and worksheets, BOB Q's, his study sets, and the slides, most of all the BOOK! Devour it! I used a white board to draw out concepts.
Great Professor!!! If you go to his office hours he will really work with you and is very helpful. I learned so much from his class that I would say it is far and away the best class/teacher I've had at Wayne. If you want to do well on your mcat/pcat take him because you will learn! However, there is no time for laziness. You have to work!
Vanburkum is simply not a good lecturer. He's extremely boring, and in a class with 400 people crammed into a lecture hall, that's a recipe for disaster. Tests are not straightforward. You've got to know every singly little minute detail, which is bothersome. For a 3 credit class, you have to do 6 credits worth of studying. Not recommended.
Absolutely the worst professor I have ever taken! Doesn't teach..goes over pics from the textbook and expects u to know EVeRything! He will tell u himself... "if it's in the book u need to kno it" I would not recommend him unless u hav photographic memory and the ability to memorize every sentence of the book
I don't understand what's wrong with this guy...If you go to his office hours, he will explain things to you and make sense out of everything. I only went once, and I regret only going once. I wish I could have gone more because he really helped me that one time. Take him. He's not the easy professor by any means, but you'll learn a lot.
Vanberkum is not really the best teacher in the world but he's a really nice guy, he goes through his lectures slides fast and expects you to know them, boring at times, your textbook will be your best friend and will help you pass!! Gave us old exams which were very similar to questions on exam which is a plus! Work hard and you'll do well
He expects you to read the chapters before he covers them, which isn't always easy, but it's worth it for the exams. His clicker questions help you learn what you know and don't know yet. A very nice and helpful guy in general :)
He s not the best teacher, his slides is a copy from the book, his exams are hard, he expects you to know every single detail in the book, he does not care about students. I studied really hard and got A-, depend on the textbook more than his slides, but use his old exams to know the kind of questions he asks.
Dr. Vanberkum is a caring professor and he is more than willing to help you. He always answers questions before class, and is available for office hours. He clearly tells you to read the text, and all of his exam questions come straight from the text, so no surprises. One of the easier bio classes at wayne. clicker points make attendance mandatory.
You MUST read the textbook for this class. Dr. VanBerkum is a VERY detailed professor. You must read every chapter and understand the material in the chapter. Also go over the information in his slides. His exams can be challenging. However, this will prepare you for the MCAT and other classes in general.
I have never done so poorly in a BIO class in my life until this class. What he goes over in lecture is not on the exam. His questions are very tricky. He tries to trick you up on purpose. You need to know the book inside and out. There are 4 exams and that is IT. So you will need to ACE all tests. NO room for error.
He is OK in my view. His lectures are mandatory only if you want the clicker points. His exams are tough and mere reading his slides wont do any good. Reading textbook is a very tough task as specially when it comes to the last day. His questions are not at all clinically related, he just wants to trick you as much as he can.
Bad reviewers probably didn't take his advice at the beginning of class: come to class and read the book. If you challenge a question on the exam and can justify it with a better reason than "the figure said..." he'll give you points. Otherwise very helpful. I learned better studying which helps for higher courses.
Lectures are useless , people only came for clicker points, exams tested your ability to guess more than your knowledge of the material. he lectured with 30% detail and expected you to know 90%, i read the book cover to cover to get a B. changed attendance policy midway through semester which was unfair. Helpful in office hours though . Avoid him
Dr. Vanberkum is an exceptional professor. He really knows how to teach. YOU REALLY NEED TO READ THE TEXTBOOK TO GET AN A. The class is not as bad as it sounds. If you put the time in and understand, you will do well. Dr. Vanberkum is also willing to help. Talk to him and he will give you great advice on how to succeed.
Typical Wayne Biology course. Professor powerpoints, doesn't really teach, expects students to know everything and then some. Honestly I'm sorry for those who get him and wish them the best learning from the book.
Worst biology professor at Wayne. If there is anyone other than him, take them. Other than that all you can do is read the books, don't rely too much on old tests but use them to study, and get those clicker points. The final wasn't bad if you stayed on track all semester but it was tricky. Go through all the topics on his old exam and study hard.
Just read the chapters before the lecture and attend class for the clicker questions and you will be fine.
This class was not easy. You have to study ALOT over and over again but is is possible to get an A. I learned SOO much, the class forces you to think deeper. I enjoyed his class. READ THE BOOK!!! :)
Dr. V was extremely difficult. He did know what he was talking about, however he only used diagrams from the book in his lectures. Exams extremely hard and question are as tricky as it gets. If you're planning on taking the class by itself, then study 10 hours a day to earn your A. otherwise, AVOID!
It is impossible to memorize every sentence in a 500 page book. This fact has seemed to escape this man's brain. I understand he knows the material, but how about I give you a book you never read and ask you what was person X wearing in this part of the book? Can't memorize a random sentence in the 50,000 sentences in a book. impossible to do
Seriously the WORST professor ever! His slides are completely pointless. You basically have to memorize the book and teach yourself. The class is extremely difficult!!!
Good prof, TOUGH subject. So don't shoot the messenger if you don't study enough. If you go to his office hours he will really work with you and is very helpful. If you want to do well on your mcatpcat take him because you will learn!
I don't understand why this guy gets such a bad rep. As long as you read you're guaranteed a B and then if you read and try to understand the material it's an A. I think people that don't like him don't like the amount of material in the class and blame it on him. Simply read and understand and you're fine. He gives easy clicker points to help too.
U need to read the books and at the same time understand the material. The first 4 exams i memorized everything from the book. I got just 86% but I changed my plan in the final by trying to understand the relationship of each picture and I got 7780 which helped me get an A. He is tough but nice. His lecture is fun. He will help u prepare for pcat!
I was advised against taking this professor and i'm glad I didn't listen. He expects you to work for your grade but he prepares you well enough for the exams. Read the book and review lectures to help tie everything together. Exam questions can get wordy and tricky but overall you can do well by studying hard, you will learn a ton!!
He was clear and concise on what he wanted. The material itself was hard, but it's not impossible. His exams are exactly what he says they're going to be, which is everything from lecture and the book. Just read the book, show up to lecture, and go to his office hours. He is really good at helping in office hours. His grading is also very fair.
Truly the kind of professor that WANTS to see his students succeed. If you're looking for an easy A, this is the wrong class, but the man is funny and always knows what he is talking about, which makes learning the material so much more interesting. He motivated me to REALLY understand, and treated his students with respect. Helpful and reliable.
Dr. Vanburkem is probably one of the best biology professors at Wayne state! If you read the book and go to lecture you'll be fine, i've gotten all A's on his exams so far. This is a hard class no matter what so you need to work for your grade. Its a ton of material but i didn't mind reading because i like subject in general. NOT AN EASY A!
Mark is a super nice guy who really cares about his students & truly wants everyone 2 understand the beauty of the human body Although his exams are tricky/hard hes been teaching this class for eons so a lot of his old exams go around and he definitely sticks to the same types of questions Plan on being there he does a lot of clicker points
Vanberkum is a great professor! Lectures are clear and he really makes sure you understand the material. The exams are very tough, you HAVE to read the book otherwise you will not do well on exams. There is a lot of information to know for this class, but as long as you go to class and read the book you shouldn't have an issue. Exam avgs were 70%.
One of Wayne State's best science professors. The class wasn't easy but I actually learned a lot. Clicker questions were really helpful, you get a lot of points by just showing up and answering, it also really helped me prepare for exams and stay engaged in the learning. I would definitely recommend this prof, great class he really knows his stuff
So I'm going to be honest and just say Dr. Vanberkum should probably be teaching graduate level. This class was very challenging and consumed a lot of my time for a 3 credit class. I am an A student and struggled to keep an A- throughout the semester. Likes the big picture type questions on exams. Says the book is your study guide.
This course is hard regardless of who you take. MVB tells you from the beginning that just memorizing won't cut;he wants you to comprehend the material. Study hard & often(don't expect an A from just cramming.) He's more than willing to answer any questions but you need to put in the effort. Read the book because it helps! This was my no.1 priority
Dr. Vanberkum was probably the best professor I have had at Wayne state. He truly cared about you as a student/person. Reading the book and going to the lectures is a must! Practice exams helped a lot!
Great bio class, it isn't just him reading off the slides. It's mostly pictures and he explains it thoroughly, and asks a BUNCH of clicker questions. You MUST read. No exceptions. First bio class that I did really good in and it suppose to be one of the harder ones
he is good
Grade is all exam based, clicker questions every class are given for credit. Any days you miss missed points. Classes are short and insufficient, you basically are left to study the material on your own and get used to his convoluted questions. Quizzes are given on a days notice that'll be due in a few days. I regret taking.
He expects you to come into class already knowing 45 pages worth of information (takes me 6-8hours to take good notes on) and uses accuracy based questions *note not vocab words. Like HARD in depth Qs* This 2x a week. His exams are tricky bc I don't have the ability to pick certain answers out of his mind even if I fully understand the question.
Seriously, this is a 3 credit class that meets for 2 hours a week. He needs to take it easy, he literally assumes you've read ahead for every lecture cause apparently bio should be your num.1 priority. His test are killer (yes, i read EVERY chapter in the book) he is super specific and all his answers are similar. Super hard, avoid!
The class requires a lot of reading. You'll learn but on your own, nearly entirely. The wording of this prof's questions on exams is so subjective that you can study for tens of hours, as I did, and still get a B despite your hardest effort. Also, this class only meets for 2 hours per week. Class is so brief it's nearly pointless.
This is an incredibly difficult class but if you work really hard you will do just fine. Study hard and read the textbook before coming to class. If you're confused about anything go to his office hours and he's happy to answer any questions. Really chill prof. I enjoyed this class and felt like I learned a ton
Mark V. was a great teacher and it was nice to see him 2 days a week for almost my whole summer. Human Physiology is a very difficult course, you have to study. Practice test were a great help (you can find more online, the one he posted for us was the best). Read the book, understand whats happening, and answer questions/do flashcards. Get an A.
He was a good professor overall and once you figure out how to study, you should have no problem doing well on exams. A lot of reading is required for this class and its very easy to fall behind. This class was extremely difficult but he explained physiology concepts well.
Probably the BEST professor I have ever had here at WSU! He expects you to know a lot, read the chapters, think critically and just push yourself. If you want an easy way to an A he is not your prof but let me tell you... If you are a dedicated hard working student you will do well just put in the work. Left the summer course with an A, work hard!
I had MVB as a guest speaker in another bio course at WSU before 2600, and knew then he was a little intense. He does know his stuff, but can be daunting at times and it seems he expects his students to have the knowledge of a professor like himself. In Spring/Summer semester clicker points are extra credit, and the final isn't cumulative.
By far the most difficult and intense class I have ever taken, but you will learn to think critically and really understand the physiology. Go to office hours, do the worksheets, find a group of people to answer the clicker questions with, and you will probably do fine. Just memorizing the book/slide material is not enough. Exams are really hard!
He is clearly very knowledgeable but at the same time extremely arrogant and rude. Read the book and pay special attention to the diagrams. There are clicker questions in lecture - you will need those points. Exams are hard but fair. In the end, the class is actually quite interesting - his character and personality are absolutely despicable.
A great guy - would love to have him as a dad, but not as a professor. Grade depends only on exams. Clickers are extra credit. He is always willing to be available outside of office hours, but I cant promise meeting him will help. Make sure you understand every detail of the body ever. They're not "just details" to him. You'll see it on the exams.
As a person, I do not like him. Dr. Vanberkum is arrogant and rude. As a professor, I feel that he expects too much from his students. If you do not read every page of the book you will not pass. It is a very time consuming process but it must be done. Lectures aren't very helpful. Exams are very hard and comprehensive. The material is cool. Good luck
by far the HARDEST professor i've ever dealt with. 4 exams (drops lowest) & cumulative final. YOU MUST READ EVERY PAGE IN THE BOOK to pass. KNOW IT INSIDE OUT BECAUSE HIS EXAMS ARE SO HARD & comprehensive , his slides are only pictures because you need to read the book b4 class. I would study 10 hours a day & that didnt help. I dont recommend him!
His exams are killer. There is just so much info that you need to know and his questions can be very detailed. I think this is the second semester he is offering extra credit clicker points, make sure you get all those because you will need them. You will have to read every single little detail in the book and pay attention to the figures.
The only way you can do well in his class is to memorize the entire textbook word for word. There is no emphasis of the larger physiological concepts and it definitely won't help you on the MCAT or other standardized exams. Take it with someone else if you value your time.
Honestly, save ur gpa and ur money. His exam questions are crazy and lectures are boring. His slides are just a bunch of pictures, so you have to read the textbook
This was a very difficult class. Dr. Vanberkum's lectures were very detail orientated so it was hard to retain all of the information. He gave us clicker questions for extra credit, with a max amount of 20 extra credit points. His exams were tough but many of the questions were recycled from old exams. READ THE TEXT BOOK!!
This class was A LOT of work. Don't take it with any other hard or time-consuming classes. The only way to do well is by reading the textbook very thoroughly and taking notes on it, and attending all the lectures. He gives extra credit and makes it very clear how you should study if you want to do well.
On a personal level, Dr. Vanberkum is a really passionate and reasonable dude. However, he does his best to try and confuse students on exam questions and is very rude when students try to challenge him. To pass this class, reading the book is not enough, you must understand the concepts as all the exam questions are concept based.
Dr. Vanberkum is a great professor. He has a great knowledge of the material. He is willing to answer your questions in his office hours. Be ready to read as he doesn't explain each and every detail is the textbook. His exams are a bit hard and needs you to read the question and understand what is wants before answering it.
Avoid if possible. Reading and memorizing all the details in the book is key since exam questions are very specific. Vanberkum is clearly very knowledgeable about physiology, however, he is a bad teacher and makes the class unnecessarily difficult for only 3 credits. Study in advance, do all the hw and get as many clicker q possible-youll need the
Dr. Vanberkum is by far my favorite professor I've ever had at Wayne State! Yes the class is hard, but its a 3000 level why wouldn't it be? The exams are easy as long as you read the textbook and pay attention to WHY things are. Don't be lazy, put in the time, and ask questions!!!! He is truly amazing and wish he could teach my other classes.
There is no such thing as an easy physio course but this class was harder than it needed to be. You need to read the book and pay attention to how and why things work the way they do. This class is hard, but not impossible. Show up to class, take good notes, and ask questions. Apply yourself and you'll be fine.
In order to do well you need to read and re-read the chapters, which is very time consuming. It was difficult, but not impossible. The exams were pretty straight-forward and clickers were EC (20 points max). Final exam was cumulative & pretty tough. Keep up with the chapters or you will become overwhelmed. Old exams are very helpful. Curved class.
Dr. Vanberkum is a very knowledgeable and nice professor. He does definitely challenge you to get the grade you want. Get ready to read and re-read until you remember every single detail of the textbook. Not only do you have to know the material, you must understand it well enough to apply it to exam questions, as exam questions are concept based.
His exams are really hard but you learn a LOT in his class. Just study a little every day. You might need to read the textbook but it will be worth it. I struggled a lot in the class but I still managed an A. He is a really fair grader.
he is horrible, his exams were ridiculous, just avoid him if u can. TRUST ME
I would avoid if possible this class was the first class I failed and Ive never received lower than a B throughout college.
If you are pre-med/pharm/dental/PA/anything, do yourself a favor and take this with another professor if you need an A. He only covers about half the book during lecture, but expects you to memorize the rest for exams. Also, he offers very few points besides on exams, and you actually need a 94% to get an A. This was the class to break my 4.0
He is great at explaining physiology. All material from the textbook was fair game and main ideas were discussed in lecture. Take good notes during lecture, notes from the book, and take screenshots of echo to practice clickers for exams. It is hard to do well but the class is curved. Learn physiology and practice everyday to do well.
Lectures didnt really help as I learned everything off YouTube videos by this guy named Dr. Greg and from reading the textbook. Only went to lecture for the clicker qs as they gave me EC. Got an A from using old exams because he recycles qs, without them I wouldve done poorly. Get old exams and you will do fine.
I'll digress and say there's no magic about this class. It's the same thing. You need to attend class, read and do homework back home, and take your exams. He's a fair grader and challenges you to think critically and connect the dots. I think that's why people aren't warm to him. And I'm not either, it was a challenging class. But it was fair.
Not the best professor but not the worst. The lectures don't really help you understand the material that well but the clickers are extra credit. The exams can be tough so do the practice exam. Read everything in the book because his slides are useless for studying. Does curve to the second highest grade in the class which ended up being a 6% curve
DO yourself and your GPA a favor and do not take this professor ever! This was by far the only class that I struggled a lot throughout my 3 yrs of college. His lectures do not help you in understanding the material as he spends 3/4 of the lectures asking clicker questions which are 15 pts EC at the end of the semester. Have to memorize the book.
I do not recommend him! He does not teach and his powerpoints are just pictures. You have to memeorize the book and even then, you have no idea where he gets some questions from. DO NOT RECOMMEND
If you have the chance to NOT take him, do it. Take courses with anyone but him. He expects you to know the chapter when you go into the lecture for it, and only shows pictures for slides. Can't even take notes in class. Laughs when students get clicker questions wrong (which is hurting our grade). Terrible.
if you're good at memorizing the book youll probably get a B to an low A. he hates us memorizing but He has plain pictures for slides and talks off his head about what he likes not what is crucial to learn . He hasnt taught the class in 13 years. But he talks at us as if we are in 3000plus and this is review. Run. FLY away fast.
This is the worst professor I've ever had. Please do not take him and suffer, thanks to the bio department we got stuck with him when he hasn't taught this course in 10 years. DO NOT TAKE HIM FOR ANY CLASS. Any other teacher will be better than this guy. If you don't want to constantly have mental breakdowns and question your sanity, then AVOID HIM
do not take him!!!!! if you want a B in the class then memorize the book. if you want an A then do some black magic or whatever because its impossible.
RUN AWAY WHEN YOU HEAR HIS NAME!! This professor doesn't know how to teach. I feel like he enjoys when his students' fail because, after a class average GRADE of 'D' he says "Well Done Folks!" This reflects that he is actually making fun of his students. After reading the chapters thoroughly you end up with a C/C+ in the exam. Don't ruin your GPA!
This professor is absolutely the worst at Wayne State. Do not take any class with him! He likes to make inappropriate jokes in class, make fun of students, and doesn't know how to teach. He shouldn't be a professor at all. He makes clicker questions worth points so it's actually possible to fail them. He's the worst. Do not take him.
The WORST professor I have ever had. Avoid taking him at ALL costs. All of his clicker questions are trick questions which are always for points, expects you to memorize every detail of the book- and its basically the only way to pass the exams. Unclear teaching, his lectures are useless.
Save yourself stress and anxiety and don't take him. Over 100 students are failing and he doesn't care and he won't curve. He is the worst professor to teach at this school and that's saying a lot. The whole bio department sucks which is horrible for premed students. DO NOT TAKE HIM PLEASE I can;t stand seeing the smug look on his face when we fail
Don't take this professor at all, I don't care if he's the only professor that is teaching a course you need, he is horrid. This is supposed to be an intro class and he teaches us like we are in 3000 level just because that is what he is used to. Now majority of the class has a D and most are pre med, that doesn't match up at all.
I have been in college for 2 years now and I've NEVER EVER gotten below a B but not with this man. Mr. Vanberkum likes to say "well done" even though the class fails his exams at an EXTREMELY low rate. His clicker points brings down grades tremendously and for what just cause he wants to play with clicker system and seem professional smh. RUNNNNNN
Hardest Prof at Wayne State undoubtedly. Need to memorize the book (4 chapters per exam) and even then, you're lucky to get a 40-45 out of 50. Clickers a part of your grade and difficult af - need to read before each lecture. Says he won't curve the class. 100 students failing.
He's so cool. Unlike the other 100 students that seem to be failing, I am doing great. I think that it is on them and not Dr. VanBerkum. He is a great and inspirational soul.
To people saying he's an inspirational soul, his teaching style is horrible and doesn't really "teach" if you actually think about it. Explaining pictures off a slide doesn't count as teaching. He only cares about the ones that are doing well and doesn't care to help the ones that are doing bad. Memorize the book and you MAY pass, not even with A
If you see his name run away. Most vague teacher I ever had. He is a hypocrite, he would tell you oh this class isnt about memorization and yet his exams are just full of details from the book. He even doesn't mention these details in the class or on the slides. I basically had to read the whole book by myself and highlight the important stuff.
This course is by far the hardest I've ever taken. The exams in this course are extremely difficult even with memorizing the book you're lucky to get a B. All details in this class are available for testing no matter how vaguely the professor details them even if he only says it once he expects full understanding of the topic.
If you see his name, do yourself a favor and run!! If you have no choice but to take him, get ready for lots of prayers and daily frustration. Don't rely on his lectures to study, you have to read/memorize the book word by word (small details on exams). Clicker points brought grades down and "doesn't believe in ec". Trust what everyone is saying.
memorize the book!!!! don't even bother rewatching lectures because it seriously won't matter. Even after going to SI sessions, attending class, and taking book notes I still extremely struggled. Clicker points make a big difference and extra credit is NOT an option. Every exam had a D average and he always blamed it on the students.
I found it very difficult to adapt to Vanberkum's teaching style. You MUST read regularly. Memorization is not enough, you have to apply information as well as know minute details. It's an intense class, but a good opportunity to prove your work ethic. I would be cautious about taking another class with him. I-clicker is graded for accuracy.
If you think you prepared EXTREMELY well for his exams, you'll be lucky to get a C - rubbing salt in the wound, he'll email the class afterwards saying "Well done!" even when the majority are failing. Lectures are useless and he enjoys trickery, your chances of passing are slim to none. Don't push your luck, seriously pick any other professor.
Very nice person if you go and talk to him in office hours but actually that's not gonna help me with my grades. I am a good student with only A's in my transcript but he is so impossible. Don't know what he is talking about and have no homework or assignment that can help you with grades. your grades only depends on 3 exams. DON'T TAKE HIM
Mark VanBerkum's exams are a complete joke. Students can spend weeks studying the material and know it like the back of their hand, but the exam is an utter abyss of confusion. Mark VanBerkum is trapped in his own world and as students we are left to play catch-up while this man with over 20-30 years of experience rambles on without us.
Dr. VanBerkum is one of the tougher bio profs at WSU, but you will learn a lot in his class. How to get an A: study the slides & textbook figures (including descriptions) until you can teach the material
Great professor but very very tough. It is a prime example of weeder classes that kill the dreams of medical school for 80% of the class.
Dr. Vanberkum is an approachable guy, but exams are confusing and dont follow the MCAT style a lot of other bio profs use. You absolutely must know the material and be able to apply it to pass. The content of this class is tricky and he knows but was super accommodating during the pandemic and truly wants students to understand the content.
Worst teacher at Wayne State. Can study for weeks in advance and memorize and understand everything and you still will not do well. Conceited and doesn't care for his students. Rambles on about his life experience and just tells us to read the book for everything. Do not recommend for any pre-health students
Mr. VanBerkum is a very tough professor but he cares about his students. If you are struggling he is more than happy to help you if you are willing to work. Read the chapters before the corresponding lectures, know the material till you can teach it to someone else, study a good amount ahead of time, and review clicker questions and test questions
Just absolutely horrible. Don't take him if your pre-health. Added stress for now reason.
mvb was an okay prof. He's clearly passionate about the subject material. Heavy emphasis on the textbook, read it before class. Exams are not bad but sometimes oddly worded. Look over old exams a lot of questions are recycled. Clicker points are part of your grade. Barely curves exams but curves at the end to the 2nd highest grade.
He's very tough and talks very quickly during lectures. Memorization didn't help in this class - understanding WHY was important. Read the chapter before lectures and ASK QUESTIONS! Make Quizlets. Go to office hours. READ THE EXAM QUESTIONS CAREFULLY because his exams can be tricky. He can be intimidating and mean, but he is always willing to help.
I've heard so many bad things about Prof Vbk that scared me before this sem. Now that it's over, he's not that bad. He's actually a cool prof, his exams are just tedious (so plz beware). This class causes a lot of stress, but good news is that he curves the class to the second highest grade at the end of the sem, which saved everyone's grades
He curves at the end of the semester so you never actually know what your grade is. I know I was one of the few whose grades never dropped below 60% . A test and quiz every week sometimes on the day of exams. Don't bother going to lecture or expecting him to teach you things, just read and memorize the details of the test book to learn.
Looking back one of the best classes I took at WSU. The class was difficult enough to be engaging and required a LOT of studying. His questions were tricky to the point that every question I got correct on an exam seemed like a huge victory. Really enjoyed the class. Be prepared to study endlessly to do good so take it on a less loaded schedule.
Hardest class I have ever taken. I cant count how many times a week this class has made me cry. I have never worked harder in a class in my life and it still failed me. Your grade is impossible to calculate so dont bother trying to figure it out. Avoid this class and professor at all costs if you dont want to ruin your life. Hes willing to help
Very difficult class! Vanberkum was no help at all. Posts video lectures that you can barely stay awake through, let alone understand because his slides are so jumbled. Did not seem to care that the averages on our exams were around 50% each time. Do yourself a favor and choose a different prof.
he wants us to undestand every detail but this was an accelerated course we had an exam every week & 5 days to study 4 chapters which was not enough. it's a lot of info in a short time. exams were alright but you have to study 15+ hours a week. his teaching is alr but the class is just SO MUCH. mental health and sanity will decrease bc of this clas
Lectures werent mandatory but were very helpful in understanding the material. But if you just read the book and take the practice exams youll honestly do fine.
Dr. VanBerkum, while being knowledgable, confused me more in class than when I was learning alone. His exams are extremely difficult, with wording being vague, similar responses, and the average for every exam being around a 60%. Being someone who understands bio very well, these tests were by far, the worst ones I've ever had to take.
He is very knowledgable and wants us to pass. His lectures are good and exams aren't too bad. He reuses some questions from old exams.
Vanberkum himself isn't a bad dude, not very helpful or approachable when it comes to questions. Very lazy teaching- the lectures are not nearly as detail-oriented as his exams (dont get me started on those). This class was very rough, if you got an A in this class you either 1) are built different or 2) cheated bc aint no way. Avoid him.
I understand that college-level bio exams have to be somewhat challenging but this dude's exams are unnecessarily hard. The questions were vague and awkwardly worded. Save yourself time and effort and take this course with Dr. Myhr in the winter semester!
MVB's a passionate professor who explains everything well and is always avail. to help. Lectures aren't mandatory but I'd bet those who complain about his exams don't bother to attend- the exams aren't that tough as long as you truly understand the material. If you read the chapters, watch the lectures, and go to class, you should get a good grade!
You have to teach yourself everything basically. His lectures aren't helpful to anyone's learning. The exams are very difficult. He teaches you as if everything should be review from previous classes when it's our first time learning it. This is already a very challenging class and his teaching style/testing just makes it so much more miserable.
He is very educational on this course, but he teaches as if you're a surgeon or doctor already. He expects for you to know 5 chapters for an exam, with no guidance on what you should focus on for the exam. It's hard to get assistance in this course, maybe because its over a 100 students +. TA not that helpful neither,
Easily the worst prof I've had thus far in college. Lectures are useless and only cover like 10% of the info you're required to know. I would avoid him at any and all costs. Grades based on exams, and exams cover way too much material.
Be prepared to teach yourself everything and read every page of the textbook. Lectures are barely helpful. Exams are incredibly difficult and are like 4-5 big chapters each. You will be studying every single day so schedule lightly. Dr. V is a great guy but not that great of a professor.
He is an okay teacher but doesn't have questions regarding what he taught in the exams. Do not take him, waste of time, effort and money.
Exams can be 5 textbook chapters each -each chapter can have up to 10 sections -each section is filled with details and some can be pages long. You are not given any guidance on what info to focus on. Like 6 or 7 students out of 200 get an A on each test. Don't know how this is allowed for an undergrad class
I have learned more from Hank Green than Mark Vanberkum. Don't get me wrong, very nice and gives pretty good advice, but not great at teaching. He expects you to teach yourself all of the material while explaining diagrams you are already supposed to know from the pre-reading.
His teaching style is not good. Had to watch YouTube to learn. He makes the class unnecessarily hard. Grade based on the exam. Exams are unnecessary hard, wording terrible and class average always around 50-60. Do not recommend him.
Do not take him. He is not a good teacher but expect students to know everything. He only go over his slides in class but students have to know all the details from the book which is huge. Exams are way too hard for the undergrad student and for a 3 credit class.
Professor Vanberkum is an Amazing person. He cares a lot about students and is always happy to help if you have any concerns. However, he doesn't play when it comes to exam. Exams are based on your understanding of the material rather than the memorization. Questions are tricky and somewhat hard. Slides are poor. Watching videos helps a lot.
Worst bio class I have ever taken. Prof doesn't lecture, expects you to memorize your textbook then gives a test that has nothing to do with said textbook. He said in class that he did not care about student's grades. I usually enjoy bio, so it was a BIG surprise when I struggled in this class. Worst prof I've ever met in my life. DO NOT TAKE HIM
Save yourself and don't take this class with vanberkum. If you absolutely have to, be prepared to learn completely from the book and YouTube videos from other teachers. His lectures provide zero help. I am usually a straight A student and really struggled figuring out how to study for this class.
Exams have little to do with the chapters we learned.
So there is a ton of homework and reading, but he is extremelyyy upfront about this at the very first class. I had actually taken him for cell bio and got a C, but this time I actively engaged, ASKED FOR HELP, & always resubmitted my homework for a higher grade if allowed. I was really struggling but the final project brought me up to a B+.
I had him for BIO 3200 as well and also got an A-. He's a hard teacher but he very much cares about his students; he really wants to see students develop and learn properly. I spent a lot of time talking to him after class and going to his office hours; if you put in the effort and get to know him well, you'll be able to tell that he really cares.
MVB's class is extremely hard, but it is attainable to get an A. He curves final grades to 2nd highest in the class, we ended up with a 6% curve. Exams are extremely hard, wording is poor, and he makes the questions difficult. Study the book, his slides are not detailed enough for what you need to know on exams. Start early, don't get behind!
If you are a premed and complain about him, then studying is not fo you... You HAVE to read the textbook. He has a bad reputation but it's only bc the content of his class. He is the nicest and funniest guy. He gave extra credit, curved exams, and even a curve at the end of the semester. The class is doable.
Prof V expects you to teach yourself the material. Exams are incredibly detailed and tough - you'll need to study hard using resources like the textbook, videos, and unstuck study to do well. Overall a challenging but rewarding class if you're willing to put in the work.
Worst prof I've ever had. Makes misogynistic comments. Tells us to Google things to understand them. Makes 50+ page readings due in 1-2 days. Cannot word a question properly, will ask one thing in the question then dock points bc you didn't answer something he didn't ask for. If you have no way of avoiding, just be sure to read EVERYTHING he gives
he's the reason I got an A in biochem after taking cellbio w him.. He's the best science professor at WSU that'll actually TEACH you hard material. if you think his class is "difficult" or are just looking for an easy A, then maybe you shouldn't be pursuing a career in the med field.. he gave extracredit opp and curved exams, I 100% recommend him.
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