The class is hard by nature, and she doesn't go out of her way to make the material any easier, but she's a really nice lady. she's very organized and gives good notes so you can do well if you work at it!

Amazing professor. As long as you pay attention in class it's an easy B. Study some the night before the test and it's an A.

LOVE LOVE LOVE HER! She's so willing to help her students and is extremely nice. Her tests are fair, and you definitely need to study a lot for this class. Great professor, I'd take her again if I could.

Great teacher. She really takes her time to explain difficult concepts. I am not that smart and thought for sure that I would not do well in this subject, but I got a B. She is very nice and has a cute dog! You have nothing to be afraid of as long as you study for her tests.

Love her. This is the second time I've taken this class, and trust me she is the only person who makes it remotely clear. You should definitely go to class, she has in class exercises, but they really help you learn. Her tests really aren't THAT hard, you just need to study and do the homework.

Very nice and easily understandable, but designs her tests based on the idea that everyone in the class is going on to med school. Literally designs them after the MCATs. If you plan on going pre-professional, by all means, otherwise, there are probably easier professors to take.

Bechtel is a smart, knowledgeable, teacher. Unfortunately, lectures are dry and tests are difficult. If you put in a little bit of time and come to class, You should have no problem getting a B. 214 is just not an easy class, but taking Bechtel is definitely not the end of the world.

hard class, fair teacher. DO THE STUDY GUIDES. i learned everything out of the book, but her lectures helped clear things up. attendance based off clickers, so go to class. she's very smart. i think her tests were hard, but reasonable.. not tricky at all.

This class is hard, and she doesn't make it easy for you either. If you read and truly understand the concepts (not just memorize) you should be alright. She does throw 2 - 3 questions on each exam that she never went over. Can be condescending and tends to blow off students and takes FOREVER to grade tests that are on freakin scantrons.

Bechtel is a very fair and helpful professor. She seems to really enjoy what she teaches and tries to do everything possible to make it easier for you to do well in. Def. avoid skipping classes. You'll miss a lot of information, but if you do have to, her slides are extremely helpful and include everything she will test you on. Read the text!

do the study guides. they are the test. she always has a few problems from the hw problems in the book, but those aren't mandatory. wants everyone to learn. great teacher.

TAKE HER CLASS!! Easy A if you study. Her tests are mainly based on the lecture slides and chapterly study guides. She sometimes throws 1-3 questions from the textbook problems on the test, which are not mandatory, but do it. She's really willing to help students. Visit her office hour and she will remember your name FOREVER. Overall, great class.

The class is really hard so be prepared to work hard but Bechtel is there to help. Go to lectures and ask questions if you don't understand something. See her in office hours, she stresses the importance of UNDERSTANDING the material and being able to apply it. Be ready to dedicate a good amount of time to this class for the entire semester.

I love Dr. Bechtel. She's the best and I would take any class she was teaching. Her main focus is on the students understanding the material and that helps tremendously, and she applies real life examples to the material, which makes it relatable.

Good Teacher, I would recommend her. It was overall a fair class, but you have to put in the time to get the grade you want. Study guides are VERY helpful, and so is reading the book to clarify concepts.

She know her stuff and is a good teacher but sometimes seems kind of spiteful towards students. Overall good class. Hard but if you study her powerpoints you will do well because the tests are all based on them. I found the book to be useless

Extremely motherly. Is EXTREMELY intimidating the first day of class. Do not run away! She means well and REALLY prepares you with material. Everything is so relevant to what you will probably be doing someday. Tough tests, especially the 2nd one, but doable if you work really hard and prepare ahead of time. Read the book.

She is awesome!! Granted I love this extension of biology, but she really appreciates and loves what she is teaching. You will be her favorite if you go to her office hours religiously. 4 tests and 1 final. Do the study guides and use the book for clarification. I had friends that just used the powerpoint slides and did just as well though.

Shes is extremely helpful. The class is hard material no matter what it will be hard. The second test is by far the hardest test. If you go to office hours she is extremely helpful and willing to go over anything. If you work hard the it will pay off

There's SO MUCH material in this course and learning it can be a pain, but Prof. Bechtel is probably the best professor you could ask for. She may seem a little intimidating, but her lectures are nice and clear for the most part. If not, she's beyond willing and able to clarify both in class and in her office hours.

This is a hard class. Especially if you're like me and not into this subject at all. But I have to say, Dr. Bechtel is probably the best professor at JMU to teach this course. 4 tests and random homework assignments. DO THE BOOK QUESTIONS AND STUDY GUIDES! Attendance is mandatory but I wouldn't skip anyway.

You have to stay on top of your study guides, homework assignments, and attend class to do well. My best advice is to not slack off in lab..get an A in lab and it will help you greatly in this class. Got B's on all the tests and an A in the class because of lab, homeworks, and attendance. I respect what Bechtel expects from her students.

Great professor! Very difficult exams, but if you study you will be fine. Dr. Bechtel is one of the best professors at JMU - in my opinion. Her high expectations motivate you to do better in everything presented to you.

Virology was an interesting class and I could not have asked for a better professor. Dr. Bechtel was definitely a lot more relaxed and not as strict for this class which made it very pleasant. Mostly team-based learning, and the in-class activities will help your grade. Two exams and a final and one presentation.

I've had her for 214 and now 444 (virology) and I gotta say she was much more relaxed and seemed to enjoy teaching the upper level class more. She expects alot from you but she is a great teacher. Highly recommend if you are serious about bio.

I LOVED her! She made what could be a dry subject to some very interesting. She is very passionate about the subject and she really wants her students to do well. Go to her office hours, read the book to fill in any gaps and definitely watch the animations that she gives you and the ones that come on the CD..that helped me a lot!

She's a good professor, but there has got to be an easier way to convey/test the information. Her tests are written to make you think so you not only have to know the material EXTREMELY well, but you have to be able to infer and predict based off of your knowledge. Read well in advance, fill out study guides, and attend ALL of the classes.

214 is a rough class no matter who you take it with, but I think that she did a good job. Tests are strait from the powerpoints and there aren't a lot of trick questions.

I never read the text book and got an A- in her class. All you need to do is make sure you do the study guides, know how to answer questions in your head! She was very quick in responding to emailed questions as well. Class is important for clickers, which WILL drop you a letter grade if you don't get them done. I did fall asleep a few times! lol

Her class is really tough! I wish I had the time between my other classes to put in the effort and read the book. I went to her office hours a couple times and she is exceptional at explaining something you don't understand. Overall I didn't do well (C), but she is a great professor for this class if you put in the effort.

This class is tough and there are a lot of details, but she is very thorough and has great lectures. She also shows animation videos in class so everyone understands. If you are going to take the MCAT, i highly recommend her. The tests get progressively harder, but she tells you on the first day how to do well in her class.

This class is Rough! The material is very dry. Be prepared to fight off sleep in lecture. Bechtel is very tough. I studied hard 10+ hours a week. Tests are critical thinking. Do well in lab to boost your grade. Even knowing material inside and out the best I got was a B on an exam. This class will eat your soul. Get the cell molec for Dummies book.

Bechtel is by far the best professor I've ever had. She's so clear in her teaching &goes so slow during lecture. Don't be intimidated to take her You will learn SO much from her. Read the book, do the study guides as she goes thru the chapter in class & watch ALL the animations & you will do FINE. Plus she has a 12 pt. grading scale. TAKE HER

Dr. Bechtel is awesome. She gives you a LOT of material that you can use to succeed. You can tell she wants you to do well. Very approachable during office hours and focuses more on concepts rather than memorization. The key to a good grade is reading the chapter before coming to class and completing her chapter study guides.

Bechtel is an AWESOME professor. Her class is definitely hard, and so are the tests. She tries to trip you up on her multiple choice questions and it's REALLY easy to fall for it, but it just makes doing well even more satisfying. Read the book, do the study guides and go to class and do the homework. She's really willing to help if you ask.

She is a great professor and makes the class completely doable. Her tests are difficult, but she tells you exactly what to expect. Going over the tests afterwards is also useful. Her lectures are sometimes a bit dry, but if you go to class you will definitely understand the rather difficult material. Not a bad choice at all.

Her tests are hard. Read the book before class. She's intimidating, so if you find it hard to approach intimidating professors, I wouldn't take her, because I think it's important to feel comfortable asking your profs. questions. Her lectures are HEAVILY loaded w/ material.

Prof. Bechtel is simply great. BIO 214 is a hard class with lots of new, demanding information. It requires lots of study but it is totally doable. Go to her office hours if you have questions and she will be the most helpful patient teacher you have ever seen.DO NOT memorize the material, just LEARN it. Tests are challenging but fair if you study.

Great professor! This is a difficult class but I would definitely recommend taking it with her. Read the book, do the study guides,and go to office hours. It is VERY IMPORTANT to read the book it will help you understand! An A is possible if you work really hard and she curves the grading scale a bit!

Bechtel is the best professor I've had at JMU. Come to class, ask questions, and get immediate clarification on subject matter that seems confusing and you will be fine. She offers plenty of additional resources as well as study guides and fill in the blank powerpoint notes. She is also extremely helpful during office hours! take her!

I got an A- in her class. She's very clear in lecture and will answer every question you have so that you understand it. She presented the material in a way that made it interested, which motivated me to actually learn the material. She can be pretty condescending in office hours and lecture (although i never went to office hours). Overall, great.

214 is a tough class but Bechtel is by far the best teacher (especially) Bio that I have taken at JMU. It will be a difficult class and she doesn't make it easy, but it will 100% pay off in the long run if you are a Bio major. If you attend class, go to office hours, PASS sessions, and put in the time for a hard Bio class you will do fine.

By far the best teacher I've had at JMU. Pushes you extremely hard but she teaches you everything you need to know. Can re-word info to make sure you understand the material. Tests are do-able, the people who complain about her "impossible" tests aren't cut out to be bio majors. 100% take her, it will be the class you learn the most in at JMU!

Dr Bechtel is an excellent teacher. She lectures very thoroughly and is very knowledgeable. However her class is very tough, the average is a C, but an A is attainable. You are expected to read before class and take good notes during class. Helpful during office hours will answer any questions. An A is a 90%, 87-89 A-, do the study guides!!

Bechtel knows her stuff! Most people think she is hard or impossible but if you go to her office hours she helps you personally prepare for the next test and even tells you a different way to approach it. She gives you all the tools necessary and goes above and beyond to help you succeed.

I loved Becthel and this class! You definitely need to be interested in Virology and work for it but she is so smart and it is an interesting class!

The class is hard hands down. She really tries to make the subject fun and interesting. She gives you all the things you need to succeed. Study guides and flexible office hours, She does not want you to fail. BTW there is a hidden quiz in the syllabus. Look over it before class and be ready to turn it in!!!

Dr. Bechtel is amazing. If you love biology you will love her class! If you're just taking BIO 214 because you have to and you hate biology, take a different professor. In her class, you EARN your grade. No extra credit. BUT she gives you study guides for every chapter!! Her lectures are very helpful! She very nice but demands respect.

This class is deffinitely hard no doubt but if you put the time in to do the study guides she provides with the readings and actually review them you'll be fine. Attending lecture is also a must. She is more then willing to help explain things further in class as well as office hours. This class also greatly prepares you for the 300+ bio coarses.

Prof B is super knowledgeable and as a Bio major, she was super helpful for me my first semester. She is tough though and doesn't take any crap so don't even try to argue. I liked the way she lectured and found it easy to follow along but the tests were awful. AWFUL. She doesn't curve and she's a ridiculously tough grader.

I was worried going into virology, but it turned out okay. Definitely get the textbook, as it contains useful diagrams and she'll have test questions that come solely from the book. The first third of class is all lectures, and after that it's a mix of lectures and group work. Two tests, final presentation, and a final exam.