2.8
Quality4.5
Difficulty45%
Would Retake202
Reviews45%
Would Retake
202
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
57
4
28
3
19
2
19
1
79
What Students Say
“Sheppard is honestly one of the most sweetest and kindest professors I've met, I'm not here to personally bash her on the bio class it self as I'm sure it's a department effort so I can't blame her for the difficulty, content, or exams”
BIO100 - 4.0 rating“Fantastic lecturer and class, I highly recommend”
BIO100 - 5.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
43%
Textbook Required
0%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-1.76 avg changeRatings by Course
BIOILAB
5.0
(1)BIO150
5.0
(1)BIO210
5.0
(1)BIO100ANDBIO102
3.6
(7)BIOL100
3.4
(9)Difficulty by Course
BIO1200
5.0
BIOL102
4.7
BIOL100
4.6
BIO100
4.5
BIO102
4.4
Reviews (202)
One of the best bio TAs around. She is extremely helpful. She is funny and nice. She plays music during class to make the lab experience more relaxing and fun
A great lab TA. She is very organized, great powerpoints introducing the lab to be done, very knowledgeable in biology, very helpful & patient even if you don't understand, makes herself available after class for assistance, flexible with quizzes. Her lab was one of the best parts of this heavy course.
One of the best lab TAs I've ever had! She is funny, very smart and extremely helpful. She usually emails her powerpoints to the class for extra studying at home and has a review before each lab practical. Also, she plays music during lab, which i enjoyed.
Everything you could hope for in a lab TA.
Fantastic lab TA. Extremely helpful, very nice person.
Sam is such a great person. She's very approachable and helps to simplify complex topics. Plays music during lab, which helps with concentration, and creates a nicer environment.
She is the best lab instructor!!! She is friendly and helpful! Highly recommended :)
Simply the best lab instructor I've ever had. I wish I can introduce her to some of my other lab instructors, so that her amazing way of teaching could rub off onto them.
Amazing professor! Her tests are clear and to the point, homework is reasonable - actually didn't mind waking up at 6am to get to her class but lots of supplemental material so recording the lecture was essential to getting a good grade. Would definitely want her as a professor again.
she is an amazing professor. I love her lectures she made it really clear and interesting. she is the best professor in Hunter.
Just had her for Bio 102. She. Is. Wonderful. Her lectures are interesting- keeps you awake and interested at 8 in the morning. Tests are pretty hard, but if you honestly study enough and go to class, you'll get a good grade.
SHE IS THE MOST AMAZING PROFESSOR I HAVE EVER HAD. She adores teaching and it shines through in everything she does. She makes waking up at 8am a true pleasure. I could not feel more blessed than to have her as my professor. She is truly one of a kind. Beyond inspiring and amazing.
Hands down, the best professor at Hunter. I strongly advise you take her for any and all classes you can. Even though attendance isn't recorded, you should attend all lectures as she gives additional info that's beyond the textbook, but you should attend anyway because she explains all the material thoroughly and really cares about the students. A+
Sheppard was one of the best professors I've ever had at Hunter! Her lecture is VERY helpful: if you show up to lecture, you get a sneak peak at some potential test questions. Sure, the class is difficult, but she makes it a pleasure to wake up in the morning! I LOVE this class, and I seriously recommend it to any aspiring Biology majors :D
Rating Sheppard just based on her performance as a professor, she was wonderful. She took her time teaching and wrote out clear, concise summaries of the concepts covered. However, the course didn't feel like a 100 level course, it was more of a biochem-lite. Idk if she made the tests but they had purposely deceptive answer choices. EC is offered.
The only difference b/w Aliae and Sheppard's class is that you will learn from Sheppard's lecture. The difficulty of both exams are similar. EC and curve aren't so helpful. Do ur best on lab report, quiz and lab exams. If you can get around 80-85 on all exams, you will get an A. If you get 30-40s on 1st exam, drop and e-permit. Save ur GPA.
Sheppard is an amazing professor who is truly dedicated to helping her students succeed. The class is difficult, but she makes it much easier with her lectures, that being said you have to put in quite some effort in order to succeed in the class. Some extra credit was offered, but doing well on tests is essential. Read the textbook, take notes !
I've taken 2 semesters of Bio, Chem, and Orgo. Dr. Sheppard has been the best professor so far. Took Bio 102 with her in the fall semester and had a great time. The tests were super difficult but with her teachings and enough dedication I managed the A. Definitely the best science professor at Hunter.
Her exams are definitely doable as long as you keep up with the material that comes from both her lectures and the textbook. Even though attendance isn't mandatory, do NOT rely solely on the textbook because she'll also test you on outside info that she taught during lecture, so focus more on her lectures and use the textbook as a supplement.
The main issues I had with Dr. Sheppard's class was the excessively difficult exams and the somewhat confusing grading policyusing points instead of actual averages. However, she is a brilliant lecturer, she is clear and concise on what topics to focus on. Make sure to complete all extra credit assignments, they certainly make a huge difference.
She is a nice person but HER TESTS ARE EXTREMELY HARD. I study so much for this course, record and re-listen to the lectures, take notes and pictures of her slides, but still fail the exams!!!!! You have to be 100% confident in your material to do well on the MC questions because she always gives 2-3 choices that make sense and then confuse you.
It's definitely a hard class, but she is such a great person. She's so respectful to all the students and actually takes time to answer everyone's questions. Her tests are hard, but way more reasonable than the other bio 100 class. Focus on her lectures because she won't test you on anything she doesn't say during class.
Prof. Samantha Sheppard is awesome. She makes her lecture so clear and concise. Many people have A in the 3 MC exams. She provides a lot of extra credits through TopHat. The best part is that people who are happy with their results of the first three exams can opt out the final exam and the remaining lectures as well. A must-take!
I took this class during the summer and to be honest, it wasn't the best decision. In my opinion taking bio at Hunter is essentially hard. This professor was great at lecturing, but the tests were extremely hard regardless of the fact that I read the textbook and studied rigorously for each exam to no avail.
I tried so hard but it's still not enough
The best biology teacher you will EVER have! So passionate, it makes the 8 am class worth it! Tests are a bit difficult but good prep for the future.
The most overrated professor in all of Hunter. The exams are impossible to do well in even if you study a ton!
Dr. Sheppard is a wonderful, sweet person, and there's no disputing that. In my opinion, she lectures well. However, BIOL 100 is a pitiful class and it is sad to see Hunter College have so much pride in its difficulty. I urge future pre-medical/bio students to ePermit this class at another campus because it is simply not worth ruining your GPA.
Dr. Sheppard is nice n all but Hunter should be clear wth how da grading is. I came to her n she encouraged me. However, I want realistic advice bt she is too sweet to make u sad. Dis class is rlly hard n I wouldn't recommend takin it, it will kill ur GPA n if ur a med student, AVOID. Hunter should give bak the bio exam so we can learn!!!!!!!
Dr. Sheppard is the sweetest teacher ever, and her lectures are really understandable and concise. That being said, her tests are a whole different ballgame. They are extremely difficult and deceptive. Read the textbook and RECORD her lectures.
Dr. Sheppard is a fair lecturer - clear and concise about her expectations. Nearly all the figures shown are purposeful. The summaries she writes matter. Approach the material critically and you'll be fine. Knowing experiments at face value is not enough. Don't be discouraged if you bomb the first test - you can still get an A.
Dr. Sheppard is an AMAZING professor. She's very clear in what she will be testing on so it's really important to go to class to make sure you are reading what she wants you to emphasize on. She is by far the best professor I've seen from bio department. Make sure to read and take notes in class. It's not an easy class but she's very clear.
Professor Sheppard is a fantastic lecturer. PLEASE understand though, you need a ton of time to devote to this class at Hunter. If you have a busy schedule (whatever the reason) seriously rethink taking this class at Hunter, it will be tough to do well. Some people have the time to devote which is great but most do not so please use caution.
This class is really great. It's not your average bio class because it requires a lot of critical thinking, but it's not impossible to get an A in. Record her lectures, go to recitation and participate, always think critically about the material. She's super specific in what topics she is outlining on the exam. She's amazing.
My only problem with this class was not the material but how you have to tackle her exam's questions. I really wish they give back the exams and give practice problems for students to help them. But they don't which is one of the main issue here at HUNTER with Bio. Sheppard is nice and will lay out the material for you to know on your own.
Everything about this class is so unclear such as the grading criteria and they do not reveal the class average either. They don't give back exams, no slides, and no feedbacks at all on how to improve. How can we improve when this is a new learning style for most people. it is easier said then done and if it is said then provide us with practices
Although Dr. Sheppard is caring and good at teaching the material, she does not give back exams or provide students with multiple choice practice questions. By keeping this information from students, she prevents us from learning from our mistakes and improving in the course.
I really wish the Bio Department would change their criteria and stop being so secretive regarding about everything. I never felt so lost and unclear about a course in terms of grading and the class in general.
this class was hard but good lectures. Some of the post-baccs got prior tests which supposedly had some questions reused for the current tests. this hurts those of us who dont have the prior exams since they dont get to practice questions and dont have the answers to the reused questions. probably need to do more for exam integrity and fairness
I study night and day and still score low on her exams. The problem isn't the content, it's the exam. She's a nice lady, but that doesn't change the fact that the exams are made for students to fail them. I transcribed the lectures word for word, and the questions don't only ask for content knowledge, but how you can understand the questions! HARD!
Everyone has their own learning style. I feel that for me it was difficult to comprehend the exams at times maybe due to the lack of exposure to these type of problems in class. It is very fast pace during the summer. I would recommend FALL or to E permit w.3 works. It is a challenging class so do not lose focus. Also Lab sucks depending on prof.
Dr. Sheppard-Lahiji is wonderful! You will learn so much in this class which will benefit you for years to come. It is challenging and it can be hard to get a good grade so definitely consider that depending upon your future plans otherwise I would encourage everyone (all majors) to take this class. She is one of the best professors Ive ever had!
A lot of student are unhappy wit dis course due to many reasons. This course is really unnecessary demanding in its own ways. I do believe it will help prep for the MCAT. But I feel that since its an intro class they should help guide us wit practice problem for us to do to help us with ques in exams.
I like how she outlines a summary 4 us during lectures. I think she is a great professor but for this course I wouldn't say the same. It is really awful because I have no clue on how to improve or what to do. I feel that they should allow students to have their exams back and give practices. Other than that I think she covers the material very well
Its a really good course but the challenge of getting a decent grade could destroy any healthcare related aspirations. The grade you get in this class does not indicate whether or not you will be a good doctor or nurse or PA or Vet, etc but unfortunately it can make or break that opportunity. I would take it somewhere else to keep your dream alive
I do well on the short response questions, so I know the material, but the multiple choice questions are riddles designed to fail students. The questions are a lottery most of the time and it comes down to guessing what the question is asking. Her testing style is killing my passion for biology.
Doctor Sheppard-Lahiji is an amazing educator and an exceptional, well rounded person. I get why people are frustrated because it is a great class but it is hard to do well. This class requires a lot of time which does not always translate into results. I wish everyone could do well as there are lots of good folks in class, please dont give up!
This class is supposed to be an intro class where you learn and help for upper level class. instead it is a weed out class for pre-med. The test is difficult for no reason and I believe that by keeping the exams it hinders students ability to learn from their mistakes.
This class is a nightmare and my passion for bio is gone. I know the material but the test is basically riddles. It is very hard for some students depending on their background to do well on critical analysis mc. Some students do well but for majority .No!
This class is terrible. Unnecessarily difficult for an intro level class - to the point of being unfair. Prof doesnt return exams, so impossible to even know how to improve. Tests are ridiculously unfair. Would never recommend this class to anyone. Im a straight A student but no amount of time, work, or effort translates into results for this class
Dr. Sheppard-Lahiji is exceptional. Unfortunately Bio 100 at Hunter is very difficult no matter who you take but Dr. Sheppard-Lahiji is a wonderfully bright light during a difficult class. She does as much as she can to help and I feel very grateful I got to take this class with her, I learned so much. If you can take a class with her, do it!
professor is cool, good teacher too. not gonna pretend course is easy because it isnt but I think it was worth it (might change my mind when final grades are out, lol). seriously though its hard for most, I didnt believe the difficulty hype but its real. dont let that stop you from a good education just be careful if you plan on grad school
Her office hours was not helpful and the test are heavy. I hate how she says not to memorize like ofc u have to memorize it such as Mitosis/Meiosis... we need to know the steps. But, for her exams we have to understand her riddles
Outstanding teacher, one of the best Ive seen. Class could have more consistency with recitation questions and lab quizzes/tests so everyone gets graded on the same stuff but that is my only real gripe. Between working really hard and her fantastic lectures I feel like I learned more in this class than almost any other. I would recommend it!
The short response questions are a model of what intro bio questions should be. They test your critical thinking and they give you enough room to demonstrate your knowledge. But the multiple choice questions are riddles where none of the answer choices fully express how you approach the material and then trap you with, "none of the above" choices.
class is especially intense during the summer so wouldnt recommend pairing it with another course especially if working. Dr. Sheppard-Lahiji is very well respected by students and I see why. I dont have a science background but learned a lot and no longer feel lost about Bio. gotta read test questions very carefully so go in to them well rested!
The lecture is very heavy and this course is graded by a few things. Test are the majority of your grade. The tests are brutal and there really isnt much resources to help with your exam. Recitation helps with the knowledge of the topic but I wish we really did some critical thinking questions like her exam.
I recorded her lecture, read the textbook before class, ask a lot of questions during recitations, and create my own questions. But nothing worked and I know the material as I practice to teach it to other students. Also, I took AP bio and got a great score but have to retake this course cz pre-med dont count AP credit. It was too much.
Sheppard is honestly one of the most sweetest and kindest professors I've met, I'm not here to personally bash her on the bio class it self as I'm sure it's a department effort so I can't blame her for the difficulty, content, or exams. She is very kind with any questions you have and is open to listen, take her over any other bio prof. if you can
Dr. Sheppard is a great lecturer. I refuse, however, to disconnect her from this departmental elitist hooblah. If you HAVE TO take this at Hunter (meaning you're a major and can't e-permit), record the lectures, read the textbook before class, study your notes EVERY NIGHT, and make sure you COP THOSE LAB AND EXTRA CREDIT POINTS. Otherwise E-PERMIT!
Studied 8 hours everyday. Went to the tutoring center. Went to her office hours. Recorded her lecture. Relisten to the lectures.I can tell you all about freaking mitosis and meiosis, but won't get a damn question correct. Anyway, she is very nice and molecular bio is hard. So yeah. Will not recommend this class to anyone. Don't want them to suffer.
Class is difficult for the most part, especially the exams, so in order to do well in the class you got to make sure you get every single point possible in lab. Study in group so you can bounce of each other ideas and questions. Dr. Sheppard is both a really nice person and a great lecturer, but Bio 100/102 is what it is.
She has great lectures and is way better than Alaie. The exams for this class is extremely detailed and can be more of a riddle than just knowing the answers. You have to memorize her lectures so record your class. If you have to take bio take her otherwise you're probably better off taking it somewhere else. This is the hardest class I've taken.
Took it in the summer semester. Definitely better than taking it with other classes. BEWARE: you will have to sacrifice your summer but its ok. I'm going to be honest. The only way you will do good in the class is if you are good test taker. Otherwise, you will fail miserably even if you studied your best. Study in groups and good luck!
Dr. Sheppard-Lahiji is truly a gifted educator and a wonderful, kind person. The tests are tough but she gives all the help she can. I learned so much and greatly enjoyed the whole learning experience. I did take this class over the summer and it was intense, I think it might be better to take during the regular semester if possible. Best of luck!
She is always well prepared for class and answers questions. Very respectful to students and conducts class in an organized, clearly communicated manner. Fantastic lecturer and class, I highly recommend. Tests are hard imho but she gives lots of help and resources. If you put in extra time for this class, you will be okay grade wise
She's an amazing lecturer and a very kind and caring professor and I really recommend would her if you plan on taking BIO at Hunter. Her exams are based on her lectures, but also read the textbook. Her exams are very detailed and specific, but if you know your material and study hard it isn't impossible to do good. GO TO OFFICE HOURS.
Wouldn't recommend, epermit
Just finished the bio sequence with Dr. Sheppard-Lahiji. Fantastic experience, one of the top professors in my academic career. Highly recommend her as your professor. Makes topics interesting, provides guidance and where to focus for exams. They are challenging courses but in a good way and you feel a better person for it once class is over
Sheppard is great at teaching, I never learned so much be4 in my life. Bt the exams r very challenging n nobody helps us to overcome dat obstacle. I could not learn from my mistake. The Ta goes over it but they dont give the response so u dont know wat u got wrong n they nver give back the exam which is OK. I just wanted more practice n a chance..
Sheppard does pre-meds a service: she forces you how to think like a scientist. Being able to recite the steps of cellular resp. won't save your patient or take you to the next development in your research. She provides you with the science and then expects you to think critically. Scientists cannot succeed without this ability - put the work in.
Took this Professor at BMCC. Amazing inside out. Great professor, gives a lot of extra credit. Her lectures are clear and straight to the point, she explains well the concepts. I didnt even understand well English at that time but still I learned a lot from her. She is very approachable. I would take her again and again.
Best professor at Hunter, period. Yes - Bio @ Hunter is challenging - to succeed, you must diligently apply yourself. But, if your goal is to pursue your MD, DDS, DPT, etc. - Dr. S does you a huge favor, you're forced to imprint knowledge you need to kill the MCAT, DAT, etc. 100/102 is also a good benchmark for how you'll be challenged in medschool
She is not a bad prof, but her lectures are boring and she adds too many notes on her slides. Her exams are based on the end of each chapter which have 20 questions and then she adds more questions in between the chapters. If you want to pass her class best bet is studying 10hrs for both lab which is insane and lecture. Just E-permit.
Probably one of the hardest class at Hunter. Her powerpoints arent that helpful. But then she writes out notes with her iPad and her handwriting is so hard to read, dont understand why she doesnt type it up. Just study hard for the lab portion and read tb. SLOW GRADER FOR EXAMS. After taking the first exam she said I was boarderline failing...
To be honest yes Hunter Bio is difficult, only if you never study. This class made me cry and contemplate just scrapping my Pre-Med plans altogether. After finally getting my act together I was able to do better. This isn't a class to BS put in the effort in lab and recit. bc it helps . Gregory is the best TA for recitation and is super chill.
She teaches basics, and then on the exam expects us to know every fine detail. She does not give back exams, so you can't know what you know/don't know. She takes 4-6 weeks to grade each exam. There is no way to improve in this class w/o getting exams back. There was NO CURVE this semester. An 87.4 B, not B-. Her exams are impossibly confusing.
Professor gives lots of good information in lectures. You will learn alot and professor is a sweetheart. However text is very dense and students are expected to know every fine detail. Exams are worded in a way that the average learner will not understand. Personally it feels like students are set up to fail. Do not get exam papers back.
The exams are heavy - They don't test your memorization of concepts. Focus on studying how a change can disrupt a bio mechanism, what is specific to a mechanism. The exams are logical and the true/false is meant to trick you. Recitation will save you so go. Take in the summer if you can cuz I know I wouldn't have done as well if I had other classes
Please do yourself a favor and do not take this class during the summer. Like others have said, if you think you know your material you're wrong because the questions will not reflect her lectures. Don't let this class discourage you from biology because it is not like that in other classes.
Sheppard explains well however you do need to read the textbook beforehand. In order to keep up, always be 2 steps ahead. Keep reading the textbook, make flash cards and record/listen to lectures! It WILL take up the majority of your time so be prepared to lose your summer if you take it then! Exams are extremely tricky so study hard!
People paint this class as impossible but it's not; it's challenging, but not impossible. You will need to set aside time. You won't fly by with rote memorization. Build a strong foundation for the beginning material as new material will build on those early topics. Go to all her lectures and pay attention to what she emphasizes!
Tests are hard. Lots of the questions are true/false & hypotheticals. Study how the mechanisms you learn in class can be disrupted/stimulated. Take advantage of lab, extra credit, & the lecture quizzes. They can make you or break you. Got an A even though I did 60s-70s on 2/3 exams. Wouldn't have gotten an A without those points.
Lost all summer to this class. people made it sound impossible to make it through at hunter but the class is fair tbh. Heavy exams, very tricky wording of questions. extra credit offered throughout the semester to a total of 75 points at the end. lab and lecture quizzes will help you so much. Got a B even tho my MC scores were low.
Not an impossible class but you have to stay on top of the material. Ensure you get as many points as you can from lab, extra credit and in-class lecture questions. It will help you in the end because exams ARE difficult and require an abundance of critical thinking. Recording/transcribing her lectures is a MUST.
She's definitely better than Alaie but it's still a difficult class. The labs and other points make up for your bad test grades. Record the lectures/recitations and take a few hours out of your day transcribing them. Michelle (TA) guesses the test questions right a lot of the time.
I had her in BMCC and she has been my favourite professor of all time. She teaches so well, makes sure students are engaged and learning, and offers extra credit. I could go on for days talking about how great she is. With her, you put in the work and you get back the results but she makes it easy for you to put in the work. TAKE HER CLASS!
Beautiful, articulate, brilliant. Do yourself a favor - take her if you have to take BIO 100/2 at Hunter. Her tests ARE tricky (make sure you read true/false questions correctly and think about what happens when part of a mechanism is changed). Salvage as many lab pts as you can and GO to Michelle's recitation - she was WONDERFUL.
She teaches too fast. I just spent 5 hours revising/going over a SINGLE lecture. I usually spend 4 hours or more going over her lectures because she speaks 500 words per minute. Her exams are more difficult than they have to be as well. She makes it very confusing and tries to trick you into choosing the wrong answers. She also gives a bad curve.
Such an amazing teacher!!! Pretty hard class but if you study a lot and go to her office hours (even if you dont ask questions) youll be good! I failed the first exam and set a meeting with her, she analyzed my test and told me what types of questions and what content I got wrong. Shes really caring and super smart. I loved her class!
She did her Ph.D. on telomeres, so guess what was taught in GREAT DETAIL in our GENERAL Biology course? Telomeric DNA :) She goes into the nitty-gritty of random processes and cells. My friends at Queens/Brooklyn learn half of what we do for the same credits/class. Her exams are IMPOSSIBLE. She is sweet but does not know how to teach effectively.
Her exams are the worst exams. It's like "A giraffe is: Yellow, Brown, Yellow & Brown, none of the above" & the answer is yellow with brown spots, which is answer 4, and not 3 even though 3 can technically be right. She makes it really difficult. Wish we learned more of what's on the MCATs. Had several mental breakdowns bec of her. She's nice tho!
Professor Sheppard is one of the best Bio lecturers. She is organized and clear when it comes to lecture and is a very generous grader, considering the extra credit she gives you at the end. The tests are hard, but getting tutored, going to office hours, and reading the textbook helps. This class clearly isn't an easy A and you have to work hard.
Exams are VERY tricky. I scored low on multiple exams even though I studied the material religiously. They test my ability to apply the facts (I am responsible for that, so no need to blame the format). She's awesome, super smart, and really wants to teach us beyond the exams. Made me cry on the least day of lecture because I'll miss her class :(
Dr. Sheppard writes convoluted exam questions with very similar answer choices. Her lectures are concise and organized but they will not prepare you for the exam as you need to think extensively about what would happen if the topics taught did not occur as they do. Get all the lab points possible and do all extra credit to save your grade.
Taking her for BIO 100 made me annoyed with Hunter and the bio department. Taking her for BIO 102, 2 years later, made me realize that her classes helped me develop critical thinking skills. You don't realize how much she teaches you until you e-permit an advanced bio class at another CUNY, and everyone is struggling except the Hunter folks.
gives the best lectures. none of the other professors I've had or have compare to her. her lectures are so clear and easy to understand.
She is very clear and exact with what she is going to put on her exams in her lectures. Make sure to record her lectures and transcribe them. Your transcription are your study guide for this class. All the tricks on her multiple choice are based on what she has mentioned and not what the textbook has written. Do perfect in lab exams and quizzes.
during a pandemic this Professor decided to change the formats of the exams for the worse and did not take into account the hardships many are facing. The exams are not curved, nor are they reflective of what we study in class. This professor creates exam questions that sometimes dont even make sense and are not clearly stated in the textbook
in the midst of a pandemic this professor is cramming so many things together, its becoming impossible to catch up. Exams are inexplicably difficult and don't reflect what we are learning. There is info that was tested on was said to be for the next examcompletely unfair. Very, very slow grading.
This professor changed the format of her exams during the pandemic which makes the exam impossible to take. She added more chapters that we have to study for in the tests that the syllabus never listed. Her tests do not reflect what she teaches and makes the questions extremely difficult.
In light of this pandemic she completely changed the way her tests were formatted. Her questions were so specific yet she wouldnt test obvious material youd expect to be on the test based on her lectures. Shes not a bad person but if you want to do well in the class be ready to dedicate your life to it because she barely gives extra credit.
Yes she lectured great, but not worth the mental pain I endured for her course. Her exams were near impossible at best. The content was all over the place and would stray from the lab work. The lab was supposed to provide extra points through lab exams, but they would end up like the day before an exam and cover completely different content.
She's definitely a good person but this class was impossible, especially during the pandemic. We had to study about 3 huge chapters each week since we literally had a test every week. There are not enough extra credit points and lab points do not help since exams are just as hard as lecture exams and we didn't even do these labs.
Professor Sheppard really did her best when we transitioned online. She utilized a software that allows us to interact within each video. Her lecture videos clearly represented what was on the exam. Yes, this course is hard; however, I geninuenly enjoyed the challenge -- her conceptual questions are really fun -- to each their own!
Her exam questions are straightforward, but she's very open to answering student questions since the information is pretty difficult. The difficulty in her lecture exams come from the breadth of information, so try to draw connections between the different systems. I didn't really appreciate her adding an extra chapter during the online transition.
I had Dr. Sheppard for bio 100 and bio 102 and learned to appreciate her teaching style the second time around. To get a good grade you need to attend and transcribe lectures and study HARD. Tests were very analytical so you really need to understand the content instead of memorizing. She does give extra credit which helps a lot. Go to office hours
Dr. Sheppard is a good lecturer. However, she does not give students a good background of what to expect on the exams that she writes (no practice questions, no learning objectives, etc). Her lecture exams always catch people off guard as they are often very different from what she has presented in class.
Professor Sheppard is a nice teacher but her exams are very tricky. You think you know the answer but then you get it wrong. Write down everything she says and memorize those notes. Pretty difficult class but if you put in the time and study for 3-4 days before the test you can do well.
this was rlly tough. esp with the online transition. It's extremely easy to lose points which always makes you feel on edge. the online transition was executed horribly, but I can't blame her because it was rlly unexpected so I think she tried to make the best of it. She seems like a really nice person though. Loved her class NOT online, too bad ig
Hardest Ive ever had to work EVER. this class will kick ur butt if ur not ready to grind from day 1. transition to online was rough cause she ended up covering so much more than normal. Use all your resources and study alot for lab - try not to lose any pts. I learned so much biology about how to be a better student. Thanks Dr. Sheppard.
I've gotten As in all my other premed courses so far but this class was something else. There are no resources for us to use to prep for her tests and we only get insight into her testing techniques during the test. The tests are insane and even though I studied I couldn't do well. The recitation assignments save you, but that's 10% of the class.
"Weed out" is the name given to this class because of its poor design. 100% is exams and quizzes in the form of "recitation assignments" which are quizzes and labs are also all quizzes and exams. Gives little info on exam format. This is an intro-level course at hunter not "cancer biology at Harvard " so teach it like that. stop doing the most.
The saddest part is of this is that you think you are helping us by making our lives harder. As an institution, it should not be Hunter's goal to prevent us from getting into medical school; it should be your mission to see us succeed and help us. It shouldn't be you vs me. It should be us vs medical school/grad school.
Professor Sheppards class is hard but you can still do well. Exams r lecture heavy so prioritize them over the textbook. Do well on lab practicals, recitation, and e.c., it helps a lot. Her class shouldnt be an intro class but it sets you up for the medical field because to study for her exams, you think critically and the skills you build last!
I did not like this class at all, especially online. She barely give extra credit. If you read your textbook, there's no point, it is not included in her quizzes or tests. She gives her lectures through audio clips. Her lectures don't reflect her tests, you have to study really hard.
She seems like a really nice person, but it's completely overshadowed by how unnecessarily difficult her exams are. The questions are either confusing, tricky, or too advanced. You can prep for weeks and still not be ready for the exams. This class sets you up to fail and unless you have a natural affinity for science, don't expect to get an A.
Dr. Sheppard is excellent at breaking down concepts and explaining them clearly with examples. However, her tests and quizzes are absolutely brutal. They are deliberately tricky and worded in a confusing way. However, she does give generous extra credit opportunities. I think this is a solid choice among other Hunter profs.
For those taking bio online, be aware there are no lectures and no one goes to rec/labs. There will be videos that you have to take notes from and that's about it. Be prepared to teach yourself one of the hardest topics. The pros are tests and other work are fair. Labs are easy. If you're paying for this, I am so sorry. If you try, you'll be fine.
She is awesome. Amazing lectures. Just study and you will be fine. Her tests are not that bad. People don't study right and then just blame her. Maximize points from lab and recitation.
Dr. Sheppard is very difficult. She explains simple concepts in a horribly sophisticated and confusing manner. She says things just to say them and sound intelligent when it could take half the time and help the student understand better. Her tests are atrocious and always try to trick you and make you fail. To get an A, study endlessly.
Just wanted to mention this since I was taking Alaie for the first half and the last couple of weeks we switched to Sheppard so I can compare them a little. Sheppard's lectures are extremely long & *she says a lot within a span of 1 min* compared to Alaie which made note taking so much harder but it's very organized, which is nice.
Not accessible and did not have office hours which was pretty detrimental to my success in the class. It is a very challenging class and especially online with more topics than normal, it is a whirlwind. Transcribe lectures and do tons of practice questions, even though it might not get you very far because her exams are ridiculously hard.
She makes her content very dense and he lessons very information heavy making it necessary to almost write down everything she says because she can test anything. She makes her questions extremely hard to answer. The fact that she also tested on 5 extra chapters compared to in person just shows how much she teaches and how hard it is to do well.
She just tries to sound smart and complicates the material. If you something well, you should be able to explain it to a 5th grader but I really think that she is not qualified to be a professor. The exams she gives are so bad; the questions require u to read each option 5 times and still, you are unsure. The timing for the final was horrible.
The exams require you to find information that is never stated in the lecture. it's like a puzzle, a poorly designed puzzle. just take Alaie, her exams are easier. Sheppard does not hold office hours and is very difficult to meet. Online, people post questions in the lecture recordings but those are not helpful since they are private ://
She was so stingy with the extra credit. Usually, she gives a lot, but this semester, she is being so cheap. They know that we are pre-health and I hate how they gatekeep.
Her "teaching" consists of uploading audio recordings once a week. We don't get to see her or talk to her. Ever. She rarely answers emails. She completely disappears after every exam. She doesn't hold office hours. Her exams are nonsensical. I have nearly 400 pages of typed notes from her recordings. Studied religiously. Still failed. AVOID!!!
The whole "critical thinking" thing is bs because you walk out of that class feeling like you learned nothing. She has the audacity to say this class puts her in a high stress environment, yet she teaches off of voice threads and never interacts with her students. Don't take this class unless you want stress breakouts and to have your hair fall out
Her lectures are organized but they are extremely dense. Her exams reflect poorly on what is discussed in lecture, recitation, and the textbook. She fails to present concepts in a clear and concise manner. When she cannot bring clarity to course concepts, she should not expect students to be able to critically think and apply the course material.
some of the hardest tests you can take in hunter. She truly evil the way she be writing them tests. Prerecorded lectures are so montone and long. She fills them with random content and big words to make herself look smart( you don't). Overall take this professor if you really hate yourself.
This class gave me so much anxiety I didn't even know I had. Do not take bio 100 or 102 with Sheppard, save yourself. I lost so much hair on my head because of this class. No office hours whatsoever and did not make any effort to connect to students. Exams are impossible no matter how much you study for them!!!!
Bio 100 is a weed-out class by design, so I wouldn't say Sheppard is particularly bad at teaching. To me, she was far less engaging than Alaie (who I only had for half of Biol 102, Sheppard for the other half) due to her monotonous voice. Getting a good grade on one of her tests i practically impossible, so scoop up points everywhere else.
No mercy at all, she added on 5 units during a pandemic. Lecture recordings she just talks a lot and uses complex words that just confuse everyone like we get it you have a PhD. Her tests are soo hard so studying wont help becuase it doesnt tell ur knowledge or biology but more so word deciphering. She had no office hours, bad professor! Avoid
No office hours, lectures are recorded and spoken at a million words a minute. Exams are extremely difficult and shes not very accessible. Dissapears after exams to not face backlash and heartbreak she imposes on her students. Good luck weeding me out sheppard cause im staying premed despite your horrendous teaching. Dont take her, e permit
This class was a nightmare to say the least. It gave me clinical depression and anxiety. Sheppard does not care that there are thousands of people dying, she doesnt care about anything. Instead she adds five more chapters than she normally would. Her exams dont test for knowledge, they test the things she places the least emphasis on. A nightmare
Orgo is one of the hardest classes. I got an A+. For this class Im probably not going to get a B+ even. I spent all my time studying for this class, days and nights. I completely threw orgo under the bus for this. This semester she decided to vio us with barely any extra credit because she was being fair. Meanwhile Alaies class is so much better
Even if you have .1% away from the next letter grade, this woman will not give you that grade which sucks. She lacks any empathy or mercy. She isnt transparent about ANYTHING. This whole semester we were kept in the dark. She is extremely pedantic and over complicates things to sound smart. Cancer bio PhDs have no clue how to do her tests.
Sheppard designs the class to weed out pre-meds, not to teach biology. Do yourself a favor and take De. Alaie
Avoid her like she is the coronavirus! Have had days where I would just be writing up notes and stuff and skipping showers because of this unsympathetic professor. Other schools get quizlet and easy bio exams. I get you're trying to weed out but what in the world what on in her head when she designs these exams. Lol go get a life sheppherd
Many reviews point out how difficult Sheppard is, but she's actually very sweet. If you put in the work like I have, you are rewarded. I did very well on the first 2 exams and Sheppard recognized that and she let me skip the final because she saw how well I did. This class will make you an expert in biology, if you don't want to learn don't take it
So here's the thing, if i wanted to teach myself I'd go on khan academy. I got an A in orgo but probably will have to credit this class. She is nice to you as a person, but not nice to your gpa or mental health.
Had her for both BIO 100 and 102, I have to say it's the hardest thing I've done. Actually listening to her lectures might help you, but just a little bit. Reading the textbook won't help you at all. You'd have to find information elsewhere. Save yourself the headache and stress that comes along with this class.
Going through a pandemic is hard. Going through a pandemic having to work and dealing with sick family members is harder. Doing all that and taking bio is literally impossible. Sheppard was the least sympathetic professor this semester. Giving our class extra chapters and harder exams compared to Alaie. DO NOT take this class with her please :(
I feel disappointed with this class. I took her for bio1. She's sweet and explains the material well BUT Her exams are ridiculous!! She holds no office hours, but her clueless husband does. IF YOU CANT E-PERMIT, ATTEND SI Sessions and go to TA OH. STAY ON TRACK! Read the TB! good luck. "At least you'll be ready for MCAT" - the wise words of TA's
We are in the middle of a pandemic and this woman or her husband has not a single drop of empathy inside of her.
Theres something wrong with this woman and her husband. They wont release grades and on the day that grades are due, they added 50 points, left it on for a whole day and took them away. They also took away 12 points we earned in the beginning of the semester. God have mercy because nothing will save you from this class dont take it please
Although this is an intro course for bio, she tended to make her exams impossible so that every single one of us would perform poorly. She has no mercy. Hard work doesn't pay off in her class.
Professor Sheppard has changed my life for the better. I got what I wanted out of the bio class and more. I memorized basically every word she said and did well on her exams which were all from her lectures said. I was surprised to know I didn't have to take the final due to my performance on earlier tests. If you put in the work, you're rewarded.
She is hard, but that does not mean she is bad. Biology is difficult but she makes it fun. Her tests are hard, but they aren't your whole grade. She also gives extra credit!!! to help your grade. So in the end, she ensures you are given a FAIR grade for the work you put in. It isn't impossible to get an A in the class lol. she'd be fired if it was
Sheppard was supposed to be on maternity leave, but she took the class to make an extra buck because she could just send us recorded audio clips and didn't really have to teach. That said, getting an A is not impossible, take exams with a trusted group of people and pay a high-end tutor. You'll still get questions wrong, but not as many.
So I just wat to say, I don't know why people are saying we could skip the final because that is a lie. That is only allowed in the physics department, never mentioned in the syllabus. That is a straight up lie. The class is hard, end of story. nothing more nothing less.
the rumor about skipping finals is very unfounded. I cant believe people believed that just cause its on here. It makes no sense. That being said do yourself a favor and epermit. Transfer if u can. Hunter will eat your soul and leave you out to dry with a useless degree
The bio department needs to open an investigation and review the questions Sheppard gives in her exams. We have shown her questions to other CUNY bio professors without revealing their provenance and they all agree they don't make any sense and what she believes is the right answer is factually incorrect, or can't be determined from the question.
the curve was legit
a horrible teacher. if you want to ruin your gpa take this class. does not care about students at all, long monotone lectures that do absolutely nothing. her tests are impossible and no matter how many hours you study, you will not do well. bio 100 and bio 102 are supposed to be universally easy A classes, but no in this class is the opposite.
Professor Sheppard is the toughest professor out there! no, like for real, you need to be very mentally prepared to take her biology class. Her test are hard and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. They sometimes don't make sense but her lectures are great, she just overcomplicates concepts to a higher level for no reason and its more stressful.
Idk why bio is so hard at hunter. The material itself is not hard to understand if you put in the work, take good notes and keep up with the work every week. It's the exams that are extremely tricky and hard. Exam questions are super specific and contain "all of the above" and "none of the above" answer choices which mess with your mind.
Not a fan at all. I took this course twice, the first time I got a D, the second time a C+. I should have listened and taken this course somewhere else. The exams are impossible even if you study, there's nothing that can prepare you for the questions she comes up with. I would recommend taking any BIO class somewhere else. Do yourself a favor.
If you're a freshman coming in hoping to take biology and become a bio major and end up going to PA school, Nursing, or Medical school, I hope that your dreams don't get crushed like she crushed mine. Good luck tho.
Can only speak about A&P but her weekly quizzes (11 + 1 cum. mandatory final quiz) were straight forward (15 ques 20 mins, 5% each). Drops 2 lowest quizzes but not final. Each quiz was based on 1 chapter. At times, it feels like Prof Maria's exam. Curves quizzes and gave free points at times. Def more lenient towards A&P than general bio.
The class is infamous because she writes most exam questions herself and makes the wording tricky. You have to know the material inside and out. Study everyday. Get a study group and grab every resource. She uses lots of fancy transitions and words in her lectures and speaks formally so I thought she'd be intimidating but she's kind. Extra credit.
I wish I could complain about Dr. Sheppard but compared to Dr. Alaie she is 10000x better. Intelligent prof but her class is VERY hard, lectures are dense, & exams questions are cryptic. Lectures are organized and very informative. She could be more supportive and accessible, but compared to the rest of the bio department she is basically flawless.
In her lectures, she is pleonastic, convoluted, and confusing. In order to do well in her exams, you must remember every word she says, including personal anecdotes. While Alaie's videos are smooth and comprehensive, Sheppard's voicethreads are abrupt and tedious. Plus side: she answers questions that you post thoroughly (and she's pretty nice).
She's soooo stale and boring in her VoiceThread material. All she does is read off a paper of robot-like notes she's taken from that 10,000-page textbook they use. A lot of unnecessary information to the point where you'll question "how much do I need to know for this exam???" Thr exams are really hard because of how specific they get.
This class is very hard. Her VoiceThread's are summaries of the textbook, BUT she uses a lot of her own vocabulary, experiments, and anecdotes. You have to watch these videos to actually pass the class. Her questions are very hard, so ATTEND the SI lessons and go to recitation. Thats the only way you'll get practice problems. Make time for bio
Professor Sheppard is great at challenging the class by applying lecture materials to actual biological issues. You need to study for her exams or you will not pass. Other than the hard studies, I appreciate her teaching approach with the class.
One I know, she knows what she is teaching. I liked that she provided everything online. I even didn't worry about the final quiz, since even with 0% I would end up with A+. However, Pereira was nicer.
If you want a professor to read off ready made slides in a super montone voice slides for 50+ slides a week only to be tested on super specific details, this is the class for you, complete with a TA where students correct them and quizzes graded three weeks later so its not even useful for the exam, no practice qs and reviews,
This course is very difficult for an intro bio course. If you're a freshman, wait until you have enough credits to e-Permit because it's just not worth the GPA risk. The way her tests are written require critical thinking and test taking skills that early undergrad students just don't have yet. Higher level bio courses are way easier. e-Permit.
she does not explain well and her lectures were not very clear. exams were not a good reflection of lecture material. she doesn't hold office hours; i have never seen her in real life as she has never showed up to administer exams. get ready to self-educate, like any other science course taken at hunter
She is changed b/c she no longer grades the short answers leniently, got really tough on that. Hated the fact that her voicethread got worse since I has to throw my notes into garbage after realizing a lot of it was bs. Attend Recitation for help but try to take less classes & make yourself a lot of free time. Material is a lot so torture yourself.
The absolute worst instructor I've ever had in my entire life. Never met a single person that actually enjoyed her class. Please take this class somewhere else if you can and if you're pre-med, good luck with the exams. Never even showed up in person once the whole semester and her voicethreads are so unnecessarily convoluted. Take someone else.
There are just no words to describe how bad her lectures are. Do yourself a favor and take Dr. Alaie!!!
ABSOLUTELY WORST PROFESSOR THERE IS. If you are premed just E permit bio. I will have to retake both bio classes. No matter how much work you put in, no matter if you know the material. RUN AWAY. Please value your mental health and emotional stability, beacuse bio at Hunter will ruin it completely.
Dr.Sheppard is extremely fair and kind. Your work will ALWAYS pay off.This is not a class that people make it seem.She does curve a tremendous amount;half~full letter boost.Bad reviews here are all those that do not study and do not want to accept their grade is solely based on their lack of effort.Exams are 100 %FAIR! Rewarding experience overall!
I had her alongside Dr. Alaie during the second half of the semester. Dr. Sheppard has **long** slide shows and they take ages to finish (relative to Dr. Alaie), and if that wasn't already bad, she speaks in a monotone voice, and includes mountains of unnecessary information, which isn't distinguishable from actual useful information for her tests.
Despite what everyone said, I loved the class. There are many opportunities to improve your grade including replacing midterms, extra credit, and lowering score cut offs at the end which makes the grading fair (not to say the course isn't challenging). If you put in the work you should see results. You don't have to get perfect scores.
Her exams are extremely content heavy so you have to read the textbook along with her lecture slides
this class in theory is not bad but the prof is just horrible. she hired behind her computer, doesn't even bother to come in even for exams, and is not timely with responding to emails. Idk if the other prof are better bec they all bad and one of them is her husband. to be blunt the prof has no respect for her student and does the bare minimum.
Sheppard's lectures are detail-oriented, where everything she mentions can be tested. She often uses jargon, making her lectures long and hard to follow. However, the content for Biol 102 is more interesting than Biol 100. She also reuses her lecture videos.
by far the worst professor I've had. Never once met her and her lectures are confusing. No office hours. You will teach urself everything. Epermit and take it somewhere else if possible.
Lectures are recorded. No office hours/unavailable outside of email/thread comments. Uses jargon, material inaccesible for 100 level students. Exams = unfair. Final = harder than midterms. No practice/ opportunities to build skills to be successful on exams. During the final exam her husband and TA laughed when reviewing student answers. 0/5.
For practice you can take notes from her videos and use textbook guides which are just summaries of textbook material. Studying for exams is difficult because your not given proper resources for practicing. She gives awful resources to prepare you for exams. If you want to get a decent grade in this class ace the lab section and study lectures alot
This was the most difficult class I've taken at Hunter. However, the tests were not as difficult. Hardest was the writing of it, but in terms of content, the majority were simply remembering what she stated during the lecture. The easiest way to pass is to do well in lab and rec (400); I could have received an A if I had taken them more seriously.
Her lecture exams are tricky. MANY students, including myself, had to transcibe word for word her lectures AND look at textbook to even get through her exams. You have to listen to her voicenotes or else you will simply not do well on her exams. Labs were easier than her lecture exams. I was ~.1 points away from an A and she refused to round up.
This the first time I got below A- at hunter college. This class was the hardest I have ever took at hunter college. I never got to see the teacher in-person (emails is the only way to communicate with her or whoever manages her class). Lectures are recorded videos. Exams are extremely hard. You need to memorize EVERYTHING taught in the videos.
everyone who fails this class wasnt dedicating enough time to studying or wasnt doing so properly. yes, bio at hunter is brutal, but the professor is a reasonable individual who curves.
This BIO100 class was notoriously difficult, with recorded lectures and exams requiring meticulous memorization. However, Unstuck ai proved to be a valuable study aid alongside the textbook. Overall, a challenging but manageable course with the right preparation.
I had to retake this class after being 1 point away from a C. Retook it this sem and got the C. Sheppard has made me dislike bio so much compared to the previous college where I got a B+ on Bio 100. I would never take this class again because her teaching style is just downright awful. If you prefer in person lectures, avoid this class.
Those who are haters failed due to not taking bio at Hunter with the seriousness it needs. Yes the lectures are like 3 hours a week and the tests are tricky, but if you put in the hours, you will pass. sheppard is way better than the other options here imho
Worse professor at Hunter. Her exams are intentionally tricky and worth %60. Be prepared to study endless hours just to get a mediocre grade in her exams. I hope she changes because this class has been the most discouraging and stressful. Save your mental health and e-permit with a normal professor who does not take pride on students failing.
Good luck.... thats it
This class is way too hard. Upper level bio and chem courses are significantly easier
don't be fooled by her sweet voice she is nothing but evil. i dont even have a problem with HER its her exams. like who the hell tortures 19 year olds like this. we wanna be doctors this is a GEN ED class we aren't getting PHDs rn. idk who traumatized her and why she's taking it out on us but literally she needs God and therapy.
Watch every lecture at least once, and read every article she assigns, multiple times. She loooves putting in niche questions so make sure you know your studies. Barring that, ace lab and recitation :(. She is hard af, strict af, and useless af.
i wish i could give this class a negative review because that's what it deserves. if you want to torture yourself and feel like a failure for an entire semester, this class is the one for you. good luck.
This course being at hunter compared to other cunys is literally mission impossible if you're working. This class should be taken as the only science course for your semester. These PHD professors are not engaging and use their video lectures from 2020. 15+ hours is required to study for this class. Test questions are medical school level
I think she's the best bio professor hunter has available. Her lectures are way easier to understand than other professors and not nearly as long. Every question on her tests can be answered from the info on her slides or an article she posts. Its all about application. Nonetheless this was a difficult class and u need to study a lot.
This is a notoriously hard class. You really need to take the time to study! I really recommend instead of waiting 4 exam you revise as the course continues! I used a lot of practice questions with ChatGPT and that helped! Active recall is super useful. The short responses are super simple! But multiple choice…you really need to know every detail!
Unfortunately had to switch to her halfway through the semester. While the content is easy, it's too much to remember and her lecture slides are long, yet superficial. She doesn't explain well and her teaching style is hard to retain.
bio at hunter is a bunch of mind games, not learning. going to have to do a lot of learning on your own accord because her voice threads are not very good at explaining, just stating. atp just a canon event you will get through it!!
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
43%
Textbook Required
0%
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BIOILAB
5.0
(1)BIO150
5.0
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5.0
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3.6
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3.4
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