3.4

Samarpita Basu

Biology - Texas A&M University at College Station

3.4
Quality
3.0
Difficulty
69%
Would Retake
116
Reviews
3.4
Quality
3.0
Difficulty
3.4
Helpful
3.4
Clarity

69%

Would Retake

116

Reviews

Rating Distribution
Official

5

24

4

33

3

35

2

13

1

11

What Students Say

Basu is a bad professor

112 - 1.0 rating

Basu reads straight off of the slides/presenter notes

112 - 1.0 rating
Class Info

Attendance Mandatory

39%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

A-

95% confidence
Based on 106 grades
Most common grades:
A (47)
A+ (16)
B (14)
Grade Distribution
A(63)B(19)C(6)D(0)F(0)A-/B+(18)
Based on 111 reported grades
A: 47
A+: 16
B: 14
B+: 10
Common Tags
Lecture heavy (54)
EXTRA CREDIT (52)
Clear grading criteria (26)
Test heavy (23)
Get ready to read (17)
Participation matters (12)
Graded by few things (7)
Caring (7)
Rating Trend

Improving

+0.51 avg change
Apr
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Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

112

3.4

(116)
Difficulty by Course

112

3.0

Reviews (116)
1.0
2.0
112
Grade: A
Feb 8, 2023

Basu is a bad professor. All she did was read slides and did not teach any material outside of the textbook. She had no original ideas or creativity in lecture. She is also hard to understand because of her accent. If you are looking to learn something do not take her class

1.0
2.0
112
Grade: Not sure yet
Mar 3, 2023

Basu reads straight off of the slides/presenter notes. She's basically a talking textbook summary. If you want to learn anything, don't waste your time listening to her brain numbing lectures. You would learn more from crashcourse biology than you would an entire semester in her class. If you want to pass, I suggest going to other sources for help

1.0
2.0
112
Grade: B+
Mar 9, 2023

Basu has got to be one of the worst professors I have had so far. I have had notoriously hard professors like Dr. Rao and would still prefer them to her. She reads DIRCETLY from the slides. No more no less. This might as well be an online course. If you thrive on auditorily explanations (or just basic engagement) this is not the class for you.

Graded by few things
2.0
5.0
112
Grade: Not sure yet
Mar 17, 2023

She reads straight off the slides with little explanation. Because she has an accent, she stresses words and has a lot of pauses that make her hard to follow. I asked to move an exam for a competition and she refused despite my chem prof allowing me to move it for the same reason. She also makes comments to the class that are negative(no more room)

Graded by few things
4.0
3.0
112
Grade: A
Mar 22, 2023
Would take again

Basu was a good professor. She pretty much just reads off the lecture slides, but the slides have everything you need to know for the test. Her tests are fairly easy and only have information that were on the slides, none of the questions try to trick you really. She is boring in class, but gives you the information you need to get an A.

Get ready to read
Participation matters
EXTRA CREDIT
5.0
1.0
112
Grade: A+
Apr 13, 2023
Would take again

Honestly idk what everyone is talking about. I didn't really go to the lectures(because she does just read off the slides)but the tests were easy as long as you read and if you had any questions she answered them well. She does have an accent but it isnt hard to understand. Bio isn't a creatively taught subject and Dr. Basu was a solid professor.

Get ready to read
Graded by few things
4.0
2.0
112
Grade: A
Apr 13, 2023
Would take again

Dr. Basu does a good job teaching - clear about what she wants you to know, gives study guides listing topics that will be on the exam which most professors do not do. She is boring and monotone but the things people are saying about her accent are out of line and she does a good job preparing her students. Exams are medium difficulty

3.0
3.0
112
Grade: A
Apr 17, 2023
Would take again

Basu is not bad by any means. She does read a lot from the textbook during lectures, but she makes it very clear what content will be on the exams. The exams are also relatively easy compared to other classes I've taken. If you're willing to put in some work, you should be fine in this course.

2.0
4.0
112
Grade: B
Apr 25, 2023

Dr. Basu did fine as a Bio professor. She mainly read off the slides during lectures and occasionally added in some extra information which was good to know for the exams. There is a textbook but all the information needed for the exams was on the slides. There's a good amount of extra credit, since she does at least one LC session per week.

EXTRA CREDIT
Lecture heavy
1.0
3.0
112
Grade: B-
Apr 27, 2023

She's awful. Don't take her class if you want to learn. Her accent's hard to understand. There's extra credit that can help boost your grade, but you need to teach yourself. Get a different professor if you want to learn. She's terrible at returning emails, so send multiple and follow up in person.

3.0
3.0
112
Grade: A
Apr 28, 2023
Would take again

She reads the slides, and adds information that's good to know. Study a lot in order to do good on the test. My suggestion is to make a quizlet with terms and start studying a week before the exams. Also look at the LC, PBSET problems, and end of chapter questions in the textbook. THe course is not hard, just A LOT of memorization!!!

Get ready to read
Lecture heavy
Test heavy
2.0
3.0
112
Grade: A
Apr 28, 2023

Prof. Basu is not a good lecturer at all. She reads off the slides and will yell at you if you laugh or talk in class, even quietly. However, her exams are straightforward and you can teach yourself the material a few days before the test. She may be unreasonable at times, but she is definitely one of the easier A's for BIOL 112.

Clear grading criteria
Lecture heavy
Accessible outside class
4.0
2.0
112
Grade: B
May 1, 2023
Would take again

Great professor! You can tell she cares about what she teaches, as she offers lots of interesting info for everything she covers. She offers lots of extra credit in class, and yes she will call you out in class for excessive talking or laughing, as any good teacher does to maintain a healthy learning environment. Highly recommend taking her class!

EXTRA CREDIT
Graded by few things
3.0
4.0
112
Grade: A-
May 2, 2023

Professor Basu was fairly middle of the road. Her lectures were alright, and there wasn't a lot of homework. She does LC for extra credit so go to class. Bio 112 is just a lot of work in general, so be prepared for that.

4.0
2.0
112
Grade: A-
May 3, 2023
Would take again

Prefacing by saying this was Basu's first semester teaching at A&M. Now that it's the end of the semester, I think she has found her footing for teaching 112. You can teach yourself exam material a couple of days before the exam and do good. Just study and you can do well in the class.

Participation matters
EXTRA CREDIT
3.0
3.0
112
Grade: A
May 4, 2023
Would take again

Basu's class was fine, much better than my experience with BIOL 111. She teaches a little fast, but reviews the following class. Study guides are helpful!

Lecture heavy
Test heavy
2.0
3.0
112
Grade: B
May 8, 2023

Considering this is Basu's first semester teaching at TAMU, she did okay. Her lectures can be kind of boring to sit through. Try taking a different prof but if your stuck with her just study a lot and you'll do fine.

3.0
3.0
112
Grade: A
May 8, 2023
Would take again

Dr. Basu was an ok professor. Her lectures were very boring and she read straight off the slides. Her tests were fairly easy if you studied. It's a very heavy memorization based class for the exams. Textbook is provided but I don't think it was necessary to read. Overall, I would take her again but also try to get another professor if you can.

3.0
3.0
112
Grade: A
May 9, 2023

Lectures are very boring, but you need to go for the extra credit. Honestly, you don't need to pay attention during class as long as you can teach yourself the material. It's HEAVY on memorization, but I started studying the night before the exams and ended up with an A. Exams are also straight from the PowerPoint. No need for the textbook.

Get ready to read
EXTRA CREDIT
Clear grading criteria
5.0
2.0
112
Grade: B+
May 10, 2023
Would take again

Uploads study guides and gives extra credit. I really enjoyed this professor and could have gotten an easy a if i hadn't forgotten some homeworks. She's really good about saying what will be on the exam and is a really nice! The problem sets and LC are similar to exams. I enjoyed this class more the first bio

EXTRA CREDIT
Clear grading criteria
4.0
3.0
112
Grade: A+
May 10, 2023
Would take again

I really liked this class! She did reviews at the start of each class, helping us remember the material from the previous one. Exams weren't too hard, as long as you study a few days before. Gave study guides before each exam. Labs were harder than her class. This class was really interesting and I learned A LOT from her. Would take her again.

4.0
3.0
112
Grade: A+
May 11, 2023
Would take again

As long as you pay attention and study what she puts on her reviews, an A is definitely achievable. The class is graded out of 700 points and you can get up to 30 extra credit, but it's 90% participation so literally just go to class and you'll get 25+ no problem. She's helpful if you email her or talk to her after class and she seems cool.

EXTRA CREDIT
4.0
3.0
112
Grade: A+
May 11, 2023
Would take again

Basu was an ok professor granted she just started teaching. She just reads through her slides during class. 30 extra credit points are available and those definitely help for your overall grade. This was not an easy course, it is just a ton of memorization. I just made quizlets based off her slides, studied those and I did well on the exams.

EXTRA CREDIT
Test heavy
Graded by few things
3.0
1.0
112
Grade: A+
May 13, 2023
Would take again

Prof. Basu is just okay. Her class is easy, though relatively boring. She reads right off slides and adds a few examples, but that is about it. My only real issue with her is that she is slow - lectures were weeks behind, to the point that lab content didn't match what was going on in class and we didn't touch the last planned topic.

EXTRA CREDIT
Clear grading criteria
Test heavy
3.0
3.0
112
Grade: B+
May 17, 2023

She was overall an okay professor, if you don't enjoy biology as a whole you are going to hate her as a prof. She is sometimes boring during lecture and reads straight from the powerpoint with little to nothing added onto that. Not horrible and there is a chance for extra credit if you go to class.

Participation matters
Lecture heavy
Test heavy
3.0
3.0
112
Grade: A
Jun 1, 2023

Very time-consuming class. Exams require a lot of studying and there are a lot of lab assignments. I wasn't able to understand her during lectures a lot of the time but her slides were pretty clear. Lots of extra credit for going to class.

Get ready to read
EXTRA CREDIT
4.0
2.0
112
Grade: A+
Aug 5, 2023
Would take again

Lectures are boring, but presents info clearly enough to understand and learn. Kinda like a middle school teacher and will call people out for talking in class, maybe just be bc she's new to teaching. Exams are easy tho and on the last 3 with average studying got a 100. Only a 4 bc of how easy her class is, but did all of my studying myself.

Lots of homework
Lecture heavy
1.0
2.0
112
Grade: Incomplete
Oct 27, 2023

Her exams are not based on her lecture slides, nor does she provide any sort of exam review, practice exams, or anything. It's super difficult, imo, to score a good score in this class unless you've probably taken this class before and already know the content. She's also really boring to listen to and drones on in lectures. Don't recommend.

Get ready to read
Participation matters
EXTRA CREDIT
4.0
4.0
112
Grade: B
Nov 15, 2023
Would take again

Overall good prof, one problem set each week with only 4-6 questions and lots of extra credit for attendance. Really disliked her lack of exam review and how chapter heavy her exams were, first exam was only two chapters when two and three were about 5. Still learned a lot but you really have to study on your own.

Lecture heavy
3.0
4.0
112
Grade: A-
Nov 16, 2023

An alright prof, her lectures are essentially just reading from slides and tests are VERY chapter heavy, requiring you to memorize powerpoints and the textbook. Does not give practice exams and does not do curves. Does have a good amount of attendance extra credit though, which is cool. She seems nice, but just wish lectures were more interesting.

2.0
4.0
112
Grade: C
Nov 27, 2023

The lecture wasn't bad it was the 4 hour lab over a completely different subject , the lab exams could literally be over any piece of material we have ever learned in this lab or lecture. The class averages for the lab exams would be like 30 and she would say out a 20-ish page review the day before the exam so there really was no studying.

Tough grader
Test heavy
Graded by few things
3.0
3.0
112
Grade: B-
Nov 27, 2023
Would take again

10% extra credit for attendance weekly quiz and lab report not worth too much each but it adds up quick to miss them first exam is EASY, but after that they're straight memorization from textbooks. get good at memorizing phylogenetic trees and good luck to anyone who doesn't already know what that is.

Get ready to read
EXTRA CREDIT
Lots of homework
4.0
3.0
112
Grade: A-
Dec 6, 2023
Would take again

She's nice but has low tolerance for any noise making in class. Attendance is not mandatory but show up for plenty of extra credit and her lectures go in line with the textbook. Also she moves at a much faster pace than other professors like Janes and I've heard that Janes makes you learn a lot of it yourself because she's slower.

Get ready to read
EXTRA CREDIT
Clear grading criteria
3.0
3.0
112
Grade: B+
Dec 13, 2023

basu is an ok professor test questions come directly from slides but she is so boring to listen to and yells at people when they are on their phone or having side conversations. if you memorize every single slide word for word you will be fine. I suggest going to class bc she has bonus points that really boost your grade.

EXTRA CREDIT
3.0
3.0
112
Grade: A
Dec 13, 2023
Would take again

Ok prof. Exams are extremely straightforward & simple, but don't underestimate them. Memorize ALL the information on her slides. Exams are progressively more difficult. If u only care about a prof that gives an easier A, choose her. 30 LC points for attending class.

EXTRA CREDIT
Lecture heavy
Test heavy
3.0
3.0
112
Grade: A
Dec 13, 2023
Would take again

Dr. Basu makes all the information you need to know for the exams clear. She also gave lots of extra credit through LC. As long as you memorize the slides, you will be fine in her class. The exams are fairly easy, but occasionally the questions are phrased weirdly. She also does not like talking when lecturing, but she is reasonable.

EXTRA CREDIT
Gives good feedback
Lecture heavy
3.0
4.0
112
Grade: A
Dec 15, 2023
Would take again

None of the biology department professors for BIO 112 are the best from what I've heard but I think if I had to recommend anyone it would be Basu. She moves much faster than other professors but offers lots of extra credit and sometimes study guides. Her TAs are pretty chill and she can be hard to understand sometimes but she is very nice.

Tough grader
2.0
4.0
112
Grade: C+
Dec 15, 2023

Personally i hated her. Shes boring in lecture, passive aggressive when people ask questions, gives no exam reviews. Lab exams are TERRIBLE. The TA sends a (not exaggerating) 15 page review and then the exam is 20 free response questions.

4.0
3.0
112
Grade: A
Dec 15, 2023
Would take again

Lectures are incredibly boring and her accent is difficult to understand at times, but bio 112 is a teach yourself class regardless. The first exam is EZ but exams 2&3 are HARD. You HAVE to memorize every word including fine print on her powerpoints to do well so study in advance. Go to class bc u can get up to 30 pts extra credit which helps LOTS!

Get ready to read
EXTRA CREDIT
Lecture heavy
5.0
3.0
112
Grade: A+
Dec 18, 2023
Would take again

Lectures are simple. Go to every class and take notes on everything she says that isn't on slides. 3 exams that are not meant to trick you. Worst part of the class is lab exams that are almost impossible to study for. There's only 2, and with failing both terribly, I still got an A in the class. Biggest advice, GO TO CLASS and participate in LC

EXTRA CREDIT
1.0
5.0
112
Dec 23, 2023

Horrible, Horrible, horrible, please take Donna if you can! This class was so bad for me, for exam 2 i studied for a week and when I went to her office hours she told me I should have studied 2 weeks in advance :/. She isn't helpful, she gets mad very easily, and if you ask her to bump up your grade she takes of 15 points. Dont take her!

Lecture heavy
Test heavy
3.0
3.0
112
Grade: A+
Dec 25, 2023
Would take again

Practically only attended class on bonus point days and still got an A. Exams are easy if you memorize everything on the slides, which can seem very overwhelming at first but once you have it down, you're fine. Lab exams are actually impossible, information is ahead from lecture and the TA's grade harshly. I thought it was easier than Bio 111.

Get ready to read
EXTRA CREDIT
Test heavy
3.0
3.0
112
Grade: B+
Dec 29, 2023
Would take again

The tests were pretty easy, just study well for the second one. The 1st and 3rd tests were very easy. Make sure to study well for the lab exams, because that was a lot of info to study for and do well. Professor mainly reads off slides but very straight forward, go to class and take notes! Doable class!

Clear grading criteria
Lecture heavy
Accessible outside class
2.0
3.0
112
Grade: A
Jan 17, 2024

Her lectures were reading word for word from the slide and she was not passionate about teaching at all. She does LC so there is a LOT of extra credit if you go to class that adds up to 4 or 5 points. Exams are overly specific questions so you have to study a lot but if you put in the time it is not hard at all to get the desired grade.

EXTRA CREDIT
Lecture heavy
4.0
3.0
112
Grade: A
Jan 18, 2024
Would take again

I got Bs on her exams and still passed with an A. Although attendance is not mandatory, you should go to her class since she gives extra credit through LC and writes notes that are not in the slides. You will be fine if you study the slides and the extra notes. She is really nice, and I recommend sitting in the front since it's hard to hear her.

EXTRA CREDIT
Accessible outside class
2.0
3.0
112
Grade: A+
Mar 22, 2024
Would take again

She definitely isn't the absolute worst professor, but she's just not amazing. Her lectures are boring and the slides can get confusing at times. She's super repetitive. There are 30 points of extra credit just for attending class. For the tests, literally just memorize her power points and the notes you take and you'll be fine.

EXTRA CREDIT
Clear grading criteria
Lecture heavy
5.0
1.0
112
Grade: A
Apr 15, 2024
Would take again

I was able to get an A on all exams despite cramming for 3 hours each, but I love to memorize so please take this with a grain of salt. 3 exams, 1 cumulative final (60% remaining topics, 40% past material). 30 extra points given on RANDOM days. Lab exams are great if you pay attention (worth 25 points each x2). Need 600 points for an A.

4.0
3.0
112
Apr 19, 2024
Would take again

Dr. Basu moves quickly through lectures. Make sure to write down everything she says, especially if it's not on the slides. The first exam is easy, but STUDY for exam 2 and 3 and ofc the final. There's also 30 bonus points so attend lecture!! Lab exams are just rough and depends on how your TA grades. Overall, Basu is pretty good, just take notes!!

Lecture heavy
4.0
3.0
112
Grade: A+
Apr 19, 2024
Would take again

This class is content heavy,so you shouldn't expect to just go to lecture and remember everything for exams without studying.The content is very detailed and a lot of material is covered.She is very knowledgeable.Her exams are not hard,she provides a practice exam that is very representative of what the actual exam will be like. 30 points of extra.

EXTRA CREDIT
Lecture heavy
5.0
3.0
112
Grade: A
Apr 20, 2024
Would take again

Dr. Basu is very knowledgeable and willing to help wherever she can. She is really patient but can lecture fast, which is part of how heavy the content is anyways. Study very well for exams and they are not meant to trick you. Labs are arguably easier than 111, as long as your TA is good. Other than studying for exams, not a hard course at all.

EXTRA CREDIT
Lecture heavy
4.0
4.0
112
Grade: A
Apr 20, 2024
Would take again

Dr. Basu is super intelligent and wants to help her students. However, this is a VERY lecture-heavy course, so be prepared to study, study, STUDY! The tests are straightforward and are not intended to be tricky, there's just a lot of information covered on it. Test #2 is by far the hardest, so be prepared to study or die.

EXTRA CREDIT
Lecture heavy
Test heavy
1.0
5.0
112
Grade: B+
Apr 23, 2024

Avoid taking this professor if you can. Her office hours were the worst I've ever been to. Did not care about students or their understanding of materials. During lectures, she talks at the speed of light, is hard to understand and her handwriting is illegible. Would test heavily on material covered 2 days before the exams. No partial credit.

Tough grader
Get ready to read
Lecture heavy
4.0
4.0
112
Grade: A
May 7, 2024
Would take again

Dr.Basu is very intelligent and does a good job teaching this class for it being one of the more difficult ones to grasp. Class is very lecture heavy revolving around the whole idea of evolution and exams are the majority of your grade. Labs are easier than 111 but I found myself studying the material more in this class than I did 111

EXTRA CREDIT
Lecture heavy
Test heavy
1.0
4.0
112
Grade: B+
May 7, 2024

Professor Basu was an okay professor but as a person she was terrible. She was mean, constantly yelling at people and responding so rudely to emails. I have a few friends who ended the class very close to an A and simply ASKED if they could do anything and she ended up sending a mass email completely disrespecting everyone and shaming us.

Lecture heavy
4.0
2.0
112
Grade: A
May 8, 2024
Would take again

Lecture can be boring but she does write extra material on slides you need to know. Lots of information but the exams are straightforward. Very easy weekly problem sets. Lab exams are tough, but lecture exams are not that bad. Just make sure to study. I would study last minute and be fine! 30 points iclicker extra credit was super helpful!

EXTRA CREDIT
4.0
3.0
112
Grade: A
May 10, 2024
Would take again

I would definitely recommend Dr. Basu, she's a good professor. I didn't enjoy the subject, but her expectations for the class were reasonable. Exam 1 and the final were straightforward, but exams 2 and 3 were pretty tough, so be aware of that. The lab part of the course is pretty easy aside from the lab exams, but they won't affect your grade much.

EXTRA CREDIT
5.0
2.0
112
Grade: A+
May 10, 2024
Would take again

Dr. Basu was very fair with her exams. The course was extremely heavy on lecture material and exams which got very boring at times, but the class is set up for you to succeed. The final is easy and all of the midterms are more than fair if you study. It takes a lot to memorize all of the material but it's not impossible if you put in the effort.

Get ready to read
EXTRA CREDIT
Lecture heavy
4.0
5.0
112
Grade: A
May 11, 2024
Would take again

She cares for her students and is always ready to answer your questions. Which is very helpful since BIOL 112 has A LOT of memorizing. Always attend her lectures as many of the exam materials are from the lectures. She also holds iClicker questions which are also helpful. She also has an accent, but it doesn't bother me.

Caring
Lecture heavy
Test heavy
5.0
3.0
112
Grade: A
May 16, 2024
Would take again

Overall very nice prof who wants you to succeed. It is important to attend lecture as extra credit (nearly 5 extra percent) is earned thru iClicker. The first exam is by far the easiest so take advantage to boost your grade. The next two are much more rigorous and you will need to study to earn an A. Overall she wants to help you and do well.

Participation matters
EXTRA CREDIT
Clear grading criteria
5.0
3.0
112
Grade: A-
May 27, 2024
Would take again

Professor Basu was great. She wants her students to understand the topics she discusses in class and is open to questions. The tests are from the lecture and are pretty direct. However, some of the materials on the test are taught right before the exam so be sure to space out your studying so that you won't have to cram for the test.

Lecture heavy
4.0
3.0
112
Grade: B
Aug 19, 2024
Would take again

Dr. Basu was very sweet, although lectures can get boring. Some information you learn is very specific so its important to stay alert and awake during that class. And attendance matters! I made the mistake of not attending enough and missing iclickers. If I went to every class I would have gotten an A because of the attendance extra credit bump.

Participation matters
Lecture heavy
1.0
5.0
112
Grade: Not sure yet
Sep 19, 2024

Basu has a serious attitude problem. She is always irritated and provides no feedback. I don't expect her to change her personality or go the extra mile, but there's no need to be rude. While not necessary, so profs even hold office hours on the weekends. I don't need her to do that, but she doesn't have to be rude since she is a grown women.

1.0
5.0
112
Grade: A
Oct 17, 2024

I cannot stand basu as a person as she is rude and going to her office hours results in her trying to over-complicate a topic as easy as biology. The concepts are not hard, but there is no direction on what to learn. Your only source is the textbook, slides, and practice sets, which are all misleading of learning expectations for her class.

1.0
5.0
112
Grade: A
Oct 17, 2024

The majority of your time will be spent trying to figure out what you need to study and its impossible to check yourself whether you know the material or not since there are few practice questions.

Tough grader
2.0
5.0
112
Grade: B-
Nov 12, 2024

It is really hard to know what is going to be on the tests!!!! The most helpful this is the SI, her office hours don't help. No test reviews. The class is lecture heavy and boring. She's nice I guess but she understands the topic so much i think she forgets sometimes that its new to us.

Lecture heavy
Test heavy
2.0
3.0
112
Grade: A
Nov 12, 2024

I feel bad for Basu because she gets very frustrated by all the students not listening during lectures. The class is very straightforward with every assignment outside of tests being a free 100. Tests ask pretty particular questions, so you have to know everything on the slides, but if you learn everything on the slides you'll be fine.

Lecture heavy
Test heavy
2.0
3.0
112
Grade: C
Nov 19, 2024
Would take again

Professor Basu was a great professor for this course. She was a little hard to understand and her grading is very strict. She would sometimes have an attitude with students when we asked questions and didn't always provide clear answers. Lab was not bad but reading the textbook and asking questions to the lab instructor helped.

3.0
3.0
112
Grade: A
Dec 2, 2024

Not helpful with questions, slightly hard to understand. All lecture assignments outside of tests are easy A's

Tough grader
3.0
2.0
112
Grade: C
Dec 9, 2024
Would take again

Although she properly taught the content, it became tedious after the first week after realizing she lectures off of her slides. Not the greatest professor overall but was bearable enough to work with.

5.0
3.0
112
Grade: A
Dec 12, 2024
Would take again

Dr Basu is an amazing Biology professor. I took her for Bio 112 and she suited me just right. There is 3 exams, a final, and other assignments that are helpful. Exams come from the slides and if you put in work you will be okay. ATTEND LECTURE as she offers extra credit for attendance. Her accent is not bad at all as I had not problem with it

Participation matters
Clear grading criteria
Caring
3.0
3.0
112
Grade: B-
Dec 13, 2024
Would take again

Barely went to class but passed with a low B Sometimes I couldn't understand her because she had an accent. She's fast but will go back to lectures if her students need it. so much material to learn but that's not her fault. the class is very well organized. weekly quizzes, but answers are online. very lecture-heavy exams!!!!

Amazing lectures
Clear grading criteria
Lecture heavy
3.0
4.0
112
Dec 18, 2024

There is a ton of content to learn and memorize and every single thing on the slides is fair game for the exams. Dr. Basu reads directly off of the slides and doesn't care very much about her students if you email her or attend her office hours. The class is straightforward but the amount of content makes it very unbearable.

Get ready to read
Test heavy
3.0
4.0
112
Grade: A
Dec 18, 2024

Professor Basu is very straightforward in her lectures. ATTEND LECTURES!!! She gives an additional 20 extra credit points through i-clicker. She adds to her slides in every lecture with extra information and will test on the added material. STUDY!!! Exams 2-3 were very content heavy and there is few practice questions. SI sessions are helpful.

EXTRA CREDIT
2.0
3.0
112
Grade: A
Jan 9, 2025

Basu was straight forward on exams. She would often make exam questions what she would teach us in class so skipping is a terrible idea. Tests are worth like 100 pts while quizzes were 10. Lab was easy i just got a crappy TA. Obviously this isn't a slack off class so don't treat it like one.

Respected
Lecture heavy
Test heavy
2.0
3.0
112
Grade: C+
Jan 14, 2025

she was okay, she would catch attitude when you didn't know anything about the unit she was going over.

EXTRA CREDIT
Lecture heavy
Test heavy
5.0
4.0
112
Grade: A
Mar 8, 2025
Would take again

Dr. Basu is not a bad prof. Unfortunately, the 112 content is a LOT. And she does her best to communicate info as concisely as possible. I would take her. You have to memorize no matter whose 112 class you take. Work through practice exams, and read through slides after each class. It'll save you time later.

Caring
Lecture heavy
Accessible outside class
5.0
3.0
112
Grade: Incomplete
Apr 10, 2025
Would take again

BIOL 112 is hard and full of content, but Basu is great at going through all of it. She writes down lots of info on her slides so going to lecture is important to make sure you're fully understanding the content. The exams are not the most difficult in the world and you should be fine studying a few days in advance. Overall, great prof.

Caring
Respected
Lecture heavy
5.0
3.0
112
Apr 10, 2025
Would take again

personally, i like dr. basu. one thing i will say is GO TO LECTURE. reviewing slides is not enough. she tests on information that she writes on the slides, so not only do you need to be present, but you need to be actively taking notes. literally if you look down once you probably missed an exam question.

Get ready to read
Lecture heavy
5.0
2.0
112
Grade: A+
Apr 12, 2025
Would take again

She is just the cutest I love her! Her tests are so much easier than Dr. Tags (i had him for 111). She does talk fast sometimes but I type 65 words per minute and I was still able to write everything she said down. The information you learn will never be applied (its on plants, protists, evolution, phylogeny, etc). Lab is easy and repetitive.

EXTRA CREDIT
Amazing lectures
Inspirational
5.0
2.0
112
Grade: A
Apr 12, 2025
Would take again

Very straightforward tests. As long as you put the time into remembering processes and example organisms, you will do great. Some exam questions come from what she says and not what is on the posted slides. Extra credit iClicker after each unit. Noon deadlines for assignments instead of midnight is kind of dumb. Accent easy to understand for most.

EXTRA CREDIT
Amazing lectures
4.0
3.0
112
Grade: A-
Apr 15, 2025
Would take again

Other than exams, assignments are easy. Attendance isn't mandatory. All information for exams is in the slides she provides. She will tell you throughout the lecture what you will and won't be tested on so that was pretty helpful and a pretty big benefit to going to lectures. She is a very sweet professor and I would definitely take her again.

Clear grading criteria
Lecture heavy
3.0
2.0
112
Grade: B
Apr 16, 2025

She's pretty quiet so I would recommend sitting towards the front. I sat in the back and struggled to listen to her and often didn't pay attention. The tests are hard (2 and 3 especially) and you have to memorize small details and specific things so start studying more than a week in advance because it's hard to cram everything in in a few days.

EXTRA CREDIT
Lecture heavy
4.0
3.0
112
Grade: B-
Apr 16, 2025
Would take again

Dr. Basu is great. The course is definitely lecture heavy so be prepared to read and study. Exams 2 and 3 were the hardest due to the sheer amount of information you need to memorize. I suggest to study as you go to make it easier than trying to cram the week of. Other than the exams, all other assignments were very easy and helped my grade a lot.

Lecture heavy
Test heavy
4.0
3.0
112
Grade: C+
Apr 16, 2025
Would take again

Reads off of slides, adds various information to said slides. IF YOU AINT IN CLASS, you're gonna miss a lot of exam questions. Overall though, she's okay. Understand her well enough. Bit of a boring professor, but she gets the job done so overall, not too bad.

Tough grader
Clear grading criteria
Lecture heavy
4.0
2.0
112
Grade: A-
Apr 21, 2025
Would take again

Honestly the lab exams (only two) were harder than Basu's exams. Memorizing info is a big part but I was able to do it with bad memory. Assignments were easy!

Lecture heavy
5.0
4.0
112
Grade: B
Apr 25, 2025
Would take again

This class is lecture heavy and will include important information in her lectures about upcoming exams. That being said, while reading the textbook will improve understanding her lectures and slides will include enough information to pass the exam and I believe she teaches the material as best to her ability.

Get ready to read
Clear grading criteria
Test heavy
4.0
3.0
112
Grade: B+
Apr 25, 2025
Would take again

Easy to understand. Her accent doesn't make her difficult to understand at all. Lots of opportunities for points, like practice tests and checks for understanding. Her tests are tough because of all the information, but the questions and straightforward. She will tell you when a concept is important and will give a study guide for the final.

Clear grading criteria
3.0
1.0
112
Grade: B
Apr 27, 2025
Would take again

Lectures are boring but the exams are glowingly easy

Graded by few things
4.0
3.0
112
Grade: A+
Apr 28, 2025
Would take again

honestly pretty decent prof. she tells you exactly what you need to know for tests, straight from lecture. LOTS of memorization, but no hard concepts. you just have to put in time to memorize. lab exams are rough. my TA was L though. easy assignments other than exams. go to class and youll be good. she does iClicker sometimes for extra credit.

5.0
3.0
112
Grade: A
Apr 29, 2025
Would take again

Dr. Basu does give a LOT of info in her lectures, but makes it clear what to study for the exams. As long as you can understand everything she told you is important for the exam and put the time in. you will be more than prepared. You get three tries on everything except exams and the exams are very straightforward. Take Dr. Basu!!!

Amazing lectures
Clear grading criteria
Lecture heavy
3.0
3.0
112
Grade: A
May 1, 2025
Would take again

I enjoyed her class. It's all very organized. Tests are much easier than 111. I made only B/Cs on tests in 111 and only A/Bs in 112, with the same amount of studying. Labs are easy, but the lab exams are hard. She's is very knowledgeable, accent is easy to understand, but talks very monotone. 20 EC from iclicker throughout the semester.

EXTRA CREDIT
Clear grading criteria
Lecture heavy
4.0
3.0
112
Grade: A
May 3, 2025
Would take again

attendance not mandatory per se, but occasional iclickers & labs are why i said it would be. tests are very straight-forward, and i think she explains the content well. there is a lot of memorization, however i believe this is a point within the curriculum instead of her. the biggest issue i had with biol 112 has to be the labs if anything :,)

Get ready to read
EXTRA CREDIT
4.0
3.0
112
Grade: A
May 6, 2025
Would take again

She was a great professor overall. Her exams were on the easier side, but CONTENT HEAVY. 112 was boring, so pay attention in class and write notes. The lab portion was easier, but the lab exams were def harder. Be aware of deadlines since she doesn't do make-ups for some.

EXTRA CREDIT
Lecture heavy
Test heavy
4.0
4.0
112
Grade: B
May 8, 2025
Would take again

She was a fine professor, I just found 111 to be so much easier. I studied alot for these exams and took notes over everything she said in class. She'll tell you stuff is specifically important and theres a 60/40 chance you'll be tested over that. Its very memorization heavy, so look over things directly after lecture and don't slack off.

EXTRA CREDIT
Clear grading criteria
Lecture heavy
5.0
1.0
112
Grade: A+
May 8, 2025
Would take again

Basu was a very good prof. She gives you all the material needed for the tests and the workload isn't too much. But, there is a LOT of information in this course (this holds true for all of 112), and lecture tends to be a bit boring. I would take her again, though, because her tests were easy and she helped me to better understand the class.

EXTRA CREDIT
Lecture heavy
4.0
2.0
112
Grade: A
May 9, 2025
Would take again

Everyone else is right, the content in this course is much harder for the 2nd and 3rd exams so make sure you do good on the first one. Basu is probably the best 112 prof from what I've heard and has easier tests compared to the others. Attendence isn't required but make sure to show up still because she pretty much tells you exam questions in class

Participation matters
Caring
Lecture heavy
5.0
3.0
112
Grade: A+
May 9, 2025
Would take again

Bio 112 is very information heavy but I didn't even realized this until the end of the semester because she made the information easily understandable. Her exams are really easy and she quite frankly tells you what will be on the exam in class. In order to be successful go to class and genuinely listen and take notes on what she is saying.

EXTRA CREDIT
Clear grading criteria
3.0
3.0
112
Grade: B
May 10, 2025

There is so much content you have to memorize so that is really the only difficult part but she made is genuinely so hard for me to pay attention in that class. Sitting through these lectures was actually so boring sorry. So if you have a short attention spam I would not recommend.

5.0
3.0
112
Grade: B
May 10, 2025
Would take again

Her lectures are clear and understandable, and she's very accessible after/outside class. She wants her students to do well and emphasizes what to study. She even makes a final review. Tests are straightforward and light as far as this subject goes. Weekly homework. Do NOT forget to turn things in--she makes things due at NOON. Love her--take her!!

Participation matters
Caring
Lecture heavy
5.0
3.0
112
Grade: A
May 10, 2025
Would take again

I highly recommend Dr. Basu! Her lectures are very clear, and she tells you what you need to know for the exam. Attendance is not mandatory, but there is extra credit clickers once a week or so. Weekly problem sets and practice exams that are really short and not all that helpful, but her exams are not hard at all!

EXTRA CREDIT
Lecture heavy
Test heavy
5.0
3.0
112
Grade: B
Jun 1, 2025
Would take again

Amazing lecturer, but a pretty difficult class. Lots of memorization. Multiple HW assignments as grade cushion, as well as 20pts extra from in class iClicker. In lecture she specifically goes over what is important for the exams so definitely go to class.

EXTRA CREDIT
Amazing lectures
3.0
4.0
112
Grade: B
Jun 23, 2025
Would take again

I hardly went to class and got a B. She does quite a bit of EC, but she is hard to understand sometimes. If you go to class and pay attention, with some studying, an A is very achievable. Not much homework outside of lab, but the lab is pretty easy as long as you have a decent TA.

EXTRA CREDIT
Clear grading criteria
5.0
3.0
112
Grade: A
Jul 23, 2025
Would take again

Super sweet and very helpful professor. She is a good lecturer. Write down what she says in class, and pay attention to what she says in class because then it will really minimize studying outside of class. Very doable class, but a lot of memorization.

EXTRA CREDIT
Caring
5.0
2.0
112
Grade: A+
Nov 13, 2025
Would take again

I really enjoyed her lecture style. Her presentations were clear, and the notes were organized. She made it clear what would be on the tests, and everything was posted on Canvas, including the due dates from the first day of class. You can earn up to 20 points of extra credit from iClicker, and she was very nice, always answering questions.

EXTRA CREDIT
Clear grading criteria
Lecture heavy
3.0
2.0
112
Grade: A
Nov 17, 2025

Basu is a decent professor and you will pass her class, but I would not take her again. Lectures are boring and repetitive. She hand writes most info on the slides and moves on fast so you miss it. She doesn't post edited slides either so important to go to class. Her exams are average but she says whats on them and homeowork is easy.

Participation matters
Lecture heavy
Test heavy
4.0
3.0
112
Grade: A
Nov 18, 2025
Would take again

I liked her overall. She was not as good as my Bio 111 prof but she did a decent job at explaining the concepts enough to where I could learn them. Her exams were pretty easy and I think she has a worse rating that what she actually deserves. I would recommend her! But I will say I barely made it out with an A. The final exam is pretty hard.

Lecture heavy
3.0
3.0
112
Grade: A
Nov 24, 2025
Would take again

She is a good teacher, but loves to talk. Class moves pretty slow. There is extra credit and she is very fair on test. I appreciate her passion for the material. Definitely one of the better BIOL 112 teachers!

Participation matters
3.0
2.0
112
Grade: A
Nov 26, 2025
Would take again

Dr. Basu was an ok professor. She always clearly stated what was going to be on the exam and there were no surprises through the course. However, her lectures were often boring.

EXTRA CREDIT
Clear grading criteria
3.0
2.0
112
Grade: A-
Dec 2, 2025
Would take again

Basu was just okay for my learning style. Class has 3 exam and a final (cumulative), practice exams, problem sets, iclicker points, and lab assignments. Highly recommend going to class as she writes a lot of info on the slides and does not post them after. Lets you keep your exams after which you can use to study for final.

EXTRA CREDIT
Lecture heavy
3.0
2.0
112
Dec 5, 2025

She seems likes she knows what she's talking about, and she is very clear about what will be on the test. She is just boring. Occasionally she'll be more passionate about something and the lecture is more interesting, but other than that she is very monotone.

Clear grading criteria
Lecture heavy
3.0
1.0
112
Grade: B+
Dec 16, 2025
Would take again

The class is super easy. She's not really a good lecturer, and can be hard to understand at times. You have to memorize way less for this section then any other though, and you get 4 points of extra credit. Easy section in a challenging class, but Prof could be better.

EXTRA CREDIT
Lecture heavy
4.0
2.0
112
Grade: B
Dec 17, 2025
Would take again

She is really nice but class is a bit boring. The grading criteria is clear and the exams are not that hard. Go to lecture because she does add on notes you can only get in class! Extra credit with iclicker questions (usually at end of each chapter we go through). Final exam was cumulative but around 60% was new content learned after 3rd exam.

EXTRA CREDIT
Clear grading criteria
Lecture heavy
5.0
5.0
112
Grade: A
Dec 19, 2025
Would take again

A lot of ratings rant about how "boring" Dr. Basu was, but I don't blame her. If I were 5 months pregnant and teaching 300 kids about Bryophytes, I wouldn't be exciting either. Lab assignments are easy but the lab exam was HARD (open response) + the final is 60% new content 40% cumulative which made that hard too. Slides cover content well.

Get ready to read
EXTRA CREDIT
Clear grading criteria
3.0
3.0
112
Grade: B+
Dec 20, 2025

I wouldn't take her again just because her lectures are incredibly boring, but the class is just a lot of material to cover. Her exams are very easy if you study the material. Definitely go to class because she gives a good amount of EC through iClicker. Lab is not hard but the final lab exam is bc it's free response so study A LOT for that.

Participation matters
Clear grading criteria
Lecture heavy
4.0
3.0
112
Grade: A
Dec 21, 2025
Would take again

This is a difficult class in general but I thought this prof did very well with it. She took time to explain concepts and didn't rush. There is a lot of extra credit if you show up. Just study and do the practice tests and you will be fine. The labs are fairly easy. The last lab exam is pretty hard but the TA gave us a guide that prepared us well.

Clear grading criteria
Test heavy
3.0
3.0
112
Grade: A
Dec 31, 2025
Would take again

She's a chill professor. Only annoying thing is she would write so much extra info on the slides already given. Exams (including final) are VERY detailed so know the slides like the back of your hand. She gives extra credit thru iclicker, and doing the course evaluation at end of semester. I recommend just study a lot :(

EXTRA CREDIT
Class Info

Attendance Mandatory

39%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

A-

95% confidence
Based on 106 grades
Most common grades:
A (47)
A+ (16)
B (14)
Grade Distribution
A(63)B(19)C(6)D(0)F(0)A-/B+(18)
Based on 111 reported grades
A: 47
A+: 16
B: 14
B+: 10
Common Tags
Lecture heavy (54)
EXTRA CREDIT (52)
Clear grading criteria (26)
Test heavy (23)
Get ready to read (17)
Participation matters (12)
Graded by few things (7)
Caring (7)
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