Hi everybody!

i don't know why people don't like him. his exams are really fair given that genetics is the hardest part of the course. his lectures were pretty interesting and overall he is a decent prof.

If he's the reason anyone switches out of science than they wouldn't make it anyways. Great prof. He was helpful in his office hours and he loves genetics so much that he instills that in his students. Exams were fine if you read the text carefully and thouroughly. Totally legit.

People give Haffie a bad rep because they are used to doing well without putting any work into it. It's uni, get used to it. You paid $100+ for the book anyway, you may as well use it. He loves teaching and tries to make lectures as interesting and interactive as possible despite having 800 students. Part of the reason I'm now a genetics major.

An inspiring professor who teaches his students how to learn through inquiry. Exams were tougher than Maxwell and Fenton's, but never impossible. The material was always great. It's applicable and fascinating. People give him a bad reputation because they are memorizing his material instead of understanding it in a manner that can be applied.

Would ahve to say that Haffie tried to make this interesting, and tried to actually teach. But despite his attempts, many did not understand. Was this a product of the teacher or the material? Personally I understood and did moderately well. His exam questions can be tricky. You must know the lecture and textbook material inside out.

Rather inspiring. I'll never do genetics in the future (except this year), but I think he did a reasonably good job teaching a confusing area of biology for most. With that said, his exam was borderline insane at some points... Oh. Did you know Haffie only has a masters? Who would have thought for such an intelligent man. Also very helpful

haffie is a really inspring prof. He uses genetics in every way possibel to put a spin into every topic in biology. This is a thumbs up because it teaches you to think beyond. Although his exams are no joke, it is all for a good cause....teaching you to open your mind more!

Haffie is a great GREAT prof...and then your first exam comes... Great prof, but man his exams are HARD!

An ideal university professor! Challenges you to actually learn and try rather than spoon feeding you grades like some low brow highschools out there.

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Best teacher! I love Tom although his exams will really challenge you!

His material is the hardest to be tested on in bio 022. That being said, he's a decent teacher. I see people pooring out hate just because he has high expectations. I don't understand it. Everyone who wants to go to medschool is essentially taking the same course so the marking is fair.

hard material at the first glancve but if you go through it, it makes sense. hes an excellent prof in terms of what he teaches and though he is tough, you really do learn alot.

Haffie is one of the best profs I have ever had. He is concise in his explanations and is a gift to the department of biology.

Excellent Professor. Concise and innovative teaching. Incorporates genetics in very novel ways in the class so that you learn as well as develop interest in it. Exams can be tough as memorization will lead you nowhere in his course. You must have more than just surface understanding and be ready to apply what he teaches into pretty much anything.

Very tough prof, but his material was interesting. To do well on his exams you have to understand the concepts not just know the facts. I highly recommend going to his lectures because he uses clickers A LOT and you will need the 5% given for answering clicker questions because his first exam is really hard.

Hard exam, interesting lectures. Must attend lectures I you want to do decent on the exam.

amazingly interesting and entertaining to listen to, incorporates world issues into the lectures, demands that students think for themselves instead of mindlessly following orders. he's won several teaching awards....clearly a great prof!

I agree that you have to know his info inside and out if you expectt to do well on his exams!! His midterm was the hugest slap of my university career (graduated one year ago) and apparently nothing has changed. Be careful how you study for this class, talk to him and go beyond the class notes to verify your understanding.

A very interesting professor, you MUST read the textbook and have a COMPLETE and CRYSTAL CLEAR understanding of the lecture materials to do well on his exams. If you get anything over a 80...be VERY HAPPY

Fast and busy lectures, always writing. Lists are a good idea. Difficult clicker q's

awesome

I don't why everyone is complaining about the haffie 22. If you ask me, anyone who actually knows her/her material will do just fine on his tests. His tests AREN'T hard, they just expect you to actually understand it. And true, he does jump from slide to slide, but he is MORE organized than the other profs in the grand scheme of things (take a look

He is a greaaaattttt prof. I had never ever been interested in genetics before this year.If you don't put work into actually UNDERSTANDING the material, you will fail. I put a ton of work into actually understanding the material and making connections between lectures and it workded! I got 99% on the midterm, aka it IS possible. he is awesome.

I'll admit Genetics is not the easiest subject to grasp, but really, Haffie is a pretty awesome professor. So, sorry kids who are sore over their misunderstanding of the material. You know, maybe if you'd just gone in for help you could avoid hating on someone who's really dedicated to his students.

his style is sometimes harsh, but you can learn a lot from his teaching

Really energetic, smart prof. Can be harsh and tends to answer around questions rather than giving a direct answer. His lectures are similar, isn't very explicit what you need to know but leaves it to you to figure out. Does give interesting and exciting lectures but you are left with work to do outside of class

Tough but a great prof. Anyone complaining that he is "too hard" does so because they are used to wrote memorization. Tom's tests require more than this; they require understanding. He is an entertaining, intuitive and dedicated professor and has made first year Biology a joy. Cheers, Tom.

haffie.....where do i start...lets say he killed my gpa. anyone who says he is easy is crazy..i worked my ass off for his final exam and i nearly failed. requires a TREMENDOUS amount of thinking and majority of questions you dont even have the knowledge(that is given in class) to answer the questions..rediculous teacher...

Great prof! Really interesting/cares about course. Really big on clicker questions/thinking outside of the box. Students who hate him don't appreciate how he is trying to teach students learn+study. Exam questions are fair if you understand. Tutorials=awful+pointless but manditory. Overall very interesting class that prepares u for the rest of uni

Haffie is a great prof. If you don't understand him it is because you either aren't trying to or because you didn't attempt to make sure you have prior knowledge. All the people complaining about him being too hard probably are used to marks being given away. It's university, if you don't know your stuff you don't get the marks. Super interesting

Haffie is my hero. He is by far my favourite lecturer; Really engaging. He's also very approachable, so if you need to see him for help it's not stressful at all.

He is a very tough professor but is very helpful. He will answer any questions and is always trying to get the students in touch with their interests and with the faculty of science. His exams are probably the hardest you will ever write. He likes to incorporate all the material from the year into each question. He is enthusiast in class.

One of my favourite professors in first year. All the biology professors are great to be honest. Anyway, he's very passionate about the subject and it shows. Very engaging lectures, and enjoyable most of all. His exams definitely are not easy, but it's not impossible. Overall great professor, one of my favourites.

Tom Haffie's class was a favourite of mine. His lectures are very engaging and interactive. He is a really tough professor, but in the best possible way. He really tries to make sure that you understand what he is teaching you, and he's big on making connections. Because of this, his exams are challenging, but for sure doable, so prepared to work.

Favourite prof - funny, makes everything crystal clear, and maintains a perfect pace when explaining something. He puts a lot of effort into his lectures and is ALWAYS fun to listen to. He explains everything very simply - like one would to a friend - very easy to learn with him. Hope to have him teach more of my courses.

Loved him. First of all, he knows how to keep the attention 700+ students in one lecture hall. Secondly, it's obvious that he really cares about the course. He takes the time to make himself available for help, organize groups, and put up helpful "video postcards" even after his lectures have finished. His test is hard-ish but very passable.

Great prof, conducts very interesting lectures, very enthusiastic and knows how to keep the attention of his students. That being said, if you want to do well on his exams, know the material inside and out, beacause his exam questions are very difficult.

Very interesting prof who clearly focuses on his expectations and doesn't waste his words. The exams are mainly application question, so how well you are able to think and make connections is more important than whether you can memorize everything.

He is, in fact, a very interesting lecturer. I really liked him as a prof up until the day I went to write my midterm; after which I have not hated any prof more. His questions are misleading and petty, and it is nearly impossible to do well on his exams. I hope I never have him again.

You get the impression that he thinks he is the best prof on campus and he loves the sound of his own voice. Makes straight-forward concepts seem confusing and diluted. In a word-PRETENTIOUS-even more so than those MIT hipsters that share the same building.

Great prof. Yes his exams are hard but that's only because no one follows his instructions. Create bio study groups like he says to and you'll be fine. Also, pay attention in his class because he doesn't waste words. All of his lectures are clearly thought-out in advance. EVERYTHING is important.

Haffie is a great professor. His material is interesting and his lectures are amazing. For those who bash Haffie, you need to understand that the questions on the MCAT are very similar to the questions he gives on the midterm/final. Thus I feel that he did a great job preparing me for the future. Hint: his course is entirely lecture based.

Awesome but hard exams!!

HE IS AWESOME! You come to his lectures and you are mesmerized by his speech - he actually gets you to UNDERSTAND the material instead of simply memorize it and he does it in a very fun way. I was never bored in his class. I would take any course taught by Tom Haffie.

People who say he's tough just don't listen to him - he clearly tells us to make lists and think through different problems. If you do all that, read the textbook chapters, and rewatch the lectures online, you'll get perfect on his midterm. (Speaking from experience). He is an amazing prof - his lectures are absolutely breathtaking!

He's not as bad as everyone makes him out to be. He knows his stuff and is enthusiastic about his class. If you pay attention in lecture he always gives subtle (ie stressing ideas and linking ideas)or not so subtle (ie "catch that") hints as what will be on the midterms and exam. If you are willing to put in the effort, you'll learn a lot from him.

Haffie is a great professor. It's refreshing to have a lecturer who prompts students to think abstractly instead of regurgitating facts from a textbook. He stresses making connections between concepts and encourages students to attend his office hours. Anyone who has an issue with his difficulty level simply didn't listen or put in the effort.

Haffie is a great prof who loves teaching biology. He makes biology less about memorizing fact and more about applying thoses concepts to new problems. If you attend class and listen to what he says you will do fine on exams.

Brilliant. Simply put, this professor was amazing, a fine first year professor to put at ease all the nervousness of freshmen. I was already interested in Biology, and he got me even more interested, believe it or not. Attend every lecture, they're both enjoyable and fascinating (though some of the material might be boring at times, especially if y

For most people, the first midterm hits you. Once you begin to really listen to him you will begin to truly understand how he wants you to think about making connections. Listen to the archives! Make notes off that, and attend lecture. He's the best!

Very unorganized lectures and hard to follow. You have to adjust to his teaching style, which can be tough. The archives are a good reference, and for the most part he answers question on the discussion board well. He wants you to succeed in university, and tries to help you by making you adjust to him. I've learned a lot, but he's not my favourite

He is a great prof! Thinking is a must in this course! He makes lectures fun with group-ons, and lots of clicker questions etc. You will never fall asleep in his lecture. The midterm average was low but I did well by studying his lectures and going over the old exam.

He's a really great prof. You definitely learn more about biology with him. Thinking is very important in this course, questions on exams aren't from the textbook, and even though this made the course slightly more difficult, it definitely helps you learn.

He is very good at explaining things. I enjoy his lectures.

I did not like his way of lecturing. He has a habit of pausing which disrupts the flow of his sentences. His exam was quite challenging, but not unreasonable. Overall, a decent prof.

Great and interesting prof! Extremely knowledgeable and seems excited to share it. Really emphasizes the importance of understanding rather than memorizing, and it pays off. Makes class fun to attend.

Excellent professor! He loves talking to students and is always happy to answer your questions. If you study properly and "understand" instead of "memorize" like he tells you to do, his exams are not tough at all.

People who say he is the hardest first year prof ever came from high schools where bio was rote memorization, and had very little application. Overall, Haffie is a very fair prof, and his exams are appropriate in difficulty. Exams are 100% lecture based. Study the outcomes sheet he puts online, and learn to study important over useless info.

GREAT prof! Super helpful, at the same time suuuuuper hard exams, even though you have studied your ass off, he still manages to find tricky questions to trick you.

Excellent professor, very passionate about what he teaches. However, he does love to challenge you by making dreadfully tricky questions on exams. However, he genuinely cares about his students and you tend to forgive him.

Although his exams were the bane of my existence, he is probably one of the best profs. You can tell he genuinely cares about what he's talking about and wants students to think. Lectures are entertaining, doesn't rely on the textbook. Overall a really good professor

Here's the scoop. A lot of people are gonna go off about how hard his exams are. But his exams make you learn how to apply concepts rather than just memorizing them and that really helps with upper year courses. His archives are gold so review those to make notes. You'll do well if you always try to understand the bigger picture he's on about!

Prof. Haffie is incredibly caring for the students. He uses various methods to make the class as interactive as possible. His exam questions were fair- if you studied, you could apply them.

Seriously the best prof I've ever had. I wish he taught upper year bio courses so I could be in his class again.

He gives very interesting lectures. however he doesn't give that much useful information and his exams are awful.

Awesome Prof but not studying properly, you will find his exams very hard, also talks to us like a teen and is always trying to be funny (within mature limits)

As madly in love with Haffie as I am, his attempts to make us "turn straw into gold" is basically impossible. Failed the first midterm. Basically crushed my dreams for the future but also inspired me to think more critically and all that jazz. He's really an amazing prof but prepare to set out a LOT of time for his class...

great teacher, but his midterm is retarded. you have to realize that you've been teaching the same material for what, more than a decade? and you expect first-year students that have learned the material in a span of 2 months to be on the same level of knowledge as you? your exam was ridiculous and you know it. thanks for ruining my future

THE BEST first year prof

Great teacher, hard exams

Great prof! dont waste time memorizing material... if you understand it youll do fine on his exams. he has a good sense of humour!

Amazing as a teacher, and will test you on understanding rather than facts. As long as you dont get uptight about information and think his content through, you're GOLD (haha im funny)

Amazing teacher, don't waste time memorizing as you will just end up doing badly. His exams are hard, but are based around understanding, not memorizing like traditional biology.

A very challenging professor, the classes might be hard but the knowledge and critical thinking learned is worth it

I've had an 85% in Haffie bio so far, but it is an absolutely ridiculous course, switch to Health Sci bio! I'd have a 99% avg w/o it. His exams are meant to test understanding which I like, but the material isn't important for the exams: you won't get 90+ unless you are a wizard at deciphering ambiguous questions and reading the prof's mind

This course is absolutely the most interesting first year science course; a product of how engrossing his lectures are, and his fantastic presentation of content

He is hard but you will learn a lot if you put the work in. He's not like other profs where you can memorise concepts the night before. He requires you to go that extra mile but in the end, it is your education and it is a good thing that he pushes you to learn more. Take advantage of having such a great teacher. His course is by far my favourite.

Well well well... I gotta say Haffie is a brilliant man who is really passionate with what he teaches. But, be ready for some challenging exams. These exams are all application questions that are based on the content, no straight forward questions... much harder than Health Sci Bio. It's interesting( for the most part).

Hardest, yet most rewarding class of first year. Get ready to completely change the way you study and approach problems. It may not be my highest mark, but I definitely learned the most. I'm going into Genetics & Biochem because of Haffie! Amazing professor.

The most passionate professor I've had this year. Sure, his exams are difficult but I'm leaving this course with a whole new perspective and a "google maps view" of things. That's more important to me than a grade. Awesome guy

Did very well in this course (90+). My advice is to remember all the details, one fact can be the answer to a question. Think thoroughly, carefully, and treat every question as a trick question. Choose the MOST correct answer.

I have turned straw into gold thanks to this guy.

exams=impossible. good lecturer though

Even he doesn't know how to answer his Midterm questions- impossible. But he is a good lecturer

His exam is hard. Don't even bother studying.

Excellent lecturer who forces you to think and apply. Got me excited for lecturers and I came out a better student. Highly recommend.

So far, he's the most interesting prof at Western. He really seems to care about his students and their understanding of the material. He's great at explaining concepts as well. Although his course is difficult, it's the most interesting first year course and it really teaches you how to learn.

Awesome to the point of unbelievableness. You have a lot of freedom in this course, because he trusts and supports you, and you accomplish a lot. Flexible deadlines, but stuff gets done. Reflection journals help you think and make personal discoveries. You feel you're smarter than you've ever been. Highly recommend.

3 words: Straw into Gold.

I really enjoyed him, the way he teaches will be really useful in the future as it will be a lot of thinking

He's a great professor who really makes you think. Taking this class will 100% make you a better student but his exams are killer!

This guy will change the strucutre of your brain! Amazing Prof! Yes his exams are difficult but if you put your mind to it and UNDERSTAND the material, you will be golden. A 90+ is doable if you run away from memorizing and spend time understanding. Best prof of first year! If you have an AP credit, DON'T use it! Take his class!

Don't beleive the hype about difficulty, I got 90+ both semesters. Fantastic lecturer and the content really is the best out of any first year course. Key to doing well is to both have all the info memorized, and to discuss novel (so what type) scenarios with other people to broaden understanding. Confirmed my interest in a career in bio.

Midterms are understandably difficult and requires you to really understand the material well. I don't believe in trick questions but remember that this ain't SBI 4U1 no more

Best prof I have ever had. First year bio was def not his forte. But this course, you really see his passion towards teaching and making an impact on students. He thinks about the bigger picture and is VERY inspirational. I admire his dedication to students and his kindness. His assignments are targeted towards your interests - there are no exams.

Very good prof. Think. It prepares you for upper years.

Engaging and enthusiastic, but tests tend to be hard.

A lot of people give him crap for writing tough tests, but I honestly thought that they were fair. As long as you put effort into understanding, rather than memorizing, the taught concepts you will do well in his class. He also gives great lectures and offers tons of resources if you need help.

Very good lecturer, always kept you engaged and on your toes. His parts of the lectures weren't very memorization heavy, but were more about understanding which is a different kind of "tough" for students coming fresh from high school.

absolutely amazing professor tests are challenging but who cares? if you dont focus all your energy on trying to get a good mark to please your parents youll fall in love with the course, his lectures make you want to do bio forever.

Tests are very tricky... one word can make a huge difference to the answer... Overall, very inspiring professor who wants his students to actually learn something.

Tom is an amazing lecturer. The reason many first years don't like him is because he won't spoonfeed you exam answers. He expects you to do the readings and be prepared for the lecture. He gives you everything you need to do to succeed but unlike high school teachers, he won't do it for you in lecture. 90+ doable if you put in the effort and time.

Dr. Haffie is an awesome prof. His lectures are well planned to make students delve into the critical analysis of the biology. I very much enjoyed his genuinely authentic delivery of the course concepts. Totally engaged by his teaching.

For any science student his course load is by no mean the easiest you will take. The material is not terribly difficult and mostly review from High school. His exams are very difficult but manageable. In order to do well you must show up to class and be attentive. Find what works for you to understand the lectures and do it. Great Prof, Hard class.

Great lecturer. He is clear, concise, and ensures students focus on the important aspects of what he is teaching. In terms of testing though, he doesn't kid around. Most first year courses are basically a repeat of grade 12. Haffie actually expects you to use critical thinking skills and have a strong understanding of the material for his exams.

Really does his best to be an educator. Busy guy, yet still does an amazing job of responding. If you go to his lectures, and then listen to the archives once or twice, you're guaranteed an 80+. Try to understand him; he's not hiding anything.

Best professor. Take his class seriously, put in the work you will be really well prepared for upper year Biology and Medical Science. He is committed to making sure everyone takes something away from first year biology and gives you many resources. He really wants you to learn to think critically so never approach this class like high school bio.

Dis guy is great. Dis guy is so good. Interest tru da roof

One of the most genuine and caring professors at UWO. He is super tough on grading and makes you work so hard for a good grade. Learned the most in his class out of all of my classes

This course relies heavily on understanding and connecting concepts! Prof. Haffie is a passionate and knowledgeable professor, and my favorite in first year. Learn to think like he does, and you will do well on exams and biology in general! He understands that bios not all memorization and lives by it, making the class super interesting and fun!

Haffie is a very tough tester, however probably one of the most passionate and clear professors I've had. If you study the material an 80 is obtainable, but go to his office hours and he will be more than happy to help you.

In Haffie's class just work harder and harder and harder

He's a fantastic prof, with obvious passion. Though he can seem a little arrogant when he brags about how hard his tests are compared to other schools, but thanks to his teaching, the averages are still close. Seriously. He says these things. But that sums it up. His test questions aren't straight forward, but know the basics well, you'll be okay.

My favourite prof by far. Yes, his tests are challenging, but his obvious passion and eagerness to help made it one of my favourite courses. Don't expect to get a good grade by memorizing. However, if you approach this class with an open mind and curiosity to learn, and if you put in the effort, it IS possible to do well.

Really amazing professor with lots of experience. Amazing teaching skills; gets you to understand the material really well. Test questions geared at boosting your thinking skills; you end up having the mindset of a true scientist. AWESOME!

I once received the lowest mark EVER in my life, but I'm still passionate and interested in this course.

Honestly, Haffie gets a bad rep from all of the students who have never had to work hard for a mark in their lives before. Yes, his class and tests are tough, but he is still an amazing professor. He's very knowledgeable, and despite what others say, he does care about student success.

Haffie is the type of professor who grades very hard and brings about challenges; however, in the fair capacity that one should do all the work assigned, and take advantage of the many resources provided. Expect many late-nights and study groups entailing frustrating conversations. Don't forget to have fun though!

Learned a lot, but his tests are commonly known to be BRUTAL. Love him though. Would take again.

He's a great prof but a tests can be tricky. He wants to see his students succeed but still makes you work for it. Honestly an awesome guy though.

Probably the best prof I've had so far. He really makes you think outside the box and he really wants the students to do well despite the fact that his exams are BRUTAL. But looking back, I learned soo much from this course and would definitely take this course again.

I really did love Haffie's lectures. He was always so involved and excited about what he was teaching. The difficulty of his exams comes from having to expand quite a bit upon the knowledge you obtain from the lectures and textbook material. While it was difficult, it was very rewarding to figure out how to get correct answers.

people complain about his tests, but i think they are okay easy 90

Haffie sets the standard for what a great professor should be. Though his tests are tough, they force you to think outside of the box which is what science is all about. If you take this course seriously, you will not only take home biology facts, but you will also develop new ways to think.

Prof Haffie is famous for being tough. But he's hands down the best prof I have ever had. He CARES lots about his students. He makes you think which is uncommon of biology courses. Think like him and you'll ace the course.

Go. To. Lectures. I dont care if he posts them online, go to class. Listen to lectures not the textbook. Haffie's the absolute best prof you will ever have, appreciate your time with him :'(

Haffie gives super interesting lectures, but can be very hard to follow if textbook work hasn't been completed beforehand. There were times he'd move through material rather quickly, which make it difficult to keep up if you're at all confused with the material.

Haffie was amazing he truly inspired me to pursue biology. However, his tests are very very difficult and you will need to remain consistent throughout the year to get a good mark. You also need to be able to think outside of the box. ALWAYS second guess your test answers. Go to office hours starting from the beginning of the year. participate!

ALWAYS tells you what is on the exam. great prof for first year bio. Really sets the foundation.

I gained so much by being in his course, in terms of academic skills and problem solving skills. His tests are challenging and require application of conceptual knowledge. He's an awesomely skilled prof, who is deeply committed teaching.

Very hard exams, and really makes you think, however, the stereotype that he wants everyone to fail is very wrong. He doesn't hand you the grade, but he most definitley provides you with plenty of resources to succeed. By far my favourite course taken so far and awesome prof.

Tom Haffie has a rep for being an incredibly hard teacher. The fact of the matter is, he's not. You just have to work hard and get yourself out of a highschool mindset to do really well. He's funny and informative and an incredible teacher, by far the most knowledgable I've ever had. Loved him!

Tom Haffie is known for asking tricky application questions on his exams. But the fact of the matter is that he's preparing his students with realistic scenarios that involve complete understanding of the material, not just memorizing. He's tough, but he taught me how to connect the dots.

He doesn't completely explain concepts sometimes, and his test and exam questions are tough. But, at the same time, he's a great professor, a funny guy, passionate about his job and puts a lot of time and effort into this course. Haffie definitely makes you work for a good grade.

10/10 bird course would recommend to all

Tom Haffie is by far the best professor I had in first semester. He is clear as to what will be tested, and teaches the material very well. This course is not easy, however it's also not as horrific as people say. Haffie helps make this course easier by always being available for office hours, at which the content is further explained to help you.

If you ask him a question he would be like... "why would you ask thhat?" guessing hes tired of kids making memes about him when hes just trying to help. Well maybe he should use neuroplasticity to remain positive even when kids mock him when hes just trying to help. Yknow, take your own advice and change the way you think. Kids can be curious

Honestly Haffie get too much hate for "not being able to teach." He teaches you a new way of thinking about biology and some people can't seem to wrap their head around that. His in class examples are tricky but manageable and he really explains it thouroughly. He re-recorded an entire lecture bc he lost the recording so dont say he doesnt care...

Tom is simply great. I skipped every lecture except for his and I'm not kidding. Despite that he posts his lectures online, it's still good to show up because you probably won't understand the lecture fully on the first time. He's very approachable, REALLY cares for students and clear. Tom I know you read this so I wanna let you know that ily 3

Those who hate on Haffie are the ones that got 90s in high school by memorizing and think they are out of this world level smart and cannot get off their high horses. Haffie's style of teaching is fair and prepares us for the real world of science. If you find yourself failing his courses, you should not be in science.

Do you really think med school will be easier than a first year bio course? There are so many opportunities for mark raisers (labs, lits, quizzes, different weightings), you really only need to do well on either the second midterm or the final and you'll be fine. If you do poorly here, switch into Chemistry like he keeps suggesting.

Great professor, made me critically think on all the examinations. I believe he fosters a better scientist than other professors I've had. I felt challenged in his class, and thought his evaluations were fair. He tests your thinking, not your regurgitation. Other profs can learn a lot from him!

Tested content from both readings, and lectures. Readings are where you get the most basic broad understanding of concepts, in lectures you go into detail on pieces of that concept. Most lectures were also posted online. Attended all lectures, but highly recommend re-watching them. Exam and quiz Qs difficult but fair. Entertaining!

Overall he is a good teacher and his lectures are interesting. However his midterms are a different story! Make sure you use LITs and LABS as well the online quizzes to help raise your mark. You will need to catch up with readings and rewatch lectures because most of the tests are lecture based! Many tricks on his tests which is annoying but good!

Tom Haffie is literally the coolest human being in this planet. Whoever says otherwise is totally wrong. He has amazing lectures and is extremely underrated in terms of humor. 10/10 would take as a prof again!

one of my favourite classes

WEST SCI NAT SCI NCB WE'RE THE BEST BECAUSE WE GOT HAFFIE. Haffie is no mere mortal. This man creates gametes by mitosis. He is the peak of human evolution. One of the most passionate and enthusiastic teachers I have ever had the pleasure of having. I would 100% recommend Haffie. He will teach you the ways of biology. Best teacher NA. Kind of hard.

A nice and understanding guy. Yes, his tests and exams are hard but you just really need to work at understanding the material and you'll do well. I believe he is just preparing you for your future year 2, 3 & 4 tests and exams. Really enjoyed all of his lectures and the labs were actually fun to attend.

Haffie is great at teaching how to apply biology to real life. In fact, I now know why my genetics should've been eliminated from the gene pool long ago by natural selection because I'm not genetically predisposed to "think slow". Thanks for all the great learning, Haffie! Too bad it happens only on the exams!

Tom Haffie is a great prof! His tests are difficult but he challenges you to think. I absolutely loved his lectures, the were informative and engaging. He really does care about his students and wants everyone to succeed.

haffies genuinely a good prof. he really does care and gets hyped about bio. defs not an easy course, you have to be able to make connections and understand the ins and outs of everything. use the textbook lots, plus he does weekly quizzes and participation quizzes. really enjoyed the course even though the content wasnt smt i was really into

Definitely makes you think to answer questions but leaves you with deeper understanding

Seems like a cold prof on the outside but he genuinely wants his students to succeed. If you go to office hours he is very open to feedback and suggestions. Go to lectures, make study groups, and DRAW things out (will help for short answer questions on the final). This course is fair and what I think of as a "real" university course. Ended with 94.

We need more educators like Haffie who really takes biology pedagogy to the next level. His exam is hard as hell. But there are other components in the course that is easy as hell. He helps to eliminate, much earlier in their career, the people who would eventually fail in life sciences. SHort term pain, long-term gain.

hes amazing i love him

Usual people who don't like him are people who genuinely don't value the course or don't want to work for their grade. He gives you amazing opportunities to increase your grade, shifting weighed marks in your favour always! He cares about your success and about you actually learning something. I want people like him for every class.

Fantastic lecturer, however can have very difficult examinations. The course itself contains a lot of work and assignments however he gives you a lot of room to recover. To study for exams or midterms follow the outcomes he posts and you will be fine. Beware of the multiple multiples. Think slowly

Very good prof. He puts a lot of effort into teaching and making the material more accessible (Mindtap, Skill Development Modules, etc). His lectures are very good (recorded as well) and is very, very clear on what is needed to be known for an upcoming test. Just make sure to study the meanings behind concepts (definitions almost never matter)

Tom places emphasis on learning strategies, and on complete, clear understanding of the material, as opposed to remembering facts. The texts are wordy, and if you do not do your readings, and go over "outcomes", you will not pass. The Thurs -Tues cycle of classes will take up your weekend, since the assignments are scheduled over the weekend.

Amazing professor who emphasis the valuable skills of thinking and understanding.

Honestly, Tom Haffie is an amazing prof. His lectures are great and I truly believe that he is a great example of how an interactive - yet lengthy + heavy - course should be taught. His exams are definitely hard and you'll be told countless times to "think slow" - so make sure you KNOW THE CONTENT and are able to understand what his questions say!

amazing prof- really gives it his all. he inspires as he teaches and is truly a master at multiple choice and mastering ideas by going outside of the box.

Honestly, I hated this class and will happily never take it again. It was also the most valuable course I've taken. If you can get through this class, you can get through any other course and it'll also be ridiculously easy in comparison.

I am super UnHaffie coz of Haffie's midterm questions

His test questions are written to challenge your thinking. If you can understand the questions, there's really not that much content on the midterm. He has very clear outcomes from each lecture to base studying off of. There is a lot of homework involved but doing it means less studying later in my opinion.

Amazing prof, probably one of the best teachers I've had. His test questions are really hard, but if you read it thoroughly and actually understand the topics that he taught, you'll do fine.

Haffie is an excellent lecturer. His tests are challenging conceptually and he will make you work for your mark. He is very fair giving you lots of opportunities for "free" participation marks. A critique I have is too many online educational platforms were used which "enhanced our learning" to use his words but I found it difficult to navigate.

Professor Haffie has perfected the art and craft of lecturing. Tests were far from being unreasonable or unfair, however, they were hard. He will change the way you think about biology for better or worse. The only thing I found cumbersome were the various online platforms. Other than that his class was a challenging but very rewarding experience.

He's a great professor. Haffie makes you work for your grade, but he's designed the course amazingly. He focuses on the fact that you're learning, the mark you get on tests is secondary. Truly a great guy, passionate about what he teaches, everything you want in a good prof tbh.

Best prof in my entire undergrad

While doing Haffie's tests, you can never be 100% sure if you've got the right answer. He's a master of distractions in his MCQs. My one advice is to prioritise your concepts above all. He will test them to excruciating detail. It's ridiculously tricky. But if you're able to apply the right logic, you should do fine.

Right

He's infamous for tough multiple choice tests, but he gives you absolutely all of the material you need to learn, study, and be prepared. Posts lectures, practice problems, recordings, and is extremely clear in class - goes at a good pace and repeats key concepts multiple times. He is also very engaging and passionate, makes me actually like class.

My favourite professor thus far. I had him for 1st year Bio and have the opportunity of having him again for 2nd year genetics. Glad to be back in his class! I feel like I am using my brain and thinking again rather than memorizing straight facts. His lectures are interesting, and he explains things really well.

Despite his well known "haffie questions" which require critical thinking and application of knowledge (thus, they are sort of hard), he's an excellent professor who explains concepts clearly. If you don't understand something, he's always open to explain it to you and help you better your studying methods so you can do well! A real gem

his class is not easy, thats a fact. although I didn't do as well as I wanted to on exams, he taught me a deeper understanding of bio and ways to critically think. lecture content was interesting and I learned how to improve my study skills.

Classes are very unorganized, Haffie just bases some lectures off of recent articles he's found online. Tests are typical Haffie questions, which requires a lot of thinking and understanding of mechanisms. Definitely the hardest prof in UWO sci 1st/2nd year, but also by far the most engaging and interesting.

READ THIS! Haffie is one of the most difficult professors I have ever had. His exams were very very challenging. However, he forced me to learn how to study well, learn properly, and perform on tests better. He was hard, but I learned so much more about myself and how to do well academically due to him. The skills I acquired are astronomical.

It was my first time learning Russian with interconnected classmates that were of Russian ancestry. I was whacked into believing for the remainder of my undergraduate career that I had low IQ thus cascading me, as a node, from undergoing atrophy from the system. The time alotted was a ticking time-bomb - had the time allotted been greater, ...

tom fractalized my mind into dust

Best prof! I like that he encourages us to view concepts from multiple perspectives. Truly cares about teaching & mentorship.

A lot of students don't really like him at first but he uses many creative teaching methods for the class. Haffie is a wake up call to university as his exams will test your understanding of the material rather than what you memorize. His lectures are a great experience and you can tell that he really wants the students to succeed in future courses

Haffie is my fave prof! Authentic, humble, and always creating new things to help us students learn.

Slightly unpopular opinion, but I actually really loved Haffie. Don't be mistaken--his exams can be extremely hard and he definitely makes you work for it, but he genuinely cares about his students and did a pretty fantastic job of preparing me for second year. GO TO LECTURE! He's the tough love every first year hates but needs.

Haffie is an amazing prof, he explains concepts clearly and tries his best so all students understand. However, he expects a lot of hard work from students. His exams are so far the hardest I ever got, that's because you need to "THINK SLOW'' to actually get the question correct. Beware of tricks in the exam. He prepares us for the upcoming years.

Honestly Haffie is a thank me later kind of prof. He will test you by bringing 2-4 lectures/concepts together in each question, so you have to focus on bringing everything together into one big idea. Be ready for an 80min exam with 35 long multiple-multiple choice answers that will challenge you more then any high school ever could.

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Haffie engaged me to take ownership of my learning giving me the tools for learning independently and collectively with others in his course. Generous with guidance. His whimsy is heartwarming and memorable.

Tom Haffie is one of the best educators I have had in academia. Great appreciate his teaching methods and life coaching.

Best prof by far. His exam questions are lengthy and sometimes confusing so wouldn't reccomend if english isnt a strong suit. Def would take again.

Tom Haffie was the best Biology prof at Western. A lot of students miss him and it really shows because he was extremely caring and hilarious both in lecture and during office hours. Very good at explaining difficult concepts! Easy tests and exams as well. On behalf of all students at UWO, we will miss you so much Haffie! Stay well and stay safe!

You get spoiled in first year by having him as a prof. Considering he only has a masters is insane because he is incredibly knowledgeable and amazing at teaching. Love him even though his class is hard

He is an excellent professor and mentor! Caring and inspiring.

I am in medicine now, but almost 10 years later, I still think about his lectures, which were more akin to cinematic films. Absolute goat, thank you for the inspiration and amazing memories. Still thinking slow!