Dr. Stoia is amazing. He is a super nice guy and is super helpful. Study guides are literally the test, and he goes over them in class. He also gives lots of extra credit! I highly recommend him.

This dude is awesome. He's pretty tough if you goof around in class, but otherwise he's like a sweet old grandpa. His study guides are the EXACT TEST and that's not an exaggeration. You don't even need to come to class if you just wanna google everything from the study guide later, but he'll like you a lot and give EC if you do show up every day.

He gives out review guides for the tests that are almost exact replicas of the test. Show up to class and pay attention in lecture, take notes and you'll be totally fine. He's a great Professor and has a lot of enthusiasm for the subject. He's extremely open to answering questions. I would take his class again in a heartbeat!

He typically lets everyone out after 45min/1hour. Attendance is totally optional, but he gives out TONS of extra credit for those who go, totaling up to about 40-50 points. His study guides are exact replicas of the tests. You can drop your lowest test or not take the final, your choice. If you don't have a BIO103 pre-req, take this as a gen-ed!

This class was extremely easy. Stoia is very courteous to students and expects the same in return. Professional but approachable. He's very kind, the grading is very clear. He gives some pop quizzes, sometimes for extra credit and sometimes not. The final was online. You CAN skip class, but you might miss points.

Virgil Stoia is a sweet old man, but can be very cranky. He will call on students during lecture, ask for their name, and ask them a random biology question. YOU DON'T NEED THE BIO BOOK. You only need the access code, trust me. If you take his Tue-Thurs class, he lets you out early nearly every class.

Dr. Stoia is awesome. He will help you if you ask. There's no way you can fail his class unless you skip all the time. He'll give quizzes for e.c. in class but he'll tell you when & you do it together as a class. For the exams, he'll either give you the question or the answer choices as a study guide. He gives extra credit just for showing up too

This man made biology extremely interesting for me. I was never a fan of science classes but he would add jokes to make things funny and engaging. His tests aren't AWFUL, but you need to study for them. He added TONS of extra credit. There are a lot of Connect quizzes, but he allows unlimited chances to get a 100% on them.

GREAT PROF! Gives you the power points so you have the option to take notes on there or hand written. GIVES A TON OF EXTRA CREDIT. Always tried to make the lessons relatable to make them easier to understand. Loves to tell stories.

he's very clear as to whats on the exams. he's very adiment about class participation, if you don't he'll get upset at everyone. He always mentions random things in class that will be on the exam that aren't mention in his slides. overall great instructor, will take again.

The only reason this class is" tough" is because it is only offered at 8 am and his office hours are even earlier than that. However, he is a good teacher and will answer questions. He tells a lot of stories and really does make the class easy. GO TO CLASS. That is where you receive extra credit and all of the review for exams.

Stoia is a fantastic teacher. I hate science but this was a required class, and it was not bad at all. He gives extra credit if you show up. 5 exams, drops lowest grade. And he's hilarious. 10/10 would recommend. :)

loved him! so helpful. Great guy. Helps you with whatever you need! Go to class. People that show up will benefit. He recognizes your face. Really has a passion for teaching.

Very nice, but lectures are very boring. He reads right off of the powerpoints, so I often missed class and read the powerpoints online. But make sure to go to the 2 classes before the exams because he reads the test questions. Tests can be hard cuz questions aren't always in the notes. Gives in class extra credit pop quizzes. Lets class out early.

Hes an awesome guy. He is a boring lecturer but he's very fair. If a lot of kids missed one question on the exam, he took it off and have everyone credit. He gave 35 points extra credit, too. Go to his office hours and talk to him after class, he's a great guy.

Amazing Professor, very generous man. He is very very nice person, his lectures are easy to understand and always wait after class for any students that have any questions. Exams are straight forward and easy answers, he will not try to trick you on his exams. He is a very amazing professor. Will take his classes over anybody!

He is a very good professor that knows what he's talking about. His class was only offered at 8 AM but it wasn't required to go. If you do show up he gives a lot of extra credit. Quizzes are online and you can take them as many times as you want. The day before an exam he reviews it with you and basically gives you the answers.

He is hilarious and gives out a ridiculous amount of extra credit just for going to class. They are usually 8 am but attendance is not mandatory. One exam grade is dropped, including the final. He puts all of his lecture notes online and reviews the test before you take it. I would definitely suggest this professor.

He gives a lot of extra credit opportunities, and his study guides are very similar to the exams! Attend the review sessions (where he goes over the study guide) and you will pass the class. If you get a good grade on 4 of the exams you don't have to take the final which is exam 5 and it is not cumulative. All the quizzes are online

Dr. Stoia cares about his students and is always willing to help. He is available during his office hours to talk about questions for the class. Show up to class and he gives out extra credit and easy pop quizzes for points. He also goes over answers for the test the class period before. He really cares about his students and wants them to pass.

AWESOME teacher. He tells you EXACTLY what you need to know for the test and what to not waste your time on. Very friendly and has cute old man humor. He tries his best to make sure the students that actually come to class get the points they deserve. Will call you out if you are not paying attention or being distracting so just be a good student.

Stoia is such a great man. His lectures are amusing. Ask questions, he loves them. Attend class, not only does he randomly offer extra credit for showing but he'll recognize if you come frequently. Notes are put up on bb, just print and bring them to class. He doesnt really like laptops when lecturing and doesn't tolerate talking either. Good teach

Was thrown into this class last minute by my advisor. It was an online class. Very easy and simple material. Quiz each week due Sunday night and they were literally right off the book. Midterm is also open book and open note. He is a very nice teacher, will take time and help you in anyway shape and form. Would take him again. An easy A.

Such a great man. I am upset I only have to take one bio class because I would love to take Stoia again. Always go to class, even though it isnt mandatory. Be on time, extra credit happens often, but will only be given to the individuals at the start of class. Gives a great test review, tells you exactly what is needed for the test. great lecture.

Stoia was a great instructor. He really cares about whether you're passing the class if you actually show up to the lectures.

Just show up to class and you will get nearly a 100 in the class. He gives out tons of extra credit and wants to help all of his students that show up to class.

Stoia is a great Bio teacher, hes kind of like your run of the mill grandpa, teaching a class. The only things he really cares about is that you A) DO NOT TALK WHEN HE IS, for real, hes a great guy but he will call you out, and B) make sure you know how to fill out your scantron. Everything you need is in his lectures which he posts online

Just show up, do your reading and the quizzes and be respectful. He is a great professor and a caring and intelligent person. Would take again.

Best professor Ive had. Cares a lot about you and your grade if you show effort and are respectful.

He's a good teacher but tells a lot of stories. He gives extra credit often, especially the class after an exam. He would give a full verbal study guide while looking at the test but it was still very vague information that didn't relate all that much to the test.

Not the best lectures, but attendance is crucial for your grade.

Biology 103 is a very difficult class. The class points mainly consists of exams. The lecture is taught from a PowerPoint, but Dr. Stoia tries his best to provide stories and examples to help students understand better. Dr Stoia is a very caring and understanding man and I really enjoyed having him as a professor.

Show a little effort and he will take you a very long way toward inspiration.

As much as 8am biology sucks, Stoia tries to break up some of the heavy material by telling stories. The exams are hard, but he does give you study guides. He helps out a lot if you go in to see him during his office hours. He is such a sweet old man with such a big heart. He is also incredibly intelligent!

He basically gives you the whole test a week or so before the exam. He's always giving out extra credit which really boosts your grade up by alot. However, if you skip his class, you will get loss. Don't show up late to exams because he will make you feel bad about it, and sit near the front for exams. Overall, he's such a great guy, love Stoia

Stoia is a good man. Only gets angry when you disrupt his lecture- he just asks for respect and attention which isn't hard. Gives extra credit out quite a bit and sometimes for things such as the football team or soccer team winning. One of our EC quizzes was "Is Stoia happy NIU won? Is Stoia happy Michigan won?" Just show up and read.

Dr. Stoias class is heavily based on lectures and tests. All of the grades you receive will be for some type of assessment whether it be quizzes or tests (or both), so basically if you dont go to class it can be very easy for you to get behind. Its not hard to get a passing grade but youll definitely have to work for it.

Dr. Stoia is the best professor I have had at NIU. He genuinely cares that his students succeed. You have to earn your grade. He gives reviews a couple days before the tests and that is extremely helpful. Get the workbook and the book, the reviews in the workbook help a lot on the tests. Attendance is not mandatory, extra credit given some days.

Gives great study guides for his exams and extra credit that happens out of no where.

Dr. Stoia is a very down to earth prof. Loves to tell stories, kinda rambles sometimes. Loves teaching in his field and is very knowledgeable. Interact in class, it helps. Gives random extra credit quizzes. Gives study guides before every exam, very helpful. Hes available outside office hours, comes in SUPER early, responds to emails quickly.

One of the best professors I've had!

Make sure that you attend the lecture, a couple of lectures before the test he will literally open the test and tell you exactly what you need to know. He literally gives you a study guide for the test. If you do not do well on the first test go to his office hours and he will help you and possibly raise your grade.

Dr. Stoia is very knowledgeable but he is strict. He loves to be respected or he will be rude. If you stay on his good side he is awesome. He appreciates enthusiasm and participation. He does get off topic sometimes but he gives a test review for all tests where he tells all the questions that will be on it and he drops lowest test grade.

Dr. Stoia is one of the best professors I have had so far. His class is difficult but if you put in the work, it is possible to do very well. He literally tells you all the material covered on the exams, drops the lowest exam grade, and gives out extra credit. Attendance isn't "mandatory" but HIGHLY recommend going to every lecture.

He goes off topic a lot but he always follows back onto topic. Make sure to show up to class on time and GO THROUGH THE BACK DOOR. You have 5 tests and many online quizzes. The tests are easy because he gives a really good review before taking the test. I would take his class again. Be sure to sit in the front so he gets to know you.

Dr Stoia is an awesome prof. If you go to class he will notice and be especially helpful in office hours. He truly cares about his students. He is not the most sensitive in lecturing and if you are disrespectful or talk during lecture hell ask you to leave. Exams are hard but do able, find others to study with. Lecture is interesting.

He really only graded on quizzes and exams and they both were given at least a week to complete. He does review sessions and give extra credit.

I took him online this semester and it wasnt bad at all. You get 2 chances for the quizzes and he usually hosts a review for an upcoming test. Attendance isnt mandatory but Id recommend to go.

i enjoyed the class. I loved the concept and overall the material given to us was very helpful on test and quizzes

He is one of the better bio teachers and he gives a few extra credits and plus his quizzes are online no homework all the notes are on a PowerPoint and plus he is going to answer any questions that you will have

A lot of people here are super overdramatic. This course was NOT hard. He literally tells students what is going to be on the test... it really can't get much better than that. As long as you go to class, take notes, and study what he tells you to study, you will get an A. The tests were not difficult and there were opportunities for extra credit.

Doctor Stoia is a cool professor, make sure you attend class because he gives you questions in class that are going to be on the tests for the class and also take lots of good notes when he is talking it will help you a lot, and do not use your cellphone he does not really like it in the class because it is rude but overall he is a cool professor

When I was about to take this class, I was worried. I am an English major and had to take a science course for my gen-ed requirements. I was very surprised by how interesting Dr. Stoia made biology. He has a real passion for the subject and truly cares about all his students. Be prepared to succeed, Dr. Stoia wouldn't have it any other way.

Go to lectures and go to his office hours. If you go to the lectures and pay attention and take okay notes you'll do good. Every exam he'll give a study guide, do them for A's/ B's on the exams. If you go to his office hours you'll get an A in his class.

If you go to class and take notes you will be okay, if you are confused go to office hours he is more than willing to help you. He also gives a study guide before the exam.The tests were not too difficult if you went over/studied the material. Overall, the class wasn't hard and he dropped the lowest test grade.

Dr. Stoia has been one of my best professors this semester. Participating in class really helps you understand the material, and I got an A on my first exam. The material is understandable, and he always outlines what sort of questions will be on the test and what information is important. Don't skip class though! You won't know what to study.

Stoia is not that bad in my opinion, when reading these ratings I was terrified to go to class. I will say Stoia doesn't play, but he appreciated participation, etc. He goes off-topic often; just don't talk unless you're answering a question. Go to class he has random quizzes that are easy. Go to class, he will tell you everything on the test.