This was a discussion based class that was mostly run by the students (which was well catered to what we wanted to learn). If topic of discussion lagged at all Soto was able to jump in and lead us somewhere else. Very knowledgeable.

I found Professor Soto's class to provide me with a strong foundation in microbiology that has greatly helped with my understanding of concepts in the following classes: Aquatic Ecology, Marine Science, Genetic Analysis, and The Biology GRE Subject test. As an ecologist, I found Professor Sotos focus in microbial ecology to very interesting!

If you want to get a good grade you just need to memorize the PowerPoints. Tests are pretty straight forward and are a mix of multiple choice, matching, and free response and they're all curved to an 85.

Focus on his powerpoints and only use the textbook when you are unsure about a concept. The exams are fair so if you memorize the details from the slides, you will be fine. Professor Soto will also happily meet with you if you do not understand a concept in class.

Most test material was off the powerpoints, but there were a few lecture only things on every test. Lectures were interesting, he' super knowledgable about the subject. Tests were curved nicely and lowest grade was dropped. Professor Soto was always available for extra help, saw him before each test and he was very receptive to any questions.

Dr. Soto's class was definitely difficult, but he is extremely accessible outside of class and always willing to help his students. His lectures are very clear and he includes powerpoints on blackboard to help with note-taking. He curves his exams fairly and goes out of his way to provide any extra help students need.

BIOL 306 with Dr. Soto was definitely the best! The course is hard and the load is heavy, but you're in good shape as long as you come to class and use office hours to catch up on any concepts you are weak in. He's really nice during office hours and is willing to take the time to explain everything. All materials on exams were fair game.

As a senior science major, I have taken many science courses at William and Mary, and microbiology with Professor Soto was one of my favorite. Professor Soto gives amazing lecturers that are very informative and engaging. I especially enjoyed that he takes the time to apply many of the concepts from the class to real world scenarios.

Attendance is mandatory and tests are heavily lectured based. There are topics in Soto's lectures that he emphasizes during class that aren't in the readings. His slides only consist of the minimum outline so it's important that you take really good notes. Go to office hours- he's really helpful. The class isn't bad if you put in the work!

Microbiology with Soto has been my most memorable classes taken at WM. Throughout the course Prof. Soto applied microbiology concepts to real word issues. He would frequently lead engaging class discussions about current issues/research which I throughly enjoyed. His office hours are very helpful and he is very receptive to questions. Great class!

Biology of Bioluminescence was a fascinating course. Professor Soto is extremely knowledgeable about the subject matter. Students read articles and participate in class discussions. Expectations regarding grades were made clear from the start of class. It was a great choice for a biology senior seminar.

I really enjoyed this class. There is a lot of material on the tests but as long as you study hard and pay attention in the lectures you can do well. The material is interesting and Professor Soto clearly cares a lot about what he is teaching.

This was such an awesome class! It was challenging, but Dr. Soto took the time to explain everything out. Make sure to pay attention to the the details he mentioned and you will find those take-aways useful in the long run. Microbiology isn't easy, but if you're planning to use the knowledge in the future, this class is definitely for you.

Dr. Soto is a very kind man and is truly passionate about working with students. This is a tough class, but he makes the exams open book now so it'd be less stressful for students. He truly just wants his students to succeed. It's a very fun, interactive class and the lectures are well put together. There are lots to take away from this class!!!

Through my experience, I feel that there is absolutely no reason why anyone would not be able to do well in this class. The professor is very nice and does everything possible to make your learning as easy as can be. Put in the effort and you will earn the grade you expect. Everything is fair game!

Professor Soto clearly cares about both his students and the class material. While attendance is not mandatory, going to class and taking very detailed notes is a must. The tests are take-home which means they tend to be a bit harder, but they are manageable with proper preparation. I highly recommend taking Professor Soto's class.

Professor Soto's exams are very application based and open note, I found them to be challenging but also very good for evaluating how well I knew the course material. I found myself engaged throughout most of his lectures, and really enjoyed the passion he showed for some of the topics he covered as well.

I really liked Professor Soto. His lectures were very informative and I liked the format of his tests. They were open note and he would give you a week to take them. If you read the textbook and pay attention to the lectures you will do great in his class.

He cares a lot about what his students think about him and you can tell he takes feedback in a way to make sure his students see improvement while also not hurting the integrity of the class itself. He cares about people really learning the material

Dr. Soto's microbiology course covers a lot of material. The exams are open note and open book, which is quite helpful, given the amount of subject matter delivered. I always found that Dr. Soto was approachable and available during his office hours. He is quite friendly! The course focuses on applied aspects of microbiology.

I loved this class! I especially enjoyed the chapters on clinical microbiology, symbiosis, and the human microbiome. Professor Soto likes to give examples on how microbiology is used in applied research, like bioremediation and medicine. I found this class helpful in preparing me for the MCAT.

I had BIOL 460 last year. This class is a lot of fun. You just read journal articles on bioluminescence and talk about them in class. This class is a journal club on bioluminescence. Students are allowed to pick the articles and lead the class discussions. There are no exams. You are graded on participation, your presentations, and a final paper.

BIOL 460 is a fabulous class! I took the class as a marine biology major. My advisor recommended this class to me, and I'm glad I took it. Dr. Soto lets each student pick the papers that he or she wants to present for each class. Although the class is mostly on bioluminescence, the class also covers fluorescence.

I took this class to prepare for the MCAT, and I was very interested in learning about microbiology. There is a tremendous amount of content that is covered. I was overwhelmed at first, but I was able to adjust. I learned a lot. I had this class when it was taught online asynchronously. The tests are "open note"/"open book".

There is a lot of reading in this class. There is no textbook, just a bunch of research papers from journals. You also have to read some book chapters. I was fascinated to learn that certain taxonomic groups don't have any bioluminescent members, like archaea. Apparently, archaea never evolved bioluminescence, which is very interesting. No exams!!

Biology of Bioluminescence is great! This class is enjoyable and fun!! It's on an interesting topic and easygoing, since there are no tests or major homework assignments to turn in. You just read research papers on bioluminescent organisms, bacteria, fungi, animals, etc. Professor Soto does a good job mediating the class discussions.

This is a cool class! The stress level was super low. We learned about all the different kinds of life that produce light. We talked about all the different times bioluminescence had evolved and the different functions it has. The class is fun, because the students run the show and determine what each class is going to be about.

I didn't think Professor Soto's class was that hard. The exams are open note. You can also use the textbook to take the tests. I took the class to prepare for the MCAT and medical school. The class talks about gram-positives, gram-negatives, medical microbiology, and the human microbiome. The class also covers some microbial metabolism.

Taking this class was required for me to graduate. Of all the BIOL 460 classes, this was the only one that fit my schedule. I enjoyed this class and thought it was interesting. Bioluminescence is a captivating topic. I wasn't expecting much when I first took this class, but the class quickly grew on me. I became illuminated...pun intended!

This class isn't difficult, but all the assigned readings are a big time commitment. Professor Soto shows the class early on how to go about picking papers and how to organize and do the presentations. Participation in class discussions are part of your grade in the class. Your presentation is also evaluated, and there is a final paper.

The grading criteria for the class is clear...participating in class discussions/asking questions, your presentation, and a research paper that you have to write. You can write on any topic on bioluminescence that you want. What I really liked was that Professor Soto lets you turn in a practice draft that he looks at. He then gives you feedback.

I took this class as a requirement to graduate and to prepare for the subject GREs, since I was interested in going into a PhD program. The class is valuable and informative. Professor Soto is a tough grader, but he is a nice person. The labs were fine.

This is a comprehensive course on general microbiology. The tests and final exam are "open note" and "open book". There are three lecture tests, and the professor drops the one with the lowest score.

I took this class a few years ago (before the pandemic) to prepare for the Pharmacy College Admission Test, since I was going into pharmacy school. I liked Professor Soto and his course. We learned aseptic technique in lab. We also worked with antibiotics. I liked it when we covered the different staining techniques!

BIOL 460 on bioluminescence gets a 5/5 out of me! I love journal clubs!!

Attendance isn't technically required, but material from lecture that isn't covered in the textbook can show up on tests. Professor Soto is very nice, and he teaches a comprehensive course. The focus of the course is applied and translational microbiology. I enjoyed the class!

I struggled on the first test, but then I went to see Professor Soto in his office. He gave me advice on how to prepare for his tests. The free response questions on exams can be quite challenging. I loved the class, because it covered so many different subjects. Professor Soto goes through the different chapters quickly.

I took this class, because I needed it to graduate. A couple of friends told me about Dr. Soto's class, when I was a junior. The class is interesting. There is a lot of time to invest in reading the different papers, but the class sessions themselves are rather easygoing.

I had this class a year ago. The professor likes to use anecdotes from history/science and "science in the news" in his lectures. I always thought the vignettes were amusing and entertaining. These "stories" helped me to follow the lectures and kept my mind from wandering off.

Awesome class and great professor!!

Professor Soto has a lot of passion for microbiology and science in general. He enjoys sharing his enthusiasm with his students. You need to take good notes during his lectures, since his slides don't always include everything he is saying.

I don't know why so many students think that Prof. Soto is a hard grader. I strongly disagree. You can use your notes and textbook all you want on the tests and final. Prof. Soto is friendly and fair. Labs are fun!

Bioluminescence is super cool! The class used to be taught in the fall, but it is now taught in the spring. This class taught me how to give presentations.

I thought the class was just okay for the first few chapters, but once we got beyond that, the class really took off. I was very surprised about all the applications of microbiology in the "built environment" chapter of the textbook. The medical microbiology, symbiosis, and human microbiome chapters are fascinating!

I had a great time in Biology of Bioluminescence this semester with professor Soto! I really liked how we were able to have freedom in the topic for our presentations, and the class itself had a very friendly and comfortable environment. I also personally enjoyed prof Soto's sense of humor a lot, and this class was definitely one of my favs at WM!

Microbiology with professor Soto was a great experience overall - make sure to attend lectures and ask him for help outside of class if you are struggling. He is very responsive to students who reach out for help - make sure to advocate for yourself and figure out a study method that works!

Bioluminescence was wonderful! All the students had complete freedom to present on their favorite topics. The student presenting would bring food for the whole class. The class was essentially a journal club party, where we got to eat great food and talk about articles on bioluminescence.

Professor Soto is all right. He cares about the success of his students, but he also has high expectations. My only complaint is that he doesn't give study guides. He says he doesn't give study guides, because the exams are open note. But I still think study guides would be helpful.

Bioluminescence was super cool! Students got to choose the topics and run the class discussions. I enjoyed seeing all the different interests from everyone. I learned a lot about the ecology, evolution, and diversity of bioluminescence. Also, learning why some groups of organisms never evolved the capacity to produce light was interesting.

Professor Soto's lectures are great! The class is pitched from an applied and practical point of view. The labs are not long and boring. There are no lab practicals/tests or quizzes, just weekly activities that you get points for. Attendance in lab is required.

Great Professor. Classes were interesting and presented in a way that it was easy to understand the material. Labs are super easy and usually only take 30 minutes. As long as you put a little effort into studying and reading the textbook, you should be fine.

Dr. Soto is a tough grader, but he offers extra credit. He likes to use case studies as extra credit assignments. He also assigns PBS Nova and YouTube videos for extra credit opportunities. He talks a lot about the applications of microbiology in class.

Dr. Soto is a pretty good professor overall, and the class isn't super difficult but it will require time and effort, especially reading the textbook. GO TO LECTURES. He doesn't record lectures, he does post the slides online but sometimes says things in class that aren't on slides. Lab is super easy, just show up. Very interesting class, fun prof!

Professor Soto is very kind. He has a dry sense of humor. I got to know him by always going to his office hours for questions. Extra credit assignments are offered in the class, but you still have to study hard. I thought the labs were fun. Sometimes he uses lab time to give "make-up" lectures.

I thought Professor Soto's microbiology class was fine. Apparently, in the past, his tests were open note and open book, but they aren't anymore. Past students complained about this test format, so Professor Soto switched back to traditional "in class" exams. The tests are hard if you don't study, but they are completely reasonable.

Extra credit is offered in the class. The tests are curved. Dr. Soto also drops the lowest test score. I thought the final exam wasn't bad. Attendance is mandatory in lab but not in lecture.

The class is a big time commitment and requires a lot of reading. However, the course content is very cool! For example, you learn that microbes can be used to mine copper and gold from low-grade ores. The professor is passionate about microbiology, which can be infectious.

Proff is great and he knows his stuff. Explained things really well during lectures, but unfortunately they weren't recorded and some of the information he mentioned wasn't on the ppt so take good notes!. Great professor, but the content itself is what made the class a bit more difficult than I anticipated. Super interesting stufff!!!

The info covered on the human microbiome was awesome! I never realized microbes could contribute to human disorders like autism and schizophrenia through dysbiosis. The course content covered in this class is super great! I didn't think this class was that hard, but some other students did.

I just had Dr. Soto for microbiology this past semester. The class was fantastic! I enjoyed the class much more than I thought I would. Dr. Soto likes to use dry humor and tell science jokes. For example, he compares the shape of the NASA moon lander to the morphology of phages. I enjoyed the lectures on symbiosis and the human microbiome the most.

You don't have to attend lectures, but you have to go to lab. Participation in the lab is mandatory. The textbook is dense but quite informative. Professor Soto is approachable. He's very nice and helpful when you go visit him in his office hours.

The labs are fun and very relaxed. The lectures are great and interesting. Dr. Soto is very knowledgeable in a wide range of topics, not just in microbiology. For example, he includes a lot of history and the fine arts in his lectures. He talked about how incense (e.g., myrrh and white sage) can affect the microbiome in the human oral cavity/mouth.

Biology of Bioluminescence was a party class. Students give the presentations on journal articles about bioluminescence. This is a journal club class. Presenting students would bring food like brownies, cookies, or cupcakes for the rest of the class. The class was a blast!

I thought Professor Soto's personality was "boring" or "neutral" in the beginning, but I changed my mind when I went to his office hours regularly. He actually has a sense of humor. Going to his office hours a lot is a great way to get to know him and for him to get to know you.

I learned a lot in this class. Professor Soto is very knowledgeable and has experience in a broad range of areas. Sometimes the content is presented in a way that is overwhelming, but the material is some of the most interesting stuff that I learned. This class will demand much of your time. However, you will see that it was worth it in the end.

Professor Soto is nice and friendly. His grading criteria is clear and fair. However, the course material is intense. You need a good background in chemistry coming into the class. Otherwise, you are going to find the class more difficult.

I took Biology of Bioluminescence with Professor Soto. The class was very enjoyable. This is a journal club on bioluminescence, but fluorescence is also covered and discussed in the class. Students present journal articles on their favorite topics on bioluminescence. Typically, students doing the presentations bring snacks for everyone.

I learned a lot about microbial genetics and microbial physiology from Dr. Soto. He has a deadpan sense of humor. He will often tell jokes in class that go over students' heads, like the "high evaporation pressure of a teacher's laser pointer forgotten in class". The lectures seemed boring at first but became more interesting as time went on.

Professor Soto is a super nice guy, very kind, and I learned a lot in his class! Sometimes he goes on tangents, but his anecdotes can be funny and interesting.

I enjoyed Professor Soto's classes very much. He posts his presentation slides on Blackboard. He's also very friendly. He likes getting to know his students. His microbiology classes are intense and fast paced. His class on the biology of bioluminescence is more casual.

Biology of Bioluminescence is a class in the format of a journal club. Students spend time reading journal articles on bioluminescence between classes on a particular topic of their choosing. They then use the following class period to discuss the topic and its implications. The class discussions are guided by student presentations.

Microbiology with Dr. Soto was a very interesting class. For me, the human microbiome, symbiosis, and medical microbiology were the most intriguing parts of the class. Attendance isn't mandatory, but you won't do as well if you miss many classes. The exams are based off the lectures.

Biology of Bioluminescence is a great class! Professor Soto is an awesome instructor, and he is very understanding and flexible. You spend all semester talking about all kinds of stuff that are bioluminescent. Students who present for each class bring snacks and drinks for everyone. The classes are small with about 15-18 students.

Biology of Bioluminescence is a blast! Students give presentations on whatever topics they want. The presenters bring food and drinks for the rest of the class. Fluorescence is also covered. Practical applications and applied research is also discussed.

Biology of Bioluminescence was an interesting class. The course is taught in the form of a journal club. Students read research articles from scholarly journals on topics that they're interested in. The students then present the articles to and lead group discussions with the rest of the class. Only recent articles are allowed.

Professor Soto's microbiology class was comprehensive and interesting. We used a lot of case studies, when I took the class. Professor Soto has a lot of passion for his subject, which is infectious to his students. He's always happy and full of enthusiasm. You can tell he loves microbiology and teaching. He also cares very much about his students.

This was basically a seminar or journal club course, where the focus was on bioluminescence. It's essentially a special topics class for juniors and seniors. The class is required for biology majors. Dr. Soto was nice enough to add me to the class when it was already full.

BIOL460 was a special topics course taught as a journal club, which I enjoyed very much. I had to take a BIOL460 class to graduate, and they were all full except for Dr. Soto's. Although I enrolled in his class by accident, I was very glad that I took Dr. Soto's class. You read articles about bioluminescence and then discuss them. The class is fun!