2.6
Quality4.1
Difficulty48%
Would Retake83
Reviews48%
Would Retake
83
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
17
4
13
3
8
2
22
1
23
What Students Say
“She does not care about students at all”
PSY432 - 1.0 rating“Essay questions on all exams”
PSY330 - 2.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
57%
Textbook Required
38%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.41 avg changeRatings by Course
PSY43036
5.0
(1)PHYSPSY
5.0
(2)PSYCH432
5.0
(1)LEARNING
4.0
(1)430
3.5
(2)Difficulty by Course
PSY445
5.0
PSYPSY
5.0
PSY491
5.0
PSY431
4.5
PSY430
4.3
Reviews (83)
take good notes and study them- never cracked the book and got an A...
a lot to be learned, she's very knowledgeable & willing to help with tips
No Comments
she is one of my new favorite teachers...she actually cares about doing a good j
Nice and helpful, but difficult to understand at times
No Comments
Great prof. Very organized. Good notes and attendence are the keys to doing well
challenging course, tests on mostly the notes though, first test most difficult
Don't even bother buying the book. Never cracked it and I got an A. Nice prof!
She is very nice. Sometimes difficult to understand, but you will do fine. She cares about student progress and wants to do a good job. Great Prof! I'm taking her again next semester.
No Comments
She isn't very friendly and seems annoyed if you ask questions after class. I don't think she is very clear and her tests are tricky. I'll never take her class again. I don't think she cares if you pass her class.
Insanely boring professor! I printed all of he notes off of Blackboard...if you follow that it goes soooooo slow!! She repeats the same thing like 5 times. I can't tell you how many times i skipped just so i wouldn't be board to tears.
Good professor, but very unclear. Just print the notes from blackboard and you can at least pull a B, which isn't much higher than what you'll get if you go to class.
I recommend you never take her unless you already have, and if you do take her be prepared to bomb the first 2 tests. Write down every word she says. The Hardest Class I've Ever Taken!
What a sweetheart! She's very nice and easy, it's really the subject that's difficult. Pay attention to lectures because she only tests on what is covered in class, and the online notes have gaps in them. Good idea to take Bio 112 or equiv. first.
She is tough and knows when you are there or not. Other than that if you pay attention she is fun, different, and knows her stuff in a second language.
I think Xu must be giving herself the good ratings. Everytime I have a question (not at test time) she refuses to help me. Its ridiculous, why is she a professor? I wouldnt recommend this teacher to anyone, sorry if you have her.
Though she is not an easy professor, she is definately an expert in her field. If you actually go to class and take notes (not just follow the nice outlines that she gives you), you will get an A. If you slack, yes you will not do well.
a very hard class but very interesting. dont take it if you don't plan on studying. she provides study guides that help a lot. brain disection was fun. provides notes on BB, but need to go to class for all the info. if you put an effort into the class you'll do fine. she is a very knowlegable prof.
This is a challenging course. You need to go to every class, take really good notes (not just follow her notes from BB), and study hard. Use her study guides on blackboard for exams because they help tremendously. The first exam is the worst, but the rest are a bit better but still require studying. Takes attendance through group activities.
very challenging class, but 400+ is supposed to be, so quit whining, take great notes, go to class, read the book, understand the material, study the study guides provided, and you'll do fine. yes, it is a lot of work but this type of class very well should be. Very intelligent prof, willing to help, and you'll learn a great deal if you try (A-)
I must not being taking the same class as the others or she is rating herself. This class is hard it's a +400 class, she is very un-willing to help clarify things, she is never in her office, and her study guids suck. I went to every class, studied my buttoff, and even had study sessions. I got a D, I am an A-B student. Take another PROPH if possib
AWFUL. On a huge power trip. Completely unwilling to help, and gets annoyed when people ask for clarity. Study guides are useless. Expects you to already have a background in anatomy: NEWSFLASH we're psych majors...not bio majors. Rude over e-mail (when she actually decides to write you back at all).
I really liked her, great lady! The class is straight forward, it is basically from the notes although the book helps alot. Not hard if you study..very willing to help you. I dont know why ppl rated her bad...she is a good prof you just have to study and be committed to it
She is a great prof. The class is hard, but its a 400 level course. She gives quizzes as a form of attendance, gives study guides but she warns you that you need to know more than just the definitions. In my class she did not act condescending towards students asking questions. She is very straight forward. I learned a lot from her.
Hard class. She does not return emails & she expects you to have a background in science. She is not helpful outside of class and 90% of the class could not stand going weekly because of her. She is hard to understand! She rejected a student one time who came to her officer hours for help. Not a good people person! NOT UNDERSTANDING towards people.
Although I find the class itself very interesting, she was difficult to understand and was only helpful some of the time. She'd jump to correct someone if they were wrong, but if someone had a question about the study guide she'd just tell us to figure it out-- that she couldn't help out. If you study, you should do ok though.
I really like Dr. Xu. Her classes are always challenging, but interesting. I do, however, find it frustrating that she will not answer questions during tests. Other than that, she is very clear of what is expected of you. You have to study a LOT in order to do well in class, but this is college after all. She tests mostly on lecture material.
Felt like the class was often structred more as a study group with the students expected to help each other rahter than the professor teach us. She very rarely would answer a question.
Awful class! She's not willing to help if you don't understand, she moves way too fast and tests you over tiny details and odd facts. This was the WORST class and prof I've had in 4 years at GVSU. I recommend to anyone to NOT take this class and opt for another!!! It was THAT bad!
This is a difficult class, but for someone with out much of a science background I still ended up with a decent grade. Yes, you have to study,but it is a 400 level class! I never had a problem with Prof Xu. Her lectures are very organized and if you take very good notes and study you can do well.
AWFUL-- THE WORST she is not helpful what so ever. the test are over the smallest details omg i would study sooooo clong and try soooo hard, extremely hard. idk i took notes but i still ended up with a D and i have to retake it with someone else thats for sure. AWFUL im still mad about that stupid class. ps her test SUCK they are awful hard
Disapointed. She is a skimmer. She lightly goes over the material, and then expects you to do the research to find the specifics. Her test are worth 50 points, 3-4 pages long, so if you get just 10 wrong, you are at B-!! Do your research and find a professor that will give you resources, visual aids, worksheets, etc.
Everything everyone else is saying is true. questions on test will ask for four desciptors, but she expects eight. points are adjusted so easy questions are worth ALOT less, making them almost useless. skims material and tests on seemingly unimportant info. She doesn't understand the complexities of english so she's rude on top of everything else.
Packs way too much into the course, especially at the beginning, and ESPECIALLY in the Summer. Does not make herself available to help and does not clarify ambiguity on her tests; expect to have to give a lot of examples in order to get even a decent grade. She plays up essays and makes them not worth a lot on exams; multiple-choice stuff is tough.
Insane amount of reading. Requires books she puts a single copy of on course reserve for project/exam preparation. Not helpful at all, policy on group projects is simple; "if group members do not produce, the whole group suffers", and she sticks to it no matter what. Not lenient, unreasonable, and not communicative. Terrible instructor.
Her exams were ridiculously hard. They were mostly on the readings, which there were a lot of, and hardly on material we covered in class. Basically had to teach myself everything. Especially since what she did cover in class, she flew through and her accent is very difficult to understand. Definitely will not have her as a professor again.
I didn't think she could be as bad as the comments on here, but she was. She expects a lot, has a really think accent, and doesn't respond well to questions or students that need help. She won't slow down when a class overall is expressing they need her to. Her quizzes are a joke, but they make you be in class, and her tests are gruesome.
STAY AWAY AT ALL COSTS!! I normally find some positives but I would just suggest taking any alternative you can. I agree with all the previous comments, expecially her extreme rudeness, angry demeanor and fast pace in a subject that's unfamiliar to 99% of students
Don't listen to these reviews! She isn't NEARLY as bad as everyone says. She is difficult to understand, but I always asked her to repeat herself and she did. Exams are RIGHT out of lectures so you need to attend - greatly simplifies everything. Very smart and knowledgeable. Pop quizzes are good ways to get points and she lets you use your notes!
DO NOT TAKE HER! I didn't listen to reviews. She is super smart but can not teach! Take Valdez instead! I retook her class twice and still failed. I went to every class, I asked questions and she just repeated self, read book, I went to office she confused me more. She is not helpful and doesn't understand why you dont get stuff. AVOID AT ALL COST
Worst professor I have ever come encountered with. I did not listen to students words of wisdom on not taking this class. Big mistake. She is lazy with her English speaking to where you can't understand her. She will not answer/help you with any questions asked in or out of class. GVSU should be embarrassed having her. She is not a teacher.
Professor Xu teaches very difficult material, this class was extremely challenging. Her style of teaching is exactly what this material requires. She is concise, clear, and very predictable. If you listen in class & study at home(as you should)you will do very well in her class. She doesn't waste time with unnecessary material. She's very clear.
She's a very good prof. I felt like she really cared about her students. Our 1st day of class as she started teaching she asked the class about the pace & her volume. I thought that was great! Dont use the book much, just to reinforce what she's telling us through her powerpoint. I'd take her again for other classes if I could. Highly recommended
This is a difficult subject to learn, but Xu is as helpful as possible. She will answer any questions, and will clear up any confusion on a topic if you ask. If you want to actually learn something I would recommend this class. If you are looking for a class to just breeze through, don't take it because you actually need to work in this class.
TAKE GOOD NOTES!My biggest mistake in this class was taking minor notes for the first few lectures. Screwed me over for the first exam because she tests on exactly what she lectures. Write down pretty much everything she says...take VERY detailed notes, keep them neat so you can go back and understand them, and PAY ATTENTION and you will be fine!!
She is terrible and hard to understand. Her exams are rediculously hard. a lot of people had to drop her class. DO NOT TAKE HER
This class is difficult to begin with but having a professor that you can't understand and talks a million words per minute makes this class that much more difficult. She not helpful and makes no effort to help students. By far the worst professor i had at GVSU
Go to every class. Her tests are straight from her lectures. I barely used the book. Her accent made her difficult to understand and I would highly suggest not taking this class without a bio/anatomy background. She looks down on slightly-dumb questions and sharing annoying stories so avoid those. Take AWESOME notes and study hard. Feasible class.
This class can be a challenge but a good challenge. Getting the book is a most because sometimes it can be difficult to understand the professor and having the book allows you to go over the stuff she talked about in class. But if you work hard you can get an A
This class is VERY difficult if you have no background in it. Although it requires no previous science classes, she teaches as if everyone has an extensive background. She's hard to understand and condescending when asked questions. I received solid As this semester except for this course (which I got a C in). There's just too much info to take in!
Dr. Xu was the worst professor I've ever had at GV. She was unwilling to help anyone and actually told a student to get to the point while asking a question. The subject was really tough for me and while I felt I learned a great deal her exams were always way tougher than what she led on. Really wish I didn't take this class.
I hate this class. I was forced into hers because she was the only one teaching it. Her tests are RIDICULOUSLY hard for someone with very limited background in physiology. Struggle through it and hope you get a C.
FAST and no so furious, her accent makes it difficult, she will address this at the beginning of the semester, HOWEVER, if you ask her to repeat: "If you continue to ask questions it will take longer for me to finish, and you will still be required to know the material"! Never helpful, Never answers question about wording on Exams, Big grp Project!
So here's the thing.. she is very tough, but so is the course material. However, if you study your butt off and work hard, a good grade is attainable. Study study study! At the beginning of the semester she acts like participation is not too important, but at the end, she averages participation and the lowest test grade which helps a ton!
Do not take her! I didn't do well on the first test went to her office hours, she declined me, went back the following week and she just told me to drop and I can't do it. Stuck with it because I have to but she does not care about her students and doesn't respond to emails.
Worst prof I have ever had. She was extremely unhelpful and when students asked questions in class she told them she wouldn't be able to cover everything for the day if she answered their question. I barely passed this class and from talking to classmates, they were in the same boat. Be prepared to teach yourself.
She is very, very difficult to understand due to her accent. Assigns a book but then gives lectures and slides on another book. The book is a good way to understand the material but she expects you to understand the material the way SHE teaches it, not from the book which is frustrating because her lectures are nearly impossible to follow.
This class was tough. The professor is hard to understand and moves through lectures fast. A lot of her notes are from a different book than what is required for the class. Not very helpful in officer hours. Participate in class and she'll bump your grade a little.
Pretty thick accent but if you sit in the front row and pay attention you'll get used to it. Make sure you participate and answer her questions - it'll boost your grade at the end of the semester. Don't be totally freaked out by this class, if you pay attention and put the work in you'll do fine. I only used the book a few times for clarification
Too smart for her own good, expects the same out of students. Study guides don't match tests and essay questions are graded based on whether or not she would put it in a text book. Very thick accent. You really have to study in order to pass. Interesting information and very knowledgeable professor, but skip one day and your screwed.
Incredibly knowledgeable in Behavioral Neuroscience. Interesting lectures, gives out quizzes but will warn you a week prior and are usually open note. Exam reviews match up with her lectures and she gives you possible essay questions that will appear on the exam. Go to class, take notes on what she says, & read the book and you'll pass.
Dr. Xu is highly intelligent and truly knows what she's talking about. However, the material was super hard especially with the only pre req being PSY 101. Essay questions on all exams. Lectures can be very confusing. A lot of material to remember. HEAVILY anatomy, biology, and less about actual psychology than you would think.
Professor Xu is an incredible professor. She is extremely intelligent and knows how to answer anyone and everyone's questions, even if she isn't sure what the answer is. Her accent is rather heavy, but that doesn't take away from her intelligence. Don't be intimidated by her, she is very friendly. There are 4 exams and minor quizzes to boost grade.
AVOID THIS PROFESSOR. Seriously. She does not care about students at all. She is incredibly hard to understand and FLYS through material. She acts like us students should be as smart as her. She isn't helpful. I went to talk to her about how I was struggling and her attitude was pretty much 'tough luck'. I don't know how she still has a job.
This is by far my favorite class at GV. (It also is my major) She is a very intelligent person and thinks you have the potential to be just as intelligent. She pushes your thinking and your brain capacity. I wish I had recorded her lectures because she does talk fast and she does have a slight accent. Just study for this class a bit harder.
This is for real the best class I have ever taken at Grand Valley. Professor Xu is honestly amazing! She is very knowledgeable. As long as you go to class and take notes on what she says, you will be fine! The book for this class is almost unnecessary. She also gives pop quizzes, but you end up working with the people around you. TAKE HER!!
Very lecture heavy. I like her and it is possible to get an A but she does not hold back if she does not like you. Very thankful I was not one of these students. She has no problem calling someone out and making them feel stupid in front of everyone. Over all she is a good prof and her class is interesting.
Professor Xu is extremely intelligent but is terrible at teaching. The exams are extremely hard and she does not prepare you for them. No matter how hard you study you won't be prepared to succeed. She has a heavy accent which makes her very difficult to understand. Honestly, don't take her, you'll do better with a different professor.
Your grade is completely dependent on 4 exams. There were a handful of people that got D's on all of them, failing the class. She also has a very heavy accent which makes it frustrating at times when you can't understand the lecture half the time. If you're not good at test taking then do not take this prof!
Provides terrible lecture material and does not lecture well. Grades exam short answers incredibly tough considering she doesn't teach a good portion of the material she is expecting you to answer from. Is not accessible outside of class like other professors and never answers or explains questions you have.
Dr. Xu is smart but cannot teach the material at all. this class is graded almost solely on exams. she lectures very fast and does not prepare you for exams. she is hardly available outside of class and has a hard time answering students' questions. I put in more work for this class than all my other classes combined and it DID NOT pay off.
This prof is awful, avoid her if you can. Shes not approachable, is not good at explaining material, and the exams are really hard. Grade is based on 4 exams and pop quizzes on material we just learned. Very confusing class and professor that doesnt have clear expectations
She is a great lecturer and explains things very well. If you are at all confused, ask and she will reword it for you in a better way to help you understand. Participation in class is highly encouraged as she gives you more points at the end and she will like you more as a student. The class was very interesting and would definitely take her again!
This class is not as hard as people say. Plus if you have questions she actually answers them. I felt like i learned alot, which is important to me.
Although this professor knows what she is talking about, she doesnt teach well. She doesnt communicate with students and the powerpoint information contains little to no information that will be on the exam. The material is interesting to learn, just not from her. The exams are extremely hard. Heavy accent. Dont take her 10/10 dont recommend
AVOID AT ALL COSTS. This class online was beyond frustrating and at least half the class dropped or failed. Vague prerecorded lectures were the only instruction, and exams were WAY too difficult for the limited teaching we received. When students tried to reach out for extra help, Xu fails to offer solutions or work with students. No empathy 0/10
I know there are not great reviews on here which made me nervous to take this class with her at first. Now that the semester is over, I am really glad that I did!! I was able to learn so much from this professor and I actually really enjoyed the class overall. You do have to put in the work to get a good grade, but it is completely doable!
Professor Xu is so smart, but is NOT a good professor. The exams are super difficult, and Xu fails to prepare students properly. They come off as rude, and don't seem to like when students ask questions. prof also is not considerate of students with covid, and will give them a 0 if they miss the pop quizzes due to quarantine. I don't recommend!
Do not take PSY 330 with her. There are 3 other professors as of 2023 who teach this class at GVSU. I had to contact the other professors to get access to their lectures as Dr. Xu's lectures were not understandable by myself nor did I learn the subject. I had to drop her course even though it sets my graduation date back.
I was very surprised how much I liked professor Xu. Her tests are hard, yes, but she gave us about 10 extra credit opportunities across the semester and curves the exams as well. Other than reading, homework is light. She comes off as harsh, but she really isn't, if you put effort into class you'll be golden.
She's a great example of a smart woman scientist. She could've been a big famous researcher but is teaching instead because she genuinely cares. I learned more in her class than all my others this semester and I feel smarter because of it.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
57%
Textbook Required
38%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.41 avg changeRatings by Course
PSY43036
5.0
(1)PHYSPSY
5.0
(2)PSYCH432
5.0
(1)LEARNING
4.0
(1)430
3.5
(2)Difficulty by Course
PSY445
5.0
PSYPSY
5.0
PSY491
5.0
PSY431
4.5
PSY430
4.3