2.7
Quality4.1
Difficulty37%
Would Retake86
Reviews37%
Would Retake
86
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
26
4
5
3
8
2
13
1
34
What Students Say
“Biggest advice is to read the assigned text before class”
BIOL209 - 5.0 rating“Just read before class and youll be fine”
BIOL209 - 5.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
55%
Textbook Required
20%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.76 avg changeRatings by Course
BIOZ101
5.0
(3)BIOL455
5.0
(6)BIOL448
5.0
(2)BIOL209
3.3
(11)BIO455
3.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
BIO455
5.0
BIO450
5.0
BIO152
4.6
BIOL152
4.5
BIO209
4.4
Reviews (86)
Easy lab - show up, listen, take notes, turn in homework weekly, take quiz weekly - no reason you should not get an 'A' unless you do not study or turn in your homework assignments. He tells you the material to study.
Zach is an awesome professor! He kept the labs fun and interesting. He also reviewed the material in such a way that helped me earn an A in the lecture class. I would highly recommend his class to anyone who needs Bio 101 credit.
Really cool professor! I highly recommend him because he breaks down all the concepts from the lecture class and made them simple to understand. He's also very approachable if you have a question about anything. It definitely helps out your lecture grade to attend lab every week. I took notes in both and got a 98 on the BIOL final. Thanks Zach!
This class was very hard and I feel like he didn't always do the best job at explaining some of the subject material. It was his first time teaching the class but it still seemed disorganized. There are a few online homework assignments which aren't too difficult however online quizzes are very complicated and very difficult to get good grades on.
The class is pretty interesting and his exams reflect his lecture slides mostly and stuff from readings. He explains his lecture slides well and has given a couple points back on every test. Just read before class and youll be fine. Ive got an A on the first 3 exams. And go to class because if you get TopHat questions right you get extra points.
Although it is a difficult course, this teacher will always be there for you and support you through it. Biggest advice is to read the assigned text before class. I would recommend getting an online text book because being able to use the search tool will help you a lot. This prof. is so caring towards his students and inspiring
Very smart professor, but does not know how to break information down to a level of student understanding. Tests are difficult. Only extra credit opportunity is correct TopHat answers. He would be great for a higher course level, but not for this introductory class.
The material itself for immuno is why it's so difficult, but he made the class much more enjoyable. His review sessions were SO helpful for doing better on the exams. He responds to student feedback very well and truly cares about helping students understand the material and still challenging them to think about real world applications. GREAT PROF!
Dr. G is a great! For lectures, he uploads the PP before class & uses the Socratic method which is great for this class. Pay attention and record lectures, because immuno is such a jam packed course. An A is hard, but not impossible. BUT hes always reachable! This class was hell, yet I had fun! (use Library gen for txtbk & rocketmix for practice)
His explanations in class weren't very helpful. I'd recommend going to tutoring if you think you need extra clarification. His quiz questions were purposefully made harder to "prepare us for the exams." Smartworks hmwk would take more than an hour with each assignment being >1% of our grade.
This class is so unorganized, it's crazy. Both the actual material and assignments are all over the place. There is no structure to anything, it's just him spewing random facts at you while also expecting you to understand the overall theme that isn't explained. The way he words questions on quizzes & tests is extremely confusing and frustrating.
His lectures are often pretty confusing and exams are HARD !!!! You would think this is an easy A class, but unfortunately it is not, you have to work hard for it and especially for those exams since they are so hard!
He is nice, but not great at explaining concepts. Materials are over the places. Test questions are confusing and not clear. You can argue them in any way and will get the different answers. Test and in-class materials are 50% matched. A lot of test questions are randomly picked from somewhere, that you will not even realized you have to know that.
If I could go back, I would honestly choose another professor. Nice guy and all, but his exams are extremely hard. I have failed his first two exams, and so have my friends. We used to be 4.0 students. Not anymore. Do not take this class. The exams make no sense.
First off, he is very smart. Maybe too smart lol he seems to not realize students need to learn. He treats students more like colleagues than students that need him to teach us. He expects us to know A LOT. His tests are very hard. More than half the class failed the first test. And hardly anyone got an A. Really fun and kind but too hard.
He is honestly awful. I expected an A, but had to work extremely hard for a C and was miserable the entire time. I never believed anyone when they said to get out, but seriously don't take him if you can avoid it. Tests are nightmares
Difficult professor, but his goal is for students to have a very solid understanding of biology. makes sense for the class to be difficult as it is a foundation class. Overall very cool guy, wants you to succeed. He always shares videos/readings/questions to further your understanding. just be prepared to study a lot as tests are very difficult.
probably one of the worst teachers I have ever had. His exams are never on his notes and you could memorize every little bit on the notes and not see it pop up on the exam. DO NOT TAKE HIM. absolutely the worst person I have ever met and his class is highly disorganized. Save your sanity and choose someone else. Makes a gen ed class much harder.
He's a horrible teacher. His powerpoints suck, his exams are impossible. He hates his students, he's too happy and prideful when you tell him that this is the worst grade you got. What kind of professor is that? He gives no leeway and doesn't help out his students. His exams are on nothing we have learned. Can't find it on tophat, even google.
His tests don't make any sense to me. I got a high A in BIOL151 with a hard professor. Now I'm struggling in this class. His practice questions are all of Quizlet and you can find the answers online. But his test questions are very vague and nothing is actually from TH. I wish he prepared us for these "MCAT" level questions.
I never thought a professor could be this bad. That was, until I arrived at his first few lectures lasting 3/5ths the time allotted for the class of him vaguely talking about his slides without ever truly explaining anything in a way that the average college student could understand. Not to mention his slides are literally just pictures. Don't take
Find another professor. He's a cool enough guy, but he is very difficult to learn from. Your grade is 60% tests and 40% blackboard/tophat questions, so even if you get a 100 on the bb/th, without good test grades you're screwed. And don't think that's an easy feat. His tests are next level difficult.
He is a decent professor but gives very difficult tests which make up most of the grade.
Honestly, one of the worst professors I've ever had. He doesn't respond to emails on time. Immunology is a very hard course and if you have the chance take it with someone else. Most of the class failed the first exam and it's been downhill since then.
Unreasonably tough class. 60% of your grade comes from impossible tests: half the class fails every exam. He doesn't teach, only assigns readings from a similarly bad textbook. His lectures are him doing TED Talks. His slides are Nat Geo pictures with few words. Probably a good fish neurologist but an awful... awful teacher. DON'T TAKE AT ANY COST!
His exams are very very hard, even if you study. Some of the exam questions aren't even on your notes, or the textbook. BIO152 is not an easy class by itself so you will need a prof who makes it interesting and very clear. This professor is just not it!
The worst BIOL152 to take. Tests are ridiculously hard, and lectures are application based. AVOID THIS CLASS!
Every time I would cross the street to get to his class, I wish a car would hit me. I have always had an inner love for Biology, unfortunately Professor G. has changed that for me. His exams are extremely difficult, and the questions are beyond the scope of what we have learned and has no correlation with anything. Please save your GPA and health
If I knew how this teacher was like before I took him I would've saved my life. This is probably the worst decision I ever made in my entire life. His test are extremely hard. I don't know how he comes up with these tests because its definitely not from the notes or reading. SAVE YOU'RE LIFE!
He is a very kind man and when you ask him for help, he explains well what you did wrong. With that being said, his tests are very VERY difficult. Some of the questions literally cannot be found anywhere in the readings or in the lectures, they're just things he expects us to know. Tests are much more advanced than we were prepared for.
The most disorganized teacher I've ever had. Tests are not from the notes or the reading. Tests are extremely difficult. SAVE YOU'RE LIFE AND YOU'RE GRADE
He is the worst teacher I have ever had. His lectures are completely disorganized, and his slides are just pictures. The exams are impossible. It doesnt matter how much you study because they barely cover the actual material. It really seems like he WANTS his students to fail. Save your mental health and avoid taking him.
Do not take this class with Professor Ghahramani!!!!! The exams are ridiculous. His lectures were of absolutely no help. He doesn't round at all!!!! An 89.9 is a B... pathetic. Avoid this class at all costs!!
This is one of the hardest classes I've ever taken (and this is supposed to be an intro class!!). His exams are impossible, his lectures have nothing to do with the unit we're on, and he puts too much weight on the exams. The only good thing about this class is that the final is optional and that you don't buy the textbook, it's just on tophat.
Personally, I never had a problem with this professor. Yes the class is hard, and tests are worth 60% of your grade. You really need to understand the concepts of the readings not just the facts to do well in his class; the tests are majority application. I can assure you that you will see harder classes than this one. His class is not impossible.
Dr. G runs intro level classes like upper-level classes. His lectures are not relevant to the exams and you have to teach yourself from a TopHat textbook full of grammer and spelling mistakes. His exams are extremely hard unless you memorize the textbook and he can be quite rude to students in class.
the exams are largely multiple select questions where most of the answers are debatably correct, and frequently the exams contain questions not on the homework or in the lectures. when I emailed to complain about my exam grade, citing my 100% homework and lecture completion, he told me I just wasn't trying hard enough.
I had his class online and it consisted of quizzes, exams, case studies, and reading homework. I enjoyed his lecture videos but sadly the questions on his quizzes and exams rarely went along with what he talked about in his lectures. Something I did appreciate was that he always responded to his emails quickly with helpful feedback.
I just finished immunology with Prof. G this semester online and really enjoyed the class. He was super lenient with all that's going on and offered a decent amount of extra credit. Responsive and willing to help. Exams and quizzes weren't too bad either and involve application of the material from lectures and textbook, but mainly from lectures.
I took BIOL455 (Immunology) in the Fall of 2019. The class/content itself was the most difficult I had taken at VCU but Dr. Ghahramani makes it incredibly relatable, engaging, and easy to understand should you take the time to prepare and meet him half way with readings. Read before class, go to class, and participate and you'll succeed.
Took BIOL448 (Neuroscience) during Summer 2020. The content wasn't bad and a majority of it incredibly interesting. Dr. G is helpful and quick to respond when needed and is active in student discussions/participation. The exams are reasonable and plenty of extra credit is given throughout the semester. Read ahead and engage to easily get an A.
Dr. Ghahramani has amazing teaching methods! He is patient given the difficulty of the material. He is really knowledgeable and knew how to motivate us. He kept the lessons engaging through a variety of activities that improved conversation. Thanks to him I have a better understanding of the nervous system and I feel better prepared for Med school.
I took Immunology after taking Neuroscience with Dr. G, because he made the material so interesting and he was very accessible to go over anything I didnt understand. This class is hard but as long as you pre-read the materials he assigns and pay attention in class youll do great. It has increased my knowledge about the immune system immensely.
He posted lectures and had q&a's. you watch them you do fine. keep up with smart work homework, quizzes and exams as well as case studies and you can at least get a B. the content is difficult if you don't put the effort. I put in at least 5 hours of work per week for this class and did great. Go to SI sessions because they are extra points
Professor Ghahramani was very understanding and nice. This class was asynchronous ,but very manageable. There were weekly Tophat readings followed by questions, weekly quizzes( which were not difficult), and some formative assessments( which were difficult but he dropped the lowest). His exams were challenging, but you can take them twice.
I am not really sure why this prof has such a low rating. The case studies are the hardest because of the ordering (bc the algorithm picks up answers only in a certain way). Lots of EC, although not really necessary. Smartworks is a blessing, it is an easy 99 or 100 -- you can also be very late with several assignments and still get a 99.
Medical Microbiology is a LOT of material to cover, but Ghahramani gives you a lot of chances to review material, eg online reading quizzes, he coordinates review sessions with TA's. At least scan through the readings before lectures so you know what's coming/can process the material critically and participate.
Passive aggressive responses to questions and very difficult to reach outside of class time.
Get ready to do 85% of your learning for this course outside of class time. You need to put in the extra work to do decent. The tests are hard and he's not very understanding about personal situations. This class taught me how to WORK.
Dr G is very knowledgeable about the subject he teaches. I took the honors section of Bio 151 so the course was content heavy. The test are not direct answers that can be found in the text book because they are conceptual, similar to AP Biology questions. However, he gave many opportunities for extra points on the test.
I had him for bio Lab as a TA and he's great. Seemed to love his job, helped whenever our lab group needed him, he wasn't that rough of a grader, and if you listen and do everything he says (which isn't that hard coming from a B/C student), you WILL get an A. You do HAVE to go to every class tho but luckily it was once a week for like half an hour.
Dr. Ghahramani's BIOL 101 is without a doubt the hardest course I have taken in college, however it was definitely worth it. If you go to the lectures, engage in class, and take assignments and exams seriously there is no way you will not learn the course material. I would highly recommend Dr. G to anyone who values and enjoys their education.
My original post was taken down without notice but future students deserve to know about him. He treats his level-100 courses like Master's program courses. His tests and quizzes included content not on his lectures or in the textbook. He pushed back against student's feedback and was defensive. Some may like him, but I'm not sure why. Don't do it.
talks very fast and doesn't have any breaks the entire lecture, he must think everyone already knows the material---- if you need to make a grade in biology, do not have this professor.
Genuinely the worst teacher I have ever had. He just yaps in the lectures and doesn't offer time to explain the notes at all. The tests are nothing like the practice questions and quizzes he gives you and some of the test answers won't be mentioned from the notes or even the textbook. Avoid at all costs
BIO209 with Dr. G is easily the worst class I've taken at VCU; I really pray for the nursing students that need this credit. Tests have nothing to do with the textbook nor the quizzes he assigns. Professor constantly jumps around powerpoints and talks about the material under the assumption that we know as much about microbio as he does. BEWARE!
DO NOT TAKE THIS COURSE WITH THIS PROFESSOR IF YOU NEED A "B"TO PASSWITH YOUR PROGAM!The only thing he does in class is present his unorganized and sloppy slideshows.If you don't do well on one exam, good luck trying to get your grade up.He has no sympathy for his students.Absolutely no extra credit opportunities.Basically teaching ourselves.
This man was my only option at taking this class. Choosing him was a mistake. The amount of nonsense he talks in class is insane and none of it is on the tests. The tests could not make less sense. They cover the topics to such an extent that not him or the textbook even begin to cover. The only way to understand the material is to already know it.
The exams are nothing like the practice questions or the quizzes. Studying from the textbook and quizzes did not help at all. The exams are worth 60% of your overall grade. All he does is present slides in class. There are no extra credit opportunities or additional assignments to help improve your grade.
This is the worst class I have ever taken. In my opinion, the lecture part is somewhat organized, but the lab is absolutely ridiculous.
Not the greatest professor. Very test heavy where the tests seemed to cover nonexistent material, or at least the material was hard to understand. Pay attention and take your notes before class starts and attend the lecture to help reinforce the material.
Worst professor ive ever taken, test are nothing like the content gone over in class meaning he just talks about random stuff and I didn't learn much... DO NOT TAKE HIM if I could go back I never would have chosen a different professor
Honestly, I felt like I learned more from prior biology courses than in his class. Make sure to use the textbook because he will go over basics you might have heard in high school bio, but quizzes and tests will have more harder questions. He will give many quizzes, homework assignments, and tests though so you will have chances to improve grades.
Dr. Ghahramani is a fantastic professor. Yeah, biology is difficult, what did you expect? But Dr. G gives you a bunch of opportunities to get extra credit for his tests, and he explains the material very clearly. Answer questions in class! Even if you're wrong, you get the best and most detailed explanation of why. Participate and retry practice Qs
tests are worth 60% of your grade.Pretty difficult to try and raise your grade if you fail a test. There are no other assignments other than one quiz per test and smart work assignments. He only ever goes over his slides so get ready to teach your self all the material. Exams are based off his slides and none are open note. 0/10
Not sure why his ratings are so bad for 209. I have had issues with the bio dept here, but his class is relatively easy. Exams are based directly off the slides and he adds extra credit. Quizzes are take home with 2 attempts. Homework is an easy 100. It's boring and hard to sit through but as long as you study the slides you'll be fine.
THE WORST PROFESSOR, DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS‼️ I cannot emphasize enough, how terrible of a professor and course this was to take. every single day I would have to go to the library and ask ChatGPT to explain everything shown in lecture, so be ready to FULLY TEACH YOURSELF. He openly expresses most students fail the first three test, theres only 4!
If you do not learn from looking at slides on the screen or reading from a long textbook. You're in for it. There was not enough time in between exams for me to sit down and teach myself and truly grasp information. THIS IS A TEACH IT TO YOURSELF CLASS.I studied for 18+ hours each exam and received an F on all of them.
Professor Ghahramani is a nice guy; however, if he falls behind on a few lecture slides on the PowerPoint, he tends to rush through them. I found this frustrating because I couldn't fully process his words. He does give out extra credits for our exams, which I am grateful for. Overall, it is a teach-yourself class. I learned a lot in Unit 3 and 4.
After taking this course, I realized I spent too much time studying for the exams outside of class, focusing too much on tiny details in the slides. I learned a lot from Professor G., but it was a challenging experience that was worth it. If you put in the effort, you will do well. Make sure to attend class & take good notes. Extra credit saved me.
Very willing and available to help but a LOT of studying outside lecture. He talks very fast and puts minor details from the slides and some things he only speaks aloud on the exam. I got my grade by going to SI once a week, marathon sessions, gizmo, and handwriting my notes again a couple days before the test. I learned a lot but it was stressful.
I really enjoyed his class. He gives good feedback if you ask questions and gives extra credit for each exam. His tests sometimes feel like they're made to trick you with how the questions are worded. YOU HAVE TO GO TO EACH CLASS. Some questions on the exams are based on one off-hand comment he made once in class. Definitely pays to pay attention.
Bro, I'm not kidding... if you like to suffer or if you hate yourself then take this class. My therapist will be hearing from me ASAP. :))))))))
Dr.G was an amazing professor. Although some of the content is difficult he able to answer any questions that arose. You should read the textbook before class to better your understanding. Extra credit is offered which helps a lot on exams. The class set up, with weekly quizzes and homework help with academic success
I'm taking his class right now, & let me tell you..that Dr.G is something else.I haven't met a professor like this & I'm not saying he's terrible,but I will not be taking any of his classes in the future.I tried everything from reading the textbook,studying everyday, going to class,paying attention.I haven't have this issue w/ any Professor but him
I am not sure why profession gharamani has a 2.6 rating. He is an awesome professor and really breaks down the topics so you can fully understand. Of course the class is hard, but at that point it is on you to study and really put in the work. He can't give you all the answers. Anyways, wonderful professor!!! Really knows what he is talking about.
He is a wonderful professor and super sweet. He always responded back to me via email super duper fast. However, his TEST are the worst thing possible. They go over material that was never in notes or textbook. Which made no sense. I barely passed if it wasn't for the optional FINAL EXAM. That final exam will be your BEST FRIEND !!!!!
You're a bad student/bad at studying to unlike the teacher. Those who gave this man bad ratings have never SKIMMED the textbook. Dr. G simplifies everything as much as possible from the textbook in lectures. It's just a hard class. Complaining abt him bc you don't understand the class? Maybe lock in idk? He provides a lot of resources.
I don't know why the ratings are so bad. I think most people gave him bad reviews because the material was hard, but he is not a bad professor. I actually learned so many interesting things from this class. The key to getting a good grade is showing up to class to get extra TH points that are applied to tests, and study study study!!!!
I took him for BIOL445 neurobio & behavior (couldn't find code). But Dr.G is great. He really cares about his students, and I always felt comfortable approaching him. However, his tests and quizzes are hard. It's the wording. But he gave us study guides for both. And there is so much extra credit on the tests. If you at least try, you'll be good.
I am 30 years old and took this class after being out of school for about 8 years. I read the reviews before I took the class and they scared me. I ended up with a 92% percent, and I didn't even have to take the final exam. I took human anatomy this semester and got a B. I'm not the smartest student but I'm 30 years old and know this is important!
Professor G is not a bad professor BUT I will say to earn an A have to work outside of lecture. He does a good job of teaching the objectives for exams, but he includes things that aren't in the objectives sometimes:/. to be successful, get ahead of him as far as lectures go. He gives chapters that go with his lectures. READ them! Youtube helps too
If you don't have a religion, pick one and start praying by yesterday.
Dr. G is not a bad professor, he is nice. This class is just genuinely something that I can not put into words how difficult it was. I lost all motivation after studying for a week for each test and still getting 50s - 70s. This class tested me psychologically and tormented me the whole semester. Good luck
Dr. G is a really great professor! You can tell that he is truly passionate about what he teaches, and he genuinely wants his students to do well. He also provides many resources to help outside of class. This class definitely has some hard material, but you truly have to put in the work and time to succeed, just like you do with anything else.
Do not take this professor! If you fail one exam it will actually be impossible for you to even get your grade up. Everyday I would walk to this mans class I would hope a car would run me over because the class never got easier
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
55%
Textbook Required
20%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.76 avg changeRatings by Course
BIOZ101
5.0
(3)BIOL455
5.0
(6)BIOL448
5.0
(2)BIOL209
3.3
(11)BIO455
3.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
BIO455
5.0
BIO450
5.0
BIO152
4.6
BIOL152
4.5
BIO209
4.4