John Philbin - Grand Valley State University

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John Philbin - Grand Valley State University

Professor: John Philbin

Department: Film

College: Grand Valley State University

Rating # 1

Overview:

Course: CFV261
Grade Received: C+
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: No
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: No
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

While I believe Professor Phil is respected and knows his craft, I found his teaching style to be challenging at best and hostile to new students at worse. He teaches a beginning level scriptwriting class like he's teaching Scriptwriting II. His feedback is vague, and he doesn't aid his students outside of class. He isn't constructive at all.

Rating # 2

Overview:

Course: FVP261
Grade Received: B+
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: No
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Everyone should be jumping for joy that Philbin is retiring from GVSU because he has been the worst professor I've had. To keep it simple, he just doesn't care at all. We show up each week, he gives us an assignment with a previous paper to use as reference and he lets us go for the week without teaching anything, and then grades very harshly.

Rating # 3

Overview:

Course: CFV424
Grade Received: B
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 1.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: No
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

All I can say, is that I'm glad that he has one semester left. He is insufferable. He has zero creativity and it is very clear that he just doesn't care about the films that his students make. He's the absolute worst, avoid at all costs.

Rating # 4

Overview:

Course: CFV125
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Philbin is a great prof and this review is LOOOOONG overdue. He knows his stuff and it's clear he's passionate about his field. Good guy on a personal level too.

Rating # 5

Overview:

Course: FVP362
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: No
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

So like, I'm rating before the semester is even over. We're barely halfway in and he's canceled at least half of the classes, some for BS reasons like he didn't want to show up. Also, he doesn't teach, he's just like go do it. 0/10 would not recommend.

Rating # 6

Overview:

Course: CFV424
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

John is very disorganized when leading a class. In my experience, he has trouble communicating his thoughts to a large group, and when too many people try to figure out what he wants, he gets frustrated. I had really amazing classmates that made this course worth it, but take this class at your own risk

Rating # 7

Overview:

Course: FVP225
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Okay so overall it wasnt that bad of a class, watch a movie a week on your own time then have a discussion about it. Theres a group presentation every week which has to be 30 min long and only 2 papers and 3 Exams and thats it so make sure to do well on those. Since its only a few things

Rating # 8

Overview:

Course: CFV424
Grade Received: B-
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: No
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Just awful. I really hated this class and I think the fact that this guy is gonna shape the minds of future filmmakers is super depressing. The guy is so high on himself and is a pain to deal with. The exams were ridiculous and he is a tough grader. The fact that I got penalized for being sick just is the cherry on the terrible sundae .

Rating # 9

Overview:

Course: CFV370
Grade Received: B+
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I thought he'd be worse than he actually was, and I ended up kinda liking him. American Cinema is all right. You're essentially watching two movies a week and writing a one-page paper about one of them. There's one group presentation to do, but it's not too bad. Only two big-ish papers, but he grades them a bit tough. Quick responder to emails.

Rating # 10

Overview:

Course: CFV424
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

The lectures can sometimes be really dull but Philbin is a nice enough guy and responds to your emails in a timely fashion. He is accommodating for the most part and straightforward as a teacher. He doesn't belittle people and just wants us to make the best possible films.

Rating # 11

Overview:

Course: COM215
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

No test! All short papers, 1-2 pages double spaced. Very easy class. Show up for class, participation is 25% of your grade. He was very nice, and I would take him again.

Rating # 12

Overview:

Course: CFV123
Grade Received: A+
Overall Rating: 2.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

He's a nice guy, but he's pretty bland and boring. He mumbles a lot and doesn't really explain much. You watch movies and listen to presentations and also get assigned a lot of reading. The tests are only 10-15 questions, and he grades pretty tough. He's a hard grader on papers as well.

Rating # 13

Overview:

Course: COM215
Grade Received: A-
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Prof responded to emails within a day or two. Most assignments had clear instructions and prof would give extensions if multiple students experienced confusion. Very laid back professor and understanding of student's needs. It was an SWS class so there was a lot of written responses to reading assignments. No midterm and no final exam.

Rating # 14

Overview:

Course: CFV321
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

His quizzes do not accurately test your knowledge of the textbook (and will make a noticeable impact on your final grade as a result), but besides that, he's pretty down to earth and has been more than helpful to me and my group mates this semester. Working with film stock is intimidating, but he does a fine job of diffusing that fear.

Rating # 15

Overview:

Course: CFV123
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Class was interesting, youd watch one film the first class of the week and discuss it on the second. The films that Philbin picked were also some classic and very entertaining ones. My only complainant is that he was too harsh on quizes and tests. I also felt if he scrutinized certain people more than others. But overal, dece teacher

Rating # 16

Overview:

Course: FILMSECT
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I actually recieved a grade from him that read "well, this is a good script if you like this kind of thing, but I don't, so you get a C-." Beyond stating this, any of my other grievances would just sound like complaining.

Rating # 17

Overview:

Course: CFV424
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

16mm 2 is time consuming, as you work on two movies out of the three that the class produces. Be nice to your peers and do what you can on set, it counts towards 30 percent of your final grade.

Rating # 18

Overview:

Course: CFV321
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.5
Course Difficulty: 1.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Philbin is a really nice guy and easy to get along with. Class was very easy and there are dissapointingly few projects. There isn't much film involved, or really production for that matter, maybe 5-10 days throughout the semester.

Rating # 19

Overview:

Course: CFV321
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

You have to put the work in but Philbin is always willing to understand there's things we can't control. Would push back due dates constantly so we could produce a better product. Only one 16mm film made in this class now, 4 tests but if you study a fair amount for them you'll be fine. Final projects are shot on 24p digital.

Rating # 20

Overview:

Course: NONE0
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He is my advisor, and he is really nice!

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