Laurel Roberts - University of Pittsburgh

Professor: Laurel Roberts
Department: Biological Sciences
College: University of Pittsburgh
Rating # 1
Overview:
  • Course: BIOSC0160
  • Grade Received: A+
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
With 6 quizzes (drop the lowest), a final exam, plus recitation & hw grades that were based solely on participation, the grading was fair and it was not hard to do well. Dr. Roberts is super nice and engaging. I did not find her previous reviews of being a "dream crusher" to be true. Some quiz questions were poorly worded, but lots of extra credit
Rating # 2
Overview:
  • Course: BIOSC0160
  • 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:
Dr. Roberts is an amazing professor who truly cares. Her lectures are very engaging, and she strives for students' understanding. Tests are fair. Highly recommend.
Rating # 3
Overview:
  • Course: BIOSC0160
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Clear/fair grading system but poorly written test questions that don't always coincide with what was discussed in lectures. Found myself relying heavily on the textbook for better explanations; she came off as very condescending and unhelpful (her TA's also unhelpful w/ answering questions), would not recommend. You'll have to put in the work!!
Rating # 4
Overview:
  • Course: BIOSC0160
  • Grade Received: B+
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
I was afraid of taking her at first, and there was a time where I was worried about my grades. However, she lets you drop your lowest quiz score. There was one class where she was in the wrong and would not admit it. The final was difficult. I feel that she prepared me for future bio courses.
Rating # 5
Overview:
  • Course: BIOSC1250
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Dr. Roberts' class was great! Her lectures were always interesting and engaging, even with the long duration, and she was a very helpful professor. Also, weekly quizzes instead of exams are certainly a bonus, and as long as you studied and did the Cerego homework/practice worksheets, you'd do well.
Rating # 6
Overview:
  • Course: BIO0160
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Grading system is fair overall. 30% of your grade is participation quizzes/cerego, so it's easy to get a 100 there. She offered 3 bonus points in total which were really helpful with boosting my quiz average. Quizzes were fair overall, to prep review her slides, lectures, recitation quiz questions, and recitation discussion questions.
Rating # 7
Overview:
  • Course: BIOSC0160
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Most of your grade will be decided by a few quizzes plus the final, but she gives you chances for extra credit and allows you to drop your worst quiz grade. The other part of your grade(hw+recitation) is a guaranteed 100% if you just do it. Tests aren't bad if you read the textbook and pay attention.
Rating # 8
Overview:
  • Course: BIO0160
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Roberts is a solid choice for Bio II. Her class was very straightforward and I think it really sets students up for success. Shes an engaging lecturer, too. If you pay attention in lecture + read the textbook + do Cerego + redo recitation worksheets, youll get a good grade. Her quizzes were fair.
Rating # 9
Overview:
  • Course: BIOSCI160
  • Grade Received: Not sure yet
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Dr. Roberts is enjoyable listen to and interact with during lecture, but her quizzes are written to be challenging and the final is quite difficult, so make sure to keep your grade as high as possible going into the final. There is opportunity to earn credit in other parts of the class, but overall your grade is determined by your test scores.
Rating # 10
Overview:
  • Course: BIO0160
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Dr. Roberts was the best bio2 professor. I noticed some holes in her lectures but if you read the corresponding chapters you can easily do well. ATTEND CLASS! There be some extra credit! The Final is VERY HARD so make sure you have a solid grade before you take the final because it will only go down. Overall, her class is very doable!
Rating # 11
Overview:
  • Course: BIO0120
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Dr. Roberts was one of the best bio professors I had. Her grading criteria was very fair and if work hard your grade will come thru. Recommendations on getting an A: make cerego doc, redo quizzes/ worksheets, read corresponding chapters and take notes, rewatch lecture, make one-page study guide for each presentation (helps for the final)
Rating # 12
Overview:
  • Course: BIOSC1250
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
If you take notes on her lectures, you will do well on the quizzes. Very nice and understanding professor. I think she is great, and would love to take her again in the future.
Rating # 13
Overview:
  • Course: BIOSC0160
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Dr. Roberts is probably the best STEM professor I've ever taken. Super friendly and easygoing person and she is very straightforward with her grading and lecture material. Take her if you have the chance!
Rating # 14
Overview:
  • Course: BIOSC0160
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Dr. Roberts handled online classes really well! If you take good notes during lecture (and pay attention to the details), you won't need to use the book. Practice with the flashcards she assigns and stay on top of the information. She can be a bit snippy at times but overall is a good choice for Biology!
Rating # 15
Overview:
  • Course: BIO0160
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Dr. Roberts has a vibrant personality that makes her lectures very interesting. Reading the textbook and doing cerego is helpful, but her lecture material is where most quiz questions come from. Her quiz questions can be worded poorly and she is very against returning points for that kind of thing, but besides that she's a solid choice for bio 2.
Rating # 16
Overview:
  • Course: BIO0160
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Will make tests with mistakes and won't give points back despite her knowing it is wrong. Timed exams and expects you to have enough time to log onto a zoom meeting so you get the correct answer choices. If you bring up a mistake in the exam, she will justify she is right because of her degree.
Rating # 17
Overview:
  • Course: BIOSC0160
  • Grade Received: A+
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
The class isn't that hard, but there is a lot to memorize and understand. The textbook is a great resource and very helpful for studying for exams. Also the Cerego program she provides is key. Her lectures are fine, maybe a little slow, but Dr. Roberts clearly cares for her students and makes for a great atmosphere during lecture, even over Zoom.
Rating # 18
Overview:
  • Course: BIOSC0150
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Dr. Roberts is one of the toughest professors I've had here at Pitt, but I can say that I walked away from that class knowing so much more about biology than before. She teaches exactly what's on her exams, TA's are extremely helpful and all want you to succeed. This is a weed-out class and she definitely makes sure you know that.
Rating # 19
Overview:
  • Course: BIOSC0160
  • Grade Received: Not sure yet
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
She's alright, not too hard, but definitely not easy. Assume that anything she discusses in the lecture will show up on a quiz. Be prepared for weirdly competitive peers and talking to the TA bc she doesn't have a lot of time to give outside of lecture.
Rating # 20
Overview:
  • Course: BIO0150
  • Grade Received: B-
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Great lecturer and good person, but extremely difficult class. She calls herself the "dream crusher" and prides herself on being tough. Her exams are hard, but get easier as they go since the topics get easier. The final was literally impossible. Good luck.
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