Sean Burgess - University of California Davis

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Sean Burgess - University of California Davis

Professor: Sean Burgess

Department: Science

College: University of California Davis

Rating # 1

Overview:

Course: MCB121
Grade Received: B
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Burgess taught the 2nd 1/2 of MCB121. I sometimes found it hard to follow her lectures as they were a bit disorganized at times, although the topics covered were interesting. The two exams and four quizzes are quite difficult, although I believe she made the second exam less difficult due to a low average on the first exam. Very nice & caring

Rating # 2

Overview:

Course: MCB164
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Tests closely resemble practice problem sets/practice tests. Weekly quizzes on canvas that help keep up with material. Weekly writing assignments are fun. Extra credit opportunity that can really help your grade. Burgess is really nice and approachable for help also. Class is difficult at times, but really interesting.

Rating # 3

Overview:

Course: MCB164
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr Burgess is great! Very approachable to when you need help and takes many steps to help her students learn. Material can be difficult, but it is advanced genetics after all. Look over the material again after classes to help digest it. Practice tests are similar to the real tests. EC opportunity is given also. Dr Burgess is also fun to talk to!

Rating # 4

Overview:

Course: MCB164
Grade Received: A-
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I wish I could also pick Inspirational and amazing lectures! MCB 164 is a hidden gem in this department-I'm surprised this class is not more popular. Dr. B made the course very enjoyable. She really cares about her students and teaches very clearly. She uses her iPad for notes and uploads them, AS WELL AS typing an outline. Straightforward exams!

Rating # 5

Overview:

Course: MCB164
Grade Received: A+
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Burgess was a great professor! She was very available outside of class time and was happy to answer any questions we had. Workload is somewhat heavy: theres two midterms and a final and 7 weekly essays. The essays took about an hour to two hours each week. Tests were mainly mc with a few 1-2 sentence short answer questions.

Rating # 6

Overview:

Course: MCB164
Grade Received: Not sure yet
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Burgess is really kind to her class. She always follows up with her students and is very accessible during office hours and class. The material for the class is super interesting, especially towards the end. I was afraid to take her initially because of what I saw on RMP, but my experience was quite the contrary(coming from a B average student)

Rating # 7

Overview:

Course: MCB121
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

As others have said she is very shy, but very smart. She writes everything on chalkboard and I thought all of her material was very straight forward. Her midterms were fair and I thought her portion of the final was fair and the questions were not particularly surprising. I would probably take her class again. Two midterms and a final, so no fluff

Rating # 8

Overview:

Course: MCB121
Grade Received: Not sure yet
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Fairly run of the mill in terms of professors. Took MCB 121 taught by both her and Powers, so she taught up to MT1 and wrote it and he taught up to MT2. She's a sweet woman but definitely is a shy person. She knows her stuff and seems to enjoy teaching it though. Two midterms and a final. I found her midterm more difficult than Powers', slightly.

Rating # 9

Overview:

Course: MCB121
Grade Received: Not sure yet
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Taken together with Powers-- Burgess seemed nervous and frantic but at the end of the day she fixes any mistakes and clears them up before exams. Super helpful and diligent in answering questions and is overall a nice lady. She still presents her material clearly so I would recommend.

Rating # 10

Overview:

Course: MCB121
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:

Dr. Burgess is the kindest professor I had my entire time at Davis. It is rare to find a professor who cares so deeply for her students and works hard to ensure their success. The class was pretty hard, and she at times messes up during lecture, but she always fixes her notes prior to posting them online. Take her class and get to know her!

Rating # 11

Overview:

Course: MCB121
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Textbook not necessary, all based on lecture and Wiki notes. Tough class but easier than MCB 124. She's a good lecturer and means well but she does make some mistakes. You'll get used to her after a week as long as you don't go in with a bad attitude. She was actually quite nice and gave a lot of A's this quarter because we did well as a class.

Rating # 12

Overview:

Course: MCB121
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Not sure what all the hate is about, she's more successful than majority of the class will ever be. Initially these bad reviews discouraged me but at the end of the day she's the only section for the quarter. Turned out she was pretty good if you just pay attention to her lectures and go to OH. Her exam questions were on the easier side.

Rating # 13

Overview:

Course: MCB121
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

"I hope UC Davis is .." comment. Guy, I'm right there with you. I'll pay her a grand if she can get through one lecture without making a mistake.

Rating # 14

Overview:

Course: MCB121
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I hope UC Davis is getting their money's worth from her research, because Burgess is an incompetent lecturer. Her handwriting is illegible, her notes are disorganized, and her speaking skills are subpar at best. This class would've been unbearable if it were taught solely by her.

Rating # 15

Overview:

Course: MCB164
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Burgess is incredibly intelligent and enthusiastic about her field. Her lectures are difficult to follow IF you are not actively paying attention in class. Her tests were Often funny (she cracks Harry Potter and Zombie related jokes in her tests when she can) but they are tough but in my opinion fair. Go to office hours. Loved her.

Rating # 16

Overview:

Course: MCB121
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.5
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She is a very happy professor who is passionate in what she teaches. She even sang us a song during one of the lectures. Her notes are kind of all over the place because she writes on the board. Midterm was okay, final was really hard. Practice exams and problems help a lot for the midterms.

Rating # 17

Overview:

Course: MCB121
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

For the sake of your sanity, please avoid taking this class with Burgess/Gasser. The material isn't difficult but the tests are hard and manipulative. This is the first class that I ever scored below the mean on an exam, so take it with another professor.

Rating # 18

Overview:

Course: MCB121
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

She is very enthusiastic about the subject. I would suggest printing the pictures and any slides posted on the wiki page bc the writing on the board can be difficult to read. Listen to podcasts and read from the book. Study those practice exams and homeworks! They always show up on exams. Go to her OH. She is so helpful in OH's.

Rating # 19

Overview:

Course: MCB121
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:

Dr. Burgess is one of the best teachers on campus. She will do anything to help you understand the material. Her lectures are clear IF you pay attention and do all of the supplementary reading on time. Most of the bad comments on RMP for Dr. Burgess are angry lab rejectees or people who did poorly in her class because of their own faults.

Rating # 20

Overview:

Course: MCB121
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.5
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Here's the thing: I really do like Dr. Burgess. She seems like an incredibly intelligent, interesting, and kind woman. But I felt like her lectures were a little scattered -- I would read back over my notes and be like, wth does this even mean? It was hard to understand what I was supposed to be taking away from lecture & how it all fit together.

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