Tom Van Nortwick - Oberlin College

Professor: Tom Van Nortwick
Department: Classics
College: Oberlin College
Rating # 1
Overview:
  • Course: CLAS112
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.5
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
TVN is an extraordinary lecturer with an illustrious career. Given the adulation that most seem to give him, I was expecting this to be the best class of my Oberlin experience, which was not the case, but come in with average expectations and he may well exceed them. He tends to lecture a lot at students no matter the setting, but he is quite wise
Rating # 2
Overview:
  • Course: CLASSICS103
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 1.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
TVN is a living testament to the gods. In truth, a hecatomb is sacrificed on his behalf at the beginning of each semester. Kind, courteous, and challenging, TVN is a hero without flaw.
Rating # 3
Overview:
  • Course: CLAS101
  • 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:
TVN is a god among men. He is the best teacher you will have at Oberlin in the Classics department or otherwise. He is very clear, a font of knowledge in his field, and is just a really awesome guy in general.
Rating # 4
Overview:
  • Course: CLAS102
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Funny, enthralling, unpretentious and understanding, TVN is a master. Do whatever is necessary to take a class with him, even if you aren't interested much in the subject. You won't regret it!
Rating # 5
Overview:
  • Course: CLAS102
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Awesome guy; funny; unique way of teaching things.
Rating # 6
Overview:
  • Course: GREK201
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Take a class with Thomas Van Nortwick. It's for your own good and that of humanity itself. I promise. He's like a really really really smart teddy bear who you're kind of afraid to hug but really want to.
Rating # 7
Overview:
  • Course: CLAS101
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have ZEUS as your professor? Look no further than the mighty TVN, who embodies the spirit of Ajax himself. With the strength of Achilles and the eloquence of Odysseus, he will convert you into a Classics major. You will love him.
Rating # 8
Overview:
  • Course: CLASSECT
  • 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:
Great professor! I had so much fun in his class, his lectures were interesting and he was funny and informative. I learned a lot and I really enjoyed the class.
Rating # 9
Overview:
  • Course: GREEK300
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
TVN is confident, not pompous. I admit he tends to present one side of an issue (his), but he does not hold himself above his students. He is willing to disagree without judging. I see no problem with being "chummy;" he does not show favoritism or allow friendliness to replace academics, he is just friendly and sincerely likes his students.
Rating # 10
Overview:
  • Course: ILIADAENEID
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Yes, TVN is extremely smart. He's pompous sometimes, perhaps rightfully so, but I don't particularly enjoy the chummy character of his classes.
Rating # 11
Overview:
  • Course: CLAS102
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Yeah he is pretty knowledgeable but he really isn't interested in dissent, willing to tell you not to do a paper just because he doesn't share your ideas, then tells you what you should do. But he's a good guy and very engaging. (What's wrong with him being a rock star?)
Rating # 12
Overview:
  • Course: CLAS102
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
He rocks. Funny, engaging, great lecturer, knows his stuff...great for people who may be unsure about taking a classics course as well as classics aficionados.
Rating # 13
Overview:
  • Course: LATIN201
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
No Comments
Rating # 14
Overview:
  • Course: 100
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Good professor, overall, but he tends to repeat himself a lot. And he likes your papers to reflect his own views.
Rating # 15
Overview:
  • Course: GRRMNDRAMA
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
The best course I've taken at Oberlin; TVN is very nice, and don't let the large class size intimidate. He will make time to talk with you if you express an interest!
Rating # 16
Overview:
  • Course: ILLIAD
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Very interesting and humerous. I enjoyed and learned alot about a book that would have otherwise been very boring.
Rating # 17
Overview:
  • Course: GREK306
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
I love TVN! He's absolutely the most wonderful guy ever, also he tries really hard to understand the questions being asked by the students, but is totally comfortable talking at length on his own, too. Amazing at everything Homer and Sophocles related.
Rating # 18
Overview:
  • Course: DRAMA
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.5
  • Course Difficulty: 1.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
redefined just how pompous pompous can be.
Rating # 19
Overview:
  • Course: CLAS206
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
TVN knows everything about everything. Literally. And that'd be enough but he's also the nicest guy on the planet.
Rating # 20
Overview:
  • Course: ANCTDRAMA
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 1.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
While it's true that Van Nortwick knows everything there is to know about a subject, the problem is that he spends 90% of the class acting like a rockstar, not a professor. This would be less aggravating if he could play an instrument, or sell out arenas.
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