Neil Simister - Brandeis University

Professor: Neil Simister
Department: Science
College: Brandeis University
Rating # 1
Overview:
  • Course: BIO15B
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
This class is not graded on much else besides the three midterms and final exam. The tests are meticulous and hard to study for, and his lectures are not super helpful. I would recommend studying diagrams from the textbook or his slides and creating outlines from his lectures (use his speaker notes).
Rating # 2
Overview:
  • Course: BIO15B
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Lectures are both painfully slow and overwhelmingly dense. Tests are both extremely vague and specific. Rewatch the lectures and make outlines and you should be fine. Don't bother studying from the textbook as the vast majority of content on tests come from his lectures. Be prepared to memorize a lot; he likes to test the minutiae.
Rating # 3
Overview:
  • Course: BIO15B
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Don't even bother coming to lecture. In order to to get a good grade you just need to memorize the recordings of all the lectures a week before the test. He's a nice guy but really focuses on the minute details. He also has a script for his lectures on the powerpoint version of his slides which is helpful when studying.
Rating # 4
Overview:
  • Course: BIOL15B
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Professor Sinister is not that engaging when he lectures, but the exams are more based on the lectures than the textbook. However, the textbook has really helpful diagrams. The only thing you are graded on are the exams.
Rating # 5
Overview:
  • Course: BIO15B
  • Grade Received: B-
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Pretty dry but smart guy. His accent can put you to sleep at 9am but he picks relevant information that you need to know.
Rating # 6
Overview:
  • Course: BIOL15B
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Professor Simister is a great person and is there to help his students. However, his lectures are extremely confusing and many students stop attending his lectures. It is also a challenge to take notes during his lectures because they are difficult to follow. I did well solely from previous knowledge and his lecture slides.
Rating # 7
Overview:
  • Course: BIOL15B
  • Grade Received: B+
  • Overall Rating: 3.5
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
He's really hard to hear. Lectures are not very engaging. Really nice guy though.
Rating # 8
Overview:
  • Course: BIOL15B
  • 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 starts class late and ends early. He goes through the material too quickly. His powerpoints don't have many words, but I found out halfway through that he has notes in the notes section on the .ppt but not .pdf version of the powerpoints. He test on minutia and likes trick questions. He's hard to hear sometimes. Nice man though.
Rating # 9
Overview:
  • Course: 15B
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.5
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Easy class, but he'll put you to sleep with his soft British voice. After the first exam most people stop showing up. Exams are easy, just read the book.
Rating # 10
Overview:
  • Course: BIO15
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.5
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
His tests were very hard. I woudl study the outlines a lot - more than the text. Make sure to memorize it all!
Rating # 11
Overview:
  • Course: BIO15B
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
tests are insanely difficult. average usually around 18/30. fair curve, dont buy the book just memorize his outlines. class is harder than people give it credit for.
Rating # 12
Overview:
  • Course: BIO15B
  • 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:
He is a good professor. Does his job. His tests are ridiculously hard though...but the curve will save you. You will get a B- for getting 50% of the questions right.
Rating # 13
Overview:
  • Course: BIOL15B
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 1.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
He is adorable! I love this prof and he cares so much about making sure that we understand the material. He is sweet and he makes it very easy to pass his tests.
Rating # 14
Overview:
  • Course: BIO18B
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.5
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Nice guy, mellifluous voice that will put you to sleep, runs through in depth lectures very quickly, reviewing/teaching details, not fundamentals. Tests are absurdly difficult. Huge curve. You will have to work pretty hard to get a B if you're lucky- unless you have a perfect memory for every word. Outlines are helpful but overwhelmingly detailed
Rating # 15
Overview:
  • Course: BIOL22B
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.5
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
His tests are pretty awful. Unless you're someone who can memorize small details very quickly you're going to spend a long time studying
Rating # 16
Overview:
  • Course: BIO15
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.5
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
His accent is cute. But he's deaf, so don't bother asking questions. He really cares about whether or not we understand, and he clearly loves biology. He's boring sometimes, but he's passionate.
Rating # 17
Overview:
  • Course: BIO22
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Brilliant man, humane individual
Rating # 18
Overview:
  • Course: BIO
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
monotone
Rating # 19
Overview:
  • Course: BIO22
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Boring classes - but he has an interesting accent that at least kept me half awake - wait for him to say 'tissue'-- study the notes that he gives out and you are all set
Rating # 20
Overview:
  • Course: BIO22A
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Lectures were boring, but the pre-typed notes were excellent. Memorize these and you're guarenteed an A.
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