An Overview of Below Average and Exceptional Professors at UC Davis

California’s university system is an impressive one, with 23 outstanding campuses, but it’s important to remember that each school has its own sense of charm, from majors offered to athletic rivalries and everything in between. In 2015, U.S. News & World Report ranked UC Davis as the 9th best public university and, more importantly, cemented its scholarly status in the Golden State by dubbing it the 4th best institution under the UC blanket. It’s not hard to see why; its prestige as a research facility and long list of prize-winning alumni have made it a beacon for budding intellectuals looking to expand their horizons. The average GPA for incoming freshmen is a 4.0, which means you’ve worked mighty hard to be an Aggie, so don’t accept anything less than the best when it comes time to sign up for classes. We looked at Rate my Professors to determine the professors you should pass on, and the ones you shouldn’t pass up.

Below Average

1. Christiana Drake: The probability of succeeding in this statistics professor’s class isn’t great, considering she doesn’t take the time to explain high-level terminology, a red flag given her lecture halls are filled with undergraduates lacking the basics and a syllabus that’s all kinds of disorganized. Average final grades in the D range, coupled with a lack of a curve, don’t bode well for the student who’s in need of a stellar grade. Multiple people state that she’s often late to class, which isn’t an encouraging ratio that anyone should have to figure out.
2. Dara Gilbert: UC Davis is renowned for its science programs, so it’s somewhat baffling that this infamously avoided chemistry professor managed to slip through the cracks. The general consensus is she doesn’t know the material she’s teaching very well. Making multiple mistakes during equations doesn’t instill much confidence in the rest of the class, now does it? Those who asked for help claim they only became more confused thanks to her scatter-brained explanations. To be fair, it’s also agreed upon that she’s quite friendly in demeanor. Unfortunately, friendliness doesn’t always add up to a periodic table of passing grades.
3. Ariane McKiernan: It’s a basic law of physics: what goes up must come down. Guess what, that’s exactly what’s going to happen to your grade if you take this scholar’s class. In fact, one student went so far as to say that the in-class experience ruined all interest they had in the subject. Yikes! Disorganized lectures and one too many quizzes are just a few of the roadblocks encountered. It’s said that your only hope in passing the course is with the guidance of teaching assistants, but even those can be hit or miss.

If you’re interested in UC Davis, check out our article on University of California, Davis love for the LGBT Community.

Exceptional

1. Bryan Enderle: You know the pictures of bubbling beakers in the textbooks? Well, this chemistry professor brings them to life by mesmerizing his students with in-class demos that are as entertaining to watch as they are supplementary to the coursework. A notoriously hard subject to master, he does his best to simplify complicated ideas for the student who’s maybe never thought of themselves as much of a science buff. One former pupil says his lectures are so concise and easy to follow, that they never even felt the need to review their outside reading materials. He makes up for his hard tests by holding engaging review sessions, not something every professor is willing to do.
2. Lawrence Marx: This mathematics professor can’t help but smile when he’s rattling off numbers; his passion for the field of study is palpable, and those who attend his calculator-at-the-ready lectures say that his generous study guides are a lifesaver come test day. As if that wasn’t enough, a curve at the end of the semester might just boost your GPA so high you can’t even see it anymore. If concepts and equations start becoming fuzzy, visit him during one of his many office hours. Some individual attention from this enthusiastic professor might just make you the next great mathematician.
3. Liz Applegate: We’ve got a hunch that this instructor would more than accept an apple as a token of your appreciation for her enlightening classes. This favorite in the nutritionist department has an enthusiastic personality that many say is contagious. Not only will she show you the way to a healthier, more fulfilling life, but she’ll also help you ace that exam with her hint-packed review sessions (game changer: extra credit points, all too rare in the collegiate bubble, are there if your grade’s treading water). A time consuming yet ultimately rewarding dietary project stays with you long after the semester ends.

Ryan James is a ’13 alumnus of Ohio University’s College of Arts & Sciences with a bachelor’s degree in writing and media. He currently works as a copywriter for a Fortune 500 e-commerce corporation based in Columbus, OH.