Phil Gibson

School: University of Oklahoma
Department: Biology
Location:Norman, OK
Overall Rating
rated by 21 students
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Hey, if you're taking his class while it's online during the covid times, his exams are now significantly harder. I think he's had action center tutoring in the past which helped many people prepare for his exams, but now there is no action center to help you. Extra points from clicker questions used in class are not there either. Just an FYI, you are in for some deeper shit than usual from this guy with all of these changes. You know what I hated the most? On some of my test questions online, the pictures/diagrams were straight up BLURRY with poor pixel resolutions. I had a hard time just deciphering what they even were. Why, Phil? Go on, be free. Escape this class on the midnight's breeze. Ok bye
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I wish we'd get at least one other professor for BIO1134. Why is it always only this guy teaching it for years? There aren't many pros. Seemed like a nice guy from the first two weeks of the class, but then you learn that it's just a product of his huge ego. He has a short temper so beware if you do visit his office hours. Most ridiculous thing I've seen from his exams? Putting an essay question at the end of a timed exam. Why, this isn't even a humanities class. If you need to take an evolution and ecology class, try to take it at another Oklahoma university if need be.
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Don't take courses with him.
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This professor is really mean. A quarter of his students were failing because they got accused of cheating and i am sure that most of them did not even cheat. What a gaslighter. The dude doesn't have any pros unless he is biased and likes you because you are looking for a career with plants or the environment.
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Either take this class BIO1134 somewhere else if you have to, or just don't take it at all and do other biology courses. My upper level genetics, microbiology, and cell biology classes were all easier than this 1000-level course. What a joke.
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My Organic I + II, Physics I + II, and Genetics classes were all easier compared to this 1000-level intro made ridiculously hard for no good reason. Never take this professor if you can avoid him. He is rude in office hours and has a big ego.
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Pros: Interesting lectures
Cons: Can be rude!
Don't bother to go talk to him if you are not one of his favorite students
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Pros: none.
Cons: exams are brutal
Lab is difficult to pass
Professor is really mean
This class was so hard. Barely anybody makes an A in the class because of how difficult his exams are. Prolong taking this class until the end.
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Avoid this class if at all possible. Poorly structured class and vague questions on tests. One of the worst classes I've taken at the University of Oklahoma. Organic Chemistry I & II, Physics I & II beat this class...he is not a professor I would recommend to anyone.
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Pros: Really fun professor, knows his stuff, and teaches well.
Cons: His exams are really...really hard. you have to know the material he teaches and then some....
Lab for this class is also tough.
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Pros: Very interesting material
Cons: His tests are VERY hard for a 1000 level
Not a terrible class, tests were too difficult
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Pros: I don't know what these other people are talking about, he's awesome. But don't get me wrong, this is a tough class. Honestly Gibson was one of the best teachers that I've ever had.
Cons: He can be a bit standoff-ish outside of class, seems like he's always in a rush to get you out of his office, but he's still a nice guy.
Managed an 89.6 which was rounded to an even 90, but it will take quite a bit of work as the tests are very specific, focusing on specific "case studies" rather than concepts for the most part. These are intended to teach the whole while explaining the parts, but can be difficult to study for so get ready for some all-nighters if you prefer to study only the night before. Tests are rather difficult, but not unfair. He's very picky about electronics and won't be afraid to call you out on it. Quizzes are given by clicker, so it essential that you show up to every class as they all count toward your final grade, but one or two of these may be dropped.
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Pros: Dr. Gibson is an excellent professor and knows his biology!
Cons: You HAVE to do the readings and stay on top of the work
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Pros: Awesome TEACHER!!! GREAT at explaining the material which was boring at times but he is just really cool guy!!
Cons: None!!
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Pros: Professor is funny.
Cons: Way, way, way too much information for a 1000 level course. I have many hours and this class was by far the most material in a single semester I have ever had.
This class was insane. Just about everyone I know either had a "D" or an "F" up until the end. Most of us ended with a "C" and I'm a 3.6 GPA student.
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Pros: Pretty much no pros, he tries to mess with you right from the start.
Cons: Tested over too much material, gives NO reviews for tests which makes studying near to impossible, if you do not get the right TA then you will not prevail in this class. All it is is a weed out class but they took it to a whole new level.
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Pros: Nothing.
Cons: He's a jerk in and outside of class. He knows that his class is too difficult. Only 1 person made an A on the first test, but he still continued to make the tests impossible. The material in lecture/book is easy to understand. Like I said, the tests are ridiculous. His lectures are boring, and he likes to dwell on slides with graphs.
I'm a hard working student, and I love biology. I hated this class with a deep passion.
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Pros: Dropped grades and slight curve
Cons: Test formats;
Lab work (a ton of lab material in a very short time)
Too much material/exam. Very hard to prepare for, and even if you study, you could still do very poorly on the exams based on the way they are formatted.
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Pros: Definitely knows what he's talking about. He has excellent action tutoring and i highly recommend going to them because if you do he "rewards" you (EC). Make sure to get a good TA because lab reports are 15% of your grade and some TA's will just give you a 100, others will just screw you over. Make sure to read every chapter he mentions thoroughly. He sometimes "hints" (basically tells you) what subjects to intensely study for the upcoming exam.
Cons: Exams are almost impossible, only 15% of the class will likely make an A. His exams are based on conceptual knowledge and not if you just know it or not. His essays at the end of the exams are very hard and almost impossible to prepare for unless you go to his action tutoring.
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never take his class!

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