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BIOL 181

5 reviews

Overview

Learning Amount6.4/10
Would Recommend60%

Ratings

Lectures
3.0/5
Readings
0.0/5
Feedback
2.0/5
Communication
3.8/5

Common Tags

BoringFunEngagingUnclear ExpectationsHeavy Workload

Michael Hood

Taken Spring 2025 · Reviewed Mar 3, 2026

7/10
learning
Lectures
3.0/5
Feedback
2.0/5
Communication
5.0/5
Would retake: 3/5
Good for non-majors? No
Teaching: Lecture, Lab
Homework (hours/week): 2
Exams: 4, not curved

"Michael’s lectures are a bit boring but have clear organization, and Ethan’s are kind of the opposite. Labs are fun. The exam average is usually in the high 80s. The final was much harder than the midterms, at least for when I took it."

BoringWell OrganizedFunTough Grader

Ethan Clotfelter

Taken Spring 2025 · Reviewed Mar 3, 2026

7/10
learning
Lectures
3.0/5
Feedback
2.0/5
Communication
5.0/5
Would retake: 3/5
Good for non-majors? No
Teaching: Lecture, Lab
Homework (hours/week): 2
Exams: 4, not curved

"Michael’s lectures are a bit boring but have clear organization, and Ethan’s are kind of the opposite. Labs are fun. The exam average is usually in the high 80s. The final was much harder than the midterms, at least for when I took it."

BoringWell OrganizedFunTough Grader

Kelly Wallace

Taken Fall 2025 · Reviewed Jan 28, 2026

6/10
learning
Lectures
3.0/5
Feedback
2.0/5
Communication
3.0/5
Would retake: 3/5
Recommend: Yes
Good for non-majors? Yes
Teaching: Lecture, Full class discussion, Small group discussion, Lab
Homework (hours/week): 1-2
Exams: 4 + 1 optional final, lowest exam replaced with final if taken, no curve

"BIOL 181 is a solid introductory class with pretty interesting content covered in the later parts of the class. The first two units are mostly review of high school biology, and will be a bit boring if you remember it at all, but the later half was new to me and pretty interesting. The discussion section seemed pretty pointless imo, but useful if you need to review or practice anything from the class. The lab is fun when you're going out into the field but writing the lab reports was one of the most frustrating experiences I've had at Amherst. The feedback was really hard to anticipate, and you're responsible for your partner's work as well as your own. Pretty much everything in the lab is done collaboratively, which has it's ups and downs, so experiences may vary."

EngagingBoringFunUnclear ExpectationsHeavy Workload

Michael Hood

Taken Fall 2025 · Reviewed Jan 28, 2026

6/10
learning
Lectures
3.0/5
Feedback
2.0/5
Communication
3.0/5
Would retake: 3/5
Recommend: Yes
Good for non-majors? Yes
Teaching: Lecture, Full class discussion, Small group discussion, Lab
Homework (hours/week): 1-2
Exams: 4 + 1 optional final, lowest exam replaced with final if taken, no curve

"BIOL 181 is a solid introductory class with pretty interesting content covered in the later parts of the class. The first two units are mostly review of high school biology, and will be a bit boring if you remember it at all, but the later half was new to me and pretty interesting. The discussion section seemed pretty pointless imo, but useful if you need to review or practice anything from the class. The lab is fun when you're going out into the field but writing the lab reports was one of the most frustrating experiences I've had at Amherst. The feedback was really hard to anticipate, and you're responsible for your partner's work as well as your own. Pretty much everything in the lab is done collaboratively, which has it's ups and downs, so experiences may vary."

EngagingBoringFunUnclear ExpectationsHeavy Workload

Thea Kristensen

Taken Fall 2025 · Reviewed Jan 28, 2026

6/10
learning
Lectures
3.0/5
Feedback
2.0/5
Communication
3.0/5
Would retake: 3/5
Recommend: Yes
Good for non-majors? Yes
Teaching: Lecture, Full class discussion, Small group discussion, Lab
Homework (hours/week): 1-2
Exams: 4 + 1 optional final, lowest exam replaced with final if taken, no curve

"BIOL 181 is a solid introductory class with pretty interesting content covered in the later parts of the class. The first two units are mostly review of high school biology, and will be a bit boring if you remember it at all, but the later half was new to me and pretty interesting. The discussion section seemed pretty pointless imo, but useful if you need to review or practice anything from the class. The lab is fun when you're going out into the field but writing the lab reports was one of the most frustrating experiences I've had at Amherst. The feedback was really hard to anticipate, and you're responsible for your partner's work as well as your own. Pretty much everything in the lab is done collaboratively, which has it's ups and downs, so experiences may vary."

EngagingBoringFunUnclear ExpectationsHeavy Workload