Reviews for Justicia Opoku-Edusei
Average Rating:| tumi Course: BSCI447 Grade Expected: A January 24, 2012, 4:24 pm | Great professor I took BSCI447 and BSCI 342 with her, got A's in both. She'll lecture with powerpoints up, but make sure you listen; the powerpoints alone aren't enough. I suggest taking notes with a computer because she talks quickly, and gives you a lot of information. She likes to make exams with built-in curves (120 possible points, but your grade will be out of 100 so you can get a 120%). All in all, she's great and you'll learn a lot from her. I'd like to clarify about concerns in the statement below though: 1) the TA for that semester was terrible. I agree, and I hated him. But if you go back to her and actually talk to her, she'll give you points back if you deserve it (you need to write in DETAIL, not just main points for exams). 2) she doesn't like giving curves, but what the poster below didn't mention was that she did give a 10% final grade curve because the final exam was difficult. So not only did she give ~100 cumulative points of extra credit built into exams, she also gave an overall 10% curve. I would call that generous. 3) powerpoints aren't that bad... you just have to listen in class also |
| Anonymous Course: BSCI447 Grade Expected: c- January 2, 2012, 3:48 pm | ...i don't know who wrote the previous reviews or how the grade distribution for A's for her course is so high, but do not take this class. i have never gotten less than an A in any course in college. i took 4 other 400 level bio courses this semester, 70% of my studying time alone went to endo.. i got A+'s in all my other courses but struggled for a c in this course...even if your answers on your exam are correct there is a 50/50 chance that it will be marked wrong (no joke). she purposely chooses a ta who has never taken endo and has no knowledge of the course whatsoever so that he follows her answer key to the T so expect no partial credit. when i say that your answers will be marked wrong even if they are right, and you can prove it using her own powerpoints or the internet, i mean it... workwise the class is only 3 exams and a final. the average on the final (which is worth 40% of your grade) in my semester was a 40%.. she "does not believe in curves". think about that.. bottom line do not take this class. i would compare her teaching and grading style to bhagats except she has poorly made powerpoints. |
| erika_14 Course: BSCI201 Grade Expected: December 26, 2011, 3:01 pm | Get ready to write... a LOT. Dr Opoku basically has the powerpoint up in lecture and writes down allll her notes by marker directly onto the screen. By the end of lecture you'll have like 3 pages of handwritten notes. You have to be paying attention, or you'll miss important info.. or you can just be like 1 of those people who mass email the whole class lol. Opoku's exams are okay if you really know the exam outline she posts. Beware of lab. Lab is incredibly overwhelming at times and will absolutely suck if you have a bad TA. Be ready to memorize a lot of terms and locations on the body (muscles and bones practicals were hardest) and don't wait til the last minute to study. Goodluck! |
| Anonymous Course: BSCI201 Grade Expected: A December 24, 2011, 1:28 pm | absolutely nicest professor, hands down. she gives so many chances for extra credit. review her slides/notes and you'll be fine on her exams. like everyone said, lab is a big part so make sure you study ALOT for lab practicals. |
| ycha Course: BSCI201 Grade Expected: A December 12, 2011, 4:34 pm | Dr. Opoku is a great professor. You must come to class, however, to take the notes (or ask a classmate for the notes you missed). By studying from the notes, you can easily get a high A on her lecture exams. That doesn't mean that the material is easy! Worry more the lab practicals because you have to memorize, for instance, 80 muscles and their respective origins, insertions, and functions for one practical. You will likely be getting A's on the lecture exams, B's/C's on the lab practicals. Her accent is confusing at first, but easier to understand as the year goes on. In all honesty, you don't even have to listen to what she says--just write down what she writes on the slides and you're good to go! |
| Anonymous Course: BSCI201 Grade Expected: May 4, 2011, 8:40 am | I love Dr. Opoku! She doesn't overwhelm students with too much material but instead focuses on student's knowing the topics well. She's friendly and really easy-going. She gives you all the resources you need (without a textbook) to do well on the exams. She is very reasonable; you get the grade you deserve based on how much you study and how much you come to class. Coming to class is a must though! One flaw is that class can get boring and sometimes she writes her notes too fast so it can get annoying to keep up but you can always record the lectures to get any notes you missed. |
| Anonymous Course: BSCI201 Grade Expected: A January 7, 2011, 1:20 pm | I love Dr. Opoku! She is much easier than professor O'brien, maybe not in terms of content, but Opoku's exams are easier. She gives a review sheet and practice exam before every exam which really helps! Not the mention she has a good sense of humor and charm. She recently started using powerpoints in class, along with the notes she writes down on the overhead. Even though she says you must get the notes she writes down and come to class everyday, its not THAT important. Majority of the info comes from powerpoints...so study the powerpoints word for word too! Any anatomy class is a lot of work, so just give yourself time to study...because this stuff isn't difficult, its pure memorization! |
| cmstillings Course: BSCI201 Grade Expected: B December 25, 2010, 12:43 pm | Opoku is a great teacher. She wants all of her students to succeed. If you utilize her office hours and get to know her she will definitely push you up and help you if you are on the borderline. Start this early though because she really does make a difference and lets you know what you need to study. Yes, at first her accent is tough to understand, but if you have any background knowledge about anatomy you will understand. If you are confused ask her about it in office hours or ask a TA. TA's dont really help in this class because none of them usually are human anatomy grad students. Mine was a flower evolutionist...but she did help anyone to her best ability. The textbook is not necessary but the lab manual is. I also suggest you take pictures of the models in lab for the lab practicals. For both the test and the lab, do not leave studying until the last minute, especially if this is not your only lab class. I took micro with this class (7 hours of lab a week total) and the tests often fell within the same week. If you start studying and memorizing early you should do fine. All in all, the class can be tough but very interesting. And just like all classes utilize the teacher and you will do great, especially with Opoku |
| Anonymous Course: BSCI201 Grade Expected: A December 23, 2010, 7:20 pm | Yeah, yeah, everyone knows how amazing Dr. Opoku is - she's nice, warm, funny, intelligent, and all-in-all, a great teacher. You should take her over anyone else for any class you might take with her. ONE IMPORTANT THING I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR is about the LAB PORTION of the class. The class is 4 credits, but really, at least 2 of them should be lab. Spend time in lab going over lab models and memorizing EVERYTHING. Do a little bit each week to prepare for the 3 lab practicals. I got like a 75 on the first one and was devastated, but I ended up getting a 98 on the last one. WORK HARD ON LAB and be prepared for its' difficulty. Its a lot harder than lecture. |
| Anonymous Course: BSCI201 Grade Expected: A December 19, 2010, 12:24 am | Dr. Opoku is the best. Take BSCI201 with her! I have never had a teacher who actually wanted his/her students to succeed as much as Dr. Opoku did. I often went to her during office hours and she was extremely helpful. Although there is not real curve in the class, her tests are pretty much just spit-back, so memorize the notes she puts up on the board and you'll succeed. She is an amazingly warm teacher who really wants her students to do well. I would take her in a heartbeat if she taught other classes which I need. |
| Anonymous Course: BSCI201 Grade Expected: B December 16, 2010, 7:21 pm | Opoku was a better choice overall (other choice was O'Brien, and that wasn't going to be any better). She basically writes on the projector the ENTIRE class, but I suggest you buy the whole semester of notes from Terpnotes or something. Your hand will be sooooo tired by the end class that I see people constantly having to stop to take a break! Also, her handwriting is illegible, so you're bound to have gaps in your notes (make sure to sit next to a friend to decipher what she is writing). Anyways, her accent is super annoying and takes some getting used to (I never did). Yes, she may be nice, but I really don't see what the other reviewers are talking about. She's just OK. The course material is very interesting, but there is A LOT of information so don't cram! The labs are easy, and same goes for the practicals during labs, do NOT cram. Don't waste your money on the textbook either, but the Lab manual is a must. |
| Anonymous Course: BSCI201 Grade Expected: April 13, 2010, 7:23 pm | Opoku is one of the most intelligent professors in Maryland. She lectures based on knowledge instead of using pre-made powerpoint slides. Most professors come to class prepared with powerpoint slides, and spend most of their time reading directly off the slides. Opoku does not need to do this because she knows the material. There are a few cons to her class though. First off, she writes very quickly, and sometimes, her handwriting is illegible. You would obviously have to attend class because she does not post her notes online. Take her class with a friend in case you miss class and need to obtain notes. Her exam questions come directly from her notes, so it is unnecessary to purchase the textbook. Unfortunately, some of her exam questions are quite detailed so understanding the "big picture" is not sufficient enough to do well on her exams. You need to know the little details too. Overall, Opoku is very willing to help. Her accent takes some time to get used to, but eventually, you'll adjust to it. Do not cram for this class. |
| Anonymous Course: BSCI201 Grade Expected: January 4, 2010, 3:28 pm | I really enjoyed the class, just make sure you review her notes and you will be fine for the exam and the final...one got me was the lab, it was very hard but I even prepared a week before the lab practical, I suggest you start way earlier then that. I really enjoyed the nervous system lab(my favorite) and the bone practical and muscle practical were very hard but please study really hard for it Good Luck! :) she is a great professor |
| rbterp Course: BSCI447 Grade Expected: A December 14, 2009, 12:23 pm | I really enjoyed taking Endocrinology w/Dr. Opoku. As other students have said, she really knows her stuff and she has a great sense of humor. She also adds some extra credit points to her exams, making a good grade in the course very attainable. The course is much more clinically relevant than most biology courses I have taken. Dr. Opoku focuses on signs and symptoms of endocrine diseases as well as diagnostic testing and treatment. I would recommend becoming friends w/whoever you sit next to b/c Dr. Opoku writes fast and you need to make sure you write down everything she does in order to be ready for the exams. |
| terpof2011 Course: BSCI201 Grade Expected: A December 1, 2009, 4:53 pm | Opoku is one of the best professors I've had so far in college. She is incredibly nice and the most willing person I've ever come across to help with her students' concerns. She will stay way after lecture to discuss exam questions and corrections. She has an accent, so it takes a few days to get used to the way she pronounces words. However, she basically nullifies this fact by writing out every word that comes out of her mouth...you can't possibly miss a piece of information if you pay attention. A piece of advice: DON'T TAKE YOUR NOTES ON A COMPUTER!!! Yes, the class is INTENSE amounts of hand-written notes and your hand will hurt for the first couple of lectures, but you will thank yourself later in the course if you take notes by hand. Opoku is extremely organized, and knows practically everything about human anatomy and physiology. The best thing about her teaching style is that she makes her own comments about everything, explaining why and how things happen beyond what she expects you to know. It is true you really don't NEED the textbook, but it is a fabulous text and explains things extremely well--it's more of a reference book for studying--I highly recommend it. Her exams are all multiple choice and short answer, so you need to own the information to do well. If you DO NOT PROCRASTINATE on studying and pay a lot of attention to her in class, you will do very well. Lastly, DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT MAKE FLASHCARDS TO HELP YOU STUDY. Your stack of cards will be miles high in 2 seconds. Instead, re-write your notes and draw pictures to help remember things. |
| Anonymous Course: BSCI447 Grade Expected: A November 4, 2009, 4:53 am | She's a great professor! She has a great sense of humor, and if you're interested in endocrinology, then this class is definitely for you. Her exams are literally word for word from her lectures, so you HAVE to go to class to do well. Exams are half multiple choice, half short answer. If you start studying for the exams a couple of days in advance, you're pretty much guaranteed an A (but DON'T wait until the last minute to start studying, you WILL NOT do well!!!). One of the easiest 400 level classes I've taken. |
| sandali1 Course: BSCI201 Grade Expected: A May 25, 2009, 6:14 pm | So here's how you get an A in 201 and 202 without working very hard... First off, don't waste your money buying the textbook because the course is based on lecture notes. Next, go to bookholders and pay for the entire semesters notes (going to class is pretty pointless and if you've read any of the reviews we are not lying about taking notes the entire lecture). About 3 or 4 days before the exam start memorizing. The exams are very simple in that there are no trick questions and almost no thinking outside the box. Dr. Opoku basically wants to see how much information you can retain and then regurgitate in 50 minutes. The science is very basic for a 200 level course but the volume of information is what can make this class difficult. With that being said, DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT procrastinate. If you give yourself 3 days of memorizing you will ace the exams. Dr. Opoku is incredibly nice and easy to talk to so I definitely recommend going to her office hours to get to know her. She is incredibly intelligent and loves to discuss physiology and medicine so if you have a question, chances are she can answer it. |
| Anonymous Course: BSCI202 Grade Expected: B April 28, 2009, 10:26 am | Opoku literally knows everything about Anatomy. Dont worry about the book, Exams are strictly from lecture so study hard and you will get an A. Coming to class is imperative because If you don't, Opoku is a machine and writes so much that you miss alot so make sure you have a friend who has your back. Lab manual you need though. Both lecture and lab require insane amounts of memorizing but Im assuming if youre taking BSCI201/202 you have to because otherwise this class as an elective would make you the dumbest person alive. Just make sure to study about 3 - 4 days in advance and you will be fine! |
| terpbaby09 Course: BSCI447 Grade Expected: b February 2, 2009, 8:30 am | She is amazing you get everything you need in lecture word for word. She knows her stuff. She will test on her lecture and you dont need the textbook. I dont know anyone who even bought the book. One of the easier upper level A's. |
| Anonymous Course: BSCI201 Grade Expected: December 15, 2008, 10:40 am | This professor is really great. She is intense and it is alot of work, but I really enjoyed the class. She literally writes on the overhead for the whole class and you copy it down. It makes your hand tired, but she is intersting. The lab is alot of work too... tonnnnns of memorizing, but if you put in the time, it is doable. The book is unnecessary. The lab manual is necessary. |
| Anonymous Course: BSCI201 Grade Expected: A February 5, 2008, 2:45 pm | She is a great teacher. I would take any course she taught. She is funny and really makes the subject interesting. |