BIOL 4260

This was the most boring class I've ever taken at UVa. She is not a very good lecturer and talks as if she's not sure of herself. The way the material is presented is not engaging at all. Each week you have to read a research paper and one or more review articles. She presents the review and a group of students present the research paper. You are graded on your participation, group presentation, and other small assignments. Although the class is pretty easy, the dullness of it all makes it a drag to even go to class. I would recommend taking a different class.

Pretty chill class - you basically discuss recent primary literature in a variety of subjects. When it comes to the group project (presentation), just go with her standard format - don't try to do anything too creative or she'll dock points.

I'm not sure what class the other reviewers took because this was my least favorite class I've ever taken at UVA. The material is boring to start with, and then the professor makes it even duller with her slides that give zero information. Her lecturing technique is very disorganized and it seems as if she's doing everything for the first time. The readings are death and no one really reads them in the first place. I'm not even sure Prof. Schafer reads the tests in depth enough. It seems like she just skims them. If she doesn't prepare for lecture thoroughly (only lectures for half the semester since the other half is group presentations) and doesn't grade quizzes, what is she getting paid for?

This was by far the best class I've taken in the Bio department. I learned alot and she makes the class really interesting, too. Dr. Schafer is a good teacher (sometimes a rare find in the Bio dept) and she's really approachable if you need/want help outside of class.

This class was very interesting. I learned more about different types of cancer than I could have ever imagined. Professor Schafer is also VERY friendly and open to suggestions!