PSY 115
Karen Szumlinski
4.5
78 reviews

78
4.5
PSY3 . 10 Years Ago

She is a very inspiring professor. She knows a LOT about the human brain and tries to explain it as clear as possible. Though the tests are tricky, she gives you enough material to study from. Brilliant and intimidating professor.

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199P . 11 Years Ago

She is seriously the best professor you could ever have. So nice and awesome both as a person and professor! I will continue to recommend forever!

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PSY3 . 11 Years Ago

A LOT of material! 3 exams, got all B's, ended up with A- due to curve! She is really funny quirky prof, super smart and quick witted! My advice is to form a study group, it really helped us that did! If you know the concepts, memorize systems and structures it will help you answer her hypothetical questions. TA is really nice too!

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PSYCH3 . 11 Years Ago

This class is not fun. Worst pre major class you will have to take. She does her best but the material is just really boring. Honestly not necessary to go to all lectures since you generally can't even follow them. Tests are a toss up. Got a pluses on both midterms but flunked the final. She isn't always the nicest person

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PSY3 . 11 Years Ago

After getting a B-/B on the first/second midterm I was doomed in trying to get an A. I studied more then I ever have before and got one of the highest grades on the final yet I still only got a B+ in the class. Only 13.4% got A's in the class. Frustrating. I enjoyed her lectures but her tests were difficult and the curve was not in my favor.

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PSY3 . 11 Years Ago

By far the hardest class I've ever taken! The tests are EXTREMELY difficult. You not only have to memorize ALL the material but must be able to connect it to previous concepts. I HIGHLY suggest going over slides before lecture and record her. This class is NO JOKE and it's on a curve. This is a very time consuming class!

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PSY117 . 12 Years Ago

one of the two best professors in biopsy, very challenging, but I learned the most in her class, now taking psychopharm with her

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PSY3 . 14 Years Ago

The class is so hard/confusing and I couldn't imagine taking it with anyone other than Szumlinski! She is really clear, thorough, and helpful. She understands how to present confusing topics and knows how to read the class to know what to explain again. She makes the info interesting and adds a lot of fun examples and into lecture

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PSYCH3 . 14 Years Ago

it was HARD! can't just memorize material, gotta understand it and put it as an example. dont need book, talks pretty fast in lecture.should go to lecture.

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PSYCH3 . 15 Years Ago

I've never worked harder for a semi-decent grade, but I loved every second of it. Before I took the class I wasn't sure what my major would be, but she convinced me to continue with biopsych. I would strongly strongly recommend taking her class. It was the best class I've had at UCSB so far.

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PSY163 . 15 Years Ago

I took a seminar with Szumlinski and she is awesome. She was so helpful and I have never learned more in a class. If you have a chance you should definitely try to take her seminar. It is very laid back and different from a normal lecture. and easier in a sense because there's no tests, just projects.

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PSY3 . 17 Years Ago

This class is not hard if you take the time to STUDY and master the material. She rocks and the material is so interesting. Just study and you will do fine. I got an A+ on the midterm and an A in the class. It's the best class I have taken at UCSB, and I recommend it to everyone, especially if she is teaching it because she is AWESOME.

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PSYCH3 . 17 Years Ago

True the class is hard but required so there's no getting around it. She is a good teacher to take it with. Just make sure that you can answer all of the objectives to prepare yourself for the test. If you are having trouble she is very helpful during office hours. I got an A with missing a couple lectures and I didn't read the entire book.

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PSY3 . 17 Years Ago

After hearing all my friends talk about how hard this class was going to be I was scared. However, if you go to class and learn what on Dr. K's slides (forget the book completely) you should be fine. Yes you need to study A LOT but the class was great and I loved it.

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PSY3 . 17 Years Ago

No Comments

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PSY3 . 17 Years Ago

Difficult class. All about biological processes of Psychology. Must understand different processes that go through the human body i.e. Nervous System, Action Potentials. Created great lecture slides, but were way too long and had a lot of information she expects you to memorize. Class is bell-curved, but with it, it didn't help my grade at all.

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PSYCH3 . 17 Years Ago

HARD class, difficult information, impossible to know everything. Midterm 40%, Final 60%. VERY interesting, loved the information. Only worth 3 credits and no discussion which it NEEDS! Alot of work!! Go to everyclass and really learn what she says! Lecture slides online, VERY CLEAR.

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PSY3 . 17 Years Ago

Best class I've ever taken. Yes, it is incredibly hard. You have to know the material inside and out for the tests, but it's all so interesting! She makes the class enjoyable and easy to understand. If I could take this class again I would in a heartbeat.

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PSY3 . 18 Years Ago

haaaard class, but you can do decently if you study. this class basically persuaded me to drop the psych major tho...

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PSYCH3 . 18 Years Ago

Such a hard class, but you learn a lot. She's a very intelliegent professor and if you go to lecture and really pay attention you will do fine on the exam.

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PSYC3 . 18 Years Ago

This class is so hard! Especially if you haven't had a non-higschool bio course. My best advice is do not get behind, and answer the objective questions as you go through the quarter. You can not pull an all nighter on this!

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PSY3 . 18 Years Ago

Hard class, but she makes it harder. I liked her, though the curve sucks.

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PSYCH3 . 18 Years Ago

wow...the class is hard as hell and there's sooo much to remember and it all sounds the same. but she's a good teacher, really knows what she's talking about, and I loved her humour. midterm = 40% of grade, final = 60% but dont worry it's curved (cuz everyone does horribly)

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PSYCH3 . 18 Years Ago

awesome class, gotta do ALL the work, REALLY hard tests, often has typos in her lecture slides, so refer to text for appropriate spellings. Great personalities and jokes.

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