AI Rate Professor

Science

Jessica Smay

GEO010 · ASTRO010 · GEOL10 · ASTR010 · AST101 · ASTRO10 · GEOL010 · GEOL101 · ASTRONOMYHYB · GEO10 · GEOLOGY · AST10 · ASTRO1 · ASTR010FOR · ASTROFALL · ASTRO · ASTR101 · ASTROINTR · 66 lifetime ratings

AI rating
74/100
RMP rating
4.0/5
Take again
60.87%
Difficulty
3.0

The decision

if you and reading; do not expect a no-effort science elective.

Best fit · Effort For RewardCaringGet Ready to ReadClear ExpectationsQuiz HeavyOrganized Hybrid
  • Most , and supportive in astronomy and geology.
  • Workload centers on reading, frequent quizzes, and .
  • engaged students earn strong grades; underprepared or last-minute students feel overwhelmed.

Key questions

Four answers before you build your schedule.

Is this an easy A?

FairEffort

58/100

Many students earn As with steady weekly work, but and .

Online comments stress frequent quizzes; older in-person comments more often call it an easy A.

Is the course easy?

Standard

52/100

, yet reading volume and regular assessments keep it from being trivial.

In-person geology often feels friendlier; some online astronomy sections feel harder.

Is attendance flexible?

Varies

48/100

Some sections list attendance mandatory for ; .

; in-person and hybrid meetings matter more for projects and labs.

Is this professor recommended?

WorthIt

68/100

About three in and clear structure despite workload complaints.

Recommendation is strong in both formats when students keep pace; .

Course guide

See how this professor fits your week.

Grading

Fair

56/100

and , though tough-grader tags appear in some terms.

Format shift

Online students sometimes get extra quiz attempts; .

Workload

Moderate

42/100

Weekly quizzes, reading, discussions, and projects add up, especially if .

Format shift

Online astronomy often piles weekly quizzes and projects; .

Teaching experience

Good

80/100

Students repeatedly , and clear about expectations.

Format shift

Praise for caring communication is strong online and in person.

Assessment method

Balanced

55/100

Mix of online quizzes, exams, worksheets, projects, and labs rather than pure finals.

Format shift

Hybrid formats lean on online quizzes plus in-class projects or exams.

Luni fit check

Weigh these signals against your actual schedule.

Get help balancing workload, grading, and timing when no option is an obvious fit.

Course format

Compare the in-person and online experience.

Classroom format

In person

39 reviews

High confidence · Best fit for Beginner Friendly

In-person and hybrid sections highlight , and solid support with moderate difficulty.

Main concern

if you treat the class as an easy GE.

What students said

“Prof Smay is such a wonderful human being. She shows such a passion for teaching and loves geology.”
GEOL010
“When it comes to .”
GEO10
“Just took her class, and it is hard, hard, hard.. read, read, read and do lots of homework.”
AST10

Remote format

Online

11 reviews

High confidence · Best fit for Effort For Reward

Online and hybrid astronomy has clear video lectures and deadlines, but and .

Main concern

Daily or fall behind.

What students said

“There is a lot of required reading, and there are weekly tests.”
ASTRO010
“Smay Is the nicest professor I have met.”
AST101
“ . So much homework piled up to 10 assignments.”
AST101

Exam style

Know what to expect from exams and major assignments.

Assessments are frequent and structured; some multiple attempts and .

Weekly QuizzesMultiple Quiz AttemptsHybrid ExamsReading-Based TestsGroup Projects

Assessment risk

Standard

58/100

Low score means less forgiving assessment conditions.

In person

In-person and hybrid exams are regular, sometimes hard, with and project days in class.

In-Class ExamsOnline QuizzesGroup ProjectsScantron Issues Reported Rarely
“Give and pulls the test questions directly from the quizzes.”
GEO10
“She gives four Exams throughout the semester, has 25 short 10 question online quizzes”
ASTRO10

Online

Online classes use video lectures, weekly quizzes, discussions, and .

Weekly Online QuizzesVideo LecturesMultiple AttemptsThursday Quiz Cadence
“There is a lot of required reading, and there are weekly tests.”
ASTRO010
“A proper schedule with due dates every Thursday for quiz and discussion and on Monday the weekly project.”
ASTRO10

Student evidence

See what students actually said.

Top student voice

“Smay Is the nicest professor I have met. I fell behind about halfway through the semester and I had given up basically. But Smay emailed me first which never happens with other professors.”

Voice snapshots generated from 50 reviews (11 online, 39 in ; credibility rating: High.

❤️ Student Care

80/100

“She cares about her student's and their education.”

📅

78/100

“Very professional and . Made it clear what was expected to pass her class”

📚 Quiz and Reading Load

42/100

“ . So much homework piled up to 10 assignments.”

👍 If You Work

68/100

“You have to EARN your grade. GREAT”

Theme 1

👨‍🏫 About Teaching Style

  • Passionate about astronomy, very nice
  • Speaks passionately about geology
  • Her online lectures are straightforward
  • Absolute delight! This teacher is fun, inter-active and supportive

Theme 2

📈 About Difficulty and Grades

  • easy A.
  • this was the hardest class I ever took in my life
  • if you study your fine
  • You have to put in a moderate amount of effort

Theme 3

📝 About Workload and Format

  • Get ready to read
  • weekly tests
  • Dont buy the text book, you wont need it

Data context

See exactly what the AI read.

Analysis sample

50

Recent reviews read by the AI

66

Lifetime ratings

88/100

Evidence confidence

Fifty reviews over many years for both astronomy and geology, with recurring themes of care, structure, and quiz volume.

Inside 50 stored ratings

Quality ratings

5 out of 540
4 out of 512
3 out of 52
2 out of 54
1 out of 58

Course coverage

ASTRO108 reviews
GEO0106 reviews
ASTRO0105 reviews
GEO105 reviews
GEOL0105 reviews
Show 13 more courses
AST104 reviews
AST1013 reviews
ASTR0103 reviews
ASTRO2 reviews
ASTR010FOR1 review
ASTR1011 review
ASTRO11 review
ASTROFALL1 review
ASTROINTR1 review
ASTRONOMYHYB1 review
GEOL101 review
GEOL1011 review
GEOLOGY1 review

Reported outcomes

A range results lead the reported letter grades.

26 reported outcomes

A range

13

A+ 3 · A 8 · A- 2

B range

6

B 6

C range

1

C- 1

D range

1

D 1

F

1

F 1

No letter grade reported

4

Drop/Withdrawal 3 · Not sure yet 1