PSYC 2300

This class was nothing to write home about, but if you're considering it, I'll lay out the goods and bads.

The goods:
-You don't have to read the textbook at all, it's 99% lecture notes
-The exams aren't difficult if you've studied at least an hour. They are also pretty straightforward and not meant to trick you.
-There are 3 exams (25 questions) and a final (50 questions). Not multiple choice, so you do have to be able to recall information.

The bads:
-I would not recommend taking this course if you have taken any anatomy, biology, or Neural Basis courses. Having had all three, I found this class to be like a dumbed down version of Neural Basis with a few perceptual concepts. The material is somewhat interesting but rarely has depth.
-Proffitt is one of the most annoying lecturers I've had at UVA. I don't hate the man, he just rubbed me the wrong way from the beginning. It's a combination of his obnoxious use of the word "Sweetie" (I tallied more than 45 instances of it), his poor spelling, insistence of filling every minute of lecture with a story, and his daily greeting of "Hello" until the class quiets down. He is constantly saying to stop taking notes because what he's saying either isn't important or not on the exam. His lectures could be no more than thirty minutes if he didn't tell stories. Although it is nice to have a break from taking notes, I would rather be let out early than sit through repetitive stories- just my opinion.
-This class was packed and was mostly 1st/2nd years. The material felt more aimed at the 1st year level and Proffitt's lecture style was as well. He loves to say when to start and stop taking notes, and telling you that it's important you have something written down. This isn't so great if you prefer more professional/advanced class setups. If you're new to taking notes in large lectures then this class may be a nice start. Personally, I felt the class was a better fit for people with less experience in large lectures.
-Most reviews seem to call Proffitt very funny, but I found him to be a little too proud of himself. He tries too hard to get the class to laugh, then smiles and nods like he's just done something hilarious. The 1st years seemed to find it funny though.

I didn't hate the class, but I sure didn't love it either. I may seem bitter like I did poorly in the class, but I actually came out with a low A. This is just my overall opinion of Proffitt's style. If you're interested in the human aspects, take a class that is more fun like Neural Basis or a bio-focused class. If you want an easy PSYC class then it's up to you if Proffitt and the material are worth it.

This class was simultaneously my easiest and most annoying class that I've ever taken at UVA.

Proffitt is an okay professor. He's been doing this for a long time, and he seems to know his stuff well enough. If you like to be treated like a kindergartener, Proffitt is the professor for you. He tells you when to start and stop taking notes so much that you wonder if you're really in a college course. He's been telling the same jokes for at least 20 years that seem to be first-year laugh magnets and is very smug when he tells one.

The content is decent. After taking Intro to Cognition, I expected about the same manner of presenting the material, but I was wrong. The material is very simplistic, and not taught in a satisfying manner. In a course like Cognition, you learn something cool, then you see how it affects the world around you, which was very cool. Intro to Perception seems to lack the latter.

The exams that Proffitt calls "quizzes" are generally very easy. Memorize your notes, and you will be fine. He claims he will pull questions from the textbook, but it really isn't worth your time to read as they are so few (1 or 2 maximum per exam) and you can sometimes guess the answer.

Overall, I highly recommend this course if you are looking for an easy, low-effort, non-time-consuming class. If you've taken classes previously at UVA, you will probably be annoyed, but that is a somewhat small price to pay for a relatively easy A/B.

The best course at UVA!! The lectures actually correspond the the assessments. 10/10 would recommend.

Honestly, I was a fan of the material. I just thought it was unfair the way we had to memorize all the info and provide short answer responses on the tests. If I could go back and time and not take one class that I took last semester/my entire life, it would be perception. I feel that the way we had to memorize the material for the test took away from me being able to enjoy the class and actually learn. I passed, but it was not a good time.

Professor:
- knows a lot about what he's talking about
- can hook you up with lots of opportunities
- lots of students email and talk to him even after passing his class
- babies you (says you don't need to know beyond this and that)

Fun:
- lectures were long but he always manages to make people laugh
- occasionally calls on volunteers and makes examples using "Sweetie"

Difficulty:
- tests are never multiple choice
- have to memorize a lot of concepts
- gets progressively difficult
- practice tests are good at gauging how you'll do on tests, but they are still different

Recommendability:
- go for it if you think you want to be a Psych major
- go for it if you don't mind lots of note-taking
- go for it if you don't want busywork
- don't go for it if you don't memorizing a lot of content for courses
- don't go for it if you want an "easy A"

Absolutely loved this class, prof is hilarious and really keeps the class engaged. I genuinely found myself looking forward to every lecture, and he managed to keep things interesting and not just read off the slides. I plan on being a cogsci major, so psych is something I do naturally like, but this class really kept me focused on that path. Keep in mind- the tests are NOT MC, you write out all the answers. However, it's basically pure memorization. If you're good at memorization, read your notes and you'll get an A in the class. But details are important, so really go in depth on your review, and probably don't start the night before unless you have a photographic memory. Great class!

This has been one of my favorite classes at UVA. After five semesters, I'd say that's worth something. Proffitt is a wonderful human. He is understanding and easy to follow. Reading through past comments a saw a couple that claimed he treated the class like Kindergarteners or dumbed down the lecture. Let's be clear: this is an intro class. Not difficult but incredibly interesting and worthwhile. Proffitt tells you sometimes to stop taking notes while he goes off on some story or tangent, but I find these valuable. They are always related to the material as extra support and are very interesting. I find it easier to focus on the lecture material and understand what's going on because I'm not frantically writing everything down. The lecture is very engaging and dynamic. Proffitt is silly. I don't think that's demeaning in any way to the class; I have a lot of respect for any teacher, or anyone, who is so comfortable in their own skin and willing to be weird and silly in class completely unabashed. He is the kind of teacher I would want to be. He is great with asking for and answering questions. He mostly just puts images on his slides, which I appreciate because I'm more focused on what's important and not distracted by a bunch of text. The work load is minimal. Reading is interesting and not abundant. Tests are straightforward. They are short answer, but if you attend lecture and review you'll be fine. I would recommend this class to any and all students.

One of my favorite classes I have taken at UVA! If you are a psych major and choosing between perception and cog, both are very interesting but I think perception is much easier. It is obvious that Proffitt loves the material and has been teaching this for a while because the class is well organized and he knows what he's talking about. You do not have to buy the textbook/do the reading to succeed in the class. Go to lecture and take notes to everything except what he says you don't have to take notes for. Study your notes and do the sample tests (and look at the sample final because there are more questions for each unit on it) and you should be fine if you know the material. He does not try to trick you on the tests. Proffitt is a really nice guy out of the classroom also. Go to office hours when you have questions on material, not right before an exam, and he will be very happy to help you through your issues. The TA notes are also very useful when studying.

Best professor and class ever! The textbook is not necessary . You just need to go to lecture and pay attention, which you'll want to do because both the content and Proffitt are interesting. He is funny, quirky, and knowledgeable. Take good notes and remember the examples in class. The TA notes are also pretty helpful. You need to pay attention though, because his slides are not content heavy and is used to support his oral lecture. The exams are the fairest things I've ever taken. Any grade I get is purely because I deserve it. They are straightforward and are fairly easy if you understand the content. Take this class whether you need it for your major or not!