Review posted on Mon 02 Feb 2009
Course(s) Taken: Near Eastern Languages: 189

One year later I still have nightmares about having to go to her class. Sucks!!!

Review posted on Tue 30 Dec 2008
Course(s) Taken: Near Eastern Languages: 189

Awful, horrible professor. I hated this class so much that it killed my drive to learn in a slow and painful death. Her lectures were suffocating. I felt like I was going partially insane and partially brain dead... and really did not think that it was even possible to be both at the same time. DO NOT TAKE HER CLASSES UNLESS YOU ARE A GRADUATE STUDENT OR LOVE TO SEE YOUR THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE DIE!!!

Review posted on Wed 04 Jul 2007
Course(s) Taken: NR East 50A

This is one of the cases where impressions can be decieving. I walked into the class thinking the teacher was this nice old lady who knew the material and was going to teach it well. I was correct on everything but the "teaching it well." Not to bash her but she was probably the worst professor I have ever had; few people showed up to class, and those who did fell immediately to sleep. Her lectures had nothing to do with the papers. Her papers had nothing to do with the tests. Her tests had nothing to do with the class. It was just one vicious circle. Had I known about bruinwalk as a freshman I would have never taken this class (I was stuck with it because I was at the last orienantion desperately looking for a GE).
If you do get stuck in this class, know that there are 3 papers worth 20%, the midterm and final are worth 15%, and some dumb map that was reminiscent of 5th grade was worth 10%. DONT READ THE BOOKS, DONT BOTHER WITH BUYING THEM, just go to the library and index everything (as my hungover TA would say for this class). For the tests just make a review sheet and ask the TA what important things he thinks would appear on the test (although he would probably be wrong). Cross your fingers and hope that you do well (if you are a good writer than you will do well). There were only two solid A's given in my class and it was the hardest earned A for me all year. GOOD LUCK!

Review posted on Sat 31 Mar 2007
Course(s) Taken: 50A

um ok. so pretty much don't take this class. unless ur extremely desperate for a ge and u need a class to meet unit requirements, DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS. the lectures were boring and hard to acquire information from. the ta was a little weird and not very helpful. the essays were pure crap. after evaluation, all u get is a letter grade on ur cover sheet. actually, on one of my essays, i was lucky enough to have the word "strange" scribbled on the side. and of course there was no explanation for it. the midterm/final were ok. just study the list of places/people and u'll be ok. for the tests at least. professor carter should really just stick to going on her archeological trips and AWAY FROM UCLA! oh and if u do decide to take her class, bring a comfy sweater that u can make into a pillow. u'll appreciate it when u fall asleep in every single lecture. but don't worry if u do cause u'll learn just as much as staying awake.

Review posted on Thu 07 Dec 2006
Course(s) Taken: NELC First Civilizations 50A

Professor Carter is extremely knowledgeable about the course, however, she is quite possibly the essence of boredom. Not only are her lectures incredibly unorganized, but she constantly reminisces about her various archaeological ventures and doesn't explain much of anything. It almost seems as if she gets a perverse satisfaction from boring us to death. While her midterms and finals are fairly straight forward (read review sheets!), her papers are another thing. They are very ambiguous and their lack of an obvious structure complicates their composition. All of this is tolerable, EXCEPT the fact that you get NO FEEDBACK on your papers, which constitute about 60% of your grade. You will just get your paper back with a grade on it, no justification, no suggestions, NOTHING! I would absolutely implore you to find ANY other class, please do not take this class. If you do, prepare for maximum boredom and maximum regret. If you do end up taking this class because you were desperate for a GE or were enrolled late in your orientation like I was, then take along your Nintendo DS or PSP, and pick up yourself a few new games, because you will have plenty of free time.

Review posted on Sat 31 Dec 2005
Course(s) Taken: 50A

Worst class I've ever taken. The lectures were horrible, it was near impossible to keep track of the time period she was talking about, and it was a challenge every lecture just to stay awake. Her essays assignments were very vague and it was very hard to figure out what she wanted, and the essay grading had no discernable format. For the most part my essays had litle to no comments throughout, and just a letter grade scribbled on it. Do NOT take this class unless you absolutely HAVE to. If I had to say anything good about this class, it would be that the midterm and final were very easy, and she did give out a very good review sheet for each of them, which helped a lot.

Review posted on Sat 27 Aug 2005
Course(s) Taken: ANE Civ 50a

I thought the class was fairly simple and easy to follow in the format. The 3 papers werent that difficult and the reading was appropriate, and the exams werent that hard if you studied. However, the lectures were incredibly boring at times and the powerpoints literally put everyone in the class to sleep. It was embarassing at one point because so many people were asleep and snoring out loud but Prof Carter acts like she doesnt notice. I got a B+ in the class.

Review posted on Tue 14 Jun 2005
Course(s) Taken: Near East 50A

Professor Carter is the worst teacher I have ever had. She is more concerned about her own archeaological expeditions in Turkey than with being a professor. Besides indulging us with her own opinions (which are facts in her mind), she assigns TOO much work (3 essays, midterm, and final) and her grading has no structure. She seems like a person who goes home to a lot of cats and takes her misery out on students who don't share her opinions. You've been officially warned not to take a class with her!

Review posted on Mon 07 Jun 2004
Course(s) Taken: Archaeology of Iran

Professor Carter deserves a lot more credit than these reviews suggest. She knows her subject very well and if students take the time to talk to her she is very helpful. The upper division class I took with her was very informative, and the essay assignments gave students an opportunity to learn more about topics they were interested in. She does expect a lot out of your written work, and will give a poor grade for a poorly written paper. Since most of these reviews seem to come from younger, less experienced students, my advice would be to wait on her classes until you are in your second or third year.

Review posted on Tue 16 Mar 2004
Course(s) Taken: NE50a

Professor Carter is one of those people you either love or hate (although I don't personally know anyone who loves her). The class wasn't difficult: the midterm was shockingly simple (do the review sheeet, people), as was the final. She requires 3 papers as well, the trick to that is to email her rough drafts of your essay. And by drafts I mean rewrite your first draft with her corrections and re-email it to her. If you don't she might still give you a C on it.
Unless you're an ANE major, you're probably going to hate this class and despise Professor Carter. If you ARE an ANE major, you'll dislike the class and respect but avoid Professor Carter at all costs.