ok. where to begin. her class was always kind of confusing. Her first exam was very easy ( the average was around a 90%). Her second exam was increasingly more difficult and she didn't allot enough time for students to complete the test. For this exam she ended up extending class period and giving students an extra credit opportunity( some students didn't even finish the test). People above are right about her providing many sources for extra credit tho! The most annoying thing about her class is the timed-quiz by far. She gives you a thicccc paper ( we had a 32pg cell manuscript) to 'read' and you have to answer questions regarding the paper during class. This ( for me) was near to impossible. I though i did really bad but apparently many students did so she hella curved. In fact, the second midterm was probably curved too because I got over 100% and for a fact did not get everything right. I ended up with an A+ lol.

How I got an A+:

- skipped lecture, watched bruincast( take notes on slides and UNDERSTAND the methodology behind the experiments)
- discussions are not necessary to attend ( I only went to two of them and they weren't helpful-- plus they post the slides)
- EMPHASIS ON SLIDES AND EXPERIMENTS- that's all you need to know.
- do the extra credit assignments
- make sure you dont lose points on the hw assignments

Coller is an amazing professor who cares about her students. Would recommend 100%.

If you have to take 165A, definitely take it with her. There are so many extra credit opportunities and the tests are incredibly fair. She is very clear on what will be tested and you learn so much involving cell biology. I love her!

Okay if you have to take this class for the MCDB major or you're looking for an upper div elective, you should take this class but only if Coller is teaching it. She's a really good professor and the material is pretty new so it takes a while to adjust to it. This class is based around like 5 research papers, and she goes over everything with you during class. Exams were online and open-note and unlimited time (it was due 11:59 sunday but you could open it on Thursday night). I went to her office hours a couple times and she is very patient and understanding and clear. She gives a lot of partial credit too. Overall, Coller is a great professor. She is extremely intelligent and organized and nice. Take this class with her if you can.

Amazing class! Your grade is dependent on 3 quizzes (25%), 2 midterms (20+25%), and 1 final exam (30%), with the lowest quiz score being dropped. You can also get up to 5 points extra credit on all the midterms and final. All the exams are take-home and you get Thursday evening through Monday early morning to complete them (final was like Sunday through Wednesday of finals week). Discussions are not mandatory, but they go over exam answers in them. BruinLearn site has all slides, past exams to use for reference. Textbook is really not necessary. Lectures are engaging and informative, and are posted on Bruincast, attendance is not mandatory. There really isn't any homework except watching a 30ish min background video weekly and reading 6 research papers throughout the quarter. Overall, getting an A in this class is very doable and all the experimental techniques that are gone over are very relevant in any molecular/cellular biology setting, would highly recommend taking this w/ Coller (she seems to teach every spring)

This class should be required by every life science program. The most informative class I have taken at UCLA.

Grade is dependent on 3 quizzes, 2 midterms, and 1 final that were all take-home and open for multiple days. Questions involved a lot of experimental design using the methods taught in class. Extra credit was offered for the midterms and final.

Workload consisted of primary papers and few ~30min background videos every week in addition to class, a very manageable workload.

I learned more from this class than any other because it was low-stress and requires creativity/problem solving.

Loved this class! After having a challenging winter quarter, Dr. Coller and the TA's rekindled my love for research. Her lectures are engaging and the material covered is super manageable. If you go to lecture, watch any pre-lecture videos, and read the assigned papers, you will do just fine. I went to some of the office hours to ask questions about concepts and figures from the papers... it helps A LOT. 12/10 would take another class taught by her!

VERY EASY CLASS AND LECTURES ARE BRUINCASTED. Your grade is based entirely on three quizzes, two midterms, and a final, but they are all take-home and she gave us over 48 hours to complete them. The only homework is watching one 30-minute background video and reading one research paper a week so the courseload is very light. Professor Coller is also a very clear and engaging professor and she offers so much extra credit that I can't see how anyone didn't get an A. However, you'll definitely learn something in the process too and I thought she covered the material very well!

This has been one of my favorite classes at UCLA thus far. I found the class content to be extremely interesting. The exams can be challenging because you really have to engage with the course readings and lectures to do well. Dr. Coller is an amazing professor who truly cares about student learning. She is passionate about what she does. If you have the chance to take a course with her, DO IT! You will not regret it (:

Best professor possible for 165A... take it with her and no one else if you can!