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McCormick, Kathryn

Cumulative GPA: 2.80/4.00 with 15 evaluations
Presents Material Clearly: 2.87
Recognizes Student Difficulties: 2.93

Art and Design Department, Cal Poly, SLO
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ART 337 Junior Grade Earned: N/A Required (Major) 9:55 pm, Oct 25, 2011 Report Evaluation		Katie may have had a rough quarter last last spring, but she's hands down the one you'll learn the most about graphic design from. She has extreme passion for the industry which is infectious. She cares about your individual success as a designer and will start out treating you with respect right away. Her class, while demanding, is structured and clear. Graphic II is hands down the best graphic design class I've taken so far and its projects are extremely great portfolio pieces. She will take a while to get back to you via email, but she writes mountains of feedback on your work if you shoot her an email early enough into the process. She grades on improvement so make an effort to talk to her during office hours/email and you'll do just fine. She is extremely fair in her grading as well and is very approachable and easy to talk to/form a relationship with. She's had a hard time the past few quarters but she's really not as bad as the reviews below say and if the design department lost her this department would have lost huge chunk of its strength. She's super knowledgable - take the time to get to know her and she'll reward you with not only a decent grade if you put in effort, but more enlightenment into the industry.

ART 260 Junior Grade Earned: N/A Required (Major) 8:24 pm, Apr 26, 2011 Report Evaluation		Katie is harsh, but these other people/comments don't understand the underlying principal of her teaching. Whether she is meaning to or not, she is preparing you for the REAL world. In the real world, clients are late, they give you projects and need them finished in 2 days, they don't always act professional, and they play favorites, etc. Honestly, like you will come across teachers like this everywhere at Cal Poly and you just have to make the best of it. Get what you can from Katie, she definitely knows a TON about graphic design, but she is not always consistent. Whatever you have do (butt kissing, etc), get on her good side asap. It will make your class/classes with her easier! Otherwise your in for a bumpy ride!

ART 181 Junior Grade Earned: B Elective 1:51 pm, Mar 31, 2011 Report Evaluation		katie is pretty icy. cares more about her dogs than her students. not to mention has design clubs at her house for certain students but not others. Pretty unprofessional. take mary instead.

ART 100 Freshman Grade Earned: C Elective 12:14 am, Jan 26, 2011 Report Evaluation		These other comments are so true. And it's not just that she sucks at teaching, she's also a bitch about it.

ART 238 Junior Grade Earned: N/A Required (Major) 12:12 am, Jan 26, 2011 Report Evaluation		Soooooo Vague! I wish I wasn't in her class right now. I highly regret enrolling with her. If you have to take this class, get it with a different teacher. It makes allllll the difference. It's unfortunate that students pay so much money, and they don't get the help they need from teachers. There are so many different aspect of how her teaching skills aren't up to par with the rest of Cal Poly professors, but the list is too long for me to post in this small area. If you want to actually learn something, and not waste your time and efforts, do not take her! **I am warning you, don't just disregard this review, and sign up for her class anyway. You will regret it also. I'm not just ragging on her personally. I'm looking out for students best interests. I wish there was some who told me not to take her class. It's hell!

ART 333 Junior Grade Earned: C Required (Major) 4:28 pm, Sep 8, 2009 Report Evaluation		what a bitch. for being a graphic designer, her stuff sux! just check out her website and see for yourself. oh and did i mention she has no emotion? talking to her is like talking to a wall. what a waste.

ART 400 5th Year Senior Grade Earned: C Required (Major) 12:44 pm, Oct 22, 2008 Report Evaluation		don't make me barf!



ART 400 Senior Grade Earned: N/A Required (Major) 12:54 am, Jul 14, 2008 Report Evaluation		Brilliant + Beautiful = Awesome. 'Nuff Said. :)

ART 463 Senior Grade Earned: A Required (Major) 9:15 pm, Feb 15, 2007 Report Evaluation		Katie has one of those brains you wish you could crawl inside and absorb even a quarter of what she knows. This class really let her shine--it showed just how much of an asset she is to the department. I learned so much from the class...it really had a huge impact on me.

ART 333 Senior Grade Earned: A Required (Major) 9:59 pm, Jun 25, 2006 Report Evaluation		The 300 series I took with her have been the most educational and helpful classes I have taken in college. She is a very passionate person that cares genuinely and deeply about her students and design in general. She will push you hard, so get ready for a large workload. But it isn't all in vain, you will learn at a far greater pace and depth than any other professor in our department. She doesn't assign nonsense "why the hell are we doing this" work that all other professors in the department throw at us (some more than others), this is actual stuff that will better your understanding and application of design. I wish the other professors in our department would shy away from their ignorance and adopt some of her teaching techniques and philosophies.

ART 431 Senior Grade Earned: A Required (Major) 7:22 pm, Apr 7, 2006 Report Evaluation		Katie truly cares about her students: she constantly provides motivation, as well as a challenge, to each person in her classes. I have also found that, as she gets to know her students, she tailors assignments to challenge us as individuals, finding ways to interest and excite all of us about design. That said, while she is kind and caring, she is not lenient about poor design process: she is honest and constructively critical. Overall, an awesome teacher! Take all the classes you can with her!

ART 331 Junior Grade Earned: B Required (Major) 11:33 am, Feb 24, 2006 Report Evaluation		DEFINITELY take katie for the 300 series. i don't personally like her, but she is an amazing teacher and designer, and i definitely agree that she is the best thing the poly art department has going for it. i believe in taking the professor that you will learn the most from. if that's your philosophy and you can handle a heavy workload and some pretty harsh criticism, take her for everything you possibly can.

ART 333 Senior Grade Earned: A Required (Major) 3:26 am, Aug 17, 2005 Report Evaluation		Work hard in Katie's class and expect to be rewarded as such. She presents a challenge, but is always on hand to offer advice if you get stuck. She's a teacher who absolutely loves the subject she teaches, and it's infectious -- one of the most motivational teachers ever!



ART 333 Senior Grade Earned: A Required (Major) 2:20 pm, Aug 12, 2005 Report Evaluation		Katie is a terrific teacher and design team coach. If you ask her why something isn't working, she won't tell you a specific thing to do, she'll give you direction but make sure that YOU problem solve. I like the way she really encouraged our class to work as a design team, emphasizing how important working with your peers is now and for your future design career. She can be really tough but that's because she really wants to push her students to the next level. Katie's classes are heavy in terms of workload and her expectations of quality but very useful in preparation for a good portfolio and design process after graduation. Take her classes!

ART 333 Senior Grade Earned: A Required (Major) 10:52 pm, Dec 28, 2004 Report Evaluation		Katie is the best professor I've ever had. Period. I was ready to leave Cal Poly before I had her, she's the only good thing the art deparment has going at this point. Don't get discouraged if you're a freshman in 131 and don't like it... it's not her fault. That class is going to suck no matter what. Fundamentals are boring but necessary. Take her for the 300 series and take design history... you'll love her. She is excited and passionate about design, and she gets her students involved and excited as well. GREAT PROFESSOR. TAKE HER.

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