White, Emily  

This class is generally easy: once a week, one hour, credit/no-credit class. The one downside is that it is at 8 am on Fridays. Overall the workload is minimal, there is no mandatory homework for the course unless Emily cancels class for the following week, then an assignment will be due the day she cancelled the class. There is a small final assignment but nothing too challenging, if you paid attention it will be relatively easy to complete. You get a few class skips which is nice but the rest of the class is listening to a presentation-style lecture about architectural topics from the Renaissance. The readings aren't mandatory but are interesting if you have time. Buy into her activities because they're pretty cool and she will help you if you need help. She's super approachable so just attend class, turn in your note card and you'll receive credit.

She doesn't give helpful feedback on projects. And after a project where she didn't give much feedback or a lot of negative feedback, below-average grades were possible

For a first run, both for me as a student and for her as an instructor here at Cal Poly, not too bad. Considering her background, it's understandable to see how her approach to projects goes: usually like a funnel, from general and abstract to more and more specific and concrete. The main point, however, is that 1) you need a mind capable of abstraction. Not all have that, which is totally fine! But if you think you don't, consider other instructors. Emily's feedback is like a topic sentence of a body paragraph in an English essay, except that you the student might write out the rest of the paragraph with your own mind and work. She pushes you to improve and innovate, but not in explicit motions. Her words are more subtle, and require thinking over. She isn't going to handhold you. And 2) You be a responsible and respectable human being. You do the work, on time, at a reasonable pace, and at a level of quality that is befitting YOUR CAPACITY - then she will help you along the way. Otherwise, she'll recognize your lax nature right away. Even so, she will never refuse to help, to improve, to bring up - but you need to do some hauling as well. Her presence is caring and supportive, always. Reasonable workload, reasonable character, reasonable studio. 8/10 would take again (and did!)

Emily is the sweetest person ever. The people who graded her negatively probably didn't try to connect with her or didn't try to ask for advice. Keep in mind she is very busy so you need to make effort as well, although she will spend an hour or two going over your designs. She is literally like a mom. Emily is very kind and understanding. She really pushes you though process wise. I am taking her again next quarter because I love her so much. She is my aesthetic. When I am her age, I aspire to be her. She is the coolest person I have ever met. Her background in architecture is amazing and she will teach you really strong techniques. Also, it's a very comfortable and inclusive environment in her studio.

Emily has inspired me more than I could ever imagined was possible. She taught me how to think of design and art again. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU TO TAKER HER. She is the best. She's so authentic, funny and knowledgable. She is not a hard grader if you take the time to talk to her and learn what she is looking for in a project. And, honestly, the way se grades makes complete sense. Ive learned so much: take her.

Emily is a great teacher! She was just the teacher I needed for my first year. She will challenge and push you but not to the breaking point. She's clear on what she wants you to accomplish and will give you advise if you ask for it. She's straight up and will tell you if your work needs improvement. I respect her feedback and it always helps. She's super busy though walking around the class so I'd always put your name on a check list even if you don't know if you have any questions yet.

whatever you heard about her is probably true. STAY AWAY!!

Emily White really does know what she is talking about and she will help you understand that. While she is boring during large lectures at common hour, in studio she is a great teacher and mentor. Emily will take the time to help you work out the kinks in your project or just destroy it all together and make it into something that is better and has a real purpose. She is very mother-like and is actually really nice and funny if you get to know her. She is a tough grader though and you have to be willing to put in the work, however she is very understanding during group projects. Emily even helps you understand why you got a certain grade and isn't afraid to call you out in front of the class but then she helps to improve it for next time. I recommend taking Emily at least one quarter your first year.

Emily will shaft you. If you want an A you might as well pray every night because that will give you a better chance than staying up all night. This women doesn't know what she is talking about half the time and it is obvious that she has never built a building in her life. Her feedback is always negative even if you do something she might like you will never know. The reason you know she likes something you did is if she doesn't draw all over it and yells at you for less than five minutes, but good luck with that because it doesn't happen. Oh and if she doesn't like you, you're fucked. She will rip on your work in front of the entire class everyday even if other people did the same thing. She might be the worst studio professor in CAED.

Emily is a great professor. Although most of her comments on students' work are negative if you use her advice your project is probably gonna turn out really well. Everyone seems to be taking her critique really negatively and I don't think that is her intention.