Preston, William  

Social Sciences

3.50/4.00

64 evaluations


ENVE 144


Freshman
A
Required (Major)
Feb 2009
This guy is a great professor. He is fully knowledgeable of what he talks about. I had him for Earth Science 144. He is consistent in his lectures and makes sure you know exactly what to expect on exams. I liked how the structure of the class was similar everyday; it helped me learn the material. Take Dr. Preston if you can.

GEOG 250


Sophomore
B
Required (Support)
Jun 2001
This guy is great. He's knowledgeable, enthusiastic, funny, and great at communicating information both in class and in office hours. He expects alot--tests are long and difficult, but reasonable. Take Preston if you can.


Sophomore
B
Required (Major)
Jun 2003
Fabulous teacher! One of the best I've had at Cal Poly. He is incredibly intelligent and makes the subject matter as easy for students to understand as possible. I'm absolutely terrible at science and so I was really dreading this class but I did fine and even understood a lot of it. His tests are hard but by no means unfair. It's absolutely imperative that you read the books and go to all the lectures if you want a good grade. If you get the chance, take this profesor!


Senior
B
Required (Major)
Jan 2004
I have never been to Tulare so I found lots of his examples to be worthless since he talks about Tulare as if everyone is familiar with it. I became really ill during the quarter and was not able to keep up with the reading...in fact most healthy students had a very hard time keeping up! If this class isn't required for your field of study then don't take it. If this class is required, then just be sure to do ALL of the reading, and maybe schedule a weekend road trip to Tulare! =D


Senior
B
Required (Major)
Jun 2006
Preston is a really awesome professor. First he lays everything out in the syllabus, there aren't any surprises along the way. Occasionally he will reschedule an exam but thats about it. His tests are difficult but not impossible. There were a lot of pictures and graphs on our exams so make sure to study those. He doesnt have time to cover most of the book in class but he expects you to know it for the tests. The tests aren't cumulative and they are all multiple choice and map locations. He has a very dry sense of humor and made fun of himself almost as much as he made fun of Bakersfield. Overall, it is a relaxed environment with clearly laid out expectations. It is hard to get an A but you really learn about the subject.


Junior
B
Required (Support)
Jun 2006
Everything exactly as he said it would be. No suprises and if you study well, you will do well. One of the better professors I've encountered so far. Taking him again for 333.

GEOG 308


Junior
C
Required (Major)
Aug 2001
His classes are long and full of information. And believe me, take notes on everything that he says because anything that comes out of his mouth is fair game . . . anything. His tests are VERY hard and his questions are very specific and detailed. Study hard. Other than that I have learned a lot form his class, even thought my grades have not shown it. Don't take him if you don't want to study or work hard, or if you don't have a good memory. :)


Sophomore
A
Required (Major)
Aug 2001
Dr. Preston's lectures are full of interesting information and examples. You'll have to take a lot of notes, but the lectures are usually enjoyable. The tests are mainly from the notes, so if you go over them thoroughly you should do well. To get an A you should read the book, but not more than once as long as you review the stuff in bold before the test.


Sophomore
A
Elective
Aug 2001
Truly one of the best professors I've ever had, Dr. Preston is extremely intelligent, knowledgeable, and approachable. He really teaches you real Geography, and I garauntee that you *will* have a much better worldview when you finish his class. I don't think that he is very difficult; just make sure you go to lecture and pay attention. But remember to read the book! My failure to read the book resulted in me getting an A-.


Senior
A
Required (Support)
Sep 2001
I took this class over the summer, so it might have made it a little easier, but there was still TONS of information. However, despite the hectic schedule I learned a lot as he presents the material in a fun way and always finds a way to bring a beer story in. Personally, I didn't find the tests that hard. All you need to do is take good notes and read (bare minimum the side bar stuff in the assigned chapters), and you should do fine. I studied, but not THAT much. Again, a fun class, very informative, and an EXCELLENT instructor, but lots of material. In all...I highly recommend it!


Junior
B
Required (Support)
Jan 2002
Preston is the man...I took him in the summer for a 5 week course..and I actually wouldn't mind if it were a 10 week...He makes his lectures very interesting..he has a great since of humor..he makes class fun and benificial by relating it to politics, religion, and culture..His test are somewhat long...but they are not bad....he will not suprise you...everything is either in the lectures or text...His only downfall is the he drinks too much Pepsi one...Take him he is great!!!


Senior
B
Elective
Aug 2003
Dr. Preston is simply the best instructor on campus. He cares about his students and he cares about the subjects he teaches. He has a great sense of humor and makes the class very interesting. His tests are rather difficult though. Tests are usually 100 questions and many place locations (map knowledge) are required. I wish he would teach other subjects!


5th Year Senior
C
General Ed
Sep 2003
Dr. Preston is the most amazing teacher I have ever had. At the end of a two hour lecture, I would be bummed that the class was over, rather than eager to go home. While the subject he is teaching is already incredible, he makes it funny and entertaining while he takes you around the world without leaving your seat. He is intelligent, personable, and sincerely cares about his students as people as well as students. I didn't get the best grade, but I learned so much. He opened my eyes to the incredible world that we live in, and I would recommend taking this course for your own personal enhancement. His tests are difficult and thorough. READ THE BOOK and Pay attention to the themes(religion, climate, economics, etc...) used to describe why people live where they live, and use that as your focus while reading. Good luck and enjoy.


Junior
N/A
Required (Support)
Feb 2004
Dr. preston is simply one of the best teachers that I've had. He's clear and concise and funny. It obvious that he good at what he does because he's the only teacher who's class has over ninety percent attendence everyday. His test are hard but you retain the info because of the associations he makes.Very helpful and easy to talk to. He should teach teachers how to teach. Take his classes and do all the readings.


Junior
B
Required (Support)
Feb 2004
This guy is great. If you ever find his lectures boring, as they sometimes are, it's just the course material. Dr. Preston presents it in the best way possible. I recommend him to anyone needing a Geography class. You actually get a lot out of it too!


Junior
B
Required (Support)
Aug 2004
I had heard such great things about Preston, and honestly, I was very disappointed with this class. I'm a really good student who genuinely gets very into the material I'm learning. However, Preston's lectures were SOOOOOOOO hard to stay attentive during! One of the ways I would get myself to stay awake was to sit on the side of the room so I could look over and watch other people falling alseep for slight amusement! I'm surprised he has such high ratings because every lecture about a third of the class wouldn't stay awake. His tests questions were difficult, as everyone says, but curved. The thing is we had sooooo much material to learn from each test, and then were tested on such random points/details, that it was kind of a waste of time to even study! It was more like, just get a good night sleep, hope luck is with you, and hopefully you're a good test-taker. I'm a really good test-taker and easily got a B knowing about a forth of the material on all the tests, which is good news if you're a good test-taker because he gives away a LOT of the answers on other questions within each test. But I could have studied 10 hours more for each test, and probably still gotten a B, because there're some questions on material I just never would have known to pay such close attention to memorizing. Preston's a REALLY nice guy, and very funny when he wants to be (usually at the beginning and end of his 2 hour lectures). But good luck learning much or even just staying awake if you take this class. If you have to take it, hopefully you'll get mroe out of it than I did!


Senior
B
Elective
Jul 2006
WOW, blown away. The most organized and well presented lectures i've ever had. He is very well spoken and hilarious, I learned a TON. Captivates the whole class for 2hrs straight! Not many can. Take if you can.


Junior
B
General Ed
Dec 2006
Preston was a very good teacher. World Geography is a great class to sit back in and just enjoy the show. Watch preston work his magic. Take good notes, read everything assigned, and study the maps and you'll do fine. By "enjoy the show" i dont mean its an easy class, by any means. You have to read quite a bit. However, you do know what to expect on exams. Nothing really comes out of no where. He is very entertaining and i can't believe anyone falls asleep! He is really funny and very organized. He has great stories from around the world. He takes roll occasionally, but why would you ever want to miss his class? No real homework here, an informed letter, and 3 midterms make up your grade. Attendance can hurt you, and he may bump you up if you're there all the time, its up to his discretion. Really you learn so much in here, take preston! Oh and don't save all the reading till the last minute!


Junior
B
General Ed
Jun 2008
Preston is an awesome guy, I'll give him that, but man, I've never done so much studying as I had to do for his midterms! Get this: 100 multiple choice questions, 3 matching sections (with 10-20 available answers for each) 20 true-false questions, and 6 different maps to fill out with names of countries, cities, oceans, and even rivers. Keep in mind that this is not the final, just a midterm. If you take this class, be prepared to work your *** off.


5th Year Senior
A
General Ed
Jul 2008
This man was really easy to understand and an amazing teacher. He made learning about Global Geography fun and entertaining. His tests are long, but they are definitely fair based on the subject material.


Junior
A
General Ed
Jul 2008
Dr. Preston is a very intelligent and interesting professor. He really knows his stuff and does a great job at making the material interesting. He lectures the same way each day with over heads and maps. He gives out a packet with about 5-6 blank maps and all the places that you will be responsible for on the midterms and final. There are a lot of locations, but if you give yourself enough time to memorize them you will do fine. This class is composed of 2 midterms and a final. The tests are all the same format: a section of fill-in or matching (30-40 questions), multiple choice (100 questions; 50 from lecture and 50 from the book), and then maps (60 questions or so). The tests are intense and you really have to know the material to do well on them. He gives extra credit randomly by taking roll on select days so don't miss class. For the tests know everything he says in class especially people, relationships, lists, vocab. Also when you read highlight important parts in the text so that you can go back and read it before the test because it is a lot of material and his multiple choice questions are REALLY specific from the book. He never lets you out early. Overall great class, a lot of work especially in the five week summer session, but Preston is a nice guy take him if you can.


Senior
A
General Ed
Feb 2010
This was an interesting and somewhat useful class. His lectures were of good quality and made you think a little, but the studying was pure memorization. Studying for this class reminded me of high school and that sucked. Overall I would recommend taking this class, just be ready for some tedious studying.


Junior
B
Required (Major)
Aug 2010
The greatest class I have taken at Cal Poly. There is an intense amount of reading and his tests are rather long, but he prepares you for everything. He knows how to insert stories into lectures appropriately and all of the information is extremely interesting. GREAT CLASS! AMAZING PROFESSOR!!!


Senior
A
General Ed
Feb 2014
Preston is one of the best professors I've had at Cal Poly. It was the most productive class I've ever taken. This class covers a lot of material but he is very clear and thorough in his lectures. The tests are long but fair. If you attend class, take good notes, and study, you should no problem getting at least a B. Plus, he curves, so, ya know, that's pretty chill. If you want to get on his good side, bring a sixer to his office hours. This dude is a straight up gangster.


Sophomore
Credit
General Ed
Jul 2014
I was really excited about taking this class because Preston had such great ratings, but I ended up dreading this class each day. Preston is an old professor who is extremely knowledgeable. The problem is, he presents SO MUCH material, it's impossible to learn it all. 3 exams make up your grade. They are not cumulative, which was the only thing that made this class tolerable. It would have been impossible to take them cumulative. I read the book, took notes, studied really hard, never missed a class and still got C's on each exam! I'm extremely grateful that I took this class credit/no credit because it would have dropped my GPA. Preston was a decent professor, but his two hour lectures were dense! He covers way too much information. His tests are another story. They're EXTREMELY LONG! Probably 150 questions at least. Multiple choice, true/false, and fill in the blank (he provides a word bank for the fill in the blank questions...not on the last exam though, that was fun!). No matter how hard you study, the tests are tricky. It is clear he designs the test for the average grade to be a C. I remember coming out of one exam and thinking that there was no point in studying. On one exam, no one in the class got an A. Overall, this class was interesting but impossible to do well in. If you're looking for an easy grade, don't take Preston. I even went to see him during office hours and he made me feel stupid. Be prepared for a LOT OF WORK.


Junior
A
Elective
Dec 2014
I really enjoyed taking this class. At first I was really afraid I would do really bad because of all the reading. But, if you read everyday and ask questions you will do well in the class. The course has three exams and these are the only things that count for your grade. He curves and the one thing that others mentioned is that the final is not cumulative which was definitely a relief because of all the material. He is definitely one of my favorite teachers he was alwayssss willing to help during office hours for clarification on the reading and if you asked him in office hours he would tell you the type of questions that he would put on the tests. One thing I can say is that I learned a lot and if you put the time and effort in you will receive an A.


Junior
A
General Ed
Aug 2015
some people in this class struggled but honestly I loved it - super interesting info in engaging and funny lectures and easy tests. only downsides to the class were the fact that the midterms were so long and the straight up memorized map locations. take this class - he is awesome


Junior
B
Required (Major)
Oct 2015
I took Preston two quarters in a row for Geog 308/325 and I figured I would write about them both. I got a C in Geog 308 partially because his exams are no joke and difficult/I didn't take them seriously enough and partially because I didn't speak up when I was struggling with the class. He is informative and generally funny in class (repetitive in his jokes at times) but the material especially in 308 can be dry. His exams are multiple choice/map locations for 308. In 325 I got a B+. He still had very extensive exams but doesn't make you do map locations, instead its matchings. I began going to office hours and asking a slew of questions regarding the readings. He's not going to give you a study guide but, if you invest time in office hours, you'll get direct answers on exam material if you ask. I continued to struggle with exams but continual office hours really helped bump my grade significantly from my first quarter in one of his classes. I really recommend taking a class with him and putting in effort. If he sees that you're trying and you openly express struggling in his class, he's going to try to help you. He is very well educated and trying his best to make sure you are too after one of his classes.


Junior
C
General Ed
Feb 2019
Professor Preston is a great professor. He is very knowledgable of his material and can answer basically any question you have. That being said, I found this class to be EXTREMELY difficult. You MUST read the textbook as it comprises half of the exams (material you haven't covered in class). His lectures are hard to sit through and you must take notes on everything that he says. Anything he says could be on the exam. I found even increasing how much I studied, I did worse and worse on the exams. Don't be fooled by the good reviews if you're not ready for a challenging course!


Sophomore
A
Required (Major)
Mar 2020
Never have I felt obligated to write a review about a professor until taking Geo 308 with Preston. Coming into this class as a ANTHRO/GEO major I thought I had a large scope of global geography. Yet Preston uses his amazing knowledge of geography and his unique sense of dark humor (usually roasting himself or his hometown) to create a class like no other. The material is taught extremely well and is very straight foreword to follow. Most of the test material comes from the lectures, which are extremely intresting, making studying very easy and straight forward . Preston knows this however and makes his test super long, yet keep in mind most of the questions are very straight foreword. Overall, I would highly recommend taking a class with William Preston. He uses his character and background to create a class thats interesting and fun to attend. Also this class is great for getting to know the world a lot better, something everyone should defiantly look into. Defiantly one of the best teachers on campus!

SOC 308


Junior
B
Required (Major)
Jan 2003
Preston is by far the best teacher I've had at this school. Even though his tests can be kinda brutal, it's totally worth it. If you go to class and take decent notes you'll do fine. Since the class is now writing intensive he makes you do ten journal/article thingees that are due at the end of the quarter(not a big deal at all). Preston is extremely smart, approachable, and hilarious. If you get the chance, take him.


Senior
C
Required (Major)
Aug 2016
My father passed away my first week at CP. I missed most of the weekend after speaking a all my proff about this none of them seem to give a damn except Dr. Preston.. He gave me time to make up the quiz and any material I missed. This was 17yrs ago and I still remember him for this. Great man!

GEOG 315


Senior
C
Required (Support)
Oct 2004
Very cool guy. Listens to students concerns!

GEOG 325


Senior
B
Required (Support)
Jun 2010
Such an interesting class. I took both Geog 333 and 325. Dr. Preston is a very pessimistic personality but does it with dry humor and and a quick smile. One of my favorite teachers so far. Loved the far side comic strips! Very easy to understand in his lectures, he presents ideas and concepts clearly. Exams are directly from readings so know your stuff. Memorization of map places not exactly the funnest. Mixes lecture info on exams as well. Take Preston if you want to have a great teacher.


Junior
B
Elective
Jun 2017
His lectures are pretty dull, he recycles the same tired jokes, and his tests are very thorough.


Senior
B
Required (Support)
Dec 2018
Preston is amazing!!!! Take his class before he leaves! This class as well as 333 should be required for everyone to take in college. Reading isn't too bad but make sure you prepare for his tests because they are very substantial; they won't kill you but you do need to study. All of the lectures were really interesting and made me want to go to class every day (this is coming from someone who HATES going to class). Great support class for any environmental majors/minors/concentrations looking to get a better understanding of Earth's climate and how it affects us.

GEOG 333


Sophomore
A
Required (Major)
Aug 2001
Dr. Preston is one of the best professors that I have ever had. His class was informative and interesting. His tests are very hard but fair. Do not try to get a perfect score, just the best score you can get. No one ever gets a 100 in his class. Study the maps because these are easy points. Read all his material twice and you will do fine. If you come to Cal Poly and do not take a class from Preston than you have not experience Cal Poly.


Freshman
A
Required (Major)
Aug 2001
Dr. Preston is down to earth and genuinely cares about the subject ( Human Impact on the Earth), his students and his students' time at Cal Poly. He puts 100% into every class lecture and expects you to do the same. There was quite a bit of required reading( 1 text, 1 novel and 2 small, easy -to- read books), but no add'l papers or projects. All reading material was useful and included in test questions ( multi-choice). Advice: try to learn all of the italicized and bolded vocabulary and what the different terms all commonly relate to. Take good notes. Preston is an outstanding teacher who hasn't quit caring about his job performance, which is refreshing. He welcomes discussion. To date, one of my best instructors.


5th Year Senior
A
Required (Major)
Mar 2002
Preston's tests are not for the faint hearted, but never pulls any cheap shots either. His classes are one of the few on campus where I've actually learned something, so if you're looking for an easy grade, pull out. Other than that, there is a ton of reading, but no paper. The best advice I can give is read, and you will really get something out of the class.


Senior
B
Required (Support)
Mar 2003
To get a B in this class I had to study ridiculously hard. There's a lot of reading, and his tests are long, concise,in-depth and hard. Be ready to learn where random places in the world are located because you will have to find about 30 locations per midterm, in addition to fill-ins and multiple choice. The material, however, is very interesting and engaging. DO ALL THE READING- and focus on the case studies, to get a good grade on the midterms and final. His lectures, thought, are boring and long.


Junior
B
Required (Major)
Feb 2004
Dr. Preston has been and probably will be the best professor that I will have at Cal Poly. He is passionate about the subjects he lectures on which makes class that much more interesting. You have to work for a decent grade, know your shit, but that is the way college is supposed to be...not like all the other courses here which seem like mere high school classes. I appreciate Preston's wit above all, he makes the work bearable.


Senior
C
Required (Major)
May 2004
If you are taking Human Impact he is a good teacher to take. Make sure you study for the test because they are hard. Study the map sights. I would have received a better grade if I took the time to study. You will learn A LOT in his class and he makes it fun.


Senior
C
Required (Support)
Oct 2005
His class in VERY informative, you learn a lot about major envrionmental concerns of the 21st century. However, his test are very hard and detailed with little relation to lectures. To get an A on a test you must read everything 2 or 3 times, take detailed notes, and make sure you know all the bold faced terms in the book. At first the class seems like a walk in the park, don't be fooled. Overall, I would recommed this class, just be prepared to work very hard. Oh yeah, one important thing, don't miss any class, he takes attendence randomly, and, I personally happened to be absent on some of those days which as a result dropped my grade significantly.


5th Year Senior
A
Required (Major)
Feb 2006
Loved this guy!! He has a great sense of humor which helps with such a chilling topic. incredibly depressing topic in the what it reveals about human generated destruction but well worth the experience. His tests are tough but managable. do the reading but know the general trends of things more than exact facts and figures. the map questions are the easiest as that is just straight memorization. the tricky parts in his test are the fill-in and true/false questions. going to every lecture is key. he will tell you when you dont have to write something down which helps but take good notes anyway. I read the shorter books/online material in-depth and skim/read the text book and I did fine. you have to write an "informed" letter but it was really easy-about one page long. not exactly an easy class but no research paper and you will learn alot.


5th Year Senior
B
Required (Major)
Feb 2006
Dr. Preston is a great teacher! He's funny and interesting. He's a tough grader so don't be suprised if you don't get an "A". He does take attendence and whats covered in class is NOT in the book. But the reading is easy.


Senior
B
Elective
Mar 2006
Probably one of the best professors I have ever had. He brings humor to what could be a very dry topic. His lectures are long but I found them interesting. Be sure to take good notes. The tests aren't that bad, despite what people might tell you, and he tells you how to study for each reading. Overall this was a excellent class with an amazing teacher and I would recommend that everybody take it.


Senior
A
Required (Major)
Aug 2006
Dr. Preston is by far the best professor I have had at Cal Poly. His reading list is extensive, and if you want to pass you do have to read everything, BUT it is worth reading. All of the readings were quick, interesting, and worthwhile not only for the class but for life in general. As for lectures, plan on attending everyone. His test comes from a combination of both lecture and reading. If he is not going to test you on the material he will let you know. Otherwise everything is on the test. Overall the class is easy if you are awake and able to read. I dropped this class a year ago because I thought the class would be too time consuming. Now I regret that I waited until my last quarter to have Dr. Preston. Even if geog 333 is not required for your major I highly suggest this class!


Senior
B
Required (Major)
Jan 2007
Preston is an awesome teacher. He is very sarcastic, but super informed and a smart man. The class was not an easy one. The tests are basically all multiple choice, with some fill in the blanks. Each test was roughly 100 questions total, which included a map portion. The map portion is taken from a list of places in the world that he gives you. You have to remember where they are, and if he gives rivers, make sure you practice getting those correct! The reading material is not bad, just make sure you pay attention in class when he tells you want to study out of the books. He gives numerous hints as to what the midterms will be on, you just need to be on time to class in order to get them. The exam questions are highly detailed. Plan on remembering names of people, what they stood for, what the various countries involved were as well. Take tons of notes, and this is not a class you can really miss. Preston does not want to fail people, but he also does not give out easy A's. If you get an A in this class, it's because you payed attention and worked hard.


Junior
N/A
Required (Major)
Apr 2007
Preston is a great professor. His lectures are all overheads and they are so interesting. Preston knows his stuff and wants students to do well. The tests are difficult with map identifications, MC, short answer, and true false questions. It is a lot of hard work to get a B, but it is so worth it with a professor like him.


Junior
N/A
Required (Major)
Dec 2007
One of my favorite professors I have ever taken a course from. The material didn't interest me in the beginning, and now, at the end of the course, Preston has inspired me to go out and influence people to make some big and needed changes for our world. His exams are not difficult, just extremely thorough and he will admit to the meticulous detail he puts into creating them. This is definitely a class where you have to read and attend every day, but it is well worth it. His dry sense of humor will keep the energy going even through the more boring lectures.


Junior
C
Required (Major)
Feb 2011
Best professor at Cal Poly that I have taken. Material is very interesting. There was a lot of reading, but they were very interesting. The exams are very long though. Make sure to do the readings and go to class.


Junior
N/A
General Ed
Feb 2011
Dr. Preston is the best! He is hilarious and his class is super interesting and compelling. You have to do ALL of the reading but it's also really interesting and not hard to get through. I've only had one midterm so well but as long as you go to class, take pretty good notes, do the readings and memorize the list of countries you'll do fine. If you think this sounds like too much work I would have to remind you that you are in fact in college to learn. Obviously some work is involved but the class is worth it. I firmly believe that every single person in the United States should have to take this class. It's raw, controversial, heart breaking, eye opening and super depressing all in one however it is real. TAKE THIS CLASS. Dr. Preston is a boss.


Sophomore
N/A
Required (Major)
Feb 2012
I just don't see why everyone is raving about Dr. Preston. I found his lectures and assigned readings to be extremely dry and repetitive (we'd read 3 whole books on the same topic). Also I think his 8-9 page long tests are a bit overkill too. Maybe I'm just lame but I never caught on to his "dry sense of humor" either; and to be honest I thought he was pretty darn pompous too. That being said, the overall topic of the course is pretty interesting and Preston is a very organized and knowledgeable professor. Note that I am not complaining that his class is "too hard"; I just didn't find it to be that interesting and I think it is more work than its worth.


Junior
N/A
Required (Major)
Mar 2012
Dr. Preston has been teaching at Poly for about 30 years and is one of the best teachers I have thus far. This course requires a lot of reading, but the books he chooses are very interesting and thought-provoking. His tests are long, there's a lot to memorize. Don't leave the readings until the last minute or you will spend the night before cramming. If you ever need help or not doing well in the class, go to his office hours. He's willing to help you out and get a good grade. His class was very informative and it really makes you think about the impact that we have on our earth. Overall, Great class! TAKE HIM!


Sophomore
B
Required (Major)
Apr 2012
Preston is an awesome professor, probably top 3 I have had at poly. He cares about the subject and explains it in a manner in which you can clearly understand. He is very witty and keeps the class going with stories that are at times pretty funny. take the class, learn a lot, have a great time too.


Senior
A
Required (Support)
Dec 2012
This class was one of my favorites at cal poly. Preston had a good sense of humor and knew alot about the topic. Its a depressing class, but you'll learn alot. The tests are tough and its not easy.


Junior
B
Required (Major)
Dec 2012
Tough is good. Dr. Preston expects a lot out of his students, and you will learn a lot along the way! Go to his office hours if you don't do well on the midterm...he is very willing to help you out as long as you are putting in the effort and understanding the material.


Sophomore
B
Required (Major)
Mar 2013
Dr. Preston is the best teacher I have had so far at Cal Poly. He is very smart and interested in what he is teaching, it made me wish that the class lasted all year. His tests are not hard if you read the books and go to his office hours. If you go to his office hours before the tests he will go over the entire test with you (not giving away any answers) but he does give you all the key terms you need to know, and hints. He is very accommodating for DRC students, and will allow you to bring a computer if you talk to him. Don't text or surf the web in his class, it pisses him off. Also do not miss any class, he takes off points if you miss, and it will hurt your grade, he also goes over a lot of stuff each lecture so just don't miss. I would recommend this class to anyone who is willing to work, its not an easy class but it is worth the effort. He is also very funny which is a huge plus.


Junior
A
Elective
Nov 2013
Best teacher and best class I've had at Cal Poly. Very knowledgeable professor with a sharp sense of humor. He manages to pretty thoroughly explore a very broad subject with a lot of interesting case studies. The readings were all really interesting (I've even shared some with friends/family). The tests are long but not too bad if you've paid attention and come to class every day. I still think a lot about what I learned in this class. I HIGHLY recommend Dr. Preston and GEOG 333.


Junior
B
Required (Major)
Mar 2016
Preston is one of my favorite lecturers here at Cal Poly. His tests are challenging and detailed but fair. If you go to class every time and read everything you'll be perfectly fine. His wit and knowledge always keep classes interesting. His classes typically consist of two midterms and a final exam. If you're seeking a D5, I enjoyed GEOG 333 more than 301 or 325, both of which are related subjects.


Sophomore
A
Elective
Apr 2016
I loved this class and Dr. Preston. He is very personable and an interesting dude, which makes him easy to listen to. He also normally has nice structure and clarity in his lectures. He has a very dry sense of humor and is often sarcastic, but at the end of the day he genuinely wants his students to do well. The grade is made up entirely of 3 non-cumulative exams, but each has a LOT of detail on them. However, if you do the readings and attend lecture it is not very hard to do well as long as you study properly. I'd recommend making a google doc and putting the notes from the readings and lectures all together and studying from that. This is most insightful class I've taken at Poly and I think everyone from any major can benefit from it. I took this class for the sustainability minor coming from a background in econ and I was able to do well. You won't regret it!


Junior
N/A
Required (Major)
Feb 2018
FUCK THOSE LONG ASS TESTS!

SOC 333


Junior
A
Required (Major)
Jun 2006
Dr. Preston is an amazing teacher whose lectures truly changed the way I think about the world. I think the issues presented in this class are so timely, and the lectures/readings so well thought out, that it should be a requirement for all majors. His exams are difficult, but if you take good notes and do all the reading carefully, you will do well.

POLS 350


Junior
D
General Ed
Dec 2012
WORST TESTS I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED!!! (Im not sure if Preston was fully responsible for the tests, because the class load was also split up between him and Emmit Evans.) Whatever the case, the tests were way too long, and had you falling asleep by the end. The reading assignments were 50 questions of the test, and with 250+ pages of reading, you have absolutely no clue what to expect for these questions. The grade you get in this class will not adequately reflect the amount you actually now. The highest grade in the class was a 91%.......... DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS FOR YOUR AREA F!!