John Coley is a Psychology professor at Northeastern University rated 3.99/5 by 270 students, with 3.29/5 difficulty and 75.0% who would take them again (TRACE + RateMyProfessors + Reddit, updated July 2026).
John Coley professor reviews and ratings: 3.99/5 from 270 student reviews at Northeastern (75.0% would take again). TRACE + RateMyProfessor + Reddit.
if u have the option DONT take this class. its not easy and all these ratings are insanely inaccurate. grade is 3 exams + 3 papers + final. hes truly a great guy but his grading is obscene for an elective course. the class is literally a busy work course and is composed of defending your gray area thoughts. take a diff course if u can.PSYCH3540 2025-12-10 22:30:04 +0000 UTC
Had Fall 2019, Honors section. 1 paper & 1 quiz for every unit (of which there were 5 or 6). Both require explaining concepts & applying to own life, no multiple choice. You really have to understand the material to do well. I recommend reading the textbook, paying attention to lectures, and using ungraded group activities as learning experiences.PSYC3466 2020-12-17 00:30:07 +0000 UTC
Dr. Coley's class was set up in a very unique way. Students had 5 quizzes and 5 papers, but one paper and one quiz was dropped to help students succeed! He was always very clear in explaining the material and made a lot of jokes that were usually pretty funny! I really enjoyed his class, and although he was a tough grader, I would take it again!PSYC4524 2018-04-26 12:06:10 +0000 UTC
In actuality, he's a friendly professor. But because of the class's seminar style, it's very hard to realize that. If he had lectured us instead of having us do discussions, we'd learn a lot more from him and get to know him better. He's a very harsh grader and has really strict standards. To improve: give lectures, ease up on grading, give XC workPSYC4660 2015-05-02 23:01:34 +0000 UTC
Prof Coley is the best... His powepoint presentations are crystal clear and makes it really simple to take notes. You really need to go to class, though, if you want an A. Most of all, he is so helpful during office hours & and helped me get an internship at Yale Cognition Center. Perpetually engaging & the kind of prof you wanted to meet at collegPSYC4526 2011-07-08 02:18:34 +0000 UTC
Took him for cognitive development and I hadn't taken development or cognition before so it was really tough at first. He worked with me and was extremely helpful in helping you to understand the material but also to improve your grade. He wants everyone to do well and I think that's a special quality that not all professors posses.PSYCH4524 2010-05-18 16:13:41 +0000 UTC
John is the most awesome teacher ever! He is so nice and his lectures are always interesting! He makes a lot of the assignments options, you take 7 quizzes and he grades 5, which makes a good environment to learn. You get to read lots of papers and discuss interesting topics! Take this class for sure!!PSYU562 2008-12-12 16:58:27 +0000 UTC
Coley is a touch professor. I thought this class was very hard. I went to nearly every class and was still lost in the mass amounts of information he assigned. If you dont go to class, you're screwed. he has lectured slides you can print but unless you go you wont understand them at all. 5 short papers, 1 midterm, 1 final. Nice guy, boring materialCOGN466 2007-05-09 19:42:55 +0000 UTC
He's an extremely helpful teacher and explains concepts really well. He's very genuine and clearly ENJOYS teaching, unlike most of the professors I've had here. Coley is fantastic and highly recommended.PSYU446 2007-04-03 20:41:02 +0000 UTC
Great teacher. The material is sometimes daunting, which is just how cognition is sometimes, but he does his best to make it clear and interesting. He posts the powerpoints online but you really won't understand what they mean unless you go to class but they serve as a really nice reviewer. When given a choice, I always try to choose this prof.LIN466 2006-11-07 19:51:52 +0000 UTC
This guy's class was great. Plain and simple.CHILDDEV 2005-10-22 07:08:47 +0000 UTC
excellent teacher. EXCELLENT.COGNICHILDDEV 2005-10-20 14:35:19 +0000 UTC
Good class, kinda tough but worth taking with John.RESEARCHMTHDS 2005-09-17 18:38:11 +0000 UTC
Totally cool, totally accomodating. If you have any issues whatsoever, he'll go out of his way to help you out. He's a lot of fun, and so into his area of study.COGLABDIRST 2005-09-08 09:50:13 +0000 UTC
his lectures are great and he posts all of his power points on blackboard. tests arent all that hard and hes a pretty easy grader but he puts too much info in the review sheets as compared to what is actually on the tests, which makes them more difficult than they should be. i recommend his class.COGNITION 2004-11-21 18:22:08 +0000 UTC
John Coley has an average rating of 3.99/5 from 270 student reviews. 75.0% of students said they would take them again.
John Coley's classes have a difficulty rating of 3.29/5 based on student reviews.
John Coley has taught ENVR3540, PSYC3540, ENVR5410, PSYC5110, PSYC5115, PSYC5410, PSYC3973, PSYC4660, ENVR5115, HONR1310, PSYC4524, PSYC4628, PSYC3466, HONR3310 at Northeastern.
Data updated July 2026.