Which physics professor to take?

[BurstingEagle]

Professor A
Pros: tests are relatively easy, notecard given on each test, tests just like examples given in class
Cons: grades on a bell curve ( top 35% of class gets A's bottom 10% always fails etc) my edu grade distribution consistent with reviews, doesn't teach it well (students don't know much about physics after), very strong accent, barely speaks english

Professor B
Pros: Half your grade is based on the homework and participation, all tests curved a lot, only need 60% on tests after tests are curved for an A, don't have to take final if you want ( final can only help your grade) my edu 50% of the class gets A's
Cons: tests are very hard, homework not consistent with tests, no calc on exams, have to read book to understand, professor can be very rude (doesn't answer questions), lectures unhelpful (can end up teaching yourself)


Which professor would you take? I have a bad physics department at my school.

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[Skyrich]

B.

 

[JPodel]

Professor B will make you understand physics especially because you will have to invest time into studying from the books to get the material and do well on the tests.

I'd say take professor B. The notecard thing in Professor A's class won't really help you grasp the concepts and stuff.

You'll thank prof B when the mcat physics section rolls around.

 

[EnginrTheFuture]

Neither. They both sound pretty terrible. Can you wait for another professor in another semester? Is this only algebra based? Sometimes the Calc based professors are more into it.

God, I lucked out with my physics professors... they were freaking awesome.

 

[BamaNicole]

B.

you need to work at physics to be good at physics.

Also, not being able to use a calculator is a good thing. Think of it as practice for the MCAT where you can't use a calculator and you need to use mental math.

 

[askamsky51]

B.

hard = understanding concepts.

No calc = leg up for the MCAT (since as I've found recently some are unaware that no, you don't get a calc for it)


You also have to wonder if hard is a product of no calc (since professor difficulty is so subjective, often exaggerated, word of mouth--etc)

 

[Iso4ane]

Take physics with calc?
Physics for engineers, mathematicians, etc.

 

[BurstingEagle]

I am taking first semester algebra based physics

 

[Dreamstoo]

Professor A
Pros: tests are relatively easy, notecard given on each test, tests just like examples given in class
Cons: grades on a bell curve ( top 35% of class gets A's bottom 10% always fails etc) my edu grade distribution consistent with reviews, doesn't teach it well (students don't know much about physics after), very strong accent, barely speaks english

Professor B
Pros: Half your grade is based on the homework and participation, all tests curved a lot, only need 60% on tests after tests are curved for an A, don't have to take final if you want ( final can only help your grade) my edu 50% of the class gets A's
Cons: tests are very hard, homework not consistent with tests, no calc on exams, have to read book to understand, professor can be very rude (doesn't answer questions), lectures unhelpful (can end up teaching yourself)


Which professor would you take? I have a bad physics department at my school.

When I took Physics I. I took a Professor exactly like Professor B. However 60s on the exams in his class usually translated to a C+/B-. Class average on exams were about 68, class average after the final was a C+. I scored a 96 on the midterms (class average was 68). Walked into the final, kind of winged it lol. Got a 78 I believe, still got an A (only needed a 70 and it was my last final).

This term, I'm taking Physics II. My midterms averages are in the high 60s. I suck at electrics and magnetism. And I'm not a big fan of our professor, very abstract and IMO not a type of teaching style I find helpful. I'm on the quarter system and still in the class, class is curved and all I need is about a 83-85 on the final to get an A in the class. But its a lot easier said then done.

Personally I would chose Professor B. I had to teach myself Physics I. I used to go in class and I kid you not, watch movies on my iphone all the way in the back (attendance was taken). I just made sure I spent 3-4 hours on physics a week while most of my friends crammed the night before the midterms, hence my ridiculously high midterm average for that class.

 

[Iso4ane]

I am taking first semester algebra based physics

No I realized that you were taking physic with algebra.

My suggestion was that you take physics with calculus.

 

[Oo Cipher oO]

No I realized that you were taking physic with algebra.

My suggestion was that you take physics with calculus.

Only if you want to make it harder on yourself. Sure physics makes more sense with calculus but its not require for the MCAT.

 

[Iso4ane]

Only if you want to make it harder on yourself. Sure physics makes more sense with calculus but its not require for the MCAT.

Physics with calculus is not necessarily harder per se. It may be more difficult in some respects, but its not the calculus that makes it hard.

 

[Dreamstoo]

Physics with calculus is not necessarily harder per se. It may be more difficult in some respects, but its not the calculus that makes it hard.

I agree with this. Im taking calculus-based physics. At least at my school, it is a lot more well taught then the typical pre med algebra-based physics. For them 50s on exams = Bs. For us you really have to earn your grade, it gets curved in the end but you need at least a 70+ for an A, 60+ for a B (used to be more strict but recently they've made exams tougher but have started curving the calculus-based physics, something they did not do in my freshman year). It's not as lenient and forces the students' to really learn the information. For example, my exam average is about a 68-70 in physics 2 (E & M) and I currently stand at a very low A (need to score a solid 80 on the final to get an A).

 

[Oo Cipher oO]

I agree with this. Im taking calculus-based physics. At least at my school, it is a lot more well taught then the typical pre med algebra-based physics. For them 50s on exams = Bs. For us you really have to earn your grade, it gets curved in the end but you need at least a 70+ for an A, 60+ for a B (used to be more strict but recently they've made exams tougher but have started curving the calculus-based physics, something they did not do in my freshman year). It's not as lenient and forces the students' to really learn the information. For example, my exam average is about a 68-70 in physics 2 (E & M) and I currently stand at a very low A (need to score a solid 80 on the final to get an A).

You guys are right. Sounds a ton easier

 

[La Presse]

A.

 

[Dreamstoo]

You guys are right. Sounds a ton easier

At least at my school to get an A in algebra based physics is really difficult. I got an A in physics I (mechanics) with calculus based concepts (however for that class I was in the top 2% of the class in exams, I understand it a lot better than E & M). I've just known a lot of students who got very poor grades in algebra based physics because of the poor professors that teach it here. The class average tends to hover around a B-/B (due to the curve they do, usually a mid B uncurved equals a low A) in our calculus based physics courses and a lot lower in algebra based physics which are usually around a C/C+.