Allen Plotkin - San Diego State University, San Diego, CA

Professor: Allen Plotkin

Department: Engineering

College: San Diego State University, San Diego, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: AE280
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Don't sweat this class, it isn't bad at all. He only changes the numbers on all his tests, so find some old tests and cram the day before each midterm. 50% is passing, so if you actually care about your career you won't have a problem. Only gripe is partial credit, super brutal on that. Just don't be half right I guess.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: AE320
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

He's a good dude, profound in his respective field. Never took him for AE 280 , but had him for AE 320 and the tests were fairly straightforward (all or nothing could either help or hurt you) made it easier for studying. Overall interesting reads in the textbook exploring Earth orbit transfers as well as interplanetary transfers.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: AE280
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Your best and easier option for AE280 at SDSU

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: AE280
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

The guy is super hard to follow but as long as you write everything down in class you can figure things out yourself to prepare for the tests which are very similar to the homework and practice tests. If you can do that then getting a decent grade will not take much effort. He rewards the very few people who go to class with info about the tests.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: AE280
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Constantly skips arithmetic steps in his lectures. Unorganized. Often rants about random information, mid-problem. Criticizes class for not correcting him if he makes a mistake. Entire grade is just 4 exams, which only have 5 problems each. Circles multiple equations in one problem. Still wonders why 3/4 of class skips his lectures.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: AE280
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Doesn't use blackboard. Lectures are incredibly slow most of the material has to be learned outside of class. Take this class with any other professor

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: AE280
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

During lectures you'll find yourself completely lost and it can make you anxious. However, he gives solutions to his hw and old exams and if you just devote like two evenings before an exam to learn the methods, you'll do fine. He gives you everything you need on the exam, you just need to find out how to use it. Much less work than any other math.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: AE280
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

3 exams (20% each) and a cumulative final (40%). Doable without the book. Gives an old exam 1 week before every exam. Each practice question is EXACTLY what the test will ask, just with different numbers/setups. However, Plotkin doesn't have clear grading criteria. Sometimes he'll deduct 3%, other times he will deduct 10% without clear reasoning.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: AE301
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Very tough grader. Messed up a negative sign on a test problem and did not receive any credit for the problem at all.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: AE280
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Plotkin was pretty horrible. Don't even bother getting the book since his lectures teach you something completely different (and harder). He only gives you credit on tests if you do it the way he teaches. Doesn't use blackboard and your grade is composed of 3 midterms and the final. I highly recommend taking someone else for this class.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: AE280
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Easy engineering class. You don't need the book just understand the practice tests and you will get an easy A.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: AE301
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

His lectures are all over the place and boring. His exams are hard and he's a tough grader.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: AE280
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Book is useful halfway through the semester, but after that he starts teaching with his own method and won't give credit if you use another method, even if the answer is right. Exams are similar to his practice exams, but he grades HARD. Miss one step in your answer and thats 75% of your points gone. His lectures are long, messy, and boring. Meh.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: AE280
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

There are 3 exams plus a comprehensive final. Exams have 5 questions but tripped me up since some werent like the hw or practice exam. I always attended class and did hw but didnt do well on the exams since I felt nervous and pressured (20 pts a question). Marks points off without indicating why or what was wrong. Didnt set students up to do well.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: AE340
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

really bad professor

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: AE304
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

This professor does NOT know how to teach. Half of the class is falling asleep during lectures, and homework is not worth anything. There are only 2 exams plus the final, so if you fail one it's very hard to pass this class. Get ready to teach all of the material to yourself cause he does not help at all!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: AE340
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Boring lectures and doesn't know how to teach. Don't bother going to his office hours, he doesn't help at all.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: AE301
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Worst teacher in the engineering department

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: AE301
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

If you want to pass the class with an A, you should really consider going to every single class, listen to him, take notes and do the homework, if you are stuck, you can go ask him and he will be more than happy to help you. Exams are based mostly on his notes and the equations he provides. I always like taking Plotkin classes

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: AE280
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Goes by the book. If you are a visual note taker, avoid this class. My notebook after one lecture was filled with nothing but formulas with no coherent steps or instances to use them. 2 midterms and one final, each have a small amount of questions so if you miss one there goes 20 points.