Professor: Calvin Chen
Department: Political Science
College: Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA
Rating # 1
Overview:
- Course: POL359
- Grade Received: Not sure yet
- Overall Rating: 1.0
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: Yes
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: No
- Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
would never take a class with him anymore. the professor does not know how to lead an in-class discussion. Did not learn anything from his class. the readings are so dry and boring. Never give clear requirement(not even a prompt) for those writing assignments but just keep making you feel terrible by his feedbacks
Rating # 2
Overview:
- Course: POLITICS388
- Grade Received: A-
- Overall Rating: 1.0
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: Yes
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: No
- Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Egoistical, lonely man seeking validation from students. Repeatedly recommends his own book, which he authored nearly 2 decades ago. He photoshopped his face onto a photo of Mao Ze Dong which hangs behind his desk. Out of touch with contemporary Chinese politics. Visibly shows preferential treatment. Knowledgeably exercises authority arbitrarily.
Rating # 3
Overview:
- Course: POL208
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 1.0
- Course Difficulty: 2.0
- For Credit: Yes
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: No
- Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
An aggressively mediocre professor. He cares too much about being liked and wants to have a reputation about "being tough." But his points in class are all kind of basic and his readings are just busy work.
Rating # 4
Overview:
- Course: POL106
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 5.0
- Course Difficulty: 3.0
- For Credit: Yes
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: Yes
- Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Readings are intense. Gradings are fair. Class is super fun. Go to his office hours and participate in class. You won't get a bad grade if you get your work done.
Rating # 5
Overview:
- Course: POLIT106
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 3.0
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: Yes
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
I took this class because it was a requirement for my politics major. It was never clear from his side what the class was about and was expecting far too much reading for a 100-level class. He also has a very specific way that he wants you to phrase things which is constricting.
Rating # 6
Overview:
- Course: POL208
- Grade Received: A
- Overall Rating: 4.5
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Prof. Chen can be intimidating at the beginning, especially when he lays out all his requirements and readings. But as the class proceeds, you will find him a humorous, patient and knowledgeable professor. Go to his office hour as much as you can, let him know your problems and worries, he is willing to accommodate students' needs
Rating # 7
Overview:
- Course: POLITICS208
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 4.5
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Prof Chen's expectations are challenging but not impossible. An excellent lecturer and very enthusiastic about helping students (He wants you to succeed!). I learned more in his Chinese Politics course than in any other class at Mount Holyoke. If you can, do a thesis with him. It's totally worth it!
Rating # 8
Overview:
- Course: POL106
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 4.5
- Course Difficulty: 5.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
He's a very difficult teacher and assigns a lot of reading for an introductory class, but if you're willing to put in the work you'll learn a lot from him. He's also quite funny. The only problem is that his essay questions can be unnecessarily vague and unclear; it's sometimes hard to tell what the topic of discussion should be.
Rating # 9
Overview:
- Course: POL106
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 3.0
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: N/A
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Is nice unless you get to know him. Very arrogant, insists on being called "Professor Chen" or "Doctor Chen", assigns way too much reading for an intro class, and insulted me once during office hours. On the plus side you learn a lot from him, but you have to go through a lot to do it.
Rating # 10
Overview:
- Course: POLITICS388
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 4.5
- Course Difficulty: 5.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: N/A
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Chen is a genius. His classes are a ton of work, but I highly recommend taking a class with him if you want a professor who'll push you to the next level. Don't think I've learned so much from one professor since Kavita Khory.
Rating # 11
Overview:
- Course: POL106
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 2.0
- Course Difficulty: 5.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: N/A
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Intro to Comparative was incredibly boring, we never got to talk in class and there was a TON of reading. (Lots of which was really boring as well.) The midterms were extremely difficult and you have to do a lot of memorizing. He likes to talk constantly.
Rating # 12
Overview:
- Course: POLITICS228
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 4.0
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: N/A
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
I have learned a lot in the class. Prof. Chen has a lot of energy and you can tell that he enjoys teaching. There is a ton of reading (more than some 300s i have taken.) Overall, very demanding but very rewarding.
Rating # 13
Overview:
- Course: POL106
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 2.0
- Course Difficulty: 3.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: N/A
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
simply put: horrible. his grading system doesn't make any sense. if you don't write essays the way he wants you to - regradless of whether you have the correct information- he won't give you a good grade.
Rating # 14
Overview:
- Course: POL106
- Grade Received: A
- Overall Rating: 5.0
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: N/A
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
A LOT of readings and information to cover in the class. But his lectures are very informative and help you understand the previous readings dramatically. All in all, a really good professor!
Rating # 15
Overview:
- Course: POL106
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 5.0
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: N/A
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
He's straight. In all the meanings of the word. His class is a bit tough, but hey, what isn't!
Rating # 16
Overview:
- Course: POL106
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 5.0
- Course Difficulty: 3.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: N/A
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
He's a great guy and an excellent professor. I learnt A LOT in his class, and he was always helpful during office hours and fun to talk to. The readings are NOT excessive. They simply give you a lot of information, which is the whole point of learning, right?!
Rating # 17
Overview:
- Course: POL106
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 2.0
- Course Difficulty: 5.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: N/A
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
He can be very condescending to students privately. The smallest things get on his nerves and he drags you into his office to berate you for it instead of taking a more mature approach. Treats students like they're still in high school basically. Beware.
Rating # 18
Overview:
- Course: POL06
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 4.0
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: N/A
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
I love his class! Sometimes it's hard to keep up, but he really want students to do well. He tries his hardest to help. I learned SO much.
Rating # 19
Overview:
- Course: POL353
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 5.0
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: N/A
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Prof Chen is a great professor! I learned a lot. The readings get sorta dry (a bit excessive), but overall they are good. He likes students to show initiative, chat with him - he is intersting, and interested in his students. Excited guy.
Rating # 20
Overview:
- Course: POL353
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 5.0
- Course Difficulty: 5.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: N/A
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Still new-ish and very demanding courseload, but you learn alot in class and can clear see how you progressed throughout the semester..great professor!
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