David Gurarie - Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH

Professor: David Gurarie

Department: Mathematics

College: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MATH223
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I had Gurarie for Math 223. Though his accent makes him hard to understand and he can be quite boring, he is a very thorough teacher who gives lots of examples and repeated explanations. The hardest part is the WebAssign homework assignments and the tests seem a lot harder than they actually are and have a lot of extra credit questions.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MATH224
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Homework was graded very strictly, while tests were a lot more generous. Extremely difficult to learn from, and honestly I dont think I really learned anything. Would strongly recommend a different professor.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MATH201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He gives lots of extra credit in the homework and test.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MATH201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

You really have to pay attention to his lectures, and they sometimes are unclear, so be prepared to use the textbook to review. However, he is a nice guy and very knowledgeable, and he will answer any questions you ask. The homeworks are also sometimes confusing, but the tests are better.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MATH227
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Do yourself a favor and do not take his class. His lectures are hard to follow, his accent makes him hard to understand, the 'special' homeworks are impossible, he is extremely condescending if you visit him during his office hours, etc.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MATH223
• 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:

He is a very smart man but horrible professor. I didn't learn anything from him and had to learn all my material from the textbook. DON'T GET HIM AS A TEACHER!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MATH227
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I recommend Professor Gurarie because he is an extremely intelligent individual who has a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. His lectures can get confusing but read the textbook and you'll do fine. Be aware however, he's not for everybody.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MATH223
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is a nice person, and very smart, he is just a terrible teacher. I would say to take any class but his, but a lot of the math 223 teachers are not the best, so choose wisely. His "teaching" is incredibly unhelpful, and if you want to get a good grade, expect to read the math textbook for help, although the textbook is not very helpful either.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MATH224
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I didn't really learn anything about differential equations. But the tests are not hard b/c he allows cheat sheets.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MATH201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are useless. The amount of people that actually showed up to class is a testament to how pointless they are. Don't expect to know what he'll ask on exams. He teaches from someone else's book that was catered to his class at MIT.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MATH227
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I personally really liked this guy. He isn't for everybody but he's real nice and clearly knows his stuff. Lectures can be a bit confusing (he has a slight accent), but if you show up and GO TO OFFICE HOURS, you'll be fine. I think he has fun teaching and likes helping people who ask for it. Tests are reasonable and HW is basically a definite 100%

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MATH201
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

A textbook example of brilliant but incredibly incompetent lecturer. David Gurarie is unable to convey information. His lectures comprise bizarre drawings "examples" using mathmatica and asking unanswerable questions. What makes it worse is that he laughs at students when they ask questions. Seriously. The worst prof I have ever had. DON'T TAKE IT.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MATH224
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Didn't learn anything about analytic solutions. He's into real world applications (like epidemics, predator-prey systems, etc). That being said, this class is not your average Dif Eq class. Be prepared to load up your cheat sheet with every possible formula and model talked about in class, and you'll probably get a good grade. Mathematica's a MUST

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MATH224
• 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:

Don't take this class if you need practice problems because this guy doesn't do any.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MATH224
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Difficult to understand but he's very intelligent and helpful during office hours. Carefully read the textbook and his online notes - he focuses on specific examples on tests. Tests are very difficult but if you make a good "cheat sheet" for the exam (1 per test) then you'll do okay. He seems to curve the class at the end. (And do well on the hw!)

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MATH224
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Incredibly smart guy, but incredibly horrible professor. I couldn't learn the way he taught things. Find someone else if you actually care about learning differential equations.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MATH224
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Difficult class due to long homeworks and computer use- but prof is EXTREMELY SMART, and explains things very clearly. Expect to study very very hard, ask for help (if you talk to him during office hrs you will understand everything) and YOU WILL GET AN A. absolutely doable- you get what you put in to the class, ATTEND CLASS ALWAYS!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MATH224
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The best math professor at case. After taking Gurarie's class, I have never had any trouble in any other math class. Sure, I spent a couple all-nighters on procrastinated homeworks, but if you have basic motor skills, you're guaranteed at least an 80 on the exams. Mathematica can be used for anything and makes life so much easier

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MATH224
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Not nearly as bad as people say. He assigns a lot of homework, but if you do it and attend class you will be fine. His tests are the easiest things ever - he gives tons of partial credit and there are always extra credit questions. Also - learn to love Mathematica.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MATH224
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Useless professor, You're better off reading the book than going to class, Tests seem to come out of nowhere, notes are incomprehensible, LOVES mathematica, TAKE THIS CLASS FROM SOMEONE ELSE