Issac Fried - Boston University, Boston, MA

Professor: Issac Fried

Department: Mathematics

College: Boston University, Boston, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MA121
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Essentially, he disregards the normal calculus rules/ways to do problems. Don't do it his way, you will do poorly. His lectures are not too good, he does not explain things too well and often goes on random tangents. Go to his office hours for sure, I will give him credit there and that he does a good job explaining concepts in office hours.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MA555
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This is unlike any class I've taken at BU. No textbook, all lectures and handouts. Being in class is a huge help, as he gives lots of hints about test questions and how to do the homework. If you carefully pay attention to how he wants things done, the tests and homework are doable. He's a quirky guy who cares more about learning than evaluation.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MA121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Goes over homework excessively then changes the material on the exam. He leads you to believe the if you go to lecture and do the homework the class is easy but it is horribly false. Also can't really hear/chooses to hear what he wants which makes it impossible to ask questions and actually receive a helpful answer.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MA121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

The best professor out there if youre looking for a very chill nice guy, knows his material very well, and the lowest anyone got in his class was a B, which by the way should never happen. Do the homework (which by the way he does not check), and you will guarantee at least an A-

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MA121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Terrible professor, not fit to teach. The averages grades in his class are appalling, no curve is added either.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MA121
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

very straightforward and there really is no reason to do well as you have every opportunity to get help. tests are exactly like the homework, no cumulative exams, printout available with all the course notes. maybe 3 people went to my discussion section so if you complain about a bad grade and don't go to that you're really the only one to blame

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MA121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great man, has interesting facts to tell. His tests are similar to the homework. Teaches the concept in class, but you have to go over it to understand what he is doing. He is available during his office hours and the student TAs are very helpful at understanding the homework.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MA121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Thick accent made him impossible to understand. I don't really mind, I've had some good professors with thick accents. The problem is that he sometimes forgets to show his work, so you really can't figure out what's going on. Online textbook isn't helpful. And you can't get your questions answered in office hours because its usually packed.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MA121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He's very confusing and grouchy, but the class is structured in a way that it's easy to do pretty well. Tough to get an A though, as you have to do well on every test. Yes or no?

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MA555
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is one of the nightmares in MATH department. Honestly. He cannot explain anything.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MA121
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

he is the best math professor in bu. take his class, do his homework , go to office hours and you'll do absolutely well.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MA121
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Fried is a pretty decent teacher. Though he comes off unclear during lecture, his office hours are more personal and he's willing to stay after class to help you with homework or going over your test. Just use the methods he teaches in class (not ones from hs). He wants people to pass and will let you retake tests so you can improve your grade.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MA555
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Doesn't use a textbook, so some of the lessons/homeworks are very confusing. Attending office hours is a must. He's incredibly helpful if you show him that you care.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MA121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Asking him questions is a nightmare. He doesn't listen to what you're asking and instead yells over you to make his point that has nothing to do with your question. He makes calculus as complicated as possible and spends the entire class explaining why calculus is the way it is rather than actually teaching it. I learned everything from the TA.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MA121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

MA121 with Fried is WAY easier than with any of the other professors. His exams are like the homework, but with larger numbers. If you don't prepare in advance and don't go to his office for extra problems you won't do well. He basically designs the class for you to succeed, but you can't be lazy about it

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MA121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Would have been an easy class if I didn't have to teach myself everything. Boring and had a really hard time understanding him, I'd recommend taking the course with someone different.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MA121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He's obviously a genius and for whatever reason insists on teaching calc in the most complicated way possible. He's really smart and the class is really easy. Have fun teaching yourself everything though.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MA121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's an adorable professor; he will make you laugh at how in his own world he is. The class is easy in that the tests are similar to the HW and there is no final, but like I said, he's in his own world. If you don't get him, you don't get him. I had to teach myself this whole semester in order to pass.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MA121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

A nice man and a good professor.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MA121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Very good course, because I only went to one class ;)