Jim Geelen - University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON

Professor: Jim Geelen

Department: Mathematics

College: University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CO255
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Covers so many topics in an intro to CO course as he is such a smart professor. Difficult assignment, better start assignment early and go to his office hour. When I went to higher level CO courses, I realized how great he is. His class is hard, but makes your life easier in future CO courses.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CO442
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Took the course only because I heard he's famous in his research field; it turned out to be one of my favourite courses in Waterloo. Lectures were at a good pace and the explanations were generally very clear. Assignments were pretty interesting (seems like he invented some of the questions himself). The final was all regurgitation.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CO642
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

great prof, very clear lectures, straightforward final. tells bad jokes at least once a lecture but his delivery always makes them quite funny.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CO446
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Assignments are long, but as one of the other professor says, "It's good for your soul". Makes you double check your sanity and question whether or not you should pursue mathematics because he himself is too bright a guy.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MATH239
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great prof for smart students!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CO342
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I've been at UW now for 6 semestres, Geelen is in the top 3 of profs I've had. Organized, helpful (and very available), writes large on the board. Understands that students are taking other courses and is willing to extend assignment due dates. Assignments tough, but final was fair, of 5 questions he gave us 2, told us 2 were from assignments.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CO350
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The Midterm is hard and i really dont know wut he is talking about in class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CO642
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

awesome teaching. rarely uses textbook and most of the proofs he presents are his own. Assignments are tough, very very tough, but fun anyways!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CO644
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Extremely brilliant chap. Has high expectations from students. Often makes long complex arguments in one short sentence.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CO350
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

worst prof ever

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MATH123
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Geelen is one of the most ill-mannered and offensive people I've ever met. Like the fellow below aid, he knows how to interact with equations, but doesn't know how to interact with people. Everyone hates Geelen.

Rating # 12

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Jim Geelen is an extremely rude and offensive piece of work. He might be good at dealing with equations, but he doesn't have a clue how to deal with people. Jim Geelen ought to learn some basic manners and social skills.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CO351
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

worst prof ever!!!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CO351
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

the worst prof ever!!!He knows nothing!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CO350
• 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:

smart guy, but very rude

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CO454
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

you ruined my life... I hate you....

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CO454
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Taking Scheduling with Jim Geelen was my BIGGEST MISTAKE in university. Consider that the course is PURELY theoretical and even though most people worked their butts off 40% of the class got a mark under 55. You've been warned.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CO351
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

course itself isn't fun. he is available outside class but not really helpful. just give you another lecture which you didn't understand and will not understand.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CO351
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dry course, didn't do much to make it better. Almost everything taught was the same material as the course notes (slightly different presentation). Apparently he wasn't teaching slowly, since he had time to do midterm and final review... but it felt very slow most of the time.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CO454
• 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:

Seems like a good guy. Unfortunately he 1) does NOT enjoy teaching this course, 2) is out of touch with the real world, and 3) believes a proof of an algorithm is far more important than an actual example to help students understand it.