Kenneth Ragan - McGill University, Montreal, QC

Professor: Kenneth Ragan

Department: Physics

College: McGill University, Montreal, QC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHYS131
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Ragan was a good prof, his lectures were interactive but if you start skipping his classes you wont be able to catch up! He doesnt solve that many problems during lectures but you should definitely attempt to do all the capa and challenge questions. Dont be afraid to talk to him, go to his office hours, he really does care about his freshmans

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHYS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This is a difficult course that you'll really need to work for to get a good mark. Ragan is a good prof and I find his lectures funny/entertaining but he does not explain concepts very well. He speaks very quickly and usually leaves his students feeling confused after the lectures.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHYS101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Ragan is incredible. The course isn't easy, but go to all the lectures and do what he asks of you and you'll be more than fine. He's also super willing to help you out and - despite making the tests hard - really wants you to do well. Kind of like physics now.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHYS131
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The prof has a nice sense of humor, he makes you laugh in class. But every time you laugh at his jokes remember that he will make you cry in the exam.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHYS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His classes are like live comedy shows -- in terms of joy and fun.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHSY101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are so enjoyable.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHYS101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I love Ragan's memes

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHYS131
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

He's a really great lecturer (engaging), and has great demonstrations; I just feel like the tests were unnecessarily difficult and a lot of it was superfluous. I don't think I learned anything more in PHYS 131 better than I did in high school AP physics but the exams were much harder. Also seems really full of himself.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHYS131
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Prof Ragan teaches every lecture like it's his last. I personally struggled with this course (Failed the midterm) but he gave us a reason to believe that it was still possible to do well in this course. Put the work and effort into this course and you will do just fine. Ragan is very approachable too so don't be afraid to ask him questions.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHYS131
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Ragan is a good lecturer, although sometimes he talks too fast. You have to understand the concepts quickly and be good at calculus because Ragan uses calculus a lot. Exams are really tough. For those who will not take physics in the future, do 101 rather than 131.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHYS101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Ragan is an amazing prof, his lectures are amazing and very interesting. The midterm was fairly hard, but the final was fair. He gives you old exams to study off of, so I recommend those as well as redoing CAPA problems, and conceptual problems! Also, I would highly reccomend going to his office hours if you do not understand a concept!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHY101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He's amazing. Ragan is a legend in McGill! Very interesting course, fun demonstration in hard physics problems. Bonus marks will help you ace this course.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHYS131
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Tough class but Reagan's sarcastic comments make it all worth it. This class made me want to major in phys even though I didn't do as well as I'd hoped.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHYS131
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Phys 131 is possibly hardest class at McGill. If you have an option, take Phys 101 with Prof Ragan which is the easier option.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHYS131
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The bad: Very tough application Exams, hard CAPA. The Good: The prof is a genius, best demos and lectures and ready to listen to you. Description: ThE course doesn't care about your prior physics knowledge. I failed in my mid but passed (miraculously) perhaps for CAPA and labs. Be ready to cry, remain strong and ask when stuck(which is usual).

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHYS101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Ken is extremely knowledgeable, enthusiastic about the material. Exams are quite difficult & make you think but it is not impossible to achieve a high grade in this class!make sure to get that clicker participation and pre lecture quizzes done! Read most of the chapters and to study for exams , do past exams & CAPA challenge questions :)

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHYS101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Ragan is an amazing teacher! He made physics super interesting, and being in life sciences, that says a lot! He was super enthusiastic about the material and did many in class demos that were really cool. His exams are tough and require lots of practice; best tip is to review the CAPAs, past finals and Giancoli questions!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHSY101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Obviously a phys geek and really enjoys teaching. He lectures materials extremely fast so do your reviews and practices at home. Exams are quite hard, the best way is to do all past exams that you can find. Good luck!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHYS131
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Ragan is brilliant but also turns an easy course such as mechanics into a living hell for those who take physics 131 (101 is significantly easier To Ace so ignore if you take it). He teaches very well but exams are extremely tough. This year the average was 59% and it was pretty much middle difficulty. but he does give you a great base for physics.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHYS131
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great lectures! Do the exercises in the book, some of them are on the final exams...