Kiril Tomoff - University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA

Professor: Kiril Tomoff

Department: History

College: University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST20W
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

You can tell he is passionate about his field. With that being said, the class is intense. Most of the detailed information will be oral & not on the slides. Midterm & final require memorization and thoroughness. Essays are harder b/c the TA's will grade it harshly. This is not an easy A (or B) at all but the material taught is worth the work.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST20W
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Tomoff 's class is hard. All of his TA's are hard graders. Expect to get a C or a B with effort. If you really want that A then you need to study everything that he has SAID because his slides don't make sense alone. He has study guides that are very helpful for the midterm/final. Be prepared to read a lot of boring texts. He's very passionate.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST20W
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The exams are absolute killer. There is so much to study, but only a few things of all the terms you've studied will be on the exam. The essays for the W credit is okay. The workshops you have to attend for them are elementary. Also, his lectures left me extremely tired at the end of the day. I liked the class, but it wasn't easy to survive through

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST20W
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lots of readings but do them! Took the W course so had to write 3 essays on top of the usual course material. Provides an EXHAUSTIVE study guide but will help if you put in the work. Provides lecture outlines. Copy+paste them onto your computer and take notes that way since he can lecture fast sometimes. Definitely hard work, but not impossible.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST020W
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Avoid this guy if you can. He lectures INCREDIBLY fast, skips over his own material in lecture, and is incredibly disorganized. It's a very difficult class and the way it's run doesn't even focus on the paper aspect. You're kind of left on a boat without a paddle. If you must take him, type your notes. It's the only way to keep up.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST20
• 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:

Tomoff is extremely passionate about what he's teaching. The lectures do get boring, but take a decent amount of notes to get the information. Make sure to read as the readings will be referred back to consistently. If you have any questions, go to the TAs before you go to him.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST020
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are not mandatory and usually long and sometimes boring. But it definitely helps to show up and pay attention. Trust me, its a lot of reading but just do them and ask for help on confusing ones.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY20
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Easy A class. Lecture was so so so boring. Never showed up to lecture and passed with an awesome grade. He never clearly explained anything. Just read off his computer the whole TWO HOURS. Would never take this prof. ever again. Watched netflix the days I would go to lecture. Do not pick this professor.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST020
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Tomoff gives you a study guide which is basically everything that is going to be on the midterm and the final exam. The readings may be tedious, but just read them. His lectures are dry, but make sure to pay attention because he doesn't upload them online so it's the only way you'll get notes.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST020
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

So. Many. Readings. Just do it, though. Just read.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HISE174
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Daily quicker questions mandates attendance, must do readings to get questions.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST20W
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This was just a tough class. No other way to say it. That said, it was not necessarily a BAD class. You had to go to lecture. You had to read. You had to write a lot. You had to study a lot. TAs were insanely picky on grading of essays. I have never gotten grades that low. But it all turned out okay. Just get ready for a lot of work.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HISE174
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Attendance isn't mandatory, but it definitely helps. There are daily clicker questions, which aren't too bad. Since they account for a 13 of your grade, it really helps to show up. Also, document your participation in your group project! I did not expect a B+ because there was lots of reading, but connecting with peers + Prof. Tomoff saved me! :)

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HISE146S
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dislike! your grade is practically based on clicker quizzes so you have to show up to every class and show up early sometimes gives quizzes right as soon as class starts. lectures are long and boring and he gets to caught up in what hes saying to stop and make sure you understand, really confusing throws out too much information too fast.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST20W
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He posts lecture outlines on Ilearn, but you have to fill them in during lecture. Not a hard class, but you do have allot of work and you MUST study in order to pass. Does post up "study guild", but it is so extensive in comparison to the exam. Lecture can get kind of boring. Again this was for a Writing class, so other classes may be different.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST20
• 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:

I had no interest in history prior to this class - now, I think it's fascinating. Tomoff lectures clearly and is very passionate about his stuff. Very approachable and charming in a history-geek way. Class format is powerpoint lecture with required readings, but they're reasonable length. Challenging class, but VERY informative.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST20
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Eh... by default I hate history and I'm history-stupid. I learned a lot in this class but since there was no textbook use (to help students save money as Dr. Tomoff said) I struggled and had to study a lot. Dr. Tomoff explains the content clearly though. GO TO CLASS! Otherwise, you're doomed. Really. He doesn't repost his lecture anywhere.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HISE174
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Amazing professor! I learned so much and he picked readings that supplemented the lectures, which were clear and informative. Attendance is mandatory and so is the reading (daily quzzies via clickers). But, this class was very interesting and I loved going to it every day. If you can put in the effort and attendance isn't a big deal; take it.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HISE174
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Hands down, one of the most charismatic and knowledgeable professors at this school. Just think of your stereotypical college professor: suit, office full of books, glasses, tall, well-spoken, smart. There you go.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST020
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I loved this professor. He was super nice and really helpful. People who complain about him are just lazy. He is a great professor and he really loves the subject. He has become my favorite professor here at UCR.