Mike Fich - University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON

Professor: Mike Fich

Department: Science

College: University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHYS270
• 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:

Honestly probably the worst prof I've ever had. I didn't learn a single thing. He relies too much on powerpoints that he obviously made years ago and doesn't review them before class so he makes a billion mistakes. His tests are based on tiny details from these powerpoints. Maybe stick to your research instead of teaching, Mike.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: SCI238
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Modules are long and slides are hard to follow. Textbook isnt very useful. Lots of math and physics.. Professor does not give accurate information about whats on the final. Be prepared to be shocked.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: SCI238
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is clearly very passionate about what he teaches. I didn't mind the depth he went into despite this being an introductory course. He took the time to update videos and clips to keep them well up to date and is really humble and kind despite being high profile in his field. Loved his little fun facts!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: SCI237
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's nice enough, but his slides are all awful (multi-coloured / comic sans) and he teaches so many irrelevant concepts that everything is over-complicated. He never stops to engage the class, and he never answers questions. However, he breaks up the lecture with a video, and homework is easy. Only take this class if you love and know the subject!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHYS270
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Relatively solid lectures, though the slides were pretty useless. The course material was fairly simple, but there wasn't much information available.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHYS236
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you like constantly being let down again and again take this class. Gives out false information, ends class early to go to Starbucks, does not care at all about your education and etc. Awful.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHYS236
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Doesnt even pretend to care if you are struggling. When I spproached him the week before the midterm asking for extra help, he referred me to an online resource that would teach me how to use python. Lectures are insanely boring and he always stumbles over himself. but, Powerpoint slides make absolutely no sense on their own so still go to class

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHYS236
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I rated 1,1,1 because that's the lowest allowed. In reality I'd rate him in complex numbers-because his awesomeness is imaginary! Absolutely horrible prof. Makes mistakes on simple problems. Assumes that everyone in the lecture is the next Godel. Fatal typos in powerpoints involving python code. All round 0/10 ggwp

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHYS236
• 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:

Wow. That's the best I can say. Reading the course material from online resources helps a whole lot more than going to his lectures. He over-complicates pretty simple ideas and screws up a whole lot which leads me to believe that he doesn't really know his stuff.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHYS236
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Horrible prof. Very unorganized, inconsistent at posting lecture notes and assignments and has on multiple occasions given false information. Try to avoid taking classes with Mike Fich at all costs.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHYS270
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If you dont have take Phys 270 DONT, it is the most unorganized course ever plus the labs are even worse the TA does not know what he is doing and the labs have no relation to the worse. If you have to take the course, buy the textbook lectures are COMPLETELY useless.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: SCI238
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Nice guy, definitely knows his stuff and good lectures but I just slept through most of his lectures. Easy assignments although prepare to dig through the slides for equations. Midterm and final were free marks if you study the slides. Helpful within reason at office hours. We never used the textbook, don't buy it! Does have pretty pictures though.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: SCI238
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Mike is incredibly nice, a very enthusiastic and crystal clear lecturer, and a very interesting fellow. The class content was easy and presented very well. The assessments were straightforward and simple. Mike also is a very unassuming high profile astronomer; his anecdotes are amazing. One con: uses Comic Sans on his slides.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: SCI238
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Very enthusiastic about the subject and explains everything very clearly. The assignments were very easy, but covered the most important topics, and the midterms and final are very easy with a bit of preparation.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: SCI238
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Took it online. Beginning of material was boring, near the end was more interesting (galaxies, stars/stellar evolution). Assignments were easy (also an easy marker). Final was a bit trivial; practice exam did not help whatsoever.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: SCI238
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Took distance ed. Solid class. Very interesting content, but it is quite heavy for an elective class. He explains things well, but much more detail than I expected from an intro/elective course.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: SCI238
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Apparently he is very hard if you're taking phys 115, but for SCI 238 this guy is awesome. His notes are very detailed, he is very intelligent, and is also very nice. The assignments are easy, but they do make you think a little. Sci 238 is an interesting course and he tells you interesting things. He is also an overall great guy.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: SCI238
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great prof, really loves teaching the course, always tell little stories about things related to the lesson. Not sure why his rating is so low, it should be much higher. Seems like a really nice guy as well.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: SCI238
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I hate to see this guy's rating so low because of the people taking Phys 115. If you're taking SCI 237 or SCI 238 you'll really enjoy his class. Does a very good job explaining the material in the lectures, and usually has a good story or interesting facts about the topic at hand. If you pay attention, you'll have an easy, interesting class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHYS115
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Attending Lectues were useless. Read a textbook instead and do problems and that works as a better lecture since he is so annoying and screws up too much.