Ray Klefstad - University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA

Professor: Ray Klefstad

Department: Computer Science

College: University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CS141
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I really liked this class. It had a lot of challenging homework. Yicong was super nice and helpful, and Klefstad was really responsive in office hours. I think the class made it difficult for the staff to help, because everyone just spammed Piazza. Take this class if you really like programming languages & if you like challenging yourself. :)

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CS141
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

There's some mean people in this RMP section reporting any positive review about the professor. I believe the teacher was really fair about the class. The assignments were challenging and fun. UCI lower division classes (Thorton/Pattis) definitely prepared me for this. I believe the lectures need improvement though. Finals should not have errors.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CS141
• 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:

The homework and quizzes are pretty easy. The test had a few errors on it. I didn't like the lectures. Anyone with ok programming ability could get through the homework/quizzes just fine.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CS141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Mercy!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CS141ICS5345C
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I had Professor Klefstad for CS141, ICS53, and ICS45C. I've got to say he has gotten progressively worse over the quarters that I have taken him. I don't know if he has just become too busy with other commitments or what, but the experience for CS141 was not pleasant. If you're not strong at independent study/research, it's going to rough. No more!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CS141
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Quizzes are fine. He preps you for those. What he doesn't prep you for is the homework you'll spend your life doing from weeks 3 to 8. If not for Yicong (TA) on piazza, this class would have been a massive disaster. Can be entertaining in lecture, but half the stuff he says is an unrelated opinion. Doesn't teach you much, you learn from the hw

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CS141
• Grade Received: INC
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This class is not for the faint of heart. You need to work on your assignments from day 1 because some of the material won't be apparent until some time after. You must be on piazza to pass because his curriculum changes, often. His homework changes, but updates are only on piazza. Search the "klefstad manifesto" to learn more from other students.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CS141
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Currently taking him. So far its a mix. He's not bad; but I haven't seen anyone better. Without a doubt, you will learn. Friends aren't doing so well, I only hear the bad end of it. I'm actively listening and learning w/out the stigma of the grade. You'll feel like you're for Trump *cough* Klefstad, or not. This was a consuming class most definite.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CS141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Only, and I mean ONLY, take this class if you are a strong independent learner (assume you don't have a professor). His assignments are long and extraordinary. He won't teach you anything but vocabulary. As for learning implementation, you are on your own to figure it out. The first 3 assignments are a cake; but the rest you have been warned.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CS141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Study his slides & homework , you still will not do well after 3rd quiz. Used to structure and clear grading criteria? He will grade you based on your talent. The homework will not prepare you. You need to look deeper and nitpick the language of topic (if you can finish the hw on time). Only take if you want a challenge & don't mind a lower gpa.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CS141
• 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:

Klef doesn't teach well. It is hit or miss. He is knowledgeable, and I wish so much that he would actually just talk about the material at hand, and give more direction on the HW. His instructions are unclear, HW can be frustrating, and grading questionable. Even more, this quarter for our class, he doesn't have office hours, because screw students

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ICS46
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

There was so much work per week, quiz every lecture and homework every week. Having him at 8 am was the worst thing of my life "JUST SAY YES"! How about no.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ICS53
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Klefstad's ICS 53 is a lot of work, but you will learn so much about systems programming. He is truly knowledgeable in this topic, but as per usual with Klefstad courses you will have to sit through many rants and raves during lecture. The course grading scheme is fair, but be prepared for mandatory labs and discussions (weekly quiz).

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: 45C
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Klefstad will make you work really hard and stretch you but he cares greatly about his student, is an amazing lecturer, very good at explaining concepts, and it's easy to pay attention in his class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: 45C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The class and assignments weren't well organized. His instructions and submission instructions were often frustratingly unclear. Additionally during lecture he would often get sidetracked by irrelevant life stories, when students just want to learn. On the plus side, I felt like some of the projects did enhance my C++ foundation.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ICS45C
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very engaging and funny, but the lectures don't teach much and homework is kind of vague. Easy content, though

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ICS45C
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Not a fan of him, but he is a nice guy. Pros: grading lenient, hw helps you understand material, not too much work. Cons: lectures notes and hw vague, don't learn much in lecture, sometimes lectures on the day the hw is due so self-study beforehand, didn't really teach pointers well. Self-study and you should be able to get A.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ICS45C
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is very humorous, enthusiastic and professional in C++. However, he sometimes deviate from the course notes and starts talking about unrelated things during lecture. 9 hw and 7 quizzes and each quiz is based on the previous hw. Anyway, it's a safe choice to take his 45C. As long as you work hard, you will be good.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ICS45C
• 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:

He is probably my favorite lecturer at UCI so far; his lectures are funny and engaging. But I don't feel as though I learned a ton in his lectures. The lectures were also a few days behind the homework assignments, so I basically had to teach myself most of the class. Towards the end, I started learning more when he did (optional) live quizzes.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ICS45C
• 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:

Alot of assignments, so good practice to become a better programmer. You learn by doing. Lecture time not useful. prof very opinionated, not afraid to humiliate students. its his room, his time. he said i love you students but I came to not believe this. fine, its hard to stand in front of a crowd everyday. somewhat scary behind smile. judgement