Bret MacKay - Brigham Young University, Provo, UT

Professor: Bret MacKay

Department: Economics

College: Brigham Young University, Provo, UT

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ECON110
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The Econ 110 course is hard no matter which professor teaches it. He is a great professor. I would definitely take another course from him. A lot of students didn't like him because they were worried they wouldn't get into the business school after getting a low grade in Econ 110. It wasn't his fault, the class is challenging for a reason.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ECON110
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He seems like a down to earth guy with a decent sense of humor. But his classes are pure lecture. Some, or even mostly lecture is fine as long as there is some interaction between teacher and student. But there is none. And the practice tests are barely relevant to the midterms and final exam. He grades on a curve though, which helps.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ECON110
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I loved this teacher. Very respectful and eager to support his students. Tough class but good teacher.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ECON110
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. MacKay does a great job clearly teaching what you need to know for homework and tests. I only used my textbook (online) once. He is super nice and willing to meet with students at their own convenience to help them. I highly recommend him for this class! BEST Econ professor I've had!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ECON110
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Good enough guy. Doing homework doesn't help at all, meaning it doesn't prepare you for the tests. Lectures don't help either. Gives long study guides that give you an idea of what half of the test will be about, the rest is a mystery. It is impossible to adequately prepare for tests. Find another teacher or you'll end up taking it again like me.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ECON110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

ECON 110 is already notorious for being an extremely challenging class, but Prof. Mackay was fun and engaging, and made the material easier to understand. He is extremely willing to meet with you or help you outside of class if you contact him. Definitely need to attend lecture to do well. Would highly recommend his class if you can make the trip.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ECON110
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

ECON of course is a hard subject to take no matter who you take it from. But Mr. Mackay was really confusing throughout his lectures. Also the study guide had absolutely no relevance to the test. I would study the study guide over and over and then see none of that material on the test. I would advice looking elsewhere to take ECON.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ECON110
• 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: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I withdrew from this class on the Provo campus because it was too hard for the semester I had. Took it in SL this semester with Mackay and it felt like a whole different class. I actually understood it and it turned out to be my fav. Go to class. Take a couple quizzes online every week. 1 short paper. 3 Tests and a final. He's amazing!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ECON110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you can take this class from someone else, do it. There is a reason this is a second job for him.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ECON110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took the class in winter. Two papers to write from a question he asked. He clearly had said that there is no correct answer on the question of the paper. I did the paper, and got feedback from him that said that my answer was not correct. Didnt understand him.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ECON110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Grades on a curve that is strictly to your class, and if you take it in the summer when all the over achievers keep taking classes it is hard to get a good grade. I got A's, on the first 2 tests, a B and whatever the final came out to be and got a B in the class. I tried to contact him, no response. He's an Econ teacher so what do you expect.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ECON110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I enjoyed this class more than I thought I would. I thought class discussions were very interesting. Tests are hard, but he grades on a curve. Homework helps you for the tests. It also helps to do the extra questions at the back of the chapters. Prof. MacKay is very helpful and will meet with you if you need help.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ECON110
• 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:

Fantastic guy, knows his stuff

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ECON110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Not worth the drive to SLC, just stay in provo. Tests are a mystery, and class is boring! It is a hard subject no matter where you take it, but try elsewhere.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ECON453
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This was probably the most useful econ class I ever took at BYU. Mackay is unorgainized and you never have a clue what you are doing during the class, but the 5 econometric papers he has you write would help you when you graduate and go into the real world. I often refer back to those papers and they are good to add on your resume for skills.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ECON453
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I've never had a professor that was more open to helping the students understand material outside of class, He may not be the most organized, but his class really forces you to get into time series analysis, and process tough information.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ECON382
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

His test are not bad and he uses Nicholson. He puts crazy proofs on the board and does not explain why.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ECON382
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Lecture very unclear and unorganized. This class is a little easier than 380, but hard enough! The book explains most things better than he does, if you have the patience to read it. TA reviews are helpful, and getting an A is very possible.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ECON382
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof. MacKay is a nice guy, but he is not a super good teacher. He isn't very well prepared for each class, but he is really funny about it. Not the best class that I have taken in the econ dept.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ECON110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Mackay is unprepared. He teaches one thing and then tests you on another thing. If you have a GPA of a 1.0 take it from him--he rewards lazyness because his tests test you on things that are not in the textbook and were only breifly mentioned in class. O Ya, he thinks he is a king, and students are the the Royal Wipers.