Donald Balch - University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC

Professor: Donald Balch

Department: Economics

College: University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ECON224
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I'll be honest ECON 224 itself is a hard course. Then add a teacher who is sometimes incomprehensible make the course more difficult. He is a nice guy but he lacks communication.the tests are extremely hard-seek outside help! However he gives curves on tests,extra credit, drops quizzes based on attendance. come to class. He's nice guy bad teacher

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ECON224
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

DO NOT take ECON from this guy! Not much outside help. Literally had no enthusiasm for what he teaches. Terrible at explaining things. Speaks at an almost incomprehensibly slow pace while simultaneously writing and saying every word on the board.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ECON224
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Attendance is not taken, but weekly pop quizzes are given. Quiz average counts for 30%. Attendance based off how many quizzes you take counts for 10%. Quizzes are hard! 2 hourly exams counts for 15%. There is a chance to earn some extra credit on tests. Study guides are given. Final counts for 30%. He doesn't use powerpoints or post notes online.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ECON224
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS. All he does is write some definitions and draw graphs on the board for you to copy down. He doesn't know how to explain anything, and the graphs are not drawn to scale or in the least big legible, and when you ask him if he can make it more clear he refuses. I have been to every class and still am worried about passing...

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ECON224
• 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:

Did not care for this professor. He does give alot of extra credit but you really need it. I found if you use your notes and the book to study for the tests you do much better. I did not do well on the tests and made a B. He is monotoned and boring.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ECON221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Really nice guy, and really helpful professor. His tests are not easy, though. Tells you that the book is not necessary, but I found that his lecture notes are not enough to understand the concepts in as much detail as you need to for the exam. If you're serious about doing well in the class, he will make sure that you do - he's very helpful.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ECON224
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I wonder about kids today: so the guy/class is boring, it's ECON! YES, you need to come to class! I'm no math wiz, but I had a 100 class average going into the last test. He gives SO much extra credit. Here is the truth, take him if you go to class and don't need to be pampered/beg for a higher grade. All in all, if you fail his class, you're dumb.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ECON224
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

After being in college three years and having this class my first semester of college in 2007, Balch is by far the WORST professor I have ever taken in my college career. He rambles on & he gets frustrated at himself as he constantly writes mistakes on his notes on the bored. Find someone else to take Econ with, because this man is an idiot.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ECON224
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Really boring professor. Easy class, alot of the 4 tests that are 25% of grade come from the book. He teaches directly from his notes. I didn't care for him, but he isn't a bad professor and he's a nice guy

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ECON224
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is boring, I'll give y'all that. But honestly, he's old and it's economics, so you can't expect much. Tests and quizzes are your only grades. Honestly, pick up the book and read it because it's very clear and explains what you need to know for the exams. And honestly, Dr. Balch gave a huge curve in the end, so if you try, you'll do decent...

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ECON224
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

hes test are extremly difficult, explains the info really well. but hes test are almost impossable to get a high score on

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ECON224
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Not a great teacher. Gives pop quizzes all the time and can't convey what he's trying to say very well. Don't bother emailing him, he won't respond. Do not take his class

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ECON111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He was awful....If you dont come to class you will not get the notes because he writes everything on the board and very rarely refers to the book. I hated this class he didnt do a good job of explaining, he does not involve students in the lecture. This is not the class to make an easy A.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ECON224
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This man was awful. He is very boring and has a monotonous voice. His test and quiz questions are impossible. I'm naturally good at ECON and I got a 44 on his first exam. He isn't helpful, his class is super boring, and his tests and quizzes are extremely difficult. Take another professor.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ECON224
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

he is really hard because he goes really fast and then does not explain very well. i suggest not taking him.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ECON224
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class was hell. Boring, monotonous, reads right from the book, and calls out on people and then is rude when they don't know the answer, even though it's his fault no one understands cause he's such a bad teacher. If you have to take him, read the chapters from the book before the test and know EVERYTHING on his review sheet.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ECON224
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Do not take him!! Classes are not mandatory but he gives quizzes at least once a week. Worst teach at usc

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ECON224
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Worst teacher ever

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ECON224
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

His dull monotone voice remind me of Ben Stein, except Balch is totally devoid of any humor. Hard to be enthused to go to this class especially when scheduled at 8am. I advise you to switch sections - YOU'LL BE HATING LIFE IF YOU TAKE HIS CLASS.

Rating # 20

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

The most boring man I have ever met, and also kind of rude. The material isn't nearly as hard as it seems when he teaches it, just read the book and you'll do fine. Make sure you study before every class because there is usually a pop quiz, even though he only counts five of them.