John Ahner - Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Professor: John Ahner

Department: Mathematics

College: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MATH2300
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Ahner is fine with lectures until he gets to the more difficult topics of Multivariable Calcalus. It was a fine experience, but the fact that your only grades are test grades is a little stressful. The final will bump your grade down.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MATH2300
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He lets you use whatever calculator you want on exams, which is huge. Your average in class is just the average of your 4 exam grades. Attendance is totally optional, and he gives you all the HW assignments (all of which are from the textbook) on the syllabus. Overall, avoid 2300 if you can, but if you have to take it, Ahner isn't a bad option.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MATH2410
• 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:

Sweetest man you'll ever meet- make sure to show up to class and ask questions if you have them. One test is dropped, and it is clear that he wants everyone to succeed. Difficult to reach outside of class, but has not changed his tests in years and they are very predictable. Easy A if you can get old tests/study efficiently. Just go to class!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MATH2420
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I like Ahner. He's a good guy and genuinely wants his students to do well. That being said, his class is not easy to do well in if you aren't good at tests. You do get a drop, but tests are worth 100% of your grade (no HW and no quizzes). The tests are straightforward, but the format is such that a small mistake can totally screw your grade over.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MATH2300
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Very dry lectures that honestly are not helpful at all. I read the textbook and I learned everything I needed to. Do the optional HW and understand the sheets he gives in class and you will do well ( tests are just copied from these problems). The class is 3 tests and a final and that is your grade. Typically a page of T/F and 3-4 open response

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MATH2420
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lecture-wise, he's pretty straight to the point (though I found the material itself hard to follow sometimes). However, if you aren't a good test-taker, don't take him; grades are determined solely by midterms/final (though you do get to drop one). Test difficulty are roughly the same as (optional)hw and his in-class examples

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MATH198
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

ugh.. I definitely regret taking his class. I am not the type of person who's good at tests. So this class is killing me since it only has test grades. Also the tests r not hard, but u can not make any mistake at all which is like hell to me. Some people find it easy. But if anyone is like me, avoid. I am a math major... but this is the worst .

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MATH198
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Four tests and a final mean that you have nearly 0 margin for error in the course. Test problems themselves are not difficult, but the multiple choice questions are tricky and super easy to miss 10 or more points on.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MATH2420
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

four tests and the final make up your entire grade. tests are not very easy but you do get to drop one. class moves quickly. if you cannot make it to a test for any reason, you cannot make it up and that counts as your drop.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MATH2600
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Do the daily homework and ask him about the ones you couldn't figure out. If you are consistent with this, you will definitely get an A.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MATH175
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is a bit dry, although his jokes do bring a smile to the face. The class and tests are straightforward, and one can tell Dr. Ahner knows his stuff. A genuine guy and a nice class.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MATH175
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Did not provide intuitive explanations (e.g. geometric) of concepts like delta-epsilon proofs, partials, curl/divergence, etc., which are essential to understanding what the math actually means. Instead, focused on memorization. Tests were predictable, easy: 10 T/F, 4-5 free response from HW or handouts. He is fine if you already understand MVC.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MATH175
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are not very clear and are easily supplemented by reading the textbook because he follows the textbook exactly. Tests are fair but they are easy to get a B or worse by making any mistake on a single free response question. His non-mandatory homework is very helpful as test prep. All that said, it was an enjoyable class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MATH198
• 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:

Homework is not graded. Tests are ok but if you are wrong in 1 problem, your grade will be super low

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MATH198
• 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:

Boring and annoying lectures. His jokes were pretty funny at first. But after a week, they became lame and extremely annoying. His tests are okay, quite predictable. You'll probably learn a little from his class though. But overall, he's a nice professor.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MATH198
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Class is too easy. T/F on exams sometimes throw people off, but if you pay attention to detail (definitions and theorems), they aren't bad. Actual problems on the tests are of equal difficulty to the hw, so you know what to expect. Doesn't like ppl who don't attend class, and he usually refuses to help you in his office if you miss class regularly.

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Class is a joke. The tests are easy and based on memorizing the book.Dont count on Ahner teaching you anything though, he just spends his time lecturing you about the rest of your life. And should you dare to ask an interesting question will be shot down. Skip class and teach yourself. If you never need d.e. again take it. If you are a major avoid!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MATH259
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you are a hard-working type A student, don't take this class.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MATH175
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are very dry, not much easier to understand than the book. No homework or quizzes. Tests are super easy. Calculators permitted. Good class if you just want an easy A and don't care if you learn anything. Otherwise, it's probably too easy.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MATH175
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Ahner gives lectures that are basically a repetition of what is in the book. Do the homework, don't bother going to class, and you'll be fine. It gets annoying though when he says "I can't give you an answer to that question." Only the annoying girl with the high-pitched voice ever got a straight answer from him the entire semester. Easy A.