Martha Selby - Iowa State University, Ames, IA

Professor: Martha Selby

Department: Engineering

College: Iowa State University, Ames, IA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENGR160
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I walked into this class with no coding experience, and that ended up being my downfall and the reason I dropped. The assignments are graded very harshly, and i really wished I hadn't fallen behind. If you go in for office hours, she's nicer than usual. Which isn't saying much. Maybe half our class ended up dropping, so it gets stressful.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENGR160
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Selby is tough but fair. Lectures are good with lots of group problems which were always relevant to the tests. The homework problems were all good, but we had to do a write up for every one which was graded harshly. Assignments were weekly, but it wasn't uncommon for one to take more than 4 hours.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENGR160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very poor at teaching and a tough grader on top of that.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENGR160
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Has someone else grade all of our papers - some grad student. Makes exams tougher than needed.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MATE215
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Martha is a sweetheart... said no one ever. She is a great teacher though. She is a little strict but her teaching skills have to be praised, not once did I took notes in the class. Exams were easy and make sure you understand the concepts (review the homework) for quizzes and there wont be a problem in the class. I really liked lecture, it was fun

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MATE215
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I had Selby for both ENGR 160 and MAT E 215. She was horrible in 160 but much better in 215, which isn't saying much. Simply not a nice person. She teaches concepts well, but very quickly. Take notes only on what is necessary otherwise you will miss concepts that may be important. She does not give enough time on quizzes. This class made me work.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENGR160
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Not an easy course with her.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENGR160
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Excellent prof. Outwardly she may seem a little chilly at times (she doesn't tolerate tomfoolery), but she is a very good teacher. Makes you work for an A, but it's most certainly doable.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENGR160
• 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: Mandatory

Comment:

She is a decent professor I will give her that. Though, she make the homework 10 x's harder then it needs to be. And DONT YOU DARE work with a classmate or ask them questions on a homework assignment you will get a 0 and a talking to (she notices it I promise.) Finally, if you don't want to put 6 + hours 1 night every week for this class... Drop.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENGR160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Boring class that teaches a hodgepodge of engineering concepts. It is very hard to pay attention in the class. If you don't understand a concept in class she is very helpful at explaining it in her office hours.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENGR160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Selby is a hard grader but she makes the class interesting trying to teach people about boring programming. She writes all the tests so she tells you exactly what will be on them which was helpful when studying for the tests! If you do the homework and follow along in class you wont even have to study for tests.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENGR160
• 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:

She insists that work be done accurately and well, which is good going into the real world. If you take the homework and in-class exercises seriously, then the test is really easy. I feel like I've learned a lot having her.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENGR160
• 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:

A very good professor, if a little demeaning when asked a stupid question. She will not give you help in class, but will set up office hours any time you ask, and will work over email to help you with problems. Tests are challenging, but she tells you exactly what is on it and with SI, the class is manageable.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENGR160
• 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:

I hated this class, and had to repeat it. My kind advice is not to take with her. Try taking with Guiping Hu , else Jacek Koziel.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENGR160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

grades alot tougher than the other proffessors in the department, me and my brother turned in identical assignments to our teachers he got an A+ and i got a D-

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENGR160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Selby really knows what she is talking about. She is helpful if you ask questions or email her with problems. I do think she wants students to do well in her class, however the tests and homework I feel are graded much harder if you have her. Not an easy A but she does write the tests so she stresses whats on them.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENGR160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A Great Professor! She is hard, yes but if your an engineer what do you expect? She is one of the best 160 teachers and will help you do well in not only Engineering, but physics and other programming classes also. You are lucky to have her.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENGR160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very Hard grader and a fairly poor instructor. Not the worst I have had but far from the best.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENG160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

After i took the course i really did not like her. I did learn many skills in her class that other students did not develop. I am better off for taking the course with her!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENG160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

She was not the greatest of teachers, but always really open and flexible to help. Responds to emails very quickly.