Nelson Lacey - University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Professor: Nelson Lacey

Department: Business

College: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: FIN301
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

So very bland. Lacey does not even attempt to make this course interesting. if you aren't a finance major, this course is something you just have to suffer through. Exams are tricky but there are tons of extra credit opportunities. Overall, this is just a course you have to suck up and take. No real takeaways from this.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: FIN301
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Great guy overall.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: FIN301
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Lacey is so genuinely caring for all of his students. Online quizzes are reasonable; not difficult at all if you study in which I suppose everyone should. He offers extra credit plus participation points through iClicker (highly recommended everyone to participate). Available during office hours; generally, a great guy.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: FIN301
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Easy class to pass with the extra credit opportunities. Homework are automatic As and the tests aren't that bad as you have a cheat sheet. Lacey is a nice guy but not the best professor.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: FIN301
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Lacey's class is very interesting and hes a pretty good lecturer. Easy exams (cheat sheet allowed), retake opportunities and ridiculous amounts of extra credit make it an easy A if you put in some effort.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: FIN301
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Nelson is the MAN!! He puts in a lot of effort for his students to succeed as he creates awesome in-depth notes and gives a lot of feedback on quizzes. He wants you to do well and actually learn. Plus you get a cheat sheet which is super helpful on exams. It's not a bad class at all if you just put in some effort!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: FIN301
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Mr. Lacey has been one of my favorite teachers in Isenberg because he cares so much about his students learning. He creates his own notes booklet that is very in depth which is super helpful to follow along in class. He gives extra credit that will boost your grade by a lot. Unless you're lazy, its hard to not do well in his class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: FIN301
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Lacey seems to take pleasure in going on tangents about nothing and explaining the most basic, derivative finance topics in the most arduous, complex manner possible. He's so easy to tune out, and if you get lost, it's hard to find your footing. Loads of extra credit opportunities make the class bearable, and the exams aren't the worst.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: FIN301
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Lacey has a great understanding of the subject but often goes off on tangents for things that we won't get tested on. Offers a lot of extra credit so even if you're not great at taking tests, you can still get an A. Exams can be tricky and harder than what we do in lecture but if you study you will be fine. Cheat sheet for exams is a lifesaver!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: FIN301
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is an extremely caring guy that knows that the majority of the class is non-finance majors so he tries to teach the big pictures. He teaches all the math problems in lecture (with extra credit clickers) and the conceptual things are left for you to teach via the useless OWLS and textbook. Nice person, mediocre-at-best professor.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: FIN301
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Most interesting class I have this semester but I'm a finance major so I may be biased. It can be challenging and details are important but its overall fair.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: FIN301
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He claims to have over 50 publications in the field of Finance but his formulas are derived from thin air. His insufferable pessimistic view of the stock market clearly indicates that he has lost lots of money in his field. Almost turned me off of Finance entirely. AVOID.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: FIN301
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This is a tough class, but Professor Lacey isn't terrible. With it being taught in such a large lecture hall it can be pretty easy to tune him out since he is so soft-spoken. The tests are tough, but doable if you work for it.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: FIN301
• 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:

Lacey is a good guy. Class has easy homework and a good amount of EC opportunities. 2 quizzes and 2 exams (all MC) will decide your grade. You bring a cheat sheet to the exams. If you can pull off a B+ average on the exams and quizzes, the EC should get you an A.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: FIN301
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Lacey is an okay teacher, sometimes I feel lectures could be finished in 30 mins instead of 1hr15. Finance is definitely math based, which is why I liked it. The 2 exams (all MC) were pretty easy except for a couple of questions, same with the 2 online quizzes. To get extra credit go to class and participate in the online stock competition.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: FIN301
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This class wasn't so bad. Not the best at actually teaching but the extra credit is a big help and the HW takes like 5 minutes. He likes throwing curveballs during quizzes/tests though. But quizzes are online and you get a 2 sided cheat sheet for the exams. No reason you shouldn't do well. Don't buy his book but buy his course notes.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: FIN301
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

My greatest tip: go to the optional review sessions with TAs. They will actually teach you the material. Lacey himself does not do well with this task. You will need the course workbook he makes, and the textbook to get an A. It is not impossible, the textbook is not terrible- honestly don't need to go to lectures though (extra credit is given)

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: FIN301
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If you follow along using the course packet during lectures, you'll do fine. He records lectures so you can always go back to it if you get lost. Extra credit opportunities are available. Do the practice quizzes and exams, very helpful. Quizzes are timed, online, not in class. Cheat sheets allowed for exams.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: FIN301
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Stay on top of the material, lectures are long and boring and theres only 2 quizzes and 2 exams so its pretty easy to slack off but its almost impossible to catch up. Do the extra credit.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: FIN301
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This class really isnt that big of a deal. Before I signed up for it people were warning me that it would be so tough, but honestly it is very straightforward. If you do the 5 minute homework, do practice exams/quizzes, and study a bit, its pretty easy to get an A. Lacey is no help at all, but the material is easy and his course book is useful.