Nicholas Zabaras - Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Professor: Nicholas Zabaras

Department: Aerospace Eng. & Mechanics

College: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MAE5700
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The difficulty is progressive. The final outcome is impressive. ANSYS and MATLAB in the pocket.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MAE5700
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Really good professor. One of the only classes that will remind you that you are at Cornell University!!! It's a lot of work but its really worth it. Every single engineer should take this class!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MAE4700
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

great

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MAE4700
• 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:

One of the hardest classes I took at Cornell. That said, by far the most useful, and applicable to my life as an engineer. FEA is really worth understanding.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MAE5700
• 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:

Intense course. Homework is not easy but extremely helpful. Lectures are really good.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MAE4700
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Difficult course but you can succeed;attend lecture, study the lecture notes, and attend office hours. The professor was a good lecturer who wrote clear, thorough notes. This course is a great resume enhancer because of its applicability to industry. It also gives solid theoretical understanding and the professor is very willing to be a reference.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MAE4700
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Lecture was disorganized, usually unclear, and he taught only the hardest parts of the material in class, requiring studying through the lecture slides to learn the rest. Group homeworks were exceptionally hard, and frequently not helpful. First exam was brutal, second was OK. Final project was a lot of work, though leniently graded.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MAE4700
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A professor who's only interest is productivity. Α successful teacher, but a failed educator and leader. Students are not slaves, but critical spirits..

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MAE5700
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

During a recent interview, I was asked questions related to FEM/FEA and I was able to draw my answers directly from this course. The interviewers literally started taking me much more seriously after I explained some of these things in detail. I've never been as challenged as I was in this course, but it has paid off greatly.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MAE5700
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The course gives an all-around perception of the finite element method. The methods are basic in FEM but they are of great importance in the further study. The Professor gives excellent presentations by introducing the most core things in limited time. It's the most impressive course I've taken. Though I didn't master everything, I learned a lot!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MAE4700
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

One of the hardest classes for an undergraduate. His comments are all caustic & sarcastic which over an extent makes you feel sick & dizzy! He is good at teaching but sitting in class can be painful because of his comments. His TA's just cannot speak English - it sucks!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MAE4700
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This class was the most valuable class I've taken for my Master's degree. The material was complex, but explained well. Zabaras had thorough slides and the material was hard at times but possible to understand. I really don't think my education would be complete without this class. It's so valuable!!!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MAE5700
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Useful class for Graduate students.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MAE4700
• 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 don't like somebody, send him to this class. Terrible!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MAE5700
• 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:

Studying FEM was an experience. It was not easy for sure, but I believe it is going to repay big time later. I like the way the entire program is structured...its fundamental!!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MAE4700
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Interesting material. Professor Zabaras is one of the smartest and funniest professors I have had at Cornell. Lectures are enjoyable. Do NOT take this class if you do not plan to work very hard, but if you are looking to actually learn the material, this is THE class to take.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MAE4700
• 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:

definitely one of my hardest classes at cornell. many hours spent and near-allnighters pulled. useful class though. the subject is really good.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MAE4700
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This was the hardest course I have taken at Cornell. Zabaras expects hard work and genuine quality work. He has high expectations, but he is fair.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MAE5700
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The course was fun, lots of sleepless nights, tough mathematical slides but you get a hang of them in the end. Assignments got us all crazy & exams were not so bad! He is extremely intelligent & expects his class to perform & apply common sense!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MAE4700
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Extremely difficult class, but if you put enough effort and time into it, it can be very rewarding. The lectures can be both impossibly confusing and extremely interesting, and I've been on both ends of the spectrum in this class. Pay attention, go to office hours, and put a lot of effort in, and it will be worth your while.