Nikolai Wasilewski - Pepperdine University's Graziadio School of Business, Malibu, CA

Professor: Nikolai Wasilewski

Department: Business

College: Pepperdine University's Graziadio School of Business, Malibu, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: STGY659
• 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:

Professor Wasilewski is, hands down, the best professor I had while pursuing my MBA. While his course was one of the hardest that I've taken, it was also the most useful. If you want an education, not just a degree, take his class!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: STGY659
• 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:

Worst professor on EARTH. 30 page syllabus, but still somehow unclear on deliverables, he lectures and when asked to repeat what he JUST said he doesn't remember! He is ambiguous in answers and gives more work than any 3 classes at pepperdine, belittles you for asking questions and highest grade on midterm was a low, Feedback on paper is illegible!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MBASTRA
• 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:

I have no clue why you guys cry because he is hard, I learned so much with him. You just have to stay focused.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: STGY659
• 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:

Avoid at all costs. Even if it means extra traffic, avoid him. Runs his class like we're in the Soviet Union, unless you're into that, avoid him. Suggesting that you avoid him is not an exaggeration - avoid him. Really, avoid him.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: STR685
• 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:

Entered our class with the words that he hates teaching students in Malibu; when we asked for examples of his assignments he mentioned giving them to his previous class and then he stopped talking. And then he looked so upset that some people cheated! Never answer questions, harsh grader, and there is always a scandal in his class. So unethical!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: STRAT659
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The type of professor that teaches because it gives him complete control over others lives for a little while. Do not cross him. There is no "academic discussion" in his class simply his rules. He labors inconsequential points and speeds through relevant material. Worst professor I have had at Pepperdine, no current real world experience.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: STRAT659
• 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:

Absolutely the worst professor I had at Pepperdine. He belabored the same point all night-I wanted to throw myself out the nearest window. His feedback was nothing more than useless, illegible chicken scratch. I had good grades throughout the program, but not in his class. Expect your GPA to be ruined by him! I suggest you find a better strat prof!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MBFE659
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I work in the strategy organization of a Fortune 500. Was looking forward to an academic approach to strategy. This is surely the most ill informed prof who has ever attempted to teach the subject, absolutely no real world connectivity. Oh, but we got to write 250 pages of bull that served no purpose whatsover. Impossible to understand grading c

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: STRATSTRA
• 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:

Obscure Grading, Terrible teaching style, focus in on Strategic analysis for 90% of the course. Does not cover anything else. His feedback is horrible and you don't know what he wants from you. He offers "advisement" but never gives you any useful advice and have to keep guessing on what he wants from you. 3 project (35-70) pages each. Avoid him.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MBFE659
• 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:

Spends the whole term discussing "how to sustain a competitive advantage". Does not cover 3/4 of book or material to be tested on. Feedback is chicken scratch and un-legible. Pompous attitude--will make you rewrite proposal at least 3-5X. All about following orders/directions in the class--no creativity. Drop class or risk a bad grade.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: STRA1234
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This professor is AMAZING!!! He does demand a lot, both in quantity and quality. He holds students accountable and will not accept mediore work. However, you will learn a tremendous amount and walk away with valuable knowledge and skills that are relvant and useful for the real world.

Rating # 12

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Must be really specific and use "strategic" terminology in order to do well. Specifically SPELL out what a company's competitive assets, core capabilities, and core competencies in order to do well on papers and analysis. Tough b/c totally different than functional aspects of business

Rating # 13

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

When your efforts and grades are indirectly related, there's something wrong with the level of instruction. Houston there is DEFINITELY a problem here. Mentally self absorbed and condescendingly aloof. Un-real world preparation from a board member in a NP Org, get a real job!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: STRAT
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Horrible instructor. Absolutely avoid if you have an option. Cryptic in grading criteria and instruction.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MBFE653
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This is the worst professor I ever had. He was difficult to work with and inflexible. He also did not clearly communicate what he expected from us and then graded us with a ++ and -- system. I have been a student for close to 20 years and I have never been given a ++ or a --. Make up your mind!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MBFE659
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Brilliant, caring task master who helps you learn a lot. He is demanding and expects quality mba-level performance. You take his class if you want to prepare for successful top management jobs. You will be unhappy if you take the easy way out. The heavy workload is worth it. He is a master teacher.

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Was sent to clarify aspects of upcoming simulation. Spent an hour talking down to the class about how the strat sim differs from the others, and failed to make his point. Alienated and annoyed most of the class

Rating # 18

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

A detail freak, but you learn a lot. Class is heavy workload, regardless of prof. Final evaluation of prof was much better at the end of the class, when we realized that there WAS a method to his madness.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: STRATEGY
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

You won't like him for 14 weeks until it all comes together in the end. Then you spend the rest of your life thanking yourself that you had the courage to take his tough course. He will seem like madman at first, then genius in end. lots of work.