Nikos Gatsonis - Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA

Professor: Nikos Gatsonis

Department: Engineering

College: Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ME5108
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He told me on the first day of class that he won't help me outside of class. Not helpful and puts as little effort as possible ( or so it seems) into creating a class. Uses the same notes year in and year out, and doesn't seem interested in the students at all. Horrible handwriting and his notes are difficult to follow.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: AE2713
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Lectures were heavy on derivations over practical examples, and his handwriting is hard to decipher. He has a contagious energy for the topic though, and you can figure out most everything from the super-extensive formula sheet he posts. Take-home tests were straightforwards, though homework was graded harshly with little relevant feedback.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: AE2713
• 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:

Gatsonis gives a lot of lecture notes but does not do enough examples. The homework is hard for the wrong reasons and the TAs' usually are terrible. However, he keeps his word when he says the test will be straightforward and well thought out so you're not thinking yourself in circles the entire time. He is helpful during office hours.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: AE5101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's an excellent professor only if you ASK QUESTION. He knows all the material by heart and is willing to explain in detail with you.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: AE2713
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very inspirational and appreciates all forms of math and science from simple linear algebra to vector calculus. Would take again.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ME5103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Gastonis has sloppy handwriting and his lectures were verbatim from a textbook. CFD could have been a great class, but it was a lot of Numerical Methods and really not much Fluid Dynamics. Good news is it's 100 % homework, but be prepared to spend 20 hours per week on it. Make some friends in the class so you can bounch ideas off each other

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ME3602
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Gatsonis is an incredible scientist. The man may be difficult to follow at times but if you want to learn from the best you take his class like a man. His course hands down change my view of engineering all around.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ME5101
• 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:

Terrible Professor ! You send him and email asking for help and he does not respond at all. You ask him for help after class and he says you should know how to do this or this is easy. Runs through the material and does not care about anything but his research. This professor is the worst I've ever had !

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ME2713
• 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:

He is by far the best professor I have had. He keeps a class interesting and interested. He will gladly provide more details, and wants his students to excel.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ME3602
• 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:

Going to class will not help you for tests, and homework will not either. Hope you have jun as a TA

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ME2713
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Had gatsonis for 2713. He knows how to teach that course well.ME 3602: Gatsonis does not take the course seriously. All concept, refusal to post HW solutions, refusal to meet after class. Gatsonis is a good, smart man who has serious issues as a professor. He believes his methods, and his exams fully dont think of mentioning anything being unfair.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ME3602
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I'm not sure how to rate Gatsonis. ME 3602 was pretty awful, but ME 2713 was amazing. I think it was due to organization. ME 3602 was really poorly organized, while ME 2713 was _always_ organized into very clear 2-column notes. Highly rec'd for 2713. Definitely not for 3602.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ES3001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This professor would not be a bad professor if it weren't for a few bad traits. 1) His handwriting is completely illegible 2) he skips over key points in examples and expects you to 'fill in' the missing points yourself 3) his tests are unpredictable 4) He will not help you out if you do not understand. Overall, he is smart but a bad teacher.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ME2713
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Not a bad professor at all. He goes pretty fast but this course had a ton of material to cover. Be prepared to spend a ton of time on the homework though because you need to know the material like the back of your hand to finish the tests. Tests take over 50 minutes even if you make NO mistakes and never stop to think.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ME3602
• 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:

Great professor for smart students. If you struggle with the material, this class can seem very daunting and he is not very helpful. But for students who are eager to learn and fairly good at math and fluids, his clarity and explanations are rivaled by no other.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ME2713
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I know he has some pretty low ratings, but I really liked him. I think he does an great job explaining concepts. He goes pretty quickly but if you pay attention and go to class, you will learn a lot and the course is easy.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ME3602
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Rips through material and expects you to have an endless reference guide built into your head. Test are tough and you'll never be able to guess what will be on them. Only does examples that are already in the book. Might as well stay at home and read...don't forget to do the HW, it;s generally a big chunk of your grade!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ME3602
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you like going to class just to be more confused, there is no better teacher than this guy. He does not care about the student and he doesn't mind giving tests that are unreasonably to long for the class period. He sucks, switch professors at all costs.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ME3602
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Bring a pillow for your pillow, because your pillow is going to get bored by his lectures. His final was an unsteady-state problem, which was bad because it was the only one we ever did in the whole class. God, what a toolshed he is.

Rating # 20

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Had this professor for MQP. He wasn't too bad, but he took a very hands off approach to the project. Would peek his head in every now and then, but other than that stayed locked up in his office.