Olga Kovaleva - San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

Professor: Olga Kovaleva

Department: Mathematics

College: San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MATH031
• Grade Received: D+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Never reviews concepts that students struggle with on exams. Expects students to be Calc 2 pros after a 50 minute class period which is unreasonable. If that were the case, then none of us would go to lecture. Exams are significantly harder than homework, tedious, and her grading is picky. No curves or partial credit, just pray you don't get her.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MATH031
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

You will need to be on top of every exam or it is so hard to bounce back. She expects students to fully retain the entire chapter prior to her lectures which is ridiculous. Even on the final she told the class "I should have gone over radius of convergence more", just do your best". Sad thing is, she NEVER curves, not even for the final exam :(

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MATH031
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Olga grades extremely harsh. Very picky on how things need to be written. Her midterms have been intense; you only get 50min to do what should be about 75 min worth of problems. The final exam she gave us covered more advanced topics such as Binomial Series that she has not explained well at all. Expects you to already know Calc 2 prior to class!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MATH031
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

In her eyes, class averages below failing is considered "fine". It's clearly not the case, and it is very concerning to know that more than 60% of the class has failed the past 3 midterms she has given. Wouldn't hurt to curve an exam once in awhile. If you're looking for an easy A, this is not the class for you. It's a struggle just to pass.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MATH161A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor gives clear lectures and tells you what you need to know. Sometimes, theory isn't as emphasized so if you want to learn stats, you'll need to study more on your own to understand it. Tests are exactly like homework. Allows 1 side cheat sheet and calculator for exams. One pop quiz a week based off homework. Do the work and you'll pass

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MATH073
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Koveleva is great! Her tests are exactly like the homework on WebAssign. She explains things very well and happily answers questions during office hours. She grades very nicely on tests and she drops one. You also get a cheat sheet for every test so as long as you do that and do the homework, it's smooth sailing. Some EC on tests as well.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MATH71
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I was afraid to take pre-cal. I had a d in algrebra 2 years ago and I didn't think this would be any easier. Luckily, I applied myself to the best of my ability, went to the tutoring center and got an A. Olga is extremely fair, very inspiring and does everything she can to help students do well. As long as you keep at it, you will do well.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MATH42
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Olga's such a great teacher. She has an awesome russian accent, which makes class super entertaining. You'll definitely get the grade you deserve depending on how much effort you put into the class. "Ladies and Gentmen," as long as you do your homework, you'll pass the class with a good grade. - Olga

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MATH42
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The class isn't bad. Homework is option but you should do it since the weekly quizzes have questions from the homework. Two midterms, the first one is a lot easier than the second. If you study you will be fine. The only bad thing is that the class is fast paced. If you try you should be able to get at least a B.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MATH42
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

HARD CLASS RECOMMEND DONT TAKE. I'm a 3.5 GPA STUDENT TOO. HAD TO ACTUALLY STUDY TO GET AN A-.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MATH42
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Best math professor ever. The homework is optional (no credit) but very useful and you can find the book online (pdf). She is clear and simple and the quizzes and midterms are based off the homework so if you do the homework, you will pass with at least a B.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MATH42
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Olga Kovaleva is a wonderful person and a pretty good teacher. I would agree that this class is for very motivated, self learners. Her lectures are pretty dry but she repeats them if you talk to her during office hours. She's very nice and understand. Don't take this class with CS46A + other hard classes. You will suffer.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MATH42
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I got an A+. Nuff said

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MATH42
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

She is a great teacher! Super Clear, assigns how however you do not have to do it, but if you do not do it you won't pass the weekly quizzes or the tests since the question are super similar and even exactly the same so I recommend doing your hw. Her lectures are super helpful and no need to buy book because it's online for free!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MATH42
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

She is very well organized and clear but she is monotone and the lectures are boring. We had quizzes every week so if you plan on being absent (from the boring class) you won't do well!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MATH311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Quiz every week but does prepare you for your tests. Do your homework and you'll do great!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MATH71
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Kovaleva is great. If you go to her office hours she'll help w anything she can. Do the homework, quizzes are based on it. Tests are made up of questions from the textbook, just different #s. She wants you to pass. I did all the assigned hw plus the webassign hw and the tests were super easy. Get a lab class to do the hw in, makes life easier.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MATH71
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Kovaleva has been very helpful. Explains material in great detail, very helpful during office hours, allows late work if you let her know what's going on, a few quizzes that are questions from the book. Only 2 tests and a final. Allows a cheat sheet on all tests. You definitely learn a lot in this class. I highly recommend taking her!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MATH42
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Dr. K is organized but does not move at a slow pace. However, she does check for understanding before moving on. This class will not be hard if the materials are read before the lecture (see How to Be a College Student on Google). Dr. K is helpful during her office hours also.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MATH71
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Kovaleva is hard and her examples in class are nothing like the homework and nothing like the exams. She needs to be more clear and show better examples. Asked for help and she just says the same speech as she did in class