Patrick Sullivan - Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN

Professor: Patrick Sullivan

Department: Mathematics

College: Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MATH270
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Sullivan is the type of professor you have to adjust to. He is very soft spoken and has a tendency to ramble in his classes with no clear point in sight. That being said, he is extremely helpful and wants to see his students succeed. He spends a lot of time in his office and will help anyone who comes in. His homework is difficult.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MATH253
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I can't begin to describe the roller coaster of emotions this class has been. Imagine, if you will, a small child who has lived his whole life in solitude, knowing nothing of the outside world. That is who I was, compared to who I am now under the guidance of P Sully. His homework is ultimately what made me decide to pursue a double major in math.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MATH253
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The classes themselves aren't simple, and he certainly does not dumb it down. That being said, even if his teaching style doesn't jive with your style of learning, he is very willing to help if you ask. The homework assignments are hard - definitely don't wait until the last minute to do them - but the tests and quizzes are generally easy.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MATH253
• Grade Received: D+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Stood in front of notes on the board, doesn't explain his calculations, and gives incredibly difficult homework that rarely relates to what is taught in class.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CALC253
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Homework not very relevant to quizzes or tests; much of the material covered in class isn't covered on tests; khan academy is your only lighthouse-and a distant one at that-in the rough sea of Sullivan's Calc class

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CALC3
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

20% on the homework that you will not be able to solve. Be prepared to get at most 10% out of 20% on his homework, because he never gives full mark on any of his homework or exams... (DO NOT TAKE CALCULUS 3 WITH HIM, HE IS THE WORST WHEN IT COMES TO CALCULUS 3)!!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CALCULUS 253
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I took calc 3 with him, his quizzes are super easy, but the homework is ridiculously hard the problems he picks are far too advanced for his students and I don't know anyone who ever did better then a C on any of the homework assignments.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MATH253
• 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:

Never looks students in the eyes. Lectures are the most confusing thing ever. Never explains why he is doing something. Never gives partial credit. Never explains why your answers are wrong (just marks points off) for homework and tests.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MATH131
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Was easy to work with

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MATH131
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Gives lots of helpful practice problems and is very laid back. Will help if you ask for it but otherwise you're on your own. Weekly quizzes and only 3 tests for the semester. If you're paying attention the stuff is relatively easy

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MATH234
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Almost always looks at the ceiling, made eye contact with maybe 3 or 4 people the whole semester. He lectures kinda like he's telling a story or learning the material with the class ("Let's try this...that didn't work. Oh, how about this?") and sometimes throws in funny comments. Nice hair, very approachable if you ignore the lack of eye contact.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MATH253
• 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:

The homework is pretty hard. Make sure you do the optional practice problems because those are the type on the quizzes and tests. The tests are moderate difficulty if you study for them. He may seem unapproachable, but don't be afraid to ask for help. He is a really nice guy who will always try to explain it well.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MATHSECT
• 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:

I had Sullivan for three classes in the late 1990's. He is a genius. Take his classes! No - I do not use Calculus today, but the way he challenges and teaches you is worth the work. And he cuts his own hair and rides his awesome bike to school.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MATH434
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Who can hate a guy who rides his bike to class when its ten below zero?

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MATH234
• 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:

He is very strange and never looks at the class. I mean the guy looks like death warmed over. I would be afraid to ask him for help. He often skips steps and assumes you know certain things that evreybody might not know. He grades terribly harsh...I mean I got 20 points off for getting one single part of a problem wrong!!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MATH131
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Decent prof, made calc understandable.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MATH114
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I had the class four days a week at 9 am and i usually only showed up twice a week usually one random day and on fridays because theres a quiz every friday or a test. I would have ended up with an A if i would have actually cared about studying for the final but instead i went out and partied and went out and came to the final hungover.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MATH124
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great teacher that fits the quirky college professor stereotype. Explains everything very well and will stop to expain further if you don't get it. My best teacher this year.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MATH114
• 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:

Nice guy, grades very hard. I know its his TA that grades the HW but he can tell her the relax with the red ink. I get the answer wrong not because it was wrong but because the y-axis did not have the letter y buy it…. Like What??? Smart guy makes it hard for the others who are not geniuses to understand the material.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: 114
• 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:

HE's a really nice guy. He may not look at you in they eyes in class, but one on one. As long as you go to class, do homework, and study, it should be pretty easy.