Paul Olson - Pennsylvania State University - Erie, Erie, PA

Professor: Paul Olson

Department: Mathematics

College: Pennsylvania State University - Erie, Erie, PA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MATH220
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's a chill dude but his lectures are awful. The examples aren't clear or easy to follow. He does give you non mandatory questions to do for homework as practice, but the book assigned for the class is awful. Some of the answers in the back of the book are wrong. I essentially taught myself matrices via youtube and I suggest you do the same.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MATH110
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I felt like some days his lectures were quite good and some days they were quite bad. You're only graded on quizzes and exams which the final exam is 30% of your final grade. Also he's a bit anal retentive when grading. I've heard other profs are better but don't be afraid to take him if his class is the only one that will fit into your schedule.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MATH210
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A terrific professor who has your your success in mind. I cannot recommend him more.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MATH140
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

No homework, but frequent quiz. He's a good professor who can teach well. I would take this course again if I could

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: 230
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Easy professor would not have taken him if his exams were not easy. Most confusing boring lectures ever. My only other complaint was I receive all 100's on my exams and got to the final and it was very difficult.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MATH82
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I found this class to be very easy. I am naturally good at math though. I know a lot of ppl who struggle with this class, they jsut dont understand him. He isnt always clear, but i dont do the hws(not graded ever) get good grades and he just gave us 25bonus pts to boost ppls grades. I enjoy him, no work outside class at all for me.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MATH140
• 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:

Olson is a great teacher i had him for math 140 and had to change my schedule aroung so that i could take him again for 141. Extremely approachable, extremely helpful, and very funny.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MATH140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He's one of the best math professors at Behrend

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MATH140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great prof, and very helpful! I'd definitely recommend him,

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CALC004
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This guy is helpful friendly to the max. Always asks if everyone is ok will the subject matter before moving on, and he'll always pick a sexy problem to solve.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MATH140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Olson is a decent teacher, and you'll pass with a bit of effort. Don't take him if you're a math major, his class will be a bit of joke, though you will learn. He grades easy, but is hard to understand by some. He is hilarious, however, everything is 'comfy-cozy' and 'happy-friendly' if correct. Problems are 'sexy'. Entertaining to the max!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MATH141
• Grade Received: N/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:

One of the best Math teachers I've ever had. Makes sure you know whats going on and always asks to make sure everyone understands before going on. Very helpful friendly and he always knows which problems are the sexiest.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MATH140
• 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:

As much as I love math, this class only helped me un-learn everything I learned in highschool. I came out knowing less than when I went in...

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MATH141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is a great teacher

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MATH140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I think the class was very easy but it did not prepare me well for later math classes.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MATH210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

If you take him make sure you're ready for some sexy problems!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MATH82
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's not very good as a teacher in my opinion. His whole class revolves around quizes and exams. He seems to believe that trig is everything and even though the textbook does not speak of trig in the sections we went through the exams always had trig identities worked into them in some way. Note: He doesn't allow calculators on exams!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MATH140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great teacher, very helpful if you goto him, teaches you what will be on the exam and his exams are very clear of what he is asking. A+++

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MATH220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very nice and extremely helpful in his office. The pacing of the course was the problem. He spends too much time on simple concepts, and not enough on the difficult ones, which sucks when the test comes around. You can easily remedy this problem by visiting his office though.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MATH230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took 230 with this guy and it was miserable. He's a smart guy but his teaching style sucks. However, I heard he's good for 140 and 141. I had to drop his 230 class and went on to take it at University Park with a chinese grad student teaching the class and he did a better job than Olson. I dont reccommend him for 230.