Penelope Kirby - Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

Professor: Penelope Kirby

Department: Mathematics

College: Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MAC2311
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you've never taken calculus before, do not take her. There is so much web assign work to complete that sometimes it's hard to actually study because of the sheer amount of hw you have. She's not the nicest person and she moves way too quickly. Don't take this professor with no prior calculus knowledge.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MAC2311
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Take this class seriously, Kirby doesn't play. Pay attention in class, it helps a lot, as well as going to office hours. She's very nice & extra helpful during office hours. A lot of homework, but it's worth it because your test scores will increase by a lot! Take her, you won't regret it!!!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MAC2311
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This was the hardest class I've ever taken in my life. Moves through notes so fast and assumes you've taken calculus before, so if you haven't I would not recommend taking her. Extremely homework heavy, sometimes you don't have time to study because of the amount of homework you need to do.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MAC2311
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great calc 1 teacher! HW heavy, but she goes over examples in class that help for completing homework. The examples from class and HW sets are very similar to questions seen on exams so you always know what to study and what to expect! She moves through material very quickly in class so come to class ready to go! Tests are 85% of final grade.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MAC2311
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She is the devil. Gives us a quiz the Tuesday before Thanksgiving break an says class the Monday before is VERY important???? Thanks but no thanks. Goes through things very quickly in class. If you haven't taken a calc class before don't bother with her you will not pass.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MAC2311
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Okay I will admit I am not the best at math, but I worked my butt off to pass this class and still had to drop. My main issue with her teaching style is that she moves through the material at a rapid rate that I could not keep up with. She teaches from the perspective that everyone has taken calculus before, and I had never taken the class before.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MAC2311
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Really clear notes and relatively fair test.. amazing teacher I would definitely take her class again

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MAC2311
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

go on slader for all of the homework you don't understand. complete practice problems until you understand the homework. if you can do the homework you can pass the tests. tests are 85% including the final

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MAC2311
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Bottom-line: Dr. Kirby is a solid choice for a Calc 1 professor. I never had any exposure to calculus before and was able to get an A (with a lot of work). If you don't understand a concept she taught in class, she seemed more than willing to go over it with us during office hours. Also, if you don't understand a concept Youtube is amazing.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MAC2311
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Kirby is the best math professor at FSU. The class isn't easy but you learn a lot if you put the effort in. She gives out extra credit two or three times throughout the semester. The tests cover what you learned in class and will even be the same examples she did in class.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MAC2311
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Hands down, the hardest class I've ever taken. I did everything I needed to do for the class, went to tutoring, office hours, and it wasn't enough to get past a D. Kirby is really sweet and cares about her students, but this is a really difficult class especially if you've never taken calculus before.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MAC2311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Insanely difficult tests that are much harder than homework problems. Extensive amount of work (8+ hours a week with the practice problems) which don't matter because they're nothing like the tests. Skips so many examples in class and tells us to watch a video on it. The examples she does are nothing like the tests. DON'T TAKE I'M BEGGING YOU

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MAC2312
• 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:

Best Calc professor I've had so far!!!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MAC2312
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Kirby is a pretty good professor but her class is SO difficult. Most difficult class I've ever had honestly. Often times the homework is far more challenging than the exams & you spend more time trying to figure out how to do that one particular problem than actually learning. Dr. Kirby is sweet though. Dont be afraid to ask her for help

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MAC1140
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Nice lady, but for the summer at least the homework was a ridiculous time consumer.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MAC2312
• 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:

Print out the notes before class, go to lecture, study a fair amount, and you'll do fine. I had a horrible calc 1 teacher and Dr. Kirby is so amazing in comparison. I only studied maybe 4-5 hours before each test and I got As on them. She's very straightforward and doesn't try to trick you. Recommend 100%.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MAC2312
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Kirby is probably the best professor for calc 2, provides fill in notes online you can bring to class and explains everything so well. Homework is very doable and test are problems are from similar problems in book, easier than the webassign homework. Great teacher and very approachable.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MAC1140
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

No textbook but had to purchase an access code. Notes that were given in class were very useful for passing the quizzes and tests, definitely need to go to class unless you're a math genius. She often makes little mistakes when working out the problems during class and constantly needs to be corrected but besides that the material was clear.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MAC1140
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class is not an easy A, the homework sucks and the tests are hard, but if you come to class and do a ton of the practice tests and quizzes online you will get a good grade. I'm not very good at math and Dr. Kirby made the material easy to understand. Practice tests and quizzes are the key to success, do those and you will get a good grade.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MAC1140
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Hated the class but wasn't her fault, she's a fine lady. If you're bad at math, you will struggle, if you're good at math then you won't. She was a pretty good teacher, clear explanations and accessible office hours. Everything is online so a lot of homework, weekly quizzes, tests...