Stanley Smith - University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL

Professor: Stanley Smith

Department: Business

College: University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: FIN4324
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is an extremely intelligent man and knows what he is talking about. Prior to this class I knew NOTHING about banking, and through him forcing us to truly learn the material (not use formula sheets) I feel like an expert on banking now. I now know what I want to do after I graduate because of this class. So beneficial, MUST put in the work!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: 4324
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Honestly, these people talking about this class as a GPA killer probably just did not put in necessary effort. He tells you EXACTLY what to know for each test. I made notecards prior to each test and got mid to high Bs. Yes it is definitely A LOT to memorize but it is doable. The project is an easy 100. Not as bad as everyone makes it seem.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: FIN4324
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Extremely tough class. Professor's notes and lectures prepare you for exam and it's clear what will be on each exam BUT it is a LOT to learn and study. I got an A but I had to put HOURS of studying for each exam while typically I do quick reviews & get an A or B. Prj is a piece of cake and unannounced quizzes help a bit with grade boosting.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: FIN4324
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Don't be discouraged by bad reviews. Class is difficult, but not impossible. I got an F on the first exam and an A on the final. Managed to get a B in the course. He covers a lot of material for the exams. Test questions are fair. Easy class project gives you good leverage. Extra credit pop 'quizzes'.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: FIN4324
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great professor. Knows exactly what he's talking about. Good sense of humor. Tests are tough since he tests on 8 lectures consisting of about 8 pages of notes each. But, i never felt the questions he asked were "unfair". He gives a lot of extra credit as well. Don't listen to the bad reviews, class isn't that bad.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: FIN4324
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The notes and lectures did a poor job of preparing me for the 33 question exam. His notes may ask us to memorize 10 facts/figures, but the exam may only ask about 1 of the facts. The notes are poorly structured. Smith knows A TON about professional banking, but is an AWFUL teacher.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: FIN4324
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Unrealistic expectations for exams. A crazy amount of memorization for a 33 question test. Exams are very difficult even for a well studied person. Avoid like the plague!!!! This guy is a gpa killer and could care less.. Syllabus argues that foreigners are smarter than us dumb americans b/c they have done so much more work in school.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: FIN4324
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The class is for the most part good but he is very unrealistic. I passed his class with a solid B but that's because I knew most of his material going in.I work full time and took 4 classes this semester so if you are remotely in the same boat as me as far as prior obligations DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS!!! Seriously! Way too much info for one test.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: FIN4324
• 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:

Do not take this class unless you have to in order to graduate. He is a GPA killer. There is too much information to memorize and it is killer around final exams. He tells you exactly what you need to know however that means about 15 pages of hand typed notes per 8 lectures on his exams

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: FIN4324
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

What a great guy! I enjoyed his class SO MUCH and learned a lot. Prof Smith is super knowledgeable and nice and has a dry sense of humor which makes class quite amusing. You can avg 70% on all of the exams and still get a B in the class. He curves fairly and his notes indicate what to focus on. My exam scores were 76/77/83% with an A in the class.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: FIN4314
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Good teacher. Very clear on what's on the tests. Give edit in class quizes. The project is an easy 100 points (10% if final grade). Dumb college will find this class hard. If youcan study for more than 3 hours in 1 sitting you'll be fine. I got an A and consider myself an "above average" studier.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: FIN3414
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

i got a 79.4 that is a C to my professor very crystal clear on what to study but you better be ready to learn everything and memorized until no possible end. Very boring. prominent in terms and his whole class he just says memorize this or that. mono toned and old school thinker if you have to take this course wait this your graduating semester.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: FIN4324
• 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:

in attempts to be as objective as possible, if you want a class thats based solely on your ability memorize formula's this class is for you. After taking this class i have learned nothing applicable. He gives quizes randomly that require attendance and his exams are based solely on exam memorization. This was a pointless class to take end of story

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: FIN4324
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class is not an easy A but he definitely tells you what will be on the exam, you just need to take the time to study. There is a lot of information to retain and you can earn up to ten extra credit points as long as you attend class. I liked this class, there was just a lot of information to know for only having 33 questions on each test.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: FIN4324
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

UCF is lucky to have this Finance professor. Extremely knowledgeable, with real experience in the industry. Not an easy class at all, expect to study a lot. Losers and slackers cannot tolerate thi class. Don't take it if you don't need knowledge, but useless UCF Finance degree.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: FIN4324
• 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:

He says KNOW or EXAM for what is fair game, but it is way too much information for 33 questions. He is very condescending towards his students and doesn't give any exceptions to the quizzes, even if you are throwing up sick. He lies to you, and you really learn nothing in the class.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: FIN4324
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor Smith is crystal clear on what is expected and what is on the exam. He tells you specifically what to study and how to prepare. It is a difficult class, but you will learn if you put forth the effort. Don't look for an easy "senior level" class. You have to memorize all formulas (or at least understand the concepts). Great semester!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: FIN4324
• 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:

Horrible teacher...extreme overload of information, not willing to adapt his old teaching mentality to new times...notes are useless and confusing to the point you don't want to study because you can't understand them...save your GPA and AVOID HIM...HORRIBLE TEACHER

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: FIN4324
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Best finance professor I had at UCF. He actually expected us to learn something, unlike other finance professors.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: FIN4324
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I have to disagree with most people. It IS a lot of material, but if you pay attention in class you know EXACTLY what will be on the test. Focus on what he stresses in class if you try to memorize everything in his notes you will be as frustrated as the people writing these reviews. Great material and Great professor.