Valana Wells - Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ

Professor: Valana Wells

Department: Engineering

College: Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MAE242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Wells is the worst prof I have ever had. Im a straight-A student, fluids was the first class I dropped in my college life. Her lectures are super boring, she does nothing except some very long derivations, no examples or problems. Her tests are so hard. And her way of grading is even worse. Never take her.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MAE242
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The lectures are not very helpful as they do not relate well to the homework problems that are given. I learned way more in recitation and TA office hours than in class or her office. It is standardized so all sections have the same hw and similar tests. Outcomes are annoying to have to think about but are not hard to get.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: AEE360
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

v That person just got midterm 2 back lol. Wells is tough, no doubt. You will have to work so hard for this class, but in the end (if you go to class and actually pay attention) you will know the material. It sucked, there was a great deal of suffering, but the material has been burned into my brain by force. Wells knows her stuff. Im scared of her

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: AEE360
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Wells does an amazing job at ensuring that you do not understand one single practical bit of aerodynamics. This class is basically entirely derivations and you will not learn one single practical thing about aerodynamics.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: AEE360
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are almost completely irrelevant to test and homework material, you might as well just read the textbook and not waste your time in lecture except for the quizzes. Aero is a really interesting subject but wells will only teach formula derivations but no practical applications or useful things. Labs are easy but time consuming.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MAE242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

One of a kind prof. She explains everything so detailed that it makes sense the first time you see. She is extremely patient and caring prof. who wants you to succeed. She welcomes all types of questions that challenge you and her. One time I asked her to derive the theorem on why 1+1 equals 2 and she took a whole day explaining this using apples.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: AEE360
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The class itself is very interesting but the prof makes it the most boring. The lectures are hard to understand. She doesnt explain significance of or when to use the equations she throws out. The homework and labs are very time consuming. She also grades unfairly, taking off points for stupid reasons. Frankly, I learned more from the TAs than her.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MAE242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Super duper caring person. Really approachable and fun to learn from. She should honestly be considered for the Nobel Peace Price for being the nicest professor in the whole state of Arizona or the western half of the United States. Her approach to fluid is like no other. It simplymakes sense. Long derivations do help us understand the material.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MAE242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Simply Amazing! Extremely friendly and fun to talk with. She will literally walk you through every problem you come across in any of her courses. Shes also extremely patient too. She encourages students to ask her questions that not only challenge you, but challenge her as well. Thank You WELLS for everything youve done for us. Lol just kidding.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MAE242
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Wells is just a tough grader. She deducts so many points if you make a small mistake. There's not even a room for negotiation. She simply doesn't care about the grade you're getting! All she cares about is the final answer. Yes! it has to be correct to get full credit. She doesn't consider a +/- grading system which sucks!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MAE242
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Wells is not a friendly or approachable lady. She lectures as if she was reading a textbook line for line. Very derivation heavy class. In office hours she will help you but only after you will be sneered at or insulted for not knowing the concepts. Do not expect a lot of partial credit on tests or any extra credit for the class.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MAE242
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Doesn't post notes online so you have to attend. She is a good lecturer and is great at going through derivations. Class is mostly just going through example problems. She does grade things toughly. Don't worry if you get not perfect scores on the first few homeworks. They are designed to make you think, where the tests are only basic stuff.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MAE384
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Wells was easily the worst professor I have dealt with. Had her on two differnt occasions and the classes were the same. Office hours will be packed with 30 other sweaty individuals in a tiny office and then out the hallway. If you dont have a laptop for her classes, gg because you will have an impossible time getting help.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MAE384
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Wells's classes are VERY difficult! Get ready to work your tail off. BUT, she does care about the students. She never made me wait to get help, was available and easy to reach all the time. She wants you to know the material and has high standards for her students, which I appreciate. She's a smart woman and a good teacher. You have to work HARD!!!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: AEE360
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you are an aerospace engineering student and intend to go to Arizona State University, I strongly recommend either changing majors or going to a different university. She runs the aerospace engineering program and has it set up so you have to take her class.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MAE384
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This professor was teaching 11 other graduate level courses in addition to the MAE 384 course I was enrolled in with her. She had the same office hours for all of her classes. She often made undergrad students wait over an hour in her office to get help and on more than one occasion she ended offices hours without helping her undergrad students.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MAE384
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr Wells is a great lecturer and extremely friendly. She does not require a textbook and covers everything in class, the textbook is just supplemental. Homework assignments were very difficult and took awhile to complete, she expects the homework to look professional. Exams were fair and similar to homework questions. Extra credit for recitation.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MAE384
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

You will be so much better off with any other professor but her. Our first exam average was a 43%. Homework is graded extremely harsh and is very difficult. The class overall is not set up with student success as a priority.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: AEE360
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class was incredibly tough in the beginning, but it got easier. The lab reports are time consuming but the TAs were super helpful. Quizzes every week but only your top 5 count. There are outcomes but you get plenty of opportunities to earn them. Wells wants everyone to succeed. Go to her and the TAs office hours and start assignments early!!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: AEE360
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Awesome professor. cares about her students