Professor: Vilayanur Ramachandran
Department: Psychology
College: University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
Rating # 1
Overview:
- Course: PSY129
- Grade Received: A
- Overall Rating: 1.0
- Course Difficulty: 3.0
- For Credit: Yes
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: No
- Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
If the class is listed at 5pm, plan to see him at 6pm. I took 169 and then 129 -- absolutely the same course, likely teaches two out of obligation, I had to listened to the same jokes from the 90s for two quarters in a row. What did I learn? Get a PhD and coast on that while disregarding students' time and no one will bat an eye.
Rating # 2
Overview:
- Course: PSYC169
- Grade Received: A-
- Overall Rating: 5.0
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: Yes
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: Yes
- Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
This class was very challenging (and unorganized), however it was the most interesting class I've taken at UCSD. Dr. Rama is definitely knowledgeable and likes probing the minds of his students. 1 MT, 1 Final, some extra credit SONA. You have to go to lecture to pass. Reading the book(s) will help boost your grade. Hard exams, curved well.
Rating # 3
Overview:
- Course: PSYC169
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 4.0
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: Yes
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: Yes
- Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Dr. Ramachandran has a lot of experience, and it is awesome to be able to learn about these interesting psychological phenomenons from somebody who has seen and studied it all himself. Lectures don't have much structure and don't always follow the syllabus, so attendance is a must. Reading is also necessary to do well on the tests, which are hard.
Rating # 4
Overview:
- Course: PSYC169
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 4.0
- Course Difficulty: 2.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
This is an amazing class! Definitely recommend!!! He is absolutely brilliant, lectures are somewhat unorganized but nevertheless anything he has to say is intriguing and you learn so much! There's not as much material but you do need to know it front and back. Study the keywords and you will be fine! btw David brang and laura case are amazing TA's!
Rating # 5
Overview:
- Course: PSYC129
- 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: N/A
Comment:
boring. hard to stay awake during his lecture. seems as if lectures are pre-memorized. not facilitated for note-takers.
Rating # 6
Overview:
- Course: PSYC129
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 3.0
- Course Difficulty: 3.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Class is unorganized. Don't take if you need structured lectures/reading. Most of the MT/final questions came from LECTURE; readings served as additional sources of information that repeat what was said in class. Hard to understand points as he jumps around, so bring a voice recorder! He is very interesting though and topics are as well.
Rating # 7
Overview:
- Course: PSYC169
- 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:
This professor is great. He explains everything in detail and maintains you interested in the class. The topics he talks about are very interesting and the book/novel he makes us read is really good
Rating # 8
Overview:
- Course: PSYC169
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 3.5
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
As they say, good when he shows up. Make sure you know something about his TAs BEFORE you decide to stay. David Brang is good; he'll give most of the lectures if he's there. If the TA is new or lame, watch out -- they write the exams and can be crazy
Rating # 9
Overview:
- Course: PSYC169
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 3.5
- Course Difficulty: 2.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Took this class WI08 and it was amazing. So far, it's the best psyc class I've taken here. MC questions are extremely straight forward- no surprises. Just put in a little effort and you'll do fine.
Rating # 10
Overview:
- Course: PSYC129
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 2.0
- Course Difficulty: 5.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
FINAL was disgustingly obscure MCs. No curve. 25 Qs midterm/35 final, weighted 50/50.
Rating # 11
Overview:
- Course: PSYC169
- 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:
MT is 25 points, Final is 35 points. Each is worth 50% of your grade. 3 points optional extra credit through experimetrix
Rating # 12
Overview:
- Course: PSYC169
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 2.5
- Course Difficulty: 2.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
yes, exams are straight forward, you should read chapters assigned from the Phantoms book and go over lecture slides. He is a great lecturer when he shows up, but his TA David was just as good and he gave the lectures half the time. v fast turnaround time for grades
Rating # 13
Overview:
- Course: PSYC169
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 4.5
- Course Difficulty: 1.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
What a great class. Ramachandran is just as brilliant as everyone says he is, and I love the medical tangents he goes on, such as longwindedly describing to us the symptoms of appendicitis and the formation of a thrombus. Exam-wise, this class was unbelievably straightforward. Just an overall good experience.
Rating # 14
Overview:
- Course: PSYC169
- 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:
If you don't take a class with him you're missing out. I agree, his jokes and lectures are memorized and repeated but that doesn't cheapen his brilliance. If you are a psych major and you don't take a class with him you fail at life.
Rating # 15
Overview:
- Course: PSYC169
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 1.5
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Has done some brilliant stuff and is coasting on that, but you really have to take his classes. 169 and 129 are almost identical as he's memorized his talks and jokes. Hard to understand at times because he forgets which class he's teaching and where he is. Tests are short and hard, I missed an A by one point both times so don't miss a lecture!
Rating # 16
Overview:
- Course: PSY169
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 2.5
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
His lectures are pretty much a reflection of his book. Even the jokes seem to be the same in lecture and in his book. The reading is simple and straightforward. The book is relatively small so it doesn't take long to finish. The two tests are worth your whole grade, so it is crucial to understand everything he is talking about beforehand.
Rating # 17
Overview:
- Course: PSYC169
- 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:
This guy is pretty brilliant but it's really hard to follow his lectures. His book is really interesting.. I think reading was very helpful b/c his lectures are all over the place. Overall, a pretty chill, interesting class. Make sure you know everything though - 25 M/C Questions = 50% of your grade.
Rating # 18
Overview:
- Course: PSYC169
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 3.5
- Course Difficulty: 2.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
He is an excellent speaker, but slightly disorganized. That's OK because most everything he talks about is in his book... He is very inspiring, unfortunately, he isn't around very much at all. It was suppose to be a 3 hour class, but often we finished within 2 if not less.
Rating # 19
Overview:
- Course: PSYC129
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 3.0
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
got over 100% and curve knocked an A+ down to just an A, thanks shai. dont take this class with shai for a TA. 169 was very interesting, 129 not so much. BUY lecture notes they are very helpful as it is easy to lose focus during class with his unorganized lecture style. boo on shai >:(
Rating # 20
Overview:
- Course: PSY129
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 3.0
- Course Difficulty: 3.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Excellent when he shows up.
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