Vince Trofimoff - California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA

Professor: Vince Trofimoff

Department: Psychology

College: California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH230
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Lecture is the majority of the class. Lab due once a week. One research paper due at the end of the semester, the one thing he is willing to help with. Midterm and Final is MC as well as short answer. Four or so quizzes taken online. Some extra credit but it is not easy to get points. Very condescending sometimes and tries and fails to be funny

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PSY230
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class was the death of me!! hes a nice guy tho. Went the whole semester not understanding anything then I finally got it in the end, the lectures are so long and so boring. There are study guides for the exams but they are like 10 pages long, do the assignments and the extra credit you will need it, long Research paper, the TA saved my grade

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PSY230
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you can take this class with another professor, I would highly recommend that. He's very meticulous on how he grades things, and will dock points if not answered how he likes it. He also uses a randomizer to pick on students to participate.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PSY230
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

You must attend class in order to get a decent grade. His lectures help you to understand all of the material for the tests & provides a study guide with all of the information needed for the tests. A LOT of extra credit available. He gives you all of the info in order to write the research paper. Super easy A if you show up.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PSY230
• 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:

Terrible! Stay Away! His tests are extremely hard and he is a brutal grader. I have taken many upper division psych courses that were like 1/4 of the work. He has a giant ego and is not helpful at all. Take it with a different professor or at Palomar. He grades it all on a curve so you never know how you are doing until the end. Stressful!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PSY230
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I had never been so stressed as I was while taking this class. Even going to his class gave me anxiety since his personality is not of an easy going professor. He has control issues and although he knows a lot about the topic is difficult to approach him for help due to how he acts in class. If you can, take another professor, if not good luck!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PSYC230
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

One of the worst professors. He's picky about absolutely everything. Starts class five minutes before the actual scheduled time. Didn't respond when I asked for individual help. Study guides are extremely long and helped little to none. Thought I was going to fail the class because he said our grades couldn't be calculated til the very end.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PSYC230
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

From the first week of classes, he called me out for not following his class policies. Once, for supposedly being on my phone when I was looking directly at him taking notes (not on my phone), and in another for nodding off but trying hard to stay awake and take notes. He advised me to drop due to a lack of attendance but I passed with a B.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH333
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Nice professor but would not recommend this class. The lectures are long and hard to understand. Your grade is dependent on the 3 exams which are two midterms that consist of 5 to 6 chapters of material that you have to read every section of the book to know whats on it and a final that is cumulative. Tough grader and takes daily attendance.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PSYC230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This class is not the most interesting class, lectures are super boring, but what can you expect from research methods? He teachers the material pretty well. First half of the class is super easy, second half is way harder. Biggest advice: DO THE STUDY GUIDE. helps so much with the midterm and quizzes. Research paper isn't even that bad.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PSY230
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are so dry, he tries to make jokes that aren't funny and he'll call you out for not reacting to the things he says or for using your phone or if you eat in class. No electronics are allowed, only hand written notes. He also makes rude comments and is not open to other's opinions and will shut you down. Takes attendance everyday.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PSYC230
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

VT is very organized which makes his lectures really easy to follow. He has a way of explaining a difficult topic in a way that anyone can understand. His class builds confidence and his study guides teach you how to study efficiently. He sets everyone up to be successful from day one. Don't text in class. It's disrespectful!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PSYC332
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Took this class over summer and I am so glad its over. He is really organized and really great at teaching but he is super controlling. He does not seem like he wants to answer students' questions and almost puts down students' ideas that contribute to lecture. 6 1-2 page application papers, 3 tests, and 10 easy online quizzes. Not too bad overall.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PSYC332
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very enthusiastic and organized. Every class is structured with a lecture that aligns perfectly to the textbook. He says class is mandatory but doesn't deduct points if you skip. His jokes are corny, but overall he explains all the material really well. Biggest advice: DO NOT buy the connect passcode for the textbook. Waste of money.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PSY230
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Trofimoff, in my opinion, was a good professor. Organized, on-time, and shows effort in student learning. He grades on a curve and gives away free candy! what more do you want!? Took the class during the summer and it was intense. If you can avoid it, do it. And if not, well good luck.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH230
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This class is a waste of time. Everything we're "learning" in this class you can get from P. Fitzpatrick within the first two weeks of her lecture of any class. Spends way too much time on too specific details that don't really matter and has obvious control issues. Doesn't respect his students, he acts like we're 12. Good for beg. psych majors.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PSYC332
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Overall, he seemed super stressed out and frantic the whole time. Did not give good advice towards studying for the tests. Study the PowerPoints, they will really help you on the exams (despite what he says). His office hours are a waste, do not bother going to them- he will not help you at all. I hated the weekly quizzes, they were super hard. ehh

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PSYC230
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

You need to show up to class in order to pass. Work on study guides throughout the semester because if you wait it's a struggle. No need for the book

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PSYC332
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I enjoyed his class and he made social psychology very interesting. There are three article critiques, 5 question online quizzes every week, and almost weekly 1-2 page application papers. Study the powerpoints and notes from in class to do well on the tests. Class is also curved based on the high point total which helped out a lot of students.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PSYC230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

There are two exams, two quizzes, two rough draft checks for a research paper, lab assignments, and a research paper at the end of the semester. The class is not difficult, just do the work and study guides and you'll be fine. Don't buy the textbooks. You can get all the information you need from the PowerPoint slides, which are posted online.