Virginia Torczon - College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA

Professor: Virginia Torczon

Department: Computer Science

College: College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CS303
• 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:

She knows the class isn't that hard, so she makes the homework and tests so that you basically have to attend lectures to do well. The homeworks can be super tedious, but in the end they will definitely help you understand the material. Go to class, start the projects early, and you'll do fine.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CSCI303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

In Algorithms, we had homework every week and projects occasionally. These were always extremely easy and rather tedious. She often spent lots of lecture time on inane details of proofs and I felt like the class moved very slowly. She could also be a real stickler for doing things her way, which was often annoying. However, she was always fair.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: COMP102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I still remember Professor Torczon. I had her in 1999! I thought I'd look her up, and stumbled on this site. Prof. Torczon is one of the reasons I went in to Computer Science. I was looking at a completely different field before I had her class. She is fair, presents the material well and is clearly memorable!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CSCI303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

One of the top three professors I've had. She covers material in great detail and explains things extremely well. She's very helpful and approachable. Grading is fair and consistent and she gives a great deal of useful feedback. Probably my favorite professor at the college.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CS303
• 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:

Lectures are very boring and she is a bit strict but she knows her stuff and very helpful at times. Homeworks were the problem with that class in that in class she teaches stuff you already learned in 241 but then assigns the new information for homework. Projects were easy except for the last. She's very reasonable and down to earth though.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CSCI303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lectures were long, boring, and repetitive, but helpful when lost. She does not post lecture slides/notes online, so attendance is effectively mandatory. Homework is EXTREMELY tedious (but not difficult) and requires significant time to complete. Exams are challenging but doable. The big project (in C++) is easy, but mistakes can be costly.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CS303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She avoids explaining the meat of the material and instead drones on to fill up a full period. Grading policy is INSANE (you can get points taken off in regradings, and I did, and a lot.) Often she'll keep her eyes closed when she turns to the class. Speaks english well, which is unusual in the dept, but also embodies the cold, boring side of CS.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CSCI303
• 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:

[CS 241 & 303] As others have said, she is VERY clear as to what she wants for the homeworks & projects, which is really helpful. Yes, HWs can be trickyâ€"start early so you can ask questions if you need to. Very fair grader. Do your HW. Do the projects. Get her as your advisor, etc. She's wonderfully helpful even if lecture can be predictably dull..

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CSCI241
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Lectures can drone on, but she is an exceptional teacher. Exams are very fair, and easy if you pay attention and do the homework.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CS241
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

If there were a clarity rating of 100 on this thing, prof Torczon would get it. She's VERY clear during lectures, and very approachable in/out of class. HW is difficult, but prepares you well for the exams. Programming projects follow book/lectures. Lectures can be a little boring, but overall good. Need CS241? Take Torczon.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CS241
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Lectures could get a little dull, but were helpful, homework was long, difficult, and often tedious, was very fair in grading and in the way she treated students and always made an effort to answer a question. A very knowledgeable professor and a good teacher

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CSCI241
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She reiterates everything in lecture so many times you want to die(the words "again", and "clearly") will haunt your dreams but other than that she teaches the material very well.The homeworks were somewhat difficult but with a little effort, should be an easy B-some projects were harder than others

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CS303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Really boring lecutres. Does each algebraic move in an example but never explains the important part well. Immature about homework, won't take anything if it's one second after class has begun (ie don't have a class before hers or you're doomed)

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CSCI303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

seems strict and imposing, but she is extremely helpful, the BEST lecturer in the department, will move office hours through out the semester so that its the most convienent for the majority of the class, i'd take any class she taught!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CSCI303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very monotone. Also quite strict. I found her class to be droll and boring.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CS303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I always came away with very good, clear notes. I think I got a good understanding of the subject, BUT the project that gets built on week by week can get out of hand if you make too many little mistakes.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CSCI303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Best teacher up to 303. Lectures coincide with text and tests.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CS303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very very boring

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CSCI303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

good teacher, but mega****...and i got an A

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CS303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

She seems imposing at first, but she is probably the best lecturer in the dept.