Randall Holmes - Auburn University

Professor: Randall Holmes

Department: Mathematics

College: Auburn University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MATH3100
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you just want to get an A, do not choose him, even he is a great professor. I got all As in other math courses but I finally got a B in 3100 course. My friend chose another prof, she got an A easily without any assignments. The online homeworks are heavy and exams are not easy. But If you really want to know something, Holmes is the best.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MATH3100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Holmes is an great lecturer. He follows his notes very strictly and posts them in a very neat online textbook, which was extremely useful. HW was pretty frequent, due twice a week. He gives a lot of useful feedback on HW, which is very helpful. Tests are hard, but he curves. Nice guy, but intimidating at first. Challenging but rewarding class.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MATH2660
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you are really into challenges that can be a bit unfair or harsh, take this man for linear algebra. If you want to make any sort of decent grade in this class, take pretty much any other professor at Auburn. If you do not intend to go into abstract algebra and/or are in engineering, do not take him. You will thank me later.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MATH2660
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Holmes is a no-nonsense, straight to business professor. His linear algebra class is difficult, but his lectures are very clear and concise, and he is willing to help if you go to his office hours. His homework and tests are very hard, but he scales the grades and provides very helpful feedback on both homework and tests.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: 1617
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Holmes was great. His tests were really tough, but if you understood the HW, they were doable. He was really helpful during office hours, and if even gave me points back on several assignments that I thought were graded unfairly. Go to class. Take him.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: 1617
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Holmes is knowledgable. He explains concepts clearly and precisely, leaving no room for misunderstanding. The graphs he draws on the chalkboard are impressive as well.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: 1617
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His tests are tough, but take advantage of his office hours. He is more than willing to help.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MATH1617
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great lecturer, but his tests are incredibly tough. He uses his own online textbook, which is nice.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: 1697
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Holmes is knowledgeable and helpful in Honors Cal 1. He enjoys teaching, and has a good system going for homework. He has a fun intelligent sense of humor, but can get a little boring (droning voice). His exams are a step above homework questions, so studying is necessary if you don't have a good handle on the material. No textbook needed.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MATH2660
• Grade Received: D+
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Good teacher, but insanely hard tests and final. Every test average was in the 50's which he scales for but you still don't learn much by making 50's

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MATH2660
• 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:

Take Holmes's class if you really want to learn linear algebra. His class is significantly harder than other teachers' versions of it, so keep that in mind. If you are ok with a higher level of difficulty, it is very straight-forward otherwise. As well, he scales at the end of the class to compensate for the difficulty.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MATH1617
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Holmes was tough, but I have yet to have a more fulfilling class in college. He grades fairly and teaches fundamentals better than any teacher I had taken before. There are easier options, but I believe him to be an excellent teacher and am a better student for taking him.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MATH1617
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I had friends in other Honors Calc classes that didn't work nearly as hard as I had to. If you don't want to work for a good grade, don't take him. He's very helpful. Go to his office ours and he'll help a lot. Again, if you can find another teacher, it might be easier, but if not he's not too bad.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MATH5310
• 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:

He's difficult, but I don't think you will find another math professor here at Auburn that will help you learn so much in one class. Expect to work for your grade, but those who come to class and do all of the homework will do well in the class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MATH2660
• 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:

I took linear algebra last year and understood absolutely nothing of it because of my teacher's accent and inability to teach. Got a C. Retook it with Holmes; absolutely excellent decision. He posts his own notes online, which are excellent. Assigns reasonable hw for you to learn the material. Very helpful in office hours. Not easy, but worth it.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MATH2660
• 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:

For linear algebra he was horrible! Do not get him if at all possible!! Very monotone and boring which makes it hard to pay attention. Homework and exams very difficult. Teaches it differently than other professors which made it impossible to get help. When I went for help he was very very rude.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MATH2660
• 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:

I had made A's in all of my math classes with little to no work before this class. However, he pushes the class to really grasp the material. I made a 53 on the first test but still ended up with an A. Definitely take if you really want to learn the material.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MATH1610
• 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:

This class was impossible. I took honors Calculus in High School and this man's class was so far over my head. I'm struggling to make a C. I'm going to have to retake it. Get any other teacher and breeze through Cal 1 with an A He had graded homework that has to be turned in sometimes twice a week and the tests are 6 questions, impossible questions

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MATH1610
• 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:

his notes are meticulous. he is very precise. do not be fooled, however. his tests are combinations of his hardest homework problems and examples. 6 question tests with multiple parts. all grades are on a bell curve, so only a few people get A's.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MATH5320
• 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:

The most challenging class I have taken at Auburn. But if you have to take Abstract Algebra and you want a good professor, Holmes is the most clear and helpful professor you'll find. To do well in his class, you'll definitely have to study hard and be as clear as possible on homework. DEFINITELY USE HIS OFFICE HOURS - very helpful.