Gerald Olson - Illinois Wesleyan University

Professor: Gerald Olson

Department: TBD

College: Illinois Wesleyan University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ACC340
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Olson is the man. Super cool guy and well connected. I see a lot of people saying he doesnt teach and is very disorganized, which is true to an extent. He does get off topic a lot but i think he teaches fine. Like anything in life, you gotta do your part in understanding the material, you cant expect the teacher to hold ur hand thru everything

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ACC218
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Olson is a stand up guy. Of all my professors or teachers I've had, he's probably the guy that cared the most. I'm not even the best student but he's let me use him for work references and has even used his connections to help me get accounting internships. Do you part, work hard, go see him for office hours and you'll do great. Don't complain.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ACC340
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is very nice but very confusing class. He didn't teach anything and I didn't learn anything but he is a good grader. you can get A if you understand the materials and his teaching method.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ACCLAB
• 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:

Literally does not teach anything and expects you to know it all. Very unclear of what assignments need to be done. One of the worst teachers i have ever had.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: COST
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I have taken a few courses by him since they are mandatory for my major. What's worse is that he is the head department chair. He's a great guy, don't get me wrong. But there is absolutely no structure to his class, it's lackadaisical (not in a good way), and he DOES NOT teach. At all. I have had such a tough time in his class. Avoid if you can.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BUS212
• 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:

I took his lab session for BUS 212. Try to avoid this professor. Teaches little but expect much. Never give hint on assignments. Late for class and unreachable after class. His unorganied lecture seems he is showing off his knowledge. There is no on-board writing, no helpful slides. Oh my god this professor is just terrible!!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BUS318
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

The guy has no clue what he is doing. He is late for class and never quit prepared. He played games--like a baby--regarding the 418 class and actually asked students to go see the president about an issue that has with his chair. An idiot with no practical experience.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BUS212
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Don't expect to ever understand what he's talking about.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BUS416
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Not much has changed: he is an idiot who has a complex about his status among his peers. He does not have a phd (and it shows) and he has zero real experience in acounting. Yikes! He is well connected though....

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ACCT212
• 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:

Olson is genuinely nice man... but as everyone else says, hes kind of flustered. he's usually late, changes the schedule a lot, and goes off topic all the time. However, if you do show up to class and put in a little effort, you will get a decent grade. Don't try to contact him through emails or expect him to remember anything though. He's helpful

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BUS416
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Olson gets a bad rap, but really is a good guy. He cares more than anyone about the accounting students. If you come to class prepared and learn to do a lot of the work on your own, he doesn't seem as bad. He may get distracted easily, but he's willing to help (and grades pretty easy...if you show you're trying)

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ACCOU212
• 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:

not bad

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ACC218
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

WORST PROFESSOR EVER. Can't seem to stay on one topic for longer than 3.4 seconds. Always late and unprepared for class. Get used to his kids being "sick" all the time too, as one of his more feeble excuses. It upsets me that I have to take 2 or 3 more classes with him. Do better IWU.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BUS315318416
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

while somewhat helpful with networking & current events, teaching skills are serverly below par; has poor time management skills & lacks promptness in showing up for class & returning exams/assignments; generally not well prepared for class; when taking his courses do it with the intention of teaching yourself almost everything; weak link in dept

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: NONE
• 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: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I haven't had a class with him yet, but I am an accounting major and had a major internship question and he refused to reply to my many emails and was never around for me to come see him. So, I definitely second the previous person's comment!

Rating # 16

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

By far the worst professor in the accounting department. Puts Illinois Wesleyan accounting to shame. Doesn't teach at all, lazy, late, irresponsible, unreliable.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ADVANCED
• 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:

he teaches for about 20 minutes and talkes about randome topics for the rest of the time

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BUS
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

do not expect to get an email or a phone call back from this man if you have any questions! other than that, he's a cool prof. interesting/easy assignments and a laid-back attitude.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BUS401
• 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:

Perpetual latecomer but compromises by making tests easy and extending deadlines. Also known to be the most chilled out guy in the dept. It's easy to get by without learning anything in his class so cultivate some self study skills if you want to succeed.