Reed Olsen - Missouri State University

Professor: Reed Olsen

Department: TBD

College: Missouri State University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ECO165
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

As long as you show up to lectures and take solid notes then you should do just fine. He does tend to get off topic as other people mentioned, but it tends to break up otherwise monotonous note taking sessions. Whenever you do not understand a topic, the informaton can be found on the course site or you can talk to him at office hours.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ECO165
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I would recommend taking another professor for this course. If you are willing to teach the concepts to yourself then you will do fine. The only good thing about this class is that the final can replace your lowest test grade. There are quizzes in class every week or so, study the quizzes he puts on his website for practice.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ECO165
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Information appears on the quizzes and exams that were never covered in class, on topics that he never once mentioned.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ECO165
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very monotonous, and very boring lectures. You have to attend them though, because if you fall behind good luck catching back up. Definitely the hardest class I've ever taken. DO NOT take this class before Macro, or if it's not required for your major.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ECO165
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Olsen is one of those guys that knows he's better than you at something and just wants to prove it, repeatedly. His lectures are incredibly hard to follow due to the fact that he rarely stays on topic. I have gone to every single class and still have to watch Khan Academy videos to teach myself the material on test days. Take someone else

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ECO165
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS!! No homework. 3 quizzes and 3 tests for grades and that's it. Tends to get off on pointless stories while lecturing rather than teaching. Makes it clear that if you don't understand something, you should figure it out yourself. Even joked about being tenured in at one point so the university couldn't fire him. Stray away!!!!!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ECO165
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

don't take this class if you want to pass it. I barely skip the class and try my best to study as well as take note in every class. It's still too hard for me to learn

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ECO165
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Grades are based on test and quizzes. No review for either. Material difficult to understand at times, but notes can somewhat help. Lectures sort of helpful. Good luck!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ECO165
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very VERY difficult class, only graded off of 3 tests and 3 quizzes. Lectures are very boring and hard to follow. Lots of difficult concepts that are dumped upon you, i took notes and missed very few classes and the tests were still nearly impossible for me. STAY AWAY FROM HIS CLASSES.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ECO165
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

NO TEXTBOOK NEEDED! He has his own website with great notes, so if you miss a lecture, no problem. I do recommend going to class though; he explains concepts very well. No homework, just quizzes and tests. (Not hard if you go to class.)

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ECO165
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

You will either do really well or you will fail miserably. There is no hw just quizzes and tests which means every question matters. He offers extra credit questions on every quiz/test. If you study, attend lecture and go to his office you can get an A. Just understand Economics is not an easy subject, but Olsen is hilarious and willing to help u.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ECO165
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class grade is based on 3 tests and 3 quizzes. Attendance is only mandatory on test and quiz days, all the notes are available online. I never missed class and I still did not understand any of it. The final is optional. His lectures are not the most engaging so it's hard to pay attention.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ECO504
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Horrible professor. Test seem impossible to know. Doesn't give you enough notes to understand. Assigns a group paper worth 300 pts, and marks you off by not using enough terms, but doesn't teach you enough to use. Stay away if possible

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ECO165
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

There was no textbook required for this class, but he has notes listed on his website that were basically identical to his lectures. If you went over the notes, you'd probably get the same effect as the lecture. Dr. Olsen likes to sprinkle his lectures with stories, so you kinda have to pick out the important information. Also, you must study

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ECO504
• 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:

Get the book because the slides are in shorthand. The book was great though and very informative. This guy knows his stuff, really, he probably is a genius. There are no trick questions, they are designed to show you KNOW the material. Once you're at the 500 level, you should have a good ECON base and he expects that.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ECO504
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

After reading the few reviews of this class that all had huge red flags of how hard the class was, I still decided to test my abilities and take it. I would advise anyone who is having my same train of thought to run away from this class as fast as you can, unless you can take it in lecture. His power points are impossible to learn from. DONT DO IT

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ECO504604HCM
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

DO NOT TAKE HIM (if you have the choice). I would not recommend Dr. Olsen to my worst enemy. He is tenured so he really doesn't care. His powerpoints are 68-70 slides long and uses a lot of short-hand in them. I wouldn't bother buying the textbook. Does not explain the material well, be ready to write a big paper.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ECON121
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great teacher. You are not required to take the final, which is awesome. You don't have to spend a fortune on a book, because he gives you his notes online for free. I also liked that I wasn't required to attend class. He isn't easy but you will learn a lot if you study his notes. His questions are tricky but that is standard for economic exams.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: 165
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

ECON is a hard course- not an easy A. Grading is based on only 3 quizzes and 3 tests. Will drop your lowest of 4 total tests (this includes the final). Lectures are very easy to follow and the print off notes are your book and lecture notes. Understanding teacher- showed up late to final, still allowed me to take it. STUDY, STUDY, STUDY.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ECO165
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Overall not a good teacher. I wouldn't recommend him to one of my friends that's for sure.