Alan Di Gaetano - Baruch College

Professor: Alan Di Gaetano

Department: TBD

College: Baruch College

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POL3321
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Hardest class I've ever taken. Only graded by 2 papers, and a midterm and final. Unfair grader for the papers. About half the class got a C+ for the first paper. The exams are also extremely hard but they're curved. Doesn't take attendance but make sure to go to class and pay attention to the lectures and TAKE NOTES if you want to pass. AVOID!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POL1101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Perfect prof. Lazy folks hate him. 3 tests compose your grade, and that's it. All you have to do is read the small book required for his class (cheap, he uses the same one every year; I got it for cents), and pay attention during lectures. There is no reason you should fail if you do both of the foregoing things. He's a charming fellow, to boot.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POL3321
• 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:

Absolutely hated his class and teaching style because he would go on random tangents or let students derail the class with unrelated questions. The exams he gives are not that hard if you read the material yourself and take notes but he is the harshest paper grader I've had which is frustrating because he gives vague instructions. Avoid if you can.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POL3321
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Brags that nobody gets 90s or above on his exams. Yes, they're curved, but the whole semester was only based on 4 grades. After the first paper, a group of at least 10 students were outside saying they all received C's. Everything is based on readings that are hard to understand, even he forgets the material in them. He is not clear when teaching.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POL1101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Assumes everyone likes and has knowledge of American Politics. GET THE TEXTBOOK. His tests are heavy, and not just easy questions, you have to understand concepts and connect them to real life situations(which can be hard for international students). Overall, he's intelligent and knows his stuff. Will go off topic a lot. Just read the textbook.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POL1101
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He doesn't really go through the curriculum very well. Constantly bounces around with ideas. Drifts off a lot.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POL1001
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

you could pass purely based on the readings (which you have to read) and the online practice. it's not that bad tho if you study enough and don't cram in a day you'll be fine. the grade is dependent on outside effort

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POL4900
• 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:

He doesn't answer emails and is not accessible outside of class. He's also tenured which means he doesn't care about your growth or progress in understanding the content. I would recommend you take someone else for Capstone in Political Science. He doesn't post on blackboard and you'll never really know how you're progressing in his class.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: POL1101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Straight up legend. Idk why he has bad reviews cause the tests are curved and nothing else matters. You can talk but like keep it lowkey. He looks mean but outside of class he has a HUGE smile. He is approachable outside of class and his attitude is totally different from class. Effort is around 35%. If you dont get an A you're doing something wrong.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POL1001
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I never bought or opened the book, passed with an A-. Everything you need to know, he will address during class. He writes VERY little on the board, so listen! Hates when ppl talk during his class, sit in the front if that's a prob. TAKE NOTES. Tests (3 in total- this is all he gives for grades) are not hard after the 1st one. I didn't participate.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POL1001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Every class is a lecture, although none of it will help you on the exams, so taking notes is pointless, just read the textbook. Exams are curved heavily because no one does well. 2 Exams 1 Final, no quizzes or other work. Rude guy who thinks he's funny.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POL1101
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Di Gaetano only writes a few things on the board (The things he writes on the board will most likely be on his tests) and he does have a tendency to go off topic. If you take him, I recommend sitting in the front and actually listening and taking notes or keeping up with your textbook reading.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POL1101
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

he himself wasn't a terrible teacher, he just taught very difficult material. majority of the test material was from the textbooks, so make sure you read the chapters! the class was definitely tough but if you take good notes and read the textbook, you should be alright!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POL1101
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Im a freshman but I can undoubtedly say that he is the worst professor I will ever have. He makes his tests unnecessarily hard. His lectures are long, boring, and he never stays on topic. Basically the whole period consists of him asking us questions and us staring at him blankly. Do not take him.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POL1101
• 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:

Professor Di Gaetano keeps it 100 with all his students. His syllabus is short and to the point, everything you need to know is in the syllabus. Show up to his lectures, take notes, and read the textbook before exams and you will do fine. If you want a class that will challenge you and help you learn more about Poli Sci, this is the class for you!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POL1101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This is the greatest professor you can ever take. He is funny, and often takes time to give real-world examples of how what we are learning is being applied. He has three exams, each curved. Each exam is worth a third of your grade and he will let you makeup for one. He is passionate for poli-sci, he says he's a history kind of guy. Def take!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POL1101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I would avoid taking his class if you can. Goes on off topic tangents frequently and has very hard tests FOR NO REASON. He tries to be funny and it's just kind of annoying tbh. Only gives three test with a short essays all semester. He doesn't personally care about attendance, but you do have to sign in

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POL1101
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Apathy and making you feel like trash are his way of teaching. Don't let this interfere with your grade.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POL4900
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's a great prof, you learn a lot. expects you to write 4 papers, toughly graded (he drops the lowest). Hint, he will give you a paper length - go over it. He likes long thought out papers that show you read the material. you won't get an a if you hand in a 5 page paper.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POL1001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I wouldn't say Professor Di Gaetano is the worst professor but he isn't the best. He is actually really funny and intelligent, but fails to deliver his knowledge to his students. His exams are very vague and difficult, but you'll be able to succeed by listening the lectures and studying the textbook. Overall, average professor.