George Jakubson - Cornell University

Professor: George Jakubson

Department: TBD

College: Cornell University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ECON3120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class is a straight up disaster. Tests are much harder than the hw. I think I finished 2/3 of the final. He is difficult to deal with in class or in OH and gets mad when the prelim average is a 50. I would recommend avoiding him at all costs and take 3120 w/ someone else

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ECON3120
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Worst class I've taken. Condescending and very disrespectful. He literally makes students chant after him and says things like "good job, you guys finally reached grade school" He says he makes us do this to engage in "educational scaffolding" but anyone with a brain will know that he's just doing it for the sense of control. tldr:Napoleon Complex

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ECON3120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

AVOID him at all costs. He gave the "option" of starting the final an hour earlier with a super long exam that you would't even be able to finish in 4 hours, not to mention that it was not fair for those who chose to show up on time. Questions were tricky and LONG. He didn't provide practice exams and lectures were pointless.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ECON3120
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

It depends. If you are a normal human, avoid him.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ECON3120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This was the worst class I've taken at Cornell by far. The material is inherently more difficult and mathematical than any course in the Econ major but Professor Jacobson makes life harder than it needs to be. He flips if you whisper to a friend next to you or fall asleep for a second. Very demanding and has absurdly high expectations for students.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ILR2400
• 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:

I would not recommend taking Labor Econ with Professor Jakubson. He is a nice enough guy, but he takes the structure out of the material and tries to explain it all like one big story. Grading is very arbitrary as students who got 40s and 50s on prelims ended up getting Bs in the class. Take Labor Econ with Hutchens instead.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ECON2400
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Amazing professor, I honestly learned so much even though I basically failed every exam, and it ended up being my highest grade in the semester. Visit office hours, study the practice exams, and attend lecture. If you have an option to take him then I highly recommend it!!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ILRLE2400
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

AVOID Prof Jakubson at ALL costs. He is the WORST. He is nice if you approach him correctly. But, his class is SO hard. The lectures and textbooks are pretty much useless. Go to office hours and take the practice prelims until you memorize the answers (exactly what he doesn't want you to do) the class is impossible if you don't. Disrespectful Prof.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ECON2400
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

All test questions are based on practice prelims and problems sets. There are 2 problems sets about 6 questions each throughout the course. He doesn't grade them he just checks for completion. At the end he curves generously so people who got 40 and 60ish on prelims end up getting Bs for final grades.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ILRLE2400
• 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:

His class is difficult, but it is fair. His lectures are really helpful and cannot be substituted by the textbook. He really gives a good understanding of basic labor economic thought and theory. I highly recommend taking his class!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ECON3210
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor George was clear, engaging, and most of all cared about actually teaching econometrics to us in practical terms. He made himself available every day after class if you had any extra question. As long as you went to class, did the homework, and participated you should have no trouble getting an A. Great guy- really glad i look this class.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ILRLE2400
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

DO NOT TAKE labor economics with Jakubson. For someone who has taken Intermediate level economics courses at Cornell, Jakubson's Labor Economics course was a nightmare. He is disorganized, lectures are like story times, and the more he tries to take the "math" out of his material, more he makes the course pointless. Grading is also very arbitrary.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ILRLE2400
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

no, just no

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ILRLE2400
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Jakubson just wants his students to learn and if you put in the effort, you will absolutely get a great grade. I understood more about economics in 1 week of his class than I did from an entire semester of micro or macro econ. Do the problem sets, go to office hours, show you're making an effort, and an A+ is very possible.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ILRLE2400
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Jakubson was an amazing professor, definitely one of my favorites. I took the course during the summer and learned so much! I recommend going to office hours. Jakubson really cares about his students and wants them to learn the material, if you show progression throughout the course you will be fine! Thanks George!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ILRE2400
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Amazing Professor... I entered his class having failed Labor Econ already and ended with a B+.. pretty good considering I failed the first two tests. More importantly, I'm now an econ minor. Thanks Prof. Jakubson!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ILRLE2400
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great professor. Don't rely on the book. Go to lecture and you'll be fine. Expect to put in some work but he's very approachable in office hours.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ECON2400
• 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:

Jakubson is a phenomenal lecturer. Prior to the course I had little to no understanding of the material, but he is incredibly good at simply explaining complex topics and I left the class feeling like I finally "got" it. He makes himself very available for office hours. He can be condescending, but he's a very patient teacher for those who struggle

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ECON3210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Jakubson made econometrics as painless as possible. He posts solid practice prelims and made himself available every morning for office hours to help struggling students. He grades based on improvement so he won't kill your grade if you bomb one of the exams. His exams are typically very long though.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ILRLE2400
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

George's class is intimidating. Prelims are hard. However, if you go to office hours and show progression throughout the course its an easy A-. I almost dropped the class, but decided to stay and I couldn't be happier with the decision. Hes a great guy, quirky but runs a great class. PS no need to buy the book, just use his hand outs