Russell La Puma - Grossmont College

Professor: Russell La Puma

Department: TBD

College: Grossmont College

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MATH284
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Puma tends to be late and he is very unorganized. He really has a hard time in managing his time when doing lectures. He will take the whole time in just doing 1 example. If you are going to take him, you are going to heavily rely on the readings of your book. Read the book and do the homework and you'll be fine. You will not learn from lect

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MATH284
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

nice professor but dang. Didn't return test until near the end. He used all notes with mistakes on them. He seems very lazy or just over it. He second guess himself a lot. no point in going to class, you learn better by yourself. if you arent a self learner dont take him

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MATH175
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

3 days in and Im already lost. We did not receive a syllabus until yesterday, and hes been late everyday thus far. While he does seem to be a nice guy, and genuinely knows what he is talking about, its painfully hard to understand his lectures because he cant finish a thought before moving on. This semester is going to be VERY difficult.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MATH284
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I believe he is a nice professor. The test and final exam are easy. I always lated for class but he did not say anything. However, he sometimes late for class, and you have to wait a long time to get your test grade. I am waiting my final exam grade now! I have been waiting for 10 more days.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MATH280
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

very nice professor.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MATH175
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is literally the worst professor on campus. Test are graded literally 3 weeks maybe 4 after we take them. Never know what your class grade is going into the final exam. He is all over the place and cannot get through 1 lesson. Also, he totally skipped 2 chapters and tried putting them on our final. and another thing, he is always late.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MATH281
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class is pretty much teach yourself. Half the class usually leaves during the break. The lecture notes are pretty much useless in terms of the tests. His tests are more like the hw. If I could, I would just not attend lectures and only come for tests and the final.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MATH280
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

very smart professor. his lectures can be boring, but he's very lenient with his students. i even hear/see him give clues to students during test taking. great professor, especially if you're one of those students who does most of the learning at home.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MATH245
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

La Puma is a great professor. He teach the subject in a pace where I was able to follow. However, attending lecture won't teach you everything that is needed to succeed in his class. Discrete Mathematics involves of studying so be prepared. Easy quizzes and tests. He may even give out a take home test if you're lucky.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MATH245
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Though lectures can be a bit boring, LaPuma's an amazing professor. The majority of his test questions are ripped straight from the book or are very similar to what's in the book. So as long as you do the assigned homework, you're almost guaranteed a 'B'.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MATH280
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

no one can finish the class without falling asleep at least once. He is boring. He is not clear at all. You have to study on your own to understand the materiel. I will never take a class with him again.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MATH284
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

A little disorganized, but a decent guide if you are able to grasp the material. I scored 100% and 96% on his first two tests. He isn't a tough grader. Easy A.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: 285
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

At Grossmont, I would take Russell La Puma over someone like Cary Lee. La Puma has some bad reviews here, but overall, he's a good teacher and tries his best to make his students understand the lecture. His exams and quizzes are pretty straightforward study, do the homework, show up to class, and you'll pass the exams.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MATH285
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Great professor. His tests are easier than the homework. Quizzes were take home. Homework is mandatory, but graded on completeness. In all the years I've taken math, I've always been a B/B+ student, but with this class, I received an A!!! He's fairly through on this subject (differential equations) and makes it easy to understand.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MATH121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This teacher graded easy but was confusing and horribly boring. A tutor would be a good idea if you take this class. He is distracted easily, pretty bad communication skills and is inconsiderate of students. He does not grade homework, just checks you did it. Tests are a piece of cake if you can survive the lectures.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MATH280
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Anyone who talks about La Puma's "stutter" is frankly being nit picky; it is not distracting unless you are going out of your way to listen for it. He is a great teacher, see and explains things differently (which is why some people don't like him I'm sure). But HIS TEST ARE EASY. He is so generous and gives you hints if you get stuck. Great class!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MATH285
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I've taken Calc 3 and Dif Eq with Professor La Puma now and I would recommend his math classes to anyone who struggles with instructors that are too demanding for the sake of "separating the gifted". Russell isn't the most organized instructor but he does a good job driving the fundamentals. His tests are not meant to fool you, fairly easy.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MATH285
• 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:

what I appreciate most about Russell are his tests. They are straight forward, with nice answers, and he grades gently. Take him for all of your math classes

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MATH175
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Its a bit hard to understand him because he jumps back and forth through topics making it hard to write notes. Its especially helpful if you attend all classes. Its difficult to meet with him because he is a part time teacher. All his tests are super easy as long as you do the homework.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MATH281
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Yes is awkward and kind of weird. But he has nice writing and explains well. The tests are pretty easy and he will help you out. I took him for three classes and got an A in all the classes. Good guy, but a math nerd.