Randy Simmons - Utah State University

Professor: Randy Simmons

Department: TBD

College: Utah State University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ECN1500
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The professor was amazing at teaching but the exams were crap. Granted, they were written by the TA's and you were basically expected to go to the TA's office hours in order to do well on the Exams which I could not do because of my schedule. He was willing to work with students when you needed help which was a was a serious bonus.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ECON1500
• 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:

Randy is a great professor who knows how to explain things very well and always has TA's who are fun and happy to work with you. There is a group midterm (can do alone) where you make a video of a economic term. It is very fun. One of my favorite classes at USU. I would highly recommend for all, grades are diversified which is nice.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ECN1500
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Overall, it's an incredibly interesting class that I found hugely beneficial. If I could teach it though, I would certainly have weekly 2-page essays on concepts in the chapter we were studying that week. I would also revamp the lectures so that they complement the textbook, not summarize it. Professor Simmons is great but the class lacked rigor.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ECN1500
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Simmons is very good and knows his stuff! I loved his class! It was very easy and there are 4 test you can drop your lowest score except for the final and they are all comprehensive test. There is one group project(which I hate) where you have to make a video of two economic terms. The grading is not harsh.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ECN1500
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Randy is a great professor. There is weekly homework that is super easy. There are four quizzes and the lowest score is dropped. The quizzes are written by the TA's and can be kind of confusing. The best thing to do is go to their office hours at least once before every quiz. Overall not too difficult.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ECN1500
• 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:

Honestly if you go to class and pay attention you should be fine. I attended SI's and it was the same as going to class. Cool guy he'll take you out at the end of the semester for lunch if you want! Big fan of Randy

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ECON1500
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I had a roommate take his class last year and said it was alright and wasnt too hard, well apparently things changed this year, they now have 4 quizzes one dropped and honestly the TA we got kinda sucked, he told us that he make test questions to try and make us fail. They were honestly pretty bad. I know test were only 1 person got the correct ans

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ECN1500
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The lectures are long winded, but attendance is not mandatory and you can safely leave after the first half without missing anything. If you read the textbook, do the assignment, and attend at least half of each lecture you will get an A. You can choose between a video or paper for the midterm but the video is graded more leniently so choose wisely

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ECON1500
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Randy is such a good professor and knows this course so well. His class does have quite a bit of detail and if you get behind then you have to work really hard to get back on track. His lectures are usually really good but sometimes can drag on. His TA's are very helpful and he uses all his resources well!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ECON1500
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Randy is good professor. I am in his ECON class and he knows that this is the only econ class many students will take. He cares more about you passing and getting something out of it than anything else. His TA's are good to and they communicate well with P. Simmons so if you go to Office Hours you can pass the tests.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ECN1500
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Randy jokes a LOT, and if you find yourself being a bit sensitive, I would stay away from him. The concepts in ECN1500 are not difficult and if you listen during the lectures and do the homework, you will get an A. There is barely any studying required, all he tests you on is basic concepts.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ECN1500
• 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:

Best Econ class I have taken. Professor Simmons jokes and tells a lot of stories, which turns some people off, but is knowledgeable caring. He does expect his students to have read the textbook before class to make the discussions and lectures more successful. If you show up to class unprepared, you will get lost fast.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ECN1500
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Class is easy and the TA's are generally pretty great. Prof. Simmons is one of the worst professors I've had. He spends more time talking about himself than the material . He is the anti-thesis of why a professor should be given tenure. Got 98% on everything except attendance. I decided a letter drop was better than listening to him ramble.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ECN1500
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If Randy likes your class you won't have to take the final, he's tenured and he lets you know it. His TA's do most of the work, do all your homework and you'll pass, the only test I took was the mid-term and the questions are worded in a confusing way. do-able if you study a lot.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ECN1500
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is very knowledgeable in the topic and has very good examples that made the class very worthwhile.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ECN1500
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Randy does a good job introducing all the ideas in the class, though he doesn't go very in depth. To really understand you need to study yourself. If you don't understand you need to go to the TA's. They have a ton of office hours, and are very helpful. If you don't understand a concept, and don't use the available resources it could be tough.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ECN1500
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Randy Simmons is my favorite teacher that I have ever had. His TA's are great, and they are always willing to help. He is great at telling stories and relating them to the material. His tests are easy if you study hard. I would recommend taking Economics 1500 with him.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ECN1500
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I was worried because of the mixed reviews, but was pleasantly surprised to see that this class was more than fair. Class moved very quickly, you have to go & do the reading. Harder than your average general, but very doable. Many helpful TA's and the concepts were explained clearly. (Also, if a class offers an SI you should be going to it.)

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ECN1500
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This class was not extremely difficult but I learned absolutely nothing and it turned me away from majoring in Economics. Randy is a really interesting guy and his lectures are usually pretty funny but you won't learn much in class. (However, you have to go in order to get attendance points). :(

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ECN1500
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Randy is a funny guy, and enjoys teaching/telling stories. However, I didn't get much out of his class. Most of the learning I did was from the Cengage textbook, which was a total mess, and Randy doesn't use it anymore because of that. His TAs did all the grading. Midterm was too hard, so they curved it. Final was ok. Big midterm project.