Steven Swidler - Auburn University

Professor: Steven Swidler

Department: TBD

College: Auburn University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: FINC7660
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Swidler's lectures were interesting, but didn't always help to prepare you for exams. Do the homework problems! Exams were straightforward and representative of course material. There was a group project that was very interesting and allowed students to get real experience in portfolio analysis.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: FIN7640
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

About 30% of the test will be from stuff that you didn't go over that you'll need to figure out how to do as your doing the tests, such as knockout puts and other exotic options that weren't covered in the class. These are also usually the most complicated multipart questions on the exam.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: 7130
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Not a very good teacher. He tries to catch you out on what you don't know instead of what you know. he's one of those proff...

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: 6680
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Listen, I'm a straight A student, I consider myself fair and objective. Avoid this man at all costs, even if you're really interested in financial engineering. His main interest is showing you how smart he is by teaching you all these obscure, unimportant concepts (ex: google search "knockout put"), not helping you learn anything.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: 6680
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I'm sure he's smart, but he's not capable of teaching. I've had 10+ MBAs tell me they won't do dual finance because of him. He is a liability to the program. I now know less about financial engineering now than I did at the beginning of the semester taking a similar undergrad class. Pity, because I previously really liked FE & now I don't.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: FINC4700
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Worst teacher ever. I don't think I have ever despised a professor so much. He is so rude and makes you feel like a worthless idiot for asking questions. Extremely boring and just reads slides--does not explain material. Seriously take anything but this class. You will be miserable if you take him.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: FINC7640
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Don't waste your time. I was warned not to take his class but did it anyway figuring I could deal with the studying/workload. Turns out I could, it just wasn't worth it. Wish I'd taken the advice. Completing a group project presented via recorded narration, rather than live, was also nonsensical and negated the benefits of group work...

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: FINC4700
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Swidler is awesome! If you're dumb or lazy (apparently like everyone else who posted here), you probably won't like him though.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: FINC4700
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

i liked him. sometimes the lectures could be a tad boring, but it could just seem that way b/c i was usually pretty sleepy. while attendance is not mandatory, i would suggest going b/c if you miss less than 3 classes, you can do extra credit worth half a letter grade. and if you like options and swaps and things, this is a good class to take.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: FINC4700
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Huge a$$whole, had a 79 wouldn't give me a B

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: SECANALYSIS
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Horrible, didnt learn a thing, worst hour and 15 of Auburn classes, he cant present info and doesnt help if you have problems, half the time he is like out in space in his own world

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: FINC4700
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Swidler is a terrible teacher. He does not explain the material clearly and is not helpful at all when you have problems. I didn't learn one thing this semester that I will wver need. If at all possible, stay away from classes that he teaches.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: FINC4700
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

TERRIBLE TEACHER!! Thought this class was going to be much different than it was.. most boring class I've EVER taken and it's my major!! Tests are very hard.. and the teacher is the biggest dork ever. Class SUCKS!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: FINC7680
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

worst instructor ever had

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: FINC4700
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

very helpful when help is needed.....posts sample exam questions on his website.....very well spoken and explains clearly

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: FINC4700
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

he knows very little about finance and only repeats things he read in the book and articles. surprised he graduated from colleg, is extremely rude. only helps out his fellow geeks. do not take this class, they need a new teacher! waste of money this term!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: FINC4700
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Take this class only if you are interested in derivatives (ex: futures, options, fowards, swaps). This is a great class if you wish to work for a brokerage firm. He is extremely helpful if you have questions and will stay after class to help you.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: FINC4700
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This is the worst professor I have ever had! He doesn't know how to communicate with people or explain the material. All we do in class is look at that awful combover of his!The class is good, but he totally ruins it! Do not register for his class!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: FINC
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

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