Takashi Nakajima - Palomar College

Professor: Takashi Nakajima

Department: TBD

College: Palomar College

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: 230L
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Don't take him for lab. You're stuck with your lab group. Only one other guy and I pulled our weight and we got a -4/10 average on our first 4 labs. (Yes, that's a NEGATIVE FOUR). After that, calculated that we needed 9/10 from then on to pass so I dropped (that wasn't happening). Maybe if you were only graded for your work the class would be ok.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHY230
• Grade Received: D+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This guy... There aren't many professors that can fail you twice, and leave with the student loving and revering the professor, he is one of the. I have never seen a professor with such great knowledge of his curriculum... even if you look at MIT Courseware. It is impossible to find a professor with his level of passion for his class.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHY230231
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Hardest classes I've ever taken. Hardest I've worked in a class . I hear he has retired. I wish that I could find a video of him deriving all of the equations from scratch. Brilliant teacher.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PH230231
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

As freshman in college, many are intimidated. In most workplaces, we work in a team. This class teaches teamwork better than any other. It "breaks the ice" for dialogues in physics. Much time is spent speaking, arguing (constructively), & writing with lab mates. This is not something one experiences in larger classes. Helps prepare for workforce.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHY230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

To pass his class you must study harder for this than for any other class. The study habits that develop from this class definitely made me a better student. My other classes were so easy after this class. He was available for office hours more than any other professor. Dont complain if you never asked good questions when confused. Do the homework

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHY230
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is a very challenging teacher but if you work hard you will leave with a better understanding of physics than students in other schools. If your are an engineering major I recommend you take him because he really knows his stuff. His high standards makes you a better student. Only lazy students complain that it is impossible. Its not an easy A.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHY230
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Do not take this class. More than half of every class has failed. The class started with 35 people and is now at 15. Some of the students in the class now are still failing. Listen to the counselors telling you not to take this class. If by some miracle you do pass, the class will still tank your GPA. Take it at Mira Costa.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHYS230
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Do not waste your time with this guy.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHYS230
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

VERY tough class but it's doable. Lectures are fun. Labs are beyond challenging if you don't have a good group. DO the homework. Then do it again. And again. Pop quizzes and exams are homework, class, and lab problems. Gives partial credit and curves exam grades. Study every single day, do the homework, and make sure you understand the concepts.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PH230231
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Great professor, really knows his stuff. Yes, he is hard but if you study there is no reason you shouldn't pass. You will really learn the material and you will excel in all your upper division coursework. Creates an impeccable work ethic in you. Do not listen to the counselors even the stem councilors. They don't know what they are talking about.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PH230231
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

There is no extra credit, I'm only making this post because someone gave false ratings for this class. Do not expect an easy A. You have to put in many hours of work just to pass. There is help when you stay and ask for it, don't expect people to come to you. Positive side-- you walk out with amazing study habits and will get top marks at a 4 year!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: 230PHY
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This class was so easy. Basically don't even have to show up

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PH230231
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I'm only here to talk about lab because I had Gerwig for lecture. The labs were pretty good. The lab manual was online and pretty well written all we had to really do is fill in the blanks though there was the friction and lubrication labs where we had to do a write up. Very hands on

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: 230PHY
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Takashi Nakajima has completely revamped the way he teaches physics 230. I dont know what he must have been like in the past but all the exams are now multiple choice. There are pop quizzes but they are essentially class examples.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHY230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Physics 230 at Palomar is tough. Takashi is extremely knowledgeable, but he's also a very particular grader. You can get marked off for having minor formatting errors in your lab report and turning your lab in late. Go to lab prep it may say "recommended" but if you want to pass lab, it's mandatory. Get a good lab group or else you're screwed D

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: 230
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very time consuming. In order to pass you must spend all your time mastering the concepts as he teaches them. Random Pop Quizzes!!! You will not pass if you fall behind or try to catch up on the weekend. To pass lab you MUST go to lab prep and meet with your lab group multiple times a week. My advice is to take the class somewhere else. Good luck.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHYS230
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Nakajima is a poisonous person. If you try to call him out on this, it will just be said that "you arent working hard enough," which may or may not be true. Either way, please do not go into this class thinking you will come out being proficient in Classical Mechanics, you will be severely severely dissapointed.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHYS230
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Gives negative credit on labs you turn in. Yes you heard that right. Class average on first lab was around -40% with some going as low as -450%. So even if you managed to pass the next 4 labs with 100% (which will never happen) you would still be below an F. You can get better grades by not even showing up to class. You have been warned!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHYS230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The physics department makes you develop a study strategy tailored to there courses. This class is excessively hard especially for a community college. I had to withdraw from the course first and only time to maintain my GPA. I ended up transferring to SDSU and the physics course here is much more realistic. Take it at Mira Costa if you must.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHYSICS230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class is not for the thin skinned or lazy individual. If true knowledge is important to you, you won't be disappointed with this class. Drive and self-motivation is a must. Be prepared to spend an average of 30 hours a week between studying and lab making. PLEASE FIND A GOOD LAB GROUP EARLY IN THE SEMESTER. This will save you alot of heartache