Oren Falk - Cornell University

Professor: Oren Falk

Department: TBD

College: Cornell University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST1180
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

WORST DECISION OF THE SEMESTER. Class was on viking peoples and many readings were in Old Norse... that nobody knew how to read???? At one point he made someone cry because he misinterpreted what he/she said and then continued to insist that he was correct in his interpretation. He also compared my writing to a mental disorder...

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST1660
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Falk is the best thing that happened to my undergrad career at Cornell. I did both a class and an independent study with him and he opened my eyes to a new world of history. I finally felt like I was being understood, I am forever grateful. His class was fun and interesting and as long as you cared you are going to get a good grade.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST1180
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very much a mixed bag. Assigns lots of reading but guides discussion of it very well, good at pushing a free conversation among students to useful places. Unfortunately he also gives maddeningly cryptic responses to even the most straightforward questions, especially about assignments and grading. Grading and comments are mostly unclear/unhelpful.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST2742
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Clearly very smart guy. Had ridiculously high expectations based on the level of the class, and did not teach you how to conform to them. Unclear in his assignment instructions and expectations. SUPER tough grader, concerned with grade inflation. Feedback was mostly critical, not constructive. Heavy reading load. Got visibly annoyed with students.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: 2742
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

GOD, please don't take this professor's class. Lectures are boring than hell, grading is tough (totally based on how he likes you; he's extremely obssessed with the problem of grade inflation ), readings are unbelievably huge (even if most students mentioned this and he changed the amount of readings but still the course is too time-consuming)

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HISTSEM
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Oren takes a little getting used to and has a dry sense of humor but he is extremely helpful and a very fair grader (he gave me a higher grade on my final paper than I likely deserved because I was engaged with the class). He is a wealth of knowledge and one should probably actually do the work for his classes. Great teacher and scholar!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST1510
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This class was demanding, but well worth the effort. The pace was fast but all of the material seemed important and interesting. To receive a high grade in this class, one must be willing to think critically, closely examine readings, and be present and attentive for all lectures.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HISTO4444
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Falk is very intelligent and helpful. His criticism can be harsh, but it's always constructive. He helped me improve my writing and my ability to analyze both primary and secondary sources. More than any other professor that I've had as a History major, he's willing to go out of his way to help you improve your own work. A passionate prof

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST1510
• 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:

He's really really nice and helpful. Though his class may be boring, but if you have any problem, he'll always be there ready to help you. He can spend a lot of time helping you clarify any issue. I really love him! He's amazing! Though his essay requirements are sometimes vague, but just go to his office hours and ask him any necessary question!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST1510
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

(Hist 1510) The class was definitely hard, but it wasn't unfair either and I ended up learning a lot. Professor Falk's lectures can be snoozers at times, but he did bring in a few very interesting guest lecturers to liven things up. All in all, it was a good class that I would recommend.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST300
• 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:

Strange guy. He is smart (duh) and interesting but there is something wrong with him, just can't put my finger on it. Class was on vikings, which is boring as hell, and i'm a respectable history major. Perfect class for you if you are a dork or some risley weirdo who likes to play with fake swords.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST1180
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Egotistical, couldn't understand his assignments, harsh grader, extremely unhelpful when approached with questions.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST151
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I took two classes with Professor Falk-vikings and western civ. I received C's in both of them. But to this day, they are my favorite classes that I have taken at Cornell. There is a lot of work, and the tests and papers are difficult. But he is enthusiastic, prepared, and engaged. Do yourself a solid, and take one of his courses

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST227
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Its weird, this guy is an AMAZING lecturer, well structured, clear, funny (without being desperate), engaging etc. But he assigns so much busy work that I actually dropped the class and audited instead. Auditing is def the way to go, dont try to actually write papers for the guy, but also dont miss the chance to hear his AMAZING lectures.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST320
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Seriously great professor. No doubt you'll have to work hard, but you will also learn a ton. Hilarious sense of humor. Some people make him out to be evil, but that's only because he's incredibly challenging. If you actually want to LEARN something while you're at Cornell, take one of his classes, any of 'em.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: DAFFAD
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

OOOF what a dud. this guy is bizarre. he told me a story about how he wanted to be a pilot in the Israeli army but couldn't, and tried to make an analogy for students having difficulty keeping up with his cryptic assignments and verbose, soporific lectures. This is the kind of guy who uses unnecessarily complicated words and feels proud of it.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST400
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

he's great if you show any interest in the topic and he really wants students to learn something...expects a lot from students and has very high standards...great for seminars and serious students. probably not someone you'd want to have if you're fulfilling a requirement. no matter what he'll force you to learn.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST151
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Oren is very knowledgeable and he enjoys teaching. You will be expected to do lots of work and he will call on you during lecture. However, his efforts will undoubtedly surpass yours and I was continually amazed at his level of preperation. Do some work and you will learn plenty.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The best class and proffesor i've had so far. Not so much work for this class, just one long paper, but he is very demanding and hold high standards. Incredible class discussions.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST320
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

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