Ellen O'Brien - George Mason University

Professor: Ellen O'Brien

Department: TBD

College: George Mason University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MATH203
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor O'Brien's teaching isn't the greatest, I actually remember one lecture where a chunk of the class walked out because of her teaching. I found her very hard to understand and only passed thanks to Khan Academy. I heard linear algebra was meant to be a walk in the park but with her it seemed like the opposite.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MATH203
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor O'Brien is a good professor. She explains everything in her lectures pretty well. She can be boring a bit at times but linear algebra in general is an easy subject. You should be able to get an A in her class.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MATH111
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

One of the best professors at Mason. She's organized, to the point, and overall helpful. She tells you what you need to know and how to get there. You will get an A if you go to class and pay attention.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MATH125
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great math professor, she is very nice and helpful! Exams are clear and fair. Offers extra credit assignments, quizzes are online and helpful when studying.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HNRT125
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

She's super boring, but the content is extremely easy. She doesn't technically take attendance, but she sometimes gives classwork at the end of class and collects it. She was personally too boring for my taste, and she would give examples in the most roundabout way, which made the class excessively long, or at least feel like it was.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HNRT125
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

She's just okay. Very dull and I often was able to do other work on my laptop in class and not miss out on anything. No midterm and the for the final she allows you to use a cheat sheet.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HNRT125
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If you learn better with powerpoint, don't take! She wrote all class notes by hand, in cursive, on the overhead. She did post the notes on Bb, but only after asked. Used the textbook all of twice. You have to attend class to receive participation points from classwork.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MATH125
• 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:

Take her!! Content is difficult but she explains it really well. HW is helpful, not required. There are weekly open-note Bb quizzes, make sure you do VERY well bc they collectively become a 100-point test grade & it really boosts your grade. Practice examples from notes, quiz, and HW questions & you'll do well on the tests! Gives some extra credit!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MATH125
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She is a nice person, a little condescending but it's whatever. She is an okay teacher, definitely not amazing, her tests are difficult but doable, I would take her but the class itself is hard so be prepared.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MATH125
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She is kind and is willing to help you with your questions during class time. Doesn't waste class time and gets to the gist of the material. Textbook reading isn't required but be sure to solve all HW problems. The quzzies are difficult because it's all new material every week but they come from the textbook. Same with the exams. Fair grader.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HNRT225
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

soooo bad. do not take her class honestly. this subject was hard but she made it even more confusing. theres tons of online quizzes you have to do that aren't helpful. the 3 exams are also hard and she grades harsh.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MATH111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

She teaches the honors MATH 111, and I am not persuing honors degree, but I talked to her and she let me attend her class. She is amazing, I never thought math class could be so organized and easy. No matter how dumb you think you are, she won't let you stay behind. I love her class, and would 100% recommend her.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MATH111
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor is extremely disrespectful and has an extreme disregard for struggling students. Came to class almost every time(went when wasn't sick) and tried very hard. Traumatic events happened in first semester and professor didn't care. Is extremely strict and doesn't explain things well. Would never take again. Terrible professor.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MATH111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Easy class. She a little old so it takes her some time to explain things and really doesn't like when people move ahead on the classwork while she's teaching. Again, not a hard class but try your best not to miss a class because everything in the class builds on itself.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MATH111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Easy class. Go to class, take notes, do the homework, and you won't even need to study for the exams. This professor, however, is the absolute worst I've come across in my time at Mason. The way she speaks to students is so incredibly rude. I've watched my classmates get humiliated to the point where they won't bother asking for help anymore. Sad.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MATH111
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

O'Brien is a great teacher. She's very sweet and lectures are easy to understand. There is homework assigned almost every class but it doesn't take longer than half an hour to complete. Tests are very easy and similar to the practices.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MATH111
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very sweet woman. She really wants you to understand the material and she's super approachable. She requires participation and there's a good bit of homework, but its easy and requires minimal effort. Do your work and you'll do well.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MATH111
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She really is very straightforward and if you put in minimal effort you can walk out of here with an A. Very sweet and at times subtly funny, her lectures may get dull but she is always willing to help. She is well organized and this was a great Math class.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MATH111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Easy class, just pay attention to lecture. Things can get a little boring and repetitive, but it's better than difficult and time consuming! Four MatLab assignments, 3 exams, and all homework is extra credit.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MATH351
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Good at explaining difficult concepts. Assigns weekly problem sets that she grades relatively leniently by giving partial credit where possible. Accessible and friendly. Posts formula sheets, lecture summaries online. Tests were fair and reflected the content. Textbook a bit weak so don't skip class. Allowed formula index-card for tests. Recommend.