Hardest courses

Historical reviews of David Baum, Linda Graham: One review suggests the workload is light if you attend lectures, while another indicates quizzes are difficult despite reading the textbook.[1, 2]

Reviewers describe the workload as heavy, with time-consuming homework and brutal exams. The course requires deep knowledge of in-depth proofs, making it challenging for non-elite math majors.[1]

Historical reviews of Alexander Hanhart, Joel Robbin, Mikhail Feldman: Alexander Hanhart assigns time-consuming homework, while Mikhail Feldman's quizzes are comically hard despite exams matching the textbook. Joel Robbin also gives long assignments.[1, 2, 3]

Reviews criticize the heavy reliance on detailed textbook reading for exams, noting that lectures often repeat the book and exams can be tricky or poorly worded.[1, 2, +2]

The course demands substantial homework and pre-class preparation, with exams described as tough and content-heavy, requiring consistent study habits to succeed.[1, 2, 3]

Historical reviews of Prerna Gera: Prerna Gera's course required over ten hours of weekly homework and relied heavily on the textbook due to unclear lectures.[1]

The course is described as difficult, with derivation-heavy lectures and tricky homework problems requiring Excel or Matlab. Exams are considered fair, and reviewers note that ample practice problems are provided to aid preparation.[1, 2, +4]

Reviewers describe the workload as fairly light and note that Dr. Phillipson’s clear grading criteria make studying manageable, despite the inherent difficulty of the subject matter.[1, 2, 3]

Reviewers consistently report a heavy workload, citing weekly homeworks, quizzes, and large projects that often require 40 to 70 hours of work. Some students found the assignments excessive and disconnected from class content, while others noted the volume consumed all free time.[1, 2, +4]

The course is a challenge that tests conceptual thermodynamics understanding. Homework is low-point but harshly graded, and success depends on completing assigned readings rather than relying solely on lectures or homework problems.[1, 2, +2]

Historical reviews of Laura Hernandez: Exams are based on worksheets and the textbook, requiring extensive study of those materials. Lectures can be difficult to follow without recordings, and some exam content may not be covered in class.[1, 2, 3]

Homework is time-consuming, taking five to six hours per set, and exams are challenging with a time crunch. Students must spend significant time understanding homework to prepare for tests that may differ from practice problems.[1, 2, +2]

The molecular genetics portion taught by David Wassarman is described as significantly harder and more complex than transmission genetics. Reviewers report that exams are incredibly difficult, with Wassarman requiring deep answers and grading more harshly than Bret Payseur.[1, 2, +3]

Reviewers consistently report that exams are extremely difficult, often unrelated to lectures or homework, with low averages and insufficient time for paper-based tests.[1, 2, +4]

The course requires outside class hours to grasp lecture material and complete lab reports.[1]

The course is considered very difficult, with hard assignments that require significant study time, though group work is permitted. Exams are reported as easier than homework, although one student found the final exam unexpectedly difficult despite its stated format.[1, 2, +2]

Grades rely almost entirely on exams, which make up the vast majority of the final score. Students note that non-exam work like discussions and attendance is minimal, though one reviewer found pre-lecture expectations heavy.[1, 2, +3]

The course demands heavy self-directed learning due to the flipped format, where lectures are minimal. Exams are long and constitute the majority of the grade, though extra credit opportunities can help mitigate the difficulty.[1, 2, +3]

Homework and exams are reported as straightforward, though one review notes the need to access multiple textbooks and keep up with prewritten lectures.[1]

The course requires significant memorization of metabolic pathways and reactions. Students report that dense content and difficult exams necessitate creating condensed study tables and dedicating ample time to preparation to finish exams on time.[1, 2, 3]

Historical reviews of Susan Yadro: The course difficulty is rated as moderate, with a rating of 3.[1]

Exams are fair but include one or two tough questions that require significant thought and effort.[1]

Historical reviews of Nimish Pujara: The course is hard fluid mechanics requiring quick note-taking or post-lecture review due to the volume of material covered per lecture.[1]

Historical reviews of Jennifer Detlor, Robert Witt, Suzannah Sandrik: Homework is demanding, taking up to 10 hours weekly, and exams are considered tough. Students report needing frequent walk-in help and outside resources to complete assignments and understand concepts not covered in class.[1, 2, +2]