[{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:21:01.702384+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM2MTgyMzcy","source_instructor_id":"rmp:294976","instructor_name":"Maria Muniagurria","course_label":"ECON475","course_id":"ECON 475","course_uid":"course_d2ac1c2916afd3b570be6b72","review_date":"2022-04-28 17:21:45 +0000 UTC","comment":"You'll probably get stuck taking this class - super boring and theory heavy, all lecture notes posted online so you don't have to go to class, but boy is it hard. Not particularly worse or better than any other Econ prof, but you'll need to be familiar with how to solve/derive models in a million different ways. ","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/294976","quality_rating":2.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:21:01.702384+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMxNzIxNTk3","source_instructor_id":"rmp:294976","instructor_name":"Maria Muniagurria","course_label":"ECON475","course_id":"ECON 475","course_uid":"course_d2ac1c2916afd3b570be6b72","review_date":"2019-04-30 19:44:01 +0000 UTC","comment":"Maria goes through material very quickly, and her lectures tend to be quite dry.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/294976","quality_rating":2.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:21:01.702384+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMxMTQxOTI0","source_instructor_id":"rmp:294976","instructor_name":"Maria Muniagurria","course_label":"ECON475","course_id":"ECON 475","course_uid":"course_d2ac1c2916afd3b570be6b72","review_date":"2018-12-23 01:44:34 +0000 UTC","comment":"Maria teaches this class in a way that you somehow end up learning virtually nothing in the course of a semester. The content is just the addition and substitution of different variables into the Solow Model. Her lectures are incredibly boring, as she makes you take notes the entire period with no pause for explanation. Would not recommend.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/294976","quality_rating":2.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:21:01.702384+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMxMDA4MDQz","source_instructor_id":"rmp:294976","instructor_name":"Maria Muniagurria","course_label":"ECON475","course_id":"ECON 475","course_uid":"course_d2ac1c2916afd3b570be6b72","review_date":"2018-12-13 18:25:14 +0000 UTC","comment":"Maria really cares about students, and this shows in her willingness to answer questions and meet with students outside of class. Sometimes the course material can be difficult to follow, only because the class is notation heavy. Study hard in the beginning and the rest of the class will fall into place!","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/294976","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:21:01.702384+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTI4NjY5MTUz","source_instructor_id":"rmp:294976","instructor_name":"Maria Muniagurria","course_label":"ECON475","course_id":"ECON 475","course_uid":"course_d2ac1c2916afd3b570be6b72","review_date":"2017-09-11 16:49:08 +0000 UTC","comment":"She is a very caring person and you can learn a lot from her if you can communicate what you don't understand. Her accent and quiet voice make lectures difficult to follow but the notes are pretty straightforward and her tests are literally the lecture notes. Her practice tests are also very similar to the midterms/final.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/294976","quality_rating":3.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:21:01.702384+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTI4MzI3Njc4","source_instructor_id":"rmp:294976","instructor_name":"Maria Muniagurria","course_label":"ECON475","course_id":"ECON 475","course_uid":"course_d2ac1c2916afd3b570be6b72","review_date":"2017-05-16 22:29:58 +0000 UTC","comment":"Starts out disorganized, but afterwards comes together well. Maria cares, and does everything necessary to prepare everyone for exams--there's no reason you can't ace them with a reasonable amount of studying. There's one paper: lot of work, but interesting. You'll need to good at writing proofs (she'll help you learn). Overall good professor.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/294976","quality_rating":4.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:21:01.702384+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTIwMzY5Mjcy","source_instructor_id":"rmp:294976","instructor_name":"Maria Muniagurria","course_label":"ECON475","course_id":"ECON 475","course_uid":"course_d2ac1c2916afd3b570be6b72","review_date":"2012-05-31 23:19:41 +0000 UTC","comment":"The best professor ever. Helpful and friendly. She is always there if you need help. Great professor.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/294976","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:05:32.113709+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQxMjk1NjE3","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2775005","instructor_name":"Simeon Alder","course_label":"ECON475","course_id":"ECON 475","course_uid":"course_d2ac1c2916afd3b570be6b72","review_date":"2025-05-15 19:27:10 +0000 UTC","comment":"The worst ECON course. Filled with dense formula derivations but lacked logical flow, making it hard to understand the bigger picture. Textbook was recommended but rarely referenced. Office hours often turned into half-hour mini lectures for one student, leaving others waiting. For students who struggle, there are few helpful resources or guidance.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2775005","quality_rating":1.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:05:32.113709+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQwNzU3OTQz","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2775005","instructor_name":"Simeon Alder","course_label":"ECON475","course_id":"ECON 475","course_uid":"course_d2ac1c2916afd3b570be6b72","review_date":"2025-03-11 16:40:18 +0000 UTC","comment":"I like Prof Alder as a person. His Econ 475 was extremely hard with a lot of differential equations and packed concepts. His tests are also pretty hard. Yet Prof Alder is an interesting guy and his class was actually quite enjoyable. Office Hours are strongly recommended. He curve the grades in the end so getting an A is actually not that hard. ","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2775005","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:05:32.113709+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM4NDU5NDE3","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2775005","instructor_name":"Simeon Alder","course_label":"ECON475","course_id":"ECON 475","course_uid":"course_d2ac1c2916afd3b570be6b72","review_date":"2023-11-29 05:08:27 +0000 UTC","comment":"I can tell econ 475 was one of hardest courses at UW-Madison. He eventually makes easy and never make you fail if you do not drop class. I observed almost 50% dropped at the end of class. Please trust him\nI heard his intermediate macro econ is similar.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2775005","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:05:32.113709+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM2ODEzNjU3","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2775005","instructor_name":"Simeon Alder","course_label":"ECON475","course_id":"ECON 475","course_uid":"course_d2ac1c2916afd3b570be6b72","review_date":"2022-11-10 21:59:04 +0000 UTC","comment":"Simeon expects too much out of his students. He does not offer practice problems or previous exams to know what to expect on the exams. The homework assignments take about 8-10 hours to complete. He is extremely hard to talk to. He doesn't explain his grading nor tell you what you have in the class. Do not take this class,","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2775005","quality_rating":1.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:05:32.113709+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM1NzI0NzM3","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2775005","instructor_name":"Simeon Alder","course_label":"ECON475","course_id":"ECON 475","course_uid":"course_d2ac1c2916afd3b570be6b72","review_date":"2022-01-09 22:33:25 +0000 UTC","comment":"If you are a student interested in the subject of economic growth or research, then ECON475 should be to your liking. Not terribly useful for industry. Lectures: expect lots of math. If seeing letters with your numbers gives you a headache like it does me, be warned. Homework: 6-8 hours each closely mirroring class content, 6 homeworks total.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2775005","quality_rating":4.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:05:32.113709+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM1NjIyNzgz","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2775005","instructor_name":"Simeon Alder","course_label":"ECON475","course_id":"ECON 475","course_uid":"course_d2ac1c2916afd3b570be6b72","review_date":"2021-12-21 20:28:08 +0000 UTC","comment":"Professor Alder is a horrible professor unless you are a genius at Econ. His class was impossible, I felt like I learned nothing, and it felt like there was no way to improve your grades or do better. His office hours were not helpful either. We never new any grades or how we were doing in the class. He wouldn't tell us if he would curve the class.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2775005","quality_rating":1.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:05:32.113709+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMyNTIzNzU5","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2775005","instructor_name":"Simeon Alder","course_label":"ECON475","course_id":"ECON 475","course_uid":"course_d2ac1c2916afd3b570be6b72","review_date":"2019-12-04 18:37:55 +0000 UTC","comment":"Took both Econ 312 and 475 with him. The courses are well organized and the concepts are explained clearly. Exams are easy if you prepare for it.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2775005","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0}]