[{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:56:12.602726+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQzMzkxNzgz","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2911189","instructor_name":"Amanda Smith","course_label":"ISYE524","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE/ISYE 524","course_uid":"course_dd8d2094feb4657373e2e2f3","review_date":"2026-08-27 01:20:39 +0000 UTC","comment":"Dr. Smith is easily the best professor I had throughout undergrad. She sets clear expectations and syllabus. She also recorded lectures and posted the same day. Homework, sem project, and exams were also reasonable given timeframe and amount of content covered. Clearly cares about her students' learning and success!! Could not recommend more","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2911189","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:33:40.655470+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQxNjU3NTI5","source_instructor_id":"rmp:1472025","instructor_name":"Jeff Linderoth","course_label":"ISYE524","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE/ISYE 524","course_uid":"course_dd8d2094feb4657373e2e2f3","review_date":"2025-09-22 18:09:05 +0000 UTC","comment":"Overall well taught, lectures are fun and made me interested in optimization. However, things were disorganized in the end of the course, with strict grade cutoffs, no guidance or any feedback on the project, basically felt like I got a randomly assigned project score with no explanation (despite TAs enthusiastically encouraged me on the topic)","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1472025","quality_rating":3.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:33:40.655470+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQxMzIzNDMy","source_instructor_id":"rmp:1472025","instructor_name":"Jeff Linderoth","course_label":"ISYE524","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE/ISYE 524","course_uid":"course_dd8d2094feb4657373e2e2f3","review_date":"2025-05-19 19:24:29 +0000 UTC","comment":"Great guy and pretty good teacher, but fairly unorganized. There were 6 homework assignments, but some took 20 hours to complete and lacked detail, contained mistakes, and were sometimes posted late. Exams were fair and only tested material that was covered in class. Project lacked guidance and was very open ended with unclear evaluation criteria.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1472025","quality_rating":4.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:33:40.655470+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQxMjY1NzU4","source_instructor_id":"rmp:1472025","instructor_name":"Jeff Linderoth","course_label":"ISYE524","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE/ISYE 524","course_uid":"course_dd8d2094feb4657373e2e2f3","review_date":"2025-05-13 14:57:18 +0000 UTC","comment":"Professor Linderoth is an interesting character. You can tell he has a lot of background in Optimization and has worked with some pretty big names in the field. He always had jokes and stories about particular models and it made me very interested in the class... but he sometimes gets sidetracked, so prepare to study a lot on your own time.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1472025","quality_rating":4.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:33:40.655470+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM5NDQ5Mzg1","source_instructor_id":"rmp:1472025","instructor_name":"Jeff Linderoth","course_label":"ISYE524","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE/ISYE 524","course_uid":"course_dd8d2094feb4657373e2e2f3","review_date":"2024-05-13 15:11:36 +0000 UTC","comment":"He's a decent professor, posts lecture videos and recordings and all that, but holy cow is he arrogant. Like he'll teach you everything you need to know decently, he's not a bad professor by any means, but I just could not get over his attitude, the way he called people out, making fun of people who don't come to class, etc.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1472025","quality_rating":3.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:33:40.655470+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM5MTcxODQz","source_instructor_id":"rmp:1472025","instructor_name":"Jeff Linderoth","course_label":"ISYE524","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE/ISYE 524","course_uid":"course_dd8d2094feb4657373e2e2f3","review_date":"2024-04-28 16:21:25 +0000 UTC","comment":"Professor Linderoth is amazing. This class is extremely difficult, but gives you everything you need to learn. Homeworks are very long and challenging but thoroughly cover class content which makes studying for exams quite easy. He goes kinda fast through many concepts, but recordings and lecture slides are posted so it's easy to go back.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1472025","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:33:40.655470+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM5MDU5OTgw","source_instructor_id":"rmp:1472025","instructor_name":"Jeff Linderoth","course_label":"ISYE524","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE/ISYE 524","course_uid":"course_dd8d2094feb4657373e2e2f3","review_date":"2024-03-18 17:03:39 +0000 UTC","comment":"Linderoth is fantastic. He makes complicated lectures enjoyable and listens to student feedback on what we aren't understanding. He posts lecture recordings, notes, and slides for review, and lots of examples for the difficult homework assignments. Both him and TAs are helpful and care a lot for students. He is enthusiastic about what he teaches.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1472025","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:23:54.908226+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMwMTgxMTYy","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2227000","instructor_name":"Laurent Lessard","course_label":"CS524","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE/ISYE 524","course_uid":"course_dd8d2094feb4657373e2e2f3","review_date":"2018-05-24 00:52:53 +0000 UTC","comment":"11 out of 10 would recommend Professor Lessard, hands down one of my favorite professors so far. Classes are super interesting and homework assignments are difficult but very helpful for learning. Just in general a great class.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2227000","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:23:54.908226+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTI5ODQzNjgy","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2227000","instructor_name":"Laurent Lessard","course_label":"CS524","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE/ISYE 524","course_uid":"course_dd8d2094feb4657373e2e2f3","review_date":"2018-04-19 14:34:31 +0000 UTC","comment":"Clear, organized teacher who is an expert on the subject! Great class.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2227000","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:23:54.908226+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTI5NTkxMjUy","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2227000","instructor_name":"Laurent Lessard","course_label":"CS524","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE/ISYE 524","course_uid":"course_dd8d2094feb4657373e2e2f3","review_date":"2018-02-23 14:43:51 +0000 UTC","comment":"It's hard but it's worth it and this guy does a great job answering questions. Homeworks are opportunities to learn, not pointless exercises in stuff that doesn't matter. 10/10 would recommend.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2227000","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:23:54.908226+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTI3NzQ3MDQy","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2227000","instructor_name":"Laurent Lessard","course_label":"CS524","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE/ISYE 524","course_uid":"course_dd8d2094feb4657373e2e2f3","review_date":"2017-01-18 02:01:24 +0000 UTC","comment":"Cares about teaching, always has time to answer questions. Lectures are very cleanly structured and conveys material concisely.  Only good things to say!","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2227000","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:22.090012+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQyNDEyNDQ5","source_instructor_id":"rmp:926803","instructor_name":"Michael Ferris","course_label":"CS524","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE/ISYE 524","course_uid":"course_dd8d2094feb4657373e2e2f3","review_date":"2025-12-29 08:55:48 +0000 UTC","comment":"You really need to do well on the homework, since on the project he'll take off 30-40% just because he feels like it, even if you follow the directions carefully. A bunch of people were asking him to please give any amount of justification for the final project grades, and he tells us to ask him in office hours NEXT SEMESTER, what a joke.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/926803","quality_rating":1.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:22.090012+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQyMjAzNDA2","source_instructor_id":"rmp:926803","instructor_name":"Michael Ferris","course_label":"CS524","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE/ISYE 524","course_uid":"course_dd8d2094feb4657373e2e2f3","review_date":"2025-12-12 07:27:49 +0000 UTC","comment":"Very bad academic experience in uw-madison. No clear rubric(almost 0) , harshly grading with very poor feedback. You don't even know if you have a final exam.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/926803","quality_rating":1.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:22.090012+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQyMTk5NjMy","source_instructor_id":"rmp:926803","instructor_name":"Michael Ferris","course_label":"CS524","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE/ISYE 524","course_uid":"course_dd8d2094feb4657373e2e2f3","review_date":"2025-12-12 04:27:23 +0000 UTC","comment":"Incapable of giving proper instructions, rubrics, or fair grading. Many HW problems need to be clarified on Piazza. The project spec had a few vague bullet points, a few scribbled notes in the margins as \"feedback\", and yet he cut tons of points harshly. The full project reqs are also just some bullet points with no clear rubric. Abysmal professor.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/926803","quality_rating":1.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:22.090012+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQyMDY2MjQ0","source_instructor_id":"rmp:926803","instructor_name":"Michael Ferris","course_label":"CS524","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE/ISYE 524","course_uid":"course_dd8d2094feb4657373e2e2f3","review_date":"2025-12-06 02:01:16 +0000 UTC","comment":"Very bad course. Among the worst I have taken at UW-Madison. Course policies are absolute nonsense.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/926803","quality_rating":1.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:22.090012+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQyMDUxNTM5","source_instructor_id":"rmp:926803","instructor_name":"Michael Ferris","course_label":"CS524","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE/ISYE 524","course_uid":"course_dd8d2094feb4657373e2e2f3","review_date":"2025-12-05 04:29:00 +0000 UTC","comment":"This guy's course policies are nonsense...automatic -8% on the project for working in pairs and the final exam gets held because he got mad at some people apparently copying homework code. Overall he is also bad at giving clear assignment directions.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/926803","quality_rating":1.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:22.090012+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM4NzY3ODE2","source_instructor_id":"rmp:926803","instructor_name":"Michael Ferris","course_label":"CS524","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE/ISYE 524","course_uid":"course_dd8d2094feb4657373e2e2f3","review_date":"2023-12-21 18:06:07 +0000 UTC","comment":"Prof. Ferris is such a great person and is beyond helpful during office hours. If you use his office hours, you will succeed in this class. It is a ton of work and the homeworks are super time-consuming, but they do force you to learn. We did not have a final this semester because he cancelled it when he didn't find anyone cheating.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/926803","quality_rating":4.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:22.090012+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM3MTQwNzkw","source_instructor_id":"rmp:926803","instructor_name":"Michael Ferris","course_label":"CS524","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE/ISYE 524","course_uid":"course_dd8d2094feb4657373e2e2f3","review_date":"2022-12-15 19:43:03 +0000 UTC","comment":"524 is a very challenging class. This can be expected for any 500-level CS. When taking this course with Prof. Ferris Gams Studio will be used. Prof. Ferris explains the concepts well, but you will have to work to fully understand the GAMS software. He gets judged on the rigor of the class and not his ability to teach the material. Work with peers.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/926803","quality_rating":3.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:22.090012+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM2NzY5NzE0","source_instructor_id":"rmp:926803","instructor_name":"Michael Ferris","course_label":"CS524","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE/ISYE 524","course_uid":"course_dd8d2094feb4657373e2e2f3","review_date":"2022-11-02 21:56:35 +0000 UTC","comment":"I'll start off by saying that I don't dislike Professor Ferris as a person, but this class sucks. The homework is insanely time-consuming, and slightly getting a problem wrong will turn that problem into a 50%. On top of that, grade distributions are hidden. Avoid this class and the stress it brings with it. Worst class through 4 years of college.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/926803","quality_rating":1.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:22.090012+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM2NzQ5Njk5","source_instructor_id":"rmp:926803","instructor_name":"Michael Ferris","course_label":"CS524","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE/ISYE 524","course_uid":"course_dd8d2094feb4657373e2e2f3","review_date":"2022-10-28 18:25:00 +0000 UTC","comment":"HW will ruin your social life and he grades incredibly  hard","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/926803","quality_rating":1.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:22.090012+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM2NzM2ODI3","source_instructor_id":"rmp:926803","instructor_name":"Michael Ferris","course_label":"CS524","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE/ISYE 524","course_uid":"course_dd8d2094feb4657373e2e2f3","review_date":"2022-10-25 23:18:48 +0000 UTC","comment":"The topic is interesting and Ferris is obviously very passionate and intelligent but the home works take incredible effort and time each week (like 10-12 hours per week if you don't have prior modeling experience). I've had to blow off other classes and work just to make time for this course. I'm miserable. Avoid at all costs.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/926803","quality_rating":1.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:22.090012+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM2NzAxNTI5","source_instructor_id":"rmp:926803","instructor_name":"Michael Ferris","course_label":"CS524","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE/ISYE 524","course_uid":"course_dd8d2094feb4657373e2e2f3","review_date":"2022-10-14 16:12:12 +0000 UTC","comment":"This guy is terrible. ","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/926803","quality_rating":1.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:22.090012+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM1NDY0ODUx","source_instructor_id":"rmp:926803","instructor_name":"Michael Ferris","course_label":"CS524","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE/ISYE 524","course_uid":"course_dd8d2094feb4657373e2e2f3","review_date":"2021-12-10 23:56:36 +0000 UTC","comment":"Very good in office hours and is always willing to help out. He will explain things if you ask and is great making sure that you understand the content. It is very difficult course, but you just have to put the work in.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/926803","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:22.090012+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM0MTc3NjQ1","source_instructor_id":"rmp:926803","instructor_name":"Michael Ferris","course_label":"CS524","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE/ISYE 524","course_uid":"course_dd8d2094feb4657373e2e2f3","review_date":"2020-12-22 19:33:51 +0000 UTC","comment":"Lectures were very disorganized. Examples were often explained in complex ways making the problems on the homework very difficult to complete. Seemed less interested in teaching the material to students new to optimization and more interested in showing off his advanced knowledge of the topics.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/926803","quality_rating":1.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:22.090012+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMzNjQ1MzY5","source_instructor_id":"rmp:926803","instructor_name":"Michael Ferris","course_label":"ECE524","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE/ISYE 524","course_uid":"course_dd8d2094feb4657373e2e2f3","review_date":"2020-09-15 12:49:21 +0000 UTC","comment":"Seems like a nice guy. But I don't know why he grades so harshly. This course has an average GPA of 3.7 when it is taught by other professors, but it is only 3.2 when he teaches this course.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/926803","quality_rating":3.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:22.090012+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMyMzE2MjI3","source_instructor_id":"rmp:926803","instructor_name":"Michael Ferris","course_label":"CS524","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE/ISYE 524","course_uid":"course_dd8d2094feb4657373e2e2f3","review_date":"2019-10-24 17:14:56 +0000 UTC","comment":"His lectures and slides are extremely unstructured. Coding examples are rare and when they are given, they are unexplained and without context. The entire class uses the GAMS programming language which has little online documentation. In lecture, it is hard to follow how what he is saying relates to anything on the slides.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/926803","quality_rating":1.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:22.090012+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMyMzE1MDI1","source_instructor_id":"rmp:926803","instructor_name":"Michael Ferris","course_label":"CS524","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE/ISYE 524","course_uid":"course_dd8d2094feb4657373e2e2f3","review_date":"2019-10-24 07:30:25 +0000 UTC","comment":"Lectures are not very helpful because he just codes in GAMS in front of the class. The course was more focused on GAMS than anything else. Homeworks are needlessly tedious sometimes, and poorly written. You absolutely cannot finish a homework without checking the Canvas discussion page and getting clarifications on what a problem is asking for.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/926803","quality_rating":2.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:22.090012+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMyMjM2MTg2","source_instructor_id":"rmp:926803","instructor_name":"Michael Ferris","course_label":"CS524","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE/ISYE 524","course_uid":"course_dd8d2094feb4657373e2e2f3","review_date":"2019-09-19 05:16:59 +0000 UTC","comment":"Keep away from him. Unbelievably bad lecture and confusing homework. You will spend much time on understanding what he's saying even if the content is super easy. He has the magical power to make a linear constraint harder than finding an integral of sin(4x)cos(3x). Average 5-10 questions about the problem description in ONE assignment.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/926803","quality_rating":1.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:04:47.624880+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM4MjEyMTM4","source_instructor_id":"rmp:1895834","instructor_name":"Stephen Wright","course_label":"CS524","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE/ISYE 524","course_uid":"course_dd8d2094feb4657373e2e2f3","review_date":"2023-09-12 01:17:43 +0000 UTC","comment":"Steve is providing really great lecture and is really nice to talk to after class. He is really knowledgable and gives very great introduction to how optimization works. This is a class that you don't want to miss if you are interesting how optimization works. The project are in julia code, which is super nice to use.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1895834","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:04:47.624880+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM4MjEyMTMy","source_instructor_id":"rmp:1895834","instructor_name":"Stephen Wright","course_label":"CS524","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE/ISYE 524","course_uid":"course_dd8d2094feb4657373e2e2f3","review_date":"2023-09-12 01:09:36 +0000 UTC","comment":"If you just want to get an A in this course, then the difficulty of this course is 2-3, but the content and the topics of the lectures are more difficult than average. Those topics are insightful and will help you succeed in future CS learning (especially for algorithm and machine learning). Prof. Wright is very kind and generous in grading.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1895834","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:04:47.624880+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM0NDYwNDAw","source_instructor_id":"rmp:1895834","instructor_name":"Stephen Wright","course_label":"CS524","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE/ISYE 524","course_uid":"course_dd8d2094feb4657373e2e2f3","review_date":"2021-03-22 15:59:20 +0000 UTC","comment":"This class was so much more difficult than it needed to be. That being said, aside from general disorganization in lectures, he does a good job of presenting the material during lectures. My only qualm with this prof is that his grading criteria is very (and unnecessarily) harsh.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1895834","quality_rating":3.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0}]