Review posted on Tue 14 Dec 2004
Course(s) Taken: Math 32a

I wish I'd known his ratings before I took this class. That said, yes... OBVIOUSLY avoid this class if you can. I had a very hard time in this class, mostly because I was taking calculus because I loved it in high school (I'm a north campus major). So Prof. Finis was kind a slap in the face, since i thought I loved the subject, not just my awesome high school teacher.

If you can't avoid this class, it's not the worst thing that could happen to you. I ended up with an A- in the class, even though it was the only final to date that I've come out crying from. Just force yourself to read the book, because, I hate to say it, but his accent is kind of silly and makes it hard to concentrate on his lectures.

Review posted on Thu 07 Aug 2003
Course(s) Taken: Math 32a

one of the worst professor i've ever had. his lectures aren;t clear, and he doesn't care about his students. I ended up going to a different professor's lecture for the class. But then again math 32a isnt that hard, so as long as you do homework you should be fine.

Review posted on Tue 10 Jun 2003
Course(s) Taken: math32A

There's only one word to describe this man's teaching style: PATHETIC. He's out of touch with reality and he doesn't deserve to be teaching. He may know his subject, however he hasn't learned the people skill needed to teach and keep the students' interest. He doesn't care about the students; I talked with him after classes and ask him to clarify some concepts, he simply shrug and said everything I needed to know is in the book, go read it. It appears that he thinks everyone in his class are math major, and formulas are to memorized and "you all should know it by now." No note are to be used on his exams. However, the only ray of hope for new students having to take his classes is that his exams are almost an exact duplicate of his practice exams on the web. So, to prepare for his test, focus on the concept posted in the practice exam. Hope this review will help the new students. If you have a choice of another professor, please take it.

Review posted on Wed 21 May 2003
Course(s) Taken: None

-talks to the blackboard...correction..mumbles to the blackboard
-avoids answering questiosn form students
-is obviously a great mathematician, btu is also obviously a horrible teacher
-the only the good thign that saves most peope in this class is the fact that his actual exams are very similar to his practice ones and he solves the practice exams as his review for th exams.
BOTTOM LINE: avoid as much as you can but if you are stuck with him anyhow....good luck!...you'll need it!

Review posted on Thu 17 Apr 2003
Course(s) Taken: 32a

Lets just say,that this guy gives evens for homework which means that in order to know what youre doing (why do a math problem if you dont have the answer?) on the problems you have to go office hours, which were cold and unwelcoming. He needs to learn communication skills. He's very rude in office hours, by the way. Lecture is horrible! dont recommend!

Review posted on Mon 24 Mar 2003
Course(s) Taken: 32A

Honestly, I didn't think he was that bad. I'd say more 5-6 ish. At first, it was hard to understand what he was saying, and he wrote real small. Though near the end of the quarter, I think he started writing larger and had better notes (which makes me speculate if I thought his accent was bad only because of the influence these ratings had on me). Personally, I chose not to attend his lectures and instead, relied on the book. A lot of what Finis lectured came right out of the book. I suppose it would be a good idea though to attend lectures as supplementary material and to find out what things he might test on say...he proves a formula or something.

As for his tests, they were fair. His practice tests were really similar to his actual exams. Even if they weren't the same, it at least told you which sections to concentrate on. Just to give you a picture of how his tests were like, for his first midterm, it had a scale/curve that you'd expect in college; for his second midterm, everyone scored really high; and for his final, it was fair I suppose, but I don't think I could have done better if I had more time to study.

Would I recommend him to someone? 6

Review posted on Thu 20 Mar 2003
Course(s) Taken: 32A

finis really isn't so bad. he means well, although he just doesn't have good people skills. his exams are straightforward, NO TRICKS.

Review posted on Thu 20 Mar 2003
Course(s) Taken: 32A

While Prof. Finis's ratings look scary, he's really not so bad. He obviously loves math and is very good at it. However, you will need to do some learning on your own, either reading the book or signing up for tutoring. But Finis is helpful if you talk to him during office hours and his exams are really straight forward and fair. There really isn't an excuse for getting a bad grade in his class. Just make sure you understand the homework as you are doing it, and do the practice exams (the real ones are practically the same). Not that it's very important, but Finis is a pretty nice guy.

Review posted on Wed 26 Feb 2003
Course(s) Taken: 32A

this guy obviously doesn't know how to teach so don't bother going to the lectures. I figured that out, learned the material myself and changed my grade from a F to a high A.

Review posted on Tue 26 Nov 2002
Course(s) Taken: 115a

Look people, he is not as bad as these revies make him out to be. i'm taking his 115a class right now and i actually get up at 5:30 a.m. to make it to his lecturs. if i do THAT, then his not so bad. i would actually recomend others to take him. i don't know about anyone else, but i see him trying and i think that's better than nothing...
(read the book before class and i promise it won't be so brutal, his lectures will actually start making sense :)