David A Smallberg
Department of Computer Science
AD
4.0
Overall Rating
Based on 142 Users
Easiness 2.5 / 5 How easy the class is, 1 being extremely difficult and 5 being easy peasy.
Clarity 4.1 / 5 How clear the class is, 1 being extremely unclear and 5 being very clear.
Workload 2.3 / 5 How much workload the class is, 1 being extremely heavy and 5 being extremely light.
Helpfulness 3.9 / 5 How helpful the class is, 1 being not helpful at all and 5 being extremely helpful.

TOP TAGS

There are no relevant tags for this professor yet.

GRADE DISTRIBUTIONS
29.3%
24.4%
19.5%
14.6%
9.8%
4.9%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

44.0%
36.7%
29.3%
22.0%
14.7%
7.3%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

39.5%
32.9%
26.3%
19.7%
13.2%
6.6%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

40.7%
33.9%
27.1%
20.3%
13.6%
6.8%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

41.6%
34.6%
27.7%
20.8%
13.9%
6.9%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

47.8%
39.9%
31.9%
23.9%
15.9%
8.0%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

49.8%
41.5%
33.2%
24.9%
16.6%
8.3%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

29.6%
24.6%
19.7%
14.8%
9.9%
4.9%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

38.7%
32.2%
25.8%
19.3%
12.9%
6.4%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

24.1%
20.1%
16.1%
12.1%
8.0%
4.0%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

24.1%
20.1%
16.1%
12.1%
8.0%
4.0%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

19.4%
16.2%
13.0%
9.7%
6.5%
3.2%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

20.6%
17.1%
13.7%
10.3%
6.9%
3.4%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

21.3%
17.8%
14.2%
10.7%
7.1%
3.6%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

24.5%
20.4%
16.4%
12.3%
8.2%
4.1%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

17.5%
14.6%
11.7%
8.8%
5.8%
2.9%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

23.4%
19.5%
15.6%
11.7%
7.8%
3.9%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

21.0%
17.5%
14.0%
10.5%
7.0%
3.5%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

24.2%
20.2%
16.2%
12.1%
8.1%
4.0%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

17.3%
14.4%
11.5%
8.6%
5.8%
2.9%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

21.4%
17.8%
14.3%
10.7%
7.1%
3.6%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

ENROLLMENT DISTRIBUTIONS
Clear marks

Sorry, no enrollment data is available.

AD

Reviews (102)

4 of 11
4 of 11
Add your review...
Quarter: Spring 2023
Grade: B
July 5, 2023

If you’re taking this class it probably means you have to, so good luck. The worst part about it for me was trying to gage what my grade even was because Smallberg does not reveal ANYTHING. Especially in the spring when there’s a mystery curve, it’s basically a game of how well you perform compared to the average CS 32 student. So here were my grades compared to the average:

I did above average on exams, but below average on projects and ended up with a B, so I feel like if you find yourself lining up with the mean scores, you’ll probably end up with a B+. Hopefully this helps someone.

My Score Average
HW 1 79% 93%
HW 2 98% 94%
HW 3 100% 96%
HW 4 82% 94%
HW 5 100% 100%

My Score Average
Project 1 70% 75%
Project 2 84% 94%
Project 3 71% 84%
Project 4 100% 100%

My Score Average
MT 1 68% 65%
MT 2 95% 72%
Final 78% 73%

Basically my biggest piece of advice is to gage how well you’re doing in the class based on the median and mean scores he provides (when he does provide scores).

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Spring 2023
Grade: A
June 28, 2023

Hard class, especially if you didn't take Smallberg for CS31. None of the concepts are too difficult to wrap your mind around, but be sure to know every small detail or rule he brings up in his lecture videos because they may show up on tests. Project 3 was soooo much easier in spring than the one for winter, and project 4 was trivial. Overall great, interesting class that improved my problem solving significantly.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Spring 2023
Grade: C+
June 28, 2023

Smallberg is a great lecturer. I found his lectures helpful and thorough, and easy to follow. I did terrible on the first midterm, average on the second, and have no idea how I did on the final, and that's my one problem with this class: grading. You get your grades back in a very untimely manner. I understand that there are hundreds of kids, and the projects/hw are tested very thoroughly, but as a student, it's hard to know what to improve if you keep getting scores back really late. Overall, this class is hard. The projects are complex, but I genuinely learned a lot from this class. UPE is helpful for projects and to help you better understand concepts. Office hours are great too, but there's usually a long list of people waiting to be helped, especially when the project due date is close. Don't be afraid to take the class-just start the projects early, ask for help, and remember the exams will always be harder than what you expect.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Spring 2023
Grade: B
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
June 27, 2023

- Plenty has been said about the caliber and teaching style of Smallberg (or as I call him by his rapper name, Lil' Berg). He is extremely helpful for his students, extraordinarily thorough, and very clear in the project specs and syllabus as for his expectations of your work.
- All of the previous comments about Lil' Berg's projects (their lengths and difficulty) are true! Project 3 is especially long, so make sure to start early. It took me ~30 hours to complete to a decent level, though it certainly wasn't perfect!
- Smallberg is very flexible as to circumstances regarding missing exams. I wasn't able to make the second midterm because of a 5-day geology trip for another class, so I emailed Smallberg and I was completely excused from taking the exam. I didn't take it at all (no make-up), and simply had my first midterm and the final worth more to cover the percentage of the second midterm.
- You didn't hear it from me, but ChatGPT is very good at doing the homeworks. It's not so good at doing the projects, as there are a lot more moving parts and higher-level organization that you need to implement yourself. Menial components or algorithm-based functions are ChatGPT's specialty. Make sure you actually know how the functions work and how to use them, since you won't have ChatGPT on the exams!
- This class is a lot of work, but interesting. You'll learn a ton and become a much better programmer. Good luck!! (make sure that the monkey doesn't escape and that you don't spill coffee on your shirt)

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Winter 2023
Grade: A
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
June 8, 2023

Yes, Projects 3 and 4 will keep you up late for many nights. But I have to say I enjoyed doing them and it was very rewarding seeing the final product.

DO NOT FALL BEHIND! Besides that, you'll have a lot of fun. I miss Smallberg and Nachenberg.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Winter 2023
Grade: A
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
April 14, 2023

Overall manageable class. Start projects early, especially Project 3 and Project 4, and you will find them fun instead of stressful. Reach out to peers or TAs if you need help

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Winter 2023
Grade: A
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
April 4, 2023

Professor Smallberg is a great professor. His lectures can be a bit bland at times, but he always tries to guide you through the reasons behind learning the concepts in class. CS32 is an extremely time consuming class. Projects take about 5 - 10 hours on average, with project 3 being the longest at 20 hours. Homeworks are slightly easier. Exams are not too hard if you study hard enough. The midterm 1 median was 32/35, the midterm 2 median was 55/65, and the final median was 85/100. If you take this course, you will learn a lot about computer science.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Spring 2022
Grade: A
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
Nov. 24, 2022

Dr. Smallberg is a great professor but his online lectures (recorded) are long and dull (with the exception of his monkey and his clumsiness). If you intend to get through the lecture without falling asleep watch the video at 2x speed. Also refer to Nachenberg's slides where appropriate; they help a lot!

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Spring 2022
Grade: A
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
Nov. 12, 2022

In this class, Smallberg builds very good intuition, as he will go on and on for a long time for why a certain algorithm/practice is incorrect, before finally showing the correct one. While I hated this method of teaching while I took the class, looking back, it helped me out a lot. Smallberg is also a walking C++ dictionary, as he was good at answering any question about C++ syntax.

There are 4 Projects and 5 Homeworks in this class. The homeworks were as hard as CS31 projects, while projects were longer (except for Project 1 and Project 4). Project 3 is the most brutal one, as he gives you two weeks to work on it. We had the Battleship project. I procrastinated the first week (bad idea), which forced me to work A LOT in the second week. Out of the last 48 hours before it was due, I spent 14 hours working on the project. Recommendation: do not procrastinate on projects.

For this class, use Smallberg's lectures to learn, and then Nachenberg's slides to review. It will help in the long run! Overall, in hindsight, I found this class to be more fun than CS31 and CS33; discussing edge cases and creating test cases with others was the most fun part of the projects.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Spring 2022
Grade: A
June 29, 2022

SMALLBERG is KING

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Spring 2023
Grade: B
July 5, 2023

If you’re taking this class it probably means you have to, so good luck. The worst part about it for me was trying to gage what my grade even was because Smallberg does not reveal ANYTHING. Especially in the spring when there’s a mystery curve, it’s basically a game of how well you perform compared to the average CS 32 student. So here were my grades compared to the average:

I did above average on exams, but below average on projects and ended up with a B, so I feel like if you find yourself lining up with the mean scores, you’ll probably end up with a B+. Hopefully this helps someone.

My Score Average
HW 1 79% 93%
HW 2 98% 94%
HW 3 100% 96%
HW 4 82% 94%
HW 5 100% 100%

My Score Average
Project 1 70% 75%
Project 2 84% 94%
Project 3 71% 84%
Project 4 100% 100%

My Score Average
MT 1 68% 65%
MT 2 95% 72%
Final 78% 73%

Basically my biggest piece of advice is to gage how well you’re doing in the class based on the median and mean scores he provides (when he does provide scores).

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Spring 2023
Grade: A
June 28, 2023

Hard class, especially if you didn't take Smallberg for CS31. None of the concepts are too difficult to wrap your mind around, but be sure to know every small detail or rule he brings up in his lecture videos because they may show up on tests. Project 3 was soooo much easier in spring than the one for winter, and project 4 was trivial. Overall great, interesting class that improved my problem solving significantly.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Spring 2023
Grade: C+
June 28, 2023

Smallberg is a great lecturer. I found his lectures helpful and thorough, and easy to follow. I did terrible on the first midterm, average on the second, and have no idea how I did on the final, and that's my one problem with this class: grading. You get your grades back in a very untimely manner. I understand that there are hundreds of kids, and the projects/hw are tested very thoroughly, but as a student, it's hard to know what to improve if you keep getting scores back really late. Overall, this class is hard. The projects are complex, but I genuinely learned a lot from this class. UPE is helpful for projects and to help you better understand concepts. Office hours are great too, but there's usually a long list of people waiting to be helped, especially when the project due date is close. Don't be afraid to take the class-just start the projects early, ask for help, and remember the exams will always be harder than what you expect.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
Quarter: Spring 2023
Grade: B
June 27, 2023

- Plenty has been said about the caliber and teaching style of Smallberg (or as I call him by his rapper name, Lil' Berg). He is extremely helpful for his students, extraordinarily thorough, and very clear in the project specs and syllabus as for his expectations of your work.
- All of the previous comments about Lil' Berg's projects (their lengths and difficulty) are true! Project 3 is especially long, so make sure to start early. It took me ~30 hours to complete to a decent level, though it certainly wasn't perfect!
- Smallberg is very flexible as to circumstances regarding missing exams. I wasn't able to make the second midterm because of a 5-day geology trip for another class, so I emailed Smallberg and I was completely excused from taking the exam. I didn't take it at all (no make-up), and simply had my first midterm and the final worth more to cover the percentage of the second midterm.
- You didn't hear it from me, but ChatGPT is very good at doing the homeworks. It's not so good at doing the projects, as there are a lot more moving parts and higher-level organization that you need to implement yourself. Menial components or algorithm-based functions are ChatGPT's specialty. Make sure you actually know how the functions work and how to use them, since you won't have ChatGPT on the exams!
- This class is a lot of work, but interesting. You'll learn a ton and become a much better programmer. Good luck!! (make sure that the monkey doesn't escape and that you don't spill coffee on your shirt)

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
Quarter: Winter 2023
Grade: A
June 8, 2023

Yes, Projects 3 and 4 will keep you up late for many nights. But I have to say I enjoyed doing them and it was very rewarding seeing the final product.

DO NOT FALL BEHIND! Besides that, you'll have a lot of fun. I miss Smallberg and Nachenberg.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
Quarter: Winter 2023
Grade: A
April 14, 2023

Overall manageable class. Start projects early, especially Project 3 and Project 4, and you will find them fun instead of stressful. Reach out to peers or TAs if you need help

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
Quarter: Winter 2023
Grade: A
April 4, 2023

Professor Smallberg is a great professor. His lectures can be a bit bland at times, but he always tries to guide you through the reasons behind learning the concepts in class. CS32 is an extremely time consuming class. Projects take about 5 - 10 hours on average, with project 3 being the longest at 20 hours. Homeworks are slightly easier. Exams are not too hard if you study hard enough. The midterm 1 median was 32/35, the midterm 2 median was 55/65, and the final median was 85/100. If you take this course, you will learn a lot about computer science.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
Quarter: Spring 2022
Grade: A
Nov. 24, 2022

Dr. Smallberg is a great professor but his online lectures (recorded) are long and dull (with the exception of his monkey and his clumsiness). If you intend to get through the lecture without falling asleep watch the video at 2x speed. Also refer to Nachenberg's slides where appropriate; they help a lot!

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
Quarter: Spring 2022
Grade: A
Nov. 12, 2022

In this class, Smallberg builds very good intuition, as he will go on and on for a long time for why a certain algorithm/practice is incorrect, before finally showing the correct one. While I hated this method of teaching while I took the class, looking back, it helped me out a lot. Smallberg is also a walking C++ dictionary, as he was good at answering any question about C++ syntax.

There are 4 Projects and 5 Homeworks in this class. The homeworks were as hard as CS31 projects, while projects were longer (except for Project 1 and Project 4). Project 3 is the most brutal one, as he gives you two weeks to work on it. We had the Battleship project. I procrastinated the first week (bad idea), which forced me to work A LOT in the second week. Out of the last 48 hours before it was due, I spent 14 hours working on the project. Recommendation: do not procrastinate on projects.

For this class, use Smallberg's lectures to learn, and then Nachenberg's slides to review. It will help in the long run! Overall, in hindsight, I found this class to be more fun than CS31 and CS33; discussing edge cases and creating test cases with others was the most fun part of the projects.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Spring 2022
Grade: A
June 29, 2022

SMALLBERG is KING

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
4 of 11
4.0
Overall Rating
Based on 142 Users
Easiness 2.5 / 5 How easy the class is, 1 being extremely difficult and 5 being easy peasy.
Clarity 4.1 / 5 How clear the class is, 1 being extremely unclear and 5 being very clear.
Workload 2.3 / 5 How much workload the class is, 1 being extremely heavy and 5 being extremely light.
Helpfulness 3.9 / 5 How helpful the class is, 1 being not helpful at all and 5 being extremely helpful.

TOP TAGS

There are no relevant tags for this professor yet.

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