Professor
David Bauer
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Most Helpful Review
Fall 2023 - Bauer is a professor that you would not select as your first, second, or third choice. However, most of you reading this have probably ran out of options. I will say this: in my experience, his tests are tough and do not reflect the homework given on mastering physics, do not reflect the lecture slides and blackboard problems he does in class, and do not reflect discussion worksheets. In all honesty, I did better once I started watching Organic Chemistry Tutor and using other outsides resources. His tests are crafted in a manner which assumes you have some background in physics. I know he says that this class is for beginners/people with no background, but that is not the case. The homework is tedious, lectures are way to simple, and discussions are boring and often a waste of time (though they were required). In the physics series, who your professor is matters so much. You could be in lecture one with Bauer and your friend could be in the class right after yours with another professor and the two of you would be experiencing completely different classes where your class is exceptionally difficult and your friend's class is childsplay. Bauer is doable, but you will likely not get an A since he loves to proclaim that he wants his exam averages to be around a 75-78% range. On our final, he was upset because the average was like a B. Also, during our quarter he made on test so hard that he ended up offering to drop a midterm for each student. So that's the kind of crap you will deal with when taking this professor.
Fall 2023 - Bauer is a professor that you would not select as your first, second, or third choice. However, most of you reading this have probably ran out of options. I will say this: in my experience, his tests are tough and do not reflect the homework given on mastering physics, do not reflect the lecture slides and blackboard problems he does in class, and do not reflect discussion worksheets. In all honesty, I did better once I started watching Organic Chemistry Tutor and using other outsides resources. His tests are crafted in a manner which assumes you have some background in physics. I know he says that this class is for beginners/people with no background, but that is not the case. The homework is tedious, lectures are way to simple, and discussions are boring and often a waste of time (though they were required). In the physics series, who your professor is matters so much. You could be in lecture one with Bauer and your friend could be in the class right after yours with another professor and the two of you would be experiencing completely different classes where your class is exceptionally difficult and your friend's class is childsplay. Bauer is doable, but you will likely not get an A since he loves to proclaim that he wants his exam averages to be around a 75-78% range. On our final, he was upset because the average was like a B. Also, during our quarter he made on test so hard that he ended up offering to drop a midterm for each student. So that's the kind of crap you will deal with when taking this professor.
Most Helpful Review
Fall 2024 - Bauer was a good professor- his lectures were well-developed and covered all the necessary topics. If you understood his lectures, did the practice problems (problem bank posted on BruinLearn), and did the homework, you would be more than prepared for his exams. One thing I will say, however, is that Bauer either makes 2 hard midterms (averages 75) and a relatively fair final (average 85) or two easy midterms (average >90) and one hard final (average <75). Either way, I don't think it matters too much as long as you do your best to stay above the curve. Bauer was very clear at the beginning of the class that the average grade in his class will be B, so regardless of how hard/easy the exams are, you should just try your best to stay above the average. I think that Physics 5B is harder than 5A because there is A LOT of content. However, Bauer does his best to answer questions and teach the material in a memorizable way. He also gives a formula sheet, which helps. I'd definitely recommend taking 5B with him as he's clear with his expectations and a fair professor overall.
Fall 2024 - Bauer was a good professor- his lectures were well-developed and covered all the necessary topics. If you understood his lectures, did the practice problems (problem bank posted on BruinLearn), and did the homework, you would be more than prepared for his exams. One thing I will say, however, is that Bauer either makes 2 hard midterms (averages 75) and a relatively fair final (average 85) or two easy midterms (average >90) and one hard final (average <75). Either way, I don't think it matters too much as long as you do your best to stay above the curve. Bauer was very clear at the beginning of the class that the average grade in his class will be B, so regardless of how hard/easy the exams are, you should just try your best to stay above the average. I think that Physics 5B is harder than 5A because there is A LOT of content. However, Bauer does his best to answer questions and teach the material in a memorizable way. He also gives a formula sheet, which helps. I'd definitely recommend taking 5B with him as he's clear with his expectations and a fair professor overall.
Most Helpful Review
Spring 2025 - I took Bauer for both 5B and 5C, and although the structures of the class did change between both of them, the class was still fair in many aspects. The only issue that arose was that MT1 the test was too long for it to fit in the 50 min provide,d so the class overall had a low avera.e, this however was addresed by Bauer who made sure that MT2 was 100% doable in the 50 min and provided a curve for the midterm. The Midterm 2 and the final were fair, the homework could be difficult at times, and he does grade for accuracy; however, 1% was for accuracy, and 4% was for completion. Discussion was mandatory, but you can miss up to 3 discussions and still get full credit, the same with discussion worksheets, you can miss 3. If you miss a discussion, you are still allowed to submit the discussion worksheet for credit. There are weekly study guides that you can do for extra credit. The amount you can get seems low, but it does make a difference when you need a small boost. There is also a "Midterm analysis", this is an assignment, but if you do it well, then you can get extra points, I believe up to 2% increase in your midterm score. The lectures are recorded; however, the slides might not be posted until the class starts, so if you like to take notes before class, this might not be an option.
Spring 2025 - I took Bauer for both 5B and 5C, and although the structures of the class did change between both of them, the class was still fair in many aspects. The only issue that arose was that MT1 the test was too long for it to fit in the 50 min provide,d so the class overall had a low avera.e, this however was addresed by Bauer who made sure that MT2 was 100% doable in the 50 min and provided a curve for the midterm. The Midterm 2 and the final were fair, the homework could be difficult at times, and he does grade for accuracy; however, 1% was for accuracy, and 4% was for completion. Discussion was mandatory, but you can miss up to 3 discussions and still get full credit, the same with discussion worksheets, you can miss 3. If you miss a discussion, you are still allowed to submit the discussion worksheet for credit. There are weekly study guides that you can do for extra credit. The amount you can get seems low, but it does make a difference when you need a small boost. There is also a "Midterm analysis", this is an assignment, but if you do it well, then you can get extra points, I believe up to 2% increase in your midterm score. The lectures are recorded; however, the slides might not be posted until the class starts, so if you like to take notes before class, this might not be an option.
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