If you are very talented in math, then you should be ok to get A, vice versus. However, I did not recommend anyone how wants a high GPA to take this class since the course itself is already a pain and the professor is another pain!

HW was a pain due to the length and difficulty (be warned that HW 1/2 are deceptively easy...goes downhill after that).
However, it's true that if you understood most of the "tricks" and key ideas for solving the HW problems, then the exams should be pretty easy.

Prof. Chayes isn't the one you should go to if:
1. you just want a person who can read the textbook for you and show you all the theorems, proofs, examples from the textbook
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Prof. Chayes is the one you should go to if:
1. you want a professor who knows his stuff (independent from textbook) and engages with students during the lecture; and
2. you are willing to go to office hours every week to handle long and hard homework set (at least for the first half of the quarter).

Some other points under these⬆ conditions:
He doesn't use the textbook at all. He hardly does example in class.
Instead of mechanically teaching math, he talks about math, and that easily makes him a professor I would recommend, especially to those that love math.
If you don't go to lectures, you miss the whole point of taking Chayes' class.
Homeworks' difficulties vary from hard to not easy as the quarter goes. Google and TA will be your best friends.
Exams are easy in my opinion. You will get full marks if you understand most of the homework problems.

I am not sure how Bruinwalk weights the old ratings, but his rating should be higher than 3.9, instead of 1.9.

The homework’s are long but prepare you Well for the exams. The lectures are essentially useless; however, hes helpful in office hours. His midterms are easy but final was kinda hard. If you have a great TA, just go to him

Lincoln Chayes...Overall, he was OK, but his exams are difficult and his lectures are somewhat unclear. If you are really, I mean really really, good at math, or a math major, I recommend you take his classes. Otherwise, don't end up screwing up you GPA.

Unless you are a math major, stay away from his class. He is not worth all the stress and trouble.

I can't believe 88 people rate him as a difficult professor. Yes... his assignments are extremely hard but his exams are sooo easy. Many students got 90 above in his exams. His TAs usually do most of the HW questions in class n OH.

Hardest class I've ever taken by far. I couldn't follow any of the lectures whatsoever, and it's impossible to figure out the homework using any resources in the book. The only chance you have is if your TA is good and can do your homework and show you how to do it. If you can copy all the homework questions you might be ok. Chayes is very eccentric/mostly crazy. He wore the same exact clothes everyday for the whole quarter.

Black jeans, black shirt, black fanny pack, black shoes, and a black sweater draped over his shoulders.

If you take this and pass you're amazing at math, bottom line.

This professor would always go off topic, and talk about other stuff that didn't relate to the class. what got me ticked off was that he made the first homework easy on purpose to lure in the suckers like me in, and then all of the sudden he makes the class boring and hard. Quiovale cholo. estoy escribiendo este mensaje para que otros estudiantes no tomen esta classes. Viva Las CHIVAS...

Yea... This guy gives tough homework questions but his exams are relatively easy. Be a man and take his class. You will end up learning something meaningful.