This review is about econ 103 as much as it is about the prof. It is a seriously hard course. Everyone I know who has taken it (w/ other teachers as well) has told me the same. So whoever you get, it's going to be really hard. Unless you are required to take this course, DO NOT TAKE IT! If you think you might be interested in the subject, check out a book on it beforehand before you jump into it. That being said, Buchinsky is easily one of the worst professors I've ever had. I don't know why I went to all of his lectures, they were a complete waste of time, and they absolutely will not help you for the homework or the tests. He just goes on and on about mathematical proofs on how to derive the formulas, but doesn't show you how to use them, or how they are used. One time I went into his office hours for some extra help b/c I wasn't understanding ANYTHING in class. (Literally, nothing, they're that bad). But then he, in classic Buchinsky style, doesn't want to explain anything to me nor answer any of my questions. So basically there are no redeeming qualities about him. In the sad event that you do end up having to take econ 103, and even sadder, get stuck w/ Buchinsky, here's my advice. Forget the lectures (avoid as much contact w/ Buchinsky as you can, you'll only get more frustrated), go to a good discussion section (ask around, I really liked Kevin Caves, he would walk you through the problems and really cared if you got it or not), and pick up a book on econometrics from the library, that will help you on his open-book tests, the one he assigns is far too bulky to really get into and gain anything from. I somehow (miraculously) walked away w/ a B+ in the class, and I was thinking of going back to look at my final, but then I realized that I wouldn't even understand the problems that I got right. Bottom line: no one gains anything from this course and it's a shame that UCLA is starting to enforce this entirely useless course as a requirement.

prof buchinsky made this difficult class a nightmare. the TA's didn't even understand the homework half the time. the mid-term was easy but worth very little and the final was impossible. if you have to take 103 then take someone else.

There is not a worse professor at ucla than buchinsky!

very smart, very knowledgeble. the sad part is, he assumes his student to be just as smart as he is.

Horrible teacher...not effective or efficient at all. He did not even finish the material that was necessary to prepare Bus Econ students to take 103.

Buchinsky, is BAD NEWS. DO NOT TAKE ANY OF HIS CLASSES. I will never again be taught by this man. He is not an effective teacher. He has no patience and makes students feel uncomfortable when asking questions; I have never seen this before. What he teaches in class does not at all reflect what you will need to know for exams. Homework is not bad, because of the TA's. However, the question you will see your homework will not be even close to what you will see on your exams. He grades hard. I'm a Computer Science major and some of my classes are hard, but I couldn't believe how hard it was to study for this class. I didn't do bad, but man thats because I had to work my tail off. Take it if you dare. Good luck.

I thought prof. buchinsky was really ineffective. All he teaches in class are the proofs, which you don't even have to know. Homework was graded hard...you either get 100, 75, 25, or 0. All it takes is a few stupid mistakes to get a 75. The midterm was really easy, but i thought that he didn't prepare us for the final at all. Class doesnt help, and if you ask questions or go to Office hours, he is very condescending. He even said that if he's never seen you in OH before, he wouldnt' even consider looking over your homework or test grades. i wound up with a B+ in the class, but i still think he is one of the worst professors.

Buchinsky complicates econometrics that you walk out of the final even more confused and maybe even a little bit sadder. (ok, that was yesterday). Take 103 with another professor, if you want to understand anything. I'm very serious here. The guy's tough and he would constantly get angry at his students ("READ THE BOOK" he yelled.

Alright, I just got my grade in econ 41, an A. He ended up re-scaling the grades due to mass complaints. Regardless, every review below is correct, he's a horrible teacher, didn't cover enough and covered things poorly at that. Midterm is very easy, but homework takes a LONG time, and the final was ridiculously hard. We got the full 3 hours to take the final and hardly anyone even finished. By the way, here's an email he sent to the class at the end of the quarter, which should be indicative of the course and what he's like as a person:

"Also, if you wish to point out about concerns please do so, it will only help me
to improve the course in the future. However, there were some emails that were
plain rude using language that is simply unacceptable. I forwarded these emails
to the director of undergraduate studies for him to take some diciplinary actions.

I wish you all the best,

Moshe"

This professor was horrible, I took may classes but this one was by far one the hardest ever and not only because the material is difficult, but because the lectures are completely useless, he just reads his proofs and never explains anything. I went to all TA sessions as did a lot of other people from the class because nobody could do his homework. I got a good grade but I studies more for this class than any other econ or mngmt class. Take him only if you have no choice at all.