MATH 3354

Survey of Algebra with You Qi is an experience. He has a unique grading structure (15% homework, 25% midterm, 25% split across five quizzes with one drop, and 35% final). The material in Survey is very difficult, and You is, for the most part, very good at talking through it in lecture, but there will certainly be days you'll be completely lost, and he's not amazing in office hours, but going to office hours isn't a terrible idea. You is a very nice man who is more than happy to walk you through any question, but it's not always helpful. In class he does a very good job of making sure students are following, and he happily responds to any question in lecture. You also posts his notes for the entire semester on Canvas, unit by unit, and the course does not use a textbook, so studying is incredibly easy because his notes are well-organized and have all the information needed. Having his notes as a backup when I was not confident in my own was very helpful. Likewise, if you need to miss a lecture, he will record the class and post the recording, no questions asked, a very nice rarity in the math department.
As for the assignments, the weekly homeworks are very difficult; certainly more difficult than what is covered in lecture, but this is to be expected. As the semester progressed, I think his grader realized how difficult they were, and as a result, for the latter half of the semester they were graded quite generously. This is also helped by the low (15%) impact of homework on grades. The quizzes are extremely fair, and are good ways to make sure you are keeping up with the material. Likewise, the midterm was very easy and a proper way to encapsulate the first half of the course. You Qi then proceeded to drop a final exam from hell, so study hard for the final.
All in all, a fine experience and a doable A, but the final hit everyone like a brick. You Qi is a fine instructor to take Survey of Algebra with, but there are assuredly better professors out there. #tCFS24