COMM 2010

This class wasn't bad in terms of content but the exams are hard AF. The class is structured with 3 midterms (15%, 17.5%, 17.5%) , Final Exam (25%), and other misc. stuff (25%). Tests should not be weighed that much of a person's grade especially if they do really bad on it. I did really bad on the first and third midterm, did well on the 2nd midterm, and got 100 on the Final so this class is definitely doable. Make sure to do all the homework and practice problems, read the textbook, look at the problems he puts in the folders, and utilize the TAs!! The TAs can be really helpful if you don't understand something or posting on Piazza is just as useful. Roger doesn't do much except host prior review sessions every week, so its at your own pace learning. Overall, I learned a lot in this class, but watch out for the exams! If you're not interested in accounting or not pre-comm, I don't suggest taking this class. #tCF2020

This is an online-only class through Blackboard. There are no lectures (recorded or live) and you must do everything yourself. The only live parts of this course are the office hours. Homework is a total chore and a time-suck but is usually not too difficult. If you really discipline yourself and do a little bit everyday you probably won't do any better but at least you won't get as many headaches from this class.

If you are not Pre-Comm (like me) and want an easy elective look elsewhere.

Definitely one of the harder commerce prereqs. However, it still a manageable class to get an A in. Do the readings and take notes and understand the HW/practice questions. Look over notes + practice exams for the exams and you should be fine. However, I do agree that it is very senseless for one of the most important prereqs to be completely online with very minimal interactions with the professor
#tCF2020

For an introductory accounting course, it is extremely difficult and time-consuming. The course is entirely taught online but is definitely not suited for it. Personally, I learn and retain information best if it is taught by a professor in the form of a lecture. However, the course is almost entirely self-taught in the form of online text-book readings. I actually ended up buying a physical copy since I hated the online version so much. The only other source of learning is the optional videos on Connect, but these only reteach the basic concepts that you will read about in the textbook and provide a couple of practice examples.

You are required to complete 3 assignments per week. These are fairly straightforward but can become time-consuming if you don't fully understand the content. Luckily, if are stuck, you can post questions on Piazza for other students and TAs to anwser. The question from the weekly assignments are absolutely necessary for understanding the exam questions, but I wish more were made available to practice. It annoys me that more were not, and yet towards the end of the semester, a few of the HW problems had a majority of their questions copied straight from the practice problems.

My biggest issue with the course was the exams, which I found to be extremely difficult. There is a clear disconnect between what students are expected to learn and what they actually learn. The specific issues I had with the exam questions was that the wording was sometimes confusing or noticeably different from the questions on the weekly assignments. There are approximately 25 questions per exam, meaning there is not much room for mistakes. Especially since exams are worth an absurd proportion of the total course grade: exam 1 = 15%, exam 2 = 17.5%, exam 3 = 17.5%, final exam = 25%. In total, exams = 75% of the total course grade while weekly assignments = 24% and misc. = 1%. I don't understand who would think it appropriate to put this much emphasis on exams when the course is practically self-taught.

I am definitely somewhat to blame for my initial poor performance, but if the average exam score for the first 3 exams was 83%, then the format and teaching methods employed, or lack thereof, seriously need to be reevaluated. My only advice is that if you do not perform well on the first exam, do not hesitate in getting a tutor; I thought I could improve on my own, but now wish I had gotten one sooner.

This class definitely had more work than my other classes, but I honestly didn’t think it was too bad. It can be kind of hard to adjust to having an online class at first, but after a couple weeks it should be easier. Definitely take advantage of the TA office hours!! I would often just go sit in there while working on my homework problems so that I would have TAs nearby that could answer questions when I had them. Also go to Professor Martin’s Prior Week Reviews - although it’s just for review (no new material taught), I think it’s a pretty good substitute for lectures. It found it helpful to hear him explain the concepts in a setting where I could also ask questions. Lastly, always try your best to start each chapter early in the week! I know I retained the information much better when I would work on the assignments throughout the week rather than rushing to get everything done at 10pm on Sundays.
Professor Martin is also really nice and willing to help if you need it! The midterms were not as hard as I had expected (although the second midterm was open-notes/open-book because of the coronavirus) and on both midterms he gave everyone credit for a question that realized was a bit too difficult/confusing. However, I spent so many hours for several days studying for the final - I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say I’ve never studied so much in my life - and I ended up getting a 69% which dropped by grade to a B- because the final is worth 40% of the final grade. That being said, only take this class if you need to.

BY FAR ONE OF THE BEST CLASSES AT UVA! ROGER MARTIN IS THE MAN

With this class being online, Professor Martin doesn't have too much contact with the students; however, he genuinely does his best to ensure that all students are comfortable asking him questions and he is always available to help explain the material. I took this class as a requirement for the Engineering Business minor, and I learned that accounting is definitely not for me. The final is worth 40% of the grade and can really hurt your grade even if you've done well on the first 60% of the class. Take this class seriously, especially the final, and getting a good grade is definitely doable. If you're particularly not fond of accounting, this class will be harder like it was for me.

I honestly don't understand the hate for Roger. Does he seem like a good teacher? Not in particular. Does it matter for this class? Not really -- he is more of a moderator who organizes the class than a professor, given that you learn mostly by doing the assigned readings and problems. I think the book is fine. I enjoyed the online format since I personally do not like going to class at a set time every week, and this course offers tons of flexibility in terms of where and when you decide to work. However, as mentioned in other reviews, if your style of learning is more geared towards in-person lectures then I can see how this class would be a nightmare.

This class is tough. Impossible? No. Just be regimented. Have a consistent routine to do the work each week. I tried to finish the weekly deliverables by Wed/Thu so I could have the weekend to review things and sure up rough spots come exam time. Do not stress, just plan your work. The exams are tough and TAKE YOUR TIME because it is easy to make a math error on those problems. For exam prep, make review sheets for each chapter with all the T-account equations and you will realize that a lot of the work is just knowing what/how to add and subtract for exam questions. Also do the practice exams they are very similar to the real thing. I got a B+ overall and got into Comm, so no, you will not be ruined for Comm if you do not ace this class. Just make it a priority and do not procrastinate. Accounting is also a very useful topic and you will learn a lot!! Have fun :)

Honestly, at the beginning of this course i thought all of the reviews were gonna be wrong. It starts off very slow and the concepts are very easy. Right after the first exams the course ramps up and the concepts become harder and you have less time to do them. I was still above the average on the second exam but got destroyed on the final because the study exam and the final exam were extremely different.