COMM 2020

Middleton is pretty useless as a professor. She spent class time going over like 2 homework problems and then teaches us "life sessions" about how you should always marry your best friend. Basically, she teaches no accounting.

The book, however, is decent, so you can do well by just reading that. There are 2 midterms and homework due every class that is graded on completion (she picks 1 random problem to collect). Eventually, you realize you can just completely sleep in class, or skip class and get a friend to turn in your homework for you.

Overall, this class is easier than financial mostly because you have already been introduced to a lot of the topics and you're familiar with accounting terms. Unfortunately, she's the only professor teaching this now and you need this for precomm so....

Middleton is great! She was entertaining, but her lectures were kind of disorganized. She spends the whole time going through homework problems - which is fine, but I struggled to completely grasp topics because she never went over solely the material from the textbook. Also, she likes to do a lot of things her own way that differs from the textbook, so it can get pretty confusing.

I found this class really challenging, I didn't do well - but I do know a lot of people that did do well. It depends on the kind of learner that you are, but try your best to keep up with the textbook readings and ask her questions if you don't understand something.

Definitely don't take this class if it's not a requirement. Although Middleton is a great person (her life lessons are gold), she isn't the best teacher. She goes off on tangents a lot, but she is very helpful during office hours.

Mary Middleton is the DEVIL. Terrible teacher, doesn't take student recommendations the she ASKS FOR on how to improve her class seriously and is one of the most sarcastic and rude teachers I have ever had. DONT TAKE THIS UNLESS ITS A MUST.

Middleton, as a person, is wonderful. She's not a bad teacher either, but she seems to really not understand how to give tests of the correct length.

Make sure that you not only know the material well, but that you practice TIMING YOURSELF. she gives 3 minutes on average per question and some will take at least 10. Tests are stressful to say the least. Also, her midterms are around 20 questions each and grades before a curve (which she doesn't often give for each test) tend to leave at least half the class with below a 70%.
Good teacher but very frustrating when her grade possibly prevents pre comm kids from getting in, when the old managerial teacher was a lot easier.

Middleton makes no sense as a teacher, she expects a lot and teaches nothing constructive.

Middleton is absolutely worthless as an educator.

I have never been more disappointed in a course in my career at UVa than I was with Middleton's COMM2020. Unfortunately for me, I found the study of managerial accounting incredibly interesting. I say unfortunate because Mrs. Middleton made this course my most dreaded class of the semester. As a professor, she is unclear about her expectations, ignorant of the needs of her students, and unwilling to change the direction of a lecture based on student response (although she's not afraid to ask for student feedback in an attempt to seem like she is willing to change).

As a person she is abrasive, self-righteous, and unapproachable. I was one of the very few students who continued to go to lectures because I held out hope that at least once during the semester she would go over the material that was presented in the book instead of simply working out practice problems that she had assigned for the night before. Everything that I learned about managerial accounting in this course I taught myself from reading the book and trial and error, Middleton provided no instruction apart from solving problems on the board.

The book is a great way to learn and will probably be your only resource if you take this class with Middleton. The exams are extremely tough so I would recommend doing an obscene amount of practice problems from each chapter covered while studying for them.

In short, do not take this class (especially if Middleton is teaching it) unless it is absolutely a requirement for PreComm students or something.

Professor Middleton is unable to teach a course, she is ineffective at using class time and also is incapable of making a fair test. I would avoid her at all cost.

If you can take this class with another professor, do it. She doesn't teach well and just tries to shove weird life lessons down your throat. DO NOT TAKE THIS.

I am sure a lot of students are going to cover her personality, so I will be quick on that end. She is rude and very defensive about her teaching method.

As for her teaching method, calling it teaching is a stretch. Homework is assigned prior to lecture. After handing it in, she would cover a few problems. Middleton never teaches concepts, then makes the tests 50 percent conceptual. Homework answers are made by the book, so it is unclear what she is actually doing for the course...

You learn by reading the book and doing practice problems. Expectations are totally unclear with regards to exams. Prior to the first exam all she told us was it "would be different than the homework problems".

After complaints that the first test had questions which were too long, she responded by shortening the second exam to just 22 questions, but making the questions a little longer. She completely misinterpreted what everyone was saying.

When Middleton asks for suggestions in class, it is best to keep your hand down. She will shout you down. One student asked if she could lecture on more concepts and she said "what does that even mean".

Those moments when she actually would teach were bittersweet. It was like being in the eye of a hurricane. Sure, it is nice, but it was bad before, and its about to get bad again.

I highly recommend avoiding this course. Middleton's personality aside (again, read the reviews), she just has no idea how to teach or design a fair exam. I attended class every day, to the end, and it just got worse and worse.