COMM 3720

This is one of those courses that I think every student going into finance should take. The first class of the semester helps set the tone and removes the students who are not ready to be academically challenged, because they drop it. Yes, Parham requires you to pay attention and learn, which a lot of people are not ready for. All Grades are released on a normal distribution, which I prefer, to not knowing where I stand in a class until final grades are released. His exams are difficult, but if you well on his assignments you will be in good shape for the exams (Provided you actually study/ understand the assignments / ask about concepts you are unsure of). Assignments are important for your success in his class, as they require you to think about concepts at a higher level. In comparison to the other 3720 classes, Parham is more difficult in terms of hours spent per week, but you learn about concepts that you can directly apply to investing, and life outside of class. As you read this review in November to help decide which professor to take in the spring, answer this question. Are you someone who, when faced with a challenge shy away and take the easy route? If you decide to take this class, spend some time going over statistics.

This class is definitely challenging but, unlike ICE Finance, worth your time. If you have read some of the earlier reviews you can clearly see Parham has worked really hard to improve the class and is continually doing so. The class is very intimidating from the beginning, do your best to stay invested. Parham knows that everyone has different backgrounds going in and aims to teach everyone as much as possible. The homeworks are challenging, lecture is fast paced, and midterms difficult. Ultimately you are rewarded for your hard work, the class is normally distributed with a GPA of 3.75, higher than the other classes. Most importantly Parham is incredibly rewarding to learn from. Comm classes can tend to be dry and uninteresting. Parham peaked my interest in history, computer science, and modern financial markets. He is easily one of the best professors I have had. If you're someone who likes to learn about interesting things and work hard, take his class.

Parham might be the best professor I've had at UVA so far. His class is hard, and he aims to challenge every one of his students, but it is one of the best classes I've taken at UVA because of him. He's the boy, knows his stuff, and his approach to corporate finance.

No joke, this is one of those classes that you point to later on and say "yeah this is what made me love finance". Parham is extremely intelligent, takes his job seriously, and treats students like equals. This means the class will be challenging and you'll have to work very hard, but it is so worth it. He's probably the most lucid and most engaging lecturer I've ever had, bar none.
I also got the sense that he actively tries to create that ideal of "not caring about the grade, but just trying to expand knowledge as much possible", which is a really special experience that not everyone is lucky to have in college. Don't be discouraged by low scores - this IS a hard class but everything is curved. Just soak it in.
If you want to really understand finance, Parham should be your first and only choice.

Professor Parham is easily one of my favorite professors at UVA. Not only is he extremely intelligent and knowledgeable about finance, but he is a very reasonable and interesting guy. Not only should you look forward to his Cinco de Mayo office hour, but I cannot think of a single time during which he was unnecessarily harsh or unfair when it came to grading. This is not to say, however, that he is not a demanding professor who will push you. You will be asked to complete 9 difficult, albeit enjoyable homework assignments and an ultra in-depth valuation project, read several classic academic papers on financial topics, take a few pop quizzes each class, and take two very difficult exams that are virtually impossible to finish in the allotted amount of time. Not to fret, however, if you didn't do well on an assignment, you almost certainly weren't the only one and everything is fully curved! Parham maintains that the average in is his class is above the McIntire average of a B+, and I fully believe him.

A lot of people seemingly suggest that Chen is the better professor and that you should avoid Parham at all costs. I fully disagree with this assertion. From what I heard, Chen's exams are quite difficult and they are not curved (at least not to the same extent) to my knowledge. Additionally, you will learn an incredible amount about finance in Parham's class. He dives much deeper into certain topics, such as beta, as far as I understand. I am sure that Chen is a fine professor, but please do not avoid Parham's class because you think it will be too "hard."

This was one of my favorite classes at UVA. I am concentrating in finance in the Comm School and was honestly unsure about my concentration until I took this class. Parham pushes you hard, but his emphasis on understanding everything conceptually made the class so interesting. I got a B+, but I loved it so much because does a great job of applying the course to history, current events, and life in general. Finally, he responded to our midterm feedback and altered his course slightly to fit our liking for the rest of the semester.

Tips:
-Read the textbook, understand it conceptually
-Do the textbook problems
-Work closely with your group, it will help you all
-Listen intently and ask questions
-If you do poorly on quizzes (they're hard), make up for it by participating as much as possible!
-Go to his office hours and Happy Hour! He has great stories.

Don’t trust the older reviews, this class is awesome. Parham seems tough at first (and he is), but the class is graded on a normal distribution with the lowest grade possible being a B-. While the assignments and exams are challenging, everything works out in the end.

That said, this was probably the best class I’ve taken at McIntire and UVA in general. Parham definitely pushed us hard, but in the end I learned an insane amount about finance and critical thinking in general. Parham is genuinely passionate about teaching finance, and I’m feeling extra prepared for my internship this summer.

Tips for getting the most out of the course - read the stats notes he sends out at the beginning. You’ll end up using those concepts A LOT in the class. Aside from that, read the textbook and go to office hours if necessary and you should be in good shape.

This is a challenging class, but it's also a class absolutely worth taking. Despite his unconventional grading style, Parham is a kind professor who loves teaching. He goes above and beyond for his students. During his lectures, he connects finance and economics concepts with historical anecdotes to make the subject matter more interesting and memorable. Through these anecdotes, he explains the "why" behind finance rather than just the "what" and the "how." This has been the most interesting class that I have taken at McIntire so far.
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Aside from this, Parham has a ton of wisdom to share from his international travels, military experience, and computer-science background. I would often go to office hours just to get his take on things.
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Some other useful tips for this class if you're aiming for a high grade:
1. Participate early, participate often - Go to office hours. Raise your hand in class to answer questions. Ask questions after class. Point out possible errors that Parham has made in assignments/lectures for bonus points.
2. Actually read the textbook. It'll teach you the "what" and the "how" of finance better than lectures.
3. Maximize your scores on earlier assignments, as the material is easier. Brush up on your statistics before the class begins, it will help.

I am not going to lie and say I did not struggle in this class, but it was definitely worth it. Parham is probably the most intelligent and interesting professor I have had at UVA and has taught me more than any other professor by a significant amount. His goal is to teach you as much as he possibly can in a way that is both understandable and challenging. If you work hard in this class, you will know far more than the average person taking Chen. If your goal is to learn and master financial skills/concepts there is no doubt that Parham is the right choice. He may seem intimidating at first, but he really isn't. He takes his job very seriously and cares a lot about students getting the most out of their time while also having interesting lectures that keep you engaged. He is eager to help students in whatever way he can, while also making sure you are truly challenging yourself. Take this class if you are serious about finance and its implications on life/history.

Despite what you may hear about this class being terrible and this professor being the hardest out of the two, I could not be more glad that I took this course with professor Parham. I learned more in this class about life, decision making, and critical thinking than I have in any other course at UVA. He's a brilliant professor and is eager to help his students with questions. Also from talking to my friends in Chen, Parham gave us a much more in-depth learning experience for Corporate Finance. While I would be lying if I said the class was easy, the challenge is well worth it.