ECON 3010

Unless you're willing to work almost all day, I would not take the class in the summer, because the pace is really fast. Ciliberto is a decent professor, but spends way too much time on solving simple math and not enough time on the intuition behind the concepts. As a class, the grading scheme and extra credit made it easy to get a good grade, but you have to have video on every zoom class to get extra credit, and he takes attendance and requires participation. Homeworks had basically nothing to do with lecture, so go to office hours, and read the book.

If you're trying to knock out the econ major prerequisites, taking 3010 during the summer with Ciliberto isn't a bad option. The class is only 4 weeks long, so it won't take up all of your summer. However, there are tests weekly, which can be quite stressful. Reading the book is important given the limited amount of lecture time there is, and it will give you a deeper understanding of some of the concepts. Doing the homework is also imperative, as the tests are basically the same problems with different numbers (for most questions). He will usually throw a question or two that seems impossible, but with the huge curve at the end of the class you can afford to miss/skip a question or two a test. The highest level of math you really need to know is partial derivatives, so if calculus isn't your thing then this is a plus. On the other side of things Ciliberto is very friendly and won't be upset if he asks you a question that you don't know the answer to. If you do the read the book, and redo the homework several times, you should be able to get a B+ or above.

This class was definitely tough. Don't take it if you don't have to. The summer Econ 3010 with ciliberto is structured like this: There is an exam each Friday, with each test being cumulative, and a final which can be taken on the final friday or saturday. The first test is worth 10%, 2nd 15%, 3rd 25%, ad final 40%, so tests make up 90% of your grade. HW and participation are worth 5% each and are easy 100s. The tests are very hard...each test average was in the 60s, but he takes the class average at the end of the class and rounds that up to a B, so as long as you stay on average with the class, you'll get at least at B. The calculus involved was just 1st derivatives and partial derivatives which was nice. He asks a few questions on the tests that aren't covered in class or the textbook but that require a understanding of the material beyond what is taught/read which kinda separates the B's from the A's in the class. Also, something that threw me off was that his tests are 90% multiple choice, with answer choices A-G, and answer choice G being "none of the above" on all these questions and there were at least 2-3 questions on each test that the answer was "none of the above" so don't be afraid to chose that. The first 3 midterms were 30 questions in an hour and half and the final was 50 questions in 2 hours. Timing is definitely important for the tests. Discussion sections are just going over the daily homework, which he gives you the answers to, and are not required. They are kinda helpful for some topics. Ciliberto is a nice guy and definitely enjoys economics and has a cool Italian accent.

Coming into ECON 3010, I was expecting the course to be really tough- and it definitely was! However, because it was difficult, I felt like I really learned a lot. What I really enjoyed about this course was that I learned actual applications of and mathematical explanations behind the theories presented in 201 and 202. This class is very mathematical, but the math is not too hard (not too much calculus), as long as you understand the concepts behind the math that you are doing; of course, you're going to see a lot of different scenarios in which the math is applied differently. Because there were so many different possible scenarios, there was a lot that could show up on the tests, so sometimes I saw things that I wasn't prepared for, which was stressful given the limited timing. Just remember that everyone's in the same boat, and as long as you've practiced and made a strong effort to understand the concepts you'll be okay. Professor Ciliberto will tell you to work with a group- listen to that advice! Once I started studying with someone else, my exams started going better because I had to explain the concepts to another person, allowing me to confirm that I actually understood. To prepare for his exams, understand the concepts, understand various applications of the concepts, practice the homework, and redo old test problems. Read if you can, but don't waste time on it (if you are unclear about what from the textbook you need to know, just ask him). He wants to make sure that you understood the mistakes that you made before, so he asks questions from the homework and tests you have already taken (focus on the ones a lot of people missed- and of course the ones you missed!). There is a HEALTHY curve in this class- I really thought I was going to get a horrible grade based upon my percentage but ended up with an A. You just want to make sure you know where you stand relative to the average. Professor Ciliberto is a really cool, funny, and personable guy who is clearly passionate about economics. While this class was tough, he made the subject matter interesting. Again: yes, the material is hard, but that's just the nature of the material; he is actually a really reasonable professor. He also really cares that students learn the material, and not just because it's his job, and he will gladly answer your questions (whether they are about the class or your future in economics). Overall, I really enjoyed this class and am really looking forward to pursuing the econ major. I recommend taking this class with Ciliberto!

Okay, so I have mixed feelings about taking Econ 3010 with Professor Ciliberto. What I liked was that he was incredibly passionate about the subject and liked to teach. He gave plenty of examples in class of the topics we were learning and always asked us if we had any questions. However, he made so many mistakes in class. Sometimes it wasn't a big deal, but in my class he actually messed up an entire concept which confused me for a while. In regards to the tests, he made the first and second test somewhat difficult and the third test incredibly easy. The way exams work is that he pulls one homework problem and one learning by doing from the textbook and puts it on the test verbatim (this makes up around 5-6 questions out of 30). I realized this and then redid all the homeworks 2-3 times and got a higher score the third test. He also takes problems from previous tests. That's why I felt this class wasn't a test of econ knowledge but a test of tricks and strategy. If you "play the game" and do all the homeworks tons of times and try to study what you think he'll test, you'll do great. The reason I took the class with Ciliberto was because he uses minimal calculus in his class. The max he does is partial derivatives and basic derivatives. There are no integrals. If you aren't as much of a calculus person, then taking it with him is good because he uses a LOT more algebra. An added bonus, he posts all the homework answers a day before it's due so you have the chance to check your work and make sure you get all the points.

The downside is that he is soooo vague about grading. The entire semester he will say the test average will curve to a B but he won't say anything about the percentages or what standing anyone has. That being said, this class does have a good curve. I had a raw score of a 71 in the class and ended up with a B+. I think a 75 was an A- and an 80 was an A. In the end your grade will probably be fine which is a great reason to take Professor Ciliberto.

I hear a lot of people complain about taking 3010, but taking it with Ciliberto was a really good experience. I came away from it really feeling like I understood the subject, in large part due to how he structures his lectures and his Socratic method usage. I thought it was really cool he took the time to learn all of our names in class as well. Homework is doable and tests aren't too bad if you follow the lectures and homework. Textbook can be pretty helpful if you don't understand something as well. All in all, highly recommend taking 3010 with Federico if you can!

This course isn't too bad if you put in the work. Attendance is required and you should definitely go because the classes are very helpful. The professor gives countless examples in class which are very similar to the test questions. The homework in this class should be done because they also are extremely similar to the exam questions. The homework and reading are long though and require a lot of work and time. If you ever don't have time to do it, he does post the answers before, but you shouldn't get into the habit of copying them or looking at them till you are done with them because you won't do well on the tests otherwise. If you understand each question on the homework you will be fine on the tests, if not go to a TA, the professor, or a classmate until you get each one completely. The tests throws no curve balls just slight alterations to problems you already done. The attendance for the discussion section isn't mandatory but again recommend going at least the week before and after the test. 4 exams total. first-10%, second-15%, third-25%, fourth (the final)- 40%. All tests are cumulative and the final grade is curved

Ciliberto is a nice guy but I wasn't a fan of his method of teaching. He uses a socratic method in which he'll randomly call on students to answer questions and that actually stressed me out more than it helped. His curve at the end of the year was generous; an 81% was an A. It was a challenging class but not too difficult as long as you went to class and did the homework.

Not a terribly hard class if you put the time in. ECON 3010 feels like a math class - each major topic (consumer preferences, the production function, costs, market structures) involves a few key equations that are derived from applying logic and economic principles to some kind of abstract model. You learn how to relate these equations to each other and manipulate them to get the values you want. The vast majority of homework and exam problems will describe a situation (for example, a consumer with income = X, utility function = U, price of good 1 = A, price of good one = B) and ask you to solve for whatever variable (say, the quantities the consumer will purchase of good 1 and good 2) using algebra and some very basic calculus. Like in a math class, if you 1) know how to do all the different types of problems, and 2) understand the logic of why you solve the problems that way, you'll have no problem on tests. Don't listen to the below comments - Ciliberto isn't going to put anything on the test that you didn't learn from the homework. That said, he intentionally makes his midterms too long for the average student to finish in time, so if you aren't good at doing math quickly, I'd recommend finding ways to finish problems as quickly as possible.

Annoyingly, "participation" is 5% of your grade, and Ciliberto takes attendance each and every class by roll call. After your one free skip, each missed class is 1% off your final grade. Lecture basically consists of a stripped-down, bare-essentials version of the book. If I'd had a choice I probably wouldn't have gone as much. Ciliberto, though a nice guy, is also absent-minded at times and occasionally makes simple mistakes on the board, so don't be afraid to correct him.

All you really need to do when studying for exams is review the homeworks and make sure you understand them completely. There isn't much in the way of memorizing facts here. Do problems over and over until they become second nature. The final is cumulative, but at least this semester, it focused heavily on the newer topics that hadn't been tested on the midterms. The curve is generous.

Extremely difficult class. Ciliberto makes a lot of mistakes in class, so I had a hard time following what he was saying. You will catch him making at least 3 mistakes per class, which makes you even more confused in an already difficult class. He always tells you to not worry about your grade since there is a huge curve at the end, but having to go through 3 terribly difficult midterms and a final was painful. The exams definitely don't reflect what we learn in class or the homework, so be prepared. I ended up getting an okay grade in the class, but the stress was not worth it. I'd recommend taking it with another professor to save yourself.

Regardless of who you have as a professor for ECON 3010, it's going to be a difficult class. However, Professor Ciliberto made it exceptionally hard. His use of the Socratic method made learning in class more difficult, as he basically expects you to know what he's going to teach beforehand. He often taught at a fast pace, and in turn made a lot of mistakes during lecture, some regarding important concepts. I basically had to teach myself most of the material, and there was a disconnect between what was taught in class and what the homework covered. Overall, this class was a lot harder than it had to be. Ciliberto is genuinely a nice guy, but I would not recommend taking the class with him.

I'm typically prone to writing longer reviews, but it honestly doesn't feel necessary with Professor Ciliberto. While his class was undoubtedly difficult, if you do the homeworks and takes notes (you have to show up to every class on time if you want participation, anyways), you will do very well in this class. Ciliberto is incredibly engaged during his lectures and excited about the material he's teaching, to the point that he made the grueling topic of Intermediate Microeconomics worthwhile and somewhat enjoyable to take.

Ciliberto is a great professor who really cares about his students. The tests are hard but if you study you should do fine. He grades fairly and his curve was quite generous. He is one of the best professors to take Econ 3010 with.

A very engaging lecturer. Emphasis is on the midterms and finals, which are formidable but relate closely to the problem sets.

he goes wayyyy too in depth. weeds out nubs

If you are going to take ECON-3010, you're at the milestone of economics, and Prof. Ciliberto is the best at teaching it so far in the department.

Love, love, love Ciliberto. Fun guy, made an effort to know everyone's name in class and clearly enjoys what he does. But, the tests were tricky (no partial credit b/c they were multiple choice) and he usually put too many problems on the test so you couldn't finish in time, or had to rush through. . .unless you really studied hard. Go to his office hours & get to know him!

One of the best teachers I've had at UVA. Extremely accessible and willing to help in or out of class. Lectures are clear and Socratic method is helpful. His accent is not a problem at all.

Great class if you liked ECON 2010. Ciliberto is friendly and willing to answer questions. Midterms and final aren't terrible if you spend time on the homeworks and understand them. Curve is generous.

Difficult class but necessary for econ majors. He operates class in a socratic seminar fashion and will call on students at random times. Curve is okay in the end

Ciliberto is a pretty fair teacher. This is a tough course but he presents the material well. You must attend lectures (he takes attendance) and you can only miss two. But you would not want to miss lectures anyways because they are critical to learning the material

definitely a hard class, but if you really put time into it you will be able to do ok

This class can be extremely frustrating all semester, but in the end it really comes down to the final which is 45% of your grade. The two midterms (15% and 30%) can be really tricky and the one thing that is really frustrating about his exams is he uses serial questions where if you get the first one wrong you will get the next 6 that correspond to it wrong as well. For the final study the old practice tests and take notes on the problems you got wrong on the midterms. Other than that Federico is a good lecturer; he goes kinda quick but wants you to ask questions.

Ciliberto is a great professor. He genuinely cares about students and always makes time to ensure that people are keeping up with his lectures. I'm surprised that there are so many reviews saying he goes too fast - if you ever have a question he practically begs you to ask. His class is hard but it is very fair, and if you do the work, you will do well.

This is the hardest class I've taken at UVa so far. It's in-depth QUANTITATIVE analysis of the underlying principles of microeconomics. I thought one of the hardest things of this class was that you needed to understand the economic principles themselves, but then also needed to translate them into mathematical expressions and then solve the expressions. I found the textbook to be boring and wordy. Ciliberto is an OK professor and really tries his best to teach a difficult topic. However, he goes through the material way too fast and it is very hard to keep up with taking notes and thinking about what he is actually saying. It's nice that he learns all of his students' names and writes his notes on the board. Midterms are hard and time-pressure is extreme. He takes attendance every lecture and there are weekly homeworks that can be time-consuming and difficult. Overall, I learned a decent amount in this class (also a certain way of thinking about stuff). There is a very large curve.

This class wasn't too bad for a supposed "weed-out" class. Professor gives out solutions the day for the problem sets are due, which is nice. Exams are multiple choice, but definitely need to study for them. However, if you go to all the lectures and read the book, you'll be fine. Overall, this class with this professor is worthwhile taking.

Great Teacher, great lecturer

Ciliberto is an extremely nice guy who tries his hardest to teach one of the most difficult subjects anywhere. Thanks to this class, I have a thorough understanding of the building blocks of economics. Exams are tricky but fair. Homeworks can be labor-intensive.

Ciliberto is a really smart guy who knows his stuff, but his method of running through math concepts so quickly without showing you the steps makes it really hard to follow. Most of the stuff I just ended up teaching myself the night before the test, but lectures are mandatory and make a portion of your grade. Exams are difficult and make you race the clock, but no one does particularly well and the curve is helpful. I wouldn't recommend this class unless you're an econ major. But I've heard Ciliberto is the best professor for 3010, so if you have to take it, you might as well take it with him.

Ciliberto is an engaging, motivational professor that requires you to be an active listener and participant in his lectures. He makes the class actually INTERESTING. He is by far the best professor I've had at UVA. I will say though that his exams are very hard. If you need to take ECON 301, Ciliberto is the man the take it with. Like I said, highly recommended.

Steven's discussion sections were pretty much worthless. Ciliberto was a good professor though, seemed like he really cared about people learning and was happy to answer questions.

You have to come to lecture for this class. He takes attendance and it will really hurt your grade in the end if you miss classes. The material is a little bit tricky, but I felt like class was a good indication of the tests. The tests are multiple choice, but sometimes there were so many options that it didn't really help.

Ciliberto was a great professor. He is very nice and helpful. The class was hard, but Ciliberto did his best to make sure everyone understood. His Socratic method is intimidating for about a week but you'll realize that he really just wants to make sure you understand everything. Understanding the homework is the key to doing well; and he will tell you that over and over.

Ciliberto is a very good professor. He is very knowledgeable about the subject and cares about his students. This class is very difficult and you will have to work hard to understand the material. Doing the homework helps, and beware of copying the homework solutions.

Difficult class. Cilliberto was nice but it didn't make the class any easier. It's all about how you do in comparison to your class, not the actual grade so just study for the midterms as they comprise 90% of the overall grade

Ciliberto really cares about his students. Although 301 is a hard class, he is interesting and approachable. If you need to take Econ 301 take it with Ciliberto.

Difficult class

Horrible class

Ciliberto does a good job of teaching the class, and is enthusiastic about the material, but it is a very difficult class.

Tough but a necessity.

Professor loves the material in the class and is very enthusiastic about teaching it. He tries very hard to learn everyone's name in the class and uses the socratic method to drive the class discussion. Much of the lecture consists of examples applying the concepts. The two midterms are very difficult so focus your attention on those.

this course is tough and i wouldn't recommend it unless you're an econ major/minor or just really interested in the topic. federico is very enthusiastic and a great teacher though. the midterms and finals are just about impossible, but keep in mind the humongous curve he puts in at the end. i got a 74 in the class and got an A-... a 50 gets you a C+. since the final and midterms are worth 90% of the grade, just study really hard for those and you should be fine

Professor Ciliberto is someone who is enthusiastic and passionate about the material that he is trying to teach to the students. Nevertheless, the midterm and the final exams that he gave to the students were quite difficult. I would recommend mastering the concepts and the techniques if you would like to do well on those. The homework sets were doable.

This class can be sort of hard but Professor Ciliberto does a good job of explaining the concepts. You really need to go to class though to be prepared for the tests.

He gives you answers to homeowrk so you can check them. Copy homework at your own peril: exams aren't easy. He tries to learn the names of all students and asks questions in class. Overall a pretty good professor.

Prof. Ciliberto is awesome. He calls on you in class even if you don't raise your hand, but you get used to it after the first week or so and it's not that bad. He posts answers to the problem sets before they're due, so that part of your grade is a given 100. The tests are multiple choice and not that hard if you go to class and study. Great class and prepares you well for future econ classes.

Great class, very worthwhile. Ciliberto was a great teacher, although going to discussion was of great benefit every week (even though not required). TAs (especially Jura and Uma) were the best at explaining homework and clarifying material. Good class, learned a lot, got me interested in economics, but not a breeze either.

Ciliberto is very enthusiastic, and genuinely cares about his students. He calls on individuals in class to answer questions, and learns everyone's name in a 100 person lecture. If you have to take 301, Ciliberto is a great guy and a good professor - I learned a lot from him.

Difficult class, but Prof. Ciliberto didn't make it any easier.

Requires you to pay attention in class by randomly calling names to answer questions. Ciliberto was difficult, but also very helpful.

Ciliberto is a great professor....very entertaining with his Italian accent...very funny as well...makes Econ somewhat interesting (at least in lecture)...not too bad of a grading scale...basically whatever the mean on the exams are no matter what = B....HW's are guaranteed 100's since he posts the answers before they are due but def need to do them to know what is going on...final is hardcore so watch out...TOUGH class but GOOD professor

Very good class, especially if you get beyond the TA's. Try to talk to the Professor, especially if you have problems with grading.