APMA 3080

This class will force-feed you linear algebra whether you want to learn it or not. This is your average linear algebra class as far as I can tell, but they definitely test your understanding of the material and not just if you can do the problems. The first two tests seem to go ok for everyone, but then the third test happened. I studied all of the past worksheets and homework, and felt ok about all of the concepts, and then I opened the test and maybe 2/7 questions were types of problems we'd actually done before. Needless to say, the average for that test was around 63% as opposed to 80s for test 1 and low 90s for test 2. Besides that test, the class consisted of having webwork due wednesday nights, written homework due wednesday nights, and worksheets due saturdays. Written homework was worth 10% of the grade, webwork 5%, worksheets 15%, three tests 15% each, and the final worth 25%. I haven't taken the final yet, but I'm not super optimistic since test 2 probably made it impossible for most people to get an A even if they ace the final. APMA classes target a B- average, so it felt like they adjusted the test difficulty accordingly after a high average on test 2 and test 3 evened out the crowd so to speak. Ted / Robert is a nice guy, but Zoom math lectures aren't that enjoyable. I also had to go to office hours every week for help with worksheet problems since we didn't really go over any in class. There were examples in the textbook, but not always what popped up on assignments, and towards the beginning of the class when I didn't know much, it seemed like every worksheet had unclear language and it was difficult to know what your answer should be unless you've taken linear before. Also, Heze the TA is amazing and would go through all problems students had questions for one at a time super patiently with superb handwriting. Cannot say enough good things about that man.