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Edward McDevitt
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Based on 247 Users
He was a nice guy and all but his class honestly was something else. 2 Midterms and a final was your entire grade. The avg our first midterm was like a 60 and the second was a 75, and for these he will say that it is MC/Essay but the MC's are honestly the hardest part of the whole thing. The options basically go from a-g so take that as you will.
Pretty chill if you actually make sure to watch the lectures & take good notes. His exams allow a cheat sheet but you're really pressed for time on the midterms. His multiple choice isn't actually multiple choice so it's misleading and takes a lot longer than expected. Overall, I'd recommend taking this class with McDevitt but make sure not to lag on lectures
This class was definitely harder than expected and I think the bruinwalk grade distribution is MISLEADING. I think that the material is relatively straightforward and McDevitt is a good professor but I think there's the impression that Econ 134 is a pretty easy doable class, which honestly, I disagree. The material is like microeconomics on crack but environmental themed, which was cool for a bit until I was doing shifts on 5 graph systems. The exams are also pretty challenging, especially the multiple choice. I think if graphs are your strength this class is good for you, but if you're not into that stuff I'd pass on Econ 134. Also, your whole grade is based on exams so if you're bad at test taking that's another thing to consider, but he curves pretty generously.
This class was a pretty average econ elective. Grades are based on midterm 1 (20%) midterm 2 (25%) and final (55%). The material itself was fairly difficult, although the first part of the class builds off of econ 101 (present value, externalities, taxes, etc.). McDevitt is a solid lecturer. He writes incredibly disorganized notes during lectures but also provides typed lecture notes so it wasn't a huge problem. His tests are fair, and he provides study questions and a sample test, but the long multiple choice questions are a bit ridiculous. Overall 6/10.
Easy class. Prof. provide clear lecture notes, you can print them for the exam. He also provides sample exams, and practice questions, that could provide you with a basic idea about the exam. He gives a review class before the exam, pays attention to what he said, and it is almost the questions ask in exam. However, if you are not strong in econ and familiar with 101 materials, it might be a hard class. the class average is quite low, but he provides curve
To get it out of the way, no, this is not an easy Econ elective. However, I don't think any of McDevitt's classes are easy, and he himself admits his tests are quite difficult. Nonetheless, unlike most Econ classes, he is clear in what he expects from you and is going to test you on. You definitely have to put the work in, but you will learn a lot. I can't emphasize it enough, go to his extra office hours the weekend before the exam!!!! He will give out clues of some of the harder questions that might pop up.
Grade is made up of two midterms and a final, and the final was not completely cumulative. He records his lectures, which is extremely helpful because the content is quite complex and he goes quite fast in his lectures. He uploads typed notes so you technically don't have to take any, but I would HIGHLY recommend taking the notes yourself instead. He is EXTREMELY big on graphs and you have to know how to use them. All of his exams are completely open note, but that does not make the exams a cakewalk.
I studied for all 3 exams for at least a week each, and still got a D, a B, and a C on each of them respectively. However, he curves the class so I ended up with a B.
This class was not as hard as other professors make it seem. I did bad on the midterm (a mistake) but was able to do very well on the final which then got me a c+. His notes are very useful especially for exams. I would recommend him!
Took this over summer—no HW, midterm 45%, final 55%. He gives you everything you need to study, and I studied really hard for both. I got an A on my midterm and somehow, an F on my final. Great teacher, bad handwriting, and the final was just much more nit-picky than the midterm. Would still recommend the class.
What most people say about McDevitt is true: he's not too interesting, but he's a darn good professor. He explains things clearly and concisely. All you need is the lecture (take good notes, don't miss them) and don't bother with the book. Somehow he memorizes his lectures perfectly--he knows it backwards and forwards. Get old lecture notes and follow along. Try to get old midterms and finals, also.
McDevitt also makes it easy for you to ask questions to him. He makes extra office hours, so if you need them, take them. Section isn't mandatory, so shop around for a good TA that will supplement his material. He's a nice guy, but even if he weren't, it'd be okay. He's frank and no-nonsense, which is refreshing because you get what you ask for.
Tests aren't easy, but the key is understanding. Study questions help significantly, but again, know the concepts. Memorizing questions isn't that helpful. Time is a factor, so know your material and work fast. His multiple choice is tricky, but spend time on it. Free response isn't too terrible either. The curve is relatively generous, but don't expect this to be an easy A. Overall, I recommend him because he'll teach you what you'll need to know without too much pain. It is supposedly a weeder class, so don't freak out. At all means, take him before thinking about anyone else!
He was a nice guy and all but his class honestly was something else. 2 Midterms and a final was your entire grade. The avg our first midterm was like a 60 and the second was a 75, and for these he will say that it is MC/Essay but the MC's are honestly the hardest part of the whole thing. The options basically go from a-g so take that as you will.
Pretty chill if you actually make sure to watch the lectures & take good notes. His exams allow a cheat sheet but you're really pressed for time on the midterms. His multiple choice isn't actually multiple choice so it's misleading and takes a lot longer than expected. Overall, I'd recommend taking this class with McDevitt but make sure not to lag on lectures
This class was definitely harder than expected and I think the bruinwalk grade distribution is MISLEADING. I think that the material is relatively straightforward and McDevitt is a good professor but I think there's the impression that Econ 134 is a pretty easy doable class, which honestly, I disagree. The material is like microeconomics on crack but environmental themed, which was cool for a bit until I was doing shifts on 5 graph systems. The exams are also pretty challenging, especially the multiple choice. I think if graphs are your strength this class is good for you, but if you're not into that stuff I'd pass on Econ 134. Also, your whole grade is based on exams so if you're bad at test taking that's another thing to consider, but he curves pretty generously.
This class was a pretty average econ elective. Grades are based on midterm 1 (20%) midterm 2 (25%) and final (55%). The material itself was fairly difficult, although the first part of the class builds off of econ 101 (present value, externalities, taxes, etc.). McDevitt is a solid lecturer. He writes incredibly disorganized notes during lectures but also provides typed lecture notes so it wasn't a huge problem. His tests are fair, and he provides study questions and a sample test, but the long multiple choice questions are a bit ridiculous. Overall 6/10.
Easy class. Prof. provide clear lecture notes, you can print them for the exam. He also provides sample exams, and practice questions, that could provide you with a basic idea about the exam. He gives a review class before the exam, pays attention to what he said, and it is almost the questions ask in exam. However, if you are not strong in econ and familiar with 101 materials, it might be a hard class. the class average is quite low, but he provides curve
To get it out of the way, no, this is not an easy Econ elective. However, I don't think any of McDevitt's classes are easy, and he himself admits his tests are quite difficult. Nonetheless, unlike most Econ classes, he is clear in what he expects from you and is going to test you on. You definitely have to put the work in, but you will learn a lot. I can't emphasize it enough, go to his extra office hours the weekend before the exam!!!! He will give out clues of some of the harder questions that might pop up.
Grade is made up of two midterms and a final, and the final was not completely cumulative. He records his lectures, which is extremely helpful because the content is quite complex and he goes quite fast in his lectures. He uploads typed notes so you technically don't have to take any, but I would HIGHLY recommend taking the notes yourself instead. He is EXTREMELY big on graphs and you have to know how to use them. All of his exams are completely open note, but that does not make the exams a cakewalk.
I studied for all 3 exams for at least a week each, and still got a D, a B, and a C on each of them respectively. However, he curves the class so I ended up with a B.
This class was not as hard as other professors make it seem. I did bad on the midterm (a mistake) but was able to do very well on the final which then got me a c+. His notes are very useful especially for exams. I would recommend him!
Took this over summer—no HW, midterm 45%, final 55%. He gives you everything you need to study, and I studied really hard for both. I got an A on my midterm and somehow, an F on my final. Great teacher, bad handwriting, and the final was just much more nit-picky than the midterm. Would still recommend the class.
What most people say about McDevitt is true: he's not too interesting, but he's a darn good professor. He explains things clearly and concisely. All you need is the lecture (take good notes, don't miss them) and don't bother with the book. Somehow he memorizes his lectures perfectly--he knows it backwards and forwards. Get old lecture notes and follow along. Try to get old midterms and finals, also.
McDevitt also makes it easy for you to ask questions to him. He makes extra office hours, so if you need them, take them. Section isn't mandatory, so shop around for a good TA that will supplement his material. He's a nice guy, but even if he weren't, it'd be okay. He's frank and no-nonsense, which is refreshing because you get what you ask for.
Tests aren't easy, but the key is understanding. Study questions help significantly, but again, know the concepts. Memorizing questions isn't that helpful. Time is a factor, so know your material and work fast. His multiple choice is tricky, but spend time on it. Free response isn't too terrible either. The curve is relatively generous, but don't expect this to be an easy A. Overall, I recommend him because he'll teach you what you'll need to know without too much pain. It is supposedly a weeder class, so don't freak out. At all means, take him before thinking about anyone else!