UCSBPlat.com directly in your GOLD Try it Now
PHYS 7A
POPESCU P F
Paula Popescu
3.6
42 reviews
KOUTROULAKIS
Georgios Koutroulakis
4.3
64 reviews

106
3.95
PHYS7B . Koutroulakis 1 Year, 5 Months Ago

Lectures are great and concepts are explained very well. The class is very organized and only topics covered in class are on the exams. The homework assignments and discussion questions prepare you well for the exams

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
PHY7B . Koutroulakis 1 Year, 6 Months Ago

His exams are way harder than they need to be. I'm also not a fan of the way he lectures cause he treats everything like common knowledge and doesn't explain this step by step. Also, who gives homework due right before the final? His exams were easy in 7A so idk why they're so much harder in 7B

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
PHYS3 . Popescu P F 1 Year, 8 Months Ago

I had Popescu for Phys 1, 2, and 3. Her video lectures for Phys 1 and 2 were really well-made: informative and concise. I found her in person lectures to be hard to follow at times due to the difficult material so you really have to pay attention. She offers a lot of extra credit so it shouldn't be too hard to do well in her classes.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
PHYS5 . Koutroulakis 1 Year, 8 Months Ago

I dont know why he is well liked. I had trouble understanding physics5 despite doing so well in the other physics classes. Homework was so tedious and exams were tough. I hate his set grading scale, each class is different in terms of understanding content, so having a overall preset grading is stupid in my opinion. dont get me started on the labs

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
PHYS1 . Koutroulakis 1 Year, 11 Months Ago

decent prof but idk why people like him so much. he gave WAY too much homework on top of the extremely long, boring weekly labs and mandatory lecture. tests were fairly difficult and TAs were very stingy with partial credit.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
PHYS2 . Popescu P F 1 Year, 11 Months Ago

Lectures were okay, and she definitely cared about her students. I learned a decent amount conceptually, and hw & online quizzes helped improve understanding a bit. Not too difficult to pass the class, don't expect to become a physics mastermind with this course, but you will learn general overviews of the concepts and do decent in the course.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
PHYS2 . Popescu P F 1 Year, 11 Months Ago

I found the lectures impossible to learn from. She will do long and complicated derivations for the formulas you need to use rather than actually practicing problems. The rest of lecture was filled with her reading from slides which are copy and pasted directly from the textbook.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
PHYS1 . Koutroulakis 2 Years Ago

Attendance was worth 4% of the grade, I chose to never attend class and take the 4% off. Put in absolutely minimal effort into the class and received a B-, only tests are 2 midterms and a final. Weekly homework has one assignment based on completion, one based on percentage right. The online textbook used is SUPER helpful.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
PHYS4 . Koutroulakis 2 Years Ago

Dr. K is one of the better lecturers in the phys dept. He's very accommodating, open to questions, and friendly. Exams were reasonably difficult and the class was graded fairly. I did not find his office hours very helpful though, he tends to assume you are familiar with the subject matter already when you have a question about it.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
PHYS1 . Koutroulakis 2 Years Ago

He explains the material very well and the grading structure is nice, if I remember correctly, it was like a 10% boost than average. Material is difficult, because well it's physics, but if you work hard then class should be easier.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
PHYS1 . Koutroulakis 2 Years Ago

if you got a 4 or 5 on ap physics c: mechanics in hs, then this class will be too ez. great lectures, simple exams. oh yeah, 82.5% is the cutoff for A-

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
PHYS4 . Popescu P F 2 Years Ago

Awesome lecturer who just wants students to understand material. Doesn't care for making insanely difficult tests like most of the physics department.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
PHYS1 . Koutroulakis 2 Years Ago

Absolute legend; one of my favorite professors. Exams are pretty forgiving (usually easier than homeworks). Main downside is the he is Greek :(

0 helpful 7 unhelpful
PHYS1 . Koutroulakis 2 Years Ago

He curves the class heavily, but as someone who had never took physics this class was hard. He's a good person and lectures are good but you definitely have to put in a lot of work.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
PHYS1 . Koutroulakis 2 Years Ago

I took physics in Highschool and was able to kinda take it easy. However, G.K. tries his hardest to accommodate students with any background in physics. Tests are similar to practice ones, and he always asks if students have questions before proceeding. It was nice to see a professor care so much. Overall, a good professor for Physics 1.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
PHYS1 . Koutroulakis 2 Years Ago

Koutroulakis definitely explains at a pretty high level, so the kids with previous physics knowledge definitely have a leg up. That being said, I'd say with lecture + section + TA office hours you could definitely begin learning physics starting with this class. Midterms + final is somewhat difficult but if you study you'd be fine. Overall p good:)

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
PHYS1 . Koutroulakis 2 Years Ago

I don't like him for no reason. But the course itself is super easy.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
PHYS1 . Koutroulakis 2 Years Ago

Incredible and passionate professor teaching an incredibly difficult and fast paced subject, if you will. This guy made learning physics for me so much more fun and engaging. Be ready for lots of homework. exams are fair and reflective of practice exams and lectures. Would definitely take him again if I have the chance, if you will.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
PHYS1 . Koutroulakis 2 Years Ago

Amazing professor. The lectures and the discussion worksheets were so helpful for the midterms and finals. His lectures really helped you understand the material and made it easy to understand. The pace of the class is extremely fast so stay on top of it. Class is also curved. Physics is still a difficult subject, but he makes it easy.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
PHYS1 . Koutroulakis 2 Years Ago

It Physics, so there's a lot of work involved. But Koutroulakis speaks in a very clear way, shows derivations on board, and homework is manageable and exposes students to practice problems. Very good professor!!!!!

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
PHYS1 . Koutroulakis 2 Years Ago

Georgios has a very generous grading scale with the cutoff for an A being 87.5%. Physics is not an easy subject and hard work/study is required to succeed, but he makes it a fairly enjoyable experience. The final and midterms were reasonable. Attendance is mandatory for iclicker polls, but I'd recommend going regardless.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
PHYS1 . Koutroulakis 2 Years Ago

Super great teacher! I found that he was a little direct in how he speaks to students which took some adjustment, but at the same time, he's kind. I enjoyed his class.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
PHYS1 . Koutroulakis 2 Years Ago

An absolutely great charismatic professor! Having no prior physics experience made this subject daunting but Koutroulakis made it a great experience. He's extremely clear during lectures and answers all questions thoroughly. While the homework may seem a lot, it's great practice. Plus, his Greek accent just makes everything he says so clear!

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
PHYS1 . Koutroulakis 2 Years Ago

Good, passionate lecturer with fun demonstrations. Course itself was difficult for someone not saavy with physics. If havent taken AP Physics like me, you will struggle. Keep on top of work and look for resources to study and become proficient. Fall behind and youll suffer like I did. Grading scale is very lenient, though, so youll be okay.

1 helpful 0 unhelpful