MATH 221B
Stephen Bigelow
3.4
122 reviews

122
3.4
MATH108A . 11 Years Ago

Lecture was fine, he was clear and easy to understand. IMPOSSIBLE tests, I am normally an A math student and I barely passed this class

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LINALG . 11 Years Ago

pretty much need to go to class but tests are easy and so are problem sets.

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MATH108A . 11 Years Ago

One of the best math profs at the school. Pretty clear. Goes over hw in class and in office hours. Tests are really easy. Good prof and a good class with him.

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MATH108A . 11 Years Ago

Awesome prof. I didn't read the book and just went to his lectures. He's very clear in his explanations, and I understood whatever he said the first time he said it. He has reasonable expectations; not too easy, not too hard.

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ALGEB1 . 12 Years Ago

make sure you do the homework and go to office hours if you're confused. really helpful and friendly professor!

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MATHA . 12 Years Ago

great prof

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MATH34 . 12 Years Ago

Good prof. You should go to class. Really nice guy. Good at explaining stuff one on one.

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MATH34A . 12 Years Ago

Easiest math class I ever took. Most of the concepts covered, especially in the first half of the quarter, were basic algebra most people learned in high school. Even when new concepts appeared, it was just basic derivatives and logarithms. Tests are easy as well, the midterm had only 6 questions and could be finished quickly.

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MATH34A . 12 Years Ago

Tests are fairly easy, and if the entire class does poor then he curves. Midterm was only 6 questions and Final was only 12. Class itself isn't too difficult, I personally didn't start learning new things until about 7 weeks in. Go to CLAS if you have any problems. Bigelow was a bit unclear at times, but always put forth an effort.

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MATH34 . 12 Years Ago

Professor Bigelow is a fairly easy professor is you reached algebra 2 in high school. Seriously. I am a psych major and I already knew almost all that we learned. He is sometimes unclear but does try to make sure everyone understands the material and engage the class with the clicker. Useless book. Easier than the other 34A prof. for this quarter

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MATH34A . 12 Years Ago

Bigalow cares immensely. Most of what all of lower division content is dictated by the department. He does not choose this. Give him a break, teaching in front of 600 people is intense. At office hours he would spend as much time as needed for you to understand the concept.

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MATH108A . 12 Years Ago

Probably one of the best professors at UCSB. For 108A just do the homework and go to class and you'll get an A. He's really fun and really helpful. Notice, all the bad reviews are from lower division math classes. But, most lower division math classes suck anyway, he's amazing but 3A-5C = Boring, and that's not his fault. Take him!

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MATH34A . 12 Years Ago

Not a helpful Prof at all. Poor lectures. Hard homework that was not taught about. The curve was helpful to the students. I would not recommend him. Definitely take CLAS if you have to take a class with hime, it was a life saver.

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MATH34A . 12 Years Ago

He is as useless as a snail. My friend caught him playing WoW at the library on the week of finals, when he could have given us the practice final exam earlier. I do not comprehend why he gets the privilege to be a professor. I am so confused.

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MATH34A . 12 Years Ago

WORST PROFESSOR BY FAR. ONLY WENT TO LECTURE FOR iCLICKER POINTS. THE BOOK WAS ALMOST AS USELESS AS BIGELOW.

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MATH34A . 13 Years Ago

He is very unhelpful to the class. The only reason the majority of people go to the lecture is for the i>Clicker. However, you do need to go to the lecture because he will add to his slides that he presents in class. GO TO CLAS, it will save your life. Watch out, the text book does not help you at all. Homeworks are very difficult, so be careful.

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MATH34A . 13 Years Ago

Not so good at teaching but his tests are beyond fair and the curve is helpful. Homework is hard like everybody said but most answers are in back of book and it has nothing to do with tests so not a big deal. TAKE CLAS IT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE

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MATH34A . 13 Years Ago

I feel bad for the guy. He's probably a really great person, but the class is completely useless. He's not that great at teaching either. I got all my information from the TAs. Anyway, the class is pretty easy, and it shouldn't be that bad to get through it.

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MATH3A . 13 Years Ago

Horrible teacher if you didn't take calc in high school. Homeworks are nothing like the tests. Unorganized teacher. Lectures often go off topic. Never even referred to the book. Try to avoid or only take if you have taken calc before.

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MATH3A . 13 Years Ago

Bigelow's lecture slides are very helpful because the examples he presented in class are there. Sure it's hard to read at first, but you'll get the hang of it! I referred to the textbook when I don't understand a concept. Overall, Bigelow is a funny guy that shows youtube clips time to time in class! Just stay above the curve!!!

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MATH3A . 13 Years Ago

Nice guy but bad at teaching math. Most people i know skipped lecture went to CLAS and got an A. I went to every lecture and every section and got a C. Gotta say he is a fair grader, he chose the higher of the two midterm grades because the homework was nothing like the exams. Avoid the Big low if you can.

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MATH3A . 13 Years Ago

Taking this class was a huge mistake. He taught my math class by using a computer, and iclicker questions took about half the time. He expects everyone to have already taken calculus, even though most haven't. His class is extremely boring. I HIGHLY advise not taking this class.

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MATHMATH . 13 Years Ago

Horrible Teacher. Do not take if you've never taken Calc before.

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MATH3A . 13 Years Ago

If you have never taken calculus before, think twice before having him as a professor. Nice guy, but I hardly learned anything from his lectures. The homework was very difficult and it was hard to find examples relating to it from the text. The only reason I passed was because of C.L.A.S.

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