PSTAT 501
SWENSON J S
Julie Swenson
4.3
85 reviews

88
4.3
PSTAT130 . Swenson J S 2 Years Ago

Prof Swenson is better than most we have in the PSTAT department. The only qualms I have with this particular class was that homework was pretty difficult and time consuming, but only worth 15% of our grade. The exams were more about memorizing specifics about SAS coding semantics rather than actually being able to code, while being worth 70%.

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PSTAT5A . Swenson J S 2 Years Ago

I only took this class to see if I liked stats and I can say I definitely do! It was almost entirely online with the exception of midterm 2. The class consisted of weekly quizzes, easy python labs, and optional hw. It's fairly easy if you put work into it (max 4 hours a week if you take notes on the videos and do the hw).

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PSTAT5A . Swenson J S 2 Years Ago

Generally, she is nice but there are 2 midterms and her lecture videos feel like too much at once. The curve really comes in clutch! Section participation matters, she made attending lecture hall optional and posted them instead. Definitely recommend utilizing CLAS if you struggle. Did not use a textbook but it might be helpful.

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PSTAT5A . Swenson J S 2 Years Ago

I dreaded taking stats for my major but Dr. Swenson made the material so much less daunting. She makes really clear lectures and explains things in their simplest form, so I never had to worry about confusion. Definitely memorize the formulas and do the "optional" homework! All the TAs are amazing as well and helped clarify any questions I had :)

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PSTAT5A . Swenson J S 2 Years Ago

Professor Swenson does a good job at teaching the material, however, her exams are awful. So many trick questions. Homework is optional, but even if you do it, answers aren't posted until a week later (unless you attend OH which are 1x/week). She doesn't care for her students or their circumstances, despite coming off as bubbly and "nice."

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PSTAT130 . Swenson J S 2 Years Ago

If you have a chance to take a class with Swenson, do it. She is the nicest professor I've had so far in the PSTAT dept, great to talk to outside of class, and makes her lectures clear and concise. The midterm/final definitely have trick questions, so details are important.

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PSTAT130 . Swenson J S 2 Years Ago

Swenson's PSTAT 130 was very manageable for the most part. Did not require a huge time investment, and the homeworks were not especially difficult. The exams were unexpectedly difficult by comparison. You need to memorize a ton of SAS quirks and syntax if you want an A. Class average for the final was 67%.

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PSTAT5A . Swenson J S 2 Years Ago

Swenson was fine, her lectures weren't terrible but something about them just kinda put you to sleep. However, she is very fair and wants to help students. Besides her office hours, there are many TA and LA's that make themselves available if you need help.

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PSTAT5A . Swenson J S 3 Years Ago

Dr. Swenson is amazing! I absolutely adore her. She's always ready to explain confusing concepts and is very respectful and sweet. The course is set up for your success but you do have to work for it and take advantage of the resources she gives you!

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PSTAT5A . Swenson J S 3 Years Ago

I enjoyed the class and the professor but was disappointed by my grade. I wish the tests were curved! I understood most of the material and the lectures are the best but you have to work for a good grade in this class.

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PSTAT130 . Swenson J S 3 Years Ago

Very nice and patient professor. Will teach you step by step in office hour. Hope pstat department can hire more professors like her instead of hiring so many mean and unqualified professors.

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PSTAT5A . Swenson J S 3 Years Ago

She's amazing. Lectures are super clear and make the material very understandable even if you're not a math person. Also super sweet and helpful in office hours if you need. There was a textbook but I didn't get it and had no problems. She gives you everything you need to know. Definitely take!

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PSTAT5A . Swenson J S 3 Years Ago

Love her so much. If you have any questions go to her office hours and she is so kind and helpful, literally is like a mom. Not a lot of people go to her office hours so she's the perfect professor to build a relationship with.

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PSTAT5A . Swenson J S 3 Years Ago

taken in F20 Class was not that difficult if you are good at math. She wants her students to succeed. Easy to talk to and go over problems in office hours. Met with me personally before a test when a ta was terrible. Lectures were straight forward and easy to follow

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PSTAT5A . Swenson J S 3 Years Ago

I loved professor Swenson. Even though async lectures you can tell she is very sweet, and her lectures give you everything you need to know for the exams as long as you do the homework and practice problems. the quizzes are easy and replicate a homework problem from the week. The material is not too hard to understand.

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PSTAT5A . Swenson J S 3 Years Ago

2-3 relatively short lectures, (asynchronous for covid times) discussion section, lab section, homework worksheet, study group zoom for participation and a quiz each week. 2 midterms and a final, all straightforward multiple choice. Lots of opportunities to get help if needed but the lectures make things pretty clear.

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PSTAT5A . Swenson J S 3 Years Ago

Prof Swenson did an amazing job adjusting for online learning. Lecture questions (5%), lecture journal (5%), section (5%) and course (5%) participation, quizzes (10%), midterm 1+2 (20% each) and final (30%) made up grading. Python labs were the worst but it isn't focused on the exams. Keep on top of work and you'll do fine!

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PSTAT5A . Swenson J S 3 Years Ago

Swenson is the most clear lecturer Ive ever had. Dont rely on a curve I was .23 away from an A and the curve didnt help me at all. Im not a math person but probably could have pulled off the A if I had studied harder for the final. Best math teacher Ive ever had. Labs are about coding. Shes very accesible to students who need help.

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PSTAT5A . Swenson J S 3 Years Ago

Great professor, really enthusiastic. The class itself is relatively easy if you're at all familiar with math. If you make sure to watch lectures and understand which equations to use for different word problems, and you should be fine. I didn't use the textbook at all, and got through based on only the homework, quizzes, and practice problems.

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PSTAT5A . Swenson J S 3 Years Ago

Professor Swenson is super nice and cares about her students. The class is really organized and there are multiple weekly mini assignments so make sure to always be on top of those. She does not expect anymore than what she assigns as hw so the midterms arent hard at all if you practiced the hw well. Grading is super fair.

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PSTAT5A . Swenson J S 3 Years Ago

I LOVE professor Swenson! She is incredibly enthusiastic and genuinely wants to be helpful. I go to her office hours every week and watch her lectures and do fine. Biggest piece of advice is to do the optional homework.... trust. Super kind professor and she works really hard!

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PSTAT5A . Swenson J S 4 Years Ago

Prof Swenson is really nice but the department is not lenient with our current situation. Can't make up missing assignments, lab and discussion are mandatory unless you have a doctors note. Material is pretty easy to understand, prof is available at office hours along with TAs. Some of the work feels unnecessary, though. Lab is really hard.

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PSTAT5A . Swenson J S 4 Years Ago

Professor Swenson is excited to help you in office hours. The class structure is organized. The textbook is SO SO helpful. I just read it and sometimes don't watch the lecture videos. Python is very minimal in tests. DO THE HOMEWORK, you'll thank me later. PSTAT department is brutal, so don't expect accommodations unless you're a DSP student.

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PSTAT5A . Swenson J S 4 Years Ago

I took this online during the summer for session A and it was not bad at all. The first two units are a little confusing, but if you go to her office hours she helps a lot!!! If you do the homework, worksheets, and go to her office hours for help, you will be okay! The midterm/final were proctored online through zoom though.

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