BIRCHENALL J

Javier Birchenall

109 reviews
Test heavy Tough grader Graded by few things Get ready to read Clear grading criteria Lecture heavy Lots of homework Skip class? You won't pass. Accessible outside class Caring Amazing lectures Inspirational Respected Participation matters Gives good feedback Hilarious
Past quarters
ECON 101
266 / 420 Enrolled
Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory
Javier Birchenall 2.4
M W F
13:00 PM - 13:50 PM
35.1% A
See All
ECON 101 Birchenall J Winter 2024 Total: 356
ECON 204A Birchenall J Fall 2023 Total: 16
ECON 214A Birchenall J Fall 2023 Total: 6
ECON 114B Birchenall J Summer 2023 Total: 59
See All
ECON114B . Birchenall J 3 Months Ago

The lecture is irrelevant to the exam and he does not teach any math. Grading is 70% quiz and 30% final. If you practice with the past exams and problem sets you will do good on final. Quiz are online and easy.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
ECON101 . Birchenall J 3 Months Ago

WORST ECON PROFESSOR AT THE SCHOOL! He does not know what you are being tested on, and everything he talk about in class is completely useless.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
ECON101 . Birchenall J 9 Months Ago

Econ 101 was so horrendous. Little to no practice problems for exams, and ones we got were either way to easy or not on the exams. Does not explain how to solve problems in lecture, and exams were nothing like lecture. I would avoid this class with him at all costs.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
ECON101 . Birchenall J 9 Months Ago

Structure of the class makes it extremely difficult to succeed. Very little review material, lecture is incredibly unhelpful as are the explanations for previous finals and the problem sets. I would avoid this class. Read the textbook if anything.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
ECON101 . Birchenall J 9 Months Ago

average for the midterm was a 50 in the class. prof is a terrible at lecturing, he is not engaging whatsoever because the material he goes over during lecture is absolutely useless to you. Section slides and old tests (which you are given two) are all you go on for this class. feels like the professor is oblivious to the needs of his students.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
ECON101 . Birchenall J 9 Months Ago

Absolutely the worst professor and class you can ever take at UCSB. I have never witnessed such lecture slides that are this completely useless. The lecture slides only have equations and useless graphs that won't be needed for exams. Reading the textbook does help a bit, but it's sometimes unclear when it comes to the math portions.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
ECON101 . Birchenall J 9 Months Ago

I am genuinely offended at how this course has played out. None of them (professor/TA's) care in the slightest about the education we've received... TA's cant even solve half the problems. And the questions they do attempt to solve are often riddled with errors. The econ department desperately needs to OPTIMIZE econ 101. More like algebra 101.....

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
ECON101 . Birchenall J 9 Months Ago

Lectures were essentially useless. He goes on rambling about the most generic material that is irrelevant to what you will be tested on. Section slides, problem sets, and the 1 previous test you get are your best way to study. TA's don't even understand what is going on either.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
ECON101 . Birchenall J 9 Months Ago

this is the worst economics class I have taken at UCSB and he is the worst professor at UCSB. The class goes way too fast, the professor does not show helpful examples, don't bother asking the TAs for help most of them don't even know what the class is covering. the exams will be hard, unlike the textbook, lecture, or practice exams. AVOID IT!

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
ECON101 . Birchenall J 10 Months Ago

Really bummed at Javier. I was fresh out of 10A when he scarred me out of taking this course. "You need to take 100b first, its very important for this class". That wasn't true. Everything is directly from 10A. Truly wish I had taken this course immediately after 10A... 100b seems to be much less related to 10A.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
ECON101 . Birchenall J 11 Months Ago

READ THE TEXTBOOK. Lectures are completely irrelevant to class. Section sucked on average, but section slides sometimes had similar questions to midterm/final. Book material and practice probs were the closest to exams. Godspeed, soldiers.

1 helpful 0 unhelpful
ECON114B . Birchenall J 1 Year, 4 Months Ago

Just don't. Not a real professor, just likes to lecture and give homework that has nothing to do with what he talks about. Reading the book is the safest bet, but homework is still super unclear. If you have no other choice...good luck.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful