I went to every lecture and the practice problems he went through in lecture were almost identical to the questions on the final so the final ended up being super easy. If you go to lecture and study the tests are incredibly easy, if you dont then it will be a hard class

Took AP Macro so a lot was review but if you didn't in HS, get ready to have to do a lot of self teaching. Saved in the final because it was almost identical to the previous quarter's exam, but this guy really ain't a good prof. Section was more of a waste of time than the line at the Arbor.

Great professor if you would put in some effort into studying. Mainly graded on tests/exams which are not that hard. Gives a generous deadline for all his homework to the end of the quarter. Attendance not required for both lecture and sections.

This professor was so hard to learn from, I would recommend getting another teacher. The only good thing about this professor is that his practice exams are somewhat like his actual exams. You will not learn anything through lecture so there is no point in going to them.

Do not take this class. Even if you see these bad reviews and think it will be doable. Like I did. Its not.

If you want to keep your econ major DON'T take him! He purposefully wanted everyone to fail the final (40% of grade) and people did; it's honestly outrageous how a professor finds joy from students' failure. Advice I've been given (should've listened): take this course in CC and be ready for 10A because he's not going anywhere sadly.

Horrendous. The disconnect between lectures and the test content is actually laughable. He copied and pasted questions from our practice tests onto the final because of how many people he knows are failing in the class.

If you can, DO NOT TAKE HIM. His lectures are not worth going to he talks so quietly and literally just reads off slides. The tests are AWFUL. Half of the questions he will have never gone over and you will have seen nowhere. He disagrees with other econ teachers and actually makes up questions for the exams. DO NOT TAKE THIS IS YOUR WARNING

Worst class I've taken here. 2 midterms (partially open-ended) and a final make up 70% of your grade, but midterms are nearly impossible. I found it more helpful not to go to lectures and read the textbook on my own. Only 9% of students can finish with an A, so you will likely be curved down a letter grade. Make sure to memorize his old midterms.

Very unhelpful lectures and misleading exams in what should be an easy class. He knows students are struggling and he genuinely does not care. My TA makes the material understandable, but Helleseter unnecessarily overcomplicates everything. If you skip lecture, attend section, and memorize the questions on the practice exams, you should be okay.

By far the worst prof I have ever had. Curves the class downward, no extra points/curves on test for which average is well below a C. Admits to tricking students, goes against what previous and other profs have taught. Tests are unpredictable and extremely hard. Got an A in Econ 1, but probably won't be passing this class. DO NOT TAKE THIS PROF!!!!

HORRIBLE won't curve tests even when no one gets 100% doesn't teach what's on tests incredibly rude lectures way ahead of material on closest midterm disagrees with other econ profs in department on fundamental ideas and how to answer questions DON'T TAKE ANY CLASSES WITH HIM

This is the hardest class I have taken at UCSB not because of the material but because of the professor. I have completely self taught my self this course because he does a terrible job of explaining the material and doesn't care about his students at all. He tricks students on purpose, and admits to doing so. Do not take the class with him.

I have taken this professor twice now and both times it sounds like he is just memorizing a script so he can collect his paycheck and go home. He does not go into detail of why things are the way they are. you have to read the book otherwise nothing will make any sense. He curves down not up and fails most of his students. Take this class at CC

I wish I could give him a 0 ngl. Curve downwards, has ego problems, designs tricky test for the sake of trickiness. If he says 1+1 = 3, you better believe 1 + 1 = 3. Don't take it, go to CC, trust me bro

Can't even hear him in lecture when he's presenting, test questions are unnecessarily confusing and difficult, homework is okay but not easy, races through all his lecture presentations too.

worst professor ever. UCSB should honestly fire him at this point

The hardest class I have taken at UCSB by far! Refuses to take the time to provide students with practice materials that will help them prepare for his own exams. He gave students finals prep that either didn't have an answer key or most of the answers were wrong. If you have to take this course wait until there is another professor teaching it.

The professor is ok but the final was crazy hard. Attendance was not mandatory but there are in-lecture questions that you kinda have to be there to know the answer. the average on the final was a 52%. You also have to memorize A LOT of concepts for this class, a lot more than you need for Econ 1 or Econ 3a. Midterms + Final make up 70% of grade.

He is the best professor in the econ department! He gave us practice exams from previous classes that other professors taught, and he even did three final practice exams on weekends to help us after we asked him for help. For midterms, some questions are literally problems from practice exams. For future econ classes, definitely take him again!

The tests are incredibly and unexpectedly hard. He has a philosophy that the tests should contain question formats students have not seen before, which is really frustrating. Practice exams given are not similar to the actual test and have incorrect answers on the answer key. The final was so hard that the average was a 60%.

I got a C- in the class despite going to all lectures and completing all participation and homework questions. I studied intensely for the tests but did poorly because of how different the practice tests were. Like others said the curve is non existent. If you are going to make our grade rely mainly on tests, at least allow a way for us to study

Extremely unfair. My grade was slightly above average in the class, and I still end up with a C. The class is also expensive and the professor did not prepare his students for the final in any way possible. The curve is almost nonexistent.

He is a terrible professor. Avoid at all costs. He doesn't teach and everyone in the class fails the tests but somehow the class is still curved downwords