Anyone know the story about this professor? I've heard bad things about his class. I really want to take his section, since it fits perfectly in my schedule, but I need to know the scoop.

ratemyprofessors.com wasn't very helpful - only one of the responses was from the 341 class (all the rest were people in 141).

3/10/2008 12:38:42 PM

I assume you checked School Tool as well, but here's the link anyhow:

/school_instructor.aspx?department=MA&instructor=3010

[Edited on March 10, 2008 at 1:43 PM. Reason : seems like everyone hates him]

3/10/2008 1:42:39 PM

Take a different professor. He's the worst professor I've ever had. He can't teach and he's a jackass to boot.

3/10/2008 3:55:51 PM

I have found that the pickaprof.com site has better data about professors.

3/10/2008 5:34:03 PM

Who the fuck cares. Don't take Silverstein's class unless you're going to show up with a gun or a club or something.

3/10/2008 10:34:02 PM

pm recieved, reply sent

3/10/2008 11:15:11 PM

I had him for 141, and hated him. I imagine he hasn't changed much over the years.

3/10/2008 11:23:25 PM

I'm taking 341 with Hong now.

His teaching is really clear and understandable. The tests are exactly like the homework and are finishable. I feel like I'm really learning something in math, which is a subject I've always struggled with. I highly reccommend taking it with Hong if you can.

3/11/2008 12:41:52 AM

^ Everything in Hong's class is manageable EXCEPT for the final.

But Hong was a good teacher nonetheless.

3/11/2008 1:52:30 AM

I haven't taken the final yet. Any advice on how to make it more manageable?

3/11/2008 4:27:44 AM

only positive thing i heard is that silverstein uses the same tests from year to year, same problems just different numbers. I dont know if this still holds up but take Hong regardless. Silverstein is a fucking asshole

3/11/2008 6:32:11 AM

don't take Jesus Rodriguez either

3/11/2008 6:41:01 AM

Looks as if I'll have to take the class with Li. I hope he/she doesn't have a thick accent.

3/11/2008 7:28:10 AM

Quote :

"I haven't taken the final yet. Any advice on how to make it more manageable?"

Work backwards. Do all the big points stuff first.

It's basically a culmination of all his tests (which aren't that bad, of course), but there are usually too many problems unless you can do DiffEQ very quickly.

3/11/2008 8:06:09 AM

I had Silverstein for 141 when I was a freshman, my only previous knowledge of calculus was the limited stuff I did in high school pre-calculus, as was the case with most of the students in my class. Silverstein was an extremely ineffective teacher... he would constantly tell us to shut up even if we were asking questions. He would also tell us "You should have learned this in high school" even when we were doing advanced derivatives. Then he would tell us to see him after class, and lots of times he wouldn't stick around after class. I had Hong for calc 3 though, and he was one of the best teachers I have ever had, so like everyone else said, if you can get his section, take it. And avoid Silverstein at all costs.

3/11/2008 8:39:08 AM