Ryan Carroll

PHYS3B · PHYS1A · ASTR1 · PHYS4 · PHYSICS3B · ASTRO1 · PHYS3A · PHYS · 51 lifetime ratings

AI rating: 34/100
RMP rating: 2.2/5
Take again: 32.69%
Difficulty: 4.4

The decision

if you can self-teach physics, tolerate a heavy flipped workload, and need the curve; otherwise wait for another professor.

Best fit · Hardcore LearnerFlipped Self-Teach ModelGenerous Curve LifesaverHeavy Homework LoadVague Lab InstructionsTough Problem Exams

Class is a flipped model with almost no formal lectures; students self-teach via videos and and labs in class.
A and dropped lowest scores make passing possible even when raw averages are low, but getting a true A still takes heavy effort.
Workload is heavy and organization is often criticized; many students prefer another physics professor if schedule allows.

Key questions

Four answers before you build your schedule.

Is this an easy A?

HardWork

42/100

The and dropped scores help you pass, but and an A still demands heavy weekly problem practice.

Both formats note a large curve; one .

Is the course easy?

BrainBurner

18/100

Physics content is advanced, labs add coding, and students are expected to learn most material before class.

Difficulty is high in both online and in-person sections.

Is attendance flexible?

Varies

45/100

and labs; some terms mark it mandatory while others say no, so .

In-person ; online notes skip-class risks.

Is this professor recommended?

Avoid

33/100

; most advise waiting for another physics professor unless you want the curve and .

Online reviews are mostly negative; and frustrated self-teachers.

Course guide

See how this professor fits your week.

Grading

Lenient

62/100

Raw scores run low, but a large curve (often ~57% C, ~80% A) and .

Format shift

Curve praised in both formats; .

Workload

Heavy

22/100

, and constant deadlines make the weekly load heavy for most STEM schedules.

Format shift

Heavy HW and ; online also cites lots of loops to pass.

Teaching experience

Poor

32/100

Many , and a hands-off flipped style, though a minority find him patient and inspiring.

Format shift

In-person has both strong fans and harsh critics; and unhelpful.

Assessment method

FocusOnExams

68/100

Grades lean on hard problem-solving exams and frequent quizzes, supported by labs and Mastering Physics style homework.

Format shift

; online COVID had timed open-note exams.

Luni fit check

Weigh these signals against your actual schedule.

Get help balancing workload, grading, and timing when no option is an obvious fit.

Course format

Compare the in-person and online experience.

Classroom format

In person

44 reviews

High confidence · Best fit for Hardcore Learner

In-person PHYS3A/3B uses flipped class time for practice problems and , but , and little traditional lecturing.

Main concern

Self-teaching plus tough exams and the grade.

What students said

“ because of . Show up for quizzes and and you'll pass.”
PHYS3A

“There are no formal lectures, class time is used to go over practice problems and perform labs.”
PHYS3B

“You essentially teach yourself all of the content and then come in, , and do a lab.”
PHYS3A

Remote format

Online

6 reviews

Medium confidence · Best fit for Self Taught Pro

Online sections felt disorganized with weak explanations, awkward group Zoom work, and mixed grading fairness; .

Main concern

and hard-to-reach help leave students teaching themselves under heavy deadlines.

What students said

“ decipher any of his teachings.”
PHYS4

“Gives you 6 hours to complete an .”
PHYS3A

“I learned physics on my own reading the book, he had no hand in it at all.”
PHYS3A

Exam style

Know what to expect from exams and major assignments.

Exams are hard problem sets that and a large curve rather than easy content.

Problem-solving examsWeekly quizzesLowest exam droppedGenerous curveOpen-note COVID online

Assessment risk

Standard

48/100

Low score means less forgiving assessment conditions.

In person

In-person exams are problem-solving heavy, often mismatched to homework, with practice exams that lack and a .

Problem-solving examsWeekly quizzesNo cumulative final (some terms)Lowest exam droppedHard relative to HW

“No cumulative final, and choice).”
PHYS3B

“Exams and , and lectures.”
PHYS3A

“His class test average is 50% and he's cool with that.”
PHYS1A

Online

One COVID online review reports 6-hour open-note exams without Proctorio or Zoom proctoring; .

Open-note timed examNo ProctorioLowest exam dropped

“Gives you 6 hours to complete an .”
PHYS3A

Student evidence

See what students actually said.

Top student voice
“ because of . Show up for quizzes and and you'll pass. No formal lectures and you'll find yourself working with the whole class which is what he wants.”
Voice snapshots generated from 50 , and heavy physics workload. Credibility rating: High.

📉 Teaching Quality

32/100

“expecting to come to class and learn, you'll be disappointed. The teaching approach is very hands-off when it comes to your initial learning; you're responsible for teaching yourself.”

📉 Recommendation Rate

33/100

“DONT, you're better off waiting until next semester for any other professor.”

⚖️

62/100

“The class is curved by default, with a C being 57%.”

📚 Heavy Workload

22/100

“Professor sucks, hw due every other day, confusing labs he will not help at all.”

Theme 1

👨‍🏫 About Teaching Style

and relies on pearson
There are no formal lectures, class time is used to go over practice problems and perform labs.
You essentially teach yourself all of the content and then come in, , and do a lab.

Theme 2

📈 About Difficulty and Grades

.
as shit so do as many problems.
class average was 25/80 for all exams and he doesn't care.

Theme 3

⚠️ About Workload and Labs

Lab instructions in Physics , but his are unreasonably so.
Something is always due every other day.
also there's some labs that you literally have to shoot a ball throw a hoop with 1 trial or you get a 0

Data context

See exactly what the AI read.

Analysis sample

Recent reviews read by the AI

Lifetime ratings

88/100

Evidence confidence

50 detailed reviews spanning many years with consistent , and heavy workload support a high-confidence read.

Inside 50 stored ratings

Quality ratings

5 out of 59

4 out of 51

3 out of 56

2 out of 513

1 out of 523

Course coverage

PHYS3A33 reviews

PHYS3B10 reviews

PHYS42 reviews

ASTR11 review

ASTRO11 review

Show 3 more courses

PHYS1 review

PHYS1A1 review

PHYSICS3B1 review

Reported outcomes

B range results lead the reported letter grades.

46 reported outcomes

A range

A+ 3 · A 6 · A- 2

B range

B+ 2 · B 9 · B- 2

C range

C+ 1 · C 4 · C- 1

D range

D+ 2 · D 2 · D- 1

F

F 2

No letter grade reported

Drop/Withdrawal 4 · Not sure yet 4 · Rather not say 1

Ryan Carroll

x x x if you can self-teach physics, tolerate a heavy flipped workload, and need the curve; otherwise wait for another professor.

Four answers before you build your schedule.

HardWork

BrainBurner

Varies

Avoid

See how this professor fits your week.

Compare the in-person and online experience.

Know what to expect from exams and major assignments.

In person

Online

See what students actually said.

📉 Teaching Quality

📉 Recommendation Rate

⚖️ x x x

📚 Heavy Workload

👨‍🏫 About Teaching Style

📈 About Difficulty and Grades

⚠️ About Workload and Labs

See exactly what the AI read.

Quality ratings

Course coverage

B range results lead the reported letter grades.

A range

B range

C range

D range

F

No letter grade reported

if you can self-teach physics, tolerate a heavy flipped workload, and need the curve; otherwise wait for another professor.

⚖️