AI Rate Professor

Mathematics

Michael McCain

V10 · V23 · MATHV01 · MATHV21B · V21C · VO1V03 · MATHV02 · 31 lifetime ratings

AI rating
38/100
RMP rating
3.2/5
Take again
44.44%
Difficulty
3.6

The decision

if and can verify the specific course structure first.

Best fit · Self Taught ProPolarizing by course levelHeavy homework loadNo exams in some sectionsTest heavy upper mathSupportive if you seek help
  • Lower-level or some online sections can be manageable with extensions and even no exams.
  • Upper courses like Calc III and and .
  • and available, but .

Key questions

Four answers before you build your schedule.

Is this an easy A?

HardWork

38/100

Some no-exam sections grade kindly, but many courses demand huge homework and .

; in-person upper math often requires extreme effort for a fair grade.

Is the course easy?

Challenging

34/100

Content ranges from manageable intro stats to high-level calculus and differential equations that many call unrealistic.

Online lower courses read easier; in-person Calc III and Diff Eq drive the challenging score.

Is attendance flexible?

Optional

72/100

Many recent reviews mark attendance optional, with optional Zooms or no mandatory seat time, though .

Online is mostly optional; in person is mixed but leans more flexible in newer reviews.

Is this professor recommended?

Depends

44/100

Would-take-again sits near the mid-40s because praise for support collides with .

Online recommendations are warmer for structured modules; .

Course guide

See how this professor fits your week.

Grading

Fair

48/100

, and help some classes, but others call him a tough or needlessly difficult grader.

Format shift

Online often allows late full credit; .

Workload

Heavy

26/100

Lots of and reports of 25 to 250-plus hours dominate the student experience.

Format shift

Both formats can be heavy; online Diff Eq and .

Teaching experience

Average

48/100

, and mentoring, yet many students say lectures are weak and the course is essentially self-taught.

Format shift

Online students praise organization more; .

Assessment method

Balanced

55/100

Some sections are pure online homework with no exams while and projects.

Format shift

Online often assignment-first with no 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

22 reviews

High confidence · Best fit for Hardcore Learner

and mentoring, many Calc/Diff Eq students say avoid due to weak lecturing, 25+ hour homework weeks, and brutal tests.

Main concern

Upper-level sections often feel unsupported with and little useful lecture time.

What students said

“AVOID. Professor McCain does not make learning high level math easy.”
V21C
“His lectures consist of , and he rarely works out examples in class.”
V21C
“Lowest test of 4 dropped, no homework week of .”
V21C

Remote format

Online

9 reviews

High confidence · Best fit for Self Taught Pro

Online offerings range from organized no-exam modules with and projects.

Main concern

Workload can become a full-time job even when the grade ends up fine.

What students said

“NO EXAMS. Interactive lessons are a lot to do but not hard.”
MATHV01
“There weren't an exams and all the work was online. He sent out reminders everyday and we were allowed to turn in work late for full credit.”
MATHV21B
“I spent 250+ hours on the class, it was a full time job.”
V23

Exam style

Know what to expect from exams and major assignments.

at all to extremely heavy testing, so overall friendliness is mixed.

No exams in some sectionsTest heavy upper coursesHuge practice examsDropped lowest test sometimesProctored computer tests reported

Assessment risk

Varies

48/100

Low score means less forgiving assessment conditions.

In person

In person upper , and occasional dropped-test relief, with at least one report of classroom computer testing.

Test heavy80-question practice examsLowest test dropped sometimesNo final in one sectionIn-class computer tests
“Every practice exam was 80 questions and took 30 hours to complete.”
V21C
“Lowest test of 4 dropped, no homework week of .”
V21C
“ as well but on a comp with the classroom and the professor present himself.”
VO1V03

Online

Several online reviews report no exams and , while other online sections still include tough quizzes, projects, or a .

No exams in some online sectionsModule homeworkDifficult discussions and projectsLarge final sometimes not counted
“NO EXAMS. Interactive lessons are a lot to do but not hard.”
MATHV01
“There weren't an exams and all the work was online.”
MATHV21B
“Also, the 35% final wasn't counted against your grade, which he said ONLY after finishing.”
V23

Student evidence

See what students actually said.

Top student voice

“ ”

Voice snapshots generated from 31 reviews, highlighting polarizing course-level experiences, heavy workload, and mixed support. Credibility rating: High.

⚠️ Course-Level Roulette

44/100

“ good professor”

📚 Workload Shock

26/100

“McCain assigns 25+ hours a week of ”

🧭 Support When You Ask

60/100

“He will do anything to help you succeed as long as you are willing to meet him half way.”

Theme 1

👨‍🏫 About Teaching Style

  • His lectures consist of
  • The and had everything I needed
  • Professor McCain is OUTSTANDING!!! He breaks down each problem

Theme 2

📈 About Difficulty and Grades

  • There weren't an exams and all the work was online
  • practice exam is 80 questions! good luck
  • I spent 250+ hours on the class, it was a full time job.

Theme 3

❤️ About Support

  • , and genuinely supportive
  • Professor is nice and will understand your situation
  • He really wants his students to succeed.

Data context

See exactly what the AI read.

Analysis sample

31

Recent reviews read by the AI

31

Lifetime ratings

88/100

Evidence confidence

Thirty-one reviews over many years and both formats give a strong but polarized picture, especially by course level.

Inside 31 stored ratings

Quality ratings

5 out of 512
4 out of 55
3 out of 53
2 out of 51
1 out of 510

Course coverage

V21C10 reviews
MATHV016 reviews
MATHV21B6 reviews
V234 reviews
VO1V033 reviews
Show 2 more courses
MATHV021 review
V101 review

Reported outcomes

A range results lead the reported letter grades.

24 reported outcomes

A range

16

A+ 3 · A 12 · A- 1

B range

4

B+ 2 · B 1 · B- 1

C range

2

C+ 1 · C 1

D range

0

No reported values

F

0

No reported values

No letter grade reported

2

Not sure yet 1 · Rather not say 1