AI Rate Professor

Physics

Dean Simmons

PHYSICS2A · PHY2A · PHYS2A · 5 lifetime ratings

AI rating
91/100
RMP rating
4.6/5
Take again
100%
Difficulty
3.6

The decision

if you need PHYS2A: he makes hard physics fair, funny, and actually learnable.

Best fit · Effort For RewardInspirational Physics TeacherHilarious LecturerFair Tests and GradingActually Cares You LearnMakes Hard Physics Enjoyable
  • Consistently praised for making non-calculus general physics understandable and even enjoyable
  • Fair tests and and pre-med/MCAT goals
  • and free online PDF book;

Key questions

Four answers before you build your schedule.

Is this an easy A?

FairEffort

68/100

Grading and tests are described as very fair and A grades appear with solid work, but physics content still demands real effort.

All evidence is from in-person PHYS2A-style courses; no online reviews.

Is the course easy?

Challenging

38/100

General physics is inherently hard and some rate difficulty 4-5, though and without calculus.

All difficulty comments come from in-person sections.

Is attendance flexible?

Varies

55/100

and others do not, with no strong penalty narrative.

.

Is this professor recommended?

MustTake

94/100

and most urge students to choose him when possible.

100% .

Course guide

See how this professor fits your week.

Grading

Fair

72/100

Students repeatedly call tests and .

Format shift

Fairness comments are in-person only.

Workload

Moderate

52/100

, though one review flags lots of homework and long weekly hours.

Format shift

Workload notes are all in-person.

Teaching experience

Excellent

88/100

Strong praise for caring teaching, humor, clarity, and respect for non-physics majors, with one older note about needing more experience.

Format shift

Teaching praise is entirely in-person.

Assessment method

Balanced

55/100

Course mixes doable homework with weight.

Format shift

Assessment comments are in-person only.

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

5 reviews

High confidence · Best fit for Effort For Reward

In-person PHYS2A students call him inspiring, hilarious, and fair; he respects pre-req and MCAT needs and .

Main concern

and limited formal office hours, though he is available after class.

What students said

“He is a great professor that actually cares about teaching the subject. if you have the option!”
PHYS2A
“Professor Simmons is one of the . He makes the difficult subject of physics more enjoyable.”
PHY2A
“ and .”
PHYS2A

Remote format

Online

0 reviews

Low confidence

No stored summary is available for this format.

Main concern

No main concern is stored for this format.

Exam style

Know what to expect from exams and major assignments.

Exams are described as fair and aligned with .

Fair TestsFair GradingNo Calculus Required

Assessment risk

Standard

62/100

Low score means less forgiving assessment conditions.

In person

; no webcam or Lockdown Browser details appear.

Fair TestsFair Grading
“ and .”
PHYS2A

Online

Student evidence

See what students actually said.

Top student voice

“He is a great professor that actually cares about teaching the subject. if you have the option!”

Voice snapshots generated from 5 in-person reviews spanning 2018-2024, highlighting teaching care, fairness, and humor. Credibility rating: Medium.

🎯 Teaching Quality

88/100

“Professor Simmons is one of the . He makes the difficult subject of physics more enjoyable.”

👍 Recommendation Rate

94/100

“ if you have the option!”

⚖️

72/100

“ and .”

😂 Classroom Energy

85/100

“He also understands that the majority of students taking his class as a prerequisite and/or for the MCAT... humor.”

Theme 1

👨‍🏫 About Teaching Style

  • actually cares about teaching the subject
  • makes the difficult subject of physics more enjoyable
  • One of the few teachers that wants you to learn the material

Theme 2

📈 About Difficulty & Grades

  • and
  • General Physics is hard. Simmons makes it understandable.

Theme 3

❤️ About Character

  • the prof respects
  • funny guy who makes seven hours of physics/week bearable

Data context

See exactly what the AI read.

Analysis sample

5

Recent reviews read by the AI

5

Lifetime ratings

62/100

Evidence confidence

Five detailed in-person reviews spanning 2018-2024 are consistent and specific, but the sample is small and all one format.

Inside 5 stored ratings

Quality ratings

5 out of 54
4 out of 50
3 out of 51
2 out of 50
1 out of 50

Course coverage

PHYS2A3 reviews
PHY2A1 review
PHYSICS2A1 review

Reported outcomes

A range results lead the reported letter grades.

2 reported outcomes

A range

2

A 2

B range

0

No reported values

C range

0

No reported values

D range

0

No reported values

F

0

No reported values

No letter grade reported

0

No reported values