Dave Haavig

ASTR101 · PHYS151 · PHYS152 · PHY151 · 19 lifetime ratings

AI rating: 38/100
RMP rating: 2.5/5
Take again: 31.58%
Difficulty: 3.5

The decision

Avoid unless you already handle physics independently and and dry lectures.

Best fit · Self Taught ProLecture heavyLots of homeworkTough graderConfusing examsPowerPoint-heavy

Lectures are dry PowerPoint reads that often fail to prepare students for homework and exams.
, and mandatory attendance with little sympathy for student load.
Some partial credit and note-sheet exams help, but unless .

Key questions

Four answers before you build your schedule.

Is this an easy A?

FairEffort

52/100

Many students still earn As, but , and exams that feel harder than lectures.

; no online reviews.

Is the course easy?

Challenging

28/100

Intro physics and even ASTR 101 are repeatedly called hard, fast, and more work than expected for the level.

; no online reviews.

Is attendance flexible?

Mandatory

18/100

as mandatory and tags warn that skipping means you will not pass.

; no online reviews.

Is this professor recommended?

Avoid

32/100

and many students urge others to pick a different physics professor.

; no online reviews.

Course guide

See how this professor fits your week.

Grading

Fair

48/100

Some note partial credit and , but tough-grader tags and .

Format shift

; no online reviews.

Workload

Heavy

25/100

and busy-work complaints, plus short lab due dates, make the load feel heavy.

Format shift

; no online reviews.

Teaching experience

Poor

35/100

Students often call lectures dry PowerPoint reads that do not prepare them for .

Format shift

; no online reviews.

Assessment method

Balanced

55/100

, and exams, with exams often feeling harder than class material.

Format shift

; no online reviews.

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

19 reviews

High confidence · Best fit for Self Taught Pro

In-person physics and astronomy sections feel lecture-heavy, homework-heavy, and unevenly taught, with and exams harder than class practice.

Main concern

, and high workload with limited helpful instruction.

What students said

“Lectures are boring and you do not get much out of it and it does not help with homework.”
PHY151

“If you can stay away from this teacher. A 101 class should never be this hard.”
ASTR101

“ he covers.”
PHYS152

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.

and some partial credit, but problems can feel harder and more confusing than class practice.

Note sheet allowedPartial creditExam harder than lectureFormula sheet

Assessment risk

Standard

55/100

Low score means less forgiving assessment conditions.

In person

In-person exams often allow an 8.5x11 note or formula sheet with partial credit, yet many say problems are harder than lectures.

Note sheet allowedPartial creditConfusing exam problems

“He allows a 8. . He gives lots of partial credit.”
PHYS152

“Just pour everything onto your formula sheet and hope for the best”
PHY151

Online

Student evidence

See what students actually said.

Top student voice
“ . Lectures are boring and you do not get much out of it and it does not help with homework.”
Voice snapshots generated from 19 in-person reviews, highlighting lectures, workload, and exams. Credibility rating: High.

📚 Dry Lecture Style

35/100

“his lectures are ppt-heavy which makes them very dull and boring.”

📦 Heavy Workload

25/100

“I have never taken a class with this much work in it.”

📝

40/100

“ he covers.”

👍 Low Recommendation

32/100

“ .”

Theme 1

👨‍🏫 About Teaching Style

lectures are 100% powerpoint
you won't learn from this professor.

Theme 2

📈 About Difficulty & Grades

.
he grades very nicely.
No leniency even with Covid happening.

Theme 3

📦 About Workload

Lots of homework
homework and end of lecture problems were ridiculous
and short.

Data context

See exactly what the AI read.

Analysis sample

Recent reviews read by the AI

Lifetime ratings

82/100

Evidence confidence

Nineteen detailed in-person reviews span 2016-2024 with consistent themes on lectures, workload, and exams.

Inside 19 stored ratings

Quality ratings

5 out of 52

4 out of 52

3 out of 55

2 out of 54

1 out of 56

Course coverage

PHYS1519 reviews

PHY1515 reviews

ASTR1013 reviews

PHYS1522 reviews

Reported outcomes

A range results lead the reported letter grades.

15 reported outcomes

A range

A+ 1 · A 6 · A- 3

B range

B 2

C range

No reported values

D range

No reported values

F

F 1

No letter grade reported

Drop/Withdrawal 1 · Not sure yet 1

Dave Haavig

Avoid unless you already handle physics independently and x x x x x and dry lectures.

Four answers before you build your schedule.

FairEffort

Challenging

Mandatory

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.

📚 Dry Lecture Style

📦 Heavy Workload

📝 x x

👍 Low Recommendation

👨‍🏫 About Teaching Style

📈 About Difficulty & Grades

📦 About Workload

See exactly what the AI read.

Quality ratings

Course coverage

A range results lead the reported letter grades.

A range

B range

C range

D range

F

No letter grade reported

Avoid unless you already handle physics independently and and dry lectures.

📝