Very difficult. Lectures are interesting and engaging. Very helpful and responsive.

Fun class, learned a lot. But he is very challenging.

He is an awesome lecturer and presents the topics in a very clear manner. He doesn't hesitate to repeat himself and is highly available both in and outside classroom. However, he sets very high expectations and his exams/hwks are all very challenging and will keep you working around the clock. Take his course if you know you'll have the time.

Course is hard but he is always there to help you. He will make you learn Algorithms. The concepts are hard but he does not mind explaining them 100s times. He has in-depth knowledge of the subject.

Material is on the harder side but he is willing to go over it multiple times and is readily available outside of class. Course was curved making it easier to get a good grade. Gives homework on a near weekly basis which is difficult but doesn't really help to prepare you for the tests.

Very clear in explaining algorithms. Only theory and pseudo codes, no actual programing. Listens to each student's doubts, clears them and only then he continues. Some students might feel that he goes a bit fast.

Very good Prof :). Learnt a lot in his class. Homeworks and tests are tough though..

He changed my life.

one word .... AWESOME

AWESOME ...

Amazing professor. Let you to figure your way out instead of just dumping the knowledge to you. Relatively hard final but it's Algorithm!

Aaron's course was quite difficult, but I feel I gained more from it than if I had taken it with someone else. He is very knowledgeable and available to students. I do feel CLRS is a more appropriate text than K&T.

Good teacher with a good sense of humor. Very difficult tests and quizzes. If you pay attention in class, he covers all topics clearly and concisely, but lectures can be a bit boring, though he acknowledges this and tries his best to keep things interesting

Unreal intelligent guy. I swear he has a computer in his head... That doesn't make his class easy though. Challenging material and complicated topics, but he explains everything many ways. Expect to work hard to get an A if algorithmic thinking isn't natural to you or you aren't a genius. Pray for dumb classmates because he grades on a bell curve.

Explains everything very clearly. Tries to make sure everyone understands. Maintains the class at an appropriate, yet challenging level. I enjoyed his sense of humor. Learned a lot!

no matter how hard the concept is, he can explain clearly. organized lecture. test questions are a little bit harder than hw problems. He encourages students to ask questions during class. Overall very smart guy who knows how to teach.

Cote is an awesome teacher who will take the time during and outside of class to make sure you understand the material. While his tests are hard, if you go to class and do the HW's there isn't a reason to get less than a B. He seems to genuinely care about his student's success and in my opinion is one of the best teachers of the CS department.

You can tell he is really smart just from the way he lectures. He really cares about students having questions and will sometimes stop lecture until someone asks one. He speaks in a monotone but his lectures are pretty clear. He has a very nerdy, dry sense of humor if you're into that. Attendance is not mandatory but he doesn't post notes online.

Cote was fantastic! My Discussion TA was reeeelly bad, but Cote was good enough that it didn't mater. He cares, he makes jokes, and his class actually teaches you something.

Brilliant lectures; tough but insightful and great homework s.

I've never met a teacher that encourages questions than Cote. Don't get me wrong, this class is tough. But Cote is the person who makes it manageable -- if you go to class, pay attention, and ask questions, you will understand the course material. He is one of the most clear lecturers I've ever had, and I'm actually so sad he isn't teaching 270.

Cote is a wonderful professor. I had him for both CSCI 104 and CSCI 170. He is exceptionally clear and he understands that students may not get the material at first. He is open during office hours and he explains multiple times when needed. He is very receptive to student feedback and for 170 he had amazing notes handouts that were amazing.

The only prof. I've sent an email to after the semester telling him how great the class was. Prof. Cote is eclectic, sure, but his lectures are clearer and more structured than any others I've had. Tests are fair, but certainly not easy. He somehow made the content seem interesting, which is impressive considering the class was on discrete math.

Extremely smart, intelligent, brilliant. He grades pretty hard, but you will learn quite a lot. Stimulates student interest in the subject. Be prepared to work really hard, but it's so worth it!

Cote gives incredibly clear and precise lectures; you can really tell he puts the time into preparing for each class, and he knows material down solid. Gives very useful handout notes each lecture. Tests are quite difficult but passable, and homework is heavily weighted. Also, he's got a fantastically dry and nerdy sense of humor.

Before taking this class I was lost, but through the holy grace of A-A-ron Cote, I am found.

Aaron's lectures are good and interesting. He is very helpful in office hours and is there if you have any doubts. He will also through nerdy jokes in the class. Some of the jokes are funny.

Great professor. I like how he hand-writes lecture notes, which gave me time to write mine by hand. He cares if the students understand the material and is helpful during office hour. I would definitely take his class again.

Aaron Cote is an incredible professor. He makes you work for it and makes sure you pay attention in class, but his explanations are crystal clear and I learned a LOT from him.

Professor Cote always had extra office hours and was available. Don't expect to get the answers out of him. He knows that you can rise to the challenge. I learned so much taking 270 from him and this class is a major reason I feel confident in my career as a software engineer.

CS104 and CS170 aren't easy classes. Cote isn't an easy professor. But these classes are the core of an CS engineer's background so I wouldn't expect them to be. Cote knows you are capable and will push you to answer your own questions instead of spoon feeding them to you. If you want to be confident in CS, take Cote.

He is awesome, but the course is hard

CS104 was a great introduction to algorithms and data structures. I learned a lot from this class but the homework was extremely demanding. There would be so many people asking for help from TAs and professors. So much so that I would not get the help I needed because there would just be a lack time for the instructors to help every student.

What an awesome professor. Never had a prof that encourages questions as much as him. A word to the wise: actually ask questions. If nobody asks anything then he assumes everybody understands perfectly, but he always encourages questions and I've seen the dumbest questions answered seriously, so don't be afraid to raise your hand!

After taking Cote for 170, I knew there was nobody better to take 270 with. The assignments are tough, but the quality of the lectures and the amount of material you'll learn which will help with interviews is so worth it. He's a hilarious professor, really cares about his students and the information he is teaching. 10/10 would recommend

Took him for 270. Got a B+ in CS170, definitely felt like I would get a B in 270 if I didn't change my study habits. Here's what I did - I did book problems and really tried to understand lectures. If I didn't get something, I would immediately go to office hours with CPs to clear things up. This strategy worked!

It is the 3rd class I have been with Aaron. The class material it self is very hard. But Aaron made it very clear and fun. I would totally take more class with him.

This is my third class with Cote. If you ever get the chance to take the Theory of Computing with him, DEFINITELY do it. It makes everything from 270 make so much sense.

Professor Cote is one of the best professors I have taken at USC. 104 is a tough class but he delivers the tons of material in a super clear way. Go to class and pay attention. ASK. At points in his lecture he would ask if there are any questions-take the chance to get all your confusion solved because Cote will explain until you fully understand.

One of the best CS classes I've taken. Cote really knows his stuff and it shows in lecture. Concepts can be challenging but there are tons of office hours with the TAs. I took 270 a year after 170 and it was fine.

Cote is a great CS professor. Really passionate about what he teaches and makes nerdy jokes every once in a while. Enjoyable lectures that are structured nicely. Attend class because he gives hints and important info for homework assignments.

I've taken 3 of his classes: CSCI-170 (easy A, i know my math), 270 (C, very hard class for me and I screwed up 19/80 on the final), and 499 (A-, I tried reasonably hard but not crazy). He really knows his stuff. Throws geeky jokes often. Very helpful both in class and at office hours. Highly recommend attending office hours if struggling over hws.

Cote is seriously the best professor I've had in my two years at USC. His lectures are awesome, the homeworks (all though there are a lot of them and can be pretty challenging) are never impossible and do an incredible job of reinforcing the material. Really passionate about the material and incredible at answering questions.

This is the most difficult class I've ever taken. However, I wouldn't want any other professor for 104. Cote is very precise in his explanations, and is very good at answering his students questions. He will usually break up lectures into short Q&A sessions after explaining some complicated concepts. Overall, take this prof!

he is the man for lower-division CS classes

Cote is a really good lecturer, very good at explaining things and is open to have people ask lots of questions during lecture which is very useful. 270 is a really hard class but if you do lots of practice you can definitely get an A.

He does a very good job in teaching. However, be prepared to treat CS104 and CS170 as a full-time job of the semester. do NOT enroll in any other class with large workload, or you will end up in HUGE trouble.

CS104 is the hardest class I've ever taken, so it says a lot that I'm giving Aaron 5 stars. He is a great lecturer. He teaches the material with expertise and ease. If people here are complaining, it's because they didn't go to class, put off the assignments, and are generally upset about getting the grade they deserved. Aaron def helped me pass.

He is a good lecturer, however the homework is way too difficult for me.

As others have said, this class has a crazy workload. Expect to spend 20+ hours on each homework (and possibly not finish). The tests aren't too difficult and are on material from lectures. Outside of AVL trees and Splay trees, most of the data structures aren't too difficult to understand and Aaron does a good job lecturing.

I've learned about the beauty of computer science in this course! I'll remember the maze problem in homework forever, as it seems so difficult at first, but can actually be solved in a clever way only using pigeonhole principle.

Aaron Cote has been one of the best teachers I've had at USC so far. His lecturers and instructions are clear and concise, but if you don't understand it he always does his best to help you understand. Yes homework and tests seem hard, but the learning experience is so much better with them and it's almost necessary to understand the concepts well.

Cote is a good prof if you ask questions in class and want to learn the material. Just make sure to actually ask questions about things you are confused about when he says "Are there any questions?" Don't be afraid of looking dumb

I've taken 104, 170 and 270 with him. He's awesome in terms of explaining algorithms and inspiring students to think. He is so excited when we discussed about P/NP lol. The attendance is never mandatory, but you will definitely fail is you skip any class. Very recommend. His class is much harder than other professors', so get ready to think A LOT.

The way Aaron goes about introducing concepts is what makes studying algorithms with him so doable. His articulate lectures are spent clarifying the concepts and applying them to problem sets relevant to the material. His assignments, though difficult, are not unreasonable time-wise, and definitely advance your understanding of the material.

Dr. Coté is soooooo good. His lectures are extremely engaging! CSCI270 inspired my interest for algorithm and is definitely the best part of my learning experience this semester.

He is THE MAN for USC Computer Science. I took CSCI 104, 170 and 270 with him. His lectures are extremely engaging and inspirational, and his classes are so rewarding. Taking CS classes with him will build you a solid foundation for Computer Science. Would HIGHLY recommend him especially for 270 - Algorithms and 104 - Data Structures.

I just love Prof. Cote

Definitely one of the best professors I have ever had! Although the material is hard by nature, the way he teaches it make it more understandable. BTW, the Q&A section is what makes this class really stands out!

Prof. Cote is really an inspiring professor. The class is theory-oriented and challenges your thinking abilities, but he keeps a fair level of difficulty and brings out the fun. Manageable workload: 8 assignments (collaboration allowed), 2 open-book exams, and a paper-reading project. Recommended for those interested in CS theory. Took as CS499.

Aaron is an amazing lecturer and I enjoyed taking 104, 170, and 270 with him. It's especially interesting to see the runtime improvements that can be made using the techniques from this class. My only issue is that the grading can feel uncertain at times; it's easy to completely fail a problem. Also, the class is equivalent to CSCI 570

Prof Cote explains really clearly, his assignments are brutal though and he changed up the course grading style for the summer to make it more test-heavy. I struggled with the pace, and definitely would do FAR better over 15 weeks than 5. Overall I loved his class, he will challenge your understanding HARD, but great prof. Will recommend anytime

His class is the most difficult at USC definitely. But he gives really really hard but best hw. After u finished it, AMAZING!!!!!!!!!

104 is a very hard CS fundamental class, however Cote will guide you through it. He has a lot of office hours, and is always on Piazza helping students out. Would recommend.

Cote is a real one. His class is clear and to the point; everything he teaches in lecture and assigns as the projects are for a good reason, which is to make you very comfortable with the fundamentals of CS. Really accessible and constantly answering questions in Piazza, even at night. Highly recommend taking 104 with him if possible

Professor Cote is the best professor I've had so far at USC. CSCI 104 is never easy as it is essential for becoming a better programmer, but with Cote I feel like I truly improved and learned the material. The homework can be long at times but is always useful. Definitely would recommend taking Cote for any class when you have the opportunity.

I would say that professor Cote is one of the best professors I have ever had in the computer science department. In 104, he would pass very detailed handouts to the class every lecture. The assignments are easy if you listen to the class. Do the practice exams and you will be fine.

He gives organized lecture notes and his lectures are clear and concise. I've heard his tests are harder than others but I feel like when it comes to 104 they're all hard. One time I broke my computer a week before hw was due and he was very understanding and offered extra late days.

Professor Cote is a major part of what makes USC's computer science department so great. While his tests are definitely on the harder side, they are certainly not impossible, and are always very fair to the material learned. Very clear and concise, and encourages questions even the ones just asking him to repeat himself. Take his class!!!

The ideal professor. Very prepared for his lectures, challenging homework and tests, but you learn so much in his class.

The things is his specific type of humor and some minor puns throught the slides, as well as trying his best to make the lectures not dull. Also quite approchable during non-class time, however some may consider the tests to be too hard.

Took CSCI 170 alongside 104, tough pair of classes. Really enjoyed discrete math over the weed-out data structures course of course. Math/compsci professor to the bone. D&D, Hitch hiker's guide to the galaxy, and xkcd references galore. He works super hard to get your work back to you with good feedback; is generous with regrades, and very kind.

Obviously tough but very fair and consistent. His lectures are literally the best I've had at USC. The content is difficult but if you actually do the textbook problems and homework, it's completely doable.

Professor Cote is very good at simplifying concepts that are usually hard to explain. He explained number theory and probability in a couple lectures better than entire courses on the subjects. That being said, he is a tough grader and expects a lot from his students. He provides lots of practice problems but his course is still very challenging.

The best professor I've had at USC and i'm in my 2nd year. Excellent knowledge, explanation, and fairness.

A really great guy. CSCI 170 felt easy, even trivial with him. I spent one hour per week on hw and maybe 20 minutes studying before each quiz/final. His lectures are great, mostly because hes incredibly patient and will explain things for as long as you need. Cote is hilariously awkward, adorable, and just nerdy. My favorite CS prof at USC.

Professor Cote is an amazing professor who clearly cares about his students. He makes every effort to engage his students and to make the difficult material accessible, and doing well in his class ultimately boils down to asking questions during lecture and paying attention in lecture. Of all the professors I've taken at USC, Cote ranks at the top.

He made sure that the lectures are understandable, and engaging enough. The homework and tests are fair game, and tried his best to make sense out of online teching.

He's funny and really nice, but the content can be a bit hard to grasp. A lot of times, the most specific question you can come up with will just be "what?", and as you can imagine that's kinda difficult to answer. The content requires a lot of review to fully comprehend, as does the homework, but the discussion section and CPs help a lot.

He is not the most approachable person, but he KNOWS how to teach. He is precise with his language, and everything he teaches makes sense. Don't be scared to ask questions in lectures; even if he's blunt, he wants to answer your questions. This class is very hard. You have to spend time on your homework and really prepare for your quizzes.

cote posts his slides + discussion and hw answers online. he's good at lecturing and simplifying concepts. he can be dry and condescending, but you don't interact with him in class anyway. the quizzes and tests are VERY DIFFICULT. you have to have 'intuition' because the quizzes aren't anything like the hw.

Cote is terrifying, but he's amazing at the same time. He handled the transition to online learning better than any other teacher I had, and he truly cared about us learning the material and learning it well. 170 is a tough class and Cote doesn't make it any easier, but after taking his course you'll understand the material very, very well.

Cote can appear kinda rude during lecture, but it's probably more that he is a little socially awkward. Lectures themselves were very interesting and engaging. He is very strict on grading (your quiz score can get lowered after a regrade). There is very little practice material outside of HW/Discussion, so be ready to get screwed by quizzes.

Took CSCI 170 my first semester in college and LOVED the class. Cote was very accommodating and explains things so well. One of the few teachers who genuinely care very much about students learning. He is definitely divisive but to no fault of his own; the content in this class is just a hit or miss so the prof who teaches it is also a hit or miss

Cote is an awesome professor who gives interesting lectures and makes jokes on UCLA. But it's not easy to get an A in his course. For me, I fully understood the lecture and completed the homework rigorously, but still made mistakes in quizzes and test. It's easy to get the knowledge but hard to stay away from mistakes.

Cote is a good lecturer and knows his content very well. He is willing to answer questions but can be condescending(if he doesn't get your question he'd just say 'I don't understand what you're asking' and move forward). However, he's willing to take feedback and adapt. Difficult quizzes and exams.

Professor Cote is a phenomenal professor. His lectures are clear and concise with many examples to clarify the material. I was a little overwhelmed at the beginning but once you get into the rhythm it is very easy to find a path to success. If you ever need help attend his office hours! Work hard and you will succeed in his classes.

I had Cote as a first-semester freshman in CSCI170 and thoroughly enjoyed my experience. He genuinely wants students to understand the concepts and thought processes needed to solve a problem. While he may be blunt at times when answering questions, I generally found his explanations very helpful in understanding concepts. TA/CPs are your friends!

Cote is amazing at explaining EXTREMELY abstract CS concepts, and is a clear choice for a theoretical class like CS104. He also always stops to ask if anyone has questions! This class took every ounce of my focus and attention, but it has made me such a better computer scientist. His tests are brutal, but he gives a generous grading curve.

CSCI170 is no doubt one of the hardest course in USC. Despite that, Professor Cote made it a great experience. We have a quiz twice a week, but if you study a little hard you'll get a good grade. The only complain would be the final where the average was around 32/50, that's how I didn't get a A.

He gives great feedback and will answer any and all questions you have about the material. He knows it well and also presents it well. A lot of work, but you learn a lot about computer science in the process, and the grading scheme is also pretty fair. Highly recommended.

Alot of people find him controversial or bad but its not really the professors fault rather the class he teaches is just innately difficult. Given this he is actually pretty good and covers the material at a manageable pace, though he stops and asks for questions too much.

It's incredible how quickly you'll learn new concepts with professor Cote: his teaching style just works. He'll demonstrate everything in an intuitive manner. Then, he'll tell you what to do and why. And finally, he'll make sure you have enough practice. At the end, you'll come out of his class with knowledge, intuition, and confidence.

Professor Cote is a great Professor for 104. He is so dedicated to his students and goes beyond the norm when it comes to making sure success is reachable for those that put in the work. 104 is a hard class and you have to put the time in, but you will learn so much! If you're struggling attend his office hours, Prof. Cote always wants to help :)

I LOVE COTE!!! He genuinely works SO hard for his students and really wants you to learn. His lectures are amazing and organized. You will learn so much. He graded all of our finals by himself because he "wanted to make sure they were graded correctly." So hardworking and wholesome. 10/10 professor. TAKE HIM OR I WILL BE MAD AT YOU

Cote is brilliant and cares deeply about the content he is teaching. While this class was absolutely brutal for me (I am not sure if I will pass after the final tbh) it has left a profound impact on how I view algorithms. The methods we learned to reduce runtime were pretty awesome. Just be prepared for many long hours on the homeworks.

homework and exams are very hard, but cote cares and lectures are enjoyable-ish. work with a study group and you should be fine.

One of the best CS professors at USC. Definitely take his courses if you can.

Professor Cote's 104 class was overall a great experience. The content is difficult and that is the nature of the class, but when it comes to teaching, Cote delivers. No regrets for taking his class.

Love this man. Material is difficult but he explains them in lecture really clearly, so try not to skip class. Tests & PAs are hard but fair, so really try to understand the content during lecture and ask lots of questions

He was absolutely my role model of this class. Despite how heavy lectures are, they are important. He also is funny when it comes to teaching. Outside of this class, I met him around 3-4 times. He gives good feedbacks when it comes to learning mistakes.

This is third class I've taken with Cote. I think he is an outstanding professor. Super knowledgable, amazing at making difficult concepts digestible, fantastic class structure. He is a bit of an acquired taste but definitely the best CS professor I've ever had. Take him!!

Professor Cote is probably the best professor I have ever had. Although he has a genius level understanding of the material, he is patient, answers everyone's questions, and understands that certain aspects may be hard for some kids. Overall, he is a professor I love, respect, and learned a lot from.

Excellent Professor. He clearly is an expert on what he teaches and really tries to make sure that his students understand the material. He will stop the class in order to make sure everyone knows the topics he is teaching. The midterms were hard but he prepares you well for them. Best professor I've had so far. Would definitely take class again.

His lectures are interesting, and he is able to explain difficult concepts clearly. Although the course load is technically light, the problems themselves are challenging, as they require you to be creative. For the same reason, the midterm is challenging too. I highly recommend CS475, one of my favorite classes.

Was overall a very easy course. He asks for questions every five minutes and is very patient. Explains concepts very slow and clearly and in different ways to ensure that everyone fully understands. homework is completion. quizzes are easy. Takes an hour to do a week of material.

Professor Cote is a great guy, great professor. It is unfortunate that the class/material he teaches is like some kind of demonic entity, but he still taught it well. Understands that the subject matter is funky AF and does a really good job of taking the time to answer questions. I'll be trying to sign up for his higher level classes.

This is the second time I've had the pleasure of taking a course with Aaron. He really is the best the CS department has to offer. His lectures are awesome and his nerdy personality is the best. I wish he could teach all my classes.

Good lectures, pauses often to ask for questions and will stop teaching to ensure everybody understands the material. Hand graded finals to make sure they were graded properly.

CS170 is a difficult class but you won't find a better professor than Cote. Cote makes difficult concepts engaging and manageable. I made the mistake of falling behind in the class but as long as you make sure to not make my mistake, you'll enjoy this class. Quizzes and Final were very straightforward luckily.

Discrete math is a difficult subject, but prof. Cote made it interesting! He is so dedicated to his work & you see this clearly. He answers numerous Piazza posts himself everyday and grades all finals himself! He encourages you to do your best & not give up even when there's a point in the semester where you think it ain't lookin pretty for you.

Excellent Professor with dry wit

Very enjoyable professor, clear spoken, well informed and funny.

Great professor, teaches you well, and will answer your questions in class whenever you ask.

Cote was fantastic. All concepts were clearly explained. Exams were fair and similar to homework. Grading criteria was predefined at the beginning of class so students has clear expectations. I highly recommend taking 170 with him when he is teaching.

Very clear and concise lecture, difficult exams though but that's just the nature of this class.

Overall great instructor for what is a tough course. Be prepared to put in time on your own. Homework prepare you well and tests are of a predictable difficulty. An A is very achievable if you pay attention and invest yourself in the course. Office hours are accessible and helpful and he responds to emails in a timely manner.

I took CSCI 104 long ago with Aaron, and now I am writing after taking all those upper division classes and securing 3 FAANG+ offers because I sincerely miss the clarity and responsiveness of his lectures. Guys if you want the best lecture out of USC, take him! Upper division profs are mostly awful. Really wish he could teach all CS classes at USC.

I've had Aaron for 104, 170, and 475. He clearly explains everything and makes sure that you have an idea of how each concept works. Such a great lecturer, the classes are just hard enough, and has his quirky humor lmao. You'll be hard pressed to find a better CS professor here

Material may seem hard, but quizzes and exams are rudimentary applications of the concepts. Just do all the HWs and attend discussion sessions and it will be a breeze if you are comfortable with discrete mathematics and logical thinking.

Aaron Cote explains every hard concept clearly, which makes him an excellent professor. Love his traditional teaching style and his handout. Remember to go to the lecture even though it's not mandatory. While TAs are great, the discussion is plain and time-consuming. Finish and check the answer to the discussion will work!

Good lecturer and allows for collaboration on all HWS. There are 4 online quizzes which are similar to questions asked on HWs and discussions. The final is also pretty similar to the quizzes.

Understanding the concepts was pretty difficult, its hard stuff. He is a good professor tho, and grading is really fair. The quizzes can be difficult, but they really matter so you need to spend time prepping for them. If you fall behind its really hard to catch up. Nice and respectable Prof, he's pretty funny too, just a really difficult class.

Professor Cote is the best professor I've had at USC. Although 170 is hard, he makes it easily understandable. He records every lecture which I love about so I can catch up when I miss some parts. Honestly I didn't go to discussions but I just really tried to understand the material and re-solve problems given by him till I fully understood them.

Smart and caring professor but the class is just tough and fast paced. Only few difficult examples are given and he explains most of the concepts verbally. He confuses students first then provides solution which I don't think really helps. If you're an average student like me, asking questions won't help because he repeats what he said in lecture.

If you don't like Aaron Cote, you are a UCLA student.

The goat of CS. Take Cote for any class you can. This class is definitely hard but rewarding.

He provides hard examples in lecture which confuses everyone, then slowly answers questions to demystify them. The 4 quizzes were pretty easy, but the final was hard. Homework is very fast-paced, so go to OH for answers. Overall, Cote explains the concepts well and is very respectable. However, he can be a bit too direct (and hence rude).

One of the most knowledgable people. Clearly an EXPERT in his field. 6 projects, 2 midterms, and a final. If he comes off as scary, he's really not. Difficult class? Resounding yes, but for the better. Think wearing ankle weights and running a mile then taking them off after. You'll thank him later. "There's a reason we put you though hell" -Cote

I took him for 170 and 104. He's really good at explaining otherwise confusing concepts. Also, he's a fair grader and exams are what you would expect albeit it with challenging material. The only negative thing I can think of is that the zoom recordings are very low quality. Would recommend.

Excellent professor. Very kind and excellent at conveying the information. Super knowledgeable about the content and how to teach. He was not very energetic but found a way to be super engaging without that. However very hard class, very hard coding assignments, and very hard exams. However, he teaches you how to do EVERYTHING.

Great professor and super interesting lectures. The lectures were sometimes confusing but the content is challenging by nature. If you study the quiz's are not terrible. If you feel good on the quiz's, studying for the final is not terrible. The final still was very hard but not impossible.

my goat. He teaches the hardest cs classes you're going to take, but he does a great job at teaching them. His tests are hard but he prepares you so much better for cs270 and future classes compared to the other professors, and he's not hard enough that you can't get by through cramming ( that's what I did). undeniably the goat

Great professor with a big personality. Highly recommend taking him for any CSCI class.

Cote is a good professor and all but one thing I really wish was that he made slides and not just wrote on the board. It's sometimes hard to get what hes saying and Discrete Math is a very hard topic to learn.

The four quizzes and final are worth 72% of your overall grade... just something to keep in mind. It is really difficult to get an A in this class but it's not hard to do well and understand the material, if you put in the effort to really learn it. Cote is clearly an expert in CS, you can ask him any question you want, he will have an answer.

Professor Cote is an excellent lecturer who makes complex topics digestible. While the material is challenging, his clear explanations and engaging teaching style make it manageable. Attending class and using resources like unstuck AI for study prep are key to success.

Professor Cote is quite possibly the best lecturer at USC. He stops frequently for questions and ensures that you understand everything he puts on the board. I have never felt uncomfortable stopping him to clarify what he's doing, and he is approachable both after class and during office hours. Can't think of anything bad to say!!

Very hard class. Covers the basics of algorithm and the lectures were quite difficult understand and I had to watch the lecture recordings multiple times to fully understand the materials. There would no free time if you take this class, but its the fortune of all CS students. This class is really helpful, but at the same time very challenging.

Very great and fun lecturer, but quality control wasn't great; there were many times where I would check my written homeworks multiple times with the CPs just to get points off anyway. Coding homeworks took very long and lots of thinking. He provides note sheets for you to fill in, so make sure you attend lectures. Overall pretty mixed feelings...

Aaron is one of the best lecturers I've had at USC - he always stops to ask for questions, and tries his best to help students understand the content. His exams are not a cake walk so prepare to study, but are manageable with discussion + office hours.

Great professor for CSCI 270, very reasonable exams if you study the material well. Lectures are extremely clear as well and there are handouts to follow along with.

This class was the hardest I've taken so far but it was definitely worth it. Ask a lot of questions and be prepared to study endlessly for the exams. Classes are theory heavy while homework is more implementation based so it's difficult but is good prep for tests. Don't ditch the classes, you will regret it. Use office hours!

All roads lead to Cote. Despite having a lack of CPs leading to slow returns on grades and limited help available, Cote made the class shine even though 104 is widely regarded as one of the hardest courses in CS. Great guy, exceptionally difficult class. Conquer the projects and the midterms and a good grade is guaranteed.

I've taken 170, 104 and 270 with Cote at this point. I had my qualms for 104, but 170, and its successor class 270, in my opinion can only be taught by Cote. 270 covers much more interesting content than 170, and although attendance isn't mandatory, you will always, always get the most out of Cote by attending all his lectures.

Very good professor. I took 104, 170, and 270 with him, and no one can replace him. Try everything you can to take his class. On the very last lecture, The entire class stood up and applauded nonstop while he was finishing the lecture and walking away. This shows how much we love him. I will miss him.

Very good professor. I took 170, 104, and 270 with him, and no one can replace him. On the last lecture, everyone stood up and applauded for him nonstop while he was wrapping up lecture and waking away. This shows how much we love him. Try everything you can to take his class. I miss him so much.

Probably the only review I'll ever leave for a professor, but he was honestly amazing for the 3 semesters I took him (170, 104, 270). I'm not the best at theory, but he helped bridge the gap for me and now I can easily solve most leetcode problems so he gets a 10/10 from me.

Coté my goaté. This was probably the most rewarding CS class I took over the course of all four years. The grading scale is lenient so it really allows you to try without having to be afraid of failing the class. Definitely hard, definitely a lot of tough concepts, but I loved this class!

I've had Professor Cote for 170/104/270 and he is hands down the best lecturer at USC. Classes are incredibly fun and if you try to understand and engage, you really will learn the content well. Will you do well on exams? No. If you are looking to understand material well, take a Cote class. If you are looking to get a gpa boost, do not.

270 with Cote was a profound experience. He carefully explains complex problems, often pausing for questions and offering a five-minute break mid-lecture. The material is certainly not easy, but he makes it accessible. Please attend lectures whenever you can, Cote is GOAT-e.

A whole semester for DP, greedy, divide & conquer, and computational complexity feels too long, so there are a lot of time spent on each topic going over a lot of examples while the concept is the same.

Professor Cote is a great professor for CSCI 170. His lectures and explainers made sense and he helped me understand the content, even though this class was not easy. He grades strictly but fairly. Take Cote if he is an option for your course.

A great lecturer and really knows the class. He knows how hard the midterms and finals needs to be and he controls the pacing in every lecture well. I love how he always turns around and ask for any questions although he never remembered my name… If you have TA Grayson also make sure to go to his discussions. GOATE and Grayson both my goats.

The material is somewhat difficult, but Cote will make sure that all questions are answered before moving on. He is so kind, fair, and easy to reach outside of the class. Homework questions are sometimes intimidating, but if you can work through them you are pretty set for exams. Will be trying my best to get him for 270!