2.5
Quality3.9
Difficulty42%
Would Retake113
Reviews42%
Would Retake
113
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
11
4
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3
25
2
23
1
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What Students Say
“Having taken both physics professors, criss and mccormick”
PHY2049 - 4.0 rating“Overall he is not a bad guy but he just cannot teach physics”
PHY2049 - 2.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
50%
Textbook Required
5%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
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B+
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+0.44 avg changeRatings by Course
AST3930
3.0
(2)PHY2053
2.7
(23)PHY2049
2.6
(18)PHY2054
2.5
(28)PHY2048
2.5
(39)Difficulty by Course
PHY2054
4.1
PHY2053
4.1
AST2004
4.0
PHY2048
3.8
PHY2049
3.7
Reviews (113)
This is McCormicks first time teaching and you can tell. He gets confused in lecture and goes way to fast. There are two tests and a final. He doesnt post lectures online. He will constantly post assignments and grades late. He will give out a practice test one week before the exam. You can do it, but expect to see NONE of the same questions. Avoid
While it is his first year teacher he still is able to deliver the material correctly. The test are super tough and require you to be able to apply all the material at a proficient level. Homework is also hard. He has had a bad habit of uploading the homework later than announced and the test results took a while to come out.
All around awesome guy! but teaching isn't really his calling, things are more said then taught(you can tell its not his passion), self taught class, really challenging homework, and test are conceptually based
McCormick was by far the worst teacher I have ever taken. Do not take him if you can help it. It's his first time teaching so he doesn't know how to teach. He goes at a lightning pace so don't expect him to slow down. He doesn't post lectures and he's terrible at answering your questions. He assumes that you're as smart as him.
He is one of the worst professors I have ever had. He does not explain the material. His homework does not help you with the tests at all. His explanation of material is not clear and is confusing. Gives no examples in class of how to use the formulas. You would be better off to buy a physics book and teach yourself. Practice test waist of time.
The worst professor I have ever had. He laughs at your questions and will give you the most confusing answer possible. I really hope he reads this because he was awful. He misses his own deadlines and I think it's safe to say that he has no clue that he's going incredibly fast for the difficult subject of physics. His practice exams are useless.
Changes how he calculates your final grade to where it differs from what it given on the online homework from the scores he calculates into the final. Test reviews are borderline useless, homework is fairly useless, does not give equations nor does he explain said equations. You can get a C with an 88% test average. Must self-teach subject.
Terrible professor all round. Verbatim PowerPoint lectures. Can't solve problems in class. Masteringphysics homework is unpredictable in its grading. Tests are unclear. Reviews are nothing like tests. Doesn't seem interested in the course. Learned more from a 2 hour review than all year from his lectures. Takes weeks to grade tests. keep looking.
Mastering physics homework is near impossible to solve on your own, but it can be easily completed with chegg or sometimes yahoo answers. His tests are very tough and the reviews don't help very much. However since everyone fails, the T-score curve is very high. A B or even an A is possible, but may the curve be ever in your favor.
Mccormick stumbled upon himself so often, it makes you wonder how even he got a degree. Will call you out if no one cares to answer his questions just to get the class going. Takes forever to grade. Homework is long and nearly impossible to do on your own without looking up the answer. Practice test to real test is awful, doesn't help.
Very nice teacher and knowledgeable. A bit new to teaching but knows the material. Make sure you do the hw on masteringphysics. The test are conceptual based make sure you do the practice exam its structures similar to the exam. He will go over the exam in depth once they are graded during his office hours and is very helpful to his students.
I love math, astronomy & cosmology! This guy did an absolutely awesome job in making me NOT enjoy his course. He does not speak to his audience; he speaks to you as if they were a physics major. He acts surprised when you don't know answers when combining physics and chemistry. Dropped to keep high GPA. AVOID him for CANP / PHYS classes!
Worst teacher ever! he's nice but his teaching needs work. He'll spend a week going over some subjects that wont even be on the test. His notes are not re-able. Doesn't give extra credi/help you out if you need even .01 points. Test have nothing you've gone over and make no sense. get ready to take a lot of notes and read multiple chapters a night.
I took this class for an FKL during summer B semester. McCormick doesn't offer extra credit and the grading scale is heavily dependent on the tests. He goes into depth in lectures about topics that won't be on the test. However, it can help deepen your understanding of it. Definitely plan to spend time reading the book. He also has reading quizzes
Physics is hard and these reviews are ridiculous. You can't expect to pass if you don't try, and you definitely won't understand if you don't pay attention in class. There is weekly HW due, it is not too hard (maybe a couple are depending on topic), most answers can be found online. i struggled with understanding what it was asking but tutors help.
Hw is worth 30%, answers can be found on Google but I advise actually trying it to help you with test. Test are multiple choice but there is a T-score so as long as you do better then the average you will pass. Test are worth 70% total, two test worth 20% and one final worth 30%. Not bad professor just don't be lazy & actually try (do Hw and study)
Fair. Cares. Helpful office hours. Gave last year's exams as practice exams, very helpful. T score to grade exams, most people get half right, so get more than that. Not best lecturer, flies through material. PPTs based on textbook. MasteringPhysics is pretty useless, but helped grade; most answers online. Still don't understand physics
You're not going to learn anything about physics with this professor but the class is fairly easy to pass if you do the practice test he gives out and read the book. Two tests (20% each) and a final worth 30%. Make sure you do the homework since its 30% and can literally save your grade. Overall he is not a bad guy but he just cannot teach physics.
DO NOT TAKE THIS COURSE PHYSICS MAJORS! We did ONE in class example in an upper physics level elective. ONE! The homework is cryptic and hard to interpret, the lectures dull, and the exams an exercise in your ability to make a comprehensive cheat sheet. I can't stress this enough: DON'T TAKE THIS CLASS!! Send a message to the department!
These reviews are very unfair. Professor McCormick's not the world's greatest Physics teacher, but he's a very nice guy who teaches the material at a proficient level. The exam reviews are very helpful in studying for the exams. The exams questions are mostly conceptual with a few very simple calculations. HW is 30% of your grade, so do them!!
Having taken both physics professors, criss and mccormick. I found mccormick way easier. If you just need to check a box and not learn material, 100% take mccormick you will pass class if you do practice test and HW. If you are a physics or engineering major take criss and try hard. I felt like i learned more with criss but his test were impossible
He's probably easy if you know physics. As someone who doesn't, he doesn't make sense. Exams based on t scores. If you get the average # right (12/20) it's a 78 so if you get that on exams you'll get a B overall with the HW (answers online). If you want an A know the practice exams,helpful office hrs, but it's still mostly test of guessing skills
I think he really does a great job in comparison to Dr. Criss. Yes, his exams and whatnot are conceptual. However, if you attend class and listen to his lectures, then you'll be just fine! He is wonderful during office hours, and is quite helpful. Definitely willing to help his students in anyway possible. I took both Criss and McCormick.
His lectures don't teach much about what will be on the homework or tests. Prepare for a lot of self studying. His tests are very easy though, as everything is able to be done without a calculator, as he doesn't allow their use on tests. Overall, easy to not fail, but you also don't learn much.
Lots of homework, but he does drop your lowest grade. Test are multiple choice and he does give a practice exam, but they do not always help. You will need to read the textbook to understand what is going on. He curves using t-score.
Although this class was difficult, it was much easier than the physics 1 class that I took with a different professor. The practice exams are structured similarly to the exam which was very helpful. The homework assignments do take time to complete and points are taken of every time you get a problem wrong. Sometimes there's extra credit though.
Good person but awful at teaching. Took for Physics 1 and 2, Physics 1 wasn't bad but Physics 2 was horrible. His lectures are not informative and he does not answer questions completely. I stopped going to his lectures after the 1st test and my tests after that were much better than the first. Only reason I took him was the HW 30% of grade.
Physics 1, great teacher. He explained everything very well as he went through the course. He provided multiple examples each section for real-world applications. He really makes an effort to help you understand what you are doing. Attendance not mandatory. Textbook not required in class or for homework, although you should probably still get it.
Dr. McCormick was overall a good prof, but he was a little boring sometimes. He doesn't always do the Turtles proud! I'd still recommend him since his material isn't too hard.
Prof went over the sheer basics and fundamentals of physics during lectures. This information was almost inapplicable to the tests and the homework. Learning how to problem solve without numbers was a new challenge. All tests are very difficult, but he t-scores, so as a long as you do better than the average, you will pass with at least a B-
I learned NOTHING from lectures, textbook, and HW. I figured out the best way to study is through Crash Course (on YouTube), Khan Academy, online study guides for AP Physics, and study books (ex: Physics II for Dummies, AP Physics study books, Physics SAT study books). Chegg helps because it explains concepts and formulas behind the HW problems.
Seems like a good prof at first but this was hands down the worst I've ever taken for any of the sciences. Hw is 30% of your grade and sometimes have extra credit, but lectures are surface level and useless for exams. Over half the class doesn't show up and physics tutors agree the best way to ace an exam is to guess well.
Notes and lectures are useless because they barely relate to anything on the homework and test because he goes over them on a surface level without any examples. If you take his class just be prepared to teach everything to yourself.
There's a homework assignment every week and he T-scores tests. So even though the average is usually a D or F as long as you do better than most you'll pass. Also he is available to help at office hours, but the lectures are pretty general compared to the homework.
Really wanted to like him. Personality and demeanor are great, but his lectures don't help much at all. Very surface level, and he only really explains concepts and ideas. Gives you some formulas and the rest is up to you. Homework is nothing like lectures or tests, and test prep materials don't help either. Tests are HARD and not similar to class.
He has a good personality but his lectures were BEYOND boring. I have never fallen asleep in class, until this class. Lectures barely scratch the surface, then he expects you to know the entire class by the time the test comes around. The only redeeming quality of this class is the significant curve on all of the tests due to no one knowing physics
Nice guy and all, but you really have to work for your grades. Chegg is your best friend for this class. I think that was really the only reason I passed.
In blatant terms, probably the worst professor Ive ever had. He is not an understanding professor, and he tests on material that he doesnt even cover. His tests are much harder than what he covers. I do not recommend this class. I highly regret taking this class with this professor. I would have rated him a 0, but it only starts at 1,
I've taken different physics professors in the past and McCormick is by far the best one at USF. His lectures are engaging, there's a weekly homework, and most of the grade comes from exams. My tip: use Chegg for homework so you've got a good HW score to help boost your grade and try to NOT MISS CLASS (iclicker quizzes add up).
His lectures are pretty useless, he doesnt do any example problems. Chegg is your best friend, you want to get the highest hw score possible to balance your test grade. He does have practice exams which are slightly similar to the exam so studying the practice exams are your best bet. Tests are T scored and he gives you an equation sheet.
This was one of the worst professors I have ever taken. There were only two tests and a final, average exam grades were always around 40% sometimes lower. He curves a lot to make up for it. Pay attention in class and to the formulas he's writing. I would read and study the practice problems in the text to help prepare you more.
The physics department at USF isn't exactly the best and most engineering students don't care for it anyways. That being said, McCormick does not help the reputation very much. His lectures are boring and not very useful. The tests are nothing like the homework but are sort of similar to the practice tests. HW is worth 30% so don't mess up on that.
Gives past tests before each exam (and final), as well as roughly 30 practice questions. They are pretty similar to the actual exam. HW is 30% of grade, in class questions used for participation (right or wrong). Not sure why everyone had so much trouble. Dont just chegg everything (use to check), try to understand the concepts and youre golden.
The physics professors at USF are all bad but he is the best among worst. The physics chair has to be shaken up. Getting chegg is almost a must. Tests will be from the practice test. He will not ask numerical answers on the test. The class is too test heavy if you want participation you need to add up the homework and in class questions percentage.
If you have the opportunity, take Matthews. I cannot express how unhelpful this professor is. He refuses to provide updated practice exams or material and just uses stuff from previous years. This would be fine but those classes did not cover as much material as us so we missed out on a lot of in-class discussion and practice.
Very odd grader, uses a bell curve for grading. His lectures are ok, but doing the homework is the most important thing. There isn't too much homework, but it is extremely hard. Working with other students on the homework is the best thing you can do.
He uploaded lectures that were fine, mostly you'll have to teach yourself and the material can be pretty heavy. You'll have to intake a lot of information quickly, so put in time to the homework and practice tests, they helped the most. YouTube and Chegg are gonna come in handy.
Lectures are not helpful and only cover the bare minimum. He is not helpful either and not flexible at all with students who are struggling. The tests are quite hard and include material he does not cover. Test practices were just old tests that he recycled and didn't even bother changing to match materials on the tests, truly regretted taking him
DO NOT TAKE THIS PROFESSOR, class is impossible to understand or pass if you do not teach yourself the material because he was of no help. Chegg and youtube are your best friends. He is also cold hearted and does not care about his student's well being.
DON'T TAKE THIS PROFESSOR!!! Not only are the test incredibly hard but the material & homework doesn't prepare you for the exams AT ALL. Every in the class fails his exams so he applies a bell curve which is fine but that won't help for the later material since it's all cumulative. I attended office hours and I still was not prepared for the exams!
I was iffy about taking this professor after hearing from other students. However, I actually enjoyed this class (taken in summer 2021, online, but with live lectures). Dr. McCormick's lectures were engaging. He also let you use notes during exams (they aren't old exams, so still tricky). I had no issue with his grading. I learned quite a bit.
He's okay. His practice exams are like a distant cousin to the actual exams, similar but not really. Came off condescending when students would ask questions in lecture, but pretty chill during office hours. I liked his style of teaching but if you want someone to hold your hand throughout the course he isn't the one for you.
Its a tough class and Dr. McCormick doesnt help much. Though, its still possible to get an A if you do practice problems and watch YouTube videos.
My recommendation for this class is to spend a lot of time with practice problems. Use his notes, YT videos, HW problems- it is the only way to do well. His tests are made very uniquely, with many problems only using variables and not numbers. However, I was surprised by how much the T-score helped my grade. Make sure you do all HW and clickers.
Lectures can be a bit dull sometimes but he really tries to make them more interesting using demos. The class test average was always pretty low so the T-score really carried. Overall, hes a really nice guy and very approachable.
Solid choice for a physics professor. His lectures were a bit lengthy but he provided the notes afterwards for review. Very open for questions and made himself available at office hours to help. I'm personally not a huge fan of physics but I'm glad I took it with him. Also, studying on your own time is key.
One of my favorites ever. He brings objects and machines to lectures to demonstrate concepts. You'll never be bored. You only need the textbook if you find trouble with concepts he can't explain, which is rare. As long as you attend class and remember what each symbol determines, you'll be fine. Great professor
He is a good professor but his lectures can be very boring sometimes.The tests are challenging and homework can be confusing. The tests are graded based on T-score so your test grade will change based on the classes average on the test. There is no extra credit given so make sure to study and understand the clicker questions.
His lectures tend to be very boring, and he only gives you the most baseline information. He claims the clicker, homework, and practice exams should help with the exams, but the exams are very complex and you need a firm understanding of physics to even begin to answer the questions correctly. He does t-score so it helps if you do poorly plus 2%EC.
Not a good lecturer and makes exam questions very difficult when the grades for one exam surpass his expectations. Not much extra credit. Clicker counts for 10% of grade and exams count for 70%. He makes the class harder than it should be and cannot teach.
Mid. His lectures barely go into any depth than what is needed, and uses clickers. Do the practice exam, hw to know how to use the formulas for plug and chug, but the concept still confusing, but enough to get a B+ on test, after T-score curve. If he stops lecturing about definitions in the TB and does prac. problems he might be a lot better.
HIGHLY recommend for physics 2. His lectures discuss everything you need for the exams (you don't have to teach yourself everything at home like many physics teachers make you) and as long as you take great notes and pay attention you can do well in the class. Just make sure to watch review sessions, do his practice exams and study your notes.
Gives a very generous curve on exams. Also gives a very helpful practice exam and exam review. Definitely passable.
Do NOT take this professor. Lectures only go over concepts when you are entirely tested on the math. Thankfully he curves the tests; if he didn't, no one would pass his class. For reference, my class's first test average pre-curve was below fifty percent. Please find someone else if you want to actually understand what's going on.
Dr. McCormick has a Studio Art minor, which is beneficial due to the visual nature of Physics. Unlike many professors, he focuses on the conceptual side of Physics. He primarily tests your ability to manipulate algebraic expressions and understand the properties of specific Physical components. He's a difficult - but manageable - professor.
it was so bad i would give him a 0, but that's not possible, so i give him a 1. literally the worst teacher i have ever had in my career. i almost switched my major. only thing that got me a B was the curve and my amazing guessing skills. please save yourself and dont
DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS 2 WITH THIS PROFESSOR. His notes are awful, no review material, and useful review is posted only after exams are taken. Lecture covers surface material while the exam tests scenarios not covered in lecture or in the homework. Worst professor i've ever had please for your own sake take this class with literally anybody else.
Very concept-based professor who throws in a lot of no numbers questions where you derive from the given equations. If you're not used to thinking outside the box, you probably won't do well. He likes to use visual aids in class to introduce concepts. He's not a bad teacher because he's passionate about physics, but he does come off as tone-deaf.
Passionate about teaching definitely go to his office hours. Writes notes in class with you and posts them on canvas later in the week. Physics is hard so don't expect it to be easy, understand the concepts and review his notes. Grades on a t-score, class average is usually 50% correct without curve so be solid on the concepts to get an A or high B
I really tried to give Dr. McCormick a chance. At first I definitely thought I could like this guy, but I was so wrong. His lectures proved to be pointless, however it is important to attend for iClicker points, because that does play into your grade. His tests are difficult and were so bad that the curve was astronomically high every single time.
This is by far the worst class I have ever taken. I have always been a straight A student until this class. The only thing I learned from him was why he decided to, and then not to, wear a mask. He does not do an in-class review before any exams and appears to be VERY tone deaf. I would really recommend finding another professor if you can.
He does not care about the success of students. He uses clicker questions so you have to attend his lecture, which is fine but his lecture is the most confusing, incomprehensible, ramble of a spectrum from astronomy, to why he wears a mask. Exams are designed "to challenge us" then the avg mean is 9/20. Leading to a humongous curve, very goofy
Physics in general is very difficult, the professor tries to make it easier in the class but there is only a lot that he can do. The classes get boring really quickly, but the experiments he does in the class are really fun to watch. The exams and in-class clicker questions are really difficult so must be prepared for that for sure.
This professor withholds the correct answers from the homework questions which is very frustrating. I cannot understand a homework questions if I get the question wrong. The lectures are ok, but I feel as if he teaches us concepts only and not really much knowledge on how to do questions.
McCormick was the reason I changed to a physics major. The practice exams were just like the real exams, with the easiest homework I've ever seen in my life. Don't bother with reading other reviews for him, as they just don't understand how he really is as a person. Attendance is mandatory, but I wish the lectures were double their length. Pick him
Not great. His exams are nothing like the practice and are tricky. I am thankfully not failing, however, I am not doing great and I am currently aiming for a B-/B. Even when I do well on the practice test and attend tutoring, it doesn't seem to help. At least he curves tests... But that is because his average is usually 10/20. Don't take him.
He doesn't care much about teaching. His attitude is dismissive. The class has 2 midterms and a final which are worth 70 percent of the grade. He curves the tests based on the class average, which essentially, turns a normal physics course into a glorified rat race. The tests were also very complicated compared to class content.
He has his own way of teaching where he only uses formulas and variables, no numerical values. He makes the tests very difficult, even after attending every class and completing the practice exams. They're graded on a curve, as the average is usually around 50-60%. Only graded on two tests, in-class questions, homework, and final.
His lectures are great because he is really knowledgeable, so try to attend them as much as possible. If you study well and know your concepts well, you should be able to score a good grade with ease (especially due to the curve). I feel like the other reviews are unnecessarily harsh. The subject itself is difficult, but the prof imo is good.
Lots of people here expecting an easy class and giving unreasonably harsh reviews. Physics is difficult and you'll need to study. McCormick is a good professor and he's very knowledgeable. Homework is more difficult than his exams, which are curved using a T-score. Do the homework and get at least ~12/20 right on the exams and you'll pass with a B.
Test-heavy classroom. Best of the worst department at USF Physics. I feel like he should make questions open-ended more. He can work on explaining but is decent. Great guy
Amazing Professor !! He always brings in visual aids to help learn the concepts. He is open to questions during class and listens to his students. He is funny and kind, and I encourage to ask lots of questions during breaks or after class! He makes his own exams, and the textbook questions/answers are a great tool for success !! Best of luck!
Professor McCormick is very knowledgeable but that does not mean students understand him. Actually, he explains problems in the most difficult way possible compared to other professors or sources online. Practice tests have nothing to do with the actual test. His tests require much study and preparation. Do the practice problems from the book..
He is a nice guy but the concepts are very hard to understand especially if you haven't taken Physics. I some how got a C through luck as the curves added 20-30% to your raw score as he operates on a bell curve. HW heavy and tests seemed impossible. Some friends were able to get a B but it requires so much work so take Gerald Woods (way better).
Tends to talk a lot and his notes are barely any good compared to the actual textbook provided. Very heavy on the iclickers and homework, but does not provide good examples regarding what the exam may have. The average for most of his exams are 9/20 so I would not take him ever again. Plus the practice exams are very different from the actual exam.
The course could benefit from better organization. The lectures lacked clarity and could be supplemented with more examples. I was also concerned when the exam review didn't cover all the topics that were on the exam. Also, timely communication would be appreciated, as I have yet to receive a response to my emails from the beginning of the term.
I had him for the Problem-solving class for General Physics I only. You just had to go to his class. He is caring and will answer questions instantly. I got an easy 100% in that class. But, his way of teaching is weird. He doesn't ask for answers, and he doesn't allow calculators. He expects answers in variable format. Heads up before taking him!
People who complain about him don't attend class and just want to blame someone else. There are weekly hw assignments and daily clickers. 2 midterm tests and 1 final which are graded on a T score. There are a lot of notes to be taken so get ready. Exams arent too difficult and everything can be essentially solved with the formulas.
Dr. McCormick is a very hard professor. He lectures well but his lectures were consistently behind the homework assignments. Test averages were a 50% on each exam but he grades on a bell curve so most students get a C in the class. To do well on the exam review lecture notes and clicker questions and know how to use the equations.
One of my favorites! As long as you pay attention to the notes and examples of formulas, you'll be fine. Machines and technology are brought into class which were great for visualizing concepts and kept things fun. Great professor for a difficult subject. Always answered questions
Responds to emails fast and his exams are basically an easier version of the homework. Homework is through achieve so the questions are way more difficult than they need to be. He lectures basically right to the end of class and tries to cram a lot in but he will stay and explain anything you missed.
I am not making things up, but this professor blatantly lied to my face, I had another class & had to leave 5 mins early because of that class, I told him I needed to go early & he said he would mark my attendance but now with the final grades out he has refused to cooperate. He lies a lot so please have proof of every conversation with him.
Quite disordered way of doing things. Long lectures with lots of bloat, there's a fine line between being effective and wasting time. It is very much a teach yourself class, not much problem solving will be done in class. Sadly that means you'll be reading a textbook hours of the day. The class is not optimally structured and will be demanding.
Worst class I've ever taken, if you cared about your mental sanity, you'd find a different professor.
SUMMER ONLINE COURSE: 6 Achieve HW (20ish Qs), HW videos, 3 exams (20 Qs), need only 40% for iClicker. His lectures in class are basically the same thing being said in the videos. Exams are sort of easy. Curves the exams which helps sm. Answers emails quickly. Does physical demonstrations in class (pointless). Not the best Prof but not the worst.
I am biased towards a bad rating just because I hate physics with a passion. But this prof wasn't awful, summer might be different since we had online, unproctored, open note exams. T-scores for the test curve which is helpful and drops lowest hw. Practice tests felt much easier than exams in my opinion. Slightly big ego.
Summer C: 3 tests, 20 q each, on canvas, open note, can't go back to the previous question in tests, homework worth 100pts each, drops 1 of 9 homeworks, easy iclicker points, handwritten notes accessible on canvas, uses t-score to grade exams so no one can fail on any. DO NOT MISS HOMEWORKS. lots of self-study & practice required.
He's alright. Just study and do some extra practice and you should be fine. I expect better from him as well, professionally but also personally. Refrain from personally probing your students.
weekly HW, exams, and iclickers are all your grade is. had him for Physics I and II and he lectures the same. biggest tip is just to do the practice exam many times and to rewrite your notes to pass
Best professor! Be ready to take note in class and you will be good for exams!
Dr. McCormick made this class unbearable. He wastes time handwriting notes and doing demonstrations during lecture rather than actually doing math problems that are relevant to homework/exams. He does not provide useful resources outside of the textbook. It is hard to learn physics by reading a textbook for hours, but you are forced to. Avoid him.
Our pre-lecture videos would go over concepts, then he would waste time in class by describing concepts over and over without ever providing genuine examples of actual problems. The first time you will encounter problems will be on the homework, and you lose points on each hw attempt. Not great, very frustrating, (I got an A in physics 1)
The lectures are not horrible, but he does not do any actual problem solving in class. He explains concepts pretty well, but when you go to do the homework you are clueless on how to solve problems. He is a really good speaker though so the concepts would get engraved in my head and that is probably the reason I passed this class.
Professor McCormick has a unique teaching style, but if you engage with it, you can do well. The exams are challenging, but the curve helps. unstuck study and the free textbook were great study aids.
The lectures did not help me do any homework questions. He recommends using the homework and iClicker questions to study for tests, but these questions look nothing like the test questions. He bragged about a 50% average on tests. My raw score on tests were 50-60% and the curved grades I received were C, C+, and B+.
I did this during the summer and he combines the online and in person so if i were u id save my 90 bucks and sign up for in person but just never go and join the teams meeting. he does questions during class for points and the hw is long. also for the test if ur cheating be careful cuz he changes words so u wont get the right answer
I didn't feel like the tests were matching what we learned in class. The class lectures actually felt kind of useless. The T-score grading makes zero sense, which worked in my favor, but how does that reflect him as a professor? I still know very little physics.
Surprised to see the low reviews. Multiple courses he teaches that aren't listed here either. I really liked him! I had him for two different courses, and he was VERY passionate about what he taught. Even kept up with the latest ongoing research to ensure we were current with the latest ongoing research. His tests/exams aren't easy, but just study
DO NOT TAKE. The very first day of classes he flaunted about his 50% exam average, that should say everything that needs to be said.
I am a pre-med with a 4.0 and I have taken almost every pre-med class- this class was the hardest I've had to work for an A. I'm glad I took it with him though, I was forced to know the content. His lectures can get very confusing and beyond the scope of the class at times. Study for his exams by learning all concepts/equations from practice exam!!
Dr. McCormick is a very funny and nice professor; however, his class is extremely hard. He gives really interesting lectures and great in-class demonstrations, but his exams are terrible, with the uncurved averages being in the 40s. Overall, a great guy, just wish that I didn't want to rip my hair out every few weeks studying for his tests.
I hated this class so much. The class is structured terribly with only 2 exams and a final being the bulk of your grade. Homework is the first time you really learn how to solve problems. Class is basically useless. You'll most likely have to teach yourself. Avoid him if you can, and if you can't GOOD LUCK!
I didn't learn anything in this class, but I still got a B. The course is designed so that you can essentially fail the exams, but the curve will get you a decent grade. I'd normally get a 10 or 11/20 on the exams, but still get curved to an 83-85. Don't expect to learn anything, but if you want to pass by doing the bare minimum, take the class.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
50%
Textbook Required
5%
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Predicted Grade
B+
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3.0
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4.1
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