3.5
Quality3.5
Difficulty61%
Would Retake92
Reviews61%
Would Retake
92
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
39
4
11
3
10
2
17
1
15
What Students Say
“very passionate but the worst lecturer i've ever had dont understand why attendance in mandatory for some practice problems when all we do is teach ourselves out of the book”
phys114 - 1.0 rating“this class was insanely hard for me”
phys114 - 3.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
80%
Textbook Required
0%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Improving
+0.48 avg changeRatings by Course
PHYS141
5.0
(1)PHYS225
4.4
(11)PHYS115
4.3
(8)PHYS116
4.2
(5)phys114
3.4
(26)Difficulty by Course
PHYS122
4.1
PHYS1210
4.0
PHYS121
3.9
phys114
3.2
PHYS225
3.0
Reviews (92)
Very unorganized, couldn't answer any questions during lecture but quizzed us on next slide instead. She didn't explain anything but told us to read the book. You pretty much have to teach yourself. She just read the answers straight from the slides and moved on. Going to lecture is waste of time but you have to because there's in class quizzes.
Granted, I could've managed my time better and studued harder, but her lectures weren't all that helpful in comparison to other lecturers I've had. She moved way too fast through material, hardly went over equations, often interrupted students as they were trying to ask questions, and overall had a dismissive and aggressive attitude.
Hardest class i've taken at UW. Way too many aspects to class (pre, during, & post lec quizzes, tutorial quizzes, etc). Professor dismissed questions and read off the slides. The book derived equations and was useless in helping teach the subject material. Lectures were pointless: fast paced & around 6-10 quizzes each lecture. 10/10 yikes
I thought the coursework was really easy, BEFORE I TOOK THE TESTS. I was acing all of the past homework and practice problems/review, but when the midterms and final came, I felt lost. Lectures are useless, they only cover a few topics we have already learned through the required reading. And she only goes over the easy problems, and topics.
Lecture can be boring at times, but she's very enthusiastic and in-class quizzes keep you on your toes. GO TO OFFICE HOURS, because she goes way more in depth over key problems. This helped me get a MUCH improved grade on the final, which was super helpful because she will scale a great exam score to have more weight than your worst one at the end.
Great professor, but a difficult class. She cares a lot about her students!
In-class quizzes can be easy to brush off, but are one of the most valuable resources in identifying gaps in understanding. Review sessions are direct and have problems that show up on tests. As long as you put in the effort to prepare, office hours can be the best place to clear up problems and get personalized feedback/motivation after exams.
She means well, but there is an overwhelming amount of in-class quizzes. They are meant to be helpful, but they are done in a fashion that makes them very difficult (ie complex problems with little time to solve them). There is also a lot of work that goes into that class, and she grades quite tough. The demos presented are quite entertaining.
Took her over the summer, her posted lecture slides are great, combined with the textbook you should know what is happening. Lectures are a bit confusing--but with the combined of the materials she provides you everything should be okay. Also she set a very high curve, I pretty below average on the midterm and final and somehow ended with a 3.0.
Took 121 & 122 with her. Amal is a great professor. She cares about her students, and is very helpful and understanding. Physics is not an easy course, but she makes it (in my opinion) as reasonable as possible.
Physics sucks no matter the professor. She cares about you and wants you to succeed but knows it is difficult. If you show up to every class you grade will be higher in her class because she does in class quizzes but if you are going to skip take another prof.
Her teaching doesn't do it for me and I really struggled to understand things in her class, but really physics just sucks. She genuinely cares about students and is very understanding about difficulties/issues. When I emailed her/went to office hours with specific questions, she never actually answered my exact question & talked about somethin else
In-class quizzes are a really good way to test your understanding, and she posts slides before class which takes the anxiety away. Unfortunately the concepts were not made any clearer in her lectures and I didn't like the textbook's explanations either which was a big oof. The phys dept grading scheme sucks but she set a high curve so it worked out
Physics is all about math, but Wahish glosses over the math. Especially not recommended for beginners in physics.
Her accent makes lectures difficult to understand, but she's extremely kind, accommodating, and understanding. She truly cares whether students learn. Class is VERY textbook-heavy, as the lectures are meant to support the textbook, not for you to learn all the necessary material. Explanations can be unclear and convoluted, overall average professor
The lecture makes me more confused. Textbook helps me more than any lectures and review sheet that her gave us.
Wahish is a good professor! She offered many office hours and always willing to help through email as well. Clearly cared about her students success and was really passionate about EM! You definitely need to get help when you need it, do all the assignments, and study lots for tests becasue 122 is pretty hard but you can succeed if you do this.
The professor is very hard working and puts in a lot of time outside of class to make sure that her students learn. Yes, the material is very dense and there is a lot to understand, however going to office hours and asking questions always helps
The class was dependent on the reading; if you did it, you would do well, and if you didn't, you wouldn't. Dr. al-Wahish helped me complete my final through difficult circumstances, and she was so kind and enthusiastic about her work that I ended up doing research with her afterwards! She has a strong accent but tries hard to connect with students.
Good professor, she gets rated down by students who fail her course. If you're a average to above average student I think you will be okay with her. She's a very caring professor and had decent lectures. Her slides cover 80-90% of what you need to know on the exam (even if you can't see the subtle connection). Very accommodating during Corvid-19
Al-Wahish was my physics instructor during the coronavirus, she was very accomodating to students who were struggling with deadlines and the added pressure. She made herself readily available to assist students and was transparent with the content that would be on exams. The only drawback to Al-Wahish is she is sometimes hard to understand.
Took the class summer '20 (Covid) and she was very accommodating. I just don't think she's an effective prof. Her lectures rarely clarified my confusions, and I found it easier to just read the text. Her exams were also always much harder than the practice, making it difficult to prepare. Nice lady, just seemed confused by student questions.
she's great
Pre-recorded videos from months ago that are not even related to the question on exams homework and lab. Professor gives attitude of just not caring and class structure was not optimal for online learning.
Register for Al-Wahish! Phys122 is a bad class so people blame her even though she made it bearable. I was registered for Wiggins but she recorded the lectures for the whole course. She started to take questions while she was recording lectures towards the end, but if you aren't reg for her section she won't see yours.
I took (virtual) phys 122 with Dr Al-Wahish and although I found the class itself to be really difficult, she's a great prof who cares about her students and does her best to answer all questions. The prerecorded lectures are sometimes complex and hard to follow but if helps a lot if you read the textbook and attend office hours.
Every section of 122 uses her recording, you don't have a choice. 122 is a difficult class and she made it more difficult than necessary because she does not speak fluent english, which may be fine for native speakers, but to me the lecture is confusing as hell. I learned 90% of the material from textbook.
I found Physics 122 to be a very difficult class especially during a pandemic in an online environment, but Professor al-Wahish made it so much better. She is very kind and always willing to go above and beyond to help student's understand the material. She had three office hours a week and is very responsive through email if you need more help.
Can't understand her lectures. They were all pre recorded months ago and aren't taught well. Her office hours are unhelpful as she goes off tangent many times. Most learning will happen through reading get prepared for a miserable time.
I am so glad I took her class! She truly cares about her students. She was available three times a week for office hours and she always stayed longer. She even had 2 office hours DURING finals week!!! Her test were fair, the course material is just difficult. If you read along with the textbook and understand the lecture quizzes, you will be fine!
run... very nice but worst physics professor ive ever had
122 is definitely a difficult class, but Prof. Wahish is a caring teacher who is very willing to help and support students. She had office hours three times a week (easy to access since everything's online), and she made sure to answer your emails with detailed work when you had questions. You'll have to work for your grade, but it'll be worth it!
I took this class during the first remote quarter. If anything, the course was slightly better organized than 121 in-person, but it was still needlessly complex. Overwhelming amounts of textbook reading. I was constantly behind and didn't finish the coursework, but she forgave my late work and canceled the final because of BLM, so I got an A- !
Poor explainer. Gives no intuition, and skips over any remotely rigorous about the math. I learned more in AP Physics.
NEVER take physics class with this professor. She poorly explains the concepts and simply reads the slides on the pre-recorded panopto videos. Also, the real tests are nothing to do with the practice exams given and the regular lecture homework. Just don't take it, Run.
You can tell Amal Al-Wahish does care about her students, but her teaching online is very poor. Her lectures are all prerecorded, and she just reads off the slides. She doesn't have the best English either, making the lectures even more difficult to understand. Exams are not related to practice exams or class material, averages usually below 55.
122 is hard and designed to have miscellaneous weedout components, and that's not her fault. She is caring and provides lots of office time for help. However, her lecture is basically reading the slides with quiz questions. The practice exams are not comparable to the real exams, so it's hard to set expectations. Read the book to learn!
You absolutely must attend Dr. Al-Wahishs office hours to make this difficult class less overwhelming (otherwise this class will be much harder than it needs to be). Shes open to answering questions and you can tell she truly loves to interact with students. She is very sweet & receptive to student feedback (gives homework extensions if you ask).
Sometimes she tests on things only covered in lecture. Her lectures are super short, which is nice in a class with such a heavy workload.
This was true during in-person learning and is still true online: go to Office Hours. Dr. Wahish puts a huge amount of effort into making herself accessible to students (profs aren't paid for Office Hours) and will write test questions based on discussions in Office Hours and Review Sessions. 122 is no easy A, so expect your fair share of effort.
Amal Al-Wahish did a fantastic job in teaching 122 and I end up with a 4.0. She made it easier for people who attend her OFFICE HOUR! Lectures are recorded, but office hours matter. Participation is not mandatory but I strongly recommend bring questions to her office hours; it matters especially during exam weeks.
I took Professor al-Wahish for PHYS 225 at UW. The class was dense by nature, and Professor al-Wahish required our attendance regularly by way of PollEV. She cares deeply about her students but enforces the rigorous demands necessary to learn any topic in Physics. Office hours were critical to my passing grade, ask questions as much as you can!
Took it WI21 online and her online lectures sucked. Just read off the slides with a strong accent. She cares a lot, but it was really hard to learn. The textbook hard carried me through that class
She explains a lot, but none of them are at point. She's basically reading the ppt with a strong accent while the exam questions are all much harder than the questions provided on ppt.
Prof. Wahishs class was intellectually stimulating and stretched my thinking by giving the opportunity in lecture to discuss problems with other students. I also found the concepts and lectures to be very engaging. I learned many new things about how the world works and it made me use math in a different way. I enjoyed her class. She is very kind
I'm assuming that most of the bad ratings are from students at SU and the good ones are from students at UW. She filled in for SU's original professor in Winter quarter of 20/21 school year. I found myself learning more from the textbook than her lectures reading the slides. She doesn't reply to emails, only canvas messages. Office hours are fine.
Literally so awful. Went super fast and her handwritting on all the test reviews was not even eligible.
Easy course if you have strong mathematical background. You can find all the homework answers on internet. Attendance is mandatory, but you can still attend online as long as you do the polling questions. (polling questions aren't graded based on correctness) Exams aren't that difficult. She tries to help students, but isn't the best lecturer.
The flip learning lecture style was terrible. Prof al-Wahish made made it harder to understand concepts and her explanations were just plain bad. Beware of the insane amount of quizzes (pre-lecture and in class lectures) and difficult exams. al-Wahish use to teach the calc-based physics and her exams reflect on the same difficulty as that class.
Al-Wahish's lectures were funny and she was clear on how to solve problems. She literally gives you the answers in lecture and tutorial, so as long as you study the slides you will get a good grade (bonus if you do the optional practice). She does not put questions you haven't seen the concept for before, although she does have trick questions.
Lectures were horrible. Felt more like a science experiment (which it is, thanks phys dept) than being taught by a prof. Prof. Al-Wahish is very accessible outside of class and truly makes an effort through her office hours-- go to those and you'll find the exams to be a little easier (despite them being much harder than practice material).
I'm only halfway through the quarter, but it's been a frustrating one. She is incredibly passionate about the subject and wants you to be too, and I can recognize 99% of issues come from the Phys Dept. itself, but that enthusiasm makes her incredibly hard to follow. So many unnecessary in-class quizzes. Everything feels very convoluted and tiring.
This was al-Wahish's first quarter teaching 115, and she did an okay job. The exams were comparable to practice and in-lecture quizzes, and she was very accommodating during office hours. Be prepared to learn the harder concepts (E+M) on your own time, though! She does care and her passion for physics is evident. Just do the practice when you can.
Dr. Wahish was very kind, caring, and funny, but I had difficulties understanding the material and her explanations often did not help me and I would have to look outside of class for a better understanding. The tests are very hard. The curve makes it easier to get a passing grade, but prepare yourself for a tough midterm and final schedule.
She had a great attitude during lectures but the graded quizzes she gives seriously detracted from my ability to follow her. Her lectures were confusing as she skipped over core concepts without further explanation. Her practice exams had extremely unhelpful explanations that were incomplete to a person in into-physics.
Al-Wahish is a very caring and understanding professor that will help you do your best in the class. The PHYS 1XX series teaches the same content with the same slides. What makes a difference is whether the professor is able to explaining concepts well. Al-Wahish did try her best, but she wasn't the great. Her midterms were hit or miss.
This class is tough. She does not explain well during lectures, but she is excellent in office hours. If you do all the pre-lectures on your own and practices you should do fine. This course requires a lot of effort. If there is another professor available I'd recommend taking it through them as there definitely was a language barrier making ithard
this class was insanely hard for me. the exams were so confusing and practice problems had no guides what so ever. the pre lecture and slide questions dont reflect upon the exams and they had very low average scores
very passionate but the worst lecturer i've ever had dont understand why attendance in mandatory for some practice problems when all we do is teach ourselves out of the book
Professor al-Wahish is by far one of the top professors when it comes to making time for students and supporting them. However, her ability to answer questions posed by students in a concise, clarifying manner needs a ton of work, as her explanations do more harm than good. Make sure you learn the content on your own time, don't rely on just her.
Dr. al-Wahish is probably one of the most accessible professors I've ever had. She wants to help you learn and longs for students to come to office hours and ask questions. Attendance isn't mandatory, but it REALLY helps because she helps you thoroughly prepare for exams. She makes passing with a solid grade very likely if you're willing to try.
Heavy accent with not well-organized lectures. She likes emphasizing the importance of group work/discussion during lectures, which is actually not that helpful compared to lecturers' explanations. I really don't see how a 20-30 seconds group discussion guides you through the questions you don't understand. But a lot of low stake quiz is great.
There are a lot of issues with her classes. Her lectures tended to leave me more confused, but she requires attendance with in-class quizzes that need an entry code. She often misunderstands student questions and answers things that weren't asked, usually multiple times in a row. She is pretty nice and tries to be accomodating though.
Prof. Al-Wahish is amazing. While some complain she is strict, she truly cares about each and every one of her students and is very accessible outside of class (making extra time if students need). Participation in lecture IS essential- more than other reviewers are emphasizing- and the tests are tough, but with the profs help it's very achievable!
I love physics, but I had a very difficult time with her. She speeds through slides, and often doesn't take the time to understand students' questions. I would say the class environment was defeated. I had accomodations but she repeatedly ignored that my absence/need for extra help was for disability, and I had to have my advisor intervene.
Speeds through slides, you would have to teach yourself everything before each lecture to get through the 30 second questions. There to get tested not to learn.
High quality.
As a DRS student, I connected with Professor al-Wahish, who provided unwavering support throughout the duration of this course. Her caring demeanor and captivating lectures made the learning experience enjoyable. I highly recommend reaching out to her at your earliest convenience; she will offer guidance on how to excel in the class.
An exceptional professor! Her lectures are outstanding, filled with insightful research ideas. The quantum computing examples were particularly enjoyable. Motivated by her class, I decided to do research. She is very accommodating. Make sure to reach out and don't miss her office hours. She delves into great detail when solving problems.
I appreciate Prof. al-Wahish outstanding teaching that she have provided in her physics class last quarter. Her passion for physics is truly contagious. Her ability to break down complex concepts into understandable components has been instrumental in my grasp of Physics. I appreciate the real-world applications she brings into the classroom
Excellent Professro
Her approachability and willingness to answer questions, both inside and outside the classroom, have created an atmosphere where I felt comfortable and encouraged me to engage inside the class.
Amazing professor! Her lectures are the best I've experienced at UW. Prof. al-Wahish is both kind and helpful. Make sure to attend her office hours; she goes deeply into each question and provides fantastic practical examples.
A wonderful and supportive professor. I visited her during office hours, and she generously assisted me after my DRS officer recommended it . I enrolled in Phys 114 with her, and I eagerly waited a whole year to take Phys 115 with her. I'm delighted that she is my professor again this year.
Professor al-Wahish is known for her unwavering commitment to student success. She goes above and beyond to ensure that her students not only grasp the fundamental concepts of physics but also develop critical thinking skills. If you need help, reach out to her. She is very caring professor.
I was facing personal challenges that were affecting my focus on school, and Amal played a crucial role in helping me overcome them. She proactively reached out, suggesting resources at UW and encouraging me to contact the DRS for support with my anxiety. Additionally, she allowed me to make up some of the missed reading quizzes.
Professor Wahish is genuinely enthusiastic about physics. Her love for physics is contagious, creating an engaging and dynamic learning environment. Whether discussing classical mechanics or delving into the intricacies of quantum physics, she ignites curiosity and foster a love for learning in her students. Go to her office-hours!
I'm delighted that I enrolled in Phys 114 with Prof. Wahish. I'm currently enrolled in her Phys 115 class. She is not only kind but also helpful. I attended most of her office hours. I was disappointed of first exam score. However, after discussing it with her, she provided guidance on how to study more effectively. Thanks to her advice, I got A!
She is the kindest professor I have encountered, exceptionally helpful with excellent lectures. Professor Wahish provides pre-lecture notes in advance and schedules all in-class quizzes at least a week beforehand. The quizzes are graded based on 0.8 participation and 0.2 accuracy, with a final quarter-end scaling of 1.25, ensuring full credit.
She stands out as the most compassionate professor. Having graduated, I made the decision to return to medical school. I reached out to all my former professors, requesting letters of recommendation. Out of everyone I contacted, she was the only one who responded to my email, offering encouragement and motivating me to pursue my dreams further.
I attended this course online during the pandemic. I must say her lectures were fantastic. At the conclusion of each lecture, she shared a fun fact slide highlighting the latest discovery in a science-related subject. The first exam had an average around 80. The lowest midterm score was dropped, and only the highest was considered.
Wahish is the kind of professor who maintains high standards but provides all the resources necessary for success in the course. Despite the inherent difficulty of quantum mechanics, she refrained from adding unnecessary complexity. Her organization was impeccable, with well-structured lecture slides, and the assigned homework.
Her lectures are excellent.80 percent of the exam questions are based on readings, in-class quizzes, and lecture notes. She consistently motivates her students, utilizing both slides and the blackboard in her presentations. It's beneficial to attend her office hours, where she dedicates a significant amount of time explaining various questions.
She is offering additional office hours during the exam weeks. Her lectures are remarkable, and I've gained a lot from them. As a result, I've begun to view things through the lens of a physicist. Attend her office hours; she elucidates questions with flair.
I am not morning person, but I attended her class at 8:30 in the morning and didn't miss any of her remarkable lectures. She is the most caring professor I've encountered at UW. I highly recommend attending her office hours, where she provides excellent examples from, research, physics in life and a cup of tea!
I always attend her office hours. She patiently guides me through solving my questions, showing genuine care and concern. She's a truly compassionate professor.
Professor Wahish is an educator who clarifies her thought process and conscientiously leads students through problems, with the goal of improving their understanding of the material. I am delighted to be a part of her class.
Personally, Professor Al-Wahish's lectures have had a profound impact on my academic journey. Her dynamic teaching style and profound insights have inspired me to embark on a Ph.D. journey in computational physics and quantum computing.She is more than just an educator; she is a mentor, a guide, and a source of inspiration.
I enrolled in Phys 116 a while back, and it was an incredibly enriching experience. Recently, I revisited the lecture notes from that course to aid my understanding of my current classes. The quality of her lectures is outstanding, and she is a wonderful and caring professor. I highly recommended to attend her office hours.
A wonderful and compassionate professor, she not only taught the lectures but also led the tutorials for Phys 115. The content she taught in tutorials often appearing on exams. Her caring and accommodating nature made the learning experience enjoyable and accessible for all students. Highly recommended to attend her exam review and office hours.
Prof. al-Wahish is extremely passionate about physics. While I did not enjoy the subject, she made it more bearable with her live demonstrations of concepts, excitement, and genuine want for us to succeed. Manageable class, even with no prior physics classes, but would recommend going to lectures and tutorials.
Professor al-Wahish's engaging lectures and genuine concern for student success make her classes a must-take. I found Unstuck AI and the textbook equally helpful for preparing.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
80%
Textbook Required
0%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Improving
+0.48 avg changeRatings by Course
PHYS141
5.0
(1)PHYS225
4.4
(11)PHYS115
4.3
(8)PHYS116
4.2
(5)phys114
3.4
(26)Difficulty by Course
PHYS122
4.1
PHYS1210
4.0
PHYS121
3.9
phys114
3.2
PHYS225
3.0