Physics definitely easy and this class is no exception, but Professor Dhar is passionate about what he teaches. His philosophical messages and bits of advice show that he truly cares about his students and wants them to succeed. Going over homework and lecture problems are definitely the best way to study for exams.

Dhar deserves some slack, physics is not an easy topic to teach or learn online. We can't simply put all the blame on him if we don't understand something. We need to go the extra mile to rewatch lectures, redo homework and go to office hours. There are many opportunities to succeed.

I found this class to be extremely difficult. However, Dhar has provided many resources for us to succeed such as providing study tips and even a FINAL review! He seems pretty intimidating at first, but over time you start to realize that he truly cares about his students. He really is a great professor and I highly encourage people to attend OH!

Professor Dhar clearly states all the information you need to know in lecture, and states how we should study: re-watch the lectures and redo the homework. Exams are doable if you re-watch all the relevant lectures and redo the homework . Don't look to outside resources like YouTube videos, his exams are heavily based on the lectures and homework.

Barun is my favorite professor! He is the most friendly and smart professor I have ever had! Tests may be difficult but that is because physics is not my strong suit and this has nothing to do with Braun's teaching style or regard for students, both of which are impeccable! Office hours are a must! This review was not sponsored :) <3. /s

Honestly, he gets a bad rep, but isn't as bad as everyone says! He is really really smart and loves space, the homework is hard and so are the tests but low-key that's just physics. Just put in time and actually listen and everything is do able. Also stop being mean to him, physics is hard to teach and he does one of the better jobs.

I took Physics 6A and B with Dhar(A in person and B remotely). I think Dhar is a great teacher! He is good at explaining examples and clarifying. His classes have been in the morning for me and I always appreciate his energy. Be prepared to work and be open to asking questions in this class!!! Dhar's office hours were pretty helpful for me too.

If you have a hard time with math you will have a hard time with physics. I have struggled, but I have received a solid B in 6A and a B+ in 6B under Dhar. If you go to office hours of the TA's and Dhar you'll slay the exams. Overall, Dhar has made the experience pleasant with his morning howdy's and saved me money by not needing the textbook.

I took Prof. Dhar last spring & currently & I believe he is a very nice person. I think the coronavirus has gotten the best of us & even I have personally struggled w/ both my physics courses...& all my other course :( Doing physics online while also dealing with the coronavirus, unemployment, children, and local fires has been a downward spiral.

This was my first time taking him and I was pretty scared considering the horror stories. However, based on my experience versus what I've heard about him, I think he's improved a lot and I didn't really experience anything bad about him. I also think the tests were fairly easy if you studied. All his tests are multiple choice, no partial credit

Dr. Dhar cares a lot about participation, so attendance to class and discussion are mandatory. His exams are fair as his homework represents his exams fairly well. If there's something you don't understand, go to OH, he is usually happy to extend his office hours if students still need help by the time his OH is over.

Alright so I took Physics 6B this quarter, and everyone here's complaining about "A 22 Q exam in 60 min?" They also didn't tell you that 2 questions were to write your name/rip scratch work and half the test was conceptual where the questions take 5-10 seconds each. He's a great lecturer, has great office hours, but takes a while to grade stuff.

Overall, I somewhat enjoyed the class. Professor Dhar was a lot more understanding and patient compared to last year. The only thing that was stressful was that you wouldn't know your overall grade until the very end. I believe the material was easier to understand, more interesting, and engaging when compared to 6A.

The ratings and comments on this page are absolutely wrong. Yes, at times his lectures were a bit confusing but he was more than happy to answer any questions and address your confusion. He tried his best to teach you shortcuts to memorizing things. This is the one physics class out of the 6 series that I actually understood and did well on.

Teaches the concepts decently enough, and has some good resources. Too many strange decisions on how to run the class though.

Honestly I am not the best at physics but this class was pretty chill. Most of the people complaining about him probably never took the time to do the examples he gives in class or even attended the lectures. If you put in the effort then youll have a good grade. Lots of partial credit on the midterms as well.

Alright professor - confusing at times & the 'formula sheet' he gives us can be a bit unclear, but his reasoning behind it was understandable & if you just asked during the lecture he'd try to clear up any confusion you might have. Gave us some extra credit as well which was nice of him. Grading did take some time, I don't know my final grade yet.

Doctor Dhar is a good professor. The course was hard, the homework was hard. The whole class was interesting. I struggled with the course extremely and failed the first exam, and did alright on the second. If you focus and try to learn the material and not memorize things you'll be successful. Don't blame the professor, Dhar was more than fair.

My second rating on Rate my professor. Dhar deserves 5 points because the max is only 5 points.

Pretty harsh grader but if you grind the homework you're fine. Frqs on exams are lowkey a joke but be careful with your trig, I wasn't. Mc is difficult but not worth as much. I didn't pay attention too much in class but I did listen to it in the background while playing death match in valorant and reviewed them at 2-3x speed. Smart guy tho.

Dhar is a great guy, hes funny and keeps lectures interesting. I got an 53 on the first midterm and a 78 on the second midterm. But somehow I was able to get an B+ by working hard and doing well on the final. Take his advice and rework problems. Especially lecture problems, if you do this you will succeed.

The class itself was structured a bit strangely. No textbook use, and ur grade pretty much is a product of 2 midterms and the final. He teaches well, is pretty funny, and is always willing to help out during office hours. Odd grading scale, our grades on the final is unknown lol. Work hard and you'll be fine, slack off and you'll have a tough time.

I really like learning physics from this professor. Although his pace is very fast, he is clearly deeply passionate about what he teaches. The grade is made up of tests (for the most part), which is pretty stressful.

I feel like some people dislike him because he presents material and writes homework problems in a way that forces you to think strategically, like actually use your brain. There is a learning curve to his style but if you genuinely try you will do well. He genuinely cares about his students and his work and his enthusiasm is contagious.

Amazing professor. This man loves physics so much and is truly so intelligent. He doesn't really answer emails but he has a lot of office hours and likes when ppl come. Ya his classes are hard but he teaches so that people learn. If you want an easy A absolutely don't take this class. But if you wanna work hard and learn a lot, 100% worth it

Dhar has great enthusiasm for physics. If you go to office hours & put in effort, he will take the time to help you out. Homework was sometimes frustrating since it was different from lectures/exams and the amount of algebra and unit conversions made it difficult to tell if I understood the physics. Overall, I learned a lot from this class.

Dhar focuses on conceptual understanding so make sure to follow his lectures and do the example problems cause they'll prep you for the midterms. He's a tough grader though so be warned. Also try not to fall behind because every lecture builds on the next. This class is time consuming but doable, and there was a bit of curve when I took it.

His class is chill, while it seems a little tough at the beginning, but with some effort you can be aight. I bombed the first midterm, did slightly above average on the second. Then alright on the final, I still got a solid B! If you have the option to take dhar for any of the physics series, I say do it, he gives you many chances to do well.

I was initially worried at the beginning of the course as he seems very strict and demanding about the structure of the course. However, I found a lot of his lectures to be helpful and clear in conveying concepts. He is a really nice person and is helpful in office hours if you have any questions. The quizzes and the finals weren't too bad overall.

Professor Dhar is one of my favorite professors so far. Super passionate and extremely smart. He teaches with methods, you can't just memorize equations. He repeats this countless times because its true, you must rework lecture problems if you want a good grade. Even if you understand the material office hours were the best resource available.

Dhar was pretty good. Dope

Honestly, Dhar is one of the best professors I have had. He is very passionate about getting his students to understand key concepts. Yes, this class is very test heavy but having taken 5A with him, you get used to it. Rework lecture problems and you are good.

Ok Dhar gets a lot of negative feedback on here and if I'm being honest I think it's undeserved. The reality is that physics is a difficult subject and takes a lot of time outside class to learn. But, Dhar's lectures are very well structured and he always teaches new concepts using old ones. I HIGHLY recommend attending his office hours.

Dhar was an amazing Professor and although the class was difficult, it was very fair. Homework consisted of weekly problem sets, and besides that, we had two midterms and a final. All three of which were very straightforward and if you do the homework and actually pay attention to lecture, getting a good grade is easy.

test questions are almost identical to lecture example problems with some little things changed, so just make sure you understand those example problems. The homework is harder than anything that ever showed up on the tests.

Professor Dhar does not deserve these "awful" ratings. In my experience taking his 5A class he was great in his lectures with example problems and great real-world applications of Physics concepts. All of his exams were based off of example problems he did in class, so if you're taking his class, rework his example problems countless times!

Dhar is one of the best professors I've had. You can tell that he cares about the success of his students and he prepares everyone for the exams since they are almost identical to lecture example problems. I recommend going to as many lectures and discussions as you can because they really helped prepare. It'll also help your grade for the curve.

prof dhar is one of my fav profs @ ucsc. bro taught physics in ways that made sense to me. he has a bad rep, but its just from people who don't apply themselves or put in the work. i hope he stay teaching the phys 5 series. as long as you REWORK THE LECTURE PROBLEMS (seriously, they're lifesavers and will be the key to success in this class.)

Yes, his physics classes are hard, but if you put in the work you can pass the class. Getting an A will be very hard, but I really like the way he lectures. He draws out problems on the board and never uses lecture slides, I find that it is easier to understand problems when it is drawn out and done, instead of prof reading them off slides.

I was super nervous going into the class due to the ratings on here, but Dhar was a really great professor. He always emphasized reworking lecture problems, and the exams would be extremely close to the lecture problems. The homework was never really too much and his lectures were super engaging and had a lot of examples that helped understand.

He is a really smart guy, he was kind to us and put in a lot of effort to host office hours and answer questions, he was also realistic about homework and extended deadlines without being asked which was greatly appreciated. Overall its a hard class, he's super strict, & you should expect to struggle but he tries and is better than other profs.

Physics in general is a hard subject for most. Dhar will teach you the subject, you will not be able to pass unless you actually learn the material. Anyone who needs physics in the future (MCAT,postgrad etc) highly recommend you take this course with him because you will retain. He is not tricky and tells you what will be on the test if you listen.

I was scared of taking physics with Dhar bc of the reviews but if you get to know him and go to his office hours, you will see that he is a very caring professor. The amount of effort he puts into his lectures is incredible. You will EASILY pass if you redo his lecture examples(don't study the HW problems) and go to his office hours for help.

Dhar is honestly a very engaging lecturer and his teaching style are super engaging and actually enjoyable. It is a pretty gnarly amount of workload for intro physics but it is a college-level class and you need to put the work in to pass this class. His office hours are super helpful and his lectures are pretty fire.

He's a great lecturer, and exams are made to be pretty hard. However, if you stay on top of lectures and homework, exams are pretty manageable. There's homework which is anywhere from 10-20 practice problems and discussion section, where you do 2-3 practice problems a week.

Dhar is an excellent prof. He cares about each of his students and provides good feedback. After reviewing and completing my practice problems, I was able to score a 94% on my exam. If you want to pass, you have to listen to his feedback, Dhar knows what he's talking about. Class averages are low, but if I can do it, so can you. He is a great prof.

Dhar is a great teacher I think he gets such low reviews from people in the 6 series who don't particularly like physics. he doesn't answer emails but he offers so many office hours and definitely cares about his students. he def moves at a learnable pace you just have to do your homework and prepare for class

Physics is a difficult subject but professor Dhar is fair. He tells you what to study for the exams, and is there to help solve problems in office hours. You need to put in work for this class, but if you try you will do well.

Professor Dhar's lectures are always clear and thoughtfully organized. He may seem tough, but if you speak to him you will find he is very patient and kind. His office hours were some of the most useful I've ever attended - he cares about his students and will often stay overtime to offer his support. Attend class and do the homework!

This is definitely a hard class but the professor is nice and caring and was extremely generous in granting extensions due to medical issues (not required by UCSC).

I think he has many bad reviews because physics is hard. He tries his hardest to help students understand, and his lectures are extremely helpful. Homework is frustrating but is helpful in the long run. Sections are annoying as the TA's aren't allowed to give correct answers to the worksheets. Midterms are fair but large portion of grade.

This is the best professor I have had at UCSC. He genuinely cares about his students and teaches in a way that is accessible and engaging to all. The entire class respects him greatly. That is not to say however that content is not incredibly difficult. You must attend every. single. lecture. without exception or you will not succeed.

Honestly, I hate physics but I love Dhar. He truly is a very caring person & professor. Though his course is very intense, you can tell that he is passionate about physics and will do everything in his power to help everyone succeed. He will be there to listen to your problems & grant you extensions if necessary.

You either love or hate this class. Personally, Dhar is my favorite professor I've had. Content is hard and he is strict about policies- especially participation (do NOT miss lecture), but he makes the most of your time. Lectures are engaging and directly apply to hw. Be prepared to struggle, but if you put in the time, you can definitely succeed.

Barun is the best teacher ever. His class is really difficult and will make you a bit crazy sometimes, but he is very passionate about the success of his students. His lectures are personality are great! The tests are difficult but if you redo lecture problems and pay attention to the targets of the word problems, you will be able to succeed.

Passionate professor who makes you work for your grade. In class examples are extremely important!

physics in general is hard, but dhar made this class enjoyable. he's a very understanding professor who genuinely cares about his students. if you attend lectures and attend his office hours you'll do great in his class! rework those lecture problems! he really notices the students who try and put in the effort to succeed in his class.

Definitely a tough class but a good professor. He definitely cares about his students and wants them to succeed, but also expects a lot from them. Curves a decent amount and office hours/class attendance is important

had dhar for 5A B and C. great lectures, did examples on chalkboard, always willing to re-explain. he really cares abt making sure u actually learn rather than just memorize random formulae. the content is difficult but its not his fault, thats just physics. exams reflected lectures more than hw. worst part is some hw Qs arent covered in lecture

Took 6A spring of 2023, taking 6B now. While physics is difficult and there is so much content to cover, Dhar puts in so much effort to help you succeed. He takes extra time in office hours to help you solve the homework and curves the final grade so that you'll pass even if you fail the exams. He gets a bad rep but he has only ever been kind to me

My favorite professor here. I had Dhar for 6A and I am now currently taking 6B with him. I hate physics but he makes it so easy to learn. His lectures are at a great pace and his tests are just like the lecture problems and HW. Definitely take physics with Dhar if you can.

I took Dhar again for 6B. His class is definitely not easy and this is probably one of the hardest I had to take. However, I found myself enjoying his class a lot more this year. His lectures are easy to follow. The homework is tough but the exams don't really correlate with the homework so just rework the lecture problems to study. Best of luck.

Dhar is the best. If you put in the time, you will reap the rewards.

Dhar is extremely kind and compassionate to his students. One of the few professors at Santa Cruz that genuinely cares for students and their success. Took 6A and 6C with Dhar. Rework your lecture problems and you will get As on test! Go speak to him. Absolutely hilarious and passionate about meeting students. Gem of a teacher.

His teaching method resembles eachers since he uses chalkboard instead of slides (sometimes he uses slides). OH after class every class making it easily accessible. They're meant to help you understand class material and go over hard problems on homework. He teaches you to better understand equations and apply them accordingly rather than memorize.

Physics is difficult for many, independent of the professor. Although the chalkboard style teaching may be different for some students, it didn't really affect my learning. Dhar is very responsive and will help you if you just ask. He makes himself accessible to students and that's a huge win for a subject like this.

Dhar's class can be tough and you can't slack off or else it's easy to fall behind. However as an instructor he is very passionate about teaching and his students. If you're having a hard time, he cares and will want to help you out. His tests are fair as most questions are similar to in class example problems. Best professor i've had.

Prof. Dhar is probably one of the best professors I have had at UCSC. He is very accessible outside of class and his lecture format of writing on the board was very helpful. Reworking the lecture examples is key for doing well on his exams.

Solid prof. I never really understood why he was so hard on us, especially since a series he teaches is for nonphysic majors but when he gives his motivational discussions at the end of his courses I finally understood. Many of us are on a route to take on jobs that have no room for error. He wants us to get used to that pressure and succeed.

I took PHYS 6A and 6B with Prof. Dhar. While I wouldn't say getting a good grade in his class is tough, doing so will be difficult if you don't put in the work. By that, I mean going to lectures, taking good notes, and doing the homework. Sometimes it feels daunting, but Dhar is a great professor who is eager to teach and more than willing to help.

Dr. Dhar cares about his students. If you talk with him, he will make a strong effort to get to know you. The class has difficult content if you don't keep up with it. But he says what you need to do very clearly: rework lecture problems. The tests are exactly like his lecture problems so just rework them and you will be golden.

I have never learned so much difficult material in a class. He is happy to help you outside of class and his office hours are super effective. Study lectures for tests and you will do well. Do not take this class if you are not willing to give a lot of effort. He gives a lot to students and expects a lot back. Cool personality.

Dhar is a very good lecturer but physics is a hard subject so you should put in a lot of time outside of class in addition to showing up to lectures, paying attention, and taking good notes. There was some kind of curve for the final when I took this class. One complaint is that you cannot see your grade in the class until final grades are put in.

His passion for the subject is contagious and his lectures are fairly engaging. Attendance is mandatory to qualify for the curve. While lecture recordings were posted, they were posted extremely late. His grading is not on Canvas so you have no idea what your current grade is or how you compare to the rest of the class.

Dhar was an amazing teacher and I really enjoyed going to his classes. It was very exam heavy, and sometimes felt like there was not enough time to take it (making me feel like I failed every test), but ended up doing pretty well. My best tip is to practice the hw before the test because a lot of his exams are similar to those types of problems

This was my second time having Dhar and he was amazing both times. Lectures are clear and concise. Homework was great exam preparation, Dhar was accessible with office hours 3+ times a week. He was always happy to answer questions and clear up misconceptions. One thing is that I wish we had shorter homeworks more often, rather than the opposite.

He is a little silly sometimes during his lectures, and tests are often about the lectures, so attendance is really important. I like the way that he teaches though, and I feel like the attendance is fair. If you show up, you get a curve on the class. Its a tough class though, so be prepared.

If you are looking to actually learn Physics, Barun is the man. He doesn't make the class easy, but if you put in the effort, you will be rewarded.

He is really passionate and it shows during lecture. The content is quite difficult and tedious but he does teach it well and he is an amazing lecturer. He has office hrs 3 times a week and is really helpful during his office hours. He really cares, responds to emails quick, but this is a pretty tough class so you need to work hard to do well.

Took Dhar for 5B and 5A. He is a very passionate professor. He is always available during office hours. The class should be fine if you're willing to put in the effort and learn. Take good notes in class and rework the lecture problems at home, this is essential for tests. Also, attend office hours they're very helpful for homework questions.

Although many students may have issues with Dhar I enjoyed his teaching style. The class is difficult but doable, I struggled a lot but honestly, I am a bad student. His lectures are thorough and can be a little fast. Overall good teacher with a hard material that requires hard work.

I really enjoyed Dr. Dhar's lectures and exams. He is probably everything you would expect a physics professor to be in college. OLD SCHOOL chalk board style which was nostalgic for me. I would not recommend his class if you are packed with other classes as his class demands total commitment happened to me and I received a B but learned so much!

Dhar cares quite deeply about the success of his students, I would say that he makes his tests super clear and based on lecture content. Many people come to college just to get a degree and you shouldn't take his class if that's your mentality. If u don't go to lecture you will probably fail, but otherwise his course is quite easy.

Dhar expects you to put in the effort to learn physics. This class focuses on very basic but fundamental physics. People who give low scores on RMP often give those low scores because they did not do well. You WILL do well if you put in the time, and you WILL do horribly if you do not. It is not an easy class, but he is an amazing and helpful prof.

Yes this class is hard and monotonous at times, but it is also a PHYSICS class at a "giant" UC! If you took AP Physics C in high school expect to build off of that. Dhar is a fine lecturer, but really goes above and beyond because of his office hours. GO TO HIS OFFICE HOURS, show up to lecture, do the homework (before section), you will be fine.

Dhar is a mixed bag when it comes to physics. Some like him and others hate him. Lectures are mandatory, but he teaches well and is accessible in office hours if you need help with homework or concepts. I only wish he didn't have lectures at 8am. Dhar will say this many times, and hes right: Rework the lecture problems if you want a good grade.

People tend to take their frustration with the difficulty of physics onto the teacher, which has led to his awful RMP rating. He has great lectures, best office hours out of any professor here, and tells you what to do for an A. People simply don't realize that Physics requires alot more work than other courses, and assume its the Professor's fault

Definitely the best professor I have had regarding teaching style. His explanations were very clear and he cared for all of his students. You will get a good grade as long as you go to lectures, review in-class problems, and go to the discussion section. His exams take up most of your grade and they are identical to the problems he gives in class.

POURING HONEY ALL OVER MY GOAT. Taught me the entire phys5 series, some of the best lectures ive been too, exams are just lecture problems, everyone giving him a 3 or lower just has genuine skill issues. Class is work heavy but its not mind numbing like other classes, and just gave me a better appreciation of physics over all.

His exams are very hard and are on a crazy time constraint, BUT if you pay attention, go to all the lectures, and rework the lecture problems like he says, you'll be fine. He is an amazing lecturer and somehow keeps me engaged at 8 in the morning, and cares for his students as well, he'll do his best to help you out if you need it.

Dhar does a fantastic job teaching physics concepts with easy to understand examples but his tests have an absolutely brutal question count for the time given and are closed note so be wary that your grades may slip easily

The best lecturer I have had here at UCSC. Old school teaching style(white board and chalk), but it honestly works. Attendance is mandatory, so show up everyday and take extensive notes.

Unlike professors who go through 50 slides in one lecture, Dhar's lectures are followable and sometimes funny. Dhar genuinely cares for his students. If you don't want to spend time studying, don't take his class. Rather than test scores, you're honestly graded for effort. I truly enjoyed this class despite having never taken physics before.

Like all of Dhar's courses exams are partial credit heavy, which is great. The content of 5C is more digestible than that of 5B and would compare its difficulty to 5A. I took the whole series with Dhar and I learned a lot. A lot of people complain about Dhar but his courses truly take a lot of practice redoing problems with the concepts we learn.

Took Dhar for the entire 5 series and learned a lot. Although it is difficult, if you put in the effort to learn then you will succeed in this class. Take good notes and rework all the lecture problems. You should go to office hours for help he's always happy to assist.

I've taken the entire 5 series with Dhar as many of these other reviewers have. You may dislike his teaching style, but his exams are extremely fair. I managed an A- in the class after completely bombing the first two midterms (scoring below 60's on both). If you put in the work, it will absolutely pay off in all of his classes.

Professor Dhar is one of the best lecturer's I've had. His tests are not easy, but they are extremely fair. All the problems given are copies of examples he's worked through in lecture. On top of that he is very generous with partial credit and applies a heavy curve at the end of the class. If you take good notes in class you will be fine.

His lectures are 10/10, I really appreciate how he writes everything down on the board instead of going through slides. The midterms were difficult because its around 7-9 problems in 1 hour, but they were from lectures so you already know how to do them. I feel like the fast pace of the class is more a problem with the quarter system than with him.

I will miss Dhar's lectures and remember them for a very long time. This was the most insane and cathartic class I have ever taken. He is passionate, hysterical, and very intense. If you take 5C with Dhar, it might as well be 7 units instead of 5, but I am grateful for my experience nonetheless. It's worth it.

One of the best lecturers at UCSC. However, he is divisive. He steps on a lot of toes with his old-school style of teaching and many find him frustrating and unfair because of this. If you accept that an A will not come easy, you will learn a lot in his class.

Barun is a super chill professor who only wants his students to put in the work. He is a very understanding guy once you speak to him and the lectures while early in the morning, I could always find him somewhat engaging. Office hours are goated so like go them and put in the work and it will be fine.

Dhar is an amazing professor. I keep seeing the same comments on his flaws, however usually those are from people who do not put in the effort. You LEARN the concepts in his class, not just memorize and forget. If you ever feel like he might be pushy, remember that he is only trying to push you to your fullest potential. Office hours are a W, go.

Dhar has really good lectures, but he is very strict about lecture attendance. You will learn a lot in this class and be prepared for future physics classes, but it is very rigorous and the tests are very short on time. Overall he is a great teacher and doesn't deserve his relatively low rating.

Professor Dhar is a great professor and really knows his stuff. The tests are not easy, but they are definitely doable. Overall the class is hard, but you definitely learn a lot. Also skipping lectures regularly will result in failing the course, so just keep that in mind.

Everything (HW/Exams/Sections) depends on his lectures/lecture problems. He doesn't use slides and he posts recordings late sometimes so you're kinda forced to take notes/learn how. Attendance is mandatory too. But Dhar himself is a great teacher and his office hours are super helpful. Overall the class is a big time investment but not impossible.

Although he may seem like a hard professor, he's very caring. His lectures are amazing and definitely help you for the exams.

do not base your opinion on him from reddit posts from years ago - he genuinely is a caring and funny lecturer, one of the best teachers ive ever had. the material is really difficult because its physics, but if you just do everything he says (rework lectures!) you should end up fine. people take their frustration with physics out on the teacher

Dhar is really a "tough love" kind of professor that expects you to pay attention in class and put in your work to genuinely understand physics (a big emphasis in class is not just memorizing formulas). But he genuinely cares about whether students learn the material, and if you go to his office hours he offers a lot of one-on-one help to students.

He's one of the best lecturers I've had at this school and genuinely cares about the subject and his students. That being said, this is one of the most stressful classes I've ever had. You just need to REALLY lock in and sell your soul to this class. As a lecturer he is great, but he makes everything harder than what it needs to be.

Not an easy professor but a great one. Amazing lecturer, cares for his students a lot. Writes everything down in chalk and works through example problems in lecture, very traditional teaching style. His class is a ton of work but he guides you through it all and if you are on top of your work you will succeed. If you miss lectures you're cooked.

Barun Dhar gets a lot of unnecessary hate. He teaches well and tests are based on lecture problems, and its genuinely not hard to do decent in this class. The people who typically don't like him, don't like physics but need to vent their frustration on someone and they choose my Pookie Dhar.

I had Dhar for 5A and now 5C. Dhar tends to have a bad rep among people who haven't taken him yet based on what they've seen online or from others. Once you do take him, you realize that he's actually good. I think most people find difficulty in the fact that physics is hard, and blame Dhar for it. If you want good grades, rework lecture problems.

College physics is going to be a hard class regardless of professor. That being said Dhar is one of the best professors if you want to get something out of the class. Informative lectures and makes sure his OH are acessible. Midterm and final are hard, but they are solely based on lecture problems. Rework and youll be fine.

He tells you exactly what needs to be done to pass the class. It becomes a struggle if you don't pay attention to lecture and rework problems like he says over and over again. He does curve, but you have to show that you are putting in effort in the class to earn it. Just follow his advice, use your resources, and put in the work and you'll pass.

If you are reading this to take 5a. Take his class. Barun dhar is by far one of the best if not the best lecturer at UCSC. He teaches and engages with the class with his writing on the chalkboard and interactive question asking. His grading is clear and curve is strong if you work for your grade. Homework takes time but teaches you. Excellent prof.

Took him for 5A and 5C. He's usually more lenient on things if you show that you try and go to OH. He's very passionate about what he's teaching and a good lecturer. He's clear on how things are graded and what will be on the exams. My only criticism is he often rushes through examples in the last few minutes of class.

Honestly, coming from high school with a teacher that wasn't very good at explaining physics, this guy was amazing. I feel like this has been said many times before, but it is true; He may not be a good professor, but he's a fantastic lecturer, and if you put in the work and demonstrate that you're trying to learn, I guarantee you'll get that A.

Dhar is actually my favorite professor so far at UCSC. Insightful and entertaining lectures. Maybe not the easiest class for some, and it was still hard for me, but it was well worth the effort and Dhar will take care of you if you put in the effort. I plan on taking Dhar for as many of my lower division physics courses as I can.

He means well and is trying to instill the core values of learning, but his expectations for an undergrad class are too high.

Love Dhar. Attendance is mandatory if you want to remain curve-eligible for the class, and the course is very lecture-heavy. Exams are just lecture problems. Sometimes, he overcomplicates content unnecessarily. He's passionate and forgiving with grades if you put in the effort. Homework is heavy and takes up a lot of time.

Professor Dhar is an amazing Physics professor, very rigorous and fair. It is difficult, but I feel very well prepared, and like his class is teaching me good habits. Just be aware that you'll have to calculate your own grade, since he doesn't post them until the end of the quarter. Also, participate in class, sit near the front.

Tough professor but you are forced to learn a lot. Do not take for an easy A, but if you want to really learn physics, this is the prof for you. The key is to go to office hours. Not only do you get help with the tedious hw, but you will understand his expectations. Attending office hours helps you receive the curve.

Very handsome and nice man. Class content is difficult but he is an amazing lecturer.

Dhar is awesome! As someone who came from no physics background I had at a hard time at first. Going to office hours is a must if you're in the same boat. Ended the class with a C (bad test taker) but overall learned the material super well which is what ultimately matters to me.

Best Lecturer I have ever had. Despite being an 8am, Dhar kept me fully engaged made me excited to learn. Outside of lecture, I do not like the structure of his class, with tests you can't finish in time and tedious discussion sections. Despite these gripes, I love prof Dhar and would 100% recommend him for physics.

No one individual (with the exception of my parents) has had more of a positive impact on my career's trajectory. Dhar served as an inspirational and informative professor. His lecture problems were simple to follow. I feel confident in my problem solving skills more than ever after this class. Brilliant, phenomenal professor.

I loved 5A!! Dhar cares so much about his students and makes the class very engaging—it was a lot of fun for me as somebody who likes physics/made friends in 5A/went to office hours. That said, if you dislike physics or lack the energy/time to devote to 5A (going to lecture and taking thorough notes), you might want to opt for another professor.

I really like 5B with Dhar! The class feels more disjointed than 5A bc the curriculum is loosely related topics (fluids, oscillation, waves, optics), but the lectures are engaging, heavily visual and example-driven. The exams (like 5A) are tough but fair (very fast and comprehensive: if you ask "will this be on the exam?", it probably will be).

This guy is actually the GOAT, anybody that's complaining about him probably saw that shitty reddit post (OP admitted to cheating btw) and are just parroting bad reviews other people have said about him when they're struggling with the class. Anyone that studies as he tells you to study will see he is an outstanding lecturer, physics is just tough

Every lecture he was very alert, answered questions with detail, would write slowly on the chalkboard with notes that you could copy directly into your notebook, and he always attended office hours. Also: every single problem on every test he gave was a problem from one of his lectures. People giving bad reviews just didn't attend lecture.

anybody that wins awards for excellence in teaching based purely on student reviews doesn't need to fake RMP reviews by the way, pay attention in class and don't take your frustration with physics on the one professor in this school that actually seems to really care about students. amazing lecturer

All of his tests are just made of lecture problems. While the content is difficult, he makes Physics sound like English when he explains it in lectures, and he gives a medium amount of homework so it's overall not too tough of a class. Just make sure to rework all the lecture problems before each test and you'll do well.

He has some of the most useful and helpful lectures I have ever attended. His expectations for students are plainly laid out and simple. He asks students to attend lectures and discussions, and do their homework. He is very good at answering questions in class and office hours, and clearly cares deeply about his students understanding the class.

Dhar is genuinely one of the best professors I've had. Although the lectures occasionally run overtime, he splits the time well between clearly explaining concepts and demonstrating their use in real-world problems that are good practice for the homework and exams. It's a difficult class but doable to do well in as long as you stay on top of work.

Dhar doesn't need to fake RMP reviews to make himself appealing, because the students he appeals to are willing to wake up for 8am lecture, willing to struggle through 10 weeks of complicated physics, and willing to understand that without a bit of pressure, there will be no diamonds.

I absolutely loved this class. I had Dhar for 5A and 5B and his passion for physics is unparalleled. You can tell he really loves his subject, and that leads to him teaching it well. The tests are dense, but if you complete the work he recommends (reworking lecture problems, doing the HW) I found that I never needed to study any extra to get an A.

Hands down best professor I've had at UCSC so far. He cares so much about his students and wants everyone who's putting in the work to succeed. He definitely made waking up at 8 am for a physics class super enjoyable! Everyone needs to take a Dhar class at least once in their life.

Best professor I've ever had. He truly cares about his students and genuinely wants them to succeed. His passion for physics is contagious you can tell he loves what he teaches. I never thought I'd enjoy physics this much, but his way of explaining concepts made it all click. No other teacher has ever made me this excited to learn.

Hands down the most impactful professor I've ever had. You can feel how much he cares about his students and wants them to succeed. I walked into this class unsure and intimidated by physics, and now it's one of the subjects I'm most passionate about, all because of how he teaches. Don't take ur anger out on Dhar because you are bad at physics.

It's crazy to me how Dhar has so many bad reviews, this guy is by far the best lecturer I have ever had in physics so far. So much so that I'm begging to have him again next year for 5C LOL. PLEASE DHAR TELL THEM TO LET YOU TEACH 5C IN THE FALL PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE. No but seriously, W professor.

I will miss Dhar. He made going to UCSC a significantly more impactful experience for me. Greatest lecturer I have ever had. Go to office hours and get to know him. You will find a caring, sweet, and accommodating mentor. I would take a class with him every quarter if I could. GOAT.

A very hard course for sure, he is great but very stubborn about his course structure, which can be stressful at times. But trust me, when he puts in that final grade you'll realize he is very lenient and as long you showed effort, he will get you right. Also hes strict about following his way of solving, but it is his class so that seems fair.

Despite what many reviews claim, I believe Dhar is an amazing professor. He's passionate about the subject and it shows in his lectures. Like many others I was intimidated by the number of 1 star ratings and in turn made me nervous about the class. But with a couple hours of studying and doing homework, you'll get along perfectly in the class.

easily the best prof i've ever had. i used to hate physics, but now it's something i'm seriously considering going into because of how he teaches. seems tiring at first (and is often stressful), but you realize it's easy to be excited about going to class when you have a prof who's clearly so passionate about the subject and his students.

I can tell he cares deeply about his students and the class. I've taken him twice. His class is fair, and has multiple opportunities to learn from your mistakes. One time I do have to note is that I don't really like it when he writes everything on the board first then explains since it takes up alot of class time and over extends the time given.

I had Dhar 3 times this year for 5A, 5C, and 5B. I can say without a doubt that his classes were the highlights of each quarter. His lectures are full of passion and he teaches in a way that makes the topics easy to understand. His tests can be tough, but just take good notes and you will be fine. It was an honor and a pleasure being in his classes

Dhar is an interesting teacher... he's passionate, and I personally believe his tests are pretty fair. I think his classes are good, as you learn a lot and they aren't too hard to pass. The attendance being mandatory at 8 am and for the curve affects a lot of off-campus students. Also not being able to see your grade sucks or know if you got curved

You will learn a lot from Dhar! Go to lecture, work through practice sets honestly and you gain a complex understanding of physics, both computationally and conceptually. The only ill thing I have to say is that your learning may not be rewarded on tests, which are so difficult that even brilliant and dedicated students will not do well.

HE REALLY CARES ABOUT U PASSING. i've never taken a physics class in my lyfe... it was hard but if you try you will pass. go to office hours, he will help you!!! i've seen him stay HOURS after office hours to help students. Dhar is a hard grader, physics is a hard class, but if you try I promise you will pass. rework them lectures fr fr.

Genuinely cares about teaching you what you need to know, as long as you pay attention in the lectures and do all other associated work you'll understand the concepts.

I was terrified about university leveled physics, and seeing his rmp truly didn't help. He sometimes rushes example problems, sends long emails, B=but I'm glad he was my intro to physics professor. His passion for teaching and applications of physics is infectious, and his last 5C lecture is still something I think about every now and then.

The best lecturer I've had at UCSC -- extremely engaging and hilarious once you get to 5b and 5c. He expects a lot of our students, but physics is a difficult and essential topic to grasp for all engineering applications. If you just do what he asks, the class is very easy.

Dhar is actually a very good professor so long as you take the time to connect with him --he's actually pretty cool when you get to know who he is as a person. All exam questions are directly synced with the lecture problems and there's nothing to read outside of doing the weekly problem sets.

Dhar is genuinely a great professor. He cares about his students. He wants to do as much as he can so you can pass, but your work effort and the time you put into the classwork outside of lecture will reflect on your grade. Tests are challenging but not impossible to pass. Do every assignment and attend every lecture, and you'll be fine.

Dhar gives a substantial amount of homework and will make you work a ton on the material. He has required attendance for all lectures and discussion, and sometimes has supplementary lectures. Midterms and finals are tough, have to know what you're doing or you don't have time. Lectures really well, very passionate about his topics. Curves real nice

Dhar is a great professor. Efficient course and lecture structure, challenging content, but he provides good explanations, and a good CURVE if you attend lectures/discussions/do hws. Despite other reviews, he's very accessible; talk to him in person during office hours. I've gone a lot due to health/travel issues; he's helpful and understanding. :)

THE INDISPUTABLE GOAT OF PHYSICS. I had Dhar for 5abc the entire year, and it has been a great one. I was hesitant to have Dhar based on the bad reviews I saw last year, however once you get used to his teaching in 5A, you realize hes actually a goated physics professor. I've never taken physics before that, but I'm glad I had Dhar to teach me.

I unironically think Dhar might be the best professor I've had. The class was hard, but Dhar's style of teaching is so well structured that by the end of a lecture, I would go from knowing next to nothing about a topic to being (hopefully) proficient. Your grade will definitely be above what you are expecting if you actually study for the final.

Great teacher, lectures are fun to listen to and very well structured. Lwk just study using lecture examples and don't use expertTA it didn't help much.

Best lecturer I've had at UCSC so far. Absolutely class at explaining things and knows how to explain hard topics to students. Didn't take a single physics class before him but I ended up taking 5a, 5b, and 5c with him. Just go to lecture, take good notes, practice lecture problems and you're set.

Amazing professor. Inspired me to actually enjoy engineering again. Despite the content being hard, Dhar is an excellent lecturer, and will spend as much time as needed helping you. The TA's are also excellent, which is rare. Overall the best class I've taken at UCSC, no notes. Absolute perfection.

I took him again for 5C over the summer and he is still pretty goated. My only complaints would be that you're forced to spend $24 on a 3rd party site and that he does not allow people to use laptops in class at all. He may seem strict in lectures, but he is way nicer in office hours. I recommend you go to all of them even if you have no questions.

I had him over the past summer, and I've had him for 5A and 5B before. He explains things pretty well and makes note taking easy. Also the tests he has are lecture problems, so if you study the methods from the lectures well enough it's basically impossible to fail.

overhated teacher, not the best but he's made out to be worse than he is. Do all the work he tells you to do, listen in class, go to discussion, and review the Expert TA homework and lecture problems before tests and the class isn't awful.

Dhar is by far the greatest and most captivating professor I've had. He makes attending class and learning actually enjoyable. If you do exactly what he tells you to do, you are guaranteed good grades on the tests and in the class. Exam questions are the same problems covered in lectures. Bad reviews are from lazy and spiteful students.

Super Interesting Lectures, but he is test heavy and you must prepare well for them. He assigns ALOT of homework on Expert TA but doing / redoing lecture problems is the strategy for good exam prep. I'd recommend him but take a light course load in the quarters you take physics with him.

I love Dhar's lectures; he is an amazing professor with a deep passion for physics. I attended office hours every week, and it is super helpful. His tests are hell on earth. You could understand the material perfectly and be able to solve problems from the lectures or homework, then go and absolutely fail every test. He better curve. Hard.

There's definitely some self studying with his class but he puts you on the right path with his lectures. My only complaint is that he puts the homework ahead of the lectures sometimes. Some also say that his way of doing problems is the only way which I somewhat agree with but the core concepts and the general math behind them are explained well.

He's very knowledgeable, and his lectures are clear and well paced. Reworking lecture problems and practicing Expert TA problem sets prepares you well. There are two midterms and a final, with the final replacing your lower midterm if you score higher on it. Stay engaged and don't fall behind.

Honestly think the rating is a bit unfair. Class is difficult don't get me wrong but is manageable if you don't troll (like i did). Just make sure to actually rework the lecture problems as the midterms are based off of those problems. Class is recoverable if you fall behind too i was 15 lectures behind at one point and still passed 5B.

Professor Dhar knows how to bring fascination to the course and you will feel it! I wish all professor in this physics department were able to bring their topics up with the same energy as Dhar... 5C this quarter was much more difficult, which is to be expected. exams in 5C were much more difficult, but overall this guy is the GOAT.

As some others have mentioned, he is the GOAT of the physics department, at least... if not one of the top 3 professors at this school (for me, at least). He is the most passionate teacher I have encountered during my three years here. His class is very hard, but that is by nature of the topic. If you have the chance to take him, DO IT.

Ngl twn Dhar my goat lectures very helpful wish he could teach all of my cs classes everyone who rated a 1 just couldn't handle the course rigor and just doesn't wanna put in effort.

He's a good lecturer but be prepared for essay length emails and him lying about the midterms. He'll say it's only 3 questions with parts, but the parts end up being entirely separate questions so 6-9 questions in an hour. It takes all of lecture for 1 question good luck.

Barun Dhar is genuinely a very good professor. The class average for any test is very low. This is due to the midterms containing more questions than time permits. On top of this, questions on tests receive partial credit, but you must do everything the way Dhar shows you, otherwise you won't receive partial credit. You will not have time to check.

Dhar's honestly a solid professor. Heard he had a bad reputation before taking the class, yet after attending his lectures, he's super passionate about what he's teaching. His lectures are very informative and, in my opinion, best prepare you for the exams. One of the better teachers I've had overall, would take a course with him again.

I absolutely love Dhar the GOAT of physics. Great at lecturing and prepares you well for exams. Rework EVERY lecture problem and difficult ExpertTA problems and you'll do fine. Tests are difficult bc of time limit not material. Gives lots of opportunities to redeem yourself and make a comeback if you don't do so great on either midterm.

Dhar is a professor many dream to have. Physics is my weakest subjects, but the support he provided made me so much more confident in myself and my abilities. He provides you with all the resources you need, and he is very kind with his grading. His lecture problems and office hours are grade-saving. Hope I have him again soon. :) Love ya, Barun!

Lots of people give bad ratings based on the difficulty of the class, which is unfair. The work you put in is the grade that comes out, Dhar's has a clear and strict structure that if followed will lead to success in the class which he speaks about alot. Lectures are clear and sometimes funny, homework heavy, would recommend.

Did terrible in his 5A but good in 5C because I ignored all the homework problems and just ran the lecture problems only over and over. His online make up lectures suck and won't stick, but genuinely just rework the lecture problems and you'll be fine. His in person lectures are pretty good though, genuinely enjoyed them and it was a decent class

Dhar is the best professor/lecturer I have ever had. He is engaging and makes a otherwise possibly boring subject very interesting. As long as you study what he tells you and go to class you will do well. The class is difficult but it is a physics course so that should be expected. He does expect a lot from his students, but he is an amazing prof.

Great professor. Classes were engaging, and exams were mainly lecture problems. He always emphasizes that you need to rework lecture problems, listen to him. If you can do lecture problems without needing much help, you're gonna do great. Make sure to ACTUALLY read the syllabus to see how you can qualify for the curve.