3.6
Quality3.3
Difficulty69%
Would Retake196
Reviews69%
Would Retake
196
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
65
4
51
3
40
2
21
1
19
What Students Say
“If you have taken calc before, no prob”
MATH151 - 3.0 rating“Onica is a great professor for Math 308”
MATH308 - 5.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
27%
Textbook Required
9%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Stable
+0.13 avg changeRatings by Course
MATH167
4.0
(1)MATH308
3.9
(70)MATH152
3.9
(34)MATH151
3.5
(51)MATH150
3.0
(29)Difficulty by Course
MATH142
4.0
MATH167
4.0
MATH150
3.3
MATH151
3.3
MATH166
3.2
Reviews (196)
He has a Romanian accent so sometimes he's hard to understand, and he even told the class that he learned the material he was teaching only very recently, so he was hard to ask questions to because he wouldn't always know the answer. Week in Review held by another professor definitely saved me! However, it's an easy math class, so you'll do fine.
I thought I was good at math until I took his class, I am apparently horrible at calculus. The highest grade I recieved on a test was a 75. He does not curve or give extra credit. He is a really tough prof, you have to do a lot of homework and I pretty much taught myself everything. He's not a bad professor IF you are good at math.
He's really not that bad. I was prepared for the worst, but I was wrong. Yes, he has some tough tests. He tests your understanding of concepts as opposed to straight plug-and-chug. He can come off intimidating and a little rude sometimes, but I doubt it's intentional; it's more of a cultural difference. He's very helpful and nice 1 on 1.
Professor Onica provides easy and understandable notes. The homework is pretty easy, and there is even practice homework that is extremely similar to the real homework. If you study your notes really well, the tests should go well for you. Even if you struggle a little, there are help sessions 5 nights a week and a week-in-review. Take Onica!
A lot of people had trouble in this class but I didn't have an issue. He has an accent but its understandable. He is fairly rude and not well respected by students. Overall a dull but passable class.
Gives pop quizzes at the end of class (we had 10 total), but they tend to be fairly easy. The tests are not terribly hard and are similar to the online homework he gives. Not a ton of work and the class is fairly easy if you go to class. He has an Russian accent so don't take him if you have a hard time understanding people!
In my opinion, Onica is a very underrated professor. He accomplishes his task and his lectures are very straightforward but a little bit of a cultural difference makes his thought process a little hard to follow sometimes, but he is very good one on one. Homework was never too hard, do it all and you'll pass the tests.
Although the math taught in the class is not hard, Onica has a hard time explaining things in different ways when students do not understand. He tends to have sassy and sarcastic replies to questions and though it is not his fault, his accent can be hard to understand at times. Homework was not hard but you have to do it to pass tests.
He was not as bad as I expected. You have to know your stuff, but tests are very similar to the homework. You will get annoyed because he makes a lot of arrogant remarks and will lecture the class about talking when no one is talking. He has a weird sense of humor. By the end of the semester, I didn't hate him.
MUST be in class for the quizzes. Tests are harder than expected.
Gave no quizzes in recitation, bit hard to understand, writes out good notes to follow and help with hw.
I'm pretty sure it's due to the cultural difference, but he really does have a lot of sarcastic remarks. When you're in class and you ask him to explain something again, he sounds very agitated and annoyed. But then again, that is his job - to teach so I'm not sure what his deal is. I ended up dropping his class.
This professor made me want to quit engineering as a whole. Lectures are extremely boring, make no sense, and he ends up solving problems that take 3 pages and won't be on the test. By far the worst professor I have had to date. Do not take if you know what's good for you
This professor is my favorite math professor I have taken by far. His lectures make sense and the homework is easy to solve based off of the examples in class. To prepare for the tests, just re-do the examples from lecture and the homework (sounds like a lot but very do-able) and the test will be extremely straightforward.
Onica doesn't mess around when it comes to this class. If you're confident in your math skills his instructions are clear and precise, but if you're looking for a professor to TEACH the material for the first time I would strongly advise you to choose another prof. Re-took the class next semester from another prof and made a B.
This is the best math professor I have ever had in all my years of school. He takes time to explain every aspect of a concept or problems an extremely detailed and informative manner. His lectures move at a good pace and he makes sure everyone is on the same page when solving problems and just generally made diff eq an enjoyable class.
This guy was tough. I took him for one of the easier maths at A&M, but he made it really hard. His notes were really clear, but his tests were super difficult. He doesn't like talking, eating, or most questions in class. My advice would be to pay attention to the problem examples he only goes over once. They'll be on the test and final.
Onica is a pretty solid choice for a math 151 prof. All of the math profs are pretty much restrained by the common exams, but Onica gives some pretty great lectures, and he's funny occasionally. He has a Russian accent, but isn't very hard to understand at all. Just realize that for Math 151, you're really getting a pretty standardized course.
Dr. Onica was a decent teacher, but he would spend a lot more time on the basics of a concept then speed through the more complicated applications. He covers everything needed and gives good direction for outside practice, so he gives you everything you need to do well, but he doesn't do much more beyond that. If you have taken calc before, no prob
I thought the lectures were fine. I enjoyed his personality during lecture. He has an accent, but I didn't find it hard to understand. He was very willing to discuss things students had problems with. He covered everything adequately for the common exams.
Had previously taken calculus and obtained a good grade, yet still found this class difficult. Easy to understand during lecture, but the homework is harder than the examples worked in class. Common exam grades could've been better if he hadn't only presented the simpler concepts. Had to Q drop. Don't take if you've never taken calculus before.
If you have taken calculus before in high school, he is a good professor. You may get a little bored sometimes, but it is a good review.
Dr. Onica is a nice guy as a human being. However, he is an awful prof. His notes are very hard to follow. His lectures are terrible and I couldn't understand a word he said. I actually just quit going to class and went to tutoring because I simply didn't know what was happening. Finally, he refused to curve the class or change anyone's grade.
Class wasn't terrible, no word problems for homework. No matlab hw, but optional extra credit matlab project. Tests were fair and just homework problems. BUT, Onica can be very demeaning in the way he speaks during lectures and always asks a min of 10 questions where he wants you to read his mind. He sounds like Dracula but he can be understood.
Overall lecture notes are clear and helpful, and tests are fair. Homework doesn't include word problems which is a bonus compared to other 308 classes. Constantin as a professor can be very demeaning. He asks a minimum of 10 random questions during class and always makes a point that you didn't learn calculus the correct way.
Professor Onica was very thorough in his lectures and as long as you go to class, do homework and study before test, there is no reason you shouldn't get an A or B. Test are fair and there isn't much homework. Very Russian, makes you feel stupid if you ask questions and hates being interrupted in class but if you can get over that then he's good.
Class isn't too bad if you pay attention during class. Tests are fair. if you study the homework and listen to what he says during class you should do fine. He sounds like Dracula which is dope, so you will feel like you're in medieval Russia learning math. He's a good teacher and likes to help his students.
Great lecturer with a very Dracula-ish accent. Wants everyone to succeed. Going to class is not required but extremely helpful, as his examples are pretty similar to the test questions.
His lectures are good and well-explained, but he is extremely picky in his grading. His expectations are very specific, make sure to write it all down or you'll never remember. He also does NOT allow calculators on exams and does NOT state this on the syllabus or mention it during class. We found out while he was passing out the first exam.
Dr. Onica is a great professor for Math 308. He is very clear with the lectures, and you could frame your notes from him, they're that neat. He is VERY clear on what will be on the exam, basically study the homework and you have an A in the class. Super fair guy, genuinely cares that you learn the material. TAKE HIM IF YOU CAN!
Took him over the summer in a 10 week. Definitely go to every lecture, and write everything down. In-class examples will be very helpful with the homework. Exam questions are even easier than the homework. He really wants students to pass and tries to give enough examples that are legitimately helpful. Would highly recommend him for DiffEq.
His lectures are mostly understandable and straightforward (doesn't like getting interrupted). Homework isn't overbearing, sometimes it takes about an hour. I went to his office hours when I wasn't understanding things in his lecture and I came to understand the course material a lot more. If you need help go to office hours, they're so helpful
Great professor. Made calc less terrible with his rockin' Romanian accent! Opportunity for 5 points extra credit through game study (not sure if always applicable). HW assignments due every Thursday, and it is not too much. If you want to pass common exams you should do HW and study past exams you get access to.
In his lectures he tries his best to go into the theoretical side, but is restricted by the Common Exams. He seems scary in class, but don't be afraid to ask questions or go to office hours. He has great examples and explains things well one on one. Sometimes he is unclear in class while doing examples, so be sure to ask questions in class.
He is the most precise man I have ever met, and he is extremely intentional to use precise terminology and syntax. He NEVER skips a step showing his work, and does countless practice problems. He emails us notes to follow along with in class, and uses lecture the day of exams as a giant review where we can ask what we want. Easy A and a fun guy.
I would recommend this teacher. He is very precise and to the book on his explanations but he is very good at explaining the solutions to the math problems. He really wants you to fully understand the math concepts. His final is really fair and his accent is pretty neat, too.
Onica has a Romanian accent but still very easy to understand. I liked him as a professor because he was very exact and thorough about everything that he said. Gives you what you need to make an A. Very easy quizzes, got a perfect grade every time. Often funny inadvertently because of his mannerisms. Kind of intimidating, but he means well.
Onica can be a little boring, and everything will kind of go right through your head. If you've never taken Cal 1 before, don't take him.
As a person who tries to avoid profs with accents, his accent is easy to understand. He teaches you everything necessary to do well in the class.
He is a very good lecturer, he wants you to understand the reasoning behind things and not just the steps to get to an answer which I found very helpful. He prepares you for the test as long as you go to class and pay attention. He's from Romania so he sounds a lot like Dracula but it is not hard to understand.
If you don't mind accents, he is an okay teacher for Cal 1. His final exam is all multiple choice.
Constantin has a great voice. He derives all concepts introduced to the class. I found his lectures prepared me well for the common exams. His final was harder than the common exams. Do not use your phone in class, he will call you out in front of the class. I found this very entertaining.
Dr. Onica is very well organized and teaches you what you need to fully understand the material without just going through mechanical steps. He makes it very explicit what he is looking for and testing over. If he mentions that he wants certain steps included, always include those steps. Overall a really great prof.
Dr. Onica had clear expectations on homework and exams. Although attending lectures is not mandatory, I would highly recommend going as he has specific things he looks for when grading. I found it very helpful that he warned us where students made mistakes in the past. His exams were easy if you did the homework and came to class.
Teaches the fundamentals of the materials, how the ideas were derived for half the lecture then provides examples for the rest. Does not want students with phones out, says it disrupts everyone and will drop you from the class if he sees you with it.
If you are not a person who learns well by lectures, do NOT take Onica. It feels like he's trying to teach a high school class, in a lot of ways. Also, he grades homework by grading two of the problems and using their grade for those two for the whole paper. I spent 6 hours working on an assignment and got a zero on it.
If you take Calculus in high school you could probably pass the class but if not take a different prof. Onica has a thick accent and teaches conceptually, instead of really solving problems. If you learn by seeing problems worked out you will struggle.
He teaches as though you should already know the material which makes it difficult to learn from his teaching style. If you don't have a strong precalculus or calculus background, you will struggle in this class.
He has an accent - sounds like Dracula but understandable. The class overall was not hard for me but I have taken calculus in high school previously. He is not a very helpful prof and grades hard on free response portion of tests. He will take off lots of points for simple mistakes. He does not like phones in class either (he will kick you out).
Dr. Onica is very particular about how he wants you to learn things. Having learned all of the material covered in class before I struggled with this. On the work-out portions of tests, if you don't do it EXACTLY how he taught it in class it's wrong. He is very strict professor.
He has a Romanian accent (he sounds like Dracula) but he is understandable. I took calculus in high school which made the course very doable for me, but if this is all new to you I DONT recommend him. Several HW assignments each week online. Very hard grader on free response part of tests. Not a very understanding prof, does not care about students
Onica is very strict, but with good intentions. You can't eat, talk, or have your phone out, but they are there so that everyone can have the same learning environment. He's a super tough grader but can curve if needed. You must have a good calculus background in order to keep up, & attendance is highly recommended. Most people dropped bc of that.
Professor Onica is a sold choice. He doesn't joke around or make class fun but he gets through the work and is fair in his grading.
I really enjoyed Onica for my first math professor. He wants you to understand the material well and can even be funny at times. He was strict in class with eating and being on your phone, but that created a great learning environment for me at least. He teaches to the test and will make sure you are prepared.
Mr. Onica is a tough professor. He explains stuff fairly well, however, if you are not a math person, it can still be hard. I thought I was good at math until I took this course. Also, if you miss the lecture, you will have an even harder time with the homework and studying. There is also quite a bit of homework involved.
One of the best professors that I have had at A&M. He very clearly outlines what you need to know, both in the class and in general moving foward. You'll need the textbook because all of the homework comes from the textbook (and there is a fair amount of homework) but he makes differential equations easy if you put in a little bit of effort.
Do not take this professor if youre a math major: take the honors version instead. Benito doesnt have graded homework nor a final. Onica, on the the other hand, gives way too much homework, and his tests and lectures are focused on computation, not theory. The final was the worst final Ive ever taken. TLDR: avoid Onica, take Honors Math 308.
Most of the study material will come from in-class notes, which are clear and effective, but not available online. Uses the textbook for 10-15 HW prob. which are due every Friday (grades only 2 randomly selected problems). 1st exam is easy, 2nd and final are tougher, but aceable if you study the notes and HW. Optional extra credit project.
Onica is the best math prof I've had at A&M. He clearly explains topics and his lectures are easy to follow. He tells you exactly what to expect on tests and how he wants the problems solved. Weekly homework didnt take too long if you started it when you got it; only 2 problems are graded. An extra credit project is given to raise your lowest test.
Onica is a good professor who fosters a great learning environment. His lectures are informative and there is a noticeable lack of distractions during them, due to him being understandably strict about cell phone usage. This was the easiest higher level math course I've taken, and I'd like to think that Onica contributed to that.
He explains things once then expects you to know it so hopefully your good at learning on your own.
Not an amazing professor, but there are certainly worse ones. I feel that he genuinely wanted everyone to understand calculus, and aside from a few exceptions with his lectures he did pretty well at that. However, he comes off as strict and cold, with a low tolerance for stupid questions.
Onica is a funny nice man, but he makes 150 too hard for the adjustment into college mathematics. He goes against everything high school teachers teach us and goes too fast in lectures to keep up. Beginning of the year is easy but by the last exam you struggle badly.
Dr. Onica's lectures are very informative. The lectures explain the concepts clearly, and enough time is dedicated to each topic He really encourages you to understand the concepts rather than to only memorize them. The lectures are then supported, sometimes too much, by the required homework. Provides plenty of helpful study material for the exams
Onica really has a passion for teaching and you can tell. He gives proofs for most equations which always helps me understand them and he genuinely cares about his students learning the material. He does have an eastern European accent that is hard for some people to understand though.
He really cares that you understand the material, it is important to him that you understand why things are the way they are and that you don't just memorize everything. If you do the homework early and read the textbook along with the lectures you'll be able to succeed.
Onica is a caring and understanding professor with extremely clear grading criteria. He posts the exams from previous years which are very helpful for the tests. He is a great teacher if you show up to class with required materials and listen and take notes.
Professor Onica understands that the point of teaching is that the students learn to apply the material and it shows. He does an amazing job of cutting the BS and making math simple. All of his homework is straight out of the book, maybe 3-5 problems from each chapter/lecture, and they're always exactly like what we did in class. Exams are simple 2
Dr Onica is the best professor for Diff Eq. His lectures are easy to follow, and his expectations are clear. His homeworks are exactly like the problems he does in class, and the tests are very simple. He's charismatic enough that the class isn't boring even if the material kinda is.
This professor lays out exactly what you need in the lecture. Pay attention, take good notes. Follow the steps he gives, it's the exact same in all the lectures and exams. A little uptight, but will tell you exactly what you need to do. Assigns a few good practice problems from the textbook. Not too bad. Refer to lecture examples.
This is probably the best math professor I've had. He's super strict about cheating, paying attention in class, etc., but he's super clear on how he wants problems done. Everything he teaches is on a step-by-step basis and he tells you exactly what to expect on tests, there are never any trick questions that come out of the blue.
Professor Onica is very specific. In class, he goes through a proof that you'll never use and works out 2 or 3 problems step by step with specific instructions. The homework problems are very very similar to the lecture examples. Also, he says when a problem will be on the exams and how he will grade that problem. The exams don't go past the hw
Onica is a solid choice - his lectures are easy to follow, the homework is manageable, and his tests are not that bad if you study the homework and the lecture notes. For 308, the textbook was used pretty much only for homework problems. I rarely used the textbook to actually learn the material. Make sure to go to lectures and take notes though.
Best prof I have had so far. Strict about not being on phones or talking in class. He doesn't post his notes online, so go to class and write what he writes down. Do the homework the day it is assigned so you don't get behind! If you do what he says, the class is pretty easy. Weekly homework, 2 tests + a final, but no quizzes or attendance checks.
Professor Onica is a great choice. He's very neat and does a great job of conveying information during lectures. He gives attention to his audience throughout the entire lecture and does not speak in a monotonous tone. I would definitely take his class again.
Assigns a lot of homework problems each week, but will only grade 2 of them, meaning that if you get one of those two problems wrong you get a 50% on that homework. Homework always assigned out of the book. Problems must be solved his way, or they are incorrect. 90% of the class grade is exams. Do not reccomend.
Gives long homeworks but bases your grade on two random problems. Tests are long, requiring absolute mastery of the material to finish on time and all work has to be done his way or you get no credit. On top of all that 80% of your grade is tests. His teaching method is fundamentally flawed, with no room for error in learning. Not recommended.
Assigns 20+ problems for HW each time but only graded on 2 problems, so if one of those two is wrong you have a 50% on that HW. Problems on the hw and exams must be done his way or they are wrong. No grade forgiveness in the slightest. Textbook used for HW. Expected to read up on each section before class. Lectures aren't good.
He has a pretty harsh Eastern European accent. Treats you like you're dumb if you ask any questions. Complains about his students a lot of time. Wasted a lot of time during lessons just solving out questions he didn't need to. Still a pretty funny, nice guy. Just a man trying to hustle in his day to day life.
Professor Onica is amazing. He puts in a lot of time and adjusted well to online teaching. He emails his students a lot, so if you are terrible at keeping up with email and preparing to watch lectures before class times, don't take him. Personally, I felt confident on exams because he provides so many resources for his students.
He's straightforward with students who ask him questions. If you had an A in high school calculus, then you will have an A here.
Dr. Onica is great. He provides prerecorded video lectures to watch before class each week, then spends the class doing example problems and answering any questions. His accent was not difficult to understand, and he does a great job covering exactly what we'll need for our exams, and providing enough material to study. Would definitely recommend.
Dr. Onica is excellent! He truly cares that you understand the concepts (not just memorize formulas). He does have an accent, but I found that it was very easy to understand and actually helped me remember. Onica is a perfectionist, making sure his (very neat) notes are error-free. Very helpful in office hours!! Not too much homework.
Prof. Onica is a decent professor for MATH 152 and I'd say his rating is just about right. He clearly cares about his students and wants them to succeed and he won't go easy on you. The class also has 4 tests total that make up 80% of your grade so definitely study well for those tests. If you do everything he says you should be able to do well.
Dr. Onica is an incredible professor for MATH308. If you attend lectures and take notes on everything you will get an A in the class. He is very clear about what you need to know and what will be tested. Since you can verify the problems with the back of the book you should be able to always ace the homework as long as you don't cheat. Good prof.
My man Onica is not a 'nice' prof, but he is a good one. He provides plenty of examples and makes things easy to understand. He is explicit in what problems are on the exams and how to solve them. He is grumpy about asked questions, but will re-explain anyway. If you watch the pre-lecture videos and do the homework, this class is a breeze.
He has very concise/precise lectures. Doesn't go over time. He isn't the nicest. But he is very clear in what he wants and the lectures make sense. The homework are from the textbook and the MLC is usually able to help. He doesn't always understand students' questions. But his accent is very understandable and material not too difficult.
Onica is an amazing professor that teaches you everything you'll need to know for every exam. If you struggle keeping up in his lectures, he posts all his video lectures online. Homework should be an easy 100, as you have 3 attempts per question, receiving full credit if you get it right once. No extra credit, but lots of quizzes and hws to balance
Great teacher, but lectures are optional because of large amount of study material available online
Dr. Onica replaced my original prof., Dr. Erdelyi, and it was a night and day difference. While Dr. Onica is really unapproachable and hard to ask questions of, he is a great teacher and I found math 152 a lot easier than I expected after he became my professor. His accent is easy enough to understand, and he grades reasonably for tests.
Extremely honest man. Not super empathetic, but instead extremely honest, which is a quality I can respect. He genuinely wants his students to pass, but it definitely isn't an easy class.
The final was pretty difficult, but otherwise Dr. Onica is a great teacher. A lot of people it looks like reviewed him negatively because he is strict and very blunt sometimes, but he is a more than capable teacher, and he did a good job teaching a hard class this semester
Dr. Onica is a very blunt man, but he isn't the worst professor out there either. There are 4 exams that are worth about 80% of your grade so make sure to study for those. There was homework due every Thursday, but it wasn't the worst ever. If possible definitely have a study group if you need it.
Dr. Onica is a better than average prof. but not the best, his lectures are good and he posts notes are videos (or at least this semester, during covid) but the final was absurdly difficult for no reason, had 96+ for all the tests and almost failed the final. Still got an A but make sure to really study for it, it's less than ideal.
The lectures were ok, covered all the material on each exam but not in enough detail or complexity to be able to do well on the exam without substantial studying of the previous semesters common exams. End of the semester was weird, lessons didnt really relate to the final and the final average was in the low 50s with no curve which was kinda rude
He's not the 'nicest' guy in the world. He'll tell you if you're wrong straight to your face. But he teaches well, tries to explain things intuitively, has good notes, and has recorded lectures. He does skip over some foundational elements of problems after explaining the first few times, but that's because of the pace of the class. Solid prof.
Great professor if you're already familiar with the content. He's really good at getting your understanding level from a 6 to a 10, but for people with no cal 2 background, getting to that 6/10 understanding can be difficult. Supplemented with an occasional online review video, should be an easy A. (I didn't start trying until too late)
His lectures are very straightforward and consist of him going through different examples. As long as you come to class, you will gain an understanding of how to solve problems eventually. He also gives detailed reviews before exams to reinforce your knowledge.
I would recommend against Dr. Onica mainly in the way he teaches. He doesn't answer questions asked in a helpful way and the lectures are pretty much just mindlessly copying down notes as he writes them without very much explanation.
Gives great notes during class, and works through certain problems exactly. Course is difficult, but there are no surprises, and he even tells you exactly what type of problems will be on the exams.
Dr. Onica might be the best professor I have had at A&M. He is extremely organized; all work is given in an orderly manner and he grades and returns exams quickly. The lectures are of the highest quality, everything you need for the exams he goes over clearly. He is also very strict with people talking in class, keeps a tight ship.
No mandatory attendance, but it really helps to show up. He is an amazing lecturer and if you pay attention in class and do the homework on your own, you will do well in the class. He really teaches the foundation of diff eq so it makes it easy to retain the info.
Dr. Onica is an extremely fair man. He won't appeal to a lot of people because he's very straightforward and will not be nice for the sake of being nice haha. His lectures are as organized as possible and he specifically tells you in class what he expects on each question in the exam, of which there are 3. Class is very easy as long as you attend.
Like many other reviews, I agree that Dr. Onica is not a nice professor, but he is a very good and competent one. Though this class was a highly accelerated summer course, he made it relatively easy to digest. Always try to complete the homework as it is assigned, and you'll do well. The exams make up 80% of the grade, but there are no surprises.
Professor Onica doesn't waste time with small talk or unnecessary information. He is super structured and if you study lectures and homeworks you will be perfectly equipped for the test. He isn't super friendly but he breaks down the material to make it very understandable and applicable. I would definitely recommend him for differential equations.
If you already took calculus before, he is a decent choice as a professor. He is very precise, which leaves little left to be imagined after his lectures. He expects you to do the homework without any outside resources so that you are more prepared for the exam.
This man is amazing. He's hilarious without trying, and he's not as "mean" as some people might claim. He makes sure nobodys distracting anyone in the class and doesn't allow for people to just talk through his lectures which I admire. He's a great prof, just work on the homework without using mathway or symbolab.
I would NOT recommend Onica! He doesnt seem to care about his students success. I took Calculus in high school, and even then I barely survived his class. Overcomplicates concepts, and is super mundane in lectures. Also was very hard to cooperate with when I got sick. Super stubborn with due dates, and doesnt have anything online to use.
Onica gets unnecessary hate because he teaches a generally very difficult course. He really cares about his students though and breaks things down, so you actually understand them rather than just memorize. He is also really funny especially when we were waiting to start exams. He does move pretty fast though which isn't for everyone.
Dr. Onica is an okay professor. Often rude at times and on occasion makes students feel dumb for asking simple questions. Often overcomplicates the concepts. The work isn't all too bad as long as you understand everything from the lectures and there are 3 common exams & a final exam which have basically the same questions as past exams. Study those
Dr. Onica is a great professor. Almost everything that will be found on the exams is taught in the lectures. He can come across as intimidating at times, but is always respectful when answering questions. There is a lot of homework through webassign but the questions are relavent to each exam.
Dr. Onica is great professor on its own. But for some reason I was not able to understand any of his lectures so I had to watch YouTube videos to understand most of the material. Practice tests are best way to study for exams. Even I took Calculus at high school but still struggle in this class. Wouldn't recommend him, please try other option.
Practice exams are the way to go here. Took Calc in highschool but math has never been my strong suit, he goes really fast in class and is a great prof for those who know whats going on already. For the latter however, not so much. Attended Senguptas WIR sessions to understand the material better. Gen chem was 10x easier than this.
While he lectured very fast, his notes were very in depth and he really made it easy to understand difficult topics. He also went over practice exams before every exam which was a big help. Overall, I liked how he taught calculus in a conceptual manner instead of just making us memorize rules and formulas without actually knowing what we are doing.
This class is a breeze if you took Calculus in high school but a little difficult if not. Onica explains problems in the lecture notes in a quick but understandable manner. There is a weekly quiz and also a weekly lab where you use Python SymPy to solve questions. Don't mess up on your common exams or on the final, each is worth 20% of your grade.
He teaches all the material but he makes a lot of things unnecessarily complicated. It's fine if you already took calculus before but if you haven't I think he makes some concepts more difficult than they actually are. Other than that, he's a pretty average professor.
Professor Onica's notes for this course were a little confusing at times. He introduces it with every detail possible, so you can understand the concept of the equation or theorem, but that just confused me more than anything. The practice exams are definitely the ONLY way to ace the exams, and even then you have to be extremely careful in the FRQ.
Prepares you well for the tests but pay attention in class
Dr. Onica is a very smart man, however, he made the concepts of the class way more difficult than they needed to be. If his way of teaching confuses you, I would definitely recommend watching the MLC videos. Take advantage of your access to past common exams, they really help you succeed on the tests.
Dr. Onica is definitely one of the better math proffs for 151. His lectures can be a bit difficult to follow but if you go back over and read the notes on your own time they're helpful. The next statement goes for all 151 students, take advantage of the past common exams archives. Only downside Onica's final was harder than most other 151 finals.
Onica focuses on teaching the theory behind math before teaching the actual math. While it is understandable why he does this, I found it often led to me being more confused than if he just spent that time explaining the math equations and functions. He is not necessarily the most caring man either and I taught myself the material mostly.
Dr. Onica is a very smart professor and clearly knows his stuff. This, however, means that his lectures can get a bit confusing when he delves into the theory behind the math. Interesting, but confusing. My one mistake was not using the MLC or other departmental resources when this happened to me. Make sure you use those and you will be fine.
Would grade on exams based on methods used in class even if they were not used in book, furthermore graded based on memory of proofs. Very difficult to please him as his expectations were to mimic his style of work. Great lecture notes and truly understands what he is teaching, however, could use some modernization of this course.
I think he is one of the best math professors I've had! He is great at doing his lectures and he is very clear with his expectations. He is a truly nice professor who wants you to succeed and learn. I think he was very funny sometimes and made the lecture entertaining. This is a hard course and I think he made it possible.
Professor Onica is an amazing math teacher and truly makes you understand the concepts behind the math. However, he is very strict on the steps taken to solve each problem and will count off points if you do not write every step out exactly like he does. Although, he is extremely clear about what he wants, and his exams are easy if you do the hw.
In class, he makes it really clear what he is looking for in your answers to questions and also tells you what types of questions will be on the tests beforehand. Additionally, he tends to put the less complex problems on tests so that the questions don't take too long to do.
I usually dread math, but this class was ok. Took the summer course. Material is broken down so it's easy to understand. Prof does talk about the importance of the theories, but I didn't find it to be detrimental to my grade and I feel like it helped me understand the processes. Go to lecture (fr), take notes, do the hw, etc and you'll be fine.
Onica posts videos going over the notes and uses in-class time to go over key ideas and do a few practice problems. All of his examples he uses in his notes are either previous exam questions or questions he'll put on the upcoming exam. Highly recommend going to both. Not a super outgoing dude but he clearly states what he is looking for on exams.
Not the best professor, but knows what he's talking about. Cares that his students understand the theory behind the math which is understandable and not necessarily a bad thing but I think it confuses a lot of people by seemingly overcomplicating the math. I ended up teaching myself the math off of his notes instead of listening to lectures.
Confusing lecturer, so I rarely attended. TA's seem to do vast majority of work. If you don't already have a firm grasp on pre-cal, don't take him. He will not teach you much. Most of my learning came from or online videos. The assignments/quizzes/tests are pretty easy, but you do have weekly labs where you have to code and these can be tricky.
Onica answers emails within minutes almost every time. He is always available for help if you need it and treats every student equally. Good lectures as long as you can get used to the Romanian accent!
Onica is a bad teacher. The best way to put it is he goes through the material as if you already know it and does not stop for questions. Tons of HW in the class, 3-5 assignments that are 10-40 questions a weel. Tests are weighted heavily but no to hard as long as you review the practice tests. Do no take if you have not taken precal before.
DO NOT take Onica if you have no prior calculus knowledge. He is a very knowledgeable man, but my God. Spends half the class yapping about not memorizing equations, but to instead understand the logic behind them. My grade started to significantly improve once I stopped going to lecture and taught myself from YouTube.
He does teach things more difficult than needed, but since I took cal AB in high school this class was super easy. If you do all of the homework and practice assignments (especially practice test) this class will be easy. His lectures can be funny sometimes but is strict on grading and on due dates but it's to treat everyone fairly.
I took Calc BC in HS and struggled a bit in this class, the recitation labs are more helpful than the lectures IMO as he doesn't really add anything that isn't on the notes on Canvas. The best way to study for the exams is to review the quizzes. The online homework gets annoying because the website isn't the best and there's a lot of it each week.
His lectures are hard to understand, and he does not go step-by-step for most problems. When he lectures, he does the math as if you already understand it, and he goes really fast. There is a lot of homework, which helps you learn the topics. His exams are 77% of your grade, and you have to do well on them to get a good average.
His lectures were very hard to understand. He taught like you already knew the material and it was review. TA was much more helpful than the professor. No extra credit was given. A lot of coding with python, which goes hand in hand with your other classes if you're an engineering major, but if not then it's going to look like a foreign language.
The lectures are often hard to follow and understand. I started teaching myself online through YouTube and the Math Learning Center, which improved my grades on the last few exams. There is a lot of homework every week, and tests make up most of your grade.
He's a pretty good lecturer if you can get past the Romanian accent. He's quick with his emails outside of class and makes sure that he lays out his instructions clearly. Homework every class period with 3 total unit tests and one final. Make sure to ask him if you're confused or else he won't wait for you to catch up.
Tests made up most of your grade as hw and quizzes had little to no affect on your grade. Group Python labs
This course takes a lot of studying. I particularly did not like the way he taught in lectures and ended up teaching myself most of the material. The TAs will be your best friend in this class. His grading is 77% exams, so they really make or break your grade. I would take him again, if his final was not as hard as it was.
By far the best math professor I have ever had. He explains concepts very well is very clear about what kinds of problems to expect on the exam. Homework isn't bad- he assigns a lot less of it than what I've heard other professors assign. All the lectures are posted online. He can come off as intimidating but is actually quite funny.
This is an engineering math course, so it's bound to be heavy and I can't knack on him for that. He makes it very clear-cut and is stern but extremely fair in his expectations. Also he is very sassy and is such a mood. Easy A by the way, literally just do the homework.
Completely moody and mad all the time. Ended up learning everything on my own after he kept screaming at people to stop talking.
GREAT! Very clear about what he expects on exams & homework. If you follow the methods he shows you (which he outlines very clearly with ALL the steps) on problems, you will get full points. If you take good notes, pay attention in class, and do all the steps exactly how he shows you, you will do well. One of the best math profs I have had.
Great professor! He worked through theorems and proofs that really helped me understand what we were doing and how we could apply it. He was very clear about what would be on exams and really cared that we understood the material. He would make jokes to break some tension and is a wonderful professor!
Took the class in Fall 2023 and it was the easiest class of the semester. I liked the way he taught lecture because he broke down the steps rather than just straight up memorization, though I knew a lot people who didn't like that. He also provided a lot of study material for exams which carried me through the class. Overall great professor!
Easily one of the best professors I've ever had. I would give a 12 out of 5 if I could. He is hard but is fair, which means no exam curves. He writes the notes with us and actually teaches the content. It is a little hard to keep up because he writes fast and there's a ton of material, but he answers questions very clearly if you ask. PLEASE study.
Solid pick for differential equations. Do your best and attend lectures and follow long, go over recorded lecture videos on canvas if needed. Homework can take some time to do since there are often lots of problems assigned, only about 2 problems of the whole set will be graded which you don't know beforehand. Practice HW before exams.
Constantin Onica is the GOAT for Math 308. He makes very clear what you'll be tested on and if you can answer those questions the tests should be a breeze. He even posts his lectures on canvas so if you miss class it's super easy to get caught up on the material. Although the homeworks can be long sometimes, they're an excellent way to practice.
Grades test EXTREMELY hard and is super specific on showing work, has good notes and lectures but expects very accurate stuff
This math course is challenging, but the professor provides helpful study materials. While the lectures can be tough to follow, using Unstuck ai and the Math Learning Center really boosted my understanding. Attend class, do the homework, and you'll likely earn a solid grade.
Dr. Onica's lectures were very in-depth and helpful for preparing for the common exams. He usually gives 1 or 2 online homework assignments per week which are usually pretty easy. He's a serious guy, but he's still pretty friendly and approachable. Gonna take him for diff eq next year too.
Probably one of the worst Math 152 professors. Stopped going to class halfway through the semester because of how ineffective his lectures were. I used the online videos he posts, which in my opinion are way better to understand than going to class. Unless you want to hear him say "Stop talking" all class period, don't take him.
This guy is so obnoxious. You can't ask any questions one on one without him being condescending and rude to you. He's definitely a smart guy but he makes sure that you know it because everything he explains is in the most complicated way ever and no one understands it after lectures.
i didnt like his lectures cause he went too fast and i would occasionally need a few minutes to rehash an m151 topic and get left behind, but he provided his 2020 lecture videos which worked out for me where i could just stay at home and pause whenever i needed to. overall hes decent and if you put in the work and use your resources youll be fine
Very great teacher overall. Would recommend. His final was pretty difficult and he's pretty funny. He has a good teaching style.
he's absolutely horrible, he does not care about his students and does not realize his actions affect these kids' life. i am sad about the way he treated me
I enjoyed Onica's class. He speaks with a noticeable (but understandable) accent and has a very dry sense of humor, which I think made it difficult for many in my section to find him relatable. The class is not easy, but Onica does a good job making success attainable if you are willing to work for it. I plan to take him again for a later course.
Dr. Onica is a good professor. He has an accent, but he is pretty easy to understand. Although many people say the final is difficult, as long as you study, it is very doable. He thinks students know more than actually they do, and he can be very blunt in his responses to students. You have to study a lot to do well in his class.
The professor is great, I'm definitely not good at math by any means but for the first time taking Cal 2 (Never took Calculus in high school) he's pretty nice.
Professor Onica was better than I expected for MATH-152. His lectures are very straightforward and he will answer questions to the best of his ability. The homework does a great job of preparing you for the tests if you do them all properly. Your grade is very dependent on the 3 exams and final, so make sure to put lots of time into studying.
If you go to his classes and take good notes, you will be perfectly fine. He explains things super well and I never left his class confused. Use the past common exams to study for the tests
Honestly was dreading taking him but was much better than I expected. If you learn better online I def recommend him bc he posted the entire sem lecture videos at the beginning of the sem so I found it easier to understand the material. He ended up dropping a couple assignments which really helps everyone! Would def take him!
At first I was dreading the final but he gave bonus points and it was much easier than I thought it was.
Great professor for students who may have taken calc BC in high school or are generally good at math. I thoroughly enjoyed his lectures and he explained everything pretty clear. However, he never explained anything more than once, which meant that if you missed class or weren't paying attention you would have to find a recording of his lecture.
u can get all the answers correct with valid work but if it is not the way he taught down to the hair you will still fail the exams and do bad on the homework. someone this particular should not be teaching first time diff eq students as he has an absolutely crazy method of grading.
Nice man but horrible grader and super disorganized.
Hands down the best math prof I've had. Lectures are very well structured, and his expectations are clear. He is transparent about what will be on the exams. He cares about your understanding and states what the purpose of each topic is. Take the time to understand the homework and processes explained in lecture. No quizzes. Exams and HW only.
Lecture videos are accessible outside of class which came in clutch. I found his style of teaching to be really engaging, but I know a lot of people who didn't resonate with him as much as I did. Weekly quizzes and biweekly group python labs were both pretty easy as long as you keep up with the lectures and homework.
I do not know why his reviews on here are so high. Talk to anyone in real life and you get the real picture - he is a very strict and demanding professor. Honestly unreasonable. A ten question exam with multiple parts each in 50 minutes is crazy. Every other professor does five questions with easier numbers and easier grading.
I was recommended to take this professor by a fellow engineer, and I was satisfied with his class. I was aware of everything I needed to study, complete, and retain to do well in this class, and I believe the materials/lectures that were available to us were very helpful. 50-minute exams are harsh, but just master the homework and you will be okay.
Prof Onica is a solid professor. He explains concepts clearly, and the tests are easy to prepare for. If you've taken Calc 2 before, this class will likely be a relatively easy A. He is not very warm or friendly, but is a solid teacher. If you're on the fence, I would recommend.
Super strict over miniscule details, exams are incredibly long for the allotted time, and super nitty gritty. Will take points off for the smallest things, exams are much harder than other professors. Very in-depth guy but just take someone else, he focuses too much on the unimportant stuff.
Prof. Onica is strict about what needs to be shown on exams, but he always makes it very clear what he's expecting. Homework and exams are straightforward. Exams are tight on time because of how much content he puts on them. He has a really great set of videos for the course that he puts on Canvas, so going to lecture isn't necessary.
I understand why people dislike his teaching style, convoluted and difficult to follow, but he makes up for it by explicitly outlining what's going to be on exams, which are all FRQ and lots of partial credit but pretty packed. Before exams he outlines them by telling you what you are going to be solving for in each problem. He grew on me honestly.
He's an outstanding professor overall. He tells you exactly what will be on each test (with the exception of the final) making the class easy to study for. Additionally, his lecture style is very engaging and what he shows in lectures is often what shows up in exams.
Dude is serious about his stuff, but he teaches really well. List of what each exam question will cover is sent out before each exam makes studying a breeze. Weekly homework counts for about 20%, mostly a completion grade but some of the questions are checked for accuracy. I would definitely take again.
Professor Onica was a great professor. His lectures are clear and he provides notes that are easy to follow along with, and after every test he gives you a copy of your test with the points deductaed on it so you know exactly what you got wrong. Before every test he also sends a detailed review of what will be on the test. Study hard to succeed!
Good lecturer but hideous grader. Yikes. Every other professor has easier exams, easier grading, and good curves. Dont take him if you can help it.
ENSURE your work is exactly the way he wants it. Otherwise you can easily get a B in the class even with majority correct answers. I would say his tests are also pretty long compared to the time slot. And of course it's always annoying when the other professors give easier exams/hefty curves for the same class but we have the difficult version.
Extremely clear and concise lectures, and will actually teach you the material. Outlines exactly what to expect for the exams beforehand. Some complain about him being "too nitpicky" on grading but if you truly understand the material you will never lose points for that. He will make sure you understand it well. 308 is still hard though, study up.
PLEASE TAKE HIM. He is the only good one. The exams are basically bar for bar with the HW. He actually teaches and the HWs are VERY simple (he doesnt believe in busy work). "If you can do every problem from class and HW problem, you will do great on the exam" - Onica (the GOAT)
The entire course is mainly exam and homework-heavy. He's very strict on exams and particular about points.
Math 308 is a hard class anyway; the professor really matters. Onica was great, he's very clear on what he wants and will tell you what is on the test because he wants you to know specific things. There's quite a bit of homework, and it's time-consuming. He does have his lectures online, but it's better to go to his class.
I personally found this class to be easier than MATH251, but regardless it is difficult and a good professor is helpful. Onica was a great professor. While he is particular about grading, he also showed exactly what work he wanted on exams during his lectures. Overall great course and great professor! Would 100% recommend taking him!
He has an accent, but it's not very hard to understand what he's saying. However, he doesn't explain things very well. If I hadn't taken Calculus in high school, I would have had a much harder time understanding each lesson. Don't take him if you haven't taken Calc already in high school!
He is an okay professor; lectures are pretty unengaging and dragged out at times. Exams are relatively easy, and the homework is not too bad. I did well mostly because I took calc 1 in high school. I wouldn't recommend him for first time calc 1.
He isn't the worst but his teaching style is to show some easy examples in class and you are expected to apply the method to harder examples on the homework. He doesn't really teach or explain anything, I would only recommend him if you took AP Calc in high school and understood it. JD Kim (the goat) hosted weekly reviews and they saved my grade.
He is a good lecturer, but is unengaging when he talks. He makes it clear what you are need to write on the free response portion of exams. Sometimes tries and teaches a harder method in his lecture because it is more "rigorous" and is probably what math majors would have to learn. I thought he was easy, but I also did well on calc in high school.
I took this class after already having credit from Blinn for my ETAM credit. Exams are just like the quizzes, and just like the common exams. If you understand the content, just study the common exams and you'll do fine in the class. It's very exam heavy, however almost anything you'll see on the test you can find in previous ones.
He wasn't a bad professor, he just sometimes made things harder than they needed to be. He made it clear what he wanted the free response to look like and was a pretty good professor overall. I didn't take calc in high school and still did fine, but for me the going to the week in reviews really helped.
Absolute GOAT for Differential Equations. He would write his notes on paper during the lecture, and then scan them to canvas for his students to view later. He would send out emails with exactly which concepts he was testing, and was very clear on the grading criteria. He is hard but fair.
Good professor! Tries to explain things very in depth so can make some stuff seem even more difficult than it needs to be but prepared you well for exams.
Mr. Onica really helped me understand concepts that had previously troubled me in AP Calculus in high school. He very much wants his students to succeed. If you have no Calculus experience prior to this class, it will be very difficult. But if you study a good amount, you should be fine.
Great lectures and teaching, heavily prioritizes learning the content over memorizing formulas. He does want students to use more "rigorous" methods to solve problems, but at least for 151, he recognizes that most people have already taken the course in high school and doesn't require their use.
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100%
Attendance Mandatory
27%
Textbook Required
9%
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