3.8

Jenny Mandelbaum

Communication - Rutgers - State University of New Jersey

3.8
Quality
2.8
Difficulty
48%
Would Retake
195
Reviews
3.8
Quality
2.8
Difficulty
3.8
Helpful
3.7
Clarity

48%

Would Retake

195

Reviews

Rating Distribution
Official

5

84

4

55

3

23

2

15

1

18

What Students Say

Makes easy info 1000 times harder than it is

COM101 - 1.0 rating

Attendance is mandatory based on clicker points

COM101 - 2.0 rating
Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

81%

Textbook Required

36%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

B

95% confidence
Based on 62 grades
Most common grades:
A (19)
C+ (10)
B+ (10)
Grade Distribution
A(20)B(10)C(21)D(1)F(0)A-/B+(11)
Based on 70 reported grades
A: 19
C+: 10
B+: 10
C: 10
Common Tags
Skip class? You won't pass. (29)
EXTRA CREDIT (25)
Tough Grader (21)
Tough grader (12)
LECTURE HEAVY (9)
Lecture heavy (9)
Participation matters (8)
Amazing lectures (8)
Rating Trend

Declining

-1.22 avg change
Jun
Aug
Dec
Jan
Mar
Oct
Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

101

5.0

(4)

189101

5.0

(2)

COMM100

5.0

(1)

COMMUNICATION

5.0

(1)

INTOTOCOMM

5.0

(1)
+21 more courses
Difficulty by Course

INTERPERSONAL

5.0

COMM440

5.0

HONORSSEMINAR

5.0

FAMILYCOMM

5.0

COMM400LEVEL

4.3

Reviews (195)
5.0
2.0
COMM100
Mar 9, 2003

This British Prof enjoys what she teaches, and does it well. Makes the class interesting to all who are involved, whether you be a Comm major or not, you will surely enjoy her lectures.

5.0
1.0
COMM101
Mar 11, 2003

Great teacher

5.0
2.0
COMM101
Mar 12, 2003

No Comments

5.0
2.0
COMM101
Mar 31, 2003

very helpful, actually wants students to do good in her class

5.0
2.0
COMM101
Mar 31, 2003

No Comments

5.0
3.0
INTROCOMM
Apr 11, 2003

Such a sweetheart- makes class entertaining and has a great sense of humor. Extremely helpful and has a great British accent! Fun classes

5.0
2.0
COMM101
Apr 27, 2003

great class!

5.0
2.0
COMM101
May 4, 2003

very clear, easy but a bit boring.

5.0
2.0
INTROCOMM
May 12, 2003

Dr. Mandelbaum is a FANTASTIC teacher!! I loved being in her class, and am truly sorry to be leaving. Extremely approachable and helpful, she has a great sense of humor and makes her class interesting w/ student participation. Exams kinda hard, but if

5.0
1.0
101
Nov 11, 2003

So kind and sweet, so helpful and supportive, its wierd people like her exist as professors

5.0
1.0
COMM
Nov 13, 2003

so damn nice

5.0
2.0
COMM101
Nov 14, 2003

VERY nice, but also VERY boring... maybe it's just the subject material

4.0
2.0
COMM101
Dec 15, 2003

Lectures can be very boring, and are not necessary in order to do well in the class. She is a funny woman with an awesome English accent. Actually cares if the students do well. Lots of extra credit assignments make class easy to ace.

5.0
2.0
COMM101
Jan 5, 2004

Great teacher - actually cares about helping students do well. Lectures are not horrible. Reading the book is the most important thing for exams. Overall good class though.

5.0
2.0
COMM101
Feb 14, 2004

She's the sweetest! Tries her best to make the class as interesting as possible. Definitely cares about her students. I would take her class again

4.0
2.0
COMM101
Feb 17, 2004

She's a good teacher if you and take notes and go to class but she's really stiff in person...

4.0
2.0
COMM101
Mar 30, 2004

All her questions are based on the exams and if you don't want to go to class then just get the notes from First Class Notes.

5.0
1.0
101
Apr 6, 2004

EASY! EASY! EASY!

5.0
1.0
COMM101
Jun 13, 2004

Easy, easy class, but also very boring. Sweet teacher. Class shouldn't be a requirement for the Journalism program, in that sense it's a waste of time. Almost all of the material is common sense-type stuff

5.0
1.0
COMM101
Oct 23, 2004

She is the nicest teacher i have had in college-she really cares about her students. And pretty easy.

1.0
5.0
INTERPERSONAL
Dec 7, 2004

No Comments

5.0
2.0
189101
Feb 1, 2005

Plays pop songs before class starts. Very funny at times, the British accent is a plus. Really like her personality.

5.0
2.0
INTROTOCOMM
Apr 3, 2005

The lectures are so boring and seem really long- the class isn't hard to get a good grade though and their are tons of opp for extra credit- willing to help if you need it

5.0
2.0
COMM101
Apr 11, 2005

EXCELLENT TEACHER! THE only thing is the exam. VEry difficult. YOU HAVE TO STUDY, escpecially the second exam! BUT SHE IS GREAT!

4.0
1.0
COMM101
May 2, 2005

Very easy class. Lectures can be repetitive but I guess it's worth it for an easy A. Be warned though that you will be used as a guinea pig for random surveys constantly.

3.0
3.0
COMM101
May 6, 2005

This class is a WASTE OF TIME. She is an extremely nice person, but not the best teacher. Class never starts on time, and for half of it we waste time filling out annoying surveys. Her exams are multiple choice and can be tricky. Unless u are required to take it, don't.

4.0
1.0
COMM101
May 9, 2005

Ever take a class, and walk out of the final exam and realize that you learned absolutely nothing? Yeah, this is one of those classes, and she teaches it. Never went, never read, never cared, got a C+. Those surveys got annoying after a week.

4.0
2.0
INTROTOCOMM
May 24, 2005

Boring as hell! I either left class after 20 minutes or didn't show up at all. After a while, I just stopped caring. This class should not be a requirement for the journalism major.

5.0
3.0
INTROTOCOMM
Aug 29, 2005

Wonderful woman and really caring. Tries to mix things up and keep it interesting. I guess it's not her fault that the material is SO BORING. Lectures are a chore and tests are extremely extensive, so STUDY! But she gives lots of extra credit opportunities which is nice.

5.0
2.0
INTROTOCOMM
Oct 11, 2005

Wonderful teacher, cares about students. Tests are pretty easy.

3.0
1.0
COMM400LEVEL
Nov 3, 2005

The most boring teacher I ever had at R.U. She seems interested in her subject, but cannot transfer that interest to her students. BIG ZZZZ. Avoid this teacher if you want to get anything out of a class.

5.0
2.0
INTROTOCOMM
Nov 15, 2005

She is really sweet, and does give a lot of extra credit. She can be veryy boring though, and she keeps you until the very last minute. Overall if you study hard and go to the review sessions you can definitley get an A. Fun accent!

4.0
2.0
COMM101
Nov 17, 2005

a caring, sweet woman who is interested in her subject. she attempts to mix things up with guest speakers and student volunteers. her jepordy review sessions are helpful and she is willing to repeat things is you don't understand something.

5.0
2.0
COMMUNICATION
Dec 15, 2005

Nice lady

3.0
3.0
COMM101
Jan 5, 2006

The class was really boring and slow. She seemed like a nice lady but her teaching methods need improvement. She gives quite a bit of extra credit, which is always a good thing.

5.0
2.0
COMM101
Jan 5, 2006

Comm. 101 is kind of dull, but Mandelbaum made it interesting for us. She def. knows her stuff (head of some comm. dept.) Pretty easy class for interested comm. majors - I got an A. She also gave us a lot of extra credit opportunities. It's a crowded class, so it's hard to participate as much as she wants everyone to.

5.0
2.0
INTROTOCOMM
Jan 6, 2006

She's a great teacher. She is very helpful and gives plenty of extra credit. There should be no reason for you to do poorly, unless you do not attend her lectures. DEFINITELY TAKE THE CLASS!

5.0
2.0
INTOTOCOMM
Jan 17, 2006

One of the nicest and most helpful teachers i have ever hard. HIGHLY RECCOMEND

4.0
2.0
INTROCOMM
Jan 19, 2006

nice woman...go to class and go to the exam reviews, trust me they help alot...ikf you have time reading the book helps but not terribly important

4.0
1.0
COMM101
Feb 20, 2006

very nice, easy to understand the material, easy to get an A, but don't ask her to write any letters of recommendation! I had to keep reminding her several times and still never got a letter! I finally just asked someone else

4.0
2.0
COM101
Aug 10, 2006

VERY GOOD. I enjoyed her class and movies. Very easy if you just read...gives extra credit

5.0
1.0
INTROCOMM
Nov 9, 2006

EASY B..work for the A. kind of funny. TAs sucked. watched a lot of Seinfeld (among other shows/movies) in class. take advantage of the extra credit.

3.0
2.0
COMM101
Jan 27, 2007

Extremely boring. Keeps you for the entire time period allotted (literally). Prof is so boring and can't get to the point before wasting half the class time. Plays music before class, feels like high school. TA's and tutors for this class??

4.0
1.0
COMM101
Nov 8, 2007

SUPER SUPER nice lady! Class is very easy, just do her handouts, and skim through the book to get A on midterm(s)..there are two~Dont trust TA, they dont even speak english but they are nice but not helpful. Tons of tutors, about 7 of them, tons of EC too! Very easy A or b! Once again she is really nice, lecture can be kinda a drag, but still good

5.0
2.0
COMM101
Nov 24, 2007

very nice and clear professor. makes class interesting and relevant by using outside sources like videos and clips. play musics when students are coming in to class. gives plenty of extra credits. a very interesting class. highly recommended this class with this professor!

5.0
1.0
COMM101
Dec 20, 2007

Professor Mandelbaum is a really nice lady. She doesn't bore you with her lectures. The class is pretty easy if you just keep up with the material. Mandelbaum is the best professor i've had so far!

5.0
1.0
COMM101
Dec 25, 2007

Really easy class. She teaches well, uses lots of visuals, although some stuff is boring. She grades on improvement so if you fail an exam you can still end up with a B. Doesn't really tell you too clearly what's on exams so you have to study EVERYTHING, but she gives plenty of oppurtunities for extra credit. Overall she's good and so is the class

4.0
4.0
COMM101
Dec 25, 2007

I really didn't like this class. It was boring even though we watched video clips. Class is about 400 people. There are 2 TA's and I didn't like the way the professor taught. She also cancels class, which is good, but once allowed her TA's to teach (which sucked) and another professor. Exams = hard. You have to study and the grading is shady.

3.0
2.0
COMM101
Dec 30, 2007

Got an A in the class. 2nd test is the hardest. I got a 90, 79 and 87 on the final and still got an A. Lectures can be kind of boring, but it helps,especially for clicker points. Do all of the extra credit and tutor visits. Read the textbook for the exams!!

5.0
2.0
COMM101
Jan 1, 2008

I really liked her. If you're intimidated by big lectures, sit in the front, it's more personable. This was the only lecture I wouldn't fall asleep in. Tests were easy if you read the book and notes. She gives reviews for tests which really help. She really knows her stuff. I would recommend the class.

4.0
2.0
COMM101
Jan 14, 2008

pretty easy class overall. teacher is awesome, tries to interact with her students as much as possible...although sometimes she gets boring. i got a B+ in this class...i BARELY went to class but i probably could've gotten an A if i did...you MUST read the textbook!

5.0
1.0
COMM101
Jan 22, 2008

very nice lady, keeps class interesting. barely used the book, class is mandatory because of iclicker. exams arent hard and she grades on improvement so you can bomb the first exam but if you do extra credit, which there is a lot of, and improve on the 2nd exam and the final you can possibly end up with an A in the class. i highly recommend it.

5.0
2.0
HHSECT
Jan 24, 2008

shes funny cool and british...the class is easy iclicker used...if u go 2 class youll pass

2.0
5.0
COMM440
May 8, 2008

Lang and Behavior is the worst class ever. She says one thing and then grades it wrong. BEWARE .....BEWARE!!!!!

5.0
2.0
COMM101
Nov 27, 2008

shes one of the nicest professors ive had. she sincerely wants to give out A's. the class is based on improvement so you can fail the first exam and still get an A in the class. shes funny and tries to interact with the class even though its a lecture. an iclicker is used so you kinda have to go to class. the book is hardly used. good class.

5.0
2.0
COMM101
Dec 15, 2008

Go to class. Her lectures are so helpful, and she makes everything clear. Plus her lectures are actually fun. She keeps everyone entertained while educating. Overall AMAZING professor.

3.0
2.0
COMM101
Dec 22, 2008

She tells you that you can get extra credit for clicker points, but that is not true. I attended every lecture and only got a 4/5 for attendance. She informed us at the END of the semester that to get full attendance points you needed to have done a written extra credit. Otherwise this class is easy but be ware of her attendance grading.

5.0
2.0
COM101
Dec 22, 2008

I just completed 04:189:101 - intro to communication - with Prof. Mandelbaum, and I am gonna miss this class tremendously. Mandelbaum is very sweet, and while her exams are somewhat difficult (you must study both the textbook AND the class notes carefully), her review sessions are great (Communication Jeopardy!) and she was always very helpful.

5.0
2.0
COMM101
Dec 23, 2008

Excellent teacher but MUST attend class AND read the book. Study a lot, exams are tricky but definitely easy to get an A as long as you're willing to put in the work. She is great and really knows the material, very helpful and clear. One of the best professors I have ever had.

4.0
2.0
COM101
Jan 13, 2009

I LOVE THIS CLASS!! I LOVE THE PROFESSOR!! She is a very nice British lady, really enjoyed taking this class. STRONGLY RECOMMEND!!! THE quizes were easy but the final was a bit hard~~ got a B eventually.

5.0
2.0
INTROCOMM
Jan 22, 2009

She really got everyone interested in the class and it was a lot of fun. Not too much work, just pull it together for the final and you're solid. 3 short assignments, 2 tests and a final

5.0
2.0
COMM101
Apr 15, 2009

I loved her! take her for intro to comm. shes awesome as well as her accent.

5.0
3.0
COMM444
May 5, 2009

She's sooo nice, I love her! This class is kind of hard since it's a 400 level I guess, and there are a lot of readings that can be kind of hard. But I still like her a lot, I'd recommend a class with her

5.0
4.0
COMM444
May 21, 2009

I learned a great deal in this course. Reading assignments due each class which can be a bit much but helps you keep up with her lectures. Not an easy class, but certainly puts an interesting spin on things in language we often take for granted. def worth taking

5.0
3.0
COMM444
Aug 1, 2009

took both of her 400 level classes. ALOT of online reading that is required. mandatory attendance. if you dont come to class you'll be very lost. boring class but challenging. very nice teacher otherwise

5.0
1.0
COMM101
Sep 9, 2009

AWESOME, so sweet!

5.0
2.0
COMM101
Nov 13, 2009

LOVE HER! amazing, take her for comm 101 she is extremely helpful and friendly

4.0
3.0
COMM101
Nov 30, 2009

She is a really great teacher! grade is based on 3 exams and 3 short hw assignments. Even though the class is a 101 level does not mean you can take the class lightly. make sure to study and see the tutors! She has a great british accent and class goes by very quick b.c you find yourself really enjoying class! If you have to take 101 take it w/her!

5.0
2.0
COMM101
Dec 18, 2009

Take this Professor! She is one of the sweetest people in the world. She has a great British accent which makes you want to listen during class. This is definitely a course you should take in your 4 years at Rutgers. Go to class because you get clicker points. She gives so many opportunities for extra credits it is insane. Jeopardy in class review!

2.0
4.0
COMM101
Dec 21, 2009

she is annoying, she basically wants you to fail with her really long exam questions that are so hard to understand. i liked her in the beginning but she became more and more annoying every class and right before the final she has the ta's teach the class.. the notes from her powerpoints are also USELESS.

3.0
4.0
COMM101
Dec 24, 2009

what should be an easy class is not. she makes tricky exams and her grading scheme is unfair. not to mention her class is very boring. she is very sweet tho and tries to be helpful. i only recommend this class for those who want to put effort into a class like this or comm majors.

5.0
2.0
INTROCOMM
Dec 30, 2009

good teacher, and entertaining class. Got an 83 overall, but did really well on final and all the easy ec's and got an A for the course. The exams are not hard as long as you study hard for a day before. Go over all the notes and end sections of the book; and yes you have to read.

5.0
1.0
COMM101
Jan 13, 2010

Wonderful professor. Very helpful & encouraging. Teaches very well. Class is a lot of fun.

5.0
3.0
COMM101
Apr 11, 2010

If you want to take a comm class, take it with her. She's really nice and will get to know your name if you sit up front. Her tests can be tricky, and I would suggest reading the book, but overall she is a great teacher.

4.0
4.0
COMM101
May 13, 2010

She is overall a good teacher! She is very interactive and has good lessons planned. However, her grading is completely unfair! She encourages you to do extra credit that end up doing nothing for your grade!

5.0
2.0
COMM101
May 14, 2010

interesting class. it seemed impossible to get a 5/5 on the assignments and exams questions can be ambiguous. her teaching style is ok but i didn't like her grading system at all. i think she's overrated. people love her but i found her to be ok.

5.0
2.0
COMM101
May 31, 2010

The class can be very fun and interactive. She uses video clips to illustrate class concepts. However, exams are tricky......and the readings are very boring....As much as I liked the class, it turned me away from the communication major since we focused far too much on theory and less on actual practice. p.s. you will love the British accent.

3.0
3.0
COMM101
Jun 1, 2010

Had her for Intro to Comm 101. She tries to make class fun by using video clips and selecting volunteers from the class to act out scenarios. Don't be fooled: her grading system is very flawed. She plays favorites and tricks you into doing useless credits that don't even help your grade. No curve, impossible to get an A. Not recommended

5.0
2.0
COMM101
Jun 3, 2010

I should start by saying that I love her accent. Anyway, it's nice to see a teacher who's so enthusiastic about her subject, but she did not inspire the same enthusiasm with me. She's repetitive because she explains simple concepts in great detail. There are lots of opportunities for extra credit.

4.0
2.0
COMM101
Nov 8, 2010

This class is for the most part interesting and easy. If you go to class & study before exams you'll get an A. Pay attention to clicker questions & jeopardy questions because she puts them on the exams. The final was surprisingly much harder than the first 2 exams, so don't slack at the end. She curves based on improvement.

5.0
2.0
COMM101
Dec 18, 2010

The class was definitely not a struggle to sit through, she can be very funny and entertaining with video clips and stories. Not hard to get an A: 3 short assignments, and 3 exams. Grades on Improvement which is nice and offers tons of extra credit. I'd definitely take this class with her

4.0
2.0
COMM101
Jan 12, 2011

Good teacher. Lectures can get pretty dry, but overall her videos keep it lively. Need to bring your clickers to class and study before exams...there are reviews...no excuse not to get an A with a little effort.

5.0
1.0
COMM101
Jan 19, 2011

She is a sweetheart! classes are fun to attend and you won't be bored!. Test is easy as long you pay attention to the reviews and take notes. You need to come to the class because of the i clicker and the examples she gives in class will be on the exams.

5.0
2.0
COMM101
Jan 30, 2011

Obviously enjoys teaching and does a good job of keeping you interested in the material. 3 assignments which are easy to accomplish and 3 exams of varying difficulty. Final is cumulative so you need to really study for it. TAs hold reviews night before. Lots of extra credit. Overall I am glad I wound up with her as a professor.

3.0
4.0
COMM570
Apr 20, 2011

Gives no direction to her students. She lectures about the same topics in every class and uses the same examples over and over again. It gets old. If you do not write about her niche, meaning conversation analysis, and go a different route of interpersonal communication, she will not be approving. She made me cry. Avoid.

4.0
2.0
COMM101
Apr 20, 2011

Easy ... Didn't really go to class and got an A back when I took 101. Make sure you study and read the book. Study the theories and the lectures and you should be good. Make use of the T.A.s if you have them.

5.0
2.0
COMM101
May 15, 2011

Take this class because it's pretty easy and the material is something a 4th grader could understand. I got a B+, but I will warn people taking the class. Her lectures are mandatory and EXTREMELY boring, even for a comm major. The exams are extremely tricky and and much harder than they need to be. Easy to get a B, but impossible to get an A

5.0
2.0
COMM101
Dec 22, 2011

She is wonderful. Her examples make the material very easy to understand. Unfortunately she takes IClicker attendance but it is only 5% of the overall grade. You have to study for the exams but they aren't too hard. Definitely take her if you can!

5.0
2.0
COMM101
Jan 12, 2012

She is an extremely intelligent and enthusiastic professor. i loved going to class and listening to her lectures. she provides great examples in class, and presents the material in a clear and fun way. If you take comm with her, you will want to become a comm major. I LOVE HER (and she's british!)

5.0
3.0
COMM601
Mar 22, 2012

She is very knowledgeable and has a wonderful sense of humor that makes the classes enjoyable. Besides that, she goes out of her way to help and advise her students. She also has a very active approach to teaching and uses "learning by doing" techniques to reinforce the readings. Great professor!

5.0
2.0
COMM474
Apr 11, 2012

Topics in Comm III aka Relationships and Identities was one of the hardest classes I have taken in the comm major. It is all transcribing videos and analyzing. I have taken classes with Prof Mandelbaum before and know that she is a fantastic educator and person, but this class was definitely tough. Don't take it "for fun" like I did & good luck!

5.0
2.0
COMMU101
Apr 18, 2012

Love her!!! She keeps the class interesting with clips and has a great sense of humor. She is extremely helpful. She has review sessions before the exams and offers extra credit. Take her if you can.

5.0
2.0
COMM101
Apr 21, 2012

not an easy A but doable. 3 exams, 3 assignments (short essays 1-2 pages each), iClickers for attendance, short videos and lots of extra credit. she ties in real world examples and class participation which makes the class interesting not boring.

5.0
2.0
COMM101
May 21, 2012

Definately not an easy A. Impossible to get 100 on the assignments. She is very nice and the class is fun. I didnt find the book useful for the exams. Go to the exam reviews and make sure to write down everything during jeopardy. The exam questions given during jeopardy are on the exams and some of the iclicker questions are on the exams.

4.0
5.0
COMMB2
Aug 1, 2012

Would avoid her if you can. Info was presented in an illogical order. She was very helpful.

5.0
3.0
COMM101
Sep 5, 2012

She is awesome! Not only does she keep the class interesting by using lots of clicks and iclcker questions but she has an english accent which makes it impossible to ignore her. ended up with a b+ even though i was a few points under. gives extra credit, two assignments, which I would definitely try to do well on if you want an a, and 3 exams.

2.0
3.0
COMM101
Oct 4, 2012

The makes what would be an easy class difficult and tedious due to the fact that she disorganizedly writes class notes on the projector as class goes along, and does not put any slides online. You ahve to copy down everything she says. There are also iclicker questions for credit. She does this because if she didn't nobody would come to class.

5.0
3.0
COMM101
Dec 24, 2012

Overall, I would give her an A and recommend that you have her. Though the material learned in class may be a bit boring to learn, her warm personality and creative teaching styles are hard to pass on. Furthermore, she gives out a lot of extra credit assignments to help you understand the material. A great professor!

5.0
1.0
COMM101
Jan 7, 2013

I loved this class. Very easy. Just go to class and copy the slides. She also does iClicker questions that are for credit. Exams are very straightforward out of the notes. Didn't need to use the book too much. 3 assignments out of class that were easy and a bunch of EC. She also gave EC if you went and visited any of the tutors. 10/10

4.0
5.0
HONORSSEMINAR
Jan 5, 2014

DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS. I'm sure she's great for Comm 101, but DO NOT TAKE THE HONORS SEMINAR. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DO NOT TAKE THE HONORS SEMINAR. The final paper was ridiculous, the amount of work was ridiculous, and the material was outrageously useless. She works hard and she's helpful, but the material was just so boring.

4.0
4.0
COMM101
Grade: B-
Oct 15, 2014

Her accent makes her a pleasure to listen to! Love the interactivity with the iClicker and the funny videos she shows in class! A lot of class materials come in tests so don't miss out. Lots of assignments. Interesting lectures. Friendly & sociable. Professor and TAs are really helpful and want you to do well. Big class but a lot of interactivity.

4.0
2.0
04189101
Nov 8, 2014

This is one class you won't hate. She plays music when you walk into class to wake you up. She has a good sense of humor too. The only con's to this class is that you have to use an iClicker to make your attendance. So if you don't feel like going to the lecture one day, your absence will be immediately marked electronically.

4.0
3.0
COMM101
Dec 15, 2014

Prof Mandelbaum is a great teacher & has a passion for what she teaches. Her class is pretty easy as long as you follow along with the handouts that she gives. Jeopardy review classes before each test; 3 easy assignments, 2 test and 1 final that is somewhat cumulative. Big lecture hall so make sure you focus. Overall pretty easy class

4.0
3.0
COMM101
Dec 16, 2014

She really wants everyone to do well and tries to accomplish this by adding videos and music to her class. The material itself is just so boring it is hard to focus. Only used the textbook because we needed it for the first assignment. She offers a lot of extra credit and uses iClickers for participation

2.0
5.0
FAMILYCOMM
Dec 17, 2014

I am confused as to how so many people got on here and said she is wonderful. She's a terrible instructor. The final paper made NO SENSE. All 30 kids in the class were confused by the final paper, and she never answered questions about it because it seemed like she didn't even understand exactly what she wanted. DO NOT TAKE FAMILY COMM WITH HER.

3.0
4.0
COMM101
Dec 18, 2014

Very boring class. Not the hardest class but on the 2nd exam over 150 kids got D's. Doesn't put PowerPoints online & if you email her and miss her response she will want nothing to do with you. Lots of clicker questions and extra credit though. She seems nice and has a good class attitude but individually can be a stickler. Not bad but can be rude

4.0
3.0
COMM
Grade: B
Dec 18, 2014

Nice woman, gives easy extra credit at end of semester. Exams multiple choice, but tricky. Notes not online so you have to go to class. She also has A LOT of clicker questions. All in all, pretty average class. Not too exciting, but she tries.

1.0
4.0
COMM101
Dec 19, 2014

This is the most boring class I've ever taken, the assignments are harshly graded, the tests are easy to get a B+ in but not an A, getting an A requires you to ace all 3 tests and get a 95 average on the papers. DONT TAKE THIS AS A GPA BOOSTER, THERE ARE MUCH EASIER CLASSES, you can put very little effort to get a B+ but to get an A it's tough

3.0
4.0
INTROTOCOMM
Dec 20, 2014

Uses handouts meant to outline notes and have a clear study guide for exams but they are actually more of a burden. They make things more confusing, don't have enough room for notes and leave out important things for exams. Don't skip class bc otherwise you miss slidesvideos and important info. 2nd examfinal way HARDER than 1st exam. Work for A

4.0
3.0
COMM101
Grade: A
Dec 21, 2014

She's a sweet lady and very helpful, but her essays are pointless and her grading style is very inconsistent. Her first exam was very easy, but the second one was very difficult and the final was alright. Overall not that great of a class, consider a professor with a more transparent grading style.

3.0
3.0
COMM101
Grade: C+
Dec 22, 2014

She's kind of unclear, doesn't explain what your final grade will be able really because extra credit is supposed to be on improvement. Exams seem easy but she tricks you a lot, its a easy class but there is no direct correct answers I studied what she would teach in class then would get things wrong based on her indecisive answer choices all same

5.0
2.0
COMM101
Dec 28, 2014

Mandelbaum is really nice and is always willing to answer any questions or emails any interested student may have. Her assignments are a little unclear and difficult to get an A on, but as long as you go to class, use your iclicker, and pay attention to review jeopardy, her exams will be a breeze. She also offers a lot of extra credit. Take her!!

5.0
4.0
101
Dec 31, 2014

Experienced professor that is very engaged with students and activities at the university. She is nice and offers all the resources you need to pass. Her lectures are clear and she uses good examples to illustrate what she is teaching. A few assignments that are no more than 2 pages long and 3 exams. Exams are tricky so you must study thoroughly.

5.0
2.0
189101
Jan 12, 2015

A few short papers and multiple choice exams. Easy class, just show up and bring your clicker, if you don't go to class and write notes you will miss a lot of potential exam questionsinformation. Get the textbook as well, on the exam that I did not read the chapters for I didn't do as well.

5.0
2.0
101
Grade: B+
Jan 23, 2015

Mandelbaum was overall a very good professor. She has a passion for what she teaches and gets the point across very clearly in lecture. There are clicker questions for points, so attending class is mandatory. Barely used the textbook besides for written assignments

4.0
3.0
COMM101
Feb 18, 2015

memorize every small example she gives or image she shows. asks exaclty those. go to review session. make sure you check and complete your extra credit options. be careful with the iclicker, dont skip too many classes. going to TA office hours is infinite extra credit. she's funny but the class itself is kinda useless. textbook is useful

5.0
1.0
COMM101
Grade: A
Mar 8, 2015

Very good professor. Three multiple choice exams, plus a few easy assignments. If you're good with Mult Choice exams, you'll do fine on them. Uses iClicker frequently, so come to class. Review sessions before exams are VERY helpful.

5.0
1.0
COM101
Grade: A+
Apr 13, 2015

Amazing professor, definitely take if you can!

3.0
5.0
COMM101
Nov 5, 2015

Seems like it would be an easy class. But nah... The few homework assignments are graded on the toughest grading criteria of all time. The exam questions are extremely hard to dissect, very abstract, and make you want to throw your test papers and storm out of the room and into another galaxy. Good luck and God Bless.

4.0
4.0
COM101
Grade: C
Nov 16, 2015

excellent teacher but very tough grader on assignments. Tests are tough, and many questions are riddle like. Course material is easy but it is made difficult by the professor.

4.0
4.0
COMM101
Grade: C
Nov 19, 2015

Prof. Mandelbaum is an amazing professor however, her exams are EXTREMELY complicated and she will confused you. (All are multiple choice) !! Her short assignments are graded on the toughest grading scale ever. I recommend to take her if you pay attention easily. She is such a kind lady, and always gives extra credit but exams are tough !!

4.0
4.0
INTERDISSEM101
Nov 20, 2015

Had an interdisciplinary honors seminar with her. She doesn't give clear directions on assignments until after she hands them back with low grades. Assigns long readings and writing each week. Made us analyze the same 1 min video 100 times. Had to write several long (9 pages) papers. Don't argue with her. As a person, she is very nice and funny.

2.0
4.0
INTERDISC101
Grade: Rather not say
Dec 14, 2015

I had her for Communication and Construction of the Family. She gave us a few assignments, and did not clearly explain the requirements for any of them. She handed back the graded papers the week after we submitted them, and only then told us what she expected from us, but by that time, it was too late.

2.0
4.0
INTERDISC101
Dec 14, 2015

Do you like doing a lot of homework when you do not know what the requirements are? Do you like watching videos of families eating dinner? Do you like analyzing every word of every sentence that is said in the video? Do you like watching and analyzing the same video for ten weeks straight? If so, take the honors seminar!

4.0
3.0
COMM101
Grade: B
Dec 23, 2015

Overall good professor, pretty clear with what you need to know and keeps you updated with e-mails. You need to take good notes in this class, she doesn't put slides online and you also use iClicker for points. Her exam questions can be tricky and require memorization, but overall just study and you'll be fine.

3.0
3.0
COM101
Dec 30, 2015

Assignments are okay, tests are riddle-like and tough. Very smart professor, however coming to class is a must because she nor the tutors will help you catch up with missed class notes. The extra credit assignments only help if your grade is on a borderline as they are not counted as raw points towards your grade.

5.0
3.0
COMM101
Grade: B+
Jan 3, 2016

In a big lecture hall she is a great public speaker and seems to be a friendly person. With mostly freshman in this class she caters to them explaining everything to the point. Her assignments are graded hard. Tests are easy if you put a little effort in and have common sense BUT some test questions are worded unclearly making it hard to answer

4.0
4.0
COMM101
Grade: B
Jan 25, 2016

This was honestly one of my hardest classes. All her TA's were really harsh graders, even if you followed the rubric there was always points taken off for the smallest things. She gives 3 exams and all of them are worded weirdly and the multiple choice answers seem like they were made to mess you up on purpose. Dont pick her for intro to comm!!!

3.0
4.0
INTERDISC101
Grade: B
Jan 25, 2016

There are 1-2 articles that are 10-30 pages long with discussion questions every week. There are 2 major papers along with shorter assignments that involve analyzing every word and action in family dinner conversations. There is a decent amount of work for the class, but it is definitely doable, but I would not take again.

5.0
3.0
COMM101
Grade: B+
Apr 6, 2016

Great teacher. Was really helpful and clarified things I wasn't sure on. There are three homework assignments throughout the semester. She grades tough on test, quizzes, and homework. She gives extra credit that can drastically boost your grade I defiantly recommend her!

2.0
4.0
COM101
Grade: C+
Apr 13, 2016

If you can avoid her for COM 101, do that. Being a 101 level class, she makes it 10x harder than it should. Her graders are extremely hard & it's very tough to get a good grade on the HW. Her tests are also confusing AF. Go to tutoring to get extra credit, and go to class, & you might pass like I did.

4.0
3.0
COM101
Oct 26, 2016
Would take again

She's a very good public speaker and is very clear during her lectures. At the beginning of the class, the TA's hand out lecture outlines that are SUPER helpful for studying - just take good notes in class. Tests are straightforward and some questions are from the clicker questions. Going to the tutors gives you extra credit so definitely go!

Tough Grader
Skip class? You won't pass.
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
4.0
2.0
COM101
Grade: A
Nov 14, 2016
Would take again

Loved this professor. She was clever, relatable, approachable, and clear. She doesn't take attendance but there are clicker questions each class that count for points. Also, the lecture slides are never online which can be annoying when studying for exams, but the tutors are helpful and you get extra credit for going to them which is cool.

2.0
4.0
COMM101
Grade: C
Dec 16, 2016
Wouldn't take again

Tough exams. Definitely need to read the textbook in addition to lecture notes you take in class. Counts clicker questions as attendance. She does not posts the slides online. her outlines for each chapter/ lectures do not clearly correspond with the textbook. 3 exams (cumulative final). 3 writing assignments and the TAs are tough graders.

Tough Grader
Skip class? You won't pass.
EXTRA CREDIT
2.0
4.0
COMM101
Grade: C
Dec 20, 2016
Wouldn't take again

Has a warm personality and adorable accent. However her grading is unclear and harsh. Even after seeking help/approval of tutors on assignments, I would still receive a mediocre grade at best (45-80%). It wasn't the worst class I've had to sit through, but I definitely didn't anticipate finishing the semester w/ intro to comm being my lowest grade.

Tough Grader
Skip class? You won't pass.
EXTRA CREDIT
3.0
4.0
COMM101
Grade: C
Dec 22, 2016
Wouldn't take again

She is a nice woman and gives good examples for concepts but the class was hard. She is a tough grader and doesn't clearly outline what she wants in her assignments. It is very vague and many don't do well on them. This is my lowest grade and it is an intro class

Tough Grader
Skip class? You won't pass.
LECTURE HEAVY
4.0
1.0
COM101
Grade: A
Dec 23, 2016
Would take again

Professor Mandelbaum's COM101 class was so relaxing!! Her lectures were pretty entertaining, her few assignments were easy, and her exams are all multiple choice. She offers a lot of extra credit. I really liked her as a professor, but she gets easily annoyed by noise in class and people packing up early.

ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
GRADED BY FEW THINGS
EXTRA CREDIT
3.0
3.0
COMM101
Grade: B
Dec 24, 2016
Would take again

She is reasonable and good at explaining, but she changes her attitude if you meet with her in person -- she becomes very sarcastic and unaccommodating. Textbook use is minimal but exists. Shows very useful and satirical examples in class. Does NOT upload lectures online, be sure to attend class. Opportunities for extra credit. Harsh grader however

Tough Grader
Participation matters
4.0
2.0
COMM101
Grade: A
Dec 31, 2016
Would take again

She uses a lot of funny videos in class and made the material interesting. She also gives A LOT OF extra credit. You get credit for visiting the tutors and doing the extra credit assignments. The other thing is that she grades based on improvement so if you get an A on the final there is a good chance you will get an A in the class.

Participation matters
Amazing lectures
EXTRA CREDIT
3.0
4.0
COM101
Grade: A
Jan 9, 2017
Wouldn't take again

If you want to pass this class you have to put in a lot of work. Attendance is mandatory, as most of the questions on the exams are based off of content & examples given during lecture. She is a tough grader, and although she provides a rubric for written assignments, it is still difficult to know what she truly wants. Final exam is cumulative.

Tough Grader
Skip class? You won't pass.
EXTRA CREDIT
5.0
3.0
COM101
Grade: B+
Jan 17, 2017
Would take again

Great teacher. Uses real world, relevant, and current trends to get her point across. Great lectures. Although it seems like she tells you what she expects on the assignments, still did awful on them. Luckily they're not worth much to your final grade. Test are easy if you study and I used an older gen book which I read sparingly.

Tough Grader
Amazing lectures
EXTRA CREDIT
4.0
3.0
COM101
Grade: B+
Jan 19, 2017
Would take again

Very nice and funny teacher, gives good lectures. However notes are not posted online. Lots of iclicker questions used as attendance. 3 Tests which are all fairly easy if you study, also a few assignments which are very harshly graded. Gives a lot of extra credit. Textbook is used but rarely so if can borrow it or something just do that.

Tough Grader
Skip class? You won't pass.
Hilarious
4.0
3.0
COMM400LEVEL
Feb 2, 2017
Would take again

Family Communication with her was really good, just make sure you go to class and do the assignments and you'll get an A

Gives good feedback
Get ready to read
Skip class? You won't pass.
2.0
4.0
COMM101
Grade: C
Nov 14, 2017
Wouldn't take again

Class attendance is recorded by clicker questions. TA's are really tough graders. 6 extra credit assignments and for going to TA's office hours. What she wants on assignments are very vague. She is funny in class but not approachable in person. Didn't expect Comm 101 to be this tough.

Tough Grader
Skip class? You won't pass.
EXTRA CREDIT
5.0
4.0
COMM101
Dec 12, 2017
Would take again

I loved Doctor Mandelbaum as my teacher for this class! She made it really interesting and funny. However, for a 101 class its NOT an easy A. You really have to study and work hard for a good grade. There are two exams, and a cumalitive final and three short assignments. Extra credit is available but still a difficult class.

Amazing lectures
Tests are tough
4.0
3.0
COM101
Grade: B
Dec 20, 2017
Wouldn't take again

Mandelbaum is a great professor. If you attend the classes and try your best to study, you will get the grades which you expect. She also offers a lot of extra credit opportunities to you.

EXTRA CREDIT
3.0
5.0
COM101
Grade: Audit/No Grade
Dec 21, 2017
Wouldn't take again

Dr. Mandelbaum is a warm lady and she is doing her best to make her class interesting. She gives out several extra credits. BUT, her exams are so difficult because the questions are tricky. I am not a lazy student because I received mostly A and B+ in other class. But after I paid lots of effort in her class I still didn't receive a good grade.

Tough Grader
Respected
Tests are tough
5.0
2.0
COMM101
Grade: A
Dec 21, 2017
Would take again

We had 3 written assignments which were about a page long and 3 tests, the assignments were graded very strictly but were not weighted heavily. She gives a lot of easy extra credit and I did good on the tests without studying for more than 1/2 hour. Anyone who posted before the 20th didn't even have their grade yet. Just try and you'll do fine.

Skip class? You won't pass.
EXTRA CREDIT
Would take again
5.0
3.0
COMM101
Grade: B+
Dec 22, 2017
Would take again

She's a great professor. Really cares and tries to make lectures fun by having videos in class. She likes it you participate (extra points). She gives a good amount of extra credit and Iclickers are used in class. She grades very fair and also grades on improvement. You don't really have to read the book, just know the definitions and examples.

Skip class? You won't pass.
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
EXTRA CREDIT
3.0
4.0
COMM101
Grade: B
Dec 27, 2017
Wouldn't take again

Here's a funny paradox for you, an unapproachable comm professor. Harsh and sarcastic tone when you talk to her in private, her TA's were helpful tho. Didn't buy the book but went to every lecture, way too much effort for an intro course just to get a mediocre score. Not a difficult course but her attitude completely deviated my interest from comm

Tough Grader
Tests are tough
LECTURE HEAVY
4.0
4.0
COM101
Grade: C+
Jan 16, 2018
Would take again

She makes a huge lecture seem extremely intimate and has a lot of concern for students despite teaching 400+ at a time. Def utilize the handouts she gives for note taking and take notes on ALL video examples from class, they will be on the test. You really need to study for the exams, so make sure you get EVERYTHING from the class notes.

1.0
4.0
COMM101
Grade: B+
Jan 25, 2018
Wouldn't take again

I took COMM101 with Dr. Mandelbaum expecting it to have the work load of a 101 class. That was NOT the case. She holds you until the absolute last minute of class and makes the class so much harder than it has to be. I am a third year student at Rutgers and have a good GPA (above 3.7) and this was 100% one of the hardest classes I've taken.

Tough Grader
Skip class? You won't pass.
TEST HEAVY
3.0
3.0
COMM101
Grade: C+
Feb 1, 2018
Wouldn't take again

- she gives a ridiculous amount of extra credit so if you're going to take this class, remember to take advantage from the start - if you don't study hard for all 3 exams AND don't pay attention in lectures you won't pass - Professor told many of us individually that what we got on our final would be our FINAL grade

Respected
EXTRA CREDIT
LECTURE HEAVY
2.0
3.0
COM101
Mar 27, 2018
Wouldn't take again

When I say tough grader, I specify on the fact that you do not technically know what you are being graded on. A professor should be specific on what they are asking for. She does not explain well enough. This is also a iClicker class. Be prepared to take this class, the assignments are long, but you are given ample time to do them. It is a hassle.

Tough Grader
Participation matters
GRADED BY FEW THINGS
4.0
2.0
COM101
Grade: A
Apr 16, 2018
Would take again

Really enjoyed the class. The lecture was a 400 person class, but she would really work with every person to make sure they understood the material. The tutors (not TA's) were amazing and you get extra credit to go to them. Her ppts are not uploaded, so make sure to go to class or become friends with somebody who does

Skip class? You won't pass.
Amazing lectures
LECTURE HEAVY
1.0
5.0
COM101
Grade: Not sure yet
Apr 16, 2018
Wouldn't take again

Stares you down and stops the class if you talk in a room of 400 students. Makes easy info 1000 times harder than it is. Tries to trick you on tests with weird wording and answer choices. Youll think 4 answers will be right but you have to pick the one SHE is looking for. MUST go to class, half the test is in-class examples. 3 waste of time papers.

Skip class? You won't pass.
SO MANY PAPERS
LECTURE HEAVY
5.0
4.0
COM101
Grade: A
Apr 22, 2018
Would take again

I took her honors section of communication 101, and I'm glad I did. You definitely have to work for the grade by doing all of the readings (they'll all be on the exams), but I'd say that was really the hardest part. In class, if you pay attention and take the notes, the rest of the exam will be a breeze. The class is a LOT smaller so you can't miss

Tough Grader
Get ready to read
Participation matters
3.0
2.0
COMM101
Grade: A
Apr 26, 2018
Wouldn't take again

Mandelbaum was... ehh... I went into the class excited about Communication and left feeling like I didn't want to look at it ever again it was so dry. Definitely an Easy A as there are a few short written assignments, the tests are multiple choice and there is tons of extra credit. Wish she would have been more interesting

EXTRA CREDIT
LECTURE HEAVY
2.0
5.0
COM101
Grade: C+
May 9, 2018
Wouldn't take again

Attendance is mandatory based on clicker points. 3 short assignments graded harshly by TAs. Two midterms and one final. The questions are just confusing, with 'all of the above', 'none of the above', 'a & c' and 'a & b' for almost every question. All examples such as videos used in class show up on the exam. Quite challenging for an intro class.

Tough Grader
Skip class? You won't pass.
LECTURE HEAVY
4.0
3.0
COMM101
Grade: A
May 10, 2018
Would take again

She's an expert in the field and you can tell that by her lectures. For an Intro class, it's kind of hard/a lot of work, but it is very possible to get an A if you try. 3 written assignments that are kind of harshly graded, and 3 exams. Attendance is mandatory and counts for 5%. She gives much opportunity for extra credit (it really helps).

Clear grading criteria
EXTRA CREDIT
LECTURE HEAVY
2.0
5.0
COMM101
Grade: C+
May 14, 2018
Wouldn't take again

Made an intro class unnecessarily more difficult than it should be. The 3 assignments were graded harshly, and the exam questions were confusing due to the answer choices of "A&B", "A&C", and "All of the Above." Also no notes are uploaded online, worksheets are handed out every class that you have to fill out.

Tough Grader
Skip class? You won't pass.
4.0
2.0
COMM101
Grade: A
Jun 13, 2018
Would take again

If you stay on top of the assignments and study, I don't see how you will get anything but an A. The papers are graded harshly, but the exams count for more. I averaged C's on the papers, but got A's on the exams and ended with an A. You have to show up because of clicker points and she doesn't share slides online. Go to the tutors for EC!

Tough Grader
Skip class? You won't pass.
5.0
1.0
COM101
Grade: A
Sep 28, 2018
Would take again

TAKE HER! She is an outstanding comm prof- explained everything well, & is extremely kind & approachable. Easy 3 papers assigned that took only a day for me to complete each. Prepares you very well for all exams. Don't buy the textbook. Study off her pp slides & jeopardy Q's- you're guaranteed an A. I only studied the day before for each exam lol.

1.0
5.0
COMM400LEVEL
Grade: C+
Oct 7, 2018
Wouldn't take again

You are going to be bogged down with work if you take family communication with DR Mandelbaum. Shes going to give you times of reading and theres a paper due every week and is graded quite harshly. She is of little help in office hours and has little or no clarity in content and there is also no textbook for class

Tough Grader
Participation matters
LOTS OF HOMEWORK
5.0
1.0
COMMB2
Grade: Audit/No Grade
Oct 9, 2018
Would take again

Jenny is such a gem! She's a very sweet lady and taught me a lot in the Byrne I was in with her. She gives homework every week, but it only took a half hour and the questions weren't too hard. The Byrne was on complaining in everyday life but she taught me a lot about all conversation, which has inspired me to take more communication classes!

Respected
Participation matters
Amazing lectures
1.0
5.0
COMM400LEVEL
Grade: Not sure yet
Nov 1, 2018
Wouldn't take again

Mandelbaum is horrible ! please don't take her. I was stuck with her senior year and she made family Comm unnecessarily difficult with transcriptions that nobody else but her understood. She's rude and condescending in office hours. Will make you feel like it's your fault you're not doing that well, when she grades so tough and screws your life

Tough Grader
Get ready to read
Skip class? You won't pass.
1.0
5.0
COMM400LEVEL
Grade: Drop/Withdrawal
Nov 1, 2018
Wouldn't take again

Mandelbaum is horrible. She grades so tough makes content so unnecessarily difficult. Incorporated transcription and action analysis into the syllabus. Turned the class more into a linguistics class than a family communication class. DO NOT TAKE HER ! AVOID IF YOU CAN. Was stuck with her senior year and will regret it for the rest of my life

Skip class? You won't pass.
GRADED BY FEW THINGS
LECTURE HEAVY
5.0
2.0
04189101INCOMM
Grade: B
Nov 1, 2018
Would take again

Best professor for intro to comm. This class made me fall in love with Comm and ultimately choose it as my major. She is very engaging and energetic. She uses clips from shows like friends and the office to help you understand concepts and remember them. Amazing Professor!

Inspirational
Clear grading criteria
Amazing lectures
3.0
5.0
INTROTOCOMM
Dec 18, 2018
Wouldn't take again

Exams are too complicated in my opinion. You have to go to class for iclicker points or notes or youll fail for sure. Shes okay. Extra credit helps if you dont do well in exams.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Tough Grader
EXTRA CREDIT
5.0
2.0
COM101
Dec 21, 2018
Would take again

I thoroughly enjoyed going to Dr. Mandelbaum's class. She kept her lectures interesting and used a lot of examples to make concepts easier to understand. If you pay attention to iClicker review questions and examples she uses throughout the course, you will do very well on the exams. But if you don't plan on attending class, you won't do well.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Amazing lectures
Caring
4.0
2.0
COMM101
Grade: A
Dec 21, 2018
Wouldn't take again

As long as you study, the tests are an easy A. There are 3 written assignments that are basically graded arbitrarily so your score will almost always range anywhere from a 7 to a 17 out of 20. It doesnt matter though because as long as you get a good grade on the exams and do the extra credit youll get an A. Her lectures arent boring.

Participation matters
Skip class? You won't pass.
EXTRA CREDIT
1.0
4.0
COM101
Grade: C
Jan 9, 2019
Wouldn't take again

Very tough grader on assignments and is unclear of what should be written. Can be hostile at times

Tough Grader
Skip class? You won't pass.
TEST HEAVY
4.0
3.0
COMM101
Grade: B+
Jan 14, 2019
Would take again

This class is mostly common sense but you should go to every class because there are clicker questions that are free points for your grade and if you just study her slides you should be fine in this class. She has a great personality and british accent and she truely wants to help you get the grade you want in this class if you go to office hours.

5.0
3.0
COM101
Grade: A
Feb 18, 2019
Would take again

I looked forward to this class every week! Prof. Mandelbaum is great and her lectures are fun. She makes everything easier to understand and has a clear grading criteria. There are plenty of extra credit opportunities too. Highly recommend taking Intro to Comm with her!

Skip class? You won't pass.
Amazing lectures
EXTRA CREDIT
1.0
5.0
COM101
Grade: Audit/No Grade
Mar 1, 2019
Wouldn't take again

There are three exams and three single space papers. Her exam is hard and crazy. iclicker every class. She is telling us although we are getting a bad grade in the middle of the semester if we do great on the final exam, we may get an A, but it is not. BTW her extra review class is useless. DON'T TAKE HER !!

Lots of homework
Skip class? You won't pass.
Test heavy
1.0
5.0
COMM440
Grade: C
Oct 9, 2019
Wouldn't take again

Please do not take Dr Mandelbaum if you love yourself, especially in senior year. Theres no textbook, she lectures for four hours and keeps you there the whole time. She spoke at length about action analysis for one class and cantered the term project around it. Nobody understood her except herself. Be prepared to get good grades if youre British

Lots of homework
Lecture heavy
Tough grader
1.0
5.0
COMM101
Dec 16, 2019
Wouldn't take again

Don't take her class. Her class is really dull and her tests are really hard and that's the main thing you get graded on. I really regret taking her class.

Test heavy
Lecture heavy
Tough grader
1.0
5.0
COM101
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 17, 2019
Wouldn't take again

Do not take her class. Her classes are boring and she gives really bad grades for your homework. She expects you to remember every videos played during lecture and will be on the exams.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Test heavy
Tough grader
2.0
4.0
COM101
Grade: B
Jan 13, 2020
Wouldn't take again

Intro to Comm is overall a boring class. If you don't need It don't take it. You have to study a lot for the tests or else you will fail, but in the end she will grade you fairly. I got a B after failing the first two exams bc I did every single extra credit assignment and thankfully did well on the final, also she uses clicker which is annoying

Get ready to read
Participation matters
EXTRA CREDIT
4.0
2.0
COM101
Dec 14, 2020
Would take again

Prof is a sweetheart and had an amazing transition to online learning. No exams, just 4 short papers and a weekly quiz that is extremely easy if you watch her prerecorded lectures. She has a bunch of opportunities for extra credit, and clearly wants to see her students succeed. Definitely take online if you have the option.

Respected
Clear grading criteria
EXTRA CREDIT
4.0
3.0
COMM101
Grade: A
Dec 16, 2020
Would take again

Cool about learning from home. Attendance wasn't mandatory but it did give you the opportunity for extra credit. Gives other opportunities for extra credit throughout the semester. Quiz at the end of every week and a few written assignments. One issue is that you don't really have a great idea of your final grade until it's released at the end.

Accessible outside class
Caring
EXTRA CREDIT
4.0
3.0
COM101
Grade: A-
Apr 27, 2021
Would take again

Attendance not required, but if you show up she does breakout rooms, offers time to ask questions, and gives polls for extra credit. All quizzes and papers are graded by TA's, some of them are ruthless, some are easy graders & a lot of inconsistency from one TA to the other, but office hours are every day of the week. Take detailed notes from vids.

Graded by few things
Lecture heavy
EXTRA CREDIT
4.0
2.0
COMM101
Grade: B+
May 4, 2021
Would take again

I took Intro to Communication and the class was pretty good. She has a lot of teacher's assistants so the grading isn't always the same from one TA to another, but you learn a fair amount in the class. Tons of opportunities for extra credit.

EXTRA CREDIT
Tough grader
4.0
2.0
COMM101
May 5, 2021
Would take again

I took intro to Comm spring 2021, shes an organized professor but the class is big (in size) and she isnt willing to budge if you get a bad grade, she uses a lot of movies and tv shows as examples during class and they kept it interesting, theres a lot of opportunities for extra credit

Lecture heavy
EXTRA CREDIT
4.0
4.0
COMM101
May 6, 2021
Would take again

Superrrr organized on canvas, there are opportunities for extra credit and there is no final :) There is a quiz every week but it is based on the videos assigned for the week so it isnt so hard.

Gives good feedback
EXTRA CREDIT
Tough grader
4.0
3.0
COMM101
Grade: A
May 14, 2021
Would take again

Very kind professor, always available outside of class and willing to help. The class format was well adapted for the pandemic, and the material in the lectures were presented well. Lots of extra credit opportunities. However, the course has a very odd grading system. You cant see your grade throughout the semester, which I found annoying.

Lecture heavy
EXTRA CREDIT
1.0
5.0
COMM400LEVEL
Grade: C+
Jun 3, 2021
Wouldn't take again

Do not take this class. Dr Mandelbaum is very judgemental. She forms opinions of you the moment you step into her class. Irrespective of how hard you work based on your body language she gives you a C. Prepare to act really dedicated if you want an A in this class. Also she acts very condescending in office hours. Regret taking her class.

Lecture heavy
So many papers
Tough grader
1.0
5.0
COMM440
Grade: B+
Aug 18, 2021
Wouldn't take again

Dr Mandelbaum is very judgemental and non flexible. Because you come late to her class once she will give you a C on your paper. She is also very rude and racist. She will form impressions of you on the first day of class itself and for some reason if she doesn't like you. She will give you a C for the rest of the semester

Skip class? You won't pass.
Graded by few things
Tough grader
4.0
4.0
COMM101
Grade: C
Dec 8, 2021
Would take again

Dr. M is a tough. grader. Doesn't give your quizzes back unless you go to office hours which is super annoying. Very organized on canvas, and her lectures are super straightforward. 3-4 Assignments during the semester with a quiz based on the lectures every week. Pay attention and watch all the lectures and you're basically there.

Lecture heavy
Caring
Tough grader
4.0
2.0
COM101
Grade: A
Dec 17, 2021
Would take again

professor M does her best to make sure you understand all of the material. If you pay attention, you will learn a lot in the class. There are quizzes every week but as long as you watch the videos in the modules, you will do very well. 3 papers that the TA's grade, which can be either very good or very bad.

Caring
EXTRA CREDIT
2.0
5.0
COMM101
Grade: C+
Dec 18, 2021
Wouldn't take again

Ridiculous class. NEVER take this class if not required. Cannot view answers for quizzes, so you can learn very little and never know what's wrong. Grades are disorganized until the end of the semester. Super hard for a 101 class. To get an A, you should clearly know every concept and do a great job in most of the assignments.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Lecture heavy
Tough grader
1.0
5.0
COMM440
Grade: C
Jan 26, 2022
Wouldn't take again

Mandelbaum is horrible. God knows how she became professor emeritus. Her class on action analysis in family communication was awful. She is horrible. Will grace you based on your race. Will also form judgements of you

Skip class? You won't pass.
Graded by few things
Tough grader
1.0
5.0
COMM400LEVEL
Grade: C-
Jan 26, 2022
Wouldn't take again

Run while you still can

Skip class? You won't pass.
Graded by few things
Lecture heavy
1.0
5.0
COMM400LEVEL
Grade: C+
Mar 28, 2022

When I was in Dr Mandelbaum's undergraduate class she told me she expects nothing but sub standard work from me, just because I wasn't able to understand some of her teaching methodologies. Now I am doing my masters at the University of Pennsylvania. Mandelbaum is a very unforgiving teacher who really does not build an inclusive class. Run !!

Tough grader
Graded by few things
1.0
5.0
COM101
Grade: A
Oct 2, 2024

Just awful please avoid.

Tough grader
Hilarious
Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

81%

Textbook Required

36%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

B

95% confidence
Based on 62 grades
Most common grades:
A (19)
C+ (10)
B+ (10)
Grade Distribution
A(20)B(10)C(21)D(1)F(0)A-/B+(11)
Based on 70 reported grades
A: 19
C+: 10
B+: 10
C: 10
Common Tags
Skip class? You won't pass. (29)
EXTRA CREDIT (25)
Tough Grader (21)
Tough grader (12)
LECTURE HEAVY (9)
Lecture heavy (9)
Participation matters (8)
Amazing lectures (8)
Rating Trend

Declining

-1.22 avg change
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Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

101

5.0

(4)

189101

5.0

(2)

COMM100

5.0

(1)

COMMUNICATION

5.0

(1)

INTOTOCOMM

5.0

(1)
+21 more courses
Difficulty by Course

INTERPERSONAL

5.0

COMM440

5.0

HONORSSEMINAR

5.0

FAMILYCOMM

5.0

COMM400LEVEL

4.3

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