2.4
Quality3.6
Difficulty26%
Would Retake284
Reviews26%
Would Retake
284
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
69
4
24
3
18
2
15
1
158
What Students Say
“This guy completely sucks”
CS313 - 1.0 rating“This guy is awful, totally disorganized”
CS313 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
32%
Textbook Required
18%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
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-1.46 avg changeRatings by Course
CS18
5.0
(1)CSCI240
5.0
(1)CS12
4.5
(21)CSCI12
4.4
(5)COMSCI012
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
CS101
5.0
CS3231
5.0
CSC343
5.0
CSCI316
5.0
CS34O
4.8
Reviews (284)
don't take him there are better ones out htere beleive me he's an overstrict marker
He's good. Hes helpful when you ask and tests are pretty fair.
He's somehow strict, didn't give out great grade, but very fair. I don't recommend him, there are better ones.
He's only helpful when you ask for help. Otherwise, you'll have to do the work yourself. He's pretty fair with the tests and grades.
This dude talks funny, but the nice part is you never have to come to class because attendence doesn't matter, go in take the tests, and it'll all be good. Seems like a aiight guy, Stutters a lot. Tests are pretty good.
Great Professor. Always willing to help students. Tests are straightforward. I'd recommend him to my friends.
I like this professor. Always helpful and easy tests if you do the practice exam. Take him. You won't regret it!
class veryy veryyyy easy, the guy doesnt really pay attention to you...buuttttt he does sound like a deaf/mute popeye...
THE WORSE PROF IN MY WHOLE LIFE. DOES NOT TEACH AT ALL. I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW THEY LET HIM TEACH THIS COURSE. HE DOES NOT BELONG IN QC. I NEVER UNDERSTOOD HIM AND THE WAY HE SPEEKS BECAUSE HE MUMBLES ALL THE TIME. STAY AWAY FROM THIS IDIOUT.
Great Professor.
The other posters are wrong. He helps you when you need it. Those that don't do the work and do poorly are the ones that don't like him.
I like this professor. Helpful and easy.
Great professor. Helpful and gives you every opportunity to do well. Just do the exercises and practice tests and you'll do well!
easy grader since the basis of his grades are on the 3 lab exams, and a sm portion of lecture notes, and webpage assignment. allows any make ups and late assignments. nice guy.
Worst prof I ever had, very critical, demeaning, treated us like middle school students, did not like questions, if we had a question, he would tell us to look on the syllabus or remind us he had already explained the answer a few weeks ago or some crap like that, he didn't like our class because we were not CSI majors, not a nice person at all
Excellent teacher! If you act like a college student, he treats you like a college student. Helps you whenever you need it.
This class was very boring.If u r able to focus & pay attention u will def. do well,& if u daydreamed like i did u will still pass too.But otherwise,this class was just a drag.
This guy is very useless, he's difficult to understand, and not smart at all. When you ask him questions, he doesn't like it and is not helpful at all. Luckily the material is easy so its not hard to get a good grade.
HORRIBLE!!! dont take him!! switch ur section if u have him!! he will ALWAYS try to take off points for no reason!!! he dosnt lecture, u go and do all the work by urself. u get it good...u dont...ur problem. doesnt like to help and get mad when u ask questions. AVOID!!!!
Great professor. Do the lab work and attend class and you'll do well.
Awesome Professor! Helps whenever you ask for it! Knows his stuff! You get to work at your own pace. Hard not to earn a good grade in his section since he reminds you about assignments and exam constantly! Excellent reviews right before the exams!
He basically has you do the reading hw and then has you do the hands-on work in lab. He is very helpful. Also goes over important info before each exam.
He may have a slight accent but can still understand him. he is very helpful and know his material. For the lab exams he goes over important material for the exams. Definitely recommend him.
The other posters are wrong. He helps you when you need it. Those that don't do the work and do poorly are the ones that don't like him.
Good lab instructor. Helpful guy too.
Lay your worries to rest with this lab instructor. It was such an easy class...you go in there and work on your computer doing the assigned exercises the entire time. Everything is mapped out to the letter!!! I really learned alot. He's nice too.
Very hard to understand, never teaches and leaves everything to you. I had questions and he became very defensive whenever I inquired. Didn't seem to know many of the answers and again, DOESN'T teach!! Marks lab exams wrong and I had to show him the correct answer three times until he admitted that he owed me 9 points.
Good lab instructor! Very helpful!
Awesome. Do the lab work, attend class and you'll do well.
I really like this lab professor. He grades fairly and reminds you constantly about assignments due. I attended lab and lecture 100% and earned an A. You can't go wrong with that!
He's good. He's helpful when you ask and the tests are pretty fair.
Awesome professor. Helps you when you need it and explains everything well!
His class has its good & bad parts. One thing I don't like is you are left in class to learn the work yourself. So you may be doing it wrong and won't even know. However, he is very willing to help you if you get confused. Is very on top of informing the class of due dates & important information.
The professor is decent. He does not teach you the material, but lets you do it on your own. VERY willing to help you if you have a question. Never read the homeworks and got a 90+ on all the exams. Review sheets for EVERY exam. As long as you know the material on the review you should get at least an 80 on the exam.
He does not go over the material, so do not expect a professor who will guide you step by step during the process. If you are interested in this kind of classes take his. Attendance is not mandatory.
He does not teach!! You teach yourself with the $300 Microsoft textbooks that are required for the course. He only reminds the class about due dates and checks lecture notes. You might want to find another lab instructor.
Wonderful professor! Lets you learn at your own pace. The exercises are detailed enough that it is all you need to learn the material. No need for you to be "taught" the material which is what the lazy students want.
Awesome professor. Helpful when you ask and the tests are pretty fair.
This professor is a great teacher. He provides great exercises to illustrate the concepts! He exam problems are on what you learn in the exercises. You can't go wrong if you do homework and study for the exams!
He's part of the lab portion. It's more of a "do it your own, and learn it your own" type of class. Ask questions in between if you need help, he's good for that. I came into this course knowing absolutely nothing. Got away with a B. He's a bit of a prik, but also a nice guy.
Professor assigns tough projects that are worded very ambiguously and if you do something he does not like you lose points on it. Additionally, he is not very helpful when it comes to answering questions and gets "frustrated" when you ask a question that seems "too easy". He is not the best QC professor but definitely better than most.
He doesn't lecture like other lab professors, but lets you do the work, and if you have any questions, he will come over and answer them. Lab exams are pretty much exactly from his practice exams on his site. If you know how to do those, you will be fine. Recommended
Although he is a fair professor, he makes his work challenging, he genuinely wants you to understand and to pass his class. He is always willing to help. You really have to study and do the work.
Excellent teacher. I strongly recommend taking this class and as long as you do your work and study, you'll be fine.
He's a no-nonsense guy but he can teach. He is available for questions after class. The material is straightforward so if you're confused, refer back to the textbook.
Not the worst CS professor but at the same time not as easy as some students make it sound. Ended up with a C- simply because I missed one project. My tests average were above 80s so still confused why I got a C-.
Professor Svitak is a good professor for CS12 but when it comes to CS313, he often gets lost during lectures. If you have the options take any other professor. I agree with the students below me because I know couple of other students who had to retake this course because they missed one project when projects are worth only 15%.
Lectures are straightforward to follow the material. His tests are reasonable. Take this class if you truly want to learn the material.
He doesn't know the material well enough to teach but he gives a big curve making it easy to pass. He's not good but compared to other professors he's great, go with him for 313.
would take again
do not get intimidated by this prof. he is a non nonsense guy. my class average was in the 40s and i still got a c+ (even though he said there will be no curve).
Its funny that there are so many ratings all within a span of a few days and many of them seem to be repeated. One bad review got deleted and then the next day, a good review comes up. There are claims that he curves the exams and he doesn't curve them coming from my experience in the class. Don't let these these false ratings fool you.
His class is straight forward. The tests are just everything that is in the textbook and lecture. There is no reason why someone should do poorly in this class. He's a pretty chill dude and very approachable after class. The hardest part of the class is the projects.
Hands down the best professor ever.
Tests are tough. He doesnt wanna pass anyone. Doesn't know JAVA at all.
Tests are reasonable. Anyone can pass with a little hard work. Does know Java.
TRUUUUU
So True!
I love taking courses with this professor. You really learn the subject if you put in the effort.
He ruined my life
This teacher saved me!
Thought it was a drought
Awesome Professor! Would take again!
Professor Svitak was phenomenal in every aspect!!! He really stands out from all of the other lecturers! He is super smart, and great at explaining difficult concepts clearly so that you really understand. He is one of the best professors in CUNY!
He is the worst prof ever ever ever ever!!!! He gives very confusing lecture. The tests are tricky, and only 5-6 questions with large points, so you are very easy to lose points. He is a a tough grader as well. He doesn't know anything at all.
He is the best prof ever! He gives very clear lectures. The tests are straight forward. He is a fair grader as well. He knows the material well.
Be prepared for challenging but fair exams. He makes you think hard on the exams and likes to throw in stuff you should've learned in previous CS classes. Very doable coarse. However, you must study!! The best part is he makes you see how what you're learning is important in the real world.
Did total of three projects for the class. First project was due back in March, still haven't get the grades for that yet and today is the final for his class. Slow as hell, one can walk to California from New York faster than the time that he takes to grade a project. Lectures are boring, make sure to take a pillow for his class.
Very clear lectures, though pretty dry. Very knowledgeable about computer coding. Lacking a little in rigor when it came to mathematical concepts, but this is a CS course. Biggest complaint: EXTREMELY SLOW to return assignments and tests. We didn't get feedback on the first project (out of three) until shortly before the final.
He's a descent guy, but his tests are really hard. Each test question is worth 20 points. Questions are entirely random. He may pick a question that he has not thoroughly discussed, which makes it almost impossible to do well. He does not curve or release grades until the end of the semester. He is unnecessarily hard. Class average F.
Come on. Come on. He can't teach. He just couldn't. I like to do the programs but he does not give clear lessons. But, puts stuff on the exam not expecting. Do not take at all costs!!!
He does it every semester. Got a D+ even though I did well in the final.
This guy is the best prof ever I will never take another prof again. He is easy and his grading is the best I got an F! Hint: Sarcasm
MUST GO TO CLASS. There is no curve on the either final grade or exam grades. Use his notes, they will help with both exams and projects. Most of what he talks about shows up in the class exams.
Unclear expectations and unclear which topics will be covered/on the test. So far no assignments no homework just a test that is hard to prepare for. Also hard to listen to his speech impediment. Real problem is lack of organization no outline.
laziest professor I've taken, takes him 3 weeks to grade a multiple choice exam, and its been 2 months since project 1 was submitted, semester is going to end in 2 weeks and still no grade for project 1
His tests are unpredictable, lectures are very boring and confusing at times. Takes forever to grade the exams , doesn't even give feedback on the test to see what mistakes you've made. If you want to pass study from the book!
Bring a bottle of water to class, because his lectures are dry
Professor Svitak is the man. Down to earth, funny person and fun class. My interest in data structures soared during this class. I bought the book and read it. Tests came from the book and notes. Take him, you won't regret it. Two thumbs up.
Svitak is a really good professor when it comes to teaching and explaining. His tests are basically whats taught in the Class. Nothing extra tricky or hard. He also assigns a good project which is 20% of your grade.
Easy tests if you study. He's very funny and really knows his topics. Very clear when it comes to testing criteria and he will answer all your questions. One of few professor who returns the test on the next class.
Inability to explain class material. You have to read the book to actually get what he is saying. Exams are a joke and unrelated topics often appear.
I thought that professor svitak was very fair and that his lectures were very helpful in preparing students for exams.
Worst Professor by far. Gives no feedback for exams, does not tell you exactly what material to study for exams, and goes over the same material for weeks, but than you see different material on his exams. He gives no practice questions or any examples of how his exam will even look, so you're walking into the exam clueless.
Honestly, this professor is the best. He really cares about his students. Regardless of the situation. Many of my friends are taking him right now and all of them think he's the worst professor ever. They're right. He is. You've been warned. Take heed. By the way, how are the previous reviews receiving their final grade before the final....?
terrible
umm clueless . I am clueless going to the exam today. this is the first time he is teaching cs343 and someone already claimed they got a B+ already. I am talking about you who posted previously, obviously a fake rating.
I would never recommend this professor to anyone. this guy talks to him self and he would barely make any eye contact with the study majority of the lecture he is looking at the bored and you are sitting there looking at his back. He don't believe in reviews and there is no curves for his class. get ready to teach your self and youtube is your bf.
This class isn't a easy-a class. But if you prepare well, it shouldn't be that hard to get a decent grade (B+ or even A). I definitely recommend any CS major taking this guy's CS313 simply because the other professor's (actually the chairman's) class is much more difficult. Exams are fine but he grade VERY slow and won't give back the solution.
He's one of my favorite professors. He is a very kind person and looks after his students. You have to go to class which is a most. He doesn't give a curve on his in class exams or finals. I was able to do well on his exams and projects from his slides which I find them to be very helpful. I highly recommend him to anyone planning to take CS 313.
Professor Svitak is an okay professor. His lectures are okay if you pay attention. His exams are not too hard, however the assignments are challenging. He takes forever to return grades (He gave the grades for all 3 assignments on the day he submitted the final grades). I do think there is a curve for the class even if he says there isn't.
He usually reads off his slides by staring at the screen and reading it word for word. He takes forever to demonstrate examples and he always goes off tangent to tell a story. He is a very harsh grader when it comes to projects. He wants methods to be as short and efficient as possible but doesn't give any guidelines on how to achieve it.
Welcome to a class that makes no sense, unable to ever get to his point, does not know what he is talking about and exams are crazy, he will give c- which is unacceptable for some majors, he wont give an F.
I've taken classes with Svitak before. The material so far is entirely review for me. That said, I can barely follow what he is talking about, his presentation is so vague and rambling. I show up to class mainly to write down the topics he goes over so I can teach them to myself outside of class.
Terrible at lecturing. Just had the first exam and there were at least five qs that covered concepts he nor the book ever mentioned. All multi choice bc he's lazy to grade. The class is based off of the textbook's appendix with each section being half a page to a page. It's as vague as the lecture and useless. Youtube will be your friend
This professor is probably the worst professor I ever encountered. His lectures are a waste of time and he is a tough grader. You are better off teaching yourself in this class. His projects are intense. He doesn't know how to teach and gets worse everyday and his addiction to diet pepsi is probably why he is such a bad professor.
Prof does not teach well and just reads off slides or talk while writing on the board or waste time. He extended the class time this semester because he was absent once which was torturous because he spends 2 mins each class mentioning that he was absent once and so forth. His exams are simple but he doesnt explain what's on it beforehand.
Boring Lectures. Assignments that are much harder than what is taught in class. Stay away from this guy
Horrible Professor. AVOID AVOID AVOID
Horrible, no any review, no any explanation for homework, even do not know what will be on the test. Homework is hard. But he gives final grade everything totally on you grades. even hard to receive B. The most important thing is he will give you a grade a C- or even d. This makes retake class harder. Horrible.
Just avoid. You teach yourself, nothing he teaches is on the test. Honestly doesn't know the material himself as he questions the power-point slides. Assignments are ridiculously hard and doesn't give the grades back untill AFTER finals.
Boring lecture and nothing important from PowerPoint , no review for exam and there was something he didn't teach on the exam. Exams were not hard but it was hard to get high score. Homework was way harder than every thing he taught in the class and gave no clue, do not take this prof if there was anyone else. He ruined my GPA
I took him for CS 313. I know his lectures are not the best but he will definitely help you if you ask him questions after class. I found him to be very helpful outside of class and you can do well if you put in the time and effort into this class.
I would not recommend him to anyone. He uses exam questions from past editions of the book. Wording is outdated, and not the vocab he teaches. He's also learning as he teaches, if you ask him a question he'll take a day to wiki the topic then get back to you. Took forever to give back assignments and complains about grading them.
I took Dr. Svitak for both 313 and 343 and did well in both. That being said, he is without a doubt one of the worst professors I've ever had. He has a complete lack of passion for the subjects he teaches. In addition, he is extremely lazy and tests/projects are returned weeks late. His grading scheme is as arbitrary as it is harsh. Just don't.
Does not reply to emails. Gives assignments that are nothing like his lectures. Gives back grades of assignments AFTER the final. Has no passion for what he does. Save your GPA and avoid.
Just save yourself a semester of pain and avoid this guy. Doesn't interact with his students. Gives back grades for assignments AFTER the finals exam. And goes off topic for most of the class
Not sure how he is for his other subjects but CS240 was a nightmare. Most students were on their phones or sleeping during his class and he really didn't care. Find a different professor.
Took him for CS 240, Spring'17. He is a great individual, however wouldn't recommend for taking CS 240. PLEASE DO NOT take him. Material on his exams are not even close to what he teaches in his class. Saw so many things on an exam I had never seen in my life before. He almost made switch out of CS. You may do well, if you study on your own.
Gives hard exams with material that he doesn't even teach. He didn't grade any of the home works he assigned until after taking the final exam because he taught more classes than he can handle and ended up curving the class grade down. Avoid if possible and be prepared to read the textbook as his notes aren't very useful.
Most boring professor ever! This guy will do sth worse than fail you. His classes are so boring and uninteresting that discourages you from wanting to learn. Doesn't return exams, give feedback on how your doing, or give you material to practice. Just talks monotonously with a power point that slightly paraphrases material from textbook.
bad professor, no text project grade back on time, gives out the grade in last day when he put all grade in school's system. text was far not related to the stuff what he was teching, tough grade. not a happy class. he never gonna know how hard of the work you put in this class, but you still not passing. bc he was really bad professor.
DO NOT TAKE HIM AT ALL WORST CS PROFESSOR EVER. Grading criteria is bs. 25 % for each of the two exams, plus an 35% for the final exam, along with another 15% for the average of the two home work assignments which are harder than anything else than I have done in my life. If you have the option to take a different professor for 240, go for it.
No, just please, no.
Future students, if you are on this page, it means it is time for you to look at different professors. Dr. Svitak knows his stuff, it's not like he went to school for nothing, but he does not know how to explain at all. He is a kind hearted man, but with his grading policy and hard tests, it is a struggle just to get a C in his class.
Never failed a class in my life, but thanks to him it's a reality now. How do you test a student on stuff thaat you don't teach in class? how is that fair? and also teh hws are really hard, once again on stuff that is not covered in class
Gives a lot of good notes. If you study the textbook and what's taught in class you will earn a good grade.
Dr. Svitak knows his stuff and he knows how to explain it all. He is a kind hearted man, with his grading policy, and fair tests, it is reasonable to get a good grade in his class.
I took his 313 class over the summer and it is a lot harder than it is when he is teaching it during the regular semester. Normally his tests are mostly multiple choice during the regular semester and 2 short answer questions. But in the summer it's all written. Make sure you do exactly what he wants cause he'll take A LOT of points. READ THE BOOK!
Material on his exams are what he teaches in class. You definitely have to study on your own.
First two tests is on material that is harder than what he teaches, then has the audacity to give hws on material tht is not taught in class, and gives it so late in the semester that we don't get grades until after the final. Aren't we supposed to learn from our mistakes and improve as students? Not an engaging professor either, will ruin your GPA
He is one of the best professors I've ever had. I wish he can teach more classes. He is very knowledgeable on the topics and he teaches them very well. He is very helpful if you ask him questions and he will be glad to help. You have to put in the work for the class. I would recommend taking him.
The professor really prepares his students for the next level computer architecture. You must go to his lectures, and exit them with a good understanding of the material. Make sure you do many practice problems before exams. If you put the effort in to study and learn, you can earn an A.
He's actually a good professor and teaches very clearly. He knows his material and is willing to help as much as possible. His exams and grading is fair.
His tests are predictable and lectures are interesting. If you want to pass study from the book and lectures.
Underrated CS prof. Tests and projects are doable. He teaches 240 well.
One of the smartest professors in QC. Office hours and always willing to help his students.
Ehhh not really a great professor, I mean who posts reviews of himself? I don't know why he is rated so high, I'm guessing all of his reviews had an effect on how students perceive him before actually meeting him. And he does not teach 240 well, and why does he teach important cs classes like 313?? what??
This professor is a good professor. His lectures are a good time spent and he is a fair grader. You are better to also read the material in addition to attending the class. His projects are intense but rewarding. He do know how to teach.
had to study so hard for this class and it was not worth it, unlike other professors who teach this class his is the hardest by far. if there is one professor you wanna avoid in this department it's him because he cannot teach for his life.
Best professor at qc! So funny and entertaining, makes class go by quick! He's a genuinely nice and quirky guy that loves what he does.
Best professor for this course. You actually learn something in his course. You'll be ready for CS 343.
Take him for data structures, heck any course he teaches. If you read the book, attend lectures, and do practice problems, you'll earn a passing grade.
Take him for operating systems, any course. Read the book, attend lectures, and do practice problems, you'll earn a passing grade.
lol why are the last 2 posts saying the same exact thing lol those are not true
He truly knows the material and presents it well, and he wants you to know your stuff and will help you with it. But be prepared to work because you need to practice and practice and practice again.
hes an alright professor, not the best but doable, passed with a C but i had to study hard for it. I don't think it was worth it tho with his level of testing :(
Had to study a lot for this class and it was worth it. Unlike other professors who teach this class his is the best by far . if there is one professor you wanna take in this department it's him because he can teach.
He is an amazing professor. He knows what he is teaching. Just pay attention in class and you will get a good grade.
Professor Svitak is a good professor. His lectures are good if you pay attention. His exams are not too hard, however the assignments are challenging but interesting. Would take him again.
Good professor for this course. Take him. A lot of work but you learn a lot.
had to study so well for this class and it was worth it. if there is one professor you wanna take in this department it's him because he can teach.
Passed his class with a decent grading policy. Glad I took this class so I'll do well in CS 343.
Overall he's a good teacher and very approachable as well. However, a lot of people may not prefer him if they don't have a strong background in computer science already. I usually understand everything he talks about in class.
Don't study don't pass. It's as simpler as that.
Learn a lot. Would take him again. Test are tough but makes you think.
so this is how svitak spends his winter break..... posting "real" reviews of himself... ok "doctor"
yo svitak you alright man? this is the first ive ever seen an instructor suck up to HIMSELF. This is not the 1980s bro, you're not a student anymore so stop posting reviews and consistently acting like one.
Very clear lectures, though pretty dry a bit. Very knowledgeable about computer coding. Lacking a little in rigor when it came to mathematical concepts, but this is a CS course.
This guy is the best prof ever I will never take another prof again. He is easy and his grading is the best.
I have to say, this guy is something else. The professor is clearly writing in his own reviews. Guys, if you see a positive review, disregard it. It is fake news. Professor, if you are reading this, just stop the charade. Please learn to teach, and start caring for your students, not your online rating on "rate my professor".
A good professor. Lectures are good if you attend. Exams are not too bad, however the assignments are challenging but interesting. Take him.
I thought that professor svitak was very good. Lectures were very helpful in preparing for exams.
Enough of this nonsense. Please stop writing your own reviews Prof Svitak, its childish.
Clear expectations and clear which topics will be covered on the test. Fair assignments. Test that is reasonable to prepare for. Organized with an outline.
Projects and exams were straightforward and he grades fairly. If you have questions, he tries very hard to make sure you understand. Highly recommended.
Professor you can keep on reporting and deleting the negative reviews, but you know we are all right. Go ahead, we will just post them again.
the teacher was like "GO LEARN ON YOUR OWN".
It's very hard to pass from his class
I sat in this class for half a semester before i decided to withdraw from it. I attended every class and it was as if I never attended any. Tests were hard and textbook was useless.
if you want to lower your overall GPA, then this class is right for you.
I would not take this professor again. Sorry, but he's a tough grader.
Don't do it! You have been warned!!
the HARDEST class I 've ever taken in QC, I would have avoided him...:(
I don't know but, I regret taking this class and I have wasted my money :(
I just don't get it. Why is that the material is so simple but he can make it looks like as difficult as ROCKET SCIENCE? AMAZING!
I wld say if you attend every class and take rly good notes you'll be fine. Ppl say they saw stuff on test they didn't learn; idk, I missed a wk at the beginning bec I hadn't moved to NY yet, and still did well. Test is thorough, but no surprises. Only 2 assignments- They are rly hard, but don't procrastinate and use ur notes + internet for help :)
Your almost guaranteed to learn nothing useful from him, that can apply to you or your career in any way.
Not that great it all honesty. I understand he tries as a professor, but when you see half your students on their phones or asleep, while others are missing your class, then the professor is doing something wrong. Nonetheless he is very calm and collected, wise to say the least
So here's the deal with this guy. He "mentions" things in class, take them down and study them outside class. He's tests are ok as long as you study what he "mentions" (he's teaching skills are ugh). I go to class to do other stuff and took the midterm today, which I'm acing, because I read the book and watched youtube a lot. Else, your'e screwed!
I usually don't write reviews here. But for this prof i feel the need. Might help others to make wise decision. First: his lecture not clear. Second: recommended book is useless. Third: Wont curve, even if you get D he wont give you a F. Test was multiple choice, so no partial credits and more like to loss points. Any one other him is doable.
He needs to rethink how he approaches to this class and the way he teaches. There is room of improvement in pretty much every department of his teaching as he walks into classroom. There is a lot of "maybe", "probably", "I don't remember", "I think it was something like...", "Yeah, maybe it was this way!", "Or... maybe this way" You got the idea.
He is the best professor ever! His lectures are so clear and what not. He's so helpful and means well for his students. Best class I've ever registered for. Only issue is that this is only possible in an alternative universe. Be warned!!! and make sure you don't register for this class -_-
He is not that difficult and if you put in effort you can get a decent grade. This, however, is due to the fact that you will learn nothing the whole semester. His lectures are basically him reciting the textbook verbatim and his projects (like his tests) are almost always taken from google. Worst CS professor at Queens College by a longshot.
Instead of reading these reviews and writing ur own, why don't you show us that u actually want us to LEARN? Try to be a btr teacher. Show u care. Grade hw so we can learn from our mistakes. Give back tests so we can actually GAIN SOMETHING, instead of leaving us in the dark. Help those who actually show up and try. Cmon man, youre a teacher
never give anything from his lecture in test. Lectures are super boring..
I'm SURE the CS dept knows that this guy's completely PATHETIC in every sense of the word. Words can't describe it. Absolutely horrible. I hate this guy with a burning passion. It's very obvious he doesn't know ANYTHING about CS and shouldn't be a professor. But the CS dept doesn't care. More people failing equals more money in QC's pocket.
Watch him report all of these reviews and start posting good reviews written by himself. With that, its not worth coming to class, rather just study on your own with a good understanding of the material. He's always gonna throw curve balls on his test, stuff that was not taught or that is beyond the scope of this class. Prolly got a C, hard tho.
I don't listen to lectures because they are quite pointless. All he teaches are from the textbook. Make sure to keep track of what he covers in the class, and study the relevant chapters in the textbook + youtube a lot. The first test is the easiest so make sure to get your calculations right + ace it well. No escape if you don't study
This guy completely sucks! I am a straight A student when it comes to Computer Science (the lowest grade I got for any CS class before his was an A). I studied outside of class and understood the material fairly well. The problem is he is VERY nitpicky and grades with absolutely NO curve. He clearly wants everyone to fail like he did in college...
This guy is awful, totally disorganized. Rates himself because he teaches sections of CS courses in QC! But cannot grade projects/exam properly so makes it tricky. Show up to sleep. Because hes just reading the book and more than half of class is missing. No exams/hw grade. Plausible to dislike this guy-probably was a failure in college, still is!
This guy can't even talk. Run Run. You been warned.
bad pls avoid lol
Do not take him. The computer science department has a few gems, and he is not one of them. Hes hard to understand, and sometimes isnt sure himself of what he finishes saying. Take him if you want to struggle and not understand OS post-semester.
Horrible teacher! Did not learn a single thing in his class
I had him for 313. He is boring but doable. If you study the notes and the website, you should be fine. Going to class is uour choice since ityfrol the textbook. Final is 50 MC and easy. Only problem is the time he takes to grade things. Its just lazy. Overall an average Joe.
This professor knows what he is talking about. He is fair and makes the grading process clear. If you are lazy and don't do the work you won't do well. A great professor and good class.
Needs to curve on exam
I HATE HIM FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. IF HE CURVE MAY BE I WOULD HATE HIM LESS BUT I WONDER ....
I dont understand those people who give him the 5 point rate. You can say you study hard enough for getting a great grade from his class, but you can not say he is a great teacher. He does not undestand what he is teaching. Tough grader. Bad english. Disoranizer.... Just avoid him even you do not have class and graduation on time. He just shame
This professor knows what he is talking about but lacks the teaching skills to teach efficiently. He is very unorganized and tries to make jokes to make the class laugh but fails to do so as well. I would not recommend anyone take him.
First time taking him and probably my last! Exams are so difficult!!
The fact the QC continues to employ this guy is absolutely shameful. I got an A, It is not impossible - u must ignore class and memorize the textbook. He is just, quite simply, not qualified whatsoever to teach a college course. Hard to understand, and tries his absolute best to make things more difficult. He does everything in spite of students.
Take Fluture even if you have to come in on a Friday. This guy barely gives partial credit on his short answer questions, very stingy about curving and barely reply's to emails. With Fluture you comprehend what is said. All the effort I put into his class prolly gonna pass with a D+. If i put the same amount of effort with fluture, guaranteed B.
His tests are so unpredictable, doesnt give structure on what the exam will entail. Not knowing is one thing, but at least curve it. Problem is he thinks his way of thinking is correct.
He takes his frustration out on students, making things as difficult as possible. A few students have reported him already.
You're not going to learn anything in Prof. Svitak's class. He essentially just rambles for an hour each lecture. He also plagiarizes all his exams. Just show up every once in a while to know what topics he's attempting to cover and then google cs 343 exam archive and study the old exams that line up with whatever he talks about in class.
Inconsiderate man and has no right structure of grading. He can't teach this course and I don't know why the department is letting him teach it. DO NOT TAKE HIM UNLESS YOU WANT TO FAIL!
emm really great professor! Class is easy, exam is easy with curves! The only things i do not like the class is boring and the attendence is mandatory. The curve is blessing! You average would be A frome C
First time taking him, dont know whats going on or whats on the exam. No transparency. Needs to be strong curve
just because he curves does not justify that his class is unbearable to be in. more than half the kids arent even in class in any given day. smh
Great professor, care his students. He may not good at teaching, but if you try to read the book and ask him question, you will be fine
Well, the class is find and the professor is nice, but he does not how to teach. But the good point is that the exam is not hard and the curve is great. If you want to pass, recommed him. If you want to learn, dont take him.
Hes terrible for our exam people were on their phones posting the questions on chegg in front of his face and he didnt even care no wonder people dont learn from this guy oh and yes he gives a curve if you are a guy who with a C now you are an A student.
DEAR QC STUDENTS, DO NOT TAKE HIM, HE WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE HARDER THAN YOU HAVE EVER THOUGHT OF. VERY TOUGH GRADER AND DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO TEACH.
He does not know how to teach. Tough grader, barely gives partial credit if any on his short response questions. Counts 2 points as a curve. 2 projects which can be unclear, 2 midterms, 1 final.
For the first and second exams, each has 40 MCQ and 3 long answers. The final has only 50 MCQ. You can find all the questions by googling CS343 archive. Also, two formal assignments make up 15% of your overall grades. Do yourself a favor and study those old exam questions because whatever he teaches in class will never be on the exams.
Ignore the comments that say he will turn your grade from C to A. His curve will only turn your grade from C to C+.
The worst Professor I've taken at QC. He has a speech impediment of some sort, and plain out cannot teach. He should not be employed as a Professor or a teacher of any sort. He gives a 2 point curve for an exam that HE MISPLACED. Needless to say, this semester we get a break, Credit/No credit because of covid, but this doesn't justify wasted time.
What a terrible professor. When people say he takes a long time to grade material, it's a long time. Months, I received my first exam grade back 2 days before the final. God knows when I will get my exam 2 and final grade back. Homework has never been graded. Man cannot teach. Please avoid if you can.
He gives a 2 point curve for an exam that HE MISPLACED. Needless to say, this semester we get a break, Credit/No credit because of covid, but this doesn't justify wasted time.
He is a terrible professor in whole world. When people say he takes a long time to grade material, it's a long time. Months, I received my first exam grade back 2 days before the final. God knows when I will get my exam 2 and final grade back. He has to submit the grade by deadline and he graded all the assignment as zero (0)...
Do not take his class
If you find an option to take same class with other professor then take their classes. Do not take his class. He wont grade any assignments until end of semester and the grade you will receive for final that will surprise you....
I didn't bother with the lectures since all of the material was straight out of the online textbook. Read that and you'll do fine. Professor Svitak seems like a nice guy.
not good at all. I thought it wouldn't be too bad to take him at first but now i regret it. if you don't want your gpa nuked then i advise you don't take him
WORST PROFESSER THERE CAN BE!!!!!!!!! NEVER EVER NEVER EVER TAKE HIM. If you are at edge of graduating save your money but don't take him. He will ruin your graduation. Stay one more semester rather than taking him. Again...... NEVER EVER........ 95% FAIL RATE. Dude won't curve. Doesn't listen to student's concern.
Seemed like a neat guy at first but slowly became annoying and strict in terms of projects and lectures. Only saving grace is that the final was super easy since they were a mashup of his 12 quizzes given throughout the semester. His projects are coding and pretty hard if you don't have a clue about what you're doing. He is very inconsiderate too.
Svitak cares very little for his students gives no partial credit. Projects assigned at the start of the semester are not graded until days before semester grades are submitted. His lectures consist of personal stories and analogies as opposed to explaining content and refers students to the textbook for help. Exams are based on 'lectures.'
worst professor. Does not know how to teach. Booooooooooooooooooooring lectures all the time and not clear. How can he still be teaching without knowing how to teach? Queens college needs to have a better professor.
The difficulty in this class doesnt come from exams or zybooks, its the 2 coding assignments thatre worth 15% of your grade. Theyre stupid ridiculous, and theres like 3 different ways he can just instantly give a 0 like if it doesn't compile right or "implement what he asked" aka he doesnt like ur code. Doesnt care about students at all. Be wary.
He will rearrange his grading criteria in whatever way it takes to make sure you get a D and not an F grade. He deliberately waits until near the class drop deadline to grade exams. He is terrible but he has tenure so they wont fire him. His tests are sometimes on things he has yet to teach in lectures. If you can get Kong take him. Good luck.
Professor is horrible at teaching and providing clear instructions. Expects the top Program from the students. Big mistake to take this class and waste of money and time. Needs proper way of teaching students who actually wants to learn. Online is horrible, In-person would be worst.
Grading is clear, he tells u every aspect of each assignment on what ur graded on, but there is 0 feedback on how u didnt meet his requirements and what could have been improved to meet them in the future. Not to mention although he takes off pts for late, he will grade your assignments week of finals (gotta love that double standard).
Svitak is a nice man, but other than that, he really has nothing else going for him. He constantly stutters and stumbles over his own words, his lectures are highly monotonous, and he generally seems unaware of whats going on. If you can avoid taking him, do it.
He's responsive and organized to a decent extent. He can come off as rude/egotistic, but I digress. He wasted a lot of time and was never really able to keep up with the syllabus. His projects were overly complex and required a lot of time and coding knowledge to complete. If you can't code, you'll likely fail. Otherwise, the class was very doable.
One of the worst professors ever. Forces you to attend all classes and doesn't care for any personal issues that may come up. Very difficult to reach after class and not very clear when giving instructions. Sad!
if you reading this, mark my word, you will highly regret taking his class or get ready for youtube.
Well, the class is fine and the professor is nice, he does know how to teach. The good point is that the exam is not hard and the curve is great. If you want to pass, recommend him. If you want to learn, take him
Pay attention to lectures. Whatever he does in lectures shows up in class. His tests is like one of those tiktok videos. You start easy then as you progress through the exams, it gets very difficult.
Please do not take him, or you will deeply regret your choice. All those 5s and 4s rating are fake. He is unable to explains materials clearly, often talk about things off-topic, and some accent. These three things add up together makes it impossible to understand. However, the textbook is very comprehensive and easy, spend time read it, you good.
This professor Does Not Help at all. He's just there in class. I have lab class with him and I regret. he gives you homework that you didn't learn in lecture yet. He expects you to know everything without he teaching. if you ask for help you can't understand what he says. it's hard to have a professor like him in a class that is the most important.
He does not teach you. no effort to help you in class. He gives bunch of homework the first week with less time to complete them, for the lab class and the assignments are not the same as what you learn in class. you can't understand what he says or explains. Not being rude but some people shouldn't be teaching hard classes like cs labs.
Stay away, this guy does not know how to teach. You will find yourself not wanting to attend lectures because you learn nothing from them.
Teacher gives 5 questions for every lecture, with two lectures that's 10 questions a week. The timing is a bit off from the actual lectures and gives alot more than other lab professors, but it forced me to actually learn. The grading criteria is unfair, as it grades a random question of your 5 and if its wrong, you get a 0 for the whole lab.
NO, don't take. He teaches nothing important in class. Not difficult material, never understand what he is trying to say in class. Sometimes(often) he talks about everything in his life and not about the class. Regretted that I took OS with him. Learnt nearly nothing from him. Only from the book, so why take his class?
One of the worst Prof.. will never take him again
All I can say is there are worse teachers. He does curve exams. Not very generous when grading projects. he was generous to me but not others. He can't speak clearly and his classes are super boring. Also made us buy a 90 dollar textbook. If you take him just use the textbook to study cause nothing else is worth it.
Study ALOT, and def from the textbook. Knows his stuff but he absolutely sucks at breaking things down for you to understand so most of class you might be lost . Harsh grading but there is generous curving on exams. for me still was best choice for 316 as i couldnt pass with other profs, his class still made more sense
First time i needed to write a review about a teacher, i dont know how he is in other classes, but for the love of god do not take him for 313, unfair grading for projects, doesnt give multiple choice back because he uses a scantron, which led to questionable results. Lectures are boring asf. Zybooks due on random dates,so you end up missing some
This professor has a speech problem and goes off topic every few minutes about his personal life stories and endeavors instead of teaching the actual material. He waits till the end of the semester to return graded material so you never know what you got and wait till the end to see you failed. Cannot teach at ALL. AVOID AT ALL COSTS PLEASE!
Took him for CS 355 and didn't see the option on RMP. DO NOT TAKE THIS GUY AT ALL!!! HE GETS DISTRACTED EASILY AND RAMBLES ON ABOUT RANDOM THINGS FROM GROCERIES TO IPADS WHEN WE ARE DISCUSSING HTML AND CSS.... The zyBooks had random dates and when we didn't learn the material in class, he had labs and assignments due on zyBook that nobody knew of
-difficult to understand during every single lecture -distracted / goes off topic every lecture -waits till the end of semester to give exam grades -had to self teach for the B- i got would not take this professor bc. he cannot teach and does not care about students learning which hurts when you put in the work. he's only employed bc. of tenure
DROPPED his class after the first two weeks and switched for a different professor. He has a stutter speech problem and goes off topic which makes it hard to understand what we are learning. Do NOT take him and save yourself the trouble!!!!!
The class can be challenging, but leveraging resources like the textbook and tools like unstuckstudy ai can really help. Attend lectures, stay engaged, and you'll learn a lot despite the professor's teaching style.
stop f posting your unstudy ai ads - this professor is a NO
He means well. Gets sidetracked in class - talks more about his personal life than CS. Impossible grader - multiples times took off points from me because, even though I followed the assignment's instructions, it wasn't what he meant. Some of the questions on exams are arbitrary and badly worded. Projects harder than I've ever had(even years later)
The professor assigns zyBook reading but they are not aligned with what he teaches during the lecture. We are about to take our final in a few weeks and he's going over stuff from the third week.... On top of this, the topics for the midterm exams are all over the place and he can't even teach the lectures properly as he gets side tracked DONT TAKE
Lectures in this class are completely useless. Professor Svitak teaches one thing in person and the online textbooks are weeks if not MONTHS ahead. The reading/programming assignments due dates are all over the place and the professor refuses to extend or allow for resubmissions. The list of topics to study for is also a complete mess. DO NOT TAKE!
Took him for CS 355 but the option wasn't available. He does NOT teach and his lectures are not clear what so ever. He is rude, grades assignments last day before due-dates, refuses to upload notes. I had a medical issue and he refused to extend the submission! What kind of professor is he? He is only teaching because of tenure! QC CS IS DOOMED!!!
Don't take this professor even if his lecture fits your schedule. There's a BIG reason his lectures always have tons of space every single semester...(Hint: He can't teach)! Do yourself a favor and wait a semester to take that class or take it over summer/winter break. AVOID HIM AT ALL COST!
Horrible professor. He is behind months to what our assigned readings are. Goes off-topic in lecture 95% of the time. He grades based on what he thinks is right, and is not lenient even if your answer is correct on exam. Grades extremely slow, the final is tomorrow and the project one and two grade and exam 2 grades are not even in.
I had him for CS 355 and although I got good grades on all three exams, it wasn't because he was a good professor. I had to read the zyBooks religiously and prepare weeks in advance because he can't be on track with his lectures. AVOID him because you will regret taking him and end up doing more work. PLEASE TRUST ME WHEN I SAY THAT!!
DONT take this professor and listen to the other reviews because i didn't and paid the price… more than 15 students dropped the class due to his poor lecturing abilities and lack of communication… he doesn't even know his own material that he's teaching! multiple times throughout the semester he was confused on why things weren't compiling..(yikes)
this professor is extremely unprofessional and inconsiderate of students. he is extremely slow with teaching and picks too many topics for the test he hasn't taught. i had to study extremely hard just to get a B. If I can do it all over again I would advise not to take him don't go through what I had to.
If you aspire to have an incredibly difficult semester with little to no chances of an A, this is the Professor for you! His long lectures aren't really ever relevant to material on the test and you might as well use that syllabus as toilet paper because you'll be weeks behind schedule here:) The exams have nothing to do with class lectures too.
This man is extremely unprofessional he doesn't care about his student. Also he told me stay after class for “extra credit” and was winking????? I was extremely confused!!!!!!
lol at comment below, I think I know which one of my indian friends is that. AVOID this guy
i want that indian comment back - who reported it - Svitak stop faking your comments
The professor has some sort of speech impediment which makes it extremely hard to understand him + he gets off track quite often so the lectures are of no value. avoid him like the bubonic plague because you will spend your semester reading 13 weeks of zyBooks to prepare for the test which is not optimal cause you learn nothing and are regurgitatin
This was the hardest class I have taken in my 3 years at QC. The material on the test doesn't even match the lectures. I attended every single lecture and had to memorize the zybooks just to scrape by with a B on each exam. He shouldn't be teaching what so ever I really don't know how QC allows this after students constantly complain.
Withdrew after the first week and came back after the semester everyone know that... THERE ARE BETTER PROFESSORS!! AVOID THIS PROFESSOR at all costs because you will end up retaking the class. The point of a lecture is to learn and actually apply the knowledge in a professional environment or in a project and you will do neither if you take him...
He writes the only good reviews and all the negative reviews hit the nail on the head. He can't teach and you don't learn. Never take this guy even if he's the only option. I would wait a semester and take less classes even if you have to because he's a lost cause. I rarely leave reviews but I want to warn other students and be honest.
If you plan on taking him for CS 316 DON'T. He doesn't have a single clue as to what he's teaching. SO many students dropped after the first week and I had to fight tooth and nail just for a B. Most of the time is spent self teaching instead of attending his horrific "lectures".
Tries his hardest to not give you a C or give you an F. Wouldn't round my C- up to a C just cause he's petty. These types of people should be nowhere near a school. If you can't teach atleast round up a grade.
Only professor I've seen that goes out of his way to harm the learning of students. Refuses to upload lecture slides and only goes off zybooks. Tries really hard to not give C's and waits till last minute to grade anything important. Avoid Avoid Avoid.
Don't take this guy if you want to learn or have a good GPA. I took him for CS 340 and CS 316 and his classes tanked my GPA (B+ and C). He doesn't teach and doesn't even know the information on the slides he scrolls through. He then gives a multiple choice test pulling random bits of information from the zybook textbook.
Throws a 70 question multiple choice styled final at you and takes the most random things from zyBooks textbook and makes it a question. Puts no effort in lectures (lectures are 2 months behind assigned zyBook reading LOL). Refuses to upload notes/lectures. Gets sassy when you email him asking for extension or if you ask for anything at all.
Der größte Teil der Klasse brach wegen seiner schlechten Lehre ab. Er stottert viel und die Rutschen sind schrecklich. Er war wegen meiner Sprachbarriere sehr unhöflich zu mir.
Awful during "lectures" (not a lecture if you're off track and don't know how to formulate words). Switched to a different professor after two lectures. This guy shouldn't have a job.
No. If you value your time do not take him because he certainly does not value yours.
Best prof at qc
One of the worst professors I've seen at QC. Extremely unhelpful (will refuse any request). Teaching is more so rambling. Tests are checking if you've thoroughly read zybooks and remember tiny useless details instead of understanding concepts. Grading is harsh on exams. If you take him, I'd recommend self-study over going to his classes. 2/10
His lectures are just him rambling about random childhood stories. The exams are from the zyBook readings and are 50-75 multiple choice questions. You have to study the zyBook chapters front to back and hope the topics you studied come up. He's useless when it comes to teaching students and REFUSES to upload lecture slides or notes.
There's a serious disconnect between the lecture schedule and the assigned zyBook readings. The readings are months ahead of what we're covering in class. So you're expected to learn the content on your own long before it's addressed — if he addresses it at all. You're on your own for all three exams and there's no coordination between anything!
Prof Svitak refuses to upload any lecture slides or notes. The lectures are disorganized and hard to hear because he has a stuttering problem. No recordings, no summaries, no extra resources provided (he declines when you ask). This attitude shows his obvious lack of consideration towards students. I would not take another class with him.
Assigns an online textbook and the entire class is based off that. Doesn't do teaching in class because he's months behind the content. He either goes off track or stutters making the lectures uninformative. He gets angry when you ask him to upload lecture slides or notes of any kind and refuses. The CS dept needs to look into this guy asap.
Dropped him after the first three weeks because of his speech and his constant side stories about unrelated topics. His speech impediment makes it really difficult to understand what is going on and to stay focused on a topic.
Run!!!!!!!
WARNING: If you want to take CSCI48, take Matthew Fried! Please do not take this guy, he barely knows Excel, you will never understand him (Filler words/Voice). All material is based on Fried's stuff; take Fried and keep yourself sane. Does not give a review for the test, and is completely off schedule. Also, no makeup test at all! Never take!!!!!!
He's not the best. He goes off topic, it's hard to understand him. Lots of self learning.
Svitak mentions 2 textbooks. Take someone else
All you need to do is review and study the Zybooks. Come to lectures because most of the short response on exams although mentioned in the textbooks is more detailed during lectures. Overall not as bad as they say.
Two projects, Zybooks Homework and 2 midterms + final. If you study the zybooks and attend class, you will definitely pass.
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32%
Textbook Required
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