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Very willing to help if you ask. Super nice. Don't miss the quizzes, you'll be sorry.

Tough class. You can expect to have a quiz at least once every week. Goes by extremely fast and that makes it hard to keep up.

Do your homework, ask questions, figure out her system and you will learn a lot. That doesn't mean you'll do well. There's a difference

Really great prof, goes thru material quickly but very willing to help if you don't understand. DO YOUR HOMEWORK or you'll get lost. the tests are graded very fairly, and the hw quizzes are simple if you keep up with work. very helpful during office hours, def go in to discuss the difficult concepts

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This class was not easy, but she was so cute and fun, and was always willing to help. Quizzes help your grade, and she's very understanding. Review sessions help. All around, she's your best option for a math teacher.

Great teacher. She was very fun and sweet and helpful. Keep up with your work and you'll get an A+.

really nice and helfpful with fair tests.

very helpful and nice. tests have lots more questions compared to most professors. don't just memorize formulas, you have to understand the concepts to do well on her tests. TAKE HER!

The material in this class is random but not hard. Rafter grades on a sort of bell curve where she only gives out a certain number of As, but the curve is adjusted so that no one gets horrible grades and it's not that hard to get an A. This class is really a waste of time, if you can get out of it and just take 175.

Rafter is a pretty cool southern lady. She jokes around a lot and really gets into what she's teaching. Entertaining but hard. I got a 5 in AP Calc AB and this class ripped me a new one. If you're definitely taking calc though, go with Rafter for sure.

She's really nice and seems to care about her students. I never went to office hours, but she seemed to be more than willing to help. She tends to fly through material in class which makes it tough to learn during class. The tests are not easy. I started off well but the later tests ruined my grade. But overall she's a good professor.

Best math teacher at Vandy!!! Amazing teacher, makes the stuff really really clear and easy to understand- always willing to help. Class was really easy, didn't take much effort to get an A. TAKE HER!!!

Prof. Rafter is a really nice person and is always helpful, especially if you go to her office hours. Her tests are easy enough if you study for them, but the quizzes are difficult if you haven't done the homework. She's really nice, but she goes over the material too fast (as if you already know it) so you have to do a lot of work on your own.

Such a good teacher! I loved her and she is one of the few english speaking calc teachers available. If you are struggling go in and see her during her office hours, during which she is more than happy to see and help you. keep up with the homework!! quizzes everyday and the tests are departmental and hard!

take this class. it was the first year that she taught it and it was a complete joke. do the BS work that she assigns and you can definitely get an A as long as you are a less than decent writer or better. she's very helpful, and very understanding when it comes to other obligations that may prevent you from completing something. liked her a lot.

Do not take this class. the other rating about this class is misleading because she is a lot harder now than when she started teaching this class. i dont think anyone has an A in that class right now. It takes up more time than my legit classes. It is a waste of your time and not a gpa boost at all!

There are daily quizzes, so you need to attend class. If you do the non-mandatory homework the quizzes are extremely easy, and the tests aren't too hard either. I would recommend this class.

Her tests are near impossible. She'll review easy questions in class/assign easy homework questions and then put nearly impossible problems on the tests. Very unhelpful in office hours. Daily quizzes. If I could have switched out of her class, I DEFINITELY would have.

Quizes every day, usually straight from the homework. 4 tests and a final. Tests and final were fairly difficult.

Took History of Math b/c I heard it was an easier math course for the major. Decently interesting, daily reading quizzes were annoying. HW is not req'd, but I'd strongly recommend doing it. Dr Rafter is nice, but an extremely picky grader. Most students were in B range for final grade.

she is very entertaining to watch and she makes everything easy to understand! tests are standardized but she said that her class did better than anyone else so she must be better than the other 150b profs. u have a quiz everyday which makes attendance mandatory but not too bad...

Professor Rafter is great. Friendly, funny, and excited; however, there is no real syllabus (meaning you don't know test dates ahead of time) and no keys for tests (meaning you can't review them for the final). Tests are HARD. Gotten A's in all my math courses except for this. Also, quizzes everyday is annoying; no makeups.

Good teacher who loves math, just a very difficult class. Tons of material covered; all the problems look similar but are solved in very different ways, which makes the tests very hard. Simply daily quizzes were a godsend-- they force you to actually do the "recommended" homework and show up to class. Doing the homework is vital to surviving.

Lori is a wonderful professor, but she is very demanding of her students. Daily homework and quizzes and tests are incredibly difficult. If you put in a lot of effort, you're likely to make it out with a B-B+. The good thing is, you actually LEARN the material permanently. She's a very very nice person and really helpful in office hours.

Great professor- very nice, clear, really knows her stuff-- teaches the material well. However the tests are VERY difficult. So long there is barely enough time to finish unless you know calculus like the back of your hand. Other profs have much shoter/simpler tests. Daily quizzes are simple.

Professor Rafter is great. She is incredibly smart and can be confusing at times, but over all a great class.

This class is rough. History of Math requires you to learn how ancient cultures learned math, and you have to do the math as they would have. Class is mandatory because there are daily quizzes. I would not recommend it.

Professor Rafter is insanely smart and passionate about math which definitely helps when learning it. A very hard class but if you put in effort, you're able to do well.

Rafter's tests are very difficult. Her explanation, however, makes me wish more profs had her attitude. She wants every student to be able to show everything they know. If anyone gets 100%, that means they could have shown her more. With this in mind, she makes tests long and hard and adjusts grades up to make up for it.

While her tests are challenging, they are manageable if you know the content and can work quickly. Rafter is a great teacher and her quizzes and tests will make you learn the material. Follow her advice about doing the homework, and you'll survive.

Rafter is a fantastic professor. Although her tests are hard and her lectures are fast paced, she explains things clearly and gets everyone to engage in class and learn the material. You will really have to work to get a good grade, but if you pay attention in class, keep up with assignments, and seek help when you need it, you can be successful.

i swear to god her exams are hard but i love the way she teaches it's not so boring but sometimes too fast

Rafter's tests are harder than the homework/class problems, but she curves most tests and the easier final exam averages in with your lowest test grade to replace the test grade. Short quizzes twice a week are easy if you do the homework and a good boost to your grade. She's a great teacher and cares a lot about her students, but you have to work.

Rafter preaches hell-fire and brimstone calculus. I didn't think that was possible. She is INTO it and cares that you understand the WHY behind concepts. I enjoyed her, but because she taught well, not because she was easy-- she makes you work hard for grades.

Amazing teacher, but you have to work hard for a good grade.

Lori Rafter is probably the best professor I've had at Vanderbilt. Her tests are really hard and her class requires a lot of work, but I learned more about calculus and math in general in her one class than I did in all of high school. She always contextualizes what we're learning at the beginning of each lecture. Prepared me for 1301 really well.

Prof Lori is Amazing! She is an awesome teacher!! I got out with an A- but that was my fault! You have to understand the material very well; if in doubt or have weak algebra skills,fix or go to office hours. Gives review sheets for exams(lots of computation involved) . Don't come late on HW submission days, she won't collect it past the time due.

Dr. Rafter is the best math professor I've ever met! The class is tough but if you work hard everything will be okay. I was not good at math in high school but now I'm even considering start doing math as my future career, which is pretty exciting. Quiz twice a week so you need to go over the stuff daily. Her notes are well-organized and clear.

Rafter is a pretty good teacher and really knows what she's talking about, although she does move very quickly through concepts. However, her test are very very difficult, usually way more than necessary. Definitely not the worst professor to get but if you're superficial and care about your grade over how much you learn, she may not be for you.

Rafter is an excellent teacher who cares about her students understanding the material. That being said, her tests are notoriously difficult. Unless you put in the work, you won't do well. Still recommend the class though. After taking a class with Rafter, all others seem like a joke.

Her tests are tough, long, and tricky, but they're not unreasonable; she just expects you to really understand the content. Our class averaged in the 70's on tests, which is normal. She's a great lecturer although a little intimidating and she is accessible outside of class. Just do all the homework and study hard and you will be fine.

On the first day of class, I was desperately trying to switch out of Lori Rafter's class, however I am so happy that I was not able to. She is an AMAZING lecturer, who teaches at a good pace and truly cares about her students. Her weekly quizzes are easy if do homework, and final grade is always better than you think.

Lori Rafter is an amazing teacher who really cares about her students. MATH 1300 is a weed out class and is known to be difficult, but it's still possible to do well. The tests are very hard but she does add points to the tests to bring up the average and is very fair if you come to her with grading questions or any concerns during office hours.

Dr. Rafter is an excellent lecturer who explains the difficult concepts of Calculus II much better than most. Her tests are very difficult, but if you do all of the homework and don't wait until the night before to start studying for tests, your grade will end up just fine! You will also leave the class with a much better understanding of calculus

Dr. Rafter's class was the hardest course I have ever taken. That being said, it was also one of the most rewarding. I've learned so much about studying and calculus in general. Her course is very difficult -- you will have to work extremely hard to get an A -- but you will learn a TON. She provides you with an excellent foundation in mathematics.

The amazing professor that really cares about her students. The office hours are extremely useful, tests are hard, but they are very comprehensive. Her lectures are very energetic and funny. Additionally, she curves every exam.

Lori Rafter is the professor that you will respect more than you will love. Her tests are incredibly hard, but once you leave her class, you will KNOW calculus. Weekly quizzes that require you to show up to class, but she is fair and is clear of what she expects of you. Even though my grade was not spectacular, I wanted to take her again.

Beware: she is a tough grader, her tests may be difficult, and she records attendance through quizzes. Overall though, she's not a bad teacher. She yells during her lectures, which prevents you from sleeping during class. Her class is specifically designed to test your understanding and mastery of the concepts.

She's probably the most passionate math professor at Vanderbilt. Really nice person, clearly loves math and you'll leaving the class knowing your stuff backwards and forwards. Definitely one of the best if not the best STEM lecturer on campus. But probably at least 5x as hard as the other professors sooo... avoid if you want an easy A

Rafter is a great professor but she intentionally makes her tests very hard. I really enjoyed her class and I think she is a great lecturer. Because of her I learned calculus very well, but if you are not willing to put in a lot of work for this class do not take it.

She was a great professor. I left knowing so much about statistics and she was super helpful in lectures and in office hours. I did have to work a lot outside of class, and this course covers a lot of material quickly. I do feel like I really know this material well after this course. Take Rafter if you want to learn statistics!

She is an expert in this field and she always gives very clear explanations in class. My advice is to take notes in class, then you will do well on the tests.

I really like Dr Rafter in class but would get very sad and angry while studying for tests. She's a big fan of spending loads of time on the basics then giving an entire test on the difficult stuff that was mentioned once. Doing the homework is a lot, obviously, but no more than any other math class. The work helps you learn the material better.

Professor Rafter is the best you can have at Vanderbilt Math! She is always energetic in class and passionate about the material. She structures the lectures well so you won't get lost. Take notes in class and you'll be prepared for the tests. Easy A.

There are only 6 assignments, each taking 2-3 hours, and 3 non-cumulated tests. No final. Review the homework problems and it's definitely an easy A.

Rafter is an excellent teacher! She is great at explaining why something works, rather than just telling you it will. I have a better understanding of calculus than I have ever had because of her. Plus, she is passionate and puts energy into every lecture. Most don't like her because her test are very hard and hw doesn't help. It's hard to get an A

Some real talk: Rafter is a good choice for Calc courses and you get an A as long as you put in any effort and have half a brain. Frankly, the number of whinging comments on here comes across as blatant sexism.

Class was cold call style, but if you didn't know the answer she'd help you through it. The graded assignments were definitely challenging but she'll answer questions and encourages working with peers. You probably won't finish the tests, but they are curved so the average is about an 85. If you go to class and do the homework, you should do fine.

Professor Rafter is very passionate about her students and the material she teaches. Her lectures are thorough and straightforward, and her tests, although difficult, are fairly curved. I'd recommend keeping up on the homework (not graded) as much as you can. 4 midterms (lowest of these is dropped) and a final. If you put in the work, you got it.

JUSTICE FOR RAFTER!!! Dr. Rafter is very passionate in the subject and supportive of her students. Her lectures are mind-blowingly interesting. Her curves are generous, so is her grading. If you take 1301, look no further. And if you have somewhat of a brain, you'll pass this class!

Hardest class I've taken. But also the most engaging class I've ever taken. I never once had to force myself to pay attention in lectures, she is usually good at explaining the "why" we learn concepts (except near the end). Grades incredibly unfairly though. Tests are NOTHING like any hw prob. But very caring prof. Just avoid if you need good grade

I loved Dr. Rafter. Her exams are hard, but they are fairly curved + you get a reference sheet and there are biweekly quizzes (2 dropped)/graded assignments to boost your grade. She does a lot of proofs, which helped really nail down concepts for me. Do the homework and go to office hours. She's intimidating but I promise she wants you to succeed.

Everyone warned me about Prof. Lori, but I enjoyed her! She definitely knows her content VERY well and is pretty funny with her catchphrases. Sometimes she doesn't explain content super clearly because she assumes we understand it, but she's really helpful in office hours  just reach out for help. Very tough tests but we get 5-6 point curves.

Prof. Rafter is a very good teacher and she clearly understands the material very well. However, the tests/final in this class (which is about 80% of your grade) are very difficult. I took Calculus AB and BC in high school and I was still struggling in this class. Good teacher but she makes it very difficult.

She is a really solid choice for 2820 if you are sure that you want to do the class. Anyone that is looking for something more manageable should look into taking 2810 instead. She cold calls quite a bit in class, but otherwise, she is great at explaining concepts and this was one of the only math classes I have genuinely enjoyed attending at Vandy.

Decent prof, learned a lot. HARD class. So much work required. Overall I would consider taking depending on your other options. I did learn the material, but it's just too hard lol

Credit where credit is due Dr. Rafter is a great lecturer. The main gripe with the class I have is that the graded assignments are extremely tough and are graded harshly. Another thing to note is that the tests are a time crunch which she mentions upfront in class. She gives partial credit on them so make sure to not leave anything blank.

Clear lecturer, tough grader (especially true on graded assignments), however, sets very clear expectations and is upfront about being nitpicky about showing work. Overall, the content and the class are MUCH easier than what I expected from higher-level math and an easy A compared to every other Vandy math class I've taken.

Good professor, very clear lectures, very clear criteria, very clear on what she wants from you. Tough homework grader but more forgiving on midterms. Her tests are long and hard to finish on time. Also fairly strict with class policies. Overall a very good professor, but be prepared to put in effort because this class is quite a bit of work.

Dr. Rafter is great at explaining the concepts in lecture and she's accessible in office hours if you need help going over anything you don't understand. The graded assignments are difficult and long so make sure to start early on them. Tests are a time crunch but are fair. You'll generally do well if you know the material plus she curves her exams

I had Dr. Lori Rafter for multivariable calculus, and she was generally an amazing professor --> excellent teaching and hilarious. The course was hard but doable (except the last unit and the final were challenging). HW was hard as well, but, again, her teaching was overall excellent in my experience -- hence the 5.

Dr. Rafter is incredible. She's a charismatic, hilarious lecturer. Also a very nice person, super helpful, and very passionate about math. However, if you are not ready to spend 5 days a week doing math for 2 hours, you will not get a grade above B. If you have a good foundation in math, A is achievable, but lots of work is still required.

The reviews scared me going into the class but I honestly loved her. The class is very challenging but she has been teaching this class for YEARS and it shows. She is very helpful in office hours and genuinely wants to see you succeed. She does cold call but it isn't scary and there's minimal pressure. Homework is not graded but necessary to do.

Dr. Rafter is incredible at teaching her subject. If you don't skip lecture and do all of your homework, it should be easy to pass. That said, she makes really hard exams andd p-sets, so be wear. Her quizzes are often quite easy however as thye are essentially just homework questions to ensure understanding of previous material. Would highly rec

It's a tough class, but Prof. Rafter makes her expectations and grading fair and clear. If you do the optional homework it is very easy to succeed.

Great professor. Professor Rafter taught the class many times and knows what we need to succeed. As long as you practice and content by doing the homework the class should be manageable.

so passionate about her work, and very entertaining lectures. Always there to talk or explain something to you during office hours