His first time teaching and he did quite well, though he wasn't always 100% clear. HW was generally long but interesting as he designed his own questions. Expect to see curveballs on midterm and final; his midterm avg was btw 50-60%. He scaled a lot tho.

He presented QM in a relatively clear fashion, although, every once in a while, his lectures did go on tangents that I lacked the theory to understand. He's a hard, but good professor.

Long assignments but not hard if you don't mind the occasional alegebra nightmare. Midterm was nasty but he made up for it with a semi-fair final. What can I say, scaling is good...

Fantastic. Dedicated, interesting, exceedingly clear.

I just couldn't believe that a person who is new to teaching could do such a good job. He is very clear and helpul. He pauses every few mins to summarize what he's been saying. He's one of the best professors I had for my courses. Exams are a bit hard but he scales at the end.

His lectures were very easy to follow. The first 10 minutes of class were always spent reviewing what we did the class before and he logically went from idea to idea. The homework was long and confusing at times, but it was marked alot easier that you'd expect. The final and the midterm were very fair.

Awesome prof. Fairly easy exams, challenging but interesting assignments. He really took his time making sure the concepts were understood.

Encourages student discussion. Articulates his point very well and goes over everything that he tests for. Very easy midterms and fun, interesting assignments. Best prof I've encountered at UBC.

Didn't know a professor could be so helpful. Knows what you are trying to ask before you do. Crystal clear and fair.

Incredible prof; Physics 200 is easily the best course I have taken so far.

Fantastic teacher, one of the best I've ever had. I would take this course if you're able, regardless of your major.

Great prof, crystal clear, illustrates topics well, as well as explaining them in a way that all students in the class can understand. Highly recommend to any student regardless of grade.

The most clear, speaker I've ever met. Tries really hard to ensure students understand the material. Very funny and entertaining too, lectures are always on schedule and the tests are extremely fair. The best prof I've ever had.

Uber-awesome prof! Smart, funny, very effective teaching. Jumps around on stage so you never get bored. Cares about student learning and always available outside of class. Willing to write reference letters for students.

Hands down, Phys 200 was the best class I have ever taken. Homework on the hard side. Interesting, funny, super clear, super helpful prof. He has won so many awards (for teaching especially) you should go count the number of times his name pops up at the front of Hennings.

fantastic prof!

Mark is a great teacher because he PUTS IN EFFORT. Pretty much everything about him is great, except that he's kind of too easy like he goes over stuff too slowly. Nonetheless, awesome prof.

By far the best professor I've had. Was one of the most interesting classes I've had too (coming from a life science student). Evidence of how good the professor is, longest applause I've heard at the end of lecture along with four students running up to hug him and shake his hand after. Excellent prof and excellent course.

cutest prof ever

Best Prof ever!! His classes are interesting and he knows the material very well!!!! BEST PROF EVER

Very dedicated to his students, and puts in a lot of effort to prepare excellent lectures and demonstrations. Comes up with hilarious assignment and exam questions. He is extraordinarily helpful outside of class, too. An amazing professor. =)

Shows a very clear understanding of physics, excellent lectures and explanations and awesome demos. Best prof I've had at UBC.

Excellent professor!

One of the best physics profs I've had at UBC. Stellar teaching, truly inspiring. If I were a physics prof, I'd wanna be like Mark one day :D

Awesome prof! He's really smart and extraordinarily funny. He really cares about his students and has really helpful notes, clicker questions, and tutorials.

Mark really goes the extra 10 miles for his students. Not only did he save my Physics mark but he encouraged the class to delve deeper into the material. Very helpful in office hours and has amazing in class demonstrations.

Absolutely amazing prof. I was dreading physics, but Mark really goes the extra mile for all of his students to make sure that we actually understand the material. I would definitely take another class with him.

He's my favourite prof at UBC - made physics easy to understand

Mark is a great prof. He uses pop culture in assignments and quizzes to make everything more interesting. Love him!

BEST PROF THAT I'VE EVER HAD!!! I CRIED ON THE LAST DAY OF HIS CLASS

Dont take science one anymore Mark is gone. James is boss but dont take Science One.

Is mark great ? Yes he is! He structures his courses in an incredible manner and his use of assignments and exams is very instructive. However it seems like the Scie1 students have some form of bias because while he is an amazing prof he is definitely not the best at UBC or even the department.

Taking PHYS 402 with Mark is the single best university physics experience I've had by a huge margin. The course content is quite difficult but he makes it feel almost trivially easy. Extremely passionate and caring, and able to intuitively answer almost any question thrown at him instantaneously. Do no leave UBC Physics without taking this course.

the best man, the nicest man with a great sense of humor.

He is the best prof I have had all year. Just truly amazing, he really cares for his students and is super fun and nice. You would be lucky to have him!

Really caring guy! Hangs around after lectures and patiently answers questions, doesn't over complicate anything that can be explained simply.

Mark is truly a genius. He is the best prof at UBC. You would be lucky to have him.

He is the best prof I have ever had . He takes extra effort to make the slides appealing and funny. He also codes his own program to show simulations. DO NOT LEAVE UBC WITHOUT TAKING A COURSE WITH HIM. I will miss you prof. Mark. You are truly amazing. Hope i have get to take one more course with you.

He was hella cute. He was always really cheery and brightened the day. I took phys 157. It was his first year teaching it and he put so much effort into the course. I love all his drawings (the duck was my favourite but also the brick is a classic). Would 100% take any of his courses. My favourite prof so far.

He is awesome and is the best prof ever since I get into university!

What a lad,his teaching style isn't extraordinary but he shows that he loves what he does,plus points are; likes if students asks him questions,and tries to make lectures interesting, negative point; too much depended on the slides,grading is fairly easy,a little over the top hw,but if you do the hw,there's a good chance u gonna ace the exam.

He is super nice would take again

Mark Van Raamsdonk is a god amongst men. His lectures are very well planned out and he is just delightful. He speaks about his topics with an almost childlike wonderment and his appreciation of and enthusiasm for physics makes the course so much more enjoyable. If you have an opportunity to take a class with him, do it.

This man is a reincarnation of Einstein, Newton and Feynman

It's truly my honor to have Mark as my prof this year. He puts so much effort in making the slides and drawing pictures to help us visualize the materials. He speaks enthusiastically and he really tries to remember everyone's name in a lecture of almost 300 people, none of my other profs does that. He really makes physics interesting.

Is my favourite professor of the semester. He knows how to explain things clearly while conveying all of the necessary info. TAKE ONE OF HIS CLASSES. IT IS A MUST!

The best prof!

Mark was an amazing prof- his lectures were engaging, he cares about his students, and the assigned homework was extremely helpful in learning new concepts. The tests were fair but had some pretty creative questions.

I have friends in other sections and let's just say they are all jealous. Prof Mark is incredibly passionate and his 'happy brick' and duck drawings is the only reason I get out of bed at 9 am. He is always available and answers all piazza questions. The minute long standing ovation for him at our last lecture says it all.

Im so sad to not have any new Frozenia lore now that the term is over

Mark is an INSPIRATION. Got my name on the first day of class and never forgot it, this man is a truly caring individual who goes out of his way to ensure students get the most out of their learning, holds frequent office hours that really help, and even will stay late for you. He even likes a bit of free apple juice on the last class ;)

He's truly a real gem. I had no trouble understanding any of his lectures and the exams were very reasonable. He is incredibly smart and kind. He never forgot my name and I always looked forward to his lectures. I hope I get the privilege of attending one of his other courses.

He actually teaches well. His slides are amazing. He is a great guy.

Prof Mark is one of the best physics teachers I've had to date. His lectures were amazing and was the only reason I could wake up for the 9am class. He is super caring and wants all his students to succeed. His pro-tips, notes, and lectures really set him apart from all the other instructors at UBC.

Dr Mark was hands down the best professor I had in my first year, I cannot recommend him enough. He is passionate, magnetic and seems like he genuinely cares about his students. (in my lecture of 200 people, he tried to learn everyone's name) if you have the opportunity to learn from Dr Mark, take it.

Mark was one of the best teachers I've had at UBC. I'm not particularly good at quantum so the course was extremely tough, and the workload was very large, but I still felt like I was learning something and never in danger of failing. His class is structured perfectly for learning and his lectures are entertaining and useful

I never knew what it felt like to go to a lecture and actually learn something before I went to Mark's lectures. He explains things very well during class and takes time to get feedback from the students. Explains things very well during office hours, highly recommend.

Actually such a gem. Wish I got to attend his lectures live. Lovely human and dedicated to his work, bonus points for the live demonstrations.

Mark is such an amazing prof and lecturer that time flies by so quickly in his class. He explains concepts in depth while still allowing you to use critical thinking to try problems for yourself.

The best professor I met

I've had many great physics teachers but Professor Mark stands above all of them. He makes relatively mundane topics (such as ice melting) very interesting through his live demonstrations.

Literally the reason I still have motivation while attending zoom university. He puts in effort to be engaging in class and still does live demos to make things interesting. He has clear deadlines (no sneaky assignments hidden through three tabs), teaches in a way I actually understand, & gives good resources. TAKE HIS CLASS

One of the best professor. You will be impressed by his lecture at the first day of your course. Respect students and helpful. Reasonable homework load and exam difficulty.

Mark Van Raamsdonk is god. If you're looking into courses for your upcoming semester, and he's teaching a section, drop everything in your STT in order to accommodate whatever course he's teaching. I gained an extraordinarily deep understanding of the content in his course. He's also a wonderful and caring man who truly cares about the students.

Best educator I've come across, no lie. Mark tried his best to simulate an in-person experience online. He made mundane lecture topics feel so interesting. The questions you solve have legitimate lore (refer to Frozenia) and are connected with real life situations. Here's to Mr Bricc, the duck & the frog, and me tearing up during the last lecture.

Professor Van Raamsdonk is truly amazing. He is so caring towards his students and he always does his best to engage students with the material. He explains concepts clearly and he answers questions thoroughly. There are plenty of clicker questions in class, which is great. He also does plenty of demos. Do yourself a favour and enrol in his class.

He colours the dry science with creativity and an innovative lecturing style. He puts immense effort into keeping the subject down-to-earth while delving into the various aspects of it. Every lecture slide puts a smile on students' faces! Dedication and genuine passion for the subject and for teaching - Prof. Raamsdonk is a post-secondary blessing!

100% helpful in class and at office hours. Crazy great at explaining hw solutions and midterm questions, provided a ton of office hours leading up to finals and midterms. You're likely to get all the help you need.

Best prof ive ever had!

Great prof - lectures are detailed, informative, and interesting/fun to attend. You will have to put in the effort to do well in this class, but that's typically true of any stem course. Gives really detailed feedback for assignment, quiz, and midterm questions.

Taking PHYS157? Make sure you get MVR. He is the best professor Ive had by far. He has clear and concise lecture notes (that he draws btw!) and takes his time to go through examples. Physics is not my strong suit but Mark made it make sense. Hes always very kind when answering questions, which makes it easier to ask. MVR is a must have professor!

I watch his recording even though I'm not in his session. U will know how good this professor is. Absolute GOD

This guy is amazing. His lectures are fun and interesting and he answers and explains your questions clearly. Just the best prof

The course content of PHYS 341 (Physics of Music) was fun to begin with. Professor Mark makes it even better with his demonstrated enthusiasm. It was an easy A if you remember just a little bit of physics 11 from high school, but if you don't he still makes it very understandable.

Was very very very helpful especially when midterms and finals were coming up by giving tons of extra office hours. Easy to understand and engaging lectures. is definitely one of the best physics prof I've had!

Professor Mark alone justifies the existence of post-secondary education.

Marks an amazing professor. Hes so passionate about physics and his lectures are really enjoyable. He brings a lot to demos and is super engaging. Material is tough but thats to be expected from honours physics. Go for office hours with him, and TA homework sessions save your life. Hes super approachable and knows everyones name. He cares alot

He is a brilliant teacher, he is truly passionate about physics and will make you interested in it too. The guy is a GOD

Mark Van Raamsdonk is a UBC gem. Even though he does not teach Phys 157 anymore, I watch his recorded lectures on youtube which helped me understand every topic in this course.

Mark is probably the best professor ever. He cares about his students, even made an effort to learn all of our names. His lectures were engaging and entertaining. He always had time outside of class to answer questions. Even as someone who doesn't enjoy physics that much, I truly enjoyed his class and his teaching!

You guys dont even know, if it wasnt for Mark I wouldve transferred into sauder by now. Hes the greatest prof youll ever have. I was actually excited to go to his lectures every day, hes incredibly passionate about physics and does some hilarious demos. Extremely helpful if you have any trouble in the course too. No criticisms whatsoever

A hilarious and spontaneous professor in the best way. Super personable, very engaged with students and responsive to their feedback, and kept lectures fun and exciting.

If every professor were like Mark, school would be something you never want to end! This man is an amazing instructor, and an even better person!

Best Physic's Prof ever!!! Lectures are absolutely fantastic and HILARIOUS, exams are fair, tutorials are fun, and the weekly TA homework sessions will save your life. Phys 106 is a tough class, and there is a lot of work: tutorials, reading quizzes, and weekly homework, but I would do it all again in a heartbeat, just to be in Mark's class again.

Registered in this class already planning on dropping it, ended up being my favourite that term and the one I'll miss the most. It is considerably work-heavy but I personally didn't mind since the exams were really coherent with what was asked during the term. Mark is an amazing professor and cares deeply about his students, just take his class.

Prof. Mark is the best professor ever! His classes are engaging, his demos are exciting and his enthusiasm is contagious! The workload is a lot but he and the TAs offer so much support, so going to office hours is a must if you want to make the most of his class. Exams are fair, MCQs are hard and he cares a lot about his students. MVR is a legend!

Possibly the best prof ever! Wasnt in his class because he doesnt teach Phys 157 anymore, but I watched all his recorded lectures on YouTube (mr brick is a legend). Couldnt have done it without Mark, I only wish Id gotten to go to his classes in person.

Professor Mark is a fantastic lecturer and his demos are off the charts! He's super kind and always available to help + his explanations are always easy to understand. If you do the homework and conceptual questions, you're solid (but do take the time out to do it properly).

Now that professor Raamsdonk has transferred into the science department, I feel sad for new engineering students who won't get to witness his glory. Mark isn't just a gem of a professor, he is gem of a human being. I regret not having taken his classes as seriously as I should've.

My hero.

my GOAT

Love Mark! He is the best professor I have had this semester. He is the best!!!! l

He is the G.O.A.T at UBC. Best prof ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you are looking to fulfill a physics credit, take 106! Mark is a very comprehensive and easy going prof, he makes an effort to learn his students names and clearly has a passion for teaching and loves his students. You truly have to experience him yourself to understand why this guy is so highly spoken of. Love you Mark!

i cannot recommend prof mark enough!!!! he's incredibly caring and makes his lectures so much fun :) he puts a crazy amount of effort into making physics as enjoyable as possible!! There are an endless amount of resources at your disposal for exam prep, and the content itself can get tough sometimes (it's absolutely worth it). good luck!!

One of the best professors ever. He cared a lot about his students. I was not good at this class but he was still one of the best professors ever. Bring him a zucchini on the first day.

PHYS 106 is hard but worth it with Mark. Almost every lecture had some kind of demo or funny video, making them really engaging. Some concepts are tough but his office hours are very helpful. His midterms and exams are fair, and he provides endless practice material. He really cares about his students and wants them to succeed.

Mark is the best professor ever. He is hilarious (he dressed up as Dr. Frank-Einstein for Halloween). His in-class demos are amazing (explosions, stunts, juggling, etc.). He is kind, humble, and friendly and the most inspirational person I've ever met.

Phys106 has been the highlight of my term. Mark is the most inspiring prof ever! He's super creative and makes the lectures engaging by performing demos, having interesting discussions, giving questions in the form of unique stories etc. Provides lots of practice, organizes doubt-solving sessions and is very active on piazza too. Highly recommended

The absolute GOAT. Best professor I ever had. Amazing teacher, extremely caring, and wants you to do well.

He was incredible, his lectures were very engaging and I was excited to go to class each day. Best prof I have ever had!

Amazing professor for physics 106! He does interesting and relevant class demonstrations as well as genuinely cares about the students, even took the time to learn everyones names!

super great prof. lots of fun demonstrations. caring and very knowledgable.

Awesome professor who really puts effort and time into his lectures to make them captivating and understandable. Coureload is manageable for a first year physics course, just need to learn how to do the tutorial questions well.

He's the best professor and I wish there was a fan club dedicated for him. So inspirational and caring for his students. Fun lectures too. Would retake just for the lectures:)

Verily, let me declare my esteem for the erudite wisdom of thine physics professorship! Thy lectures are truly wondrous, for thou hast a rare gift in expounding upon the most obscure and intricate principles of the science with a clarity unmatched.

Mark is the best professor you could ever have. His lectures are always full of energy and he is so passionate. He literally will roller skate and juggle across the lecture hall for physics demos. He's very approachable and a fair marker. I only got a not as good grade because I messed up on the final, it was not his fault. He's amazing! 10/10

The lectures were really interesting and engaging! The material can be difficult, but Mark made it a very enjoyable course.

Mark is wonderful. He cares about individual students, takes as much time as the class needs to understand concepts, and is passionate about the content. He did an amazing job engaging with students and keeping the classroom fun. In class demonstarions not only helped break the monotony of lectures, but were helpful in understanding topics.

Mark is a wonderful professor who truly cares about his students. I struggled in the class because I couldn't grasp the concepts but Mark met with me after each midterm and walked me through them giving me strategies. He is one of the best professors at UBC.

Legend of a prof. Not a single person I know from my class dislikes him. Something about him is special. Humble and easy to approach, really cares about students and genuinely, genuinely wants them to succeed. Knows a lot of cool stuff, too, you can talk to him about anything. I miss his lectures. Wish he also taught upper Physics courses.

Mark is an amazing professor and I wish that he taught more upper-year courses because he truly makes me want to study physics. He explains things in a way that just clicks, and his lectures are always very funny and engaging. He absolutely deserves all the 5-star reviews he has received, and I will definitely miss this class!

Mark is my favourite professor and makes physics very interesting to learn. I admire his passion for physics, and hope I am able to take another one of his classes in the future.

I swear Mark knows all the secrets to the universe. His demos are widely recognized for being fun and enlightening and he makes you appreciate physics even more than you used to. Overall amazing prof and would highly recommend!

I took his course because of all the great reviews and he did not disappoint. He truly has a way of ramping up lectures where at the beginning it starts super simple and by the end its complicated, but because of the buildup you can understand everything. Demos are great and he makes unique test and homework questions that will make you laugh.

There is nothing negative I can say about Raamsdonk. As a first year in my first term at UBC, he has set the gold standard for what an excellent professor can be. Absolutely serving of every positive review he has received.

Great prof, actually cares about his students, knows all his students by name, makes lectures engaging and fun, funny jokes on midterm and final will have you laughing as you're writing. I would give him 10 stars if I could

Phys 106 is basically an honours physics course designed for students excelling in physics. Would recommend if you are super smart (e.g., did IPO, IMO, AP Physics 5/5, etc.). Would not recommend it to students who only took Physics 11/12 in BC without exploring AP or IB Physics. Regardless, Prof Mark is insanely smart and caring.

Mark is super super nice. He takes the time to meet you at the start of the class. He's extremely passionate about what he does and that's very encouraging. Fun, basic physics first and then you see it applied to music. You get to do a self-directed research project at the end; very fun. Midterm wasn't too bad, but final unexpectedly tough; ymmv.

The most fantastic prof a first year student interested in physics could have; Mark is well-respected, well-rounded, and an all-around great person. Phys 106 is a difficult course-however it is completely doable with no AP/IB experience (I came in with only BC Phys 12 and did well). Mark is also super friendly outside of class-take his class!

It's just mind-blowing how smart Mark is. I was actually honoured to take a class of such a genius. He puts INSANE amount of effort into his class, you can see how passionate he is about what he does. The sweetest prof ever, we don't deserve him tbh

All around great teacher

Prof Mark loves Physics, is really great at teaching, hilarious, and remembers every students' names Definitely one of my fav profs of all time

Very passionate about physics and clearly cares about all his students. Quite accessible outside of class, and his lectures are very engaging, including fun and thoughtful demos relating to course content. 10/10 one of the best professors. Homework and exams can be challenging, but grading is generous with part marks.

Take this class with the insanely smart and caring Prof. Mark. PHYS106 is doable even without AP/IB physics. Use Unstuck study, ChatGPT, and the free textbook to ace this course.

Amazing professor. The course itself is a bit difficult if you don't have AP, and I only took it to keep my options for majors open but I probably would've dropped it in the first few weeks if not for Dr. Mark. Extremely smart and creative but also humble, and his passion for physics is clear, and he's very accessible for help. 10/10

mark is genuinely the goat. no AP/IB required (i got through with just bc physics 12). lectures and homework problems will have you giggling, and mark genuinely cares that you do well. homework and exams are pretty fair all things considered. seriously, take this course if you can!! i will miss it.

so many amazing demos and little jokes to keep you focused in lecture.

Such a respectable professor. He is incredibly smart but also so humble, very accessible outside of class and you can tell he truly wants everyone to succeed. His passion for physics is very inspiring and his lectures are so entertaining. I enjoyed this class so so much.

Always available, lots of office hours, and truly cares for students' learning. Make use of all the extra help offered, it's truly beneficial.

Mark created the most unforgettable lectures and was a fantastic teacher.

He is the most unique and funniest professor that I had this semester! He usually makes up little stories on questions, and it was my joy to read them. Such an amazing proff!

2023W1 Best prof ever in UBC. This man is GOAT

Mark has the most understandable lectures i have ever watched. the fact that he's posted all of phys 170 on youtube might be the best thing ever. hes the only reason i got half the grade i got

Dr. Van Raamsdonk is an enthusiastic communicator of physics who puts in an incredible amount of effort to explain concepts in a concise, intuitive, and engaging way. Dr. Van Raamsdonk includes original characters (Vlox!) to help with introducing new physics concepts too! Dr. Van Raamsdonk is also super supportive of students during office hours.

Awesome lecturer, lays a foundation of thought which is invaluable progressing in stem. Favorite prof to date.

Although he is no longer teaching the course, his publicly available YouTube lectures were an extremely effective resource. The video series covers the entire PHYS 157 curriculum in depth and was clearer and more helpful than the in-person lectures I attended. The videos are more helpful than any PHYS professor at UBC.