3.5

Megan Mckay

Mathematics - University of South Carolina

3.5
Quality
3.4
Difficulty
60%
Would Retake
100
Reviews
3.5
Quality
3.4
Difficulty
3.5
Helpful
3.5
Clarity

60%

Would Retake

100

Reviews

Rating Distribution
Official

5

32

4

21

3

19

2

16

1

12

What Students Say

Just don't do it to yourself

CALC121 - 2.0 rating

Worst professor I've had at USC honestly

MATH122 - 1.0 rating
Class Info

Attendance Mandatory

81%

Textbook Required

0%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

B+

95% confidence
Based on 80 grades
Most common grades:
A (25)
A+ (11)
B (9)
Grade Distribution
A(36)B(13)C(15)D(10)F(0)A-/B+(14)
Based on 94 reported grades
A: 25
A+: 11
B: 9
B+: 9
Common Tags
Lots of homework (37)
Accessible outside class (35)
Test heavy (32)
Tough grader (31)
EXTRA CREDIT (15)
Clear grading criteria (13)
Lecture heavy (13)
Caring (12)
Rating Trend

Declining

-0.52 avg change
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jul
Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

MATH142

5.0

(1)

MATH121

4.5

(6)

MATH141

4.0

(7)

MATH-111

3.6

(5)

MATH122

3.6

(55)
+2 more courses
Difficulty by Course

math170

4.1

MATH142

4.0

MATH122

3.3

MATH141

3.3

MATH121

2.8

Reviews (100)
5.0
4.0
MATH142
Grade: B
Oct 28, 2021
Would take again

Take her! no second thoughts! She makes cal seem so easy! I had her as my TA for math 142 but she is great teacher. She responds to emails quick and helps outside the class. Reviews everything before test. Not an easy class without her

Accessible outside class
Skip class? You won't pass.
Amazing lectures
2.0
1.0
CALC121
Nov 3, 2021
Wouldn't take again

Mark my words. Just don't do it to yourself.

5.0
1.0
MATH122
Grade: A
Dec 3, 2021
Would take again

Super easy class, if you took calc in high school its the same exact thing. Tests are super easy she lets you have a cheat sheet and she's really open to helping and wants you to succeed. If you are taking calc definitely take her!!!!

Respected
Accessible outside class
Clear grading criteria
2.0
5.0
MATH122
Grade: D+
Dec 7, 2021
Wouldn't take again

Gives you cheat sheet but its nothing compared to the homework or classwork. Take her if you wanna fail.

2.0
5.0
MATH122
Grade: C
Dec 10, 2021
Wouldn't take again

I hated this class so much. She goes so fast through the notes and barely explains anything. Youre allowed a cheat sheet on exams but it doesnt help because she makes the exams so hard. If she gives you a review its nothing like the exam either. Lots of homework. If I actually had a good professor I wouldve made a good grade in this class.

Lots of homework
Skip class? You won't pass.
Test heavy
3.0
5.0
MATH121
Grade: C+
Dec 14, 2021
Wouldn't take again

I thought I was good at math until I took this course. She is a very nice person, but her class is extremely difficult. The class moves SO fast and you only go over everything once. You get a cheat sheet on exams but the tests are nothing like what we do in class so it is little help. Lots of homework which is either super easy or impossible.

4.0
4.0
MATH122
Grade: B+
Jan 4, 2022
Would take again

Professor McKay is such a sweet person and is always willing to help you. I really like her as a person, but be prepared to go through class material very fast. She offers office hours which are very helpful and she takes the time to help when you go to her. She does not scale test grades and rarely gives extra credit so make sure to study a lot!

Lots of homework
Accessible outside class
Skip class? You won't pass.
5.0
4.0
MATH122
Grade: B+
Jan 15, 2022
Would take again

She was absolutely an amazing teacher! Math is an overall hard class for me, but she helped me a lot through it. She really cares about her students and will actually help you if you ask for it. There were weekly quizzes and 3 exams. There is a lot of homework but it helps with the quizzes and exams. If you dedicate yourself you will do just fine.

Lots of homework
Test heavy
Caring
4.0
3.0
MATH122
Grade: A+
Mar 16, 2022
Would take again

Class was overall pretty good. Decent teacher who you could approach if you did not understand something. Grade was determined by homework, daily quizzes (open notes), and 3 exams (not including final).

Lots of homework
Test heavy
5.0
3.0
MATH121
Grade: A
Mar 27, 2022
Would take again

She is such a great professor! If you actually ask her for help you will not fail! She is so nice and easy to reach outside of class. I struggled with math in high school, but after taking her class I actually felt confident in my ability to do math.

Caring
Test heavy
Accessible outside class
5.0
3.0
MATH122
Grade: B+
Apr 12, 2022
Would take again

her notes are so easy to follow and she gives a reasonable amount of homework. She is very helpful in and outside of class.

Amazing lectures
Gives good feedback
3.0
4.0
MATH122
Grade: B-
Oct 20, 2022

She is a good professor, but is very quiz and test-heavy. She gives notes that follow along with the class, but her lectures aren't helpful. Attendance isn't mandatory.

Lots of homework
Beware of pop quizzes
Test heavy
2.0
5.0
MATH122
Grade: C-
Dec 3, 2022

this course is not what she makes it out to be. her notes are not easy to follow and I had to teach myself half of the material. I founded it was easier for me to go to SI sessions and meeting with her outside of class rather than going to actual class because she just read off her notes and did not actually teach. would not recommend

Tough grader
Lots of homework
Test heavy
2.0
5.0
MATH122
Grade: C-
Dec 3, 2022

Don't take this class, unless it is truly your only option. Her notes are not useful and she barely teaches. Attending her class is actually pointless, as you will just watch her write on the board for a two hours. The homework is excessive and not helpful at all. I found myself teaching the material on my own for every unit. Do not take this.

Tough grader
Lots of homework
Test heavy
4.0
3.0
MATH122
Grade: A
Dec 7, 2022
Would take again

Good lecturer overall, she tends to run out of time often. She gives extra credit on tests and does her best to answer all questions during tests and lecture. Multiple homework a week but they're not very long or hard and they don't count for much towards your grade. Final exam was only 20% of the final grade. She's a very sweet and kind professor.

EXTRA CREDIT
Lots of homework
Caring
2.0
4.0
MATH122
Grade: C-
Dec 8, 2022

Do the homework, that is the best way to save your grade. Other than that the class is fairly difficult. The quizzes are the easiest thing but her exams are not easy at all. She does not show full solutions on study guides and she teaches fast. Her final exam study guide was only on the last section even though it was a cumulative exam

Tough grader
Lots of homework
Lecture heavy
3.0
3.0
math170
Grade: C
Dec 9, 2022

Her lectures and notes aren't particularly helpful. She is big on partial credit on quiz/exam, but doesn't really explain why she will mark you off, or why her exams are worth the points they are. Take any extra credit or exam problem redos you can, she doesn't offer it often but it will boost your grade.

Lots of homework
Lecture heavy
Test heavy
2.0
4.0
math170
Grade: D+
Dec 13, 2022

Wouldn't recommend. Lectures are pointless as you are just watching her solve easy problems, just to go home and do homework which is 3x harder. The tests are extremely long; if you are not math brained, this isn't the prof for you. Tests don't have clear point system so allocating time isn't easy, and she grades pretty harshly.

Tough grader
Lots of homework
Test heavy
3.0
4.0
math170
Grade: C-
Dec 13, 2022

She teaches fast and flies through material so understanding concepts is hard. Not much besides homework to boost your grade if you don't do well on the tests. She never posts solutions to the study guides so you don't actually know if what you're studying is correct. She doesn't do well to prepare students for exam, overall hardest math class.

Tough grader
Test heavy
Graded by few things
4.0
3.0
MATH122
Grade: A
Dec 13, 2022
Would take again

Lots of extra credit opportunities, and her lectures are very helpful for understanding the material. Although the notes and answer keys that she posts have very little detail so if you miss a class it's hard to understand what's going on.

Participation matters
5.0
3.0
MATH121
Grade: A
Dec 14, 2022
Would take again

Professor McKay was super great about helping students outside of the classroom during both in-person and virtual office hours. She utilized technology well and made all of her lecture notes available on Microsoft OneNote for the entire semester. I would absolutely recommend Professor McKay!

EXTRA CREDIT
Accessible outside class
5.0
3.0
MATH122
Grade: A
Dec 15, 2022
Would take again

Prof. Mckay was so nice and cared about how we were doing in class. She offered extra credit before exams and lots of office hours. There was quite a bit of homework but it was easy to complete. Attendance isn't mandatory but I would recommend going as she covers a lot of content at a very fast pace.

Lots of homework
Caring
Accessible outside class
4.0
3.0
MATH122
Grade: A
Dec 25, 2022
Would take again

Do the homework. I liked her teaching style; her notes were always easy to understand with good examples. You won't be penalized for not being in class, but showing up to lectures is really important to understanding the material. She also has lots of office hours and is accessible through email, and you can earn a few extra credit pts each exam.

EXTRA CREDIT
Gives good feedback
Accessible outside class
5.0
2.0
math170
Grade: A
Feb 1, 2023
Would take again

I loved her. She is a nice & approachable person. She uses guided notes that you print out yourself & is really good at walking you through how to solve the problems. She is very accessible & determined to help you pass the class. She uses a textbook to assign homework problems. If you stay on top of studying & taking notes, you'll pass her class.

Participation matters
Gives good feedback
Accessible outside class
1.0
5.0
MATH122
Grade: Drop/Withdrawal
Feb 23, 2023

If you have accommodations, she won't give it to you. Don't take. She refused to give me my extra time when I had received documentation from the SDRC. She screwed me over completely.

4.0
2.0
MATH122
Grade: A
Apr 3, 2023
Would take again

If you can do math you'll be fine in this class. I took calc in HS and honestly Megan teaches very slow for me so I find myself sitting there with the examples already done and she's only halfway through explaining them, but if you struggle with math her teaching style is probably helpful. A decent amount of HW but nothing too crazy

1.0
4.0
MATH122
Grade: Drop/Withdrawal
Apr 10, 2023

If you are not math brained DO NOT TAKE HER. She is extremely monotoned which makes it very hard to listen. Lectures are long and useless because the homework she gives is 10x harder. Tests are all short answer and she does not show why you got points off. Worst professor I've had at USC honestly. I had to drop this class. DO NOT TAKE HER.

Tough grader
Lecture heavy
Test heavy
1.0
5.0
MATH122
Grade: B
Apr 13, 2023

Tests nothing like review and are so hard, monotoned voice which makes me crazy. Not very friendly or approachable.

Tough grader
Lots of homework
Test heavy
2.0
5.0
MATH122
Grade: B+
Apr 14, 2023

Professor McKay's a nice lady, but the structure of her class is all wrong. There are six units in the class, with three major tests and a comprehensive final. However, unit 1 has its own test, units 2, 3, and part 4 are another, and the rest of 4, 5, and 6 are their own. This makes the concepts overlap in very confusing ways. Wouldn't take again.

Tough grader
Lecture heavy
Test heavy
5.0
1.0
MATH122
Grade: A
Apr 17, 2023
Would take again

Prof. McKay makes calculus very approachable. She posts skeleton notes on BlackBoard and fills them in during class. During the back-half of class, a graphing calculator is necessary. Homework through Wiley+, quizzes every Friday (one dropped) and 3 exams with mandatory final (4 total). She is very nice and happy to explain something further.

Gives good feedback
Caring
Lecture heavy
3.0
3.0
MATH122
Grade: C
Apr 20, 2023
Would take again

She was definitely the definition of average. She is very understanding and is willing to help you with anything you need. She gives around 2 homeworks per week and a quiz at the end of the week. Her exams are worded a little weird but with the slightest amount of studying you will do good. Overall I'd give her a 7/10.

Clear grading criteria
Respected
Accessible outside class
3.0
4.0
MATH122
Grade: B+
Apr 22, 2023

She's probably the only reason I understand calculus. I would highly recommend taking her class if you want to learn something, she is a great teacher, however, she is the harshest grader ever. She will take points off for the tiniest things. Quizzes every Friday, don't skip. Hard to get an A on her tests bc of grading.

Tough grader
Clear grading criteria
Test heavy
5.0
3.0
math170
Grade: A+
May 2, 2023
Would take again

Professor McKay was such a great professor. Yes finite is difficult but if you put in the work your grade will reflect. I highly recommend McKay and definitely utilize her office hours. If you study and practice the problems you will have no problem in this class.

EXTRA CREDIT
Clear grading criteria
Accessible outside class
5.0
3.0
MATH122
Grade: A+
May 12, 2023
Would take again

She taught calc like it was elementary school math. She did a great job at answering questions and was really clear on everything throughout the lectures. Quizzes every Friday are a good boost to your grade if you do well, but they can hurt if you're not sure what is going on.

Amazing lectures
Gives good feedback
Accessible outside class
4.0
5.0
MATH122
Grade: B+
Sep 1, 2023
Would take again

Honestly your best bet for business calculus. Its a hard class regardless of the professor, but she made it bearable. She gives extra credit, which you must take advantage of if you want an A. If you dont come to class, you will do terrible. Tests are really hard and you have to put hours of studying in if you want to do decently.

EXTRA CREDIT
Test heavy
4.0
2.0
MATH122
Grade: B
Nov 8, 2023
Would take again

McKay is great! Always willing to help if you reach out to her. She explains BA Calc extremely well taking it slow and really explaining every step. The only thing is sometimes her hw dosent match up with her notes. It can be more difficult or slightly not related to the questions done in class.

Lots of homework
Respected
4.0
3.0
MATH122
Nov 16, 2023
Would take again

Really tough grader. Takes off points for very simple steps if you do not show how you got it even if its a given. Quizzes every week but are not hard if you stay prepared. Overall, really good at teaching the class in a good pace and makes calculus easier to learn. Just a very harsh grader.

Tough grader
Participation matters
Test heavy
4.0
2.0
MATH121
Grade: A+
Nov 16, 2023
Would take again

I took her for Business Calc and it should be an easy A if you have any prior knowledge of Calculus.

Lecture heavy
Test heavy
Accessible outside class
3.0
4.0
CALC121
Grade: B
Nov 16, 2023
Would take again

very easy to get behind if you don't go to class

Tough grader
Lecture heavy
Online Savvy
5.0
3.0
MATH122
Grade: A
Nov 30, 2023
Would take again

Dr. McKay is able to explain calculus in a simple & easy to understand manner. I personally felt she taught a bit slowly sometimes. There's online homework assigned on a regular basis, and weekly quizzes in class. If you meet the requirements, it is possible to exempt the final. Any background in precal/calc & you will easily pass. Go to class!!

Clear grading criteria
Caring
Accessible outside class
2.0
5.0
MATH122
Grade: C-
Nov 30, 2023

Exams are hard.

Lots of homework
Beware of pop quizzes
Test heavy
2.0
4.0
MATH122
Grade: A-
Dec 1, 2023

DONT take this professor if you have never taken calculus. She may teach slowly, but she rarely ever shows all of her work on the board. You never know if she is even going to solve a problem fully, and half the time she just writes her answer and expects you to know how to do it. DONT recommend and no offense her voice is hard to listen to

Tough grader
Lots of homework
Online Savvy
3.0
3.0
MATH122
Grade: A-
Dec 1, 2023

Megan Mckay is fine, but not great. The material wasn't very difficult if you've taken Calc, however she teaches with a BORING monotone voice and isn't engaging. She gives a pop quiz every Wed. that is 2-3 questions too. Homework isn't like the notes, and she hardly reviews in-class for exams, and the 3 exams are tough. Don't recommend.

Tough grader
Beware of pop quizzes
Lecture heavy
5.0
2.0
MATH122
Grade: A+
Dec 7, 2023
Would take again

I took calc in high school and did awful, however, Megan is much more clear of a teacher and moves slow so you will be able to do well. Weekly quizzes and nightly (easy and short) homework. Final is worth 25 percent of the grade though and the majority of your grade is 3 tests. McKay is a caring and sweet professor who is knowledgable + accesible

EXTRA CREDIT
Test heavy
Accessible outside class
4.0
2.0
MATH122
Grade: B+
Dec 7, 2023
Would take again

The class wasn't too difficult considering she gave us skeleton notes to fill out as we went through the content. She offers some extra credit opportunities and overall was a decent prof. I would retake her class if I needed to.

1.0
5.0
MATH122
Grade: C-
Dec 7, 2023

makes math hard

Tough grader
Lots of homework
Beware of pop quizzes
5.0
3.0
MATH122
Grade: A
Dec 8, 2023
Would take again

Professor McKay is a great professor! She teaches at a slow pace which helps you understand the concepts. The workload is not too much you have one homework after every lesson. There is one quiz a week and three midterms and a final. As long as you apply yourself and study you should be fine.

EXTRA CREDIT
Clear grading criteria
Accessible outside class
5.0
3.0
MATH122
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 11, 2023
Would take again

I am not that great at math, but liked Mrs McKay. She has guided notes that helped a lot. Study for the quizzes every week as they are only a few questions and can boost your grade. I found the final exam to be easier than her other tests as they were just the tests combined.

Tough grader
Accessible outside class
2.0
4.0
MATH122
Grade: B-
Dec 11, 2023

Felt horrible asking questions because she always had some sort of animosity when you didn't understand things the first time. Class questions were a cakewalk compared to homework. No study guide for final. Said "You have three midterms you can use to study, that's good enough" Voice is annoying, esp @ 9:00AM. Exam1:13 chapters, E2:8, E3:10 ???

Tough grader
Lots of homework
Lecture heavy
4.0
3.0
MATH122
Grade: A
Dec 13, 2023
Would take again

Professor McKay was really good at explaining how to do specific math problems. The homework was a lot harder than the things we did in class, but she always had office hours you could go to, and there was an SI for her class 3 times a week. She's a lenient grader and gives easy quizzes every week to boost our grade.

5.0
3.0
MATH122
Grade: A+
Dec 14, 2023
Would take again

Professor Mckay was an excellent teacher. She was really good at explaining and she had guided notes that helped a lot for learning in class and studying afterwards. If you had to miss class, she always uploaded notes. 3 exams and a final and an easy quiz every week. Fair grader and very nice if you have a comment or concern.

Amazing lectures
Clear grading criteria
Respected
5.0
3.0
MATH122
Grade: A
Dec 15, 2023
Would take again

Professor Mckay is an amazing math professor who truly cares about her students fully understanding the material! She has guided notes with extra practice problems at the end of them for you to practice during your free time and super easy quizzes every week. There are 3 exams and a final that aren't too hard if you complete the review sheets.

Amazing lectures
Caring
Accessible outside class
5.0
2.0
MATH122
Grade: A
Dec 16, 2023
Would take again

I was terrified of taking calc before this class bc I really struggled with precalc, but ended up loving calc because of Professor McKay. She was amazing at explaining everything and gave tons of extra credit. She was a very fair grader and really cared about the students' success. Graded hw really helped to study for quizzes and the overall grade.

EXTRA CREDIT
Amazing lectures
Accessible outside class
5.0
3.0
MATH122
Grade: A
Dec 18, 2023
Would take again

Professor McKay made calculus so much easier for me! She does a great job of explaining things in such a simple manner. If you need business calc I would definitely suggest taking her!

Amazing lectures
Lots of homework
Beware of pop quizzes
5.0
2.0
MATH122
Grade: A
Dec 29, 2023
Would take again

Professor McKay is a great professor and with coming from someone who struggles a bit in math, she did an amazing job in her lectures with clearly explaining concepts and breaking things down. Her class is also neatly structured with note packets for each unit. She is also extremely accessible and helpful during her office hours!

Amazing lectures
Gives good feedback
Accessible outside class
4.0
3.0
MATH122
Grade: A+
Jan 8, 2024
Would take again

Very thorough in lectures and provided notes that can be printed off that were helpful. Attendance counted at first but then not at end. Does not offer much EC and you will only be able to opt out of the cumulative final if you have a 95 or above on the first three exams. No textbook but had to purchase membership for HW website.

Clear grading criteria
5.0
1.0
MATH122
Grade: A
Jan 9, 2024
Would take again

She is very kind and wants her students to do well. That being said, if you took any form of calc class previously, this class will mover VERY slow for you. However, she is engaging and kind and the class itself is very easy. She is very accessible outside of class and genuinely wants to help you improve.

Participation matters
EXTRA CREDIT
Lots of homework
2.0
4.0
MATH141
Grade: Drop/Withdrawal
Mar 20, 2024

Monotone voice and is not engaging when she teaches. Asking questions can be difficult because she expects you to just "get it right." The concepts overlap in confusing ways and overall she is not that approachable.

Tough grader
Lots of homework
Test heavy
4.0
5.0
math170
Grade: B+
Apr 12, 2024
Would take again

I felt like the workload was an insane amount,I had a ton of homework for this class. The homework questions were the hardest part of the course and should be worth so much more than 3 points each homework. I would spend two hours on a problem for it to be worth .23 of a point.

1.0
5.0
math170
Grade: C-
Apr 18, 2024

Voice is monotone, rehearsed, and not interesting. Lectures are boring & not engaging. Lengthy HW, counts very little.Quizzes & tests are much harder than what was reviewed & consist of a few questions. Quizzes are timed 15mins, so many times I did not even get to finish. Not approachable. Her response to questions is just to come to office hours.

Tough grader
Lecture heavy
Graded by few things
2.0
4.0
math170
Grade: A-
Apr 19, 2024
Would take again

Her lectures and notes were easy to understand and follow. However, the homework and exams were much more difficult than what we learned in class which made the class difficult. She's a good teacher but the exams are much harder than the examples given in class.

Tough grader
Test heavy
2.0
4.0
math170
Grade: Not sure yet
Apr 23, 2024

While she makes the lectures seem simple, the quizzes, and especially the HW & exams are way more difficult than what she covers in class. Notes vs HW/Exams do not match. I took her calc 1 class and even that was easier than this one. Do NOT take her if you are NOT a math person unless you're good at "math riddles." Beware.

Tough grader
Lots of homework
Test heavy
3.0
4.0
math170
Grade: Not sure yet
Apr 23, 2024

Her lectures make the class seem simple, but the quizzes, especially the HW & Exams, are WAY harder than what she teaches. Her HW barely counts for anything and her exams are just terrible. I took her for calc 1 and even that class was way easier than this one. Do NOT take her for anything other than Calc 1, especially if you're not a math person.

Lots of homework
Test heavy
4.0
4.0
MATH141
Grade: B-
Apr 28, 2024
Would take again

she's super nice and very helpful if you go to her office hours. you only get 2 absences or else it will drop you grade by 5%. during lectures she goes slow enough for people to understand and does lots of example problems.

Clear grading criteria
Lots of homework
Accessible outside class
5.0
3.0
MATH141
Grade: A-
Apr 29, 2024
Would take again

Mckay is a great prof and explains concepts thoroughly. Notes of lectures are posted on Microsoft Teams. Very accessible outside of class and is always willing to answer questions. She doesn't snowball points on the 3 exams. There is a quiz every other week in recitation. HW is on Pearson, so you will need a subscription. She's a great professor!

Lots of homework
Lecture heavy
Accessible outside class
3.0
4.0
math170
Grade: B
Apr 29, 2024
Would take again

The lectures and notes seemed way easier than the homework, quizzes, and exams. There were times where I would spend hours on homework and have to look outside of course materials to figure out how to solve questions and honestly became lost on quizzes and exams. I'm not a math person, so maybe that's part of it.

Lots of homework
Lecture heavy
Accessible outside class
3.0
4.0
math170
Grade: C
May 1, 2024

She is very great at explaining how to solve all the problems in lecture, but when it comes to exams, the problems are very difficult. She is very picky on exams, so make sure to show every bit of work! There is a to of homework for 3 points each which was off putting as you only get credit for correctness in a certain number of attempts.

Tough grader
Group projects
Lots of homework
4.0
3.0
MATH141
Grade: A
May 1, 2024
Would take again

Mrs McKay was a great professor who I would definitely take again. She made calc seem easy and clearly stated what we should do to do well. There was a lot of homework but it was good to use in prep for tests and quizzes. She was very accessible outside of class with office hours and more. Take her class!

Clear grading criteria
Lots of homework
Accessible outside class
5.0
3.0
MATH141
Grade: A
May 5, 2024
Would take again

McKay is an amazing professor! I had never taken calculus before, so it was entirely new to me, but she taught it well by going through countless examples and with clear lecturing. She is very generous with exam grading. There's weekly homework that I think was harder than exam/quiz problems. I would highly recommend her for MATH141, she's great!

Amazing lectures
Lots of homework
Caring
3.0
4.0
math170
Grade: C+
May 8, 2024

Class material and quizzes was not reflected in the tests. She purposely chose the hardest questions she spends 5minutes on to put on the test. Very nice lady but she talks to you like you're 5. Makes material more complicated. The amount of homework is insane. Do not take unless you're good at math and know the material already.

Tough grader
Lots of homework
Test heavy
4.0
3.0
MATH141
Grade: A
May 10, 2024
Would take again

Professor Mckay is an awesome professor and probably the only reason why I got an A in this course. She is easy to understand and open to any questions and is happy to reexplain things. The only qualm I had is that the lab quizzes are way more difficult than the tests.

Amazing lectures
Lots of homework
Accessible outside class
4.0
3.0
MATH141
Grade: B+
May 17, 2024
Would take again

This was my first ever semester of Calculus and Professor McKay helped me through the process! She is very polite, responsible, and will really explain what is going on. She would always mention in class what her office hours were so students would feel confident they could ask her questions and get help. Heads up this course can be difficult.

EXTRA CREDIT
Respected
Accessible outside class
3.0
2.0
MATH122
Sep 26, 2024

Not an awful professor and a really easy class, just basic calculus concepts in high school algebra terms. However, she speaks very loudly and her tone reminds me of how elementary school teachers teach 2+2 to first graders, which is extremely irritating in my opinion.

3.0
3.0
MATH-111
Oct 24, 2024
Would take again

She's nice and willing to give xtra help. Concepts aren't hard, it's easy to get behind if you don't pay attention. HW questions have multiple attempts and textbook is connected, but I don't find textbook helpful. There are quizzes every Wednesday, but they're 3 questions and usually easier than HW. She is kinda strict when it comes to test taking

3.0
4.0
MATH122
Grade: Drop/Withdrawal
Nov 8, 2024
Would take again

I was scared of her at first but when I started asking questions I felt comfortable. She does thorough notes throughout class and several examples. She also does a few minutes of independent work where she walks around the class if you have questions. I appreciate her teaching methods. She does have a pretty flat voice though which can be annoying.

Beware of pop quizzes
Online Savvy
4.0
2.0
MATH122
Nov 14, 2024
Would take again

She is a really good teacher, I have never took a calc class before this one and I had understood her material really well. She is very encouraging to her students! You need to go to her class to understand her material tho, but if you do miss a class, she post her notes and she also have lecture videos too. She doesnt mind questions too!

Clear grading criteria
Accessible outside class
4.0
3.0
MATH-111
Grade: Not sure yet
Nov 14, 2024
Would take again

She is a good math professor, and her lectures are easy to understand. She takes time to make sure everyone understands what she is teaching. There is lots of online homework, but it's usually pretty simple. The main thing I didn't like about this class was the fact that she gave a quiz every Wednesday.

Gives good feedback
Lots of homework
Accessible outside class
3.0
2.0
MATH-111
Nov 19, 2024
Would take again

Prof. McKay is a good professor and explains topics well, however her voice is pretty irritating and reminds me of how teachers talk to you in elementary school. Attendance is mandatory in this class but you get 2 skips without it affecting you. If you were to skip more than 2 class periods then it affects your grade. quizzes every Wednesday!

Lots of homework
Beware of pop quizzes
Test heavy
3.0
3.0
MATH-111
Grade: Rather not say
Nov 24, 2024

Tests tend to be different from the content learned. The study guide and practice problems given to help for the test are 10x easier than whats presented on the tests.

Lots of homework
Lecture heavy
Test heavy
5.0
2.0
MATH122
Grade: A+
Dec 11, 2024
Would take again

She is such a clear and slow teacher. She is very appreciative and open to questions. Homework is also very short and easy, and she is always open to help you if you need it. Amazing professor and very clear expectations.

Amazing lectures
Caring
Accessible outside class
5.0
3.0
MATH121
Grade: B-
Dec 15, 2024
Would take again

Professor Mckay took calculus and broke the concepts down into understandable material. My advice–just study the material she gives you, print out the notes she post, and attend SI sessions held. She also provides access to her math videos used during covid times. Definitely recommend !

EXTRA CREDIT
Amazing lectures
Accessible outside class
5.0
3.0
MATH122
Grade: B
Dec 23, 2024
Would take again

I'm not great with math, but easily the most helpful professor. If you are struggling go to her office hours and she provides tons of help. At the end of the semester there are tons of opportunities for extra credit. If you make it a priority to learn in her class and show her you want to learn, she'll do her part and make sure you succeed.

EXTRA CREDIT
Gives good feedback
5.0
3.0
MATH122
Grade: A
Jan 8, 2025
Would take again

Prof McKay was fantastic! She is very understanding and you can tell she cares about her students. She explains concepts well & gives guided notes. Examples are done in class and she walks around so you can get help individually. There is some homework but its not many questions and is pretty helpful. There were extra credit opportunities.

EXTRA CREDIT
Caring
5.0
2.0
MATH-111
Grade: A
Jan 14, 2025
Would take again

She explains things very well and gives good feedback and help at office hours.

Caring
Accessible outside class
Online Savvy
1.0
4.0
MATH122
Grade: Rather not say
Jan 31, 2025

Your class notes won't help you with the homework, quizzes, or tests. You are basically teaching yourself. Her voice is very annoying. Has a lot of office hours but I wouldn't say they help because if you ask her to help you with something your confused on she expects you to figure it out yourself.

Tough grader
Accessible outside class
1.0
5.0
math170
Grade: B
Feb 5, 2025

worst class and professor I have taken at USC. class made no sense and office hours do not help. I have multiple friends that have taken her and we all wish we took someone else. she seems very sweet as a person, but not a professor. overall, would not recommend, still wish I dropped this class every single day.

Tough grader
Group projects
Test heavy
3.0
3.0
MATH122
Grade: A
Mar 25, 2025

Overall the structure of her class was extremely neat and put together. I found that her online youtube videos didn't always match up with the notes we were given. She does have a pretty bad voice to listen to, almost sounds like we are 5 years the way she speaks to us. I am not sure I would fully recommend taking her.

1.0
5.0
math170
Grade: Drop/Withdrawal
Mar 26, 2025

Probably one of the worst math teachers. This is the second time i've had her and both times I had to drop her class. Im not good at math and she made it so much harder for me to understand. She also speaks and treats her class like elementary kids. Test also don't match the homework or lectures. They come off harder than it should be.

Graded by few things
1.0
4.0
math170
Grade: Drop/Withdrawal
Mar 31, 2025

DO NOT take this professor if you want to pass. Our class of about 50 at the beginning of the year has now dwindled down to maybe 15. Not a single person I've talked to in this class has gotten higher than an 80 on anything. I studied for days for an exam and could almost guarantee I got all of them right but got an exam score of 56/100.

Tough grader
Test heavy
Graded by few things
2.0
5.0
math170
Grade: Drop/Withdrawal
Apr 1, 2025

TOUGH GRADER. 5 quizzes, 3 exams, and final. Final replaces lowest exam +built in curve (10pts added to lowest quiz or lowest quiz is out of 10 instead of 20). Will leave class knowing material, but exams are completely different. Exam may be 8Q's but will have several parts and quizzes may be 5Q's. both are point heavy! (out of 100 and 20)

Tough grader
Lots of homework
Test heavy
2.0
5.0
math170
Grade: Drop/Withdrawal
Apr 1, 2025

She's an overall nice person, but class is very hard. Especially since there's no SI for it. Accessible outside of class, but office hrs aren't helpful since it's packed most on the time. I think her teaching style is what makes the class harder. Would not recommend unless good @ math or able to teach yourself the material.

Tough grader
Lots of homework
Test heavy
4.0
4.0
math170
Grade: A-
Apr 23, 2025
Would take again

Professor Mckay is a great teacher who genuinely wants her students to succeed. This class is very challenging but she makes the content easy to understand. If you actually study and go to office hours if you don't understand something, you will do well on her exams. I personally loved her and enjoyed her teaching style.

Tough grader
Amazing lectures
Caring
1.0
5.0
math170
Grade: C-
Apr 23, 2025

Professor Mckay is a tough grader. She does not give any material to prepare for her exams. The exams and quizzes contain questions that she did not go over in class. She encourages to attend office hours, but she is not helpful and can have an attitude at times when you attend. She barely explains anything and talks to you like a child.

Tough grader
Test heavy
Accessible outside class
3.0
5.0
math170
Grade: B
Apr 26, 2025

She is not a bad professor whatsoever, but her tests DO NOT reflect the exams. We never have enough time in class to do a proper test review. Her exams are a lot harder than the lecture work and homework.

Tough grader
Lots of homework
Graded by few things
1.0
5.0
math170
Grade: B
Apr 26, 2025

She is a very sweet person, but her teaching style is not good. Half of the time she will have us try the problem ourselves in class, then explain how to do it so quickly that we do not have enough time to truly understand it. Exams are rough. unless you are great at math, take someone else.

5.0
3.0
math170
Grade: A+
Apr 30, 2025
Would take again

Attend each class and do the homework. Professor McKay's teaching style isn't my favorite (often makes you solve questions in class on your own and briefly goes over the answer), but she has lots of office hours which are SUPER helpful. Exams DO reflect both the material learned in class and the homework assignments; Unsure why people say otherwise

Clear grading criteria
Accessible outside class
1.0
5.0
MATH122
Grade: C
May 1, 2025

Exams are difficult and do not reflect the course material learned in class. Tests are based on homework and problems are things that we did not learn how to do in class. I feel like I know the material but then the exam score comes out and I lose points on petty things that I did wrong, does not give partial credit. Would not recommend taking.

Tough grader
Test heavy
5.0
3.0
math170
Grade: A+
May 2, 2025
Would take again

I really liked Professor McKay! I started to struggle towards the end of the semester but she was always willing to work with me during office hours and go over what I got wrong on previous exams/quizzes. Her teaching style is definitely not for everyone but she is very willing to help. I personally believe that her exams DO reflect what was taught

EXTRA CREDIT
Clear grading criteria
Accessible outside class
5.0
4.0
MATH122
Grade: A
May 9, 2025
Would take again

Professor Mckay was awesome. I loved the way she explained the material, and was just a very helpful professor overall. I was never afraid to ask a question in her class. Definitely recommend taking her

5.0
1.0
MATH121
Grade: A+
Jul 31, 2025
Would take again

While the class may seem slow, she ensures everyone is on the same page and does provide opportunities for extra credit that is built into the course, attendance is mandatory and you do need the textbook for the online homework, but it is an easy class as long as you show up and take good notes!

EXTRA CREDIT
Gives good feedback
Accessible outside class
Class Info

Attendance Mandatory

81%

Textbook Required

0%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

B+

95% confidence
Based on 80 grades
Most common grades:
A (25)
A+ (11)
B (9)
Grade Distribution
A(36)B(13)C(15)D(10)F(0)A-/B+(14)
Based on 94 reported grades
A: 25
A+: 11
B: 9
B+: 9
Common Tags
Lots of homework (37)
Accessible outside class (35)
Test heavy (32)
Tough grader (31)
EXTRA CREDIT (15)
Clear grading criteria (13)
Lecture heavy (13)
Caring (12)
Rating Trend

Declining

-0.52 avg change
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Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

MATH142

5.0

(1)

MATH121

4.5

(6)

MATH141

4.0

(7)

MATH-111

3.6

(5)

MATH122

3.6

(55)
+2 more courses
Difficulty by Course

math170

4.1

MATH142

4.0

MATH122

3.3

MATH141

3.3

MATH121

2.8

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