Enthusiastic teacher, fun class. Would recommend.

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Professor Rizzo is a great teacher and has made my university experience really enjoyable. He has opened my eyes to the importance of economics and how it relates to all aspects of life.

Mike Rizzo is basically the balls. He is extremely nice, engaging, helpful, and knowledgeable about the subject matter.

He is very passionate about the material he teaches and it makes the class very enjoyable. I always look forward to class.

Rizzo is absolutely great. He uses the best examples, is very personable and extremely energetic...especially for the 9 am class!

Rizzo is a fabulous professor who obviously adores teaching economics. His passion and enthusiasm for the subject makes studying even at a 100 level really interesting. The greatest thing is that he manages to lecture to 150 students and sound like he's teaching a 15 student class.

Rizzo is a great professor. He really tries to engage his students in the class, his energy level is amazing, and you can tell that he is passionate about econ. Make sure you go to class (which is fun) and you should be able to pull off a good grade.

Great professor. He's full of energy, and always seems really excited to teach you the next thing in his agenda. He gives plenty of examples, and he's always ready for e-mailed questions or at office hours if you need the extra help. What I especially liked was the review sessions he held before each test; you have to give the man props for spendin

Coolest/sexiest/nerdiest teacher alive.

Professor Rizzo is a very hard worker and gives enthusiastic and entertaining lectures. He really knows his stuff and does a great job explaining the material. I genuinely look for forward to attending every single class. All around, best teacher I've had at Rochester, hands down, by far.

Great, enthusiastic lecturer. Very passionate about economics. However, I think he kind of messed up when teaching ECO108 (understandable since he's new), and I felt we either glossed over or just didn't learn basic (but important) economic principles. I feel that this screwed me over during the spring since I took micro with a different professor

Rizzo is probably one of the best professors I've had at UR. A former Investment banker,he makes the class really interesting. No grading curve,and to do well you must take very good notes. I Highly recommend the class.

I have had him for both Intro and Mirco. I have switched to an Econ major because of his classes. If you attend class, take notes, read the text, and attend office hours when you have questions, you will do great. However, if you don't put any work into it, you won't do well. Its that simple. He is very personable and cares a lot about his students

hands down one of the best economics professor on campus. though he may be hard but at least you learn to think and that's what matters the most.

Very enthusiastic and inflammatory. At the same time very hard with his grading, and seems to get some pleasure out of that. Helpful outside of the classroom. His papers are extremely difficult and graded toughly. Don't recommend this for your writing course.

He is extremely enthusiastic but it is difficult to follow his lectures sometimes.

Best professor I have had so far. Made me fall in love with Econ. He has a great sense of humor and will almost always keep the class entertained. Gives lots of optional and interesting material to read or watch outside of class.

enjoy his class

Definitely my favorite Prof. Cares a lot about his students and is absolutely hilarious in class. Also very thoughtful. Obviously a brilliant guy but very humble. You may not (probably won't) agree with his normative views, but he will definitely change the way you see the world. Be warned though, a many ppl find his classes challenging.

Best professor in the Econ Department, if not best professor on campus. WARNING: he is NOT an easy professor, you MUST do work for an A. He is not crazy, he promotes Austrian Economics. He is one of the only professors left who teaches the concepts of rationalism.

Rizzo's the kind of professor that you either love or hate. I think he's the best professor I've ever had and I really enjoy going to class each day. He's interesting and obviously passionate about economics but the tests are hard & I recommend that you sit in on a class first so that you know what to expect and whether you like his teaching style.

One of the most engaging and inflammatory professors around. Hard tests and a hard grader, but if you try to understand the concepts from a rational/logical point of view, it makes everything easier. Make sure to take good notes on what he says? you won't get a board to copy down his notes. Always willing to help out students.

Rizzo's a fun guy. You either like him or you don't.....He enjoys getting to know his students really well. I record his lectures, and he knows my name, and is very helpful when I have questions. I think he's a great guy, and an ok professor.

Professor Rizzo is extremely passionate about economics and is constantly challenging your views on every topic you could think of. It's refreshing to have a professor who actually forces you to think instead of spoon feeding you information. Many think Rizzo gives his "opinion", but he always provides hard data and evidence to support his teaching

Rizzo is the man. If people understand that what he is teaching is not his opinion, but is economic fact, you can gain a lot from his classes. He is not crazy (maybe a little), but he gets very frustrated with how society misinterprets economics and states things as fact that are not. He loves his students, works insanely hard,do theXCyou'llbefine

Probably the best professor I have had at Rochester. I admit some of his lectures are disorganized, however, many of his other lectures are so intriguing and interesting. These more than make up for it. His personality is awesome and he is so enthusiastic about economics. I would highly recommend taking environmental with him-extremely interesting.

Rizzo's probably the best professor I've ever had. You can tell he's brilliant, but he's still very accessible. The class is interesting but you do have to work for your grade; the grading is tough, so I have to recommend the extra credit opportunities. He's an engaging lecturer and I found the insights from his class invaluable.

The BEST lecturer at the university. Classes are very interesting and he often throws in useful anecdotes to aid your understanding. However, getting an A is difficult and all work should be done on time in addition to extra credit. Acing the exams is possible by thorough study of previous year's examinations and practice exams. Very,very fun class

Just for the record, it is very possible to get an A in Rizzo's class... just go to class and do the readings. Rizzo is a great lecturer and his classes are definitely worth taking.

I really don't see why people get frustrated bu this guy. He takes more time out of his schedule to meet with students than the rest of the department combined. Also you can get an A... just DO THE WORK, I see so many people say "OMG he slammed my GPA because I didn't turn in the HW and like study what a prick." News flash: Do your work on time.

I was shocked when I noticed the stuff people were writing about Rizzo on rate my professor. The class isn't a cake walk, but its worlds easier than any advanced engineering class. If you do the work, you can get an A, nuff said. Everyone I've talked to loved the guy so I'm guessing most of the people that write these are the vocal minority....

Great teacher. Just work hard and be interested!

Great lecturer, interesting material. Don't bother buying any extra books unless you want to read them yourself, they're not really necessary. Will be taking more classes with Rizzo for sure.

Great Professor- but you will have to learn the material to get a good grade. Lectures are not mandatory, but very entertaining! Try not to miss them!

Rizzo is an excellent professor, but be warned that this isn't a traditional economics class! Instead of focusing on graphs and numbers, Rizzo explains the material through key concepts, which you must learn to apply to everyday life. It's difficult at first, but he makes himself very available, through both office hours and e-mail.

One of the most interesting professors I have ever had. Lectures are both helpful and entertaining, but he is not afraid to be critical of every common notion and any counter-arguments to his ideas.

The guy is a genius. He challenges every one of your deeply held beliefs - with reason and evidence, not ideology and rhetoric.

Universities need more professors like Rizzo. He's the only one I've had so far who actually challenges me to think. Yes, formulas and fact memorization will be useful on standardized tests and for hard sciences, but without a mind behind it all you are is a robot. Rizzo wants you to use your head, not mindlessly memorize particular facts.

International students especially should take Rizzo's classes. He represents what's special about US education.

Amazing class. Among the best profs in the department. Rizzo is talented and brilliant. The UofR is very lucky to have him.

Everyone should take this class with Professor Rizzo before graduating. I was going to transfer to Cornell, but as long as Rizzo stays, I'll stay. I wish I took this course freshman year..

He's a great professor. He teaches you things beyond economics. This class is like philosophy. He teaches you the way to think. He's not easy at all but I've really learned a lot from this class.

I had Rizzo for environmental economics. Love him or hate him, this man is very enthusiastic. Half the class was spent learning economics that may be considered "unconventional". Rizzo managed to keep the class interesting and question a lot of world views. He's very intelligent, but sometimes it's difficult to tell what he's asking on the exams.

Literall the most funny and interesting man. GO TO CLASS. I guarantee A if you go to every class. Recitations are so helpful go to those too. I loved this class

you will learn a lot. very interesting. you will have to work hard though. well worth it

he's really interesting. make sure to attend EVERY class. the review questions/packet were very helpful in both 108 and 207

My favorite professor ever. Super responsible and kind. He really wants everyone to learn something from everywhere. But it is true that the exams are extremely hard.

Professor Rizzo knows how to keep his students engaged. While he may get a tad idealogical, he does not indoctrinate his students. He teaches economics in a very unconventional way. He is more conceptual, but the way that he applies economics to literally everything continues to amaze me. The University is incredibly lucky to have him.

Yes, Rizzo is an extremely difficult teacher, but ultimately he loves those students that put in the effort and those students are rewarded. If I could go back, I would have built a strong relationship with this professor in the beginning of the year because he is a brilliant and interesting dude. He is my favorite professor by far.

Yay Rizzo! Cool dude. Interesting classes but I'm not sure how technically he is compared to what other professors might teach.

I could write a whole 10-page paper to express how much I love Rizzo's class. It seems he teaches four courses in UR currently; his way of teaching makes me decide to take all those four during my college life, though some are not necessary and I am not interested in. Definitely go to his classes, you will get more than knowledge itself! Well worth

Rizzo is a very polarizing teacher. He is also very busy, but if you reach out to him he will make sure he answers your questions. If you want to do well, read everything and ask him as many questions as possible. You really are learning about HIS principles of economics. But if you do all that this class is really not that hard. GOAT Lecturer!

Professor Rizzo is the most motivational and inspirational professor that I've ever had. He is the sole reason why I switched my major to economics. His classes are incredibly captivating, and the content of his lectures are life changing. Would take any class that Professor Rizzo offers. They are the most valuable ones in college by far.

He's a great professor who gives amazing lectures. No textbooks used. Attendance isn't mandatory, but it's highly recommended that you attend them as topics discussed in lectures appear in exams. Tests are not hard, but require a lot of critical thinking. Passing this class is easy, but you need to put in extra effort for an A.

He's a great lecturer and a very helpful instructor.

Overall I enjoyed this class. Rizzo is an enthusiastic and fun professor and he provided a great introduction to Economics. This class really is not that difficult if you go to every class and take notes. The key to doing well on his exams is to restate the arguments Rizzo uses in class as most exam questions are related to a major theme from class

While the tests were difficult and weekly homework became a chore, what I loved most about this class was the engaging and relevant lectures made by a very intelligent professor.

This dude loves his job and he loves economics which shows in his lectures. I think you'll learn a lot from him. One of the best things is, at least in ECO207, he grades you on how well you can think like an economist. There isn't necessarily one correct answer (except maybe on some things). Overall, he's an awesome prof.

Honestly, I never thought I would take the time out of my day to write a whole review for a professor but with Rizzo I have to. This man is an amazing professor and is so nice and helpful. His lectures are very interesting, and he completely changes the way you think about life. HOWEVER, the exams are a pain but if you study you'll pass. Trust me.

Rizzo is a very good lecturer. He was always full of energy and makes economics interesting. Not a lot of work however tests are challenging. They all are questions that you need to apply what you learned in class. If you like to memorize answers and regurgitate them on a test this professor isn't for you.

Great professor, really interesting and you will learn a lot. But rest assured, this man will MURDER YOUR GPA.

Professor Rizzo is such a fun lecturer! The homework isn't super easy but reaching out to the TAs definitely helps. He's always super helpful during office hours and in emails. Reading the papers on the reading list will make the class more interesting (and the tests somewhat easier). Don't cram for the exams; just make sure you apply the concepts.

Very humble and passionate professor. Really makes you think critically and logically. One of the best professors I had the pleasure of learning from.

Prof. Rizzo is the sole reason I chose to major in economics. His passion for the subject shines through every lecture and his unique way of teaching economics intuitively makes you start seeing life differently. Very kind and definitely the best lecturer in his department. If you slack off or don't show up to lecture you won't do well.

Best Professor for Introduction to Economics

one of the most talented, friendly, and interesting professors at this school.

You need to go to class. Get ready for anecdote after anecdote.

Professor Rizzo is by far the best professor I have had at this school. His abundance of stories to tell you will really help you understand economics. This class will make you want to talk to all of your friends about economics. There is no textbook, it is solely lecture based. Pay attention in lecture, and you will be fine.

- Amazing lecturer. Keeps you engaged. Very accessible outside of class.

Professor Rizzo is the best professor I have had in my college career. He cares deeply about teaching, and he is widely available outside of class. He is very passionate about a lot of things, and so his lectures tend to touch on a variety of topics, but they are always fascinating. Although it is not mandatory, you MUST attend class to pass.

Rizzo definitely makes a huge effort to try to educate the students on economic principles. Economics is just a really hard subject to understand. He responds to your emails pretty quickly and is very helpful when you ask him questions. It can be hard to go to his office hours because he's a very popular teacher so there is usually a long line.

Mr Rizzo was hands down THE best professor I have ever had. EVER. This man deserves a ghost pepper, not even a chili pepper can do him justice. You learn valuable lessons in this class that you will use all throughout life. I used hate public speaking and now love it. He teaches in a lecture style, but you will not be bored. It's Brandon Mr Rizzo!

Rizzo is the reason I'm majoring in economics. It can be tough to grasp his way of thinking at first, but if you go to class, take good notes, and do minimal outside reading it will get easier. He greatly values participation. His lectures are fantastic and he really does love the material and care about his students.

Super interesting lecturer, if you go to class and are good at conceptual thinking this class is definitely worth it. If you are a math/equation based learner then this isn't the right professor for you!

The only reason why I'm remotely interested in Econ. Not always the best at staying on topic, but one of the most genuinely interesting people I've ever met. Always there for you when you need him. A+

Class isn't hard but don't go into it thinking you don't need to put in some extra effort. Talk to him and see where his mind is and you will understand things better. Honestly if you listen in class you pick up on a lot of concepts and even homework questions. Very approachable and great lecturer.

This man changed my life. I look at everything differently, and I changed my major to economics solely because of this man. I recommend any and every person at the University of Rochester to take Eco 108 with Rizzo when given the chance. More difficult to get a good grade than a traditional textbook class, but you will learn far, far more.

Professor Rizzo is a great professor. I think the most important thing everyone needs to be aware of is that he really tries to give students a unique experience with Economics. He is certainly the reason why I am majoring in Economics!

ECO 108: Forget everything you ever thought you knew about economics. Rizzo's energetic, thought provoking lectures will change the way you see the world. Beware, his exams can be frustrating. 5 stars. ECO 207: Rizzo just couldn't replicate the charm of ECO 108. Spent more time on defending his opinions than on covering important concepts. 2 stars.

The absolute BEST class I've ever taken in my entire academic career. He will make you question everything that you've been made to believe. He's also one of the few professors who will uplift your self-image by making you realise how smart you really are. He is a superbly passionate teacher, which is what makes his class so incredible!

Prof. Rizzo inspired me to work hard to better understand economics at a fundamental level. He's always nice and will answer emails when you need him. The homework he gives can be very tedious but you learn a lot. His lectures are the best part of his classes and if you skip class to sleep in you will not do well on his tests. Take good notes.

Professor Rizzo gives very good lectures, but at the beginning it is quite difficult for international students to keep pace with

He doesn't teach you economics, he teaches you how to think about economics. If you understand what he means, you'll never need econ help again another day in your life.

So I took landsburgs 207 and had to retake it (Im pretty sure Im not the only one). I have to say Rizzo changed my life. His lecture is excellent. I may not get really good grade from his class but he is surely THE economics professor I would follow. If I could go back to my freshman first semester, I would have picked ECO108 with him.

Took introductory course (ECO 108) with him. Great class, very interesting lectures. Mostly focuses on teaching *how to think about economics* rather than economics itself. It is a rather "abstract" conceptual class. Homework is long but really helpful for exams. Very accesible and understanding. Will make you work hard, but worth it.

He's a great professor and his lectures are awesome, but he does NOT set you up well for the rest of the Econ Major or to understand the field from a mathematical prospective, which is the entire point of econ. My advice is to take ECO 108 and 207 with Landsburg and then take Sports and Environmental Econ with Rizzo for utility maximization.

Rizzo is chaotic good. The lectures are not very organized but they are super engaging and really make you think about the world in a different way. The quizzes are very long and challenging, but I really feel like I learned so much from every quiz. He gives students a lot of responsibility, and I loved the independent (but guided) learning.

Really funny, can be hard to understand, abstract teaching style. Lectures not technically required but if you don't go nothing will make sense

Rizzo is awesome! I took AP Econ in high school, and I must say that Rizzo makes economics so much more applicable to real life than a heavy analysis of graphs. His energetic, hilarious personality turns otherwise "meh" material into engaging content and homework that encourage you to pose questions about real life you never thought about before.

Prof Rizzo is easily the most unique professor I have ever had. He is definitely a tough grader but I enjoyed every minute of the three classes I took with him. He is very funny and makes class so enjoyable. He taught me how to view the world in a different way - a very unique thinker. His concepts can be confusing but overall very good professor.

Great man. I did not know an ounce of econ, I learned so much from him, although I couldn't tell you anything I learned. He loves to have conversations with students, so if you talk to him outside of class he will love you. His off topic lectures are always very interesting and funny. Highly reccomend. The homework is a lot, do it with your group.

Would highly recommend. Rizzo is incredibly passionate & knowledgable about his subject. While at times we might be "off topic", he lets students ask about and explore what they are interested in, which made the class much more engaging and relevant to the students. If you're considering taking a class with him, absolutely do.

Rizzo is a revolutionary icon at U of R. His teaching of economics is not traditional; it makes you think more than memorize. It's a really fun class but the tests are pretty tough. If you go to class and absorb his lectures, not only listen but understand, you'll do fine in the class. Minimum effort earns you a B, anything more will move you up

Professor rizzo is the best econ teacher at the U of R. He actually talks about the issues that are important and doesnt just sound like a robot that is regurgitating a textbook. He makes you actually want to come to class because you know you will learn something new

Key is paying attention in class to everything- esp the convoluted stories. He usually summarizes his concepts after he describes them, note those down, he expects exact same words on the exams. If you do that its most of the work. His lectures are unconventional, challenges you to think out of the box. Exams are challenging too. Little quant work.

You won't learn textbook econ in his classes, you'll learn how to think and to be critical about the things you read and hear about. although he tends to go off topic at times, every story a lesson and WILL show up on the exams. the key is to try to understand the point of the convoluted discussions. assignments & exams require 8hrs of sleep.

Probably the easiest econ class offered at U of R; Rizzo admits it himself that the class is "a gut." Really interesting topics and very intuitive thinking course, very little memorizing or work required. Grading is just homeworks and a couple of projects that are tedious but not a lot of work. Recommend it for everyone!

Rizzo is the best professor ever. If you come to U of rochester and do not attend Rizzo's lectures, then your tuition is wasted.

Rizzo is one of the best professors I have ever had! Everyone complains about him because he ACTUALLY encourages people to argue and delve deeper into the politics in todays atmosphere. I think everyone should take a Rizzo class at least once in their life. He is a phenomenal teacher. He has taught me a whole new way of looking at life!

Anyone that leaves a bad review on Rizzo is someone who is completely unwilling to have their opinion challenged. It is a shame someone would spend $70,000 of tuition only to attend classes of professors that only voice their opinion. Also anyone that doesn't like Rizzo isnt willing to put the work in and pay attention. If your lazy don't take this

Professor Rizzo is definitely a GOOD econ teacher and lecturer. If you really wanna major in econ, take his class. There will be lots of reading and assignments (2 papers per week but if you really focus on it, you will learn a lot.) Try to understand his lectures, the EWOT is the most important thing you can learn in Rochester, and only with Rizzo

Overall a good professor. Lots of homework, but he was funny and made economics easy to learn and enjoyable. Would take this class again.

before you read any other review-know that this professor is the difference between taking a course to regurgitate textbook material and evolving and changing the way you view the world. rizzo is an incredibly hard professor; all of his lectures revolve around stories and concepts-yet i promise he will force you to learn the absolute most from him.

Best prof. His class is the best class I took in my life. BUT he has a very unique teaching style which might not fit everyone. If you want math based econ, this ISN'T the prof you want. If you want to think like a real economist and understand that economics is so much more than just math, TAKE HIM. Be open to his unconventional teaching style.

While the class isn't taught like a beginners econ course, the insights Prof. Rizzo presented were far more helpful than a regurgitation of AP Econ. Exams can be hard and the material confusing at times, but once it clicks you gain a whole new view of the topic. Don't fall for low ratings from students hurt by a low grade and don't miss lecture.

207 with Rizzo is a must. You could replace 2 exams by doing a group project with an entrepreneur where you talk abt econ in their business. You learn so much from the real world experience and it is such a valuable experience. Put in the work and you will do just fine. Most exams were take home - he wants you to do well and is very accessible.

Lectures are awesome and he keeps you engaged with him the whole time. However the vast majority of what he says and goes off about in class won't be used on his exams. The central point of his lectures is all that matters. Exams are graded tough. If he gives you the option to flip the weights of your homework and exams, take advantage.

If you do the work you will do fine in any of his classes. Try to get the big concepts, not the small things. Really good professor with amazing lectures, and is always willing to help anyone who asks.

Professor Rizzo is an amazing guy, he really is. Get prepared to write for this class, like a lot. GO TO LECTURES! That is the best way to do well on exams, the zooms don't do the ambiance of the class justice. This class is more critical thinking based, don't listen to your friends just b/c they didnt like his teaching style. Try it out.

I loved Professor Rizzo! Although more often than frequently, he goes off on mini tangents about things that have no relation to economics. It can definitely be a little annoying since the class itself isn't very long. Also, it was very unclear exactly what to study for the exams which made things more difficult. Gives plenty of extra credit opps!

Make sure you read to syllabus cause there are extra credit opportunities that can be vital to getting an A. Going to lectures is important. Watching recorded lectures is difficult as you lose focus etc. Make sure you go to recitation as it can be helpful and you can get extra credit. A lot of homework every week

Not for the faint of heart, but provides a different and interesting take that is a good introduction to economics without tons of math. Lots of writing and homework. Again - not for the faint of heart. If this is not one of your central classes you will not do well.

His lectures are funny, engaging and informative. You do have to be paying attention because he rambles/rants so make sure you don't space out. You can text him, call him, or email him with any questions. The exam questions are somewhat difficult because they are broad and sometimes confusing. Short research and ruminations due every Sunday.

Everyone complains about how difficult the class is because of his rambling. This is simply because they are unable to focus on his actual points. After a few classes, you will understand that his ranting and storytelling have a purpose and are metaphors for his most important points. Rizzo is definitely untraditional but is a great lecturer.

Amazing lecturer, but tons of work. Lectures are extremely entertaining and easy to follow. They made me excited for economics. Weekly homework can take up 5-8 hours, writing intensive (1-2k words), and disconnected from class material imo. Can't really study for the exams, final was open book, mostly test on your thinking skills.

Be ready to listen in lectures and be entertained while understanding the principals of Econ 108.

Money wasted if you don't take his class

Really fun class

His lectures got me interested in Econ. He puts all the concepts behind a story so it may be hard to decipher at first but once I did, I felt like I had a stronger understanding than if he just delivered dry lectures. Super funny, and watch out for the money he gives away on the first lecture...

Most entertaining yet informative professor I've ever had. Course consisted of weekly assignments that took 1-3 hours each (best to work as a group) and 4 exams that made 60% of your grade. You HAVE to show up to lectures otherwise the class won't be easy at all. He dropped an exam plus 8% grade boost so it's pretty easy to get an A.

Will give extra credit and drops lowest exam grade as well as adds 8 points to overall exam grades. Must go to lectures to understand material. Open note tests

Go to class if you want to do well in Rizzo's class. You either love him or you hate him, but he grades very fair and most of the tests are open book and you are allowed to use the internet. Personally, I love rizzo and the style of the lectures but it's not for everyone.

Professor Rizzo is by far the most approachable professor on campus and has the most passion for economics I have ever seen by someone else. His exams are difficult, but possible to do well on as long as you go to lecture and make use of office hours/TAs. Overall, I'd be excited to take another course by him and hope more people do.

Very tough class, but so rewarding if done right aka put in the work! The way he asks questions is VERY similar to a certain liberal arts interdisciplinary competition which is particularly popular among intl HS students (not going to specify, but iykyk). Its helpful to have prior econ knowledge. In exams, think like him. Go to study groups!!

Truly one of the best professors I have had. The lectures are engaging and completely changed how I see the world. Class is lots of work (I would often be writing 15-20 pages weekly), but if you put in the effort, I promise that you will leave a better student and person. Strongly believe that everyone should take at least one class with Rizzo.

Amazing professor and wonderful lectures! I learned so much from his class and would seriously recommend. Go to study groups and office hours. Attendance is not mandatory, but you will not do well if you do not go to lectures. Try and start weekly assignments early in the week as they are long and tedious. Tests are open note and internet.

You either love him or hate him. Rizzo's such a unique character, his lectures are something you will never get to experience anywhere else. Be sure to attend his lectures, everything on the test will be from lecture or somewhat related to them (there are recordings but they're from fall 2022). No slides, just take good detailed notes. great prof.

Rizzo is a great lecturer and a really nice guy, but if you want to get an A I wouldn't take him. The ideas of the class are vague sometimes and TA grading can be extremely frustrating. There is also a lot of homework. Basically if you are fine with not getting an A and doing a lot of homework, econ 108 with Rizzo is very enjoyable.

He is a great professor, very engaging and never a dull moment. But, tests were confusing and graded weirdly imo. Homework heavy, around 5-7 hours of homework every week. But I really learned a lot from his class and would like to take another course with him. He is genuinely one of the only professors that I learned life long lessons from.

Love the guy. He's definitely better and more interesting when it comes to elective courses (sports econ, environmental) so take those with him for sure. I always learn something new and worthwhile during class.

Probably the most fun class I have taken so far. It is hard, but you really learn a lot and lectures are super entertaining. It is a lot of work but 100% worth taking the class over the other 108 option.

Rizzo gets so much hate for his storytelling lecture style and his grading scale, but he is one of the best professor's at the University of Rochester. He is caring, knowledgeable, and always willing to help his students. Please get to know him! I took 108 and 207 with Rizzo and I have learned so much. Don't listen to others, take the class!

Professor Rizzo is a amazing lecturer. He can make something as boring as CPI interesting. He truly cares for his students and only has the best intentions. He is a professor you will not regret taking. Just make sure to ask for help. This is what your TAs and office hours are for! It is an extremely rewarding class if you try. Thank you Rizzo!

Rizzo is def one of the professors that you either love or hate. I personally enjoyed his lectures a lot, as they are more casual and conversational. He is also VERY knowledgable. However, his homework are extremely stressful, so be prepared to spend 5 hours each week for this weekly research writings. He also yaps too much on HW/exam questions.

Rizzo is an extremely misunderstood professor by students. I know a lot of the other reviews say to not listen to the reviews like mine, but I think that his class was great. Somewhat difficult but great. You learn a lot in his class. Overall, it teaches you how to be a better student. The microeconomic topics are explained well and in a fun format

I enjoyed Rizzo a lot for 108. He goes downhill for 207. It does not feel like a real micro class at all. A lot of the things he chooses to cover in the course are based on what he likes to teach, NOT what is important for us to know. He stays away from the math which makes future classes difficult. Definitely not meant to teach a complex econ.

I love Prof. Rizzo! I chose to major in Economics because of him. I'm a huge fan.

Rizzo's class can be challenging, but it's worth the effort. The lectures are engaging, and you'll learn a lot about economic principles. Unstuckstudy AI and the free textbook are great study aids.

The approach of his ECON 108 is a little bit different and more towards humanity, which can create good insights. It is a lecture-oriented class so understanding his stories in class is important. It is easy for me to see the connections between his homework and lectures but I understand that others might not feel this way.

I received a higher grade in 207 but I enjoyed 108 more. Rizzo's 207 is not math-based and sometimes the exam rubrics can be controversial. He is less organized than other instructors. Besides the class, he is a great friend and we had serval in-depth conversations.

Honestly one of the most fun classes you can take at this school. There are no exams, simply two projects during the semester, with at least one being a group project, and some weekly homework. It's a chill class where you can just come to listen about sports economics or you can choose to engage in the discussion. Would recommend it to anyone.

Good man good lecture

One of the best professors I have ever had. Would definitely take a class with him again if I had the opportunity to do so. His style of teaching a little different, but if you get used to it, there's no class more fun and interesting than Econ 108 with Rizzo

Everyone says that Rizzo is a nutcase, and they're probably right, but his class was fun and although there was a lot of complaining, the workload wasn't that bad. TAs grade all your assignments and you can use ChatGPT on everything, even tests, but don't let that fool you into thinking its an easy A. Overall pretty good class would take again.

Rizzo is a cool guy. Fun lectures and is truly interested in making you love learning. Be curious and attend lectures or else this class will be a living nightmare. Some of the homeworks are kinda redundant but overall a great class to take.

Weekly homework that is writing heavy. The class teaches a mindset, which you will take with you, and truly embracing this mindset makes the completion of the exams and homework significantly easier. The recitations, while optional, are very enjoyable. Very open during office hours where very enjoyable conversations can be had.

Rizzo's teaching style is definitely not for everyone. It's non-traditional, emphasizing some philosophical/psychological ways of thinking and viewing economics. You should attend every lecture as his stories are what's in his exams. TAs are amazing and will help you through the class, def go see them and regularly attend office hours. I loved it.

Writing this before I get final grades, but I am doing fine rn. Not suitable for everyone, but ime, i have gotten so much out of taking Rizzo's class. 3% EC, super caring (helped me with internships), and respectful/engaging (even though I disagree w/ him a lot). Make sure to pay close attention (and record if you can) to his lectures though.

His classes are hard, have a fairly heavy workload, but you learn a lot! Don't take if you an easy A, But you will do well if you work hard in his class and engage with the material. Do take if you want to learn Economics.

I think Rizzo's great. If you don't vibe with his style in the first couple of weeks, drop the class and take it with a different professor. Don't get to the point in the semester where you hate the class and can't switch out. That said, he teaches a very good class and tries hard to make the Econ topics engaging and interesting to learn for y'all.

Best lecturer I've ever taken a class with. Super engaging and entertaining to listen to. Genuinely cares about the material and helping you understand. That said, he is horrible at writing exams, and grading criteria often feel arbitrary (e.g., no one gets full credit because no one guessed what he was thinking). Gives a lot of extra credit.

Exams were very lengthy and the rubric for them was pretty wanky. A lot of times the response he was expecting was so exact it was hard to get full credit. He sometimes curves the grade at the end but just a little. Go to all the lectures; it'll help you understand his mind a bit better. 207 is a lot easier than 108, but you still have to study.

Professor Rizzo is one of the greatest teachers there is and fundamentally changed by life in a positive way. I truly cannot thank Professor Rizzo enough.

my fav class my freshman yr fall, gen one of the most interesting courses I have ever taken and the mindset you learn in this class is applicable to so many different aspects of life.

***Read all of the reviews on RMP*** I personally loved Rizzo's class. However, a few notes on ECON-108: -The syllabus is 31+ pages. Read it. -There are two homework assignments each week, but we got skips. -Lectures are not mandatory. Show up. -Supply and Demand curves don't show up until the last week -Go to office hours -AI use was encouraged

A lot of people don't like Rizzo and he isn't for everyone but if he's for you it will be your favorite class. I think it's worth giving it a shot. Even if he isn't for you if you do the work and actually pay attention to what he's saying you can still do really well.

Participation isn't necessary but you should go to lectures and recitations if you want a good grade. Office hours aren't very helpful academically but definitely helps with learning to integrate EWOT. Homework took 10+ hours a week for me. HW/Test grading is TA-dependent and not very consistent. However, a course revamp is coming next year.