2.2

Peter Zimmer

Mathematics - West Chester University of Pennsylvania

2.2
Quality
3.7
Difficulty
31%
Would Retake
153
Reviews
2.2
Quality
3.7
Difficulty
2.2
Helpful
2.1
Clarity

31%

Would Retake

153

Reviews

Rating Distribution
Official

5

14

4

19

3

23

2

31

1

66

What Students Say

Do not take him if you can avoid it

MAT113 - 1.0 rating

He might seem boring at first, but for this class it is pretty hard to fail

MAT121 - 3.0 rating
Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

27%

Textbook Required

33%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

B

95% confidence
Based on 59 grades
Most common grades:
A (18)
B+ (9)
B- (8)
Grade Distribution
A(20)B(10)C(7)D(6)F(3)A-/B+(13)
Based on 64 reported grades
A: 18
B+: 9
B-: 8
D: 6
Common Tags
Lecture heavy (18)
Graded by few things (16)
Test heavy (8)
Clear grading criteria (6)
Skip class? You won't pass. (5)
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS (4)
Hilarious (4)
Get ready to read (4)
Rating Trend

Declining

-0.34 avg change
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Oct
Dec
Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

MAT161162

5.0

(1)

ALGNA

5.0

(1)

MATH162

5.0

(1)

DIFFEQ

4.5

(2)

MATH103

4.5

(2)
+38 more courses
Difficulty by Course

001

5.0

MAT

5.0

MATCALC

5.0

MAT108

5.0

MAT405

5.0

Reviews (153)
1.0
4.0
MAT110
Nov 4, 2002

classes are pointless. confusing teaching methods. hard tests

1.0
5.0
MAT101
Dec 21, 2002

No Comments

1.0
2.0
MAT104
Jan 1, 2003

horrible

1.0
5.0
MAT110
Feb 10, 2003

worst teacher i ever had!!!

1.0
5.0
MAT101
Feb 18, 2003

Couldn't teach his way out of a paper bag!

2.0
5.0
MAT101
Feb 24, 2003

I cried after every class. Please stay away from his classes. So hard!

1.0
5.0
MATH
Mar 13, 2003

His teaching credentials need to be recheked. His teaching certification needs to be stripped from him. This guy was the worst professor I had at any level of school.

1.0
5.0
MAT110
Mar 20, 2003

worst teacher ever DO NOT TAKE HIM

1.0
5.0
MAT110
Mar 31, 2003

Worst teacher, don't take him! he has no people skills, or any skills at all

1.0
5.0
MAT107
Apr 1, 2003

He is a very rude and makes students feel dumb when they ask a question.

1.0
4.0
MAT107
Apr 14, 2003

What an ****. This guy is sooo unhelpful. His tests are ridiculous....he gives u no idea what to expect. Second of all, he cant teach. Makes mistakes while doing example problems. Messes up lectures. Confuses the hell out of people. Who does that?

1.0
2.0
MAT107
Apr 15, 2003

this guy is a complete idiot, lucky for me i had calculus in high school so i'm not the least bit lost, but those poor other ppl who have no clue, i think i could teach the class better than him & i agree w/ everything everyone else has said so far

1.0
5.0
MAT101
Sep 14, 2003

This guy is such a jerk. He gets frustrated and yells when you don't understand. Maybe if he could teach we wouldn't have this problem! DO NOT take him. If you got stuck with him like I did, I feel bad for you.

1.0
4.0
PRECALC
Oct 2, 2003

This guy is an arrogant jerk. He makes you feel stupid for asking a question and is very impatient. When I went to his office hours to get help he made me want to cry.

1.0
5.0
BASICMATH
Oct 8, 2003

This man should not be teaching period. Enough said

1.0
5.0
MAT001
Oct 13, 2003

Can you say Bobby Hill as a math teacher?

5.0
1.0
MAT110
Nov 2, 2003

his tests are a breeze and he's quite easy....really explains all the material and sometimes even goes to extra lengths to make sure u learn!...

5.0
1.0
DIFFEQ
Nov 19, 2003

have you noticed that all of the negative comments (about all of the math dept) are from 1 & 200 level students. What do they expect, someone to do it for them? You learn more about a subject, even the ones you don't like, when you plow through it.

1.0
5.0
MAT110
Dec 3, 2003

No Comments

1.0
5.0
001
Dec 19, 2003

The only F's this teacher should be handing out are to himself. Because he is a Failure as a teacher.

1.0
5.0
MAT161
Mar 4, 2004

One of, if not the worst professors that I've had. Moves entirely too fast and worst of all, doesn't care enough to put extra time in to helping the students.

1.0
5.0
MAT
Mar 4, 2004

The Math Dept at West Chester University is horrendous, and inexcusable as a whole. Don't take math at west chester! And Zimmer is the Ringleader of all the sucky math teachers!

4.0
4.0
DIFFEQ
May 5, 2004

For all the "Children" out there, GROW UP!!!! If you're not going to study math, then deal with the course and move on. Otherwise, shut up. The profs only teach you because they're told to. They'd much rather teach students with a desire to

3.0
4.0
MAT102
Aug 6, 2004

i did not do well. math is not my thing. however, i was taking a 100 level class, so it should have been formatted for beginners. unfortunately, all of the "crunching numbers" crunched my gpa. i had to retake the class. that's how it goes, thoug

4.0
2.0
BASICMATH
Sep 25, 2004

He's really not that bad. Just count the number of times he says "that you have on here" or "that you have." I had him over the summer to free up some of my credits, and he's pretty fair I must say. Just do what you're supposed to do a

2.0
4.0
MAT161
Oct 25, 2004

"This is easy, I don't understand why most people don't get it."

3.0
1.0
MAT161
Nov 11, 2004

If you can teach yourself, then your fine, his tests are very easy, he can be fun when he starts making jokes.

2.0
5.0
MAT161
Nov 18, 2004

The man just puts problems on the board and does them without explaining what or why hes doing things. There have also been multiple times where he hasn't known how to solve a problem. In which case he asks the class. Youll learn more by not going to class and studying on your own.

3.0
4.0
MAT000
Nov 21, 2004

This professor is very helpful if you ask him, but he does not explain problems well in class. He gives you homework on problems he doesn't go over in class and then he test you on those same problems.

1.0
5.0
MAT101
Dec 16, 2004

No Comments

4.0
2.0
MATQ01
Jan 10, 2005

Hes a nice guy!! Explains himself, all you have to do is ask him. Tests are very easy and he tell's you what exactly is on them. No pop quizes and he never checks homework!!

4.0
3.0
MAT161
Jan 12, 2005

When he teaches, it seems like it isn't a very friendly guy. But when you go up to talk to him after class, he's very helpful. For his tests, you do need to study. Basically, If you actually do the homework and study, you'll do fine.

4.0
1.0
MAT105
May 2, 2005

Zimmer is a good teacher... He may not seem to explain things too much, but thats only because no one asks any questions. MAT 105 is an easy course, its exactly what he does in class. Your grade is totally dependent on tests and quizzes,and he doesn't check homework

2.0
4.0
MAT105
May 11, 2005

Don't take him, hes horrible. He just puts problems on the board and doesn't explain anything clearly, how can you ask him questions if you have no idea what's going on?? He usually comes in a few minutes late all sweaty and unorganized, he knows his stuff, but just can't explain it all.

5.0
1.0
MAT103
Jun 14, 2005

Easiest math class ever! He simplified things and makes everything really clear. Highly recommend him for intro to math courses!

4.0
2.0
MATH01
Aug 15, 2005

This class is a joke actually! But hes a cool teacher! He is very easy and a nice guy ! Just talk to him if you need help ... he is willing to help you ! But honestly the class is sooooooo EASY!

5.0
4.0
MAT161162
Sep 9, 2005

I thought he was really helpful whenever I needed it, and I learn mostly from notes, which he gives lots of. I liked him, it was my own fault I nearly failed.

1.0
4.0
MAT101
Nov 11, 2005

Literally just did problems on the board w/o explaining them. He got sarcastic when you would ask him a question about a problem too.

2.0
5.0
MAT161
Dec 9, 2005

Really not the greatest professor. Over-complicates things, and moves way too fast sometimes especially for people that have never seen the material. Still, he will appear to be sent from heaven if you've ever taken Caspar.

5.0
1.0
MAT161
Dec 14, 2005

Good teacher, dont listen to the others. Dont be lazy and do the homework. Test questions are right from homework problems. do the hw nightly and he lets u ask questions on it the next day. he's also very helpful during office hours.

1.0
5.0
MAT107
Aug 28, 2006

This man is mean, he actually reminds me of Hitler. Worst teacher I have ever had. He should be fired from WCU. DONT TAKE THIS CLASS!!!!

3.0
3.0
MAT103
Sep 13, 2006

He shouldn't be teaching math courses at the 100 level. He is definately too inteligent to be teaching them. He's just a typical professor he's not horrible but I wouldn't say he's the kind of professor that grabs your attention. It could be worse you could have a professor that doesn't speak English.

1.0
5.0
MATCALC
Nov 30, 2006

took him for calc 1 and got a D. retook it with grosshans and got a much better grade. somehow got stuck with zimmer again for calc 2 and got a D again. if you like to retake classes take zimmer. youll ace all the quizes and fail all the tests. he likes to make tests ourageously long. he curves though so itll bring you up to nearly passing.

4.0
2.0
MAT107
Dec 27, 2006

Zimmer is an ok teacher...i can see how he may be bad for harder math classes but for college algebra he wasnt too bad...he is very boring though and likes to hear himself talk..he repeats himself like a hundred times...it gets old...quizzes are easy he lets u work with other students and open book...tests are pretty easy too as long as u study

5.0
3.0
MAT105
Jan 12, 2007

He's extremely intelligent and knows his material.. but maybe he shouldn't be teaching courses at a 100 level. Sometimes he has trouble explaining things in a simplified way just because he knows it so well. Go to class, review problems he does in class, and ask for help when you need it.

5.0
4.0
ALGNA
Jul 2, 2007

I thought he was an excellent professor and would recommend him to anyone who can pay attention for 50 minutes. If you let your mind wander, you'll have some trouble. He methodically breaks down the processes to be covered that day into simpler parts. If you don't understand something he will take time after class to go over it until it holds.

1.0
4.0
MAT105
Jul 30, 2007

I didn't like math to begin with and he made a terrible experience even worse. He zooms through his lectures, gives homework every class, and has a hard time relating to students. If you fall behind, don't bother asking him for help, because he is just as bad of a teacher 1-1 as he is during his lectures.

1.0
4.0
MAT105
May 6, 2008

terrible

5.0
3.0
MAT105
May 13, 2008

I do not like math at all but this class was tolerable. Attendance is not mandatory but he gives quizzes at the end of most classes that will help or hurt your grade. Tests were not bad, he usually outline what will be on them. Pay attention and come to class and you will do fine.

4.0
2.0
MATH103
Nov 21, 2008

Class gets extremely boring at times, but Dr. Zimmer is always available for extra help and goes over many many homework problems in class. Stay on top of things, and you'll be fine.

1.0
5.0
MAT162
Dec 6, 2008

Don't subject yourself to the pain.

3.0
3.0
MATQ00
May 20, 2009

He's alright. His class is very boring and slow, if no one participates he freaks out. Gives lots of quizzes too.

1.0
5.0
MAT107
Oct 29, 2009

Zimmer is an awful professor. He moves really fast, doesn't explain anything, and is very impatient. He freaks out if nobody answers his questions. Class is not mandatory, but he gives out random quizzes A LOT. If you miss a quiz, you cannot make it up..it is an automatic zero. DO NOT take him, unless you want to retake the course.

4.0
2.0
MAT162
Dec 22, 2009

He is not as bad as the previous reviews sound, if you do all of the homework and make an effort to understand by asking questions and going to see him during his office hours or emailing him he will bend over backwards to help you, he is very kind but try to participate and if anyone in your class wants to-- form a studygroup for the harder topics

4.0
5.0
MAT261
Mar 2, 2010

The hardest part is getting used to his teaching style. All you have to do is pay attention in lecture and read the sections of the book. Online homework helped a lot. He tests what he teaches. Do the work and you'll get a good grade.

1.0
5.0
MAT261
Dec 30, 2010

torture.

3.0
5.0
MAT108
May 27, 2011

Hardest math prof I have ever taken. He thinks he is funny but his class is just torture. Constant note taking.

5.0
2.0
MATH103
Nov 6, 2011

One of the best math teachers. He is really good at explaining everything he teaches. His tests and quizzes are fairly easy but he can be a tough grader. He is really dry and boring sometimes but if you listen to what he is saying, he is corky and hilarious. Great guy

2.0
4.0
MAT406
Nov 11, 2011

Worst teacher ever. This man is so corky and makes stupid jokes. He is teaching this class for the first time and is therefore learning the material as the rest of the class is learning it. He writes things on the board straight from the text book, doesn't give examples, tests are hard and he doesn't help during office hours. Avoid if necessary

5.0
3.0
MAT103
Dec 2, 2011

Obviously is too intelligent to teach this class, and it shows in his explanations sometimes. Other than that, he does great outlining everything, and helpful if you need it.

2.0
4.0
MATH261
Sep 18, 2012

Not a very good teacher. Assumes everyone else is just as intelligent as he is and gets rude and snarky when you ask questions. Don't take him if you want someone helpful

3.0
3.0
MAT110
Oct 7, 2012

Not the best PreCalc teacher. He goes off on rants about how you must do things his way or how you are dumb if you mess up an "easy" problem. He is very confusing in how he explains problems so you can get lost very quick. I found when you went to his office hours he was very easy to talk to and willing help, but only if you asked for it.

2.0
4.0
MATHQ00
Nov 25, 2012

He is very hard and confusing. He is rude when you ask questions because he assumes you should have prior knowledge. Isnt very helpful and he just does problem after problem without stopping to in it.

3.0
2.0
MAT110
Dec 5, 2012

Not a bad pre-calc teacher. Often doesn't understand the questions that are asked of him in class and so really doesn't provide an answer but if you visit his office hours he is very personable and will make sure you understand the topics. Do the homework and go to class and you'll be fine.

2.0
3.0
MAT110
Feb 5, 2013

I hated his class, he would treat us like we were children, He would make everything more complicated then it needed to be. You have 3 exams. if you do the practice problems he assigns you will be fine. he takes his exam questions straight from the practice problems

1.0
5.0
MAT103
Mar 7, 2013

I don't get that with all the good professors out of work, why does he get to keep his job?

2.0
5.0
MAT161
Apr 29, 2013

I already took calculus before coming to this class, and I tried really hard. I did all of the practice problems in the book, and the online homework. His tests are just way too hard. I passed the first two, but the third one was not meant to be taken in 50 minutes, and only one person in my class finished. I'd recommend a different professor.

2.0
4.0
MAT161
Apr 29, 2013

I highly suggest not taking this professor. He is not helpful whatsoever. Does not explain anything very well and gets irritated when students ask questions. He only has 3 tests and a final as well as online hw problems that are not helpful for the tests. Tests are very long and hard to finish in the time frame he gives.

3.0
2.0
MAT103
Oct 31, 2013

Very smart, too smart for this class. Tests are pretty easy if you go to class and do the practice problems. There is some homework to help with your grade but other than that it is 3 tests and a final

4.0
2.0
MAT103
Apr 14, 2014

Almost everyone hates this professor but I loved his class. I'm not bad at math so maybe that is why. I found with him teaching in class and looking through the text book his class wasn't bad at all! Zimmer has a weird sense of humor but isn't awful if you mostly know what you're doing.

1.0
5.0
MAT162
Jul 27, 2014

just awful

2.0
2.0
MAT162
Aug 4, 2014

Dr Zimmer is very unclear when he lectures and rambles about the same thing forever. That being said, you can easily teach yourself the material with online videos/the book. Do the textbook homework because the test problems are very similar. Tests and grading aren't too bad. All in all, not a terrible option if you have to take calc 2.

1.0
5.0
MAT162
Grade: D
Aug 10, 2014

Just terrible. He rambles during lecture about things outside the course. Homework does not help for his 3 tests and final. Not a helpful or clear teacher.

5.0
2.0
MATH162
Sep 10, 2014

I felt that Dr. Zimmer was a quality teacher. He genuinely cared that you learned the material. I do agree that his lectures could slightly ramble at times, but I also thought that they were extremely helpful in explaining the fundamental teachings behind the problems. Bottom line:Not the best math Prof. I have had, but by far not the worst

2.0
4.0
101
Oct 13, 2014

He got very angry when we asked questions and at one point refused to teach us. Told us if we wanted to know the answer to look it up for ourselves.

3.0
4.0
VARIOUS
Grade: C
Oct 16, 2014

I've gotten a fairly easy A from him and worked my butt off just to barely pass in other classes. If you kinda get the material, but not quite, you'll learn from him. If you're not good at math or taking a hard class (adv calc), he doesn't explain things very well. If you can, I'd take someone else.

1.0
3.0
101
Nov 12, 2014

He's probably one of the worst professors I have ever had. He yells at us when we ask questions because we don't understand the material. He also considered putting material on the test that he had never even heard of, but because it was in the book he was going to put it on the test,

1.0
5.0
101
Nov 17, 2014

You have to teach all the material to yourself and he's no help. He won't cover certain topics and just assume you read the textbook but never gives you page numbers to read. He's useless. Good luck. You're going to need it.

1.0
4.0
MAT101
Dec 8, 2014

So I asked him how to go about addingsubtracting in Ancient Mayan, so he told me, I still did not understand what he was talking about. So instead of explaining it differently he suggested I go find an Ancient Mayan (you know those guys that have been dead for thousands of years) and ask them how to do it. Don't take him.

1.0
4.0
101
Grade: B+
Jan 15, 2015

he is an awful professor who could care less about his students. he has no idea what he is talking about and likes to repeat himself 1245 times. he doesn't care to learn any of his students names so he just calls you out by calling you. i taught myself this entire class and if you have the option to take someone else i would. terrible.

1.0
4.0
MAT121
Feb 9, 2015

He's teaching this class for the first time in 10 years. He does not even state what we'll be learning that day, or what we are deriving from the chapter. The homework's don't match up to the material he teaches. Awful. Just awful. Don't bother asking questions; he gets testy and does not even answer the question remotely. He is not good. Avoid.

2.0
4.0
MAT161
Grade: B
Feb 19, 2015

I had already taken Calculus and passed with a high A. I mostly just recalled material from the other calc class for the first 23 of the course with Dr. Zimmer. He taught in a very confusing way that made me more confused about things that I already knew well. He is there if you need help, but his lectures don't include many examples.

1.0
3.0
MAT121
Grade: B+
Apr 2, 2015

He has no lesson plan when he comes into teach, you basically learn the same stuff over and over again before he finally moves on to a new subject. He talks in circles and is hard to follow. He isn't thorough in answering the questions you have, and his homework almost NEVER corresponds to what you're doing in class. You have to teach yourself.

2.0
5.0
MAT162
Grade: C
Apr 8, 2015

I took Zimmer for Calculus 1, and it was an utter nightmare. His lectures are very long and extremely confusing. It is especially difficult to follow along with sample problems he does on the board. DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS! My GPA was 3.9 but dropped to a 3.6 after taking Zimmer.

3.0
4.0
MAT12112
Grade: B-
Apr 25, 2015

He clearly knows what he is teaching very well. If you pay attention and do all the homework, and study, you should be fine. there is no extra credit though, so you have to do well on the tests (which i didnt do).

1.0
5.0
MAT121
May 5, 2015

YOU WILL NOT PASS THIS CLASS IF YOU DO NOT PREVIOUSLY KNOW HOW TO USE A TI-84 CALCULATOR (the $$$ calculators you might have had to buy in high school). I took AP Statistics in high school, passed no problem.... I came to this class and didn't know what I was doing. If you have a TI-84 calc., you're better off. May the odds be ever in your favor..

3.0
3.0
MATHQ00
Grade: B+
Dec 1, 2015

I had Dr. Zimmer for an intro to algebra class. The class did not count for any credits so he really just wanted to make sure everyone got out of it. He also gives a lot of partial credit on the tests. I felt like he kind of just expected you to understand the things he was doing even though sometimes it was difficult. Not too bad though.

3.0
2.0
MAT000
Grade: A
Dec 9, 2015

You basically have to teach yourself out of the textbook but because it was only Q100, it wasn't hard. He grades your tests and gives them back to you the next class period which is nice. Easy final

3.0
4.0
MAT403
Grade: A
Dec 16, 2015

I found Dr. Zimmer's lectures felt pretty disorganized. His in-class explanations of the material were not that great either. However, he was very helpful in office hours. Also, the book problems he makes you do are much harder than the actual exam problems, but the tests have way too many questions for the given time period, so be ready for that.

2.0
4.0
MAT121
Apr 29, 2016

Often gets angry when people ask questions, but doesn't teach well enough to avoid them.

2.0
4.0
MAT403
Grade: C
Apr 30, 2016

I found Dr. Zimmer to be an extremely discouraging and condescending professor. He made multiple mistakes, each class. Lectures were long, boring, and confusing. It never seemed like he cared about his students. When I asked for extra help, he just told me to do more book problems. Only thing he seemed to be good at was making me feel stupid.

2.0
4.0
MAT121
Grade: B+
May 3, 2016

Although his lectures and tests are easy, all math department finals are standardized and this fella does not prepare you in the slightest. Also, he will NOT teach you how to used a graphing calculator where all other professors will. All of his students are put at a huge disadvantage.

1.0
5.0
MAT121
Grade: D
May 3, 2016

Dr. Zimmer is in no way organized. He was awful at teaching and made you feel stupid every time you asked a question. He jumped around a lot in his lectures, and was extremely discouraging. He doesn't seem to care about his students or teaching at all, he definitely is one of those professors who just cares about getting paid.

1.0
5.0
MAT000
Grade: F
May 4, 2016

Zimmerman is the worst! He's sloppy, and he never says hello to the class. He walks right in a minute before class time and goes straight to the board. When he teaches, he assumes you know it already and quickly runs through everything. He makes you feel dumb when asking Q. DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS ! You will regret it if your bad at math like me.

2.0
3.0
MAT261
Grade: B+
Jul 1, 2016
Wouldn't take again

He was very boring and condescending, but he honestly wasn't the worst. He gives a lot of partial credit when grading and took a lot of his test questions from the book so if you do those you should be fine for the test. I took him during the summer and got a B or above all the tests including the final. It's not terrible.

4.0
3.0
MAT162
Sep 27, 2016
Would take again

Zimmer is WAY better than these ratings make him out to be. Maybe he's changed his teaching style this semester, but as a current student in his CALC 2 class I can tell you that he's an excellent teacher. He never makes students feel bad or dumb for asking questions, and always answers them thoroughly. Course is tough but he gives partial credit.

Skip class? You won't pass.
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
Caring
3.0
2.0
MAT121
Grade: A
Oct 12, 2016
Would take again

He might seem boring at first, but for this class it is pretty hard to fail. (unless math is not your strong point) He will give review problems that are very similar to the ones on the exam. He understands that no one cares and will not give heavy workload.

5.0
3.0
MAT121
Grade: A
Nov 1, 2016
Would take again

Pete is a great guy. He always cracks me up, like I am a fragile egg. His jokes are phenomenal. For eggsample, the decimal 0.666 will always be described as the "devil's number." He always makes sure that you know that mistakes "don't make you a bad person." Zimmer is energetic and there's a lot of great things going on in that class.

Inspirational
Hilarious
Amazing lectures
1.0
5.0
MAT121
Grade: D
Jan 12, 2017
Wouldn't take again

Did not care! I asked for help three times after class and every time he told me only to practice on the online textbook. When I failed the first test I asked him for help on a different level because practicing with the textbook didn't help. Again, he only told me to keep practicing with the textbook . Even though her created all of the tests.

Skip class? You won't pass.
TEST HEAVY
GRADED BY FEW THINGS
1.0
4.0
MAT121
Grade: A
Jan 24, 2017
Wouldn't take again

Literally if you can get ANY other professor for stats, TAKE THEIR CLASS INSTEAD. Peter makes things more confusing than they really are and never explains things in full detail. THERE WILL BE CONCEPTS ON EXAMS AND THE FINAL THAT HE DOES NOT GO OVER. It'd be better to just learn from the textbook than attend his classes.

Get ready to read
LECTURE HEAVY
3.0
2.0
MAT162
Grade: A
Feb 20, 2017
Would take again

Many people criticize him of being confusing but that is not the case. He explains everything that you need to know, his tests are really easy if you pay attention in class. He does not care about attendance. WebWorks are challenging but if you don't know a question you can ask him in class/ office hour and he will literally give you the solution.

LOTS OF HOMEWORK
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
Clear grading criteria
2.0
3.0
MAT121
Grade: A
May 8, 2017
Would take again

Do the homework and you'll learn what is going on in class. Dr. Zimmer's way of teaching makes everything more complicated than it really is. His class is very easy if you understand the homework.

LECTURE HEAVY
1.0
3.0
MAT113
Mar 22, 2018
Wouldn't take again

I am Taking Mat113 With Peter Zimmer right now. Oh boy, I highly suggest taking ANY OTHER MATH PROFESSOR. He is a nice guy in all but he does not explain everything to you in class. You're stuck trying to teach yourself from the textbook and that's not easy. He doesn't give you study guides for tests. Please, I am begging you don't take this man.

Tough Grader
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
LECTURE HEAVY
1.0
4.0
MAT113
Apr 16, 2018
Wouldn't take again

Weird dude. Scatterbrained and never clear in his lectures. Not usually one to comment on these sites but he was such an exceptionally bad teacher I had to warn others. Do not take him if you can avoid it. The worst math teacher I have EVER had.

4.0
3.0
MAT121
Grade: A
Jan 6, 2019
Would take again

I thought the professor explained the information in a way that was easy to understand. It was clear what you needed to know to pass. The final exam was written by the state and was a lot difficult than prior exams.

ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
Clear grading criteria
2.0
5.0
MAT103
May 7, 2019
Wouldn't take again

Class was the worst. He would spend a whole class period on one problem if you was to have a review before final. Every other 103 class had a review sheet and he didnt even bother giving us one. He made me uncomfortable to ask questions because he yelled at a student because she wasnt understanding a particular question .

Test heavy
Lecture heavy
1.0
4.0
MAT121
Grade: C+
Oct 8, 2019
Wouldn't take again

Buhl might be the most bland teacher I've ever come across. Doesn't really care about the students just about the numbers on the board. You'll get lost within the first two weeks, he wont ask for questions, pushes class time to the end every class.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Lecture heavy
Tough grader
4.0
2.0
MAT125
Grade: A-
Nov 2, 2019
Would take again

Little bit of a weird guy but hes extremely funny, get ready for a meme everyday you go to his class. His lectures are boring but since hes funny, they go by so quick. Dont skip cause youll miss a lot of work. Just show up and pay attention at times and youre straight.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Hilarious
Lecture heavy
4.0
3.0
MAT125
Grade: A
Dec 5, 2019
Would take again

I took AP Stat in high school and never understood literally anything. I came into this class thinking i hated statsobs but Professor Zimmer made it super easy to understand. The lectures get a little off topic sometimes but studying for tests with our notes, past homework, & the textbook made it super easy to learn and get good grades

Clear grading criteria
Hilarious
Lecture heavy
4.0
2.0
MAT200
Grade: A
Feb 4, 2020
Would take again

Dr. Zimmer is very quirky and enjoys the subject, which makes his somewhat dry lectures engaging. He does not assign a textbook, but does assign brief notes for reading in place. He gives great resources for aspiring math majors, is friendly and helpful. The homework is bearably challenging and reflects the tests well.

Get ready to read
Hilarious
EXTRA CREDIT
1.0
4.0
MAT200
Grade: A
Apr 29, 2020
Wouldn't take again

Professor Zimmer is probably the hardest lecturer to follow. He sometimes talks down to his students by saying "you should know this." He went off on a lot of tangents and says "that we have on here" at least 30 times a day.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Lecture heavy
Tough grader
1.0
4.0
MAT131
Nov 12, 2020
Wouldn't take again

I took Pre-calc in high school and thought that since I knew all the material from the text book that it would be an easier class. Your whole grade is depended on 4 tests, there where 3 homework assignment and that was it. I went to every lecture took notes and read the textbook and it didn't align at all with the tests.

Graded by few things
Test heavy
1.0
5.0
MAT121
Dec 7, 2020
Wouldn't take again

The worst professor I've ever had. The entire class was confused all semester, the tests did not match what he taught in class, and he goes on a billion tangents.

Graded by few things
2.0
4.0
MAT200
Grade: Not sure yet
Nov 22, 2021
Wouldn't take again

Hes a little hard to follow when he explains things but the exams seem straightforward if you know the material.

Test heavy
3.0
4.0
MAT103
Grade: A-
Dec 13, 2021
Wouldn't take again

Lectures get off topic very easily. Does not let class out early even when there's really nothing left to do. Gives a lot of parcial credit so make sure to at least try on exams. Overall good guy and is more than willing to help those that advocate for themselves.

Accessible outside class
Lecture heavy
1.0
5.0
MAT113
Dec 16, 2021
Wouldn't take again

Professor Zimmer is the worst math professor I have ever had. He is all over the place when explaining how to do problems and leaves you to teach yourself. For exams, there are problems that he had not taught in his lectures that will be on the test and test reviews are never given out. If you have to take a math course do not choose Zimmer.

1.0
5.0
MAT200
Grade: D
Mar 4, 2022

The worst professor I've had at WCU. Dreaded his class everyday. Treats you like an idiot. Doesn't use D2L. He provided his own textbook for free, but it was impossible to follow. There are only 4 homework assignments and 3 exams. Would be okay with never seeing him again.

1.0
5.0
MAT421
Grade: Not sure yet
Mar 4, 2022

Impossible to follow his lectures. I have no idea what is important or not. You're better off spending the lecture time reading the textbook. There's only a few homework assignments and 3 exams so don't mess any of them up.

2.0
5.0
VARIOUS
Grade: B-
Mar 9, 2022

I had him during MAT125, 261, 371, and 422. His lectures were passable at best in 125. For the others, we were probably better off just reading the textbook. Going to see him during office hours wasn't that helpful even right before an exam. I recommend that, if possible (it almost never was in my case), you just avoid taking classes with him.

Get ready to read
Graded by few things
1.0
5.0
MAT113
Grade: F
Mar 31, 2022

I have never failed a before this one he was awful I had so many breakdowns because of this class because he didn't teach well at all and he wasn't helpful when you tired to reach out for help. DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS IF YOUR NOT A MATH GENIUS.

3.0
4.0
MAT422
Grade: B-
May 11, 2022
Would take again

Nothing is posted online, if you miss class you will not see that material again. 80% of the grade is 3 exams, so study, study, study. Teaches quite slow so you can take the time to follow what he is doing, but still lots of dense math material

Lecture heavy
Test heavy
Graded by few things
4.0
4.0
MAT421
Grade: A
May 18, 2022
Would take again

He seems tough in class. His tests are extremely fair. Grading is fair. He is always open for questions, but be ready to ask. Don't wait for someone else to ask. He treats people like college students, so don't expect to be spoon fed. For his statistical theory class, be sure you remember your calculus. Always available for office hours.

Clear grading criteria
Gives good feedback
Accessible outside class
4.0
4.0
MATH
Grade: A
May 18, 2022
Would take again

Had him for Math 405 Capstone. Seems tough in class. Tests are extremely fair. Grading is fair. He is always open for questions, but be ready to ask. Don't wait for someone else . He treats people like college students, so don't expect to be spoon fed. Always available for office hours. Lots of work with a project, but worth it in the end.

Clear grading criteria
Gives good feedback
Lecture heavy
1.0
4.0
MAT121
Nov 10, 2022

I had to teach myself the whole semester. Would lecture the entire class including things that would not be on tests or applied during the semester. Not helpful over e-mail or would just ignore them.

1.0
5.0
MATQ00
Grade: Not sure yet
Nov 10, 2022

He is terrible. I got called on for a question and had no clue how to answer and he made me feel so dumb in front of the whole class. He doesn't really go over how he got his answer. No calculator on exams. Even his voice is just horrible to listen to. I dread going to his class. Just don't even bother taking him

1.0
5.0
MATH
Grade: B-
Nov 29, 2022

Peter was a horrible class & I did not realize until it was too late to drop. His style of teaching is doing random problems & not giving a clear explanation. You need to teach everything yourself as there are limited resources he gives you to succeed if you struggle. Exams are 80% of the whole grade, so there is no room for error. He is boring too

Lecture heavy
Graded by few things
4.0
4.0
MAT113
Grade: B
Mar 23, 2023
Would take again

If you want to learn each topic speak up!! Professor zimmer is very helpful and sweet. If you ask him to re- teach an entire lesson he literally will do it. He is a little boring but if you really engage in class it's not that bad. Homework is not that bad either. he doesn't use technology (only homework). so come to class

Graded by few things
2.0
4.0
MATQ00
Grade: Not sure yet
Apr 6, 2023

Took concepts I already learned previously and managed to make it confusing and difficult to understand. His way of teaching is just doing a problem and not explaining how he got his answer. I was bored to tears and to sleep multiple times in this class. He does give a lot of partial credit, so I'm grateful for that.

Lecture heavy
Test heavy
Graded by few things
1.0
5.0
MAT405
Grade: A
Aug 1, 2023

He is a very talktative dude. Had a 3 hour lecture once a week and he wouldn't give us breaks at all. He calls on you when you aren't raising your hand but had minimal assignments (1-2 per week). You basically couldn't miss lectures or else you wouldn't pass the tests (unless you're able to get notes from another student).

Participation matters
Lecture heavy
Accessible outside class
1.0
5.0
MAT103
Grade: Not sure yet
Nov 9, 2023

he came in to replace my professor and he is incredibly lecture heavy, never lets you leave early, reteaches the same lecture 50 billion times and somehow still manages to make it confusing, the class conceptually isn't bad, i teach myself everything and take my old prof's exams, but his sound unnecessarily difficult, take a diff prof if you can

1.0
4.0
MAT103
Grade: D
Dec 7, 2023

I found it very difficult to learn in this class and it wasn't a lack of me not understanding rather it was the way he taught. Just writes examples on the board and doesn't explain how to get there. l won't forget either that the first day of class he said he doesn't care to learn our names. Not once was attendance taken. Khan academy taught me

Graded by few things
2.0
2.0
MAT113
Grade: A
Dec 12, 2023

He was scatterbrained and monotoned. He would start a problem and then skip to another one without finishing the first one. He started handing out study guides for my semester which were similar to the tests. Tests were worth 60% and there's three. Didn't take attendance once. Make sure you do the study guides, and you'll do fine.

5.0
3.0
MAT121
Grade: A
Dec 21, 2023
Would take again

He was really good at teaching the lessons in a way that was easy to understand. His lessons could be a bit slow and dull, but ultimately I feel as though I learned a lot through this class. Tests are 80% of the class, so make sure to study and attend his office hours.

Graded by few things
2.0
3.0
MAT121
Grade: A-
Jan 22, 2024

Dr. Zimmer's class lectures are all over the place. He consistently reteaches the material and it is still confusing. He does not know how to do his own homework problems. I passed with the grade I did due to help from the homework's built-in help system and getting help from other students. Formula sheets and calculators are allowed on the tests.

Lecture heavy
1.0
4.0
MAT121
Grade: F
Mar 11, 2024

in this entire course me and my classmates tried extremely hard to study and pay attention and work together to try to do our best on homework and labs but ultimately if you do bad on one test you're failing the class since 80% of your grade is tests he's hard to understand and constantly rambled unfortunately i have to retake with a different prof

Tough grader
Graded by few things
3.0
4.0
MAT103
Grade: C
Apr 29, 2024
Would take again

Dr Zimmer is a nice guy but you can tell teaching this class is below him. He doesn't prepare any lectures so if you miss class you have to know someone or just not get the notes. The homework helps teach you and he will answer questions in class but can be easily frustrated answering what he deems dumb questions.

Clear grading criteria
Lecture heavy
Graded by few things
1.0
4.0
MAT103
Grade: B+
May 6, 2024

His lectures are all over the place. He will forget what he taught in the previous lecture and then teach the topic again in the next lecture. His lectures are extremely dull and boring, but you have to go to class because he posts nothing on D2L. Exams make up 70% of your grade. He makes the material 10x more complicated than it needs to be.

Lecture heavy
Test heavy
Graded by few things
2.0
3.0
MAT261
Grade: A
Oct 23, 2024

Nice guy, but lectures were honestly all over the place and terrible. We didn't even get to the last few topics of the course because he was so disorganized. This came back to bite me in some later math and physics courses. If you have to take him, your grade will be fine. Tests were pretty easy and he was generous with partial credit.

2.0
4.0
MAT103
Grade: B-
Nov 19, 2024

Lectures can be scattered, but using Unstuck AI and the free textbook helps a lot. Attendance is mandatory, but worth it if you stay engaged. Exams are challenging but doable with diligent preparation.

1.0
5.0
MAT131
Grade: C+
Dec 3, 2024

Very hard class. Requires alot of self motivation to study. Its a bit easier if you actually go to the lectures and ask alot of questions. If you dont ask questions dont go to his lectures, he teaches very oddly. If you are self motivated and are ready to ask alot of questions, go to his class if its your last option.

Lecture heavy
Test heavy
Graded by few things
1.0
5.0
MAT261
Grade: B-
Dec 12, 2024

Never have I had a professor as incompetent as Peter. His teaching style is so unpedagogical that I've had to reteach myself every lesson. He wastes time by creating problems on the spot that end up inconclusive & unhelpful. He gives a lot of partial credit on exams, but avoid this dude if u can. He makes too many mistakes in everything, even exams

Get ready to read
Lecture heavy
Graded by few things
1.0
4.0
MAT261
Grade: B+
Dec 13, 2024

This class has been one of my hardest classes taken at this university. Attendance is not mandatory because there is really no point in going. He is never prepared for class and always get confused with his own work. He has taught so many lessons incorrectly, to the point where students have to correct him. If possible, avoid this teacher.

3.0
4.0
MAT103
Grade: B-
Dec 13, 2024

Honestly the only way to do well in this course is to show up to every single class, and I mean that. if you miss one class you will not be able to recover because he moves at a fast pace and does not post on d2l. I would not take this again but i made it through just fine. Do the homework as it comes out do not wait.

Lecture heavy
Graded by few things
1.0
4.0
MAT261
Grade: B-
Dec 16, 2024

Just not a teacher I would recommend. Doesn't teach well and is very disorganized.

1.0
4.0
MAT103
Grade: D
Dec 30, 2024

He did not know to teach at all, didn't explain anything or do anything to help, also didn't know how to use online things. I wouldn't recommend him as a teacher. I feel if i had a different teacher for this course i could have gotten a higher grade.,

5.0
1.0
MAT001
Grade: A+
Jan 20, 2025
Would take again

Loved him, he's the goat

Gives good feedback
Caring
Graded by few things
3.0
2.0
MAT131
Grade: A-
Feb 6, 2025

Great guy, he is passionate about what he teaches and is willing to help. However, he can get really off topic and talk a lot. Love him though. You'll do fine if you ask him questions and pay attention.

Caring
Test heavy
3.0
3.0
MAT125
Grade: B+
Mar 3, 2025
Would take again

rambles a lot, a little awkward, but nice. go to all the classes, not just because of attendance but bc he doesn't post on D2L or have slides, he writes everything out on the whiteboard. there's only like 4-5 homework's, I'm not math smart but exams are pretty easy. USE THE TEXTBOOK PRACTICE PROBLEMS HE RECOMMENDS, they're EXTREMELY helpful.

3.0
3.0
MAT125
Grade: B+
Mar 3, 2025
Would take again

rambles a lot to where you zone out & miss a good chunk of lecture. assigns like 5 homework's, exams are pretty easy. he doesn't post on d2L or have slides, he writes everything out on the whiteboard. If you didn't take prob & stat in highschool you might struggle a bit, he's not the best at explaining he just does it. he enjoys answering questions

Lecture heavy
2.0
2.0
MAT101
Apr 23, 2025

You can just tell that Dr. Zimmer is ready to retire. He gives so much attitude and is a little strange but I do appreciate that he accepts late homework. The homeworks and tests are the only graded assignments and weren't too hard given that it's impossible to be engaged in his class. He is willing to answer any questions though if you need help.

2.0
3.0
MAT125
Grade: A
May 15, 2025

Nothing is provided on D2L, all notes/lectures are just written on the whiteboard during class. He makes up problems as he goes and refuses to use a calculator so considerable time is spent doing long division/multiplication on the board. If you didn't take stat in high school, I wouldn't recommend as he isn't the clearest, but it was like fine.

2.0
1.0
MAT125
Grade: A+
Oct 21, 2025

Doesn't use D2L except to post links to online homework. Most of the class time is him multiplying decimals on the whiteboard because he never uses a calculator. Goes over the same topic several days in a row in the exact same way, all while explaining simple topics in unnecessarily confusing ways. Rarely ever showed up and still aced.

1.0
3.0
MAT143
Grade: C
Dec 8, 2025

Only 8 out-of-class assignments, so a lot of your grade comes from your exams. His lectures consist of him writing a problem on the board and solving it without explaining how or why. There is nothing in his D2L and syllabus, so finding answers to most of your questions has to be done through him. He is a forgiving test grader.

Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

27%

Textbook Required

33%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

B

95% confidence
Based on 59 grades
Most common grades:
A (18)
B+ (9)
B- (8)
Grade Distribution
A(20)B(10)C(7)D(6)F(3)A-/B+(13)
Based on 64 reported grades
A: 18
B+: 9
B-: 8
D: 6
Common Tags
Lecture heavy (18)
Graded by few things (16)
Test heavy (8)
Clear grading criteria (6)
Skip class? You won't pass. (5)
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS (4)
Hilarious (4)
Get ready to read (4)
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