I enjoyed Rita's 101 course that I took a smaller one with her. She is so passionate and knowledgeable about economics. She can relate to students so excellently. Her 101 course is pretty much strict grading with MC tests and most things computer graded, but in a small setting, she is very lenient. Definitely one of the great profs at UNC!

Balaban is a really good prof who seems to care a lot about her students. She will definitely help you to succeed in the course if you put in the effort. Always holds review sessions before exams and gives extra credit opportunities. A very nice lady.

good class

Great teacher! She assigns chapters to read then teaches them in class, so you can get away with doing just one, but I'd recommend lectures instead of skipping and reading out of the book. She seems to care about her students and holds review sessions before tests. Material is pretty straightforward. Love the alcohol references! Best 101 Professor

She is SUCH a great teacher. I would highly recommend her! I went in to her class without knowing anything about Econ and she made it seem easy.

Awesome professor! Really good at explaining and provides plenty of examples and resources to help. Funny too. Definitely take Econ 101 with Balaban if you want to actually understand economics.

fairly challenging class, but not impossible

If you want to take econ 101 and truly learn the material, take Balaban. She is clear in her explanations and expectations and if you do what she recommends you will do well. Her lectures could get a bit dull at times but if you can pay attention it will be worth it.

Balaban's class compared to the other Econ 101 classes is much more straightforward. There are a few questions on exams about specific things in class so go to class and take notes. The book will help you do the homeworks and you should read the book to do well. Overall she actually teaches you unlike the other professors and I would take her again

I LOVE RITA. She's an engaging lecturer, using unconventional and unexpected examples that really make the material stick. She's also incredibly funny. Her exams are easy, but you still learn a lot from the class.

great professor! she's clear and teaches at a slow pace, though you end up learning a lot. tests are all MC and follow the textbook exactly. attending lecture isn't necessary but she explains everything very well and is funny and personable. many of my friends complained about their econ 101 class so i'm grateful i had her!!

Rita's class is a lot easier/more straightforward than the other 101 classes at Carolina. Just do the practice Aplia questions before the test and read the textbook. Also, talk in your recitation, it may bump your grade at the end of the semester. Ended up with an A for the semester! highly recommend Rita

Rita is seriously one of the coolest/best teachers I've ever had. Her lectures are compelling, she makes jokes, and her tests are fair. She was so good I changed my major to Econ.

She's the best. She is always very clear in her lectures and she definitely keeps things interesting with her sense of humor. My experience in the class has also made me consider econ as a major, and I would definitely take a class with her again. If you pay attention in class and do the practice problems on Aplia an A shouldn't be too hard to get.

Rita is the best Econ 101 professor at UNC. If you're taking 101, wait to take it with her. Any Econ 101 class will be challenging, but even as someone who has always hated math, I am now seriously considering an Econ major. Go to lecture, take time on the practice sets, and read the book and an A is not only possible, it's relatively easy to get.

Rita was a really cool teacher, very straightforward, and perfect as an introductory teacher, and probably for her other classes as well. From what I remember, the lectures were entertaining and the tests were multiple choice. My kind of class. If that's your kind of class, then this is your kind of class.

She is a great teacher who really keeps you engaged even though it's a huge class. I hate math and never thought I'd be an econ major but after her class I'm seriously considering it!

This was actually my favorite class of the semester! Balaban is awesome and super clear, lectures were helpful, tests were multiple choice and very straightforward. Stay on top of the homework/practice problems and you'll have no trouble in this class, especially if you're math/concept oriented and like multiple choice exams.

Professor Balaban is great and very helpful. The two exams are difficult but with work A's are obtainable. Style of the class is group work, no lecture.

Rita is a great teacher. She does the "flipped classroom"...it's only a bad thing if you are not prepared. She gives ~60 practice problems per chapter. This is all I did to prepare for tests and got an A in the class. She uses some of the questions on the test also... the class is really not bad

Had never taken an Econ class before but i enjoyed it! The flipped class room style is a lot of work outside of class but it pays off on the exam if you keep up with the material. Rita is a very friendly teacher and visiting her at office hours is helpful

Her lectures are interactive and fun. It makes learning econ exciting. She is also extremely clear about the information; HOWEVER, her test questions (multiple choice) are almost always trick questions. Beware.

Flipped classroom isn't as bad as people say, and honestly a lot of the class is common sense. Watch the videos she posts online and cram for test with practice problems she gives because she pulls some questions directly from them. She is definitely the easiest UNC Econ 101 professor.

Made an A in the class by watching her videos and doing the practice problems. Book is helpful but if you actually focus on the videos all the info is in them you should need. The flipped class isn't bad and I did a lot of the polls from my bed cause attendance really isn't that important. Rita is the besteasiest econ 101 at unc so...

Rita is awesome! The flipped classroom style is really effective as long as you're on top of the videos and don't wait until the second for everything. Exams aren't bad- just don't try to cram the night before. Learn the material as the semester progresses.

Flipped classroom style. Works problems in class in addition to lecturing, videos outside of class.

In ECON 101 she uses a flipped classroom. I did well with this because I have a hard time being self-disciplined enough to do practice problems on my own. She keeps you fairly busy for the semester but I think it's very helpful.

Good instructor, tough to pull out an A. She goes over material well

Balaban is a solid econ prof. Really learned a lot from her. Tests are harder than the practice she gives you (but not crazy). Expect some test questions that approach topics in ways not explicitly worked out in class (but are totally doable if you understand underlying concepts). I took Honors though so my tests may have been harder than normal.

I love Rita! The flipped class might be difficult to adjust to at first, but you'll soon realize how much it helps you deeply understand and critically think about the material. I came into this class knowing nothing about economics, and now I love it. She's tricky on tests, but you can ace 'em if you can conquer the heavy workload and study hard.

Rita is great and cares about her students! You really have to be on top of your work. Make sure you either read or watch the videos (both is not necessary) and don't get behind. If you study for the tests you'll do fine (all multiple choice). Biggest help in preparing for the tests are the attached multiple choice that correspond to the chapter.

Professor Balaban was a phenomenal teacher. The flipped classroom is very effective with her class, because it allows you to go more in depth and work through examples in class. If you keep up with the work, it is not hard (but I wouldn't say it's an easy A).

Class and some concepts can be difficult at times, but Balaban is very thorough and certainly knows her stuff. The math part of this course is very basic, but is can be difficult understanding how certain concepts connect and then applying them new ones. There is a lot of information to learn in this course (can be overbearing), but overall its :)

Balaban is great. Had her last semester and I enjoyed the class. I know that ECON101 is the dreaded pre-req for many majors, but Balaban makes it bearable for those who hate it. The class is a flipped class. I am personally not a fan of flipped classrooms, but Balaban does a good job with it.

Amazing professor! If you do all the assignments and study, there is not reason why you shouldnt do well. Tests arent unreasonable. I didnt do too well because I didnt study, but I really enjoyed her class. She is BRILLIANT! You will have to work hard -- but if you work hard, youll understand the material very well. Her econ videos are great!!

Great class & professor! I liked the reversed classroom style because it forced me to actually pay attention & learn the material. That way when I went to class, I was engaged by answering the polls. The tests are tricky but doing the practice multiple choice questions will help. Also, recitation helped by reinforcing more difficult concepts.

The pros to taking ECON 101H with Balaban are the small classroom size, a clear set of course expectations, and lots of practice with problem-solving. However, I didn't really find the flipped-learning style to be that effective... it forced students to spend lots of time digging into the concepts, that could have been saved with in-class lecture.

Rita really knows her stuff, and she cares about her students. In this class, you get out what you put in. The poll questions in class are a bit tricky but they really make you delve deep in the material. i feel like I have learned so much from this class.

Balaban uses Poll Everywhere to encourage attendance. While it is not a huge part of your grade going to class is extremely helpful because she works out problems just like the ones that will be on the test. It shows what you really need to know, and if you don't pay attention you'll end up working harder than you had to learning things not tested.

Rita is great. She is predictable and fair. Put work in, and you'll do fine. She is also always available for office hours and is patience and sincere.

I love Balaban! A lot of people dislike the flipped classroom, but I think it's incredibly effective for Econ, it helps students understand the material to a higher level. If you're going to be taking higher level econ classes the strong foundation Balaban gives you is important. If you do all the work there is no reason you won't get an A

Balaban is an extremely good professor. However, her ECON 101 is a flipped class. You have hours of online lectures to listen to and take notes on before every class. The online lectures are nice because you can learn at your own pace. Beware for an extremely fast paced class.

Flip classroom and a ton of homework. Before this class, I have never made less than an A in a class. I failed. That's how hard it is. Avoid at all costs.

Rita is fantastic. I enjoy her lectures because she is passionate about her teaching. Still a hard class though

Hard class, but she is the best professor for it. You definitely need to watch the videos/do the readings and keep up with the material, but if you work hard you should be ok

Prof. Balaban was a great teacher. She is very knowledgable and available to answer any questions. The exams are harder than the homework and in-class polls, but passing them isn't impossible. She's the best econ teacher at UNC, so if it's a requirement you MUST take it with her!

Dr. Balaban is an amazing lecturer. A lot of people don't like her flipped classroom style of teaching, but it helped me learn the content really well. Be sure to really study for her exams, as they make up most of your grade. I wish I hadn't slacked off at the beginning, because my final grade would definitely be higher.

Balaban is a great professor! She is passionate about economics and definitely cares about her students. You will certainly need to do some studying, since the tests get harder as you go, but the workload is manageable. No curve at all on the class.

Professor Balaban was a great teacher. She does have a flipped class room style but it wasn't too much work maybe an hour extra a week and it really helps students comprehend all the material. If I had studied more for the final I could have gotten a better grade. It was possible to obtain up to 2.4 extra credit points.

Professor Balaban is the best professor I've had at UNC. She is on the cutting edge with new teaching methods and structures her class the best way for students to learn. You will have to work, but if you stay on top of things, you will learn a lot because she is such a great professor. Very passionate about economics and keeps class interesting.

Econ is a very hard class but Balaban knows her stuff. Definitely a challenge but she keeps you engaged and interested.

You get the grade you deserve. If you slack outside of class and/or during the lectures, you will not receive the grade you want. I actively looked outside of class for ways to apply the lesson material (read articles, etc.) One thing that really helped me was going up to Dr. Balaban after her lectures and discuss the topic of the day, questions.

Rita is the best! Although the flipped classroom may seem a bit odd at first, you'll get used to it and realize what a great way to learn it is! Her online videos are a great way to prepare and learn the material! Make sure to do all of the problems in class by yourself and know how to do them! She reuses slight versions of questions so review!

I personally enjoyed Balaban's flipped classroom. Her videos are so clear and informative that I never read the textbook. PollEverywhere questions made class conversational and dynamic. Overall Balaban is a great professor. She is able to explain economic concepts in simple understandable terms. Keep up with the work and you'll do well in the class

Balaban made economics interesting, I enjoyed the class even though the work load was challenging. Do not slack off on any of her outlines, pay attention in class, and make sure you study for each exam.

Balaban is the teacher that everyone recommends. I ONLY recommend her IF you are okay with a flipped classroom. If you need to be taught/lectured, this is NOT the instructor for you. Also, if you do not watch her videos/read the book AND do practice problems, you will not be ready for exams. Put in the work, and you can get a good grade.

Balaban is a very knowledgable, clear, and passionate instructor. Great at making hard topics simple to understand. Very no-nonsense and respected. Flipped classroom means lots of work; I took notes on the videos (didn't use textbook) and was fine. Lots of practice resources provided. Exams are hard but fair. Made me really interested in economics!

Since the class is flipped, there is a lot of work you have to do to prepare for the lecture. Otherwise, you would not know what's going on for that lesson. Regardless of the professor, Econ 101 is a difficult class and it is fast paced since the material covers both macro and microeconomics. Balaban is great teacher and is willing to help.

The classroom is flipped, which I liked but some people didn't. It's really important to come to class prepared! I think she did a fine job of teaching but econ is a tough subject so don't expect a good grade!

ECON 101 is a necessary evil for many majors a UNC, but Professor Balaban is the best professor to take it with and anyone you ask will tell you that. She is definitely tough, but she gives you all that you need to succeed. Heavy homework each night so take this in an easier semester so you can give it the time needed. Tests can be tricky but fair

Compared to other professors that teach ECON 101 there is two distinctions I have made: you do more work, but the work pays off. I love the flipped classroom because there is more time practice problems in class surrounded by help. The EconAid Center is the best resource--use it!!!

To be fair: you are not in college to be lazy and not study and ask for easy A's. Yes Dr. Balaban's class is hard, mostly because of you need to do a REAL (not just flip through the pages) preview before classes, but it does help you grip the concepts. Plus Dr. Balaban is super respectful and truly cares about her students. I really recommend her.

Not a bad class. Definitely attend all lectures as there are online quizzes you take everyday that you have to be there for. Personally, I onl read the textbook and say he videos and don't do the outlines and have gotten an 80 and 93 on each midterm. Writing assignments easy. I skip most recitations. Overall, would recommend - I like the flipped.

Econ 101 was a difficult class but Rita is the best professor for it. She has a flipped classroom, which can be annoying at times, but results in the best methods to study for her exams. The class is generally curved and isn't too hard to do well in. Rita is smart and a good professor but sometimes difficult to access outside of class.

Dr. Balaban is a great professor. However, her exams are near-impossible to do well on. If you don't have any experience in economics, it makes it even harder. It is necessary to read the textbook and watch the videos to even be somewhat successful. Also, her exams are 30 questions multiple choice and no curve, which makes them hard to do well on.

The flip classroom format is not for everyone, but as long as you keep up with the work outside of class you should learn a lot and end up with a solid grade.

Dr. Balaban has a reverse classroom, so if you take this class be aware that you will be doing majority of the learning yourself. It takes a lot of work, but she really helps you and prepares you for exams if you do everything that is given to you. If you are willing to put in the long hours, I would recommend.

Rita is a great teacher, but you are going to have to do a LOT of work outside of class. She does not do much teaching, she focuses on examples in class. You have to do a the learning yourself, at home. It is a flipped classroom: beware.

Rita is awesome. The class is not easy and recitations are not always helpful, but the videos are good and if you pay attention in class and show up, you should be fine. I also did not use my textbook once. She makes a lot of sports references and doesn't lecture in class, but lets you practice. She's definitely the best of the Econ options

Dr. Balaban is an intelligent woman and a strong professor. Her classroom is flipped, so it takes time to get used to but is overall useful. The class is hard and there are no curves on exams. Smart people get bad grades in this class but do not let that discourage you from taking the class. She tries her hardest to help you understand.

People who say that this class is impossible must not have worked hard enough. As long as you read every chapter, and TAKE NOTES (copy graphs from book, etc) you will be fine! You cannot just go to class and pass. You must read in order to understand the topics. And yes this is flipped classroom, so go to class prepared. Best econ teacher out there

Balaban is the must have professor for ECON 101. If you can do well in the "flipped classroom" style, this isn't a difficult choice. It's clear what she expects from you and the exams are difficult but fair. Make sure you go to class, though. She has graded polls every class.

As far as ECON101 goes, Balaban is a good choice. The class is flipped, so make sure to do the chapter outlines for each chapter and you will be good to go. She does go over important concepts in class. Don't expect a great grade, but it is definitely doable. Tests are hard but the practice midterms are very helpful.

Professor Balaban is clearly smart and can explain economic principles well. The issue is that it's flipped classroom style, so she doesn't lecture in class, just does examples with poll ev, then you watch videos of her lecturing outside of class. She's a fine prof but I hated the structure of the class. Wish she would have just lectured instead.

Flipped classroom lowkey ruined my life but Rita obviously knows a lot about the material she's teaching and is very passionate about teaching as a whole. Obviously lots of work outside class and I didn't enjoy it at all, but then again it was a gen ed requirement for me. The most important thing I learned is that I hate econ.

Loved her, but the class was really hard.

Dr. Balaban has been one of my favorite professors here at UNC. Econ 101 is hard -- the tests make up a large portion of the grade, but if you study hard you will be fine. Balaban makes it interesting, relevant, and funny. If you need Econ 101, take it with her!

This class is a tough one, but Dr. Balaban gives you so many resources to succeed. I learned a lot from this class and I would gladly take it again if Dr. Balaban was teaching it.

Dr. Balaban is one of the best professors I have had at Carolina. She uses a flipped style classroom, which I thought was very efficient even though it required a lot of work outside the classroom. The exams counted for a large portion of your grade (final 35%). I would take Dr. Balaban again in a heartbeat because she is a great professor!

It's a hard class which is well known but Balaban is who you should take it with. You have to work for it and just do not fall behind on the videos. Also ask your TA's for help and read the textbook/watch other videos when you get confused. She gave chances to give your grade a little boost and she's got some jokes occasionally in class.

Rita is a great teacher and personality in the class. Even though the class if huge, Rita will still want to meet you and help you work through the material. While ECON 101 is a tough class, Rita is the best option available and you learn a lot from her teaching style.

Professor Balaban is great. I definitely recommend honors because you get more one-on-one time and you get to know the people in your class. The class itself is pretty difficult tho because there is so much material covered in a short time. Study way more than you think you need to for the tests and you'll be fine.

Professor Balaban is a great choice for Econ101H. The Honors version has to recitation. Small class. Flipped classroom. Prof. Balaban's research is on learning, and she had found that the flipped classroom setting is more effective than traditional, so long as you attend class, do homework, and read/watch videos she posted. Great prof.

difficult class, but i love love love balaban. tests are hard, but she's the best.

Flipped class-room! You have to be well prepared before you go to the class by watching her video posted on Sakai and read through the chapter. Everything is graded so be really careful with all your work. Tests are hard and quite tricky. However, taking ECON 101 with Dr. Balaban really change my mind of thinking. I definitely recommend her.

Balaban has a good reputation and is a generally nice person. You have a lot of pre-work before lecture which isn't bad but if you forget you are going to be lost during the class. She is pretty approachable if you have questions and she will stay after to answer them. Her exams are always hard and pretty vague but that is also due to the content.

best teacher of econ 101

FLIPPED CLASSROOM I would recommend getting a tutor right out of the gate

Professor Balaban is a great professor, and she is clear about what she expects. Her lectures are easy to follow and she is a great communicator and can be very funny at times. However, her class is very difficult. In order to get a good grade, it is necessary to spend a lot of time outside of class. You will have to work hard to do well.

Econ is HARD. I am a math major, so math is my thing but econ is a whole other level of difficulty. If you do not have to take it DONT. This class is SO MUCH WORK because it is flipped classroom style. Also, the tests are SUPER difficult. Do not take if you do not have to.

Ms. Balaban has helped me develop a love for economics,

ECON 101 with Balaban is an extremely rigorous and work-intensive class in my opinion. I wouldn't recommend taking Balaban if you can't teach yourself the material. Her tests are also extremely tricky, there's always a catch in some of her questions. She's still an awesome lecturer and professor though! She really cares about her students.

ECON 101 is hard and there's a lot of content. If you don't put in the time for this class you will not get an A, which is where I feel most people misjudge Balaban. Her lectures were helpful in covering course content given you read the chapter (but for a class like this that's given). Balaban also gave three extra credit chances this semester!

This is a flipped classroom so teaching yourself the material and checking to see if you understand it during the daily poll everywhere questions is the only way you will succeed. If you don't understand something get help IMMEDIATELY I cannot stress this enough. Go to every recitation bc she adds one point onto your course grade at the end if u do

Prof. Balaban is tough but extremely fair. There's a lot of homework and you really have to stay on top of the class in order to do ok on the midterms. Overall, the best choice for ECON 101.

When taking ECON 101, Balaban is the one to have. While the class is flipped classroom, it leaves the full class period to practice. I highly recommend watching all the videos she posts/do all the practice questions as it helps to ensure that you know what you're doing at the start so studying for the final won't be as stressful. You'll survive!

The class is hard but Professor Balaban is the professor to have. She's funny, communicates concepts well, and truly cares about her students. I actually liked the flipped classroom- watching the videos and taking notes doesn't take too long. She also gave us a few extra credit opportunities that ended up bringing me from a B to a B+.

This class is hard, but not impossible. Professor Balaban is the best, it's just a difficult class. If you want to get an A - watch all the videos, take notes on the videos and take notes in class, and fill out the outlines. Before the exams, go over the multiple choice questions and the poll everywhere questions again. Good luck!

You really have to teach yourself everything, so stay on top of reading the chapters and taking notes. Balaban is a great teacher for those who can motivate themselves, I sadly am not. There are a lot of helpful resources you can take advantage of like the Econ Aid Center if you're struggling.

The heaviest course I have taken so far. I love love Balaban as she explain the concept really well. Taking this course with Balaban really change your mind about the world. Stay focus and do everything she asked you to do and you will be fine.

I would say if you really want to succeed in this w/an A class you should do 15 hours of work outside class a week and study at least 10 hours for each exam. Staub has 30% of your grade being homework, while Balaban has only 20%, which is a con of taking Balaban. I wouldn't recommend taking this w/ other hard classes.

Balaban was a great Econ 101 professor. She uses a flipped classroom (learn outside of class and practice in class). Tests were all multiple choice and fairly difficult, but her practice sets helped. Make sure to attend recitation so your TA will bump you if youre between two grades.

Balaban sometimes gets a bad rep because she does a flipped classroom. I am a visual learner so this was actually amazzziiing for me! I barely touched the textbook but did well in the class. Also, she is really funny and passionate about her topic. She really wants her students to do well and gives extra credit opportunities at the end.

Yes ECON 101 is hard but Prof Balaban is a really good teacher - her lectures are easy to follow and she explains things really well. It's a flipped classroom, so you fill out lecture outlines at home and then she explains more and you do practice problems on pollev in class. I really liked this format, but it's not for everyone.

Rita Balaban is a good professor and really knows the material but the tests questions are unnecessarily difficult. She tries to trick you on many questions so be careful. Recitation is not mandatory but recommended.

This class and professor Balaban are absolutely phenomenal. Dr. Balaban is an extremely caring teacher who goes out of her way to make sure you understand the material and succeed in her class so long as you put the work in.

Dr. Balaban is a strong contender for the best professor at UNC. Dont let the flipped classroom scare you away; if you keep up with the work and seek help when you need it, youll be alright.

The class is fine.

Professor Balaban is your best choice for ECON101. She is very personable and wants to see her students succeed. This class is flipped meaning you watch lecture videos at home and do practice problems in class however I do not think you would be successful if it was any other way. I love this class!

Balaban is your absolute best option for an Econ professor. Her classroom is flipped but the review she does in class is very good at clarifying anything you may be fuzzy on.

flipped classroom but the videos make it easy.

Balaban does the best that a professor could with this course. ECON101 is going to be hard no matter what but Balaban is easily the best at managing this course. Her syllabus is pretty evenly distributed on how much weight something holds and she is semi-flexible with it. This class isn't going to be amazing but Balaban will be your best bet!

Rita is amazing! Probably best option for ECON 101, but the class is hard due to the workload. If you dont need this class for credit dont take it.

Balaban is the best option for ECON 101. The flipped classroom is a good amount of work but isn't all that bad. However, probably wouldn't take it again if I didn't need it. Overall, okay.

The best professor for ECON 101 at UNC. A hard topic to understand, but Rita makes it manageable. The flipped classroom aspect is a hit or miss. If you stay on top of taking notes, then you will do well, but it is easy to get behind if you get lazy.

From what I have heard, Professor Balaban is most likely the best Econ teacher in the department. Her class is difficult, but if you do the work and don't skip class you will be okay. There are so many additional sources she provides like review sessions and the EconAid center. If you have to take Econ101, I think Balaban is your best bet.

Very engaging during lecture and clearly cares about her students. How hard this class is really depends on the type of student you are. Compared to other STEM courses, this class is pretty easy. If this is your first STEM-like class as a Humanities major, then it might be a little tough. Utilize the resources given to you and you'll do fine though

She is literally my fav professor. As long as you do everything she tells you to and make sure you review the poll evs before every exam you're fine. Take advantage of the econ aid center. She is so caring and wants you to succeed.

Rita was a true gem at UNC. I took her econ101 my first semester and really didn't find it that difficult as long as you're willing to watch all the videos prior to class. I wish I could take her class again, as she's the best I've had in my time at Carolina.

I can see why someone would not like her class. It's a flipped classroom and she doesn't always answer questions the best. That being said, she is easily the best professor I've ever had. Insanely caring, understanding, intelligent, and accessible. If you like economics she is going to be one of your favorite professors.

balaban is a super good teacher and i'm really happy i took her for ECON101. she gives a clear schedule well in advance, the homework is not hard, and she gives you like every resource possible to do well in her class.

All in all, Balaban is an amazing professor and kind person. She is well respected by students for good reason. Yet, that definitely does not mean the class is an easy A. She uses a flipped classroom setting, so it is necessary to do the readings before class, show up to lecture, and then do the online homework after class.

She's a very intelligent person and I do believe she's a great teacher. That being said, this is definitely one of the harder and more time consuming introductory courses at UNC. The exams can be incredibly difficult. If you just study the night before for her exams, don't expect a score higher than a C.

Balaban is an amazing ECON professor. Would highly recommend taking her for ECON 101.

She's the professor you want for 101. She goes so far out of her way to provide opportunities for students to receive more help outside of class through review and learning lectures throughout the semester. She makes econ easy to understand, and her flipped classroom is vital for helping practice key concepts.

Professor Balaban is truly a great professor and you can tell she cares about her students. She's kind and witty. However, this class was extremely difficult. Her tests (two midterms and a final) count for 75% of your final grade and the questions are worded kinda tricky. You MUST study for hours to pass her exams/the class.

One of the best professors I have had at UNC. Econ 101 is going to be a hard class no matter who you take it with, but if you want to do well it is in your best interest to take it with Professor Balaban. She is kind, enthusiastic, and resourceful.

Lots of online and independent learning but she is very clear with her expectations. Tests can have a lot of tricks so you have to study a lot. Still a very solid professor and the best choice for 101.

Rita is amazing. I've only had her online but I couldn't have asked for a better experience. The class is gonna be difficult with whoever, but her videos are so helpful you don't need textbook. She's organized and great at her job. She's also so interesting. The only thing I'd ask for is more questions on quizzes. 1 wrong is q is worth a lot.

This class was hard. Since she teaches with a "flipped classroom" style, there's a LOT of work outside of class, including 85 assignments. Not all hw is mandatory, but her difficult exams are worth most of your grade. If you're taking it online, her tests are linear but open-note, which helps. I personally didn't love econ, but Balaban was nice.

Balaban is such a talented professor and truly wants all her students to succeed in her class. I appreciate how structured her course was and all the resources she provided for studying. To do well in this class, you must put in the work. Balaban provides all the resources you need and she simply expects that you use them! I highly recommend her!

Dr. Balaban is a fine professor. Most of the complaints directed at her are mostly based on how impersonal the class is (normally the class size is 600). Talk to your TAs and ULAs and you will succeed, and the resources she gives you are useful. Overall not a bad professor, just a very difficult class.

For online, attendance wasnt mandatory for class or recitations. I did not attend either all semester and managed to get an A. Decent amount of work, but if u watch the lesson videos it really doesnt take long. Make sure to study for the exams and youll be alright.

This class is extremely hard, especially with it being online. Balaban is a sweet lady and covers her material pretty well, but it is also very impersonal, which makes it more difficult. Her class is graded mostly off of completion of assignments and a certain point range across exams. Definitely use all of her resources to succeed in this class.

Lots of small assignments but if you do them you'll be fine. The midterm and final exam were very difficult so you should spend time studying.

ECON101 is a flipped classroom and you can do all of the work for the class asynchronously. Balaban releases assignments often ahead of time. Sit down over a Saturday/Sunday and do all of next week's work/assignments over like 4 hours (this includes watching the lecture videos). Midterms and finals are pretty slight as long as you practice.

Absolutely the best choice for ECON 101. Very flexible and understanding under the pandemic. Clear grading criteria and communication. Offer three office hours a week. Lots of resource to help you succeed. Despite it's a big class, Rita makes it feel like home. Work hard, but it's not as scary. Don't forget to do the forum. Flipped class is awesome

Dr. Balaban is a good choice if you're dreading ECON 101. I didn't really see much of her, classtime was just the ULA's putting us into breakout groups to work on problem sets, but Fridays were generally review days and Balaban does not assign essays as I've heard other ECON profs do. Take Balaban if you're just trying to fill an ECON requirement.

This was my first large lecture class in college, and Professor Balaban definitely made it very understandable and possible. The class was huge, but she held office hours weekly for more specific questions. Her grading criteria was very clear, adjusting it due to various hiccups throughout the semester. This is definitely a worthwhile class.

Dr. Balaban has researched econ teaching methods, is funny, and cares about our ability to apply the content. She uses a flipped classroom so most classes are 'optional' because they allow you to collaborate with peers/ULAs/TAs but your grade will depend on depth of knowledge so take them seriously. While it was online, there are ample office hrs.

Balaban was very accommodating this online semester. Drop into ULA and TA office hours if you have questions! Also, do the extra practice multiple choice questions, they are similar to tests. Do the chapter exercises and read the book and you will do well! I cannot say enough good things about Balaban, an amazing professor.

Rita is the GOAT! She is actually doing online class the right way! I saw that she only has a 9am this semester but its SO WORTH IT!! Also online class makes early class not bad at all. She cares about her students so much, very accessible outside of class! ECON at UNC is never easy, but do yourself a favor and take ECON with Rita. TRUST ME!

Rita's class this past semester is the reason I love ECON, and it was even an online class! There is a reason she has twice the signups as the other class and she has what most would consider to be a worse class time (earlier). Rita makes you feel welcome to ask questions, responds to emails, and the lectures videos are amazing! take her class!!!!!

Dr. Balaban is patient and supportive. The grade mainly depends on the three exams. The only sad thing about the course is the linear format of the three exams on Sakai. If you click next, you cannot go back.

All of your grade is determined by test grades, with any other work deciding if it's a + or - to your letter grade. You have to study a lot and the workload is pretty high, but the videos are mostly helpful though they weren't always my favorite. It's a flipped classroom so lecture is outside of class and you work on problems during class time.

Dr. Balaban is your best bet for ECON 101. While the class is work intensive, if you follow Dr. Balaban's program and do the work you should be able to do reasonably well in the class. A lot of people are opposed to her "flipped classroom" method but I think the amount of guided practice you complete during classtime is helpful.

I love balaban! I could not recommend her enough, shes very accessible outside of class and truly wants you to succeed. Seeing that accessibility is probably the most important aspect to have during covid, balaban is the clear choice for the economics class you should take this semester! She is amazing!! So kind to students as well.

Interesting class concept but so boring online. The final paper which includes a presentation and peer reviews is 65% of the final grade which sucked. Could've done way better if I had paid attention in class and turned in weekly assignments on time. Rita is nice though and an interesting person.

Professor Balaban is an excellent professor. The material is not easy, so you have to put in some time and effort if you want to be successful, but her lessons are clear and understandable. Do not let the aura surrounding ECON 101 scare you. If you stay on top of your work and ask good questions, you will be fine.

ECON101 is supposed to be hard, but if you keep up with the work, you should be fine. Dr. Balaban is clearly a caring instructor and passionate about the material. The structure of the class is very helpful for learning, and actually going to class makes it a lot easier to learn/do well.

Dr. Balaban is an excellent lecturer! She gave us a lot of reading and homework assignments but gave full credit if we got 70% correct. The tests, homeworks, and presentation were all equally waited (except for final), which was nice. She has clear grading standards and is always accessible! She also always had a review session right before tests!

Although ECON 101 was a lot of work (especially with the pre-recorded lecture videos and outlines), Prof. Balaban taught it excellently, choosing to use class time to go through examples and practice problems with students. Essentially, this class is a flipped-classroom format. Students watch pre-recorded lectures and take notes before class.

Definitely the best ECON101 teacher. Balaban, the TAs, and the ULAs give you all the resources you need to succeed IF YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM, even if some students don't want to admit this. Tests are hard and almost entirely determinant of your grade but they give you plenty of review and support beforehand. The flipped classroom is not great.

Professor Balaban is the best in what she teaches. No matter who you have, the class will be rough and require your attention and time out of the classroom. Multiple resources are provided so take advantage of them!!! As long as you try your best, go to her and the ULA and TA office hours, etc, you will earn a respectable grade. Balaban truly cares

Dr. Balaban is knowledgeable about the material and cares about her students, but Econ 101 is so large that deadlines are strict, grading is based on 3 MC exams, and homework just determines +/-. To succeed, ask ULAs questions when completing problems in class (the class structure is flipped), go to office hours, and do the practice MC questions!

Balaban is a great choice for ECON101. She explains concepts well, and I think her grading is quite lenient and fair. The tests didn't throw new, surprising content at you. There is a lot of reading and assignments to keep up with, but I learned a lot and found most of it interesting. There are also a lot of resources to help if you're struggling.

Professor Balaban was such a great introduction to large lecture classes. Although the class size is a bit daunting, she hosts multiple office hours weekly and is always happy to help in any way she can. This class is not meant to be easy so put in work, but the material is super helpful both for college and understanding the economy in general.

This is 490 urban economics it could be a bit dry at times but some of the topics especially around redlining, etc. were very interesting. The hw is pretty chill and you can get away with just cramming the powerpoints before the exams. There is a time crunch on exams so be prepared to grind. The average was a 89 this semester so pretty good class!

I don't think I have ever tried this hard for a class just for a B+. Professor Balaban is a great professor, very caring and accessible. I went to ULA/TA office hours constantly, Balaban's office hrs, and utilized the ECON Aid center. Since your grade is determined by exams, you could study for hours and still not get an A. ULA's are most helpful.

The main reason people are complaining is they don't realize that econ 101 is a difficult class in general. That being said, Balaban is the absolute best option for this class. She explains everything really well and provides many resources to succeed. Ik the grade is basically based on your test scores but shocker, most classes here are like that

ECON 101 is by no means an easy class, but Rita does a great job of explaining the concepts. Your grade is pretty much determined by your test scores over three exams. Would definitely recommend over any other 101 prof.

As a senior, I can tell you Dr. Balaban is one of the best econ professors at UNC if not the best. She truly cares about her students and it shows in her lecture. ECON 490 is Urban Economy which is a fun class to take as well. She drops the lowest problem set, reading question, and midterm grade. Do the homework and you will do great.

This class was not easy, but the way Professor Balaban organized class time made it a lot more bearable. Most of class was working with other students on problems, followed by a brief lecture. In addition to the textbook, Professor Balaban put videos on Sakai of her explaining the material that were a great alternative to the textbook.

Balaban's lectures are a flipped style, and she helps explain concepts from readings through practice problems really well. The workload will be heavy but the concepts are definitely comprehendible if you spend some time getting familiar with them. It is not an easy A but it is doable if you put in the time and take time to prepare for exams.

Rita is by far the best econ 101 professor. This class is difficult, but it's difficult no matter which professor you have and Rita is definitely the best choice. If you read the textbook, do all the assignments, and study a bit for exams, then an A is definitely doable.

Your grade depends on the 2 midterms and final exam. She seems very nice but the class is a lot of reading and studying.

Prof Balaban is a great Econ teacher, she explains concepts very clearly in her videos and during lecture. Make sure you do your videos and read the textbook before class. You will apply the knowledge you just learned in class. Do the problems in the back of the chapters and multple choice she provides. It's not an easy A, but you have all you need

Very good econ teacher, make sure you stay on top of notes by watching her videos. If you do that you should be fine, just make sure to study a lot for the tests. Class was not as difficult as I thought, the workload is not too much to handle at all. However, definitely go to every class and ask a lot of questions if you dont understand something.

Balaban is a real UNC gem. She's clear and concise when explaining, and she's always willing to help. Although this is one of the most failed classes at UNC, it's reasonable to do well in her class, you just got to put in the work. Balaban herself is aware of student life and provides the necessary content to succeed.

Dr. Balaban is an impressive, passionate, brilliant professor who knows what she's doing. She is EXTREMELY organized with assignment due dates and grading criteria. She truly gives you all the resources that you need for success. Grade is determined by 2 midterms and a final--I probably studied 15-20 hours for each. Best prof by far for ECON 101.

Prof Balaban made econ interesting & engaging!! Class sessions consisted of working with nearby students on lecture exercises which was an effective way to learn & understand necessary concepts. The class was not the most challenging but you definitely had to work for an A (but very doable!). Overall, loved ECON 101 and would recommend Balaban!!

Balaban is definitely the best Econ 101 teacher, but this is still a difficult class especially if you didnt take Econ in high school. If you dont read the textbook or watch her lecture videos you will not do well in the class since you are pretty much graded only by exams. Study hard in this class and youll be fine

The material of this course is difficult, but Dr. Balaban provides extensive resources for students to succeed. The course is very organized with a clear grading structure that makes doing well possible. The assignments are very easy and clear. The exams are very tough but doable if you are willing to study and put lots of effort in.

The class is weighted almost entirely off of tests but they're slightly adjusted so an A is 84+. The exams are very manageable. The key is to do as many practice problems as possible. The homework each week is relatively easy. Lectures consist of doing practice problems and she posts video lectures to watch before class, but they're very helpful.

Econ 101 is a hard class. I'm not very good at Econ, I worked so hard and ended with a B+. Honestly, I learned so much from Professor Balaban. If I had a different prof maybe I could've pulled off an A, but I definitely wouldn't have learned as much as I did. It's a flipped class model, so watch lectures at home and do graded problems in class.

look, econ at UNC is terrible any way you take it. Balaban, however, cares for her students. The whole grading system for all ECON courses, in general, is pointless and annoying but at least take the class with Balaban; the workload is smaller. tests are aids, just study and you'll do well.

Dr. Balaban is a really great professor. She cares deeply for her students and tries to connect with them. Her grading system is very clear and she tells you what she expects. Her Econ 55 lectures were pretty easy to follow and very interesting real world examples.

Professor Balaban does not give lectures, her class just has fantastic structure. There are a lot of assignments but they are very manageable and the due dates are clear. The tests alone determine your letter grade (there are 3) and studying is needed in almost all cases. Overall, Balaban does a great job of making expectations clear.

I never thought I would rejoice in a B+ in Connect Carolina until ECON101. On the same coin, I learned SO much throughout this course. This class is required for so many majors, you might as well accept having to take it and go about learning in the best way possible: engaging in diligent study of each chapter and DOING THE PRACTICE PROBLEMS!!

This class, regardless of the professor, is hard. Rita is an amazing professor who is very sweet and willing to help you out. However, this class is structured to be "flipped classroom," so it is heavily reliant upon attendance and your own motivation. As long as you put in the work, Rita will be fair with grading and is always ready to help you!

balaban is the best choice for econ 101. If you stay on top of the assignments and prepare in advance for the test by doing the "selected questions" she posts for each chapter, you will do good.

Prof. Balaban is the ideal professor for this class. She's passionate about the content, accessible outside of class, very open about the grading criteria, and a very clear and concise lecturer (videos). This class made me want to major in Econ! Would definitely recommend to anyone! No complaints only regret is not introducing myself to her!

This is a flipped class, so expect to watch the pre-recorded videos before the class, and then solve an in-class quiz each time, but it’s not graded.

Best choice for Econ 101. Everyone who's complaining simply didn't put in time to do all of the practice problems, as they are often identical or slightly changed for midterm exams. You only need a test average of ~84% to get an A in the course. It is very realistic and achievable to find success with Balaban.

Dr. Balaban genuinely put in the time to analyze what her students need to succeed and created a structure to do so. I highly recommend taking this class. lots of homework but it is such a small portion of your grade. structure of the class is amazing and flexible, challenging but in a good way

I personally liked the flipped classroom style she has. Definitely forced students to practice which was very helpful. Didn't require attendance because of COVID which I thought was nice; also uploaded all the lectures to zoom, so if you did miss class you could watch that. The class is graded based on two midterms and final.

Prof. Balaban has clearly given a lot of thought into a course style that would best prepare her students for success. It is not difficult at all to get an A so long as you read the textbook and do the practice problems and homework. Anyone who says otherwise has not applied themselves and is upset that this class is not an easy A. You got this!

ECON is a hard class no matter who you take it with. Prof Balaban was caring and wanted us to succeed, but of course it's a ton of material for one semester. Flipped classroom, but everything is recorded and attendance is not mandatory - if you think you will fall down the slippery slope, come to class. Many office hours and time to ask questions.

This class was amazing. The format allowed the student to do what was best for themself. Attendance was optional and lectures were recorded. A flipped classroom isn't for everyone because it really means you need to watch her videos and read the textbook. But going to class was great for students who needed the extra accountability.

gives lots of additional resources, course content is fairly easy, not necessarily the best at explaining things herself but the textbook is really helpful and exams are relatively easy

This class is great, it's really interesting and Professor Balaban does a great job of clearly teaching the material. Homeworks don't take very long and tests are pretty easy as long as you do her review questions and practice the math. Your grade is mostly based on exams, but there is a built in curve to the class.

Lectures are interesting and straight to the point. Conceptual review questions before exams - if you study those and know how to do the math you'll do fine. Sometimes exam questions seem to be small details that you would usually just glance over. Her grading scale is strange to me but I've definitely seen worse. Overall in my top 5 professors.

Really good econ professor! The flipped classroom really helps you to do well on midterms/exams. Lots of information, but not impossible :)

Rita is a great teacher and very accessible outside of class. ECON 101 is a hard course, and since it's macro and micro, she covers a lot of concepts, and there is a good bit of work to do. But I think she does a good job at making space for students to miss assignments and not hurt their grades. Best advice is to just do the work, it really helps.

Balaban is a good professor and the best option for ECON 101. The course is fast-paced and difficult but interesting. It's a flipped classroom so make sure to read the chapters and take notes. Most importantly, do practice problems!!! She gives good explanations about problems in class, she can go on tangents sometimes though.

THE BEST TEACHER OF ALL TIME! I switched at the beginning of the semester from Staub to Balaban and it literally cured my anxiety. I could not imagine not taking Econ 101 with Balaban. She is so caring and accessible outside of class, she is a fair grader, she is kind to her students, she is logical. She is everything that Staub is not.

love her

Professor Balaban made econ very straightforward. She has a perfectly made Sakai page with access to everything you could possibly need-very easy to do well if you spend the time to study. Would recommend her over any other econ professor out there, does a great job of explaining concepts in lecture. You can miss up to 12 classes with no penalty.

Professor Balaban is a great professor. She makes 485 one of the best econ electives at UNC. Content is super interesting and Balaban provides a lot of flexibility with her attendance policy. Homeworks and weekly review questions prepare you well for tests. Highly recommend taking a class with her

This was overall a great class. The material was very interesting. The exams were difficult, especially since they were based on knowing a lot of information about history and rules. The homework was easy, you only have to get 70% accurate to get a 100%. If you review the weekly review questions and problems sets for the exams then you'll do fine.

Rita really knew what she was talking about. Econ itself is already difficult to understand so you're going to have to put in the work to succeed. Professor Balaban teaches in a "flipped classroom" style so it's a lot of reading outside of class. I highly recommend her in comparison to other econ profs.

ECON 101 is a very hard class, but Balaban is a great professor. I'm sure you already know she's the one you want.

If you are at all interested in Economics, take 101 with Professor Balaban. She made me an Econ major. One of the best professors I have had at UNC.

Prof Balaban was an amazing lecturer and so good at explaining concepts clearly. The exams were nearly the exact same as the MC practice problems she gave in Sakai. The grading was really fair too, esp with higher grade midterm weighted more than lower grade midterm. As long as you study and pay attention, the class is not difficult!

Econ was a difficult class, but Professor Balaban was fantastic and was extremely transparent and honest about her grading expectations. She offered so many helpful resources throughout the semester, and her TA team put a lot of effort into trying to help everyone succeed. She truly cares and tries to make each student ensure that they can succeed

Dr. Balaban sets up the class in a way that maximizes your potential to succeed. The course is objectively difficult, but she provides extensive office hours, practice questions, and class examples that help you succeed if you take advantage of them.

The reviews saying she is awful are so dramatic. You do have to put a lot of time into this class but if you manage your time you will do well. Do all of the practice problems after her class lecture. She gives all of the resources you need, you just have to actually do it. Exams aren't easy but they follow her content. It is flipped so do the work

It's so clear that the people who left bad reviews did not study nor care about this class. The amount of outside resources that Prof. Balaban should have set everyone up for success. Her midterm Q.s are similar in concept/difficultly most of the pollev Q.s and recitations. It is more than attainable to do well in this class.

I cannot say enough good things about Professor Balaban. She is a legend and an amazing lecturer, this course is set up for students to optimize their economics knowledge. While this was a tough class and you have to put a lot of time into it, I enjoyed it and Dr. Balaban taught it very well. She also has a very funny personality, highly recommend!

Prof. Balaban does a fantastic job teaching a course that has way too much material packed into one semester. Study hard for the tests, they are hard but if you go through the additional resources she provides, you will be fine.

Subject material is quite difficult but Balaban teaches it as well as anyone. If you apply yourself you should do alright.

I swear to yall that Balaban is by far the best Econ101 Prof at UNC. You should easily pass this class as attendance and completion is worth around 1/4 of your grade. The exams are difficult but should easily be able to pass the class. I never studied and finished with a B, so with minimal effort should pass.

Balaban truly is a great econ101 prof. She provides many resources to do good on tests. Econ101 takes MUCH effort but put in time & energy you'll get good grades. Take econ a sem w/ easier or fewer classes bc it requires a lot of time. Test study tips: read ch. notes, LOTS of practice problems, review recitations, and def review her lecture slides.

Always do the 60-question multiple choice on every chapter to succeed in the midterms. Rita Balaban explains everything in great detail, but it is also quite boring since most of the problems can be solved in 15 seconds and her explanations can go as long as 5 minutes. However, she can crack a funny joke sometimes. Totally recommend her.

Professor Balaban was fantastic for ECON101. She well-prepared all of her lectures, clearly cares about her students and wants us to do well. If you do what you are told, it is easy to do well in this class.

This class is so incredibly hard. Professor Balaban is a very kind happy person but her class is impossible. I would definitely recommend attending and paying attention in class as well as taking advantage of her out of class help!

Professor Balaban is super knowledgeable about economics, and I actually enjoyed her 101 class. It is a hard class and lots of studying is the only way to get a good grade. Lectures were mostly good but could sometime get boring.

Econ 101 with Professor Balaban is no easy feat, but with dedication and the right resources like unstuckstudy ai, it's doable. Attend lectures, review practice problems, and you'll nail the exams.

I know she retired but she is a inspirational professor who deserves her jersey to be hung up in the rafters. Her ball knowledge was unmatched and knew econ well too. I'll never forget when she dropped this bar I'll leave you with: "If your partner doesn't treat you like their valentine every day, leave them!". The class went wild - my goat.