3.4
Quality3.0
Difficulty48%
Would Retake385
Reviews48%
Would Retake
385
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
385 total ratings5
114
4
104
3
78
2
50
1
39
What Students Say
“Horrible lecture style; my biggest pet peeve was his atrocious handwriting and broken mic”
EC101 - 1.0 rating“Idson also has an ego, and talks more about his own life than teach economics”
EC204 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
15%
Textbook Required
50%
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Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
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ECON385
5.0
(1)EC201
4.0
(30)EC385
4.0
(7)EC100
3.5
(2)EC101
3.4
(230)Difficulty by Course
EC204
4.5
EC100
4.5
ECON101
4.0
ECB1
3.5
EC203
3.3
Reviews (300)
I love Idson, his lectures are interesting and his dumb jokes are funny, hes a really nice guy- you should definitly take his class
Professor Idson is an impressive,intelligent, and funny professor. He is extremely clear in class and always explains each concept carefully. Definitely take this class as he tries to make each lecture interesting. The sample practice tests were helpful as well
Awesome professor!!! If you do not want to go the lectures, you do not have to go because he puts all of his slides online anyway. Your grade in the class depends on the preformance of your classmates, but if you follow the chapters and complete the problem sets, you should be able to pull an A.
Go to lecture and discussions and do your problem sets (which are only like 4 problems) and you will get an A. Although it is tempting to skip, as he mostly just reads the book, you should go because he can sneak in other important graphs. I liked him overall. He also makes corny jokes :)
His tests are a ****..he's specific and tries to **** you up. He's also very boring in lecture as compared with llona, who rocks.
Idson's fine, he's pretty funny and good at explaining concepts. But it doesn't matter because lecture is a waste of time as it literally comes directly from the book. Read the book, love the book and tests will be easy.
Idson is great! He wears these crazy hats to class and makes corny jokes, but you just laugh at them bc he's just cute. It was a nice nap, and the discussions clarified a lot. The notes are online and you really don't have to listen, and the sample tests really helped. I ended up pulling off a B!
I stopped going to this class for a reason...the man doesn't have an original thought in his head. He reads, verbatim, the lecture slides-which are posted online, as well as the textbook.
I hated this class.... he doesn't care about his students! He looks and talks like Woody Allen. Don't worry if you thing you are doing poorly in the class... big curve.
Even though we did not finish the chapters that were planned, Idson did his best to explain thoroughly each section. He is a great lecturer, but at office hours he seems a bit full of himself. The TA i had was awesome, and discussion sections help clarify what was said in class. Take ec101 w/ Idson!
spends ridiculous amounts of time drawing the same graphs that are already on the slides he has prepared. the slides are just from the book anyway, practice tests are somewhat helpful though.
overall, he's good, still considering the fact that there are awful lot of boring professors, Idson's class was amusing, and easy too, but i don't regret going to his every lecture.
Great professor! Goes at a fair/sometimes fast speed in class so write your notes fast. Very helpful during office hours. Do the problem sets and the exams aren't bad. Similar grading scheme to 101. If you have to take 201, take it with Idson!
Idson is one of the best professors at BU. Carefully and clearly explains material in lecture. You must take good notes, go to every class, and do problem sets! Book is good supplement to course, although dry. If you are an econ major take Idson. You will be a better econ student because of him.
His tests are somewhat difficult, but they are fair. Do the practice problems, the practice exams, and the online problems from the textbook's website and you should feel prepared.
He is a good lecturer, and he presents the material very clearly. I actually wished that I stayed awake more in lecture to listen to him. He does a very good job, and I learned a lot when I stayed awake. I hear that he's better than the other Micro professor. Plus, his grading is awesome!
tests are tricky, make sure to do the practice exams and for the final, look over your midterms (SERIOUSLY JUST DO IT). very funny lecturer and going to class IS important since he supplements the book. actually don't read the book, just go to class. it's more entertaining anyway.
Idson is cool. The class is a bit difficult, though. First midterm is hard, second midterm is easy, the final will probably kick your ass.
Tests are directly from the problem sets. So study the problem sets and an A isn't a problem. He clearly explains all concepts in class and welcomes any questions. A great profesor.
His tests are not hard, just make sure to do the problem sets. But the grader is AWEFUL, he takes off lots of points for a small mistake. The grading is not fair.
Great professor. Explains things very clearly. Tests are fair and pretty easy if you go to lecture. There's an awesome curve at the end of the semester. Great man.
Boring. Lectures were hard to wake up for and to stay awake during. Wasn't required to take it but did because it might be interesting/helpful...BIG mistake. The only things that count in your final grade are the three exams. After a weekly tutor and endless hours of studying, I pulled out a C after a generous curve.
Exams are straight-forward; lectures are an invitation for napping. Professor would be equally effective simply reading from textbook.
The concepts seems pretty straight forward to grasp but do not be decieved. Seriously do your problem sets or you will die. Idson is a good teacher but this is definately a hard class. Get on his good side.
i find this class very easy. can't wait to get to use calculus though...
An artist! It's a very tough job to teach 450 pupils simultaneously and he does it! The content is very interesting. Exams are very reasonable, and he provides all the info necessary to do well. Do the problem sets, attend lectures and economics will be not only your favorite subject but also your grade booster.
probably the best prof at BU. the anti-Kunec if you will (for anyone who knows Kunec imagine his complete opposite in a proffesor and you have idson). Smart, engaging, concerned, helpful and interesting. go to lecture take notes and you will do fine. midterms and finals are not easy but straight forward. good class in all. P.S. Kunec should die!!!!
Idson is absolutely amazing! I really didn't give a**** about economics before this class but it was really engaging. The tests are hard though because you don't have much time.
GREAT TEACHER!!! never went to his office hours but just from class i fell in love with him... he's such an economist he talks like time is money but once you get used to his fast pace he's an amazing teacher. Micro will be so easy the way he explains it! Definitely fit him into your schedule!
print/read the powerpoint slides, and you'll be golden. you really don't have to read the book, go to office hours, or even go to discussion. sometimes, it's easy to fall asleep because the class is held in a huge lecture setting - but even that is okay. idson is a pretty good lecturer during the days awake.
clearly a great prof. starts every class by saying "Ok gang, let's get going," so get used to that. Just do the problem sets & you'll be good for the tests. going to class is fun & helpful so i recommend that.
he's so clear in lecture and gets excited when he has a student show up to office hours. very helpful both inside and outside of class. you never have to do the reading out of the book as long as you show up to class. DO THE PROBLEM SETS! that's what will really give you an A in the class (plus a clear understanding of the material).
Either go to class or read and go to discussion sections, but I advise class, because Idson is very clear. He does talk pretty fast, though, so be prepared. If you go to class, you shouldn't need to read, go to discussion, or do the problem sets, unless you're really having trouble.
Very good teacher. Class is structured very well. Does the math for some of the lecture problems rather quickly, so you have to study your notes. I would suggest going to lecture even though it sometimes seems repetitive because he clarifies things very well and gives additional information.
Nice guy.I find econ boring, and he definitely made me feel interested during lecture.One problem is that since he knows econ front and back he goes through it very quickly.Read the book or study the slides.You can't rely on memorizing concepts-you really need to understand the stuff, which makes this class hard if the subject doesn't interest you.
Not particularly compelling guy, but a fantastic professor. He knows his stuff, and the lectures are very clear. Accessible at office hours, good lecturer, and he wears a fedora in the winter. It's true, Idson is the Indiana Jones of Economics.
Took him cuz of these comments...so not true...he isn't easy...he teaches by the book..I studied hard for all the tests...they aren't as easy as what people say...turns out to have a solid B...my fd in another prof's EC 101 class got an A...I thought the other class is harder...so I decide to take him
He's great at explaining concepts. One of the best lecturers at BU. He's not jazzy or stylish, but he's clear and concise. Midterms are easy and the final is difficult.
Great professor. Nice guy, passionate about the material, and willing to help the students. He's a good lecturer, and his digressions, although somewhat frequent, are interesting/amusing. Not always book-based -- make sure you go to lecture. Reasonable tests, and willing to help.
Multiple choice exams and optional attendance = easiest Microecon class available
Idson is an ok professor...he's clear and all that, but lectures are pretty boring. you can just read the book since he uses the slides from the book and doesn't use any new or original examples. I actually doubt that he does a lot of work for the class. His tests are average, but he tries to make them tricky sometimes with wording.
Good teacher,makes the class average on tests a B which is awesome,and he weighs the better grades much more than the others. He's also explains the concepts well, and i would reccomend him.
I guess I don't see Idson as a great lecturer since my TF explains the course much better. But Idson is good at his profession. If you can, try to get past exams to practice on (sometimes the same questions come up again). Rather than focusing on reading and covering the material, do problem sets. Do as many problems as you can to make sure you und
Not helpful during office hours. Do problem sets. He talks really fast during lecture. His lectures are death, very dry material.
This teacher is the best,he gives so many examples and explanations and repeats them more than twice during the same leture wich makes them stick in your head,his exams arent that difficult,just study the problem sets,and read the book once,and you will be all set
Idson is an awesome lecturer. He makes economics interesting. The midterms aren't too hard, but the final is really difficult. If you read, go to lecture (and discussion), and do the problem sets, and you'll be fine. I definitely would recommend this class.
Many opportunities to get extra help, beneficial to have a good TF, lectures are very boring but important to go to, not sympathetic if you're not doing well
Todd is so egocentric that he'll gladly babble on about anything that makes him feel more intelligent. He likes to solve math fast, but make him draw a different graph and he'll "think about it". If you train with the problem sets he posts, you'll easily get a B.
good professor. test come right from the class notes
Extreemly easy class, Idson is a good professor, but is rude, and has a very inflated opinion of himself.
used to teach at columbia so he knows his stuff. he's very clear and makes sure everyone understands the material before moving on to new topics. probably the best EC prof at BU. class is an easy B.
Probably one of the best Economics professors, but a tad obnoxious. Taking good notes is essential; he does not use slides, so you really have to go to class. Doing the problem sets is VERY ESSENTIAL in doing well since he took the some of the questions straight from them. He uses a curve as well, sets the median grade to a B, which has helped.
Prof. Idson is probably the worst Prof. I've had at BU. He is def the most boring lecture teacher, and his multiple choice tests are the hardest I have ever taken throughout all of my years of schooling. He doesn't prepare or go over the tests at all, so you're basically screwed. Class avgs: 72, 74, and 65 on the final. So I'm happy w/ my B!
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Although Idson may be somewhat of a jerk, he is definitely one of, if not the best econ professor at BU. I had him for 101 and 201, and as a graduating Senior I feel I learned the most in his classes.
Amazing teacher. He's fantastically insightful and lucid. Furthermore, he's extremely fair and eager to answer any questions he is posed. I recommend taking any of his classes when possible.
He's a good teacher. He draws graphs for everything to help you understand things. I can't help but nod off in just about every lecture though. He posts all the slides online, so class isn't essential. Go over the slides do the problem sets and you should be fine. It's not a hard class.
Idson is a decent teacher -- however I felt like I learned most of the material on my own and I only went to class to supplement what I knew (some of his graphs are very handy) so I suggest reading and doing p-sets before discussion or class!
Lectures are VERY boring and usually by the end, most people are asleep. Lectures are optional but discussion is mandatory. Exams were pretty hard, especially since I've never taken an econ class before. He teaches straight out of the book though so if you read that and do problem sets you'll probably get at least at B.
worst experience of my life, not only was he extremely boring and monotonous but a complete jerk that can not explain concepts to any people other than economists
There is no other class, nor professor that i despise more than Idson and Micro. He is a terrible professor, and thinks he runs the world. He cant explain, and reads from the book. I stopped going, and taught it all to myself. I recommend to stay away from Idson if possible.
Read your text book is better then goes to his class.
Awesome professor for 201! Going to his lectures is something you will look forward to. Although what he says is mostly in the book, his explanations are great and really make sense. Lots of examples, and loves to make fun of politicians! Exams are straight out of the HW. A great class overall!
This class was horrendous. I learned very little from going to lecture and heavily depended on the book for everything. When he lectures, he says the same things over and over again. He also enjoys emphasizing the fact that he used to teach at Columbia...DAILY. Exams are fair but sitting through lecture is painful.
This was a love/hate class. Lectures could be either interesting or boring. The professor explains things very clearly, but digresses often. Discussions were useless and unfortunately, attendance to those were required. Either going to lecture or reading the book will get you a good grade - both is honestly unnecessary. Good intro class though
He used to teach at Columbia and loves talking about it. This isn't an easy class. Going to discussion is mandatory even though its really boring. People fall asleep in classes. He's a nice guy but I learned more by reading from the book.
Smart guy, not the best teacher. Extensive and messy use of overhead projector a bit outdated. Found myself learning the class out of the textbook before each test. He is a bit cocky and nerdy which can be funny. Talks too much and does not fit material in lecture. In attempt to cover the material, the course schedule goes off track.
Book is really great, and Lectures are really great. This was one of the only classes where I enjoyed both and found both helpful. Idson has a really good way of illuminating the text. Also he gives really good examples in class, and assigns really applicable and interesting articles to read. I loved him!
Idson is very annoying, i.e. very inflated ego, constantly making political comments, constantly reminding students he taught at columbia, always telling us about his salary. Unfortunately, the boring lectures are necessary to go to because he doesn't post slides or anything.
Very knowledgeable teacher. Knows his subject inside and out. Has a lot of experience researching in the field. Also has a good sense of humor and likes telling interesting anecdotes. Tests can be difficult, do the problem sets and you'll be dine.
Very knowledgeable teacher. Knows his subject inside and out. Has a lot of experience researching in the field. Also has a good sense of humor and likes telling interesting anecdotes. Tests can be difficult, do the problem sets and you'll be fine.
Nice great, really bad teacher. Makes NO sense in lecture, in fact the people who dont go to lecture do the best on tests. During class he tells random stories that dont help at all. He uses messy overheads so if you miss something that happens to be important (unlikely) you get stuck. READ THE BOOK or you have NO chance!!
Definitely a great professor but the tests are completely impossible. The textbook is extremely important to follow, and his lectures go in depth. Discussions are mandatory [with problem sets]. Although I learned more than what I received as a grade, in the future I will not be taking another Econ test with Idson.
I didn't think i would like economics when i entered the class and now it is my major. He is an intelligent and friendly guy, his tests are not that hard and his lectures are engaging. I think he is a great professor and highly recommend him even for a big lecture.
Idson is very clear in his explanations and his lectures build upon the information in the textbook, often uses graphs and slides to explain yet his exams are extremely difficult and tricky. They are completely unrelated to things he taught you in class.
Todd Idson is one of the worst professors I've ever had. He doesn't give you the opportunity to learn. Most profs go by the book at least a little bit, use visuals, etc., for people that don't learn by listening to the professor rant. Not Idson. He lectures material not taught in the book. Exams are easy, but you will get 20 pointsofffornoreas
Worst prof ever. First time I ever hated a prof/ class. EC 101 should be easy but he makes it as difficult as possible. He covered the concepts in the simplest terms then the tests were extremely difficult. Also, he is the most pompous, selfcentered person I have ever met.
Great lecturer that keeps things interesting and uses real world examples. Is the head of the department and really knowledgeable. He is a little stuck up (has his opinion and pretty much sticks to it) but willing to have conversations with you during class or office hours.
Idson is a department head so understand that he is serious about econ. His notes are valuable and thats what he uses to teach, so pay attention in class. You'll learn A LOT from him. If you're some bozo who belongs in COM and expects easy grading, well go to COM. if you're smart and like econ take Idson's classes. for sure.
I learned a ton in his class. And for me, the lectures were really good. But he's probably one of the most arrogant people I've ever met.
Idson is easily one of the WORST professors I've ever had...terrible at explaining concepts and has an constant need to say that he used to teach at Columbia. Although I came into the class not interested in the subject, I worked hard and did everything I could. Regardless, the exams were very difficult and I did not do well in the class. AVOID.
He makes very hard exams. He only had three exams and he didn't collect any work to give you credit for trying in his class. Of course, some professors are lazy and don't want to collect assignments to actually prove that their students are working hard.And so, its very hard to lift up your grade. He makes the final cumulative.
Great lecturer but one of the hardest graders I have had, barely got a C
Worked so hard for this class and still only got a B. A big intro class. Not the best lecturer but he pretty much covers the book. I thought I was prepared for the midterms and final but clearly not, so make sure you know what you're doing and really understand the concepts. If you understand it, then there's not much a point of going to class.
Lectures make you go to sleep. Read the book and you will do well on his multiple choice exams. homework is collected, but helps to learn concepts along the way.
Avoid taking Idson! He just uses the lectures from the book's website. He is the only professor I had who did not create their own lecture. Sometimes I feel he is not even prepared.(And he wonders why people A) Skip his lecture or B) Fall asleep)To pass this course read from the text book it will provide much more information than Idson ever will.
Idson's classes are actually extremely easy and clear. Just take notes, study them, do the problem sets, study them and you'll ace all the exams. He's extremely open to intelligent questions and expects you to think which is more than what other professors expect. Definitely take him.
This is a terrible class and he makes it no better. Attendance is mandatory at lecture AND discussion, problem sets are difficult and ultimately unhelpful. The practice exams he gives out are so easy compared to the final which is impossible. If you need to take 101 hold out and take it with another professor.
The material itself is interesting and useful in the real world; however, he makes the class much more difficult than it actually should be. Practice tests are somewhat useful but the final was basically impossible. Keep your expectations low, read the book, and look at the powerpoints. His lectures are pretty much wortless so don't go if you can.
Idson is definately a tough professor. He understands the material well, however he doesn't convey the information in a way that I could understand easily. If you go to class, take GOOD notes, do the problem sets you should be ok.
Attendance is mandatory at lecture and discussion, which is extremely unhelpful because all you do is go over the problem sets.
Idson is unbelievable. His class is so boring and he does not say anything of value. He rambles on pointlessly and gets distracted. He lectures on an overhead projector w/ a clear sheet & dry erase pen; he does not know what power point is. He is the worst professor that I have ever had and he must be related to someone important to have a job here
worst professor i have ever had at bu. all he does is use the books powerpoints rather than making his own and his lectures are soooo useless. the tests are IMPOSSIBLE compared to the practice ones he puts on blackboard. this man makes me wish that i never emerged from the womb.
Idson was probably the worst professor i ever had. His tests were nothing like the practice ones and no amount of tutoring or help got me through that class. PLEASE do yourself a favor and get watson. I cringe now at the word microeconomics. His lectures are boring and useless and he is just as unhelpful in office hrs. stay away !
exams are very similar to the problem sets but you must provide extremely in depth responses; your entire grade is based only on the 3 exams
If you are planning on doing well on this class, you probably won't. The only good thing about this class is that in the end he seems to throw in a nice curve. But if you did really horrible on the exams, which you probably would, then you will not do well in this course.
One of my worst professors ever. The lectures are not mandatory and are, quite frankly, a waste of time. You can get by simply by reading the textbook and reviewing the lecture slides (which are essentially the PowerPoint version of the book.) Your entire grade is based off of the three exams, so expect this course to lower your GPA.
I totally agree with the previous comments. he is not a responsible professor. your final grade is based only on three exams, which, let's be practical, is not quite fair. He said he will curve the final grade, but i seriously doubt that. take manove or watson if you can! if you have to take him, pray for a good TA!
Idson has clear explanations. He goes through MC questions during lecture for each chapter, and these questions are exactly like the ones on the exams (some of them are identical). If you go to lecture, study the lecture MC questions, and do the practice midterms, the exams are very easy. The book is ok, but I learned the material from lecture.
The problem with this course is the grading system. The final exam counts for half of your final grade in the course. If you are doing well in the beginning (as I was) and then mess up on the final, your grade suffers tremendously. He no longer collects homework which leaves to not having much motivation to do it. Avoid unless the policies change.
He's probably one of my favorite professors at BU because I actually learned. His class is definitely not easy but if you want to do well its not that hard as long as you go to class and do the problem sets. He rushes you during office hours but if you go he'll definitely help you.
Absolutely useless to come to class. He teaches (very monotonously) exactly out of the textbook. He reads directly off of PowerPoint presentations that he posts online anyway. The class is easy, but he is BORING. Don't bother going to lecture. Just read the textbook. Also, study guide for the textbook is useless.
I love him. One of my favorite professors so far at BU. His class isn't easy, but he is crazy smart. Go to class, take good notes, and do the problem sets and you'll be fine!
Explains concepts very clearly. There are two non-cumulative exams exams and a final; all are fairly easy if you paid attention.
I dont understand how 3 tests can make up your entire grade but thats just me.
I have taken 101 and 201 with him, and I recommend him to anyone who wants to actually learn economics. My girlfriend has taken two classes as well and we both think he is the best Econ professor at BU. Go to class actually do the problem sets, which the exams come out of, and you will get a good grade. No need to read the text book, go to class!
I did not enjoy this class at all. I studied for hours and got D's on the exams and failed the final. I managed to get a C for the class... Still very confused on how that happened. Only three grades make up your final, he scales and always tries to give you the best grade you can...but exams are hard. STUDY THE PRACTICE EXAMS.
He's a great teacher if you take advantage of your time and listen actively in class. Your interest in the subject also matters as well
Nice professor, tests are straight from problem sets (although the problem sets take a while to study). Only problem, he doesn't like sports and its a sports economics class. I would highly recommend Professor Idson.
Pretty easy class. No attendance, and TFs in discussion don't check the problem sets he assigns. I'd say you could get away with only reading the book or only going to lecture, but when the material does get confusing his lectures can help clarify things better. The material is pretty easy but don't let it get to your head and you'll do fine.
His EC101 is fairly easy. He uses slides from the book, so if you read the book and understand it, you wouldn't even need to go to class. He explains things very clearly though, and the homework is not mandatory. Take his EC101 if you can!
You never have to go to class if you dont want to! Which is nice because lectures are SO dry. He's a nice guy, the materials straight forward, but I've heard there are much better professors. Just hope you get the material or know how to study because your grade consists of 3 tests and thats ALL
He sucked. There are way better professors out there. You don't really learn anything and as far as his personality goes, he's very dry and monotone. I did not enjoy his class, nor did I learn anything. I wish I would have taken a better professor for EC101! You're better off with someone else.
Idson teaches directly from the book, but lectures are still useful. He likes to incorporate drawings into his lectures, and those are not in the textbook for the most part. He's easy to understand and seems friendly and approachable.Exams were extremely similar to assigned practice problems and the practice exams.
Personally, I don't know why there are people who say he isn't good. It could be either the raters are lazy or blame the professor for having low grades. The course he teaches is easy (hence, an 'intro' class) and the professor not only teaches material from the book, he also gives you more info about the course. He also encourages students to ask.
Make sure you go to the last third of the courses lectures (after 2nd midterm.) Everything after that gets so complex. Attendance is not mandatory whatsoever but that can really screw you. Textbook is god in this course. BUY ONE. Discussion was a complete waste. Went to 1 the entire semester.
Not a difficult class if you read the textbook and pay attention in lecture. The lectures follow the book pretty closely, but Idson sometimes adds anecdotes that are really helpful in understanding the concepts as they apply to real life. He always changes his office hours but he tries to make himself really available.
His lectures are useless. I went to lecture 6 times, if that--and that includes the 3 exams that I took. Your textbook will be your god. Expensive but I highly, highly recommend you buying it. His final is the most balls hard thing I've ever taken though. But only cus I didn't care to study a bit. Know your stuff and you'll be fine.
Sports Econ was one of the classes I was really looking forward to in the degree. Turned out to be one of the most boring and bland courses at BU. Would not recommend it.
Sports econ is straightforward and uses only intro economic concepts with some topics gone to a little more in depth. Wanted to take this class before but it fills up quickly, and if you love sports you should take it and see how your interest in sports and economics can mesh. Read the required articles and study the problem sets.
Professor Idson encourages all students to come to his office hours and to ask him questions during lectures. I remember doing all nasty economic questions online. He really tries hard to make students understand what he is teaching even by drawing graphs. He is nice but economics just didn't fit me.
You don't need to go to class as long as you read the textbook (or the other way around). Tests are almost exactly the same as discussion problems and practice tests.
Awful experience with this course. I basically taught myself by reading the book and getting help from the TAs at the Principles Center. Studied 30+ hours for the final (no exaggeration) and ended up getting a D on it. First C I've ever gotten in my life in a class, so you know it wasn't cause I didn't try.
I was dreading economics until I took Idson's class and three days in I made it my major. He's very smart and widely published. Explains concepts clearly and goes over the material many times so you can have a full understanding.
He is a very nice professor. Easy to get good grades if u put effort on learning or reading the book. One of the great professors in BU
EC204 is a new class. You know that BU does few things well, and EC204 is a course that took five years to make and completely sucks. Idson also has an ego, and talks more about his own life than teach economics.
Unless BU completely restructures this course, DO NOT TAKE IT. You have to teach yourself the statistics and STATA, he is not helpful or clear in explaining concepts. Also that 20 page paper that was assigned 3 weeks before classes ended…Awful.
I absolutely love Idson. Read the textbook section prior to class so that you're not completely lost when you get to class and although the hw isnt checked, do them!!! They help alot on the exams
Nice guy that knows what he isn't teaching the most interesting material. Read the textbook, do the practice problems, forget discussion, and hope for the best. Grade is two midterms and a 50% final which is EXTREMELY CONFUSING. Does curve. Studied 30+ hours for a C- on one midterm. Study more than that and you're golden.
took AP Economics in high school absolutely hated it and dreaded taking ECON 101 in college. Amazing professor, very clear. Exams are very straightforward and like practice exams give in class and online. no surprises. if you go to class, read textbook and pay attention! you should have no problem getting an a in this class.
Idson's the man.
This was Idson's first time teaching Statistics and it really did show. He was unclear in his teaching of concepts and equations. He had a hard time answering questions in class and often derailed to avoid giving a wrong answers. I relied entirely on the TF who knew the subject better than Idson. However, tests were easy.
I took this course to fulfill a requirement for SMG. Some would say Idson is dry- which is very true. However, if you make the effort to attend and pay attention in lectures, do the assigned reading, and study hard you WILL get a good grade. Very funny in class, nice man :)
Tough course. I barely studied for the first midterm and got a 47.5, second midterm got an 87.5, but only because it was almost exactly like the practice midterm on blackboard. Ended up getting a 67.14 on the final, yet somehow got a B- overall, which isn't terrible considering my grades. He's a nice guy, but his tests are hard.
Terrible lecturer. Boring and lacking enthusiasm. Teaches straight from the book. Learned everything from the TFs.
Idson was pretty good at econ. I took intro to econ (not ap) in high school and I found that I covered most of the information then. I found that he clearly explained topics, and Im not really sure why so many people struggled.
Honestly, I hated his lectures. He is kind of an arrogant guy and he tells lots of personal anecdotes. His favorite story is the one where he tells us in excruciating detail why he makes more money than the History professors.
Impressive! Best course I took at BU so far. No crazy deadlines for assignments, just good and old lecturing and tests (3). You can do well just by reading the textbook (which is excellent) as Idson mostly what's in it. Go to lectures, they are interesting! His asides are extremely interesting. Kind, clear, supportive prof. Good in office hours.
Best course taken at BU so far: just clear and interesting lectures, with mainly reviews in discussion, plus 3 exams. No crazy deadlines. Book extremely helpful, although Idson covers almost all of it in lectures very clearly. Do posted problems and exams (similar to tests). Prof really kind, clear, helpful both in class and office hours. Loved it!
If you get the examples in class, don't bother with the problem sets or discussion (they're optional anyway). He's kind of arrogant, and if you email him with any questions (big or small), he'll just reply to come to office hours. That being said, the lectures, albeit boring, are extremely helpful and all you have to do is go and take notes.
He's boring and his lectures are long, but he's straightforward and if you pay attention and do the practice tests, you'll get an A. Don't buy the textbook.
Prof. Idson is a great professor! Explains concepts very clearly, and the subject is very interesting. Do the readings!
Homework and discussion attendance was completely optional and didn't affect final grade at all. All that mattered was the test scores. Really fair tests. He's a good guy and a great teacher although the subject gets pretty boring. Provides tons of practice questions and office hours and resources so you do well. Definitely recommend this class!
Idson was an interesting lecturer I suppose. Considering this class is based solely on three test grades, I skipped most classes and read the entire text book. Go to discussion and do problem sets.
Make sure to really study for the final. Studied 24 hours and got an F. The final is basically the last 4 chapters
Although the professor does teach straight from the textbook, he knows the materials very well. He is there for you in his office hours, and is willing to answer your questions patiently. He occasionally assigns specific questions from chapters for us to practice, which helped my understanding for this course.
He's a good guy, funny and erudite. His lectures may be long but he always tries to give us a break by going on digressions (actual examples of the concepts he's talking about from world history or even personal anecdotes) for about 10 minutes per lecture. Tests are really easy, 1/8 question is literally the same as the sample test. TAKE THE CLASS
Make sure you review really hard and focus on the last chapters for the final. The class average for the past two mid-terms are above 80 but the final's average is only 60. That's crazy.
Very easy class. If you work hard and read the textbook, you dont even need to go to lectures. The textbook is everything you need. It is clear and covers everything that might come up on the tests.
Definitely take EC 101 with Idson and this is one of the easiest classes at BU. There is a lot of help offered during office hours plus he explains thoughtfully during lectures. If you do the practice lecture questions and practice exams and attend office hours, there is no reason why you shouldn't get an A.
Fine for an intro class. Idson can get boring, especially at 9:30 in the morning. Go to lecture and/or discussion if you want to do well. Attendance to both is not mandatory so many people end up never going to class... bad move! Pick one and go.. I went to most lecture but never to discussion. Definitely won't be getting an A. Good luck lol
Lectures are so long and boring. Not required to go to lectures or discussions so A LOT of people didn't go. As long as you have the textbook for the class, you're good. Did not learn much at all from professor.
Idson often goes on long tangents/personal anecdotes that may or may not be related to economics. Only 3 exams during the semester. If your discussion TF is bad, try and switch to another section as fast as you can.
He is a great professor, the class is so attractive and it is easy to get high grade if you could listen carefully in class. Not much homework, easy to handle.
No homework. Three exams. He curves your grades. Exams are tough, you really need to study. STUDY THE MIDTERM AND EXAM SAMPLES. If you understand those, you're good. He's cocky, but he's there to answer your questions. Save your money -you can find the book online for free as a pdf or youtube lectures based off the books chapters- Exact powerpoint
Attend class and just do all the problems he assigns for homework as practice for your exam and you will be good to go. He just takes practice questions and changes the numbers for exams. Its very straight forward.
If you are into sports the course is interesting but not as much as you would expect. You must attend class to know what Idson considers to be important No homework, just 2 midterms and a final.
About the textbook. I basically went to class 4 times the entire semester but got an A. Why? Because I read the textbook. So, if you want to skip classes, then buy the textbooks. But if you plan to attend all the lectures, you don't really need the textbook. The exams are not easy. You REALLY need to do the practice exams.
Profesor Idson's tests are more difficult versions of his practice exams so as long as you understand main concepts from the powerpoints you should be fine. Don't go to discussions it's pointless and the TAs stink. I memorized the style of the practice tests and problems to get my A. All lecture problems are on the test!
The class is only graded on the two midterms and one final. First midterm is difficult because you're not use to the grading, but the second one is better. I didn't go to lecture or discussion for most of the semester and still got a B. I studied the textbook, did problem sets, and practice tests. Lectures are straight from the textbook.
Incredibly hard to follow and known for going on excessive tangents. No cold calling, attendance for discussion or lecture, or homework. Tests are much harder than any of the practice he provides. Definitely go to office hours if you don't understand something, you WILL fall behind.
Very interesting class, very good lecturer. Lecture identical to the book. Attendance 100% doesn't matter. Very smart guy and makes clever jokes. Would take again.
I took this course because it was a required course for my major (IR). Went to lecture for the first 5 weeks and then never showed up again because I would fall asleep since his lectures are incredibly boring. He's a fair grader and the class is overall easy if you do hw and attend discussion, but he was not a great professor to learn material from
Nothing further to add from what is posted already. Either go to lecture or read the book, doing both is overkill.
loved this class. tbh I only went to three lectures the entire semester and haven't been to discussion at all. If you are looking for a class where you do not have to show up and can teach yourself from the book, this is the class
As someone who is generally just not a good test taker, this class was devastating. Your entire grade is based on two exams and a final, and that's IT. No extra credit, no homework, no participation, no attendance, NOTHING. He curves at the end, but I'm not sure if that'll help me much. Utilize BU's peer tutoring center and the practice problems!
HI, everyone!! This course title is Empirical ECON2; however, course materials is remarkably intensive and really, just all about STATA. First, if you cannot afford STATA, you fail. Second, if you do not know how to read STATA, you will not get a good grade. I took this course for fun but it turned out to be wrong. (1Mid term, 1 Big Paper, 1 Final)
New world of economics. Absolutely amazing tests that you can never get an A. Homeworks asking for things not covered in class. Mandatory 15 pages-long paper at the end of the semester will influence your OTHER classes finals. The best part is it is required course for econ major students. Simply put, every econ students cannot get away from this.
He is a good lecturer, good at elaborating and making connections to real scenario. But, his exam is overly difficult compare to concepts I learned from class. There are a lot of application problems, so it is not enough to just attend lecture and take notes. You might suppose to solve many sample problems and get used to it. Honestly, not easy
so so so boring. He reads from slides. Attendance is not mandatory and lectures are straight from the textbook.
For me, Professor Idson is a fairly good lecturer. His lecture is clear and logical. It is true that the test is harder than what he has covered in the lecture. However, If you do all homework and mock tests you can get; make sure you understand well of them, you will be fine. The mean of the first test is about a C- and I get a B.
Definitely knew his material but every lecture was basically just reading straight out of the textbook. Rambles a lot and easily gets off topic and was very unhelpful when going to office hours for clarification on topics. Overall a nice guy but pretty boring as a professor
Very boring professor but I guess that is expected in an intro micro class. He reads off the slides and can go on random tangents. Tests are hard but do all the problem sets and practice exams.
I never went to lecture and scored above average on all exams. Since his lectures are straight from the book, it's very face-value. I really enjoyed his class, however. Of the few times I went, he really changed my thinking on a lot of things and he's very concise on the practice exams being exactly the real exam.
prof. idson is my first professor at BU. he is really really great. There are only 3 tests to determine your grade so this class is not very stressful. NO HOMEWORK, ATTENDENCE IS NOT MENDETORY. what's more, he is caring and halirioius. I have registered EC203 from him. enjoy his class.
Idson is a pretty good lecturer you actually learn economics in his class. His midterm is a breeze and you should ace it. His final is realy really hard and no one gets a 100 on that test. If you can even manage an A- on the final then you get an A.
It is a easy course and test is not so hard. In fact, the second midterm is the easiest test I have ever taken, most of the problems are from the practice test and all of them are multiple choice and you can even get a 100 if you prepare well. Those who think these tests are really hard are guys never read textbook and never go to the lectures.
Great Professor.
Lectures are very tiring and monotonous, grades solely depend on tests. Basically, getting a good grade in this class can be achieved by reading the slides and obviously the textbook material.
Idson is not one to waste time. He starts every class on time and waits for no one, and each lecture is very organized. The tests comprise the entire grade, but if you study the textbook and go over practice questions/tests, you'll be fine. You don't necessarily have to go to class to do well, so long as you study. Overall a good professor!
Professor Idson is a great lecturer who can crack some very funny jokes. He is great at explaining concepts and is easy to follow if you study outside of class. All his tests are multiple choice and are not too bad if you do the problem sets.
Honestly, I didn't go to many lectures but I'd say I definitely understand the concepts of microeconomics. He basically reads off the slides and teaches the textbook so for those cold days when you don't wanna get out of bed you can definitely stay caught up by reading the textbook. On the days I did go to lecture, it was because he was a nice guy.
You have 2 midterms and a final exam: all multiple choice. If you go to every lecture, you don't need to read the book. Sometimes he can be interesting, but his handwriting is impossible to read so you have to listen and keep up. He gives you study guides for exams and although some questions are exactly the same, 80% of the real exam is harder.
Attendance is not mandatory and his lectures are similar to the textbook info, so if you study from the textbook, lecture is practically the same. He is very detailed during lectures and spends too much time on some concepts over others. Doesn't allow laptops, so note taking gets tedious.
Idson is a good guy and clearly understands the material he covers in class. His grading policy is flexible and he wants his students to do well. His lectures are a bit boring and he is fairly monotonic during class. If you see him during office hours we will answer any of your questions fully. The tests are essentially copies of his problem sets.
Idson really makes it clear that your test grades are what matters for your final grade. Lectures were rather tiresome, and he doesn't allow computers in class so you have to take handwritten notes. I got pretty good grades just by studying the textbook and his slides. Midterms and final are very similar to the practice exams and problem sets.
As many before me have said, I can agree that he is pretty bland in lectures. However, I can tell he cares for the success of the students and explains all the material. For this reason, I believe he made a great professor to have for economics since he makes it manageable; the content is boring, not him.
The real test is basically the same as the practice test so if you can do that ur set.
His lectures use prepared powerpoint slides that are specific to the Mankiw textbook (which you will definitely use and definitely need- but not the online code) and sometimes he handwrites on a tablet. He goes very slowly through material and gives plenty of examples. You definitely need to show up to class or you will fall behind in lecture.
The lecture material modeled the textbook exactly and often times the same examples from the book were presented in class. If you skip class then just read the chapter from the book and you will be fine. The only grades are two midterms and a final which I found to be easy because Idson posted sample exams on blackboard from previous years.
Lectures come straight from the textbook. If you want to do well, READ the textbook, do the practice lecture questions and practice exams.
Todd Idson gives great lectures that is sufficient for anyone who listen and attend lectures to get an A. You can really tell that he is passionate in his teachings and cares for the well being of his student. Though, arguably he can be very boring, he is in most time very helpful.
Very stuck in his ways. He's been teaching EC101 for 23 years and still does not know how to explain things in more ways than one. Not a hard class, but a boring teacher who doesn't allow computers in his class (although you can just sit in the back and use your computer fine).
Avoid taking him if you can. I went to almost every lecture and could not retain any information. It came to the point where I studied the slides on my own while he was lecturing, instead of listening to what he had to say.
I went to every lecture and yet what the professor would talk about rarely explained the material in a helpful way. Your grade in the class is based off of only three exams where the material is frequently presented in a way that you have not seen. Overall, the structure of this class is tremendously unfair.
Dear all, He... lets just say.... is not the best man to go for for econ. I mean... he's chill and nice... I guess??? But, even tho I never too Watsy, he is the WAY TO GO if u EVER wanna take ANY econ classes. This class drenched my happiness and made me feel depressed for the rest of my life. So... yeah,.. have a great day GANG!:)
Texts are easy, and it is doable to just read the PPTs and practice exercises. Lectures are kind of boring sometimes, because he will just talk about the materials covered on PPTs. Overall is a well-structured and easy course.
He is alright, but his personal skills are lacking. Not the best professor, but not the worst. Also he uses mankiw textbook, which is nice.
If you are looking for a class that is super straightforward, Idson is your best bet. You can usually find his past exams online which are amazing study tools. He really emphasizes practicing through examples, and it truly is the best way to do well on his tests. Two midterms and a final. Homework is optional and is worked through in discussion.
overcomplicates things to the max. Not very clear even though he might seem like he's teaching in a clear-fashioned way. grade is only based on 3 exams. i thought it'd be better than 101 but it's not. he doesn't really read his emails either so when you ask a question he doesn't really answer because he didnt read it. really frustrating class.
Professor Idson is one of the most caring and respected professors at BU. He is very knowledgeable in the topics that he teaches and is determined to help if you have trouble. He cares about his students and tries his best to make econ enjoyable. You won't regret taking his class.
keeps saying gang unclear lectures prepare to study yourself if u don't know anything about Econ
Avoid Idson. His curves are minimal in this class and he completely blindsides you on the final by giving you over double the amount of problems with little partial credit or sufficient time so you cant even finish. i cried during the first midterm and the final exam. i studied at LEAST 30-40 hours for the final and got a very bad grade
The material presented is straightforward but requires a lot pf practice to master. There is no homework or quizzes, grade is based solely on exams. Lectures are not always helpful or necessary. Professor usually only presents notes during lectures. Not too difficult of a class but you may spend a lot of time teaching yourself.
Idson clearly cares a lot about his students, but the lectures are too lengthy and dull. He puts a lot of materials online and really makes it easy to get an A
Professor Idson is a great professor who is very clear with the course material.
He's a nice grandpa who says gang a lot which is kind of cute and funny, but that's it. The lectures are long, and he tries his best to give examples, but some things can be explained in more simple terms (I didn't understand majority of what was going on). The grades are based off of 3 tests that are very very similar to the practice ones.
Honestly love this professor and class in general. Before taking EC 101 I heard it was very hard and very boring but Professor Idson made it interesting and frequently brings in real world examples to class. Def recommend.
A great prof. lectures are enjoyable but the tests are multiple-choice and hard but that's not his fault. He's super chill and explains stuff very well to make sure you understand. his handwriting is a bit hard to dissect though. I don't like econ but would take it with him if I had to again.
This class was probably one of the worst classes I've had at BU, and I took CH101. The lectures were confusing, we had hardly enough time to complete the exams, and the grades were solely based on the exams so if you don't do well, you're screwed.
Grades are only based on the exams and he gives no real guide on what will be on. Hope you can rush because you will get screwed if you dont finish in time.
Interesting topic, but it is a test heavy course. Be ready to read books and article. The overall exam is not that hard, with curve based on the class distribution.
Idson is one of the best professors I have at BU. He is good at explaining concepts and willing to help. The grading criteria and exam are straightforward. As long as you really understand everything on the slides, do practice problems (if there is any), the exam will be easy for you.
Idson is a really good guy. Hes very nice. But if you are looking to learn economics this class is a dub. Hes very boring and lecture heavy. You can't help but feel bad for the guy at the end of the day because hes just a old dude and v passionate, but he is just a boring teacher.
Professor Idson is an extremely dry speaker in his lectures and tends to run off track on tangents that have little to do with the class. I would tell anyone who is taking EC101 (micro) to avoid him and look for different professors.
worst professor ever, grades only based on exams. he only sit in the front and read the slides. His final exam even include things he doesn't mention in class with incomplete formulas given. His questions in final is unreasonable, in other section, they have 10 mutilple choices and 4 calculations, in his class, 11 calculations in 2 hours
an icon. his lectures are not mandatory. the textbook works really well for studying. he is really good at preparing you for exams. just do the notes and the textbook questions and you'll be fine.
Professor Idson is the best! There is only three exams in this class Midterm 1, Midterm 2, and the Final. He is so fair with grading and curves your grade at the end by a lot. I would say this class is an easy A just by reading the class slides. He makes the exam similar to the actual test. You will also get out of class actually learning something
Professor Idsons lecture is extremely boring. The only thing that he did is reading powerpoint with very little explanation. Whats worse, the content of the powerpoint and the study material is hardly related with the exam. He always dismisses the class ten to fifteen minutes early. Plus, he seems indisposed to help students to figure out problem
HIs class is genuinely so boring. Your grade is determined by three major tests- so make sure you prepare well. As long as you do the practice tests and understand the concepts behind the problems you should be fine.
Prof. Idson is one of the more boring prof. that i've had at bu so far. His lectures drag and his handwriting is illegible. My TA was very helpful in alleviating the shortcomings of Idson's lecture, but it depends on your TA. For an intro class, it is average and expect- no one wants to be there and no one shows up.
Professor Idson is a great professor with a deep understanding of economics. I am unsure as to why there are so many bad reviews for him. He can get sidetracked at times, but the stories that he shares are insightful and interesting if you have any interest in economics. He is extremely thorough in his lectures and I had no trouble with the tests.
A nice prof, practice test was almost identical to the exam which was nice.
A great professor although his classes does get boring at times and his handwriting can be hard to read. He is a fair grader and curves your grade at the end by alot which can be helpful to you. Not a huge fan of econ but wouldn't mind taking it with him again. Also, he loves to say 'gang' . You'll definitely hear him say it alot.
He is a sweet guy and all, but his lectures are extremely boring. I stopped attending his lectures all together and learned the material on my own time using slides that were posted. His practice tests he gives before the actual tests however are extremely similar like sometimes even same problem diff numbers.
Lectures were boring and pointless because he just restated the textbook. There were no psets and we didn't get a notecard for exams unlike other profs for EC101. Also due to a misprint on my test1, there was a whole page missing, so my entire grade was made up of 2 exams. Didn't realize how bad he was until I had a good prof for EC102.
Extremely Boring Lectures. Definitely do not take it unless you have to. There are no problem sets at all, it is only graded on your tests which were pretty difficult.
Idson is a cool guy and he knows a lot about Econ, though it feels like he often goes on tangents about these sorts of things. The class grading is made of 3 texts, and their weights vary depending on how you do (the higher exam scores will be weighted more). He likes to say gang too lol
Boring and strict with his own things, a bit rude sometimes
Professor Idson is definitely knowledgeable in the field of microeconomics, but he doesn't explain it well to the class. Your grade is based off 3 exams, which are tough as it is, and it's hard to recover if you fail one of the exams, especially the final. Micro is hard, and one needs a teacher who breaks down the material, not reads off a slide.
knowledgable on econ but not a great teacher. lectures are boring and the few practice problems he does in class are done too quickly and don't help for the 3 tests that your grade depends on. but he provides study guides with problems that he reuses so make sure you do those to familiarize yourself with what will appear on the actual tests
hard
economics professor who doesn't talk about his conservative political leanings during lecture challenge: impossible. also the TAs sucked but i guess that's case by case
I honestly don't know how anyone hates on this man. I have never taken an econ class and I barely studied on both exam 1 and 2 and got a high 90 on both. He started requiring problem sets to be done each week but they only take a few minutes and are the easiest 100 ever. His exams are STRAIGHT from these question. Go to lectures and you'll get an A
He cares about the class(if he could not come, he will set up online courses to make up). But also the lectures are kinda boring and few problem sets are given(not enough practice after class). Homework is not very related to exams cuz it is not multiple choice but open questions
Super boring, great dude, just didn't do much for me.
Todd is AMAZING. Such a nice caring guy and always puts his students before himself. I love Todd you will too
He is actually accessible outside class, especially Gmail I think. But the lecture was kinda boring and tests were tough ( final was hard and took the percentage of 40%)
Professor is nice but the class is a bit boring. If you get 90+ on your midterm 1 and 2 and 80+ on the final, then you'll get an A.
Explains concepts pretty well but often goes off on tangents in class and lectures can be a bit boring. Graded by 2 midterms, weekly psets, and the final. Very accessible over zoom if needed and very kind. Do the lecture psets and practice tests as they're the closest to the real thing and he often reuses questions.
lectures are pretty boring and he often goes off on unrelated tangents. also tends to overcomplicate topics. graded by weekly problem sets (for completion) 2 midterms and final. if you read the textbook though, you're good since that's all he goes over in the lectures. accessible outside class and hosted zoom review session before exams
Tests are easy: problems are mostly lifted from the textbook and/or problems gone over in class. You do have to study for the tests, but if you've paid attention in class and done a representative sample of problems from the textbook, you'll be fine.
totally no need to go to his lecture, prepare to study by yourself, if you can understand everything on his ppt you can get an A. There's a final curve after final exam which can definitely help your grades
Very knowledgable and enjoys teaching. Take him if you want to understand the world beyond the textbook. Lectures can get a bit dry and the slides are straight out of the textbook but he explains concepts in a clearer way and most of the graphing is explained in lecture. Often discusses economic policy in a completely objective and unbiased way.
A nice guy, however, I truly felt I did not get any knowledge out of this class. Horrible lecture style; my biggest pet peeve was his atrocious handwriting and broken mic. This literally made the class so difficult because you could not hear him and his notes/graphs were illegible. Exams were difficult, however the final is curved which was nice.
I struggled a lot in this class, hard time reading everything and looking back over my notes after class made no sense because I was trying to decode his chicken scratch handwriting. Take a different professor because his handwriting made it extremely difficult to grasp any course concepts, and I feel that his lecturing set me up for failure.
tests are easy if you have done all the problem sets.
The exam questions are very difficult and account for a high percentage of the GPA. The number of questions is small m can not be effectively linked, practice questions are big questions exam is multiple choice.
Professor Idson works as a micro professor, tests are all multiple choice which is nice, psets are mostly straightfoward, but lectures can get boring, which is mostly the subjects fault, not him, do the readings and psets and you're pretty much ok
Prof Idson does review sessions before the midterms and explains things very well during office hours-- overall he helps a lot. This class has weekly homework assignments, 2 midterms, and a final which is very manageable. The exams are very similar to practice exams so there are no surprises. Definitely recommend him
honestly didn't do as well as i wanted to in this course but got the "average" grade. the exams have many reused questions and as long as you understand the concepts, you'll be fine. he curved the overall grade but doesn't curve exam grades.
Knowledgeable, and good for an intro class. But boring lectures. By week 4 I figured out that you can either read the textbook and not go to lecture, or vice versa, and still end up with the same grade. He uses text verbatim from the book on his slides. Overall fine and isn't bad if you're just taking economics as a major requirement like me.
Lectures were boring and unnecessary, but attendance was not mandatory. My TA was awful but that's just luck of the draw, not Idson's fault. Tests seemed hard but not too hard to cram for in my experience. Course graded on a curve, 13 free points for HW completion, hard midterms & final. Cool accent that makes it easier to listen to lectures.
This professor's lecture is quite boring and fast paced. If you miss one lecture then it's difficult for you to follow up. Fortunately, there are slides available so students can self study(tbh I found self studying more useful).
Idson does a great job of helping you actually understand the economic concepts rather than just re-state the textbook in lectures. Problems sets are free points, they are graded on effort not accuracy. The course paper, if you put the effort in, is quite simple and a good grade boost. Make sure you know his main lecture examples.
Professor Idson was fantastic and I would love to take any of the other courses he teaches. He is clearly passionate about the content and explains concepts very thoroughly. It is an easy class if you pay attention.
Professor Idson is an alright professor, he is chill and his lecture is often filled with good analogies. It sometimes drags and feels like he could have summed the core concepts in 15 minutes but it can be pretty useful. Although attendance is not mandatory, it is very well recommended as it has articles on the final exam not in the textbook.
The class was very redundant to what the slides showed, so not many people went to lectures. Exams are fully multiple choice but can be hard because of how things are worded. His voice makes the lecture so boring, but he is funny. To do well in this class, do the practice exams and watch the solution videos.
Whilst all the information is in his lectures, they are boring and monotonous which is why no one ever attends. Tests make up 80% of his grading and they are extremely difficult with lots of analyzing and little q/t ratio. He expects you to understand all concepts before office hours. Even though he has a curve, try not to take this prof.
I thought I understood the content but the exams were not it for me. MCQs that felt only adjacent to what we learned about in discussion sections and lectures. Nice professor, but just read off the slides. Hard to read handwriting. Graded on only a few exams and an essay (hard to figure out what was expected -- first year he assigned the essay).
Idson's lectures are very helpful, and his practice midterms and finals can be identical to tests. He will pull from his specific examples he gives in lectures for questions, too. You don't need to worry about readings the textbook pages, as he repeats them, just use them if you are confused. 10/10 micro teacher + chooses good TAs.
Didn't go to many lectures (textbook was sufficient), but he was interesting when I did.
I liked him in lecture, although sometimes a bit boring. Homework is graded off of completion which is nice. There are three total tests including the final that the grade is based on and they are multiple choice so there is little wiggle room in answers. Tests don't resemble the practice ones given and wording of questions is quite tedious.
He covers the material, but is very dry. Went to about 3 lectures and the lectures I went to, I couldn't pay attention because it was so boring. His slides are clear and the information does get across, but if you want an intriguing professor, go in another direction. Had to read the book twice to grasp info because of his boring lectures.
Idson is a good lecturer and clearly cares about the material, but the formatting of the course is very unhelpful for students, and grading is tough.
Great professor, covers everything well in lecture. Lectures can be incredibly boring, but finding a way to make them bearable is really helpful. Idson is a great guy and the final grades are curved up a bit. If you go to class and take notes you will be fine and it makes the boring material easier. 3 multiple choice exams and problem sets.
Lectures not required, posts slides but beneficial in my opinion to attend, helpful. Weekly problem sets based on completion, not similar to the exams whatsoever. Very accessible out of class, second half of the content gets kinda of tricky. Not bad of a course exams take up most of the grade but doable for sure. Fairly generous with the curve.
Idson's lectures can be dry, but if you stay engaged, the material clicks. The exams don't align perfectly with practice tests, so unstuckstudy ai helps prep. Overall, a manageable course with a fair curve.
Professor Idson clearly has a passion for economics but the tangents he goes on during his lectures are so confusing. The lectures are boring and he just reads off a PowerPoint that everyone has access to. Your grade is 2 midterms and a final and the tests aren't hard they're just boring. He also makes sure to push his own beliefs during lecture.
Professor Idson has an extremely flawed grading system. Basing an entire semester's grade on two midterms and one final negatively impacts almost every student taking this class. I would recommend any student looking for EC101 to take CELIK! Essentially, if you're not a test taker, you're screwed with Idson. Xoxo
Awful boring lectures. Class is graded off of three tests, 2 midterms and one final. Don't take this class with Idson, try for any other professor.
Prof. Idson is really nice and you can tell hes good at what he does. Unfortunately, lecturers get rlly monotonous and it becomes very easy to skip. If you read the textbook though you'll be fine and be able to figure it out. His practice tests are really good though it becomes stressful since exams make up your entire grade (No HW, attendance).
Your grade is only made up of two midterms and a final. Near impossible to get an A unless you do almost perfect on every test. His teaching makes the content so much more confusing. I stopped paying attention in lecture and just read the textbook and taught myself everything. What a waste of money just for me to teach myself. Ridiculous
Todd is kind and fun. He would always like to share many personal and professional experiences with students. He is always bringing econ to daily life and making it more practical. Aside from class, you can also get something more about career development. Will definitely take his course again.
Really strict in the exam halls, doesn't even let you borrow stuff from classmates if you don't have it on you. Overall wouldn't recommend him, there are other better professors than him for this course
Professor Idson is a good professor, but he gets carried away during lectures on topics irrelevant to the class. If you have no other option, take him; he gives exam questions before the exam.
Horrible professor. So confusing. DO NOT TAKE.
He does not care about his students. Apparently he has the highest rate of failing students!! He must get under review.
Idson really is passionate, which you can tell from his tangents in class, and honestly does not seem like a bad guy. But, if you are not math-brained, do not take this with him. The slides are generic textbook slides, which don't match with the tests at all, and half of the time he barely follows them. I would not recommend this course at all.
What a horrible class. Grade is based upon 3 exams and final is very tough. DO NOT TAKE!!
Do not take this professor, the class is made up of 3 grades, which are 2 midterms and a final. Even if you study for hours, the practice tests are not like the actual tests. He does not teach well at all and rambles. His lectures are just reading off the slides; take this class with someone else. If you are a bad test taker, don't take the class.
I had Professor Idson for 101 and took this class as a hub. Grading is entirely based off of two midterms and a final. He gives a practice exam for each test that is super similar to the actual exam. If you read his slides and do the practice exam it should be enough to get an A in his class.
Idson is clearly passionate abt econ tho his lectures are a bit boring and you def have to be motivated to go. His grading system is a little harsh tho bc exams is the whole thing, so if you do even just slightly bad on one, your chances at an A are cooked. The class is also graded on a curve, with the median as a B, which is super annoying too.
He's not a bad professor, just does not make to material interesting, and tests are hard. If you are not interested in economics already, I would not take this class. Listening to and taking notes on lectures will not be enough for an A in the class.
Easy insightful class that if you put minimal effort by reading the textbook and showing up to lecture you will get a good grade. Although lectures can feel long sometimes Idson is very passionate about what he does.
Lectures are boring and mostly straight from the textbook. Wasn't accommodating when I had a scheduling conflict, but he did let me take the final with his other section because I needed the 2 extra days to study. His practice exams are really similar to the actual exam, so just use that to study and you'll be fine.
Lectures were boring & derived directly from the book. Seems like a very sweet, passionate, & intelligent person & was occasionally fun to listen to when he'd delve off topic. If you take this class you'd honestly be fine just reading the book, but some test material is only mentioned in lecture & your grade is determined solely by test scores.
Professor Idson is very passionate about economics, which is clear even through his somewhat mundane lectures. He can be a little boring at times, but he adds anecdotes throughout lecture to make topics more accessible. He's a great prof but your grade relies heavily on the midterms and final, with homework making up like 10% of the grade.
sooooo boring. goes so off topic. exams are really hard
if you took a college stats course or ap stats you will be fine. but he is such a boring lecturer. the good thing is that nobody goes to class so if you literally do the bare minimum you will do fine bc its scaled based on how everyone else does. idk if I would recommend if you've never worked with stats before. i also felt a bit unprepared for 204
Amazing Econ Professor. Clearly passionate about what he does, and his lectures are incredibly interesting. He adds several stories from his life, which show his undeniable experience and credibility. Very good teacher to take if this is your first econ class.
Exams aren't too bad if you study the textbook questions and attend lectures/ discussions, but his grading is very exam-heavy. He's super caring and always willing to help, though his lectures can get pretty boring, especially if you're sitting in the back and can't hear him well.
Professor Idson's lectures are often boring and it feels as if time slows down in his class. He doesn't align lecture with the slides or textbook and draws confusing diagrams and graphs that are hard to read. The final is worth nearly 50% of the grade, which is ridiculous, considering that each homework assignment (sometimes 3+ hours) is only 1%.
really boring lectures, didn't learn anything, his voice and lecturing is really dull. I would avoid and choose the other ec203 professor. He curves, but honestly, I didn't get what was happening in half the class.
This class is basically intro to stats and whatever STATA we used was minimal. Honestly if you're an Econ major I'd recommend taking MA 115 bc there was nothing Econ specific about this class. HW is graded on completion. Practice the exams using psets. Going to class and discussion is optional, but sometimes he's funny in class (I think)
This is my 2nd class with Idson, and his lecture style is very uniform. He is quite boring, but attendance isn't mandatory, except for discussion. The class gets progressively much harder, where he has 2 midterms (25% each) and a final (40%) + weekly problem sets. It's important to do well on the first test(s) so that they can cushion your final.
I took EC101 with Idson some semesters ago and am just getting to rating him. He is a good person, but the class itself is a very standardized class and attendance isn't mandatory. The textbook is followed to the tea, and all tests were only multiple choice, I definitely recommend using that to the fullest advantage. Practice exams are great too.
Friendly and well versed professor, but the exams are basically designed to be confusing. I also feel like the content and structure of the class hasn't changed in 30 years.
Very straightforward class: lectures are pretty much straight from the textbook. His lecture style is a little dull, but he covers the material thoroughly. Like all BU econ core classes, it's very test-heavy, but the problem sets/textbook are super helpful to prepare. Pay attention in class and do the textbook practice problems, and you'll do well.
Test heavy with 2 midterms and a final worth 47% of your grade. Tbh, the final saved my grade as it also was graded off the curve; be ready to lock in for the tests. Attendance isn't recorded and lecture is boring so it was hard to show up. But I think if you go to all lectures and stay locked in throughout the semester you will have an A.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
15%
Textbook Required
50%
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