Very good looking, willing to let you take test late, good fantasy baseball team

Professor and TA are very helpful with questions

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dr savinov is the ****!

hard ot understand, but good explanations. ynderstandable if you show up and don't sleep

Much better teacher than my last physics prof.

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Great Enthusiams, trys to include entire class in every lecture. Interesting concepts in every lecture. Thanks

Although I learn more from the book, He is a great and knowledgeable professor. I would recommend him.

Excellent class, Dr. S. consistently makes himself available for office hours or by email. He obviously enjoys what he does. Just remember, you will only get as much out of Physics as you are willing to put into studying it. Physics, gotta love it.

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He really goes out of his way to serve the class. We have everything accessible from a website which is rare here. Also he has plenty of office hours.

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His accent doesnt help, but overall he is very helpful if you go to office hours. I dont think I've used lecture notes once for hw or studying for an exam...

Very Knowledgeable, his accent is alittle hard to follow but works hard and is available when needed.

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He's a gret teacher

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Good use of class examples to explain concepts. The tests could have been a little easier, though. :)

If you come prepared to class Dr. S does a great job of teaching you all the little things you need to know to become very good at physics.

physics genius, maybe if you attended lecture, you wouldnt be an overducated assclown, congratulations on discovering physics...dr. s is a great teacher

A great guy. Class examples were usually confusing and not always relevant to homework and exams, so about 80 people would skip lecture everyday. Very approachable and was always willing to help. If I had to retake physics, I'd take him again.

Very soft spoken, but extremely nice and helpful.

He is a very smart guy and knows everything there is to know about physics. He just isn't the best at teaching it. But he was always willing to help and talk to you outside of class, whenever needed. Take him, but be willing to teach yourself.

Dr. S is a genius @ physics & if u attend class there will be times that u are completly lost, but he is willing to explain in and outside of class if u wish ...generlly a good prof

Dr. S is the greatest Physics professor ever! Here is the difference between Dr. S and some other professors.....Dr. S's exam average is in the mid 60's whereas professors such as Koehler's exams have class averages in the mid to low 50's.

Lectures get a bit boring and difficult to understand, but he does know a lot about physics. He is really willing to help and tests are not that hard if you study practice exams and attend recitation. would recommend him.

presents material in a very organized and clear manner and has a good website that is constantly updated with student info, assignments, practice problems and VERY VERY helpful practice tests. always willing to answer questions. Kip is a damn good TA too.

He's not the best at explaining things, and sometimes the material seems irrelevent to the chapter. It may be tempting to just skip class and teach yourself, but trust me, don't do it. I managed a B+, but I would have had an A had I gone regularly.

This man is incredible. The physics he teaches are a waste of my time and yours in relation to actual application and his time would be much better spent teaching QED and high energy particle physics. If you didn't understand him you obviously don't deserve understanding physics. Great Accent!

Has an idiosyncratic style ("the question i'm asking myself is.. is.. is..") that was initially frustrating but became charming by the end of the term. Assigned a healthy amount of homework, which I appreciate in retrospect. He's a nice guy all around, too.

agree with the last review. Genuinely listened to our criticisms and seemed to modify lectures. Homeworks seemed hard at the time (and were graded pretty hard as well..but that's the TA) but were useful. Fairly generous curve at the end and a overall nice guy. (And a fun Russian accent!)

Prof. Savinov is keen for his students to truly understand the physics, and he presented insights not found in the textbook. Material was quite difficult, but if you understood it, then the tests were not. Be warned: A lot of the 1st chapter was devoted to an obfuscated formalism far from helpful in learning the physics.

His class is, as expected, tough. He expresses a genuine desire to present all of the fundamental material with an immanent lucidity. He is very available outside of class, and answers questions in class when they prove relevant. Nonetheless, lectures proceed at a pencil-snapping pace for note-takers, so frequent independent review is necessary.

Awesome dude.

very dedicated to the students

He is the greatest professor I have had at Pitt. He is INCREDIBLY dedicated to student learning. If you go to his office hours, he will give you a lecture on whatever you are having difficulty with, even if it takes hours. His lectures are sometimes a bit difficult to follow, by try to focus on the concepts rather than oppressive stream of algebra.

Dr. Savinov is EXTREMELY helpful. He really wants his students to understand the material and he will spend a lot more time than any other professor I know to help someone outside of class in office hours or via e-mail. He also values student opinions and has very engaging lectures (though often very fast paced).

Professor Savinov is an excellent guy. His office hours are frequent and extremely useful. I would say that you will have a nonzero probability of getting an A in this class.

Great lecturer, i feel that i should clap every time i get up to leave. The homework comes directly from the guidance in lecture, and he is willing to answer any question at any time. My favorite thing that he does is when he talks out his thoughts at the board and argues back and forth on equations. Keeps me attentive to what's going on the board.

Dr. S is awesome. If all the students in our class were particles, he would be our wavefunction! I have never had a professor that cared so much about making sure we understood the information. Also, make sure to go to class. His lectures and especially his office hours are invaluable...and sometimes he brings candy for you.

Excellent professor, one of the best at Pitt. Definitely cares about students and whether or not they are learning the material. He is very knowledgeable - can be a bit intimidating - but ask questions and go to class/office hours anyway, because it's worth it. Highly recommended professor.

Best phys prof at Pitt, period. His lectures are intimidating at first(he goes fast & only writes highlights instead of the details) but you catch on. And if you don't, you won't find another prof so willing to help you. He's also one of a dying breed who upholds academic integrity. Extra credit, curving, & a tolerance for cheating are absent.

AWESOME

Probably the best in the department. Funny, witty, and helpful, if he sees you as someone worth teaching. He is a physicist, so he does have the same problems most dedicated scientists have with being overly nice, but all in all, the best professor to have and the best to meet!

Excellent. He cares.

Modern Physics I-Fall 07: Great personality. Cares about student understanding and devotes much time outside of class if necessary. Lectures can be somewhat convoluted. His dialect can impede understanding at times. Often spends time on deriving the equations; needs more focus on teaching the conceptual aspects of the physics.

One of a kind, I've never had a professor who cares so much about his students learning. Great great professor

Great professor. We cover what is needed from the texts initially and then he uses many experiments to demonstrate concepts. It is almost impossible to fail the class if you simply attend and pay some attention to lecture. As mentioned before, he is a very concerned with helping any student that needs it. Gets a Hot for the skinny jeans he loves

GREAT professor. Really really cares about his students and his class. A bit hard to understand at times, but go to office hours and he will do everything he can to help you out.

An excellent teacher, devoted to giving his all to his students.

A VERY helpful teacher, cares a lot about his students. Challenging tests, not curved, but fair grading scale. Lectures can be hard to understand. Offers a lot of extra credit, take advantage of it because you'll need it!

This class is not hard, assuming you attend lectures, and ask questions in recitations (a.k.a. be a good student). He is demanding though. Be prepared to work in his class. But know that he works just as much for you as YOU do for you.

Those comments about the first test being rough, 44% avg, are true. However, Dr. S. isn't as crazy as he seems, and gave students willing to work plenty of opportunity to improve. I bombed that test like everyone else and pulled off an A+. Dr. S. really cares about his students and it is evident that he works tirelessly for us. Funny guy too.

Very good professor. Probably the best physics professor at pitt. Tough, but good. He won't spoon feed you, he thinks college students can feed themselves.

Fantastic professor. Really cares about teaching and that students are learning. He's also funny and his lectures are helpful and entertaining. You'll work hard but it will be worth it!

Im going to miss Sav. He cares more than any professor and hes willing to go out of his way ( talk to you for an hour about something that takes ten minutes) in order for you to understand it. He loves teaching. He isnt easy, but your grade will not suffer because of it. Too bad there arent more Savs out there. Plus he emails you back super quick.

Greatest professor hands down. He is definitely intimidating at first (BUT DO NOT BE SCARED OFF) if you are willing to work for a good grade you will get one! Plus he gives extra credit/homework which can help boost any grade! Definitely one of the best professors at Pitt, loves his students! Ps: accent is hard at first but you get used to it

very interesting guy and pretty funny

Very helpful! Exams are as difficult as they should be. Gives extra credit which is great! I urge you to use him in his office hours. An all around great guy!

Goes out of his way to make himself accessible to students. He genuinely wants everyone to understand the material and do well. He gives 10% extra credit (5% LON-CAPA problems, 5% PECs). Exams are hard, but with all of the opportunities to make up for poor scores, if you don't get the grade you want in this class, it's not because of Savinov.

Tests are difficult, but not impossible. He's a very fair grader. Tons of extra credit opportunities means that your grade is proportional to how much work you put in. I got a B by just reading the book, doing all the homework, and getting decent exam grades. Always accessible for help and questions.

What a sweet guy!He really is interested in helping his students do well in his class, plus he offers 10% in extra credit ( 5% Lon-Capa and 5% PEC). His exams are difficult,but he is a fair grader and gives point for being on track.Study for the quizzes and do all the extra credit and your guaranteed a good grade. Highly recommended for Physics.

What a sweet guy! He really is interested in helping his students do well in his class, plus he offers 10% in extra credit ( 5% Lon-Capa and 5% PEC). His exams are difficult,but he is a fair grader and gives points for being on track. Highly recommended for Physics.

One of my favorite teachers at Pitt, he makes use of demos which keeps physics practical and interesting but also expects you to read the book. If you review the hardest hw problems you will be set for the exams. I realized this for the last exam, I wish I knew earlier! Really accessible and helpful after class too

Savinov is the best teacher i've had at pitt by far. He is accessible and goes out of his way to make sure his students learn and understand the material. The exams are hard but thats to be expected and he gives extra credit opportunities

Dr. S is awesome! Great teacher! I recommend his class to everyone!

Dr. S is awesome. Read the book, do the online hmwk without Cramster, be able to do the hardest textbook problems, and you will be well-prepared. No curve, but extra credit. He has plenty of office hours and responds to emails/online hmwk questions rapidly. Highly recommended.

A ton of work in this class, but if you learn how to do all the homework/Lon Capa problems, you'll do well on the exams. Dr. S has to be the most qualified professor at Pitt - truly dedicated to making students learn. He's very approachable and accessible, so you can easily get help if you need it.

Savinov is the best of the best when it comes to Physics professors. Highly recommended.

Dr. S was extremely accessible. The class was hard but any questions were easily answered. Reading the textbook helps, I would highly recommend Dr. S

Dr. S was always available via email, office hours or outside of office hours if need be. He is very clear as he teaches and uses great examples. If you pay attention in lecture, do your LON-CAPA and understand the concepts you will do well. To do well in his class you have to read the book and review and understand his examples.

Dr. Savinov has an obvious passion for physics that he imparts to his students. He often stays past his office hours to help students with any range of questions they might have. Only criticism? The way Dr. S lectures can be confusing- it's not always clear what the point of a 15 minute derivation is. Plus also the exams are hard.

Knows the subject matter backwards and forwards; is willing to go into great detail and clear up misconceptions in office hours. One of the best professors I have ever had.

For most, physics is a very challenging class, but Dr. S. goes out of his way to be available for students more than any other science prof. I've ever had. His weekly homework review is a secret that I wish I had known about earlier. If you're struggling, go to Dr. S before it's too late. He will help you. An intelligent and helpful prof.

I took him for intro physics a few years ago, but he still remains one of my favorite professors. He is the most caring professor, and he is always willing to help! Go to his office hours and get to know him, and he will go out of his way to help you through the course!!

I've never had a professor so consistently good at explaining material and willing to stay in class til 11pm to answer questions. If you are a Physics major and don't take one of his classes as an undergrad you have done yourself a disservice. He's the hardest prof in the department, but get an A in one of Dr. S classes and you'll do well anywhere.

Dr. S makes a solid effort to teach you.

Dr.S is an amazing professor, He actually cares for you and wants you to succeed. Tests are hard, but partial credit is generous. Simply put, If you get a chance to take a class with him, DO IT!!

After taking Dr. S, I become so proud that I chose physics as my major. Hope Physics will be my lifetime career!

rigorous but inspiring

Probably the best professor I'll ever have. The semester started scary, but it turned out that Dr. Savinov is one of the most caring (and funny) people I've ever met. If you have a chance to take him and you care enough to ask questions about the material, he will be an amazing professor.

One of the best instructors I have ever had. Extremely knowledgeable and inspiring to talk to. Highly recommend making use of office hours as they were usually very helpful. Dr. S has fast passed lectures, but he is always happy to take time to expand on material in office hours or after class if you want.

He is awsome, may be difficult material but he only teaches important aspects.

He is genius

the best professor ever

I entered this class with hesitation whether to choose physics major but left the class with the full joy of learning physics. His enthusiasm and wisdom are just the lighters of my interest in physics but also the lighter of my life. He is not only a well -respected professor but, more important, a role model.