Reviews for Justin Olav Wyss-Gallifent
Average Rating:| Anonymous Course: MATH140 Grade Expected: A- May 11, 2010, 11:39 am | I also took Gulick's 140 my first semester here and although he was a great teacher, I still had a difficulty learning and understanding the material. Justin made it really simple and easy to understand. By writting literally every word on the board taking notes was easy. His sense of humor and cool accent are an added bonus! I really wish he taught all of my math classes!!! |
| xbfrittsox360 Course: MATH140 Grade Expected: A- May 6, 2010, 11:40 am | There's a reason Justin is the highest rated professor on this site: he is the absolute man. I had the privilege to take MATH140 with him this semester and understood the material 10 times better than when I did in high school. He teaches the material with such clarity that it is impossible to not understand what is going on (no matter how dumb you may be). What separates him from every other professor here at UMD is his teaching style. He is incredibly fun and engaging with the students. He always goes off topic with a joke or random topic at least once per class and it just makes you think to yourself "this guy is so cool." This may sound like a strange love story, but I guarantee you that if you take this class (or any class) with Justin, you will feel the same way. One day I saw him walking around campus in his red converse sneakers enjoying the awesome weather outside and I feel like that sums up who he is completely: the best professor I've ever had. Thank you Justin! |
| eeverhar Course: MATH130 Grade Expected: B May 6, 2010, 9:15 am | Justin is a really great professor! His lectures are really easy to follow, and actually makes the lecture a little more fun. He does everything in a way that is really easy to understand, but even if you still can't grasp the concept, he is always willing to talk to you after lecture, at office hours, or whenever. You still need to study, but most of the time, a lot of the problems are right from the old exams, or from class problems. I would recommend Justin to anyone who needs to take a math course. |
| Anonymous Course: MATH140 Grade Expected: A May 6, 2010, 5:23 am | Great professor. Teaches on a good pace for everyone to follow and understand the content. Justin gets his students well prepared for the exams. If student gets a bad grade, there's no excuse because Justin does everything he possibly could to get the students prepared for the exams. A really good professor and I wouldn't want any other math professor other than Justin. |
| Anonymous Course: MATH140 Grade Expected: A April 22, 2010, 6:44 pm | I took Gulicks 140 and failed with a D. He is by no means a bad proff however. He just doesnt teach it the way Justin does. Justin thoroughly enjoys the nuances and implications of what he teaches and puts everything in terms that non math majors can understand. He starts with a non proof driven explaination and follows it up with the reasoning/proof. Drastically simplifies the overwhelming material in the book. I have not opened it once this semester. every question i've had could be answered by my notes. Ive definately needed to study for the exams but my work has been rewarded. The exact same amount of work in Gulicks earned me a D but i fully expect an A or B+ this go-round. |
| mchew1 Course: MATH130 Grade Expected: April 14, 2010, 10:00 pm | I am going to compare Cremins vs Justin So I took MATH130 with Cremins first. He is not a bad professor at all, but if I had a choice, I would have definitely waited one semester to take it with Justin. Cremins teaches relatively well, but at a quick pace so taking his lectures would be beneficial to you if you took calculus before in high school or somewhere else. His exams are challenging sometimes. If you have never seen calculus before in your life, then take it with Justin. Unlike Cremins, Justin really takes everything step by step to make sure you know whatever he is teaching means and why he is doing whatever he is doing. Justin also puts out sample tests that are pretty much verbatim, (except for variables and etc.) to the actual exams. The grading system he has is also good because you can either concentrate on your exam grades, or your group work, quizzes, and final and take the higher grade. Meaning if you get an overall C on your midterms and get an overall B on group work, quizzes, and the final, you get a B in the class. This is much more flexible than Cremins, where you get what you get out of the entire total of quizzes, mid terms, etc. Justin sometimes writes useless transitions like "lets think about this" or "think about it!" but that doesn't really bother me too much. His handwriting is also very neat, which sometimes Cremins lacks. So in a nutshell, if you have taken calculus before, are really good at math, Cremins is a good choice. If you are not so great at math and want a slightly easier grading policy, Justin's the way to go. |
| amic41 Course: MATH130 Grade Expected: A March 2, 2010, 4:31 pm | LOVE HIM!!!!!! If you have a choice definitely choose him as your professor. |
| Anonymous Course: MATH131 Grade Expected: A February 18, 2010, 9:41 pm | I am certainly not a math person, but I actually did really well in Justin's class. He was such a GREAT teacher. Studying for exams was very doable because he always gave practice exams so you knew what to prepare for. He was also hilarious in class and just an all around nice guy. DEFINITELY take him if you can!! |
| acgonzal Course: MATH131 Grade Expected: A+ February 8, 2010, 1:54 pm | Single best professor that I had last semester. I cant really add much beyond what the other reviewers have said. He is just truly that excellent. He really made math fun, and the only way that he could have made the class easier was to take the exam for you. Beyond that, he really explained things well, so that the stuff that I learned in AP Stat and AP Calc finally clicked into place and made sense in the context of the world. Try to get Justin as your prof if at all possible. |
| nbambata Course: MATH131 Grade Expected: A January 24, 2010, 8:00 am | Im sure hereally donesnt need anyone else say how great of a teacher he is but for anyone that is thinking about taking one of his classes think no more do it! He is one of the best teachers UMD has to offer!! |
| Anonymous Course: MATH131 Grade Expected: A- January 12, 2010, 10:42 pm | Took justin for 130 and 131 he is the best math teacher I have ever had, not only is he a really awesome teacher, he is soooo chill. the environment in class is fun and loose and he actually cares about his students! Take justin if u can he is the man! |
| Anonymous Course: MATH403 Grade Expected: B December 23, 2009, 9:15 am | Abstract Algebra was probably the most difficult course I have taken so far in college, but it was all worth it because I learned an incredible amount thanks to Justin's awesome teaching skills! I had him for 246 last semester, so I decided to give this class a try because he was teaching it. 403 was a very tough course for me, but I'm sure I would have failed the class if any other professor had taught it. Justin lectures is such a straightforward, easy-to-follow manner and explains everything he writes of the chalkboard. He provides plenty of examples so that everyone can comprehend the meaning of theorems, definitions, and proofs he writes on the board. Unlike most of the professors in the math department, Justin actually cares about his students and doesn't brush them off. He responds to emails very quickly and has numerous office hours available if you need extra help, since many of us did need it. The exams were pretty hard, but straightforward nonetheless, with averages/medians usually in the 50s. He does give an appropriate curve so if you think you're failing, don't worry, all hope is not lost! |
| Pokarose Course: MATH131 Grade Expected: A December 23, 2009, 8:01 am | Justin was an amazing teacher. He took the time to explain things to you in an engaging way. His lectures were never boring and they never seemed as long as they really were. He always uses real life examples relating to our field of study so that we could feel as though we were actually learning something. He not only teaches you how to do something, but often teaches you why you are doing it that way and how the formula was derived. His tests were very straight forward and closely resembled the practice exams, so you always knew what to study. He was an amazing teacher who really loved to teach. He also computes your grade two different ways at the end of the 131 course and takes the higher of the two grades. I highly recommend taking Justin's classes, you won't regret it. |
| Pugluvr291 Course: MATH131 Grade Expected: A+ December 23, 2009, 7:30 am | Justin is a fantastic professor. He is extremely knowledgeable, but teaches in a format that is conducive for all students to succeed. He is extremely fun and all students actually enjoy going to his classes. The workload is perfect and his tests, quizzes, and group works couldn't be more fair. He is ALWAYS available for help outside of class. He is the best and funniest professor I have ever met. TAKE THIS CLASS. I promise you that you will do amazing (if you work hard) and you will actually want to go to class. Justin clearly cares about all his students and I think the good ratings below me vouch that he is an amazing professor. He gives sample exams to help you prep for his exams and he drops 3 quizzes and 3 group works. The homework is good practice for the exams so I really advise you do it. However, it is not collected/graded so it is not mandatory. My only regret is not failing this class so I could take him again!!! Overall, the best professor UMD has! |
| Anonymous Course: MATH131 Grade Expected: A December 9, 2009, 10:06 am | Highly recommended. Justin is one of the best professors - funny, engaging, and organized. He teaches in a way where even the most struggling student can understand. He takes everything step-by-step in a very organized and simple way. I did not even have to look in my book for help once. The only time I opened the book was when I was doing the homework problems. Also, the sample exams are very similar to the actual exams. |
| Anonymous Course: MATH141H Grade Expected: A October 23, 2009, 11:09 pm | Justin is by far the best teacher in the math department. He covers everything you need to know in depth and focuses on things that each class is having trouble with. He takes it personally if his class does poorly on his exams and really puts in the effort to make sure they don't. That being said, his exams aren't easy but aren't impossible either. If you do the work and go to class you will do fine. |
| Anonymous Course: MATH246 Grade Expected: B August 4, 2009, 1:46 pm | Justin is a great professor. he doesnt make you learn all of the unnecessary things that the other 246 teachers make you learn. his tests are basic and there is nothing that is on there to try to trick you. they are basically the same as the practice tests he gives, which really help a lot. the final exam was a little bit more difficult because it is a uniform exam and there are things that he did not cover, as far as i know. (i did not go to many classes at the end of the semester) he probably would have curved it, but he had taught the other material so well, our class did better than the classes who covered more material. Overall, if you put any effort into this class, there is no reason to not get an A |
| highvoltage81 Course: MATH246 Grade Expected: B July 9, 2009, 11:58 am | I had Justin for Diff eq, which on its own is moderately hard. He was different from wolfe who i had the semester prior in that he didnt just write up all the formulas on the board or derive them, he went through step by step to show you the methods you needed to know, and his tests clearly followed his lectures. im taking him again for math403! |
| a778999 Course: MATH406 Grade Expected: A May 24, 2009, 5:58 pm | Great professor. Made the material easy to understand. I didn't even need to buy the book because the notes were so clear. However his curve isn't really generous so don't expect a free A. |
| cityazndan Course: MATH246 Grade Expected: A May 22, 2009, 11:05 pm | Great class. Exams were like the samples. Screw the MATLAB book...guides were always posted. Excellent professor who broke MATH246 down into the simplest of terms. As long as you do the MATLABs, do well on the exams, and take a decent amount of quizzes, you have the A on lockdown. The final was VERY similar to the ones on testbank. |
| kvizzle321 Course: MATH246 Grade Expected: B April 28, 2009, 11:26 am | Justin is a great professor. MATH246 is a very hard class, and the book they give you is not very good at explaining, so lectures are very important when learning the material. He was pretty flexible with missed MATLAB assignments, which were pretty frustrating. Additionally there are weekly quizzes in discussion but he drops a few of them. I missed many lectures and quizzes and still have a chance to get a B. As long as you go to lectures and take all the notes, you will have no problem getting a good grade in Justin's class. |
| jwong89 Course: MATH246 Grade Expected: A April 19, 2009, 10:32 pm | By far the best math professor I've had. If you go to class and write down all the notes he writes on the board, the only time you will open your book is to see what the homework problems are. Lectures are very organized, starts with the theory and then shows a couple of examples. The best thing is that he only teaches what you need to know for the tests and the tests themselves are really easy. He doesn't try to trick you with the tests and the sample exams he gives are very similar to the actual tests. Basically, if you can do the sample exams you will know how to do the entire test. Weekly quizzes are a pain, but he only takes the top ten. MATLAB is similarly a pain, but he posts guides to the MATLAB assignments that are pretty much a step by step guide to the problems. If you can, take Justin for any math class that you have to take. |
| physicalfitness Course: MATH220 Grade Expected: A+ April 19, 2009, 4:24 pm | The best professor I have had at UMD. If you are taking 220, you need to have him. He teaches the material so clearly and what he writes on the board is what you need to know. My roommate and I took 220 at the same time, and with his professor (one of the authors of the textbook) he suffered a lot and did so much more work. The webassigns are tough, but he dropped your 4 lowest ones. He is known to be the best 220 lecturer. I got an A+ and I know 5 other ppl in my discussion did too. |
| PossePrincess Course: MATH130 Grade Expected: B April 12, 2009, 10:42 am | Justin is amazing. I was considering taking 220 for my required calculus course, because it's the easiest. However, everyone raved about Justin, so I decided to take 130. I'm no math person, but he makes this class easy. I am definitely taking him again for 131! |
| Anonymous Course: MATH246 Grade Expected: A April 6, 2009, 10:13 am | You know? I would write an amazing review, but it seems like everything I could have said about him (all good) has already been said multiple times. I just felt like reinforcing the positive ratings anyway. |
| Anonymous Course: MATH220 Grade Expected: B January 22, 2009, 7:17 pm | Very nice guy. I missed a scheduled exam and he let me re-take it without question. Great professor. Makes calculus concepts simple and easy. |
| warthog Course: MATH246 Grade Expected: A December 23, 2008, 10:58 pm | I flunked Diff Eq twice, and had to beg for special permission to take it again. I took Justin's 246 one summer, and finally understood everything and got an A. Absolutely wonderful professor, can't recommend highly enough. Also, I just read this comments page after reading Wolfe's. Total opposites, haha. |
| Anonymous Course: MATH241 Grade Expected: A December 23, 2008, 6:54 pm | Genuinely wants to help students. He posts study guides and sample exams to help... Arguably, one of the best math professors in the university. |
| Anonymous Course: MATH241 Grade Expected: A December 17, 2008, 9:37 pm | Class is relaxed, tough material but Justin makes lectures fun and easy to follow - he writes in complete sentences :) Lectures and discussions are necessary, sometimes missing one makes it hard to catch up. |
| MusickVideo Course: MATH241 Grade Expected: A December 17, 2008, 1:30 pm | Great person, even better professor. You don't need to get the textbook, he will teach you everything you need to know in class and dumb it down for the people who really know nothing about math (which is not the best for some people because if you go into higher math later, it is possible that you won't able to deal with some of the complex proofs and derivations since justin's version of 241 is so simplified). Very reasonable exams; he only gives you problems you have seen before. Has weekly quizzes in discussions, four matlab projects (actually 3 and then 1 matlab quiz), four exams, and a final. Nothing is too hard in this class; everyone should be fine. |
| Anonymous Course: MATH140H Grade Expected: A December 14, 2008, 6:59 am | Justin is my favorite teacher this semester by far. He's funny and explains everything really well. I never have fallen asleep in this class because he makes class interesting. Before the tests, he gives out sample exams which are really good to study from. He's really good at clarifying everything that anyone might have a problem with. I never figured a calculus class would be my favorite class, but Justin is awesome and I was pleasantly surprised. |
| Anonymous Course: Grade Expected: A December 10, 2008, 1:51 pm | Explains everything in details. Instead of forcing us to memorize formulas, he taught us how to derive them. His notes are so good, you'll understand everything without even open the textbook(btw, I suggest the math department make copies for the hw problems on the textbook only for Justin's class. So that we don't have to spend so much $ on a piece of brick). Justin is great, and I completely agree with the person who said "i once was lost but now am found!" ...... |
| Anonymous Course: MATH141H Grade Expected: B+ December 10, 2008, 1:07 pm | This teacher is really awesome. His notes are really great and organized so I have a sweet notebook for review. If you have to take Calc 2, Justin is the best teacher to objectively help you understand the material and prepare for the tests. I'm taking my final on monday and I'm nervous about it but I feel like Justin made me more prepared than any other teacher could have. |
| apekzhrk Course: MATH241 Grade Expected: A December 7, 2008, 11:20 pm | I wanna say that he's a really bad teacher so that his classes won't be full when I have to register!! But he is the BEST mathematics teacher ever. Unlike other professors, he is very detailed and uses simple analogies and other forms of explanations that makes it easier to understand the material. He doesn't regurgitate the textbook to you at all. You just sit in his lectures and the material will just seep into your brain. |
| Anonymous Course: MATH140H Grade Expected: December 5, 2008, 5:08 pm | explains everything really well. tests are hard - but fair granted he teaches really well. |
| Anonymous Course: MATH220 Grade Expected: B December 1, 2008, 7:43 am | OMG! hes an awesome prof!!! i had pilachowski last year and had a D in calc. but i retook it with Gallifent and may i say i once was lost but now am found!. hes the awesomest prof ever! explains everything!!!! i am usually the C student but this case the teacher was fair. he doesnt put mean problems on his exams and has an awesome sense of humor!!! the homeworks prepare you for the exam and the TA's can be really helpful. overall i would really recommend him to average students (especially bio majors who have other more important classes to worry about) =) |
| Anonymous Course: MATH240 Grade Expected: A- November 12, 2008, 4:42 pm | Best teacher ever! He explains everything thoroughly and makes a lot of jokes which makes lecture helpful and enjoyable. He doesn't curve but he explains everything so well you won't need a curve anyway. Definitely take him for any and every math class you can! |
| dm Course: MATH241 Grade Expected: A November 10, 2008, 9:59 am | Justin = GOD. this guy is amazing, i would recommend him over ANY math professor. he is so organized, the sample exams are very similar to the actual ones. He's very humble, and does not assume you to know more than you should know. If he's offering a class, take it! The whole 'Justin' experience is something you should not miss out on! |
| xinio64 Course: MATH240 Grade Expected: A- July 28, 2008, 11:49 am | One of the best math professors at UMD. He did a wonderful job explaining the material to us and was more the willing to help us whenever he could. Like other people said, write down the stuff he writes on the board. It's enough info to study with. The textbook you use is crap anyway, so don't rely on it. We didn't even have to address him formally, he just told us to call him "Justin". He's so cool. I wish he could teach all of my classes. The material for MATH240 is still quite difficult, however. You have to pay attention and do the assigned homework. But Justin will help you as much as he can. TAKE HIS CLASS WHENEVER POSSIBLE. |
| Anonymous Course: MATH240 Grade Expected: A- May 19, 2008, 9:50 pm | Amazing professor. Is very approachable and teaches in a very relaxed and fun style. Always welcomes questions in class and attendance at office hours. He posts sample exams for each exam in the course. They're similar to the actual exams, but not verbatim. Analyze the sample exam questions and try to think of ways of re-phrasing the questions as some of the actual exam questions can be a bit tricky. Write down everything he says in lecture and you'll never need to open the book except to do homework problems. Studied right off of my class notes. I would definitely recommend taking a math course with him. |
| Anonymous Course: MATH240 Grade Expected: May 19, 2008, 11:33 am | By far, the greatest math teacher I've ever had. Very clear and straight forward, easy to understand. He is also very kind and approachable and he prepares you well for exams. People do well on the exams not because they're easy, but because everyone actually learns the material. I completely agree with one of the comments below....if you are a girl, you will want to marry him. |
| pluralfacade Course: MATH240 Grade Expected: B May 15, 2008, 6:31 am | Best. Teacher. Ever. He makes math interesting and fairly understandable. Just like someone else said, you can copy down what he writes on the board verbatim and that will be more than enough material to study from. |
| dk11 Course: MATH240 Grade Expected: A April 24, 2008, 7:39 am | Best Math teacher ever. His lectures are awesome. He has a great sense of humor which makes the lectures so much fun. He puts up 2 sample exams for each exam which is really helpful. And the MATLAB assignments are pretty easy too. Overall a great professor and an easy class . |
| Anonymous Course: MATH240 Grade Expected: April 22, 2008, 7:32 pm | Go to the Lectures and just write down everything he writes even if you aren't paying attention because you will be able to read the notes and understand exactly how to do everything. Make sure you look at the homework every once and a while because he will explain the concepts so well that you will understand the problems in class but then when it gets to a quiz you might not remember. He also makes MATLAB simple and easy, you should have no problem with matlab even if you hate it and if you do, email him and most likely he will give you a hint. |
| Anonymous Course: Grade Expected: B April 17, 2008, 5:34 pm | greatest math teacher ever. he explains one concept in lots of different ways so that you'll eventually understand one way of it. unlike the guy who said his overelaborating was bad, i think it was an excellent technique. it made it stick in your head, and he reeeally helped u understand the really hard stuff. very good teaching skills. hes funny too, which is hard to be when your a math professor. he keeps u interested. exams are very fair. he always gives 2 sample exams. u review one in lecture and one in discussion. the questions on the exam will be some type of integrated version of those questions. helps a LOT. MATLABs are also fairly easy. he'll help if u go to him for help on them. oh, and the BO is because the armory smells like crap ALL the time, no matter what room ur in. its not justin. |
| Anonymous Course: MATH221 Grade Expected: March 30, 2008, 9:43 pm | Amazing professor. I had a really good Calc teacher in High School and his teaching style was very similar so I had no problem with the material. He is very detailed in his lectures, and probably is the only math teacher who writes full sentences on the blackboard. The intense detail can get a little boring sometimes, but I would prefer that than a quick overview and then not understand what he's saying. He has a great sense of humor and is very upbeat. I highly recommend his class. |
| kmann2989 Course: MATH221 Grade Expected: January 6, 2008, 7:59 pm | Really good teacher but it was soooo elementary at times. I guess thats why the course is elementary calculus. Its good if you don't understand math at all, but can be kind of pointless if you do. His tests are exactly like the review sheets, if you can understand them, the tests will be a piece of cake. Also drops like the lowest 7 webassigns which was amazing!! Worst part about the class was discussion, the hardest little quizes ever, maybe just my T.A. |
| yayourumd Course: MATH240 Grade Expected: B December 18, 2007, 3:38 pm | Justin was by far the best math professor I've ever had. He teaches math in a way that people who aren't actually geniuses can understand it. He was the only good experience I've had with the math department, adn was basically just amazing. He was phenomenal and awesome in every way shape and form and you should all go out of your way to take his class. He also had a great sense of humor which helped a lot. And to the person who said he has BO, I have no clue what he's talking about. I had to go to him for help and talk tohim after class a lot and never had an issue. I'm guessing that the anonymous person was anonymous because the BO is actually theirs and were trying to cover it up!! |
| Anonymous Course: MATH140H Grade Expected: December 18, 2007, 8:30 am | Horrible teacher. Over-elaborates things that should come as common sense to people. Tests are a ridiculous waste of time. Nice guy, but horrible as a teacher. And if you're going to be in his class, I suggest bringing yourself a scented candle or something. Massive BO. |
| Anonymous Course: MATH221 Grade Expected: November 17, 2007, 11:25 am | Best teacher ever. period. you will want to go to class, and if you're a girl, marry him. |
| jjubar Course: MATH115 Grade Expected: A October 29, 2007, 1:53 pm | He teaches in a way that makes everyone understand everything, and is very receptive to questions. He also has a great sense of humor, so it makes it bearable to do math at 8am. |