Kenneth Elzinga - University of Virginia

Professor: Kenneth Elzinga
Department: Economics
College: University of Virginia
Rating # 1
Overview:
  • Course: ECON2010
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Elzinga is an amazing professor who could properly teach economics to someone with no understanding of society. His lectures were insightful and fun, and his teachings were allowed me to fully understand some immensely complicated concepts.
Rating # 2
Overview:
  • Course: ECON2010
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Worst professor at UVA. Last semester, I contracted COVID-19 as an immunocompromised individual and lost my taste and smell for months, and was knocked in bed for weeks. I had to take an exam during my illness given that Elzinga gives no opportunities to make up exams. Elzinga should follow what he preaches because he did not show any sympathy.
Rating # 3
Overview:
  • Course: ECON2010
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Professor Elzingas lectures just dont seem to be in depth enough to prepare you for the exams without reading or having a good discussion TA. I really loved hearing his stories/experiences though. This class had almost no homework- 80% of the overall grade was from 3 exams and the final was worth almost 50%. Head TA can really make or break class
Rating # 4
Overview:
  • Course: ECON2010
  • Grade Received: C+
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Don't take his class unless you want to lower your GPA.
Rating # 5
Overview:
  • Course: ECON2010
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
This class is great for someone who knows nothing about economics. It's a really great class, but be ready to work. If you don't do the readings or participate, the exams will be hard.
Rating # 6
Overview:
  • Course: ECON201
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: No
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Professor Elzinga is great guy. He is super nice and respectful, and is really, really, passionate about economics. He is super knowledgeable and his experiences in anti-trust cases are mind blowing. However, his lectures aren't very detailed, so to get a good grade in class you must read the textbook and take good notes. The tests are tricky too.
Rating # 7
Overview:
  • Course: ECOCN201
  • Grade Received: Not sure yet
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Terrible professor
Rating # 8
Overview:
  • Course: ECON2010
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
A lot of these ratings claim that Elzinga isn't "all that" and that the course is too difficult; I suspect that's more a result of the exams' focus on critical thinking (as opposed to memorization) than anything else. Elzinga is a true expert in economics and his lectures are enjoyable as well as engaging -- even with hundreds of students.
Rating # 9
Overview:
  • Course: ECON2010
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Lots of stories and tangents in lecture, but it keeps them interesting. Very far from a textbook approach to microeconomics, is has the feel of a liberal arts course. You might never need to open the textbook if you go to class take good notes. Your TA really matters, they grade your tests (which are almost all of class grade). STUDY. ovr not 2hard
Rating # 10
Overview:
  • Course: ECON2010
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
I studied and studied for this course, but could never seem to hit the nail on exams of exactly what he wanted to see.
Rating # 11
Overview:
  • Course: ECON2010
  • Grade Received: B-
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Avoid this man
Rating # 12
Overview:
  • Course: ECON201
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
He isnt all that, like at all. Ive had better professors than him. Also if you have an awful TA youre probably gonna struggle.
Rating # 13
Overview:
  • Course: ECON2010
  • Grade Received: B+
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
I have no idea why he is so famous. He legit sucks. Why is he so terrible?? Unclear. UVA needs to do SO MUCH better. He is a terrible lecturer and kinda annoying. He makes you buy his own book that he wrote under a different name so you don't know it is his.
Rating # 14
Overview:
  • Course: ECON2010
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Professor Elzinga is one of the best teachers I have had the pleasure of learning from. His lectures are entertaining and engaging, and he encourages students to think about not just the nuts and bolts, but the application of Economic thinking to their lives. Very compelling, a legend of a professor.
Rating # 15
Overview:
  • Course: ECOCN201
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
I DON'T LIKE HIM
Rating # 16
Overview:
  • Course: ECON2010
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Elzinga is legend here at Mr. Jefferson's University. Fantastic lectures, both interesting and informative. Tests are a combination of lecture material and reading material, so going to class and doing readings are both very important. Class was not overly challenging, even though I had an abysmal TA. Highly recommend this course.
Rating # 17
Overview:
  • Course: ECON2010
  • Grade Received: B
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
I found the concepts within the course to be quite interesting and I will probably end up becoming an ECON major. However, Professor Elzinga is simply a bad professor. I did not learn a single thing from any of his lectures and the course was basically learn it yourself. Luckily, I had a very good TA who helped me. Elzinga is famous, but he sucks.
Rating # 18
Overview:
  • Course: ECON2010
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Professor Elzinga is widely respected, but he did not explained concepts in clear and concise ways. His lectures were long and pretty unnecessary, and the way he sets up his discussion sections and TA's are what I hear the biggest complaints from. Lectures and discussion are both unhelpful. Read the textbook and try learning it on your own.
Rating # 19
Overview:
  • Course: ECON2010
  • Grade Received: B+
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
He doesn't really upload his notes anywhere and leaves a lot of material for the TAs to clear up in discussion. The TAs all vary in quality, so much of what you get out of the course depends on the TA. His lectures are funny, but he takes the long way to get to the actual point. The class is huge too, so it may be hard to focus.
Rating # 20
Overview:
  • Course: ECON2010
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
The lectures are amazing, but that's all I can say about his teaching. The lectures go over all the easy stuff, with little to no math involved, and the tests are really hard. I don't know how you can teach this way. If you take the test based on how he presents lectures, you will FAIL badly. Cool guy, bad teacher.
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