Achim Kempf - University of Waterloo

Professor: Achim Kempf
Department: Mathematics
College: University of Waterloo
Rating # 1
Overview:
  • Course: AM473
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Fantastic explanation of the material, he managed break things down to the fundamentals in a way where everything feels motivated and put into perspective, rather than a collection of unrelated facts to memorize. The assignments felt fair and help walk you through what you learned.
Rating # 2
Overview:
  • Course: AM473
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Office hours were magical and lectures were like beautiful stories. The way to go at UW if you want to learn quantum.
Rating # 3
Overview:
  • Course: AM473
  • Grade Received: A+
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
If you want to understand quantum, then take Amath 473 with Achim.
Rating # 4
Overview:
  • Course: PHYS454
  • Grade Received: A+
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
One of the best profs I've had at UW.
Rating # 5
Overview:
  • Course: PHYS454
  • Grade Received: A+
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Achim understands students, he cares that we actually understand and learn the concepts of what is being taught. He goes out of his way for the students, and his lecture notes (which is also your textbook!) are the best I have ever seen by any professor. Exams are totally fair, and his assignments really do further your understanding.
Rating # 6
Overview:
  • Course: PHYS454
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Achim is one of the best professors I've had in 4 years at Waterloo. He teaches quantum theory from the ground up, making minimal assumptions. He even goes in some depth into advanced topics, but dont worry, his tests are very fair. His lecture notes are all posted online, and they are of a very high quality (he is writing a textbook). A genius!
Rating # 7
Overview:
  • Course: AMATH473
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
His lectures are simply amazing. Each lecture is highly organized and have a coherent theme, and leaves nothing in the mystery. He mostly follow his notes, which are also very helpful. Assignments comes in the right amount and helps illustrate his points. Exams are fair. He also like to discuss some interesting topics in his office hours.
Rating # 8
Overview:
  • Course: PHYS454
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
One of the best physics profs I have ever had. I have taken several quantum courses and NOBODY understands the subject better than him. You will work hard but it will pay off big time. Highly Recommend.
Rating # 9
Overview:
  • Course: MATH138
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
He is the worst prof I have ever taken!! His lectures are awful and he always make me feel confused. Never take his course again!
Rating # 10
Overview:
  • Course: AMATH875
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Super-clear presentations of the topics. The slides and video recording of lectures (both available online) help a lot. The use of color in the slides are especially facilitating to single out important contents. Nice person, enjoys interacting with students. Knowledgeable in both math and physics.
Rating # 11
Overview:
  • Course: MATH138
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
His handwriting and teaching style is awful.
Rating # 12
Overview:
  • Course: 138
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
One of awful professors at UW wouldn't suggest to take class with him. 1) His writing is unclear most of time 2) Makes more mistakes than if it were person with no knowledge of calculus
Rating # 13
Overview:
  • Course: MATH138
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 1.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Very good and talent pro
Rating # 14
Overview:
  • Course: MATH138
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
His hand-writing is extremely hard to be understood. His lectures are lit helpful. I have to read the text book by myself after class and take a lot of time to go through the materials covered.
Rating # 15
Overview:
  • Course: MATH138
  • Grade Received: Not sure yet
  • Overall Rating: 2.5
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
He is not really trying to clarify students' questions, and he usually does not provide enough examples. I have to study on my own reading textbook because he does not cover what he should have. I never need to do this with my Math 137 prof.
Rating # 16
Overview:
  • Course: PHYS454
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Very good professor... starts off with a description of the Hamiltonian formulation of CM and then shows how it leads to the corresponding formulation of QM, which is very valuable for understanding the subject of quantum mechanics properly. Midterm was "surprising" and went very poorly for physics students in the class, final was better.
Rating # 17
Overview:
  • Course: MATH138
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Very passionate about what he's teaching, and able to come up with examples that are actually interesting.
Rating # 18
Overview:
  • Course: MATH237
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Not sure what everyone else is talking about...but he turned me off Calculus, with a poorly taught course.
Rating # 19
Overview:
  • Course: MATH237
  • Grade Received: B+
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
He has so much passion teaching calc 3 it's really unbelievable. Very nice guy and smiles too often. He has pretty good notes except often I find that there should be more examples, esp when the supporting text is course notes.
Rating # 20
Overview:
  • Course: PHYS
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
He is not trying to clarify students problems
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