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baroqen
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You won't regret it!
I highly recommend the Frrrrozen Hot Chocolate, which is what made me fall in love with the place years ago!
I haven't been back in a while (I live on the West Coast, sadly), but if things haven't changed then the portions are HUGE. Order food for half the size of the party, you can always add more if you need. but more importantly you need to save room for desserts, desserts, and desserts!
I highly recommend the Frrrrozen Hot Chocolate, which is what made me fall in love with the place years ago!
I haven't been back in a while (I live on the West Coast, sadly), but if things haven't changed then the portions are HUGE. Order food for half the size of the party, you can always add more if you need. but more importantly you need to save room for desserts, desserts, and desserts!
1
re: LSUS Online MBA Reviews
Posted by baroqen on 7/15/19 at 12:38 am to audioaxes1
quote:
What is the difference between a program "concentration" and "specialization"?
I am a bit torn between the 3 program areas: Project Management, Finance, Data Analytics... does anyone have any insight on the classes for these specializations?
Also I was curious how forgiving this program is for students who were not business/econ majors?
Differences between the two:
In regards to your diploma - No difference. Neither shows up on your diploma.
In regards to your transcript - One concentration will show up, specializations do not. While this may seem meaningful, I personally have never been asked for my transcript outside of school applications.
In regards to anything else - The school can provide a letter stating your concentration or specialization. If you do multiple concentrations or specializations, the letter is the only way to show this.
And you don't need a business background for an MBA. This program is not difficult, although some classes can be time consuming if you aim for an "A".
There are two Darrat's, but you don't need to worry about which one you get. To my understanding, they are brothers and they even use the exact same syllabus, formats, rubrics, etc.
There are two WIlliams. DRAMATICALLY different from each other. F. Williams has very bad reviews. K. Williams has very good ones.
MADM 760 = No really bad professors (at least when I was taking it). You were pretty much spoilt for choices, and each one had their own pros and cons. A couple of important things to to note are: If your schedule or time zone makes it difficult to do group projects, don't take Meeks. If you're bad at self-learning, don't take McLaughlin.
MKT 701 = No really great professors (when I took it). But Darrat appeared to be the "cream of the crap". Not bad per se, but far from great.
There are two WIlliams. DRAMATICALLY different from each other. F. Williams has very bad reviews. K. Williams has very good ones.
MADM 760 = No really bad professors (at least when I was taking it). You were pretty much spoilt for choices, and each one had their own pros and cons. A couple of important things to to note are: If your schedule or time zone makes it difficult to do group projects, don't take Meeks. If you're bad at self-learning, don't take McLaughlin.
MKT 701 = No really great professors (when I took it). But Darrat appeared to be the "cream of the crap". Not bad per se, but far from great.
quote:
Hi guys, I will be starting the program in July. I am currently signed up for MADM 701 with Kangu and MADM 760 with McLauglin. Would you say that these two are a ok pair?
I wouldn't recommend combining two MADM or MKT classes at the same time due to the writing load... especially not for your first term unless you're coming straight out of your undergrad. If you've had some time off, you may be rusty. Unless you have a ton of free time, I'd switch one of your pairings to another class that isn't writing heavy.
edit: I should add that I know nothing about Kungu's classes, but I took two classes with McLaughlin and previously wrote an extensive review on each of them if you search the site.
quote:
Do you have any recommendations on how to weed through the 400+ pages of information? Is there anything separate listing professors and classes that are recommended?
Use a targeted google site search. I'd post directions, but it gives me an error every time I try. Do a google on "google search within site" and it will give directions. Then just use the class you want more info on as your keywords
quote:
Baroqen, I am currently struggling through Dr. Linds class as we speak. This experience has been terrible. The first exam is this week. Not excited about it.
Wish I could help you, but I never took Lind. Unfortunately, from what I've read on the boards, the feedback has been very negative.
Gibbs appears to be the best choice. I took Lin, not Lind. Lin's class was 3 exams based on trivial information. You were able to have a 2 sided cheat sheet. Basically, having the right definitions on that cheat sheet made or broke you for the test.
quote:
@PresJohnTyler - this thread has a bunch of lurkers that are directed here from the facebook group. Those same lurkers are massive crybaby snowflakes that dont want to work for their degree, or dont like the way some professors "talk condescendingly" so they sit on fb and trash professors, and come on here and downvote, ignore it. I have a feeling i know who they are - same ones who said some of these classes were "impossible" and that tests were "impassable", that i have now taken quite a few of them and arent bad at all, you just have to actually know the material and be able to think in a complex manner. Your posts have been spot on - so obviously you dont fall into that category
LOL. He's right about the number of snowflakes, but there are also people that really have nothing better to do with their time but to downvote random posts. I wouldn't worry about it too much, since upvotes and downvotes really have ZERO impact on anything. I'd just ignore the people that would rather waste their time trolling than studying.
ACCT 701 - Huang
In one phrase – “Accounting for Dummies”
Difficulty – 2.5
Comments – Huang has a great class. She seems really nice and encourages students to email the coaches or even contact her directly with questions (Unlike Yuan who really doesn’t want you to contact her). The class itself is also highly condensed with a lot of knowledge without a massive time commitment. It’s not General Accounting, it’s a more focused Accounting class that teaches skills that will be useful to future business leaders. That’s not to say the class is easy, but it’s also not as intimidating as most people expect it to be. It’s theory oriented and focuses on teaching you the ins and outs of financial statements. Math nerds might be a bit disappointed. Huang provides multiple methods for learning: text, PowerPoints, lecture videos, and supplemental videos, along with Zoom sessions. Once again, this may sound intimidating but you only NEED the PowerPoints. She provides an array of learning methods because different people learn differently. I recommend just using her PowerPoints and listening to the course lectures, although you could technically stick with just one. The class consists of a 6 weekly, open notes, Proctorio “Homework” assignments graded on the best of TWO chances. These are homework and not quizzes or assessments so you can review between attempts. Like I said, she isn’t trying to be punitive, she’s giving you the tools to learn and succeed. You also have 6 weekly, closed-notes, Proctorio quizzes. The questions are on the identical material as the homework, although reconstructed to marginally different. If you know the homework material, you will know the quiz material. No tricks. There’s also a solo project in the final two week and an extra credit assignment in the last week. To be honest, the only drawback I felt in the class is that she has a relatively strong accent and some people may have difficulty understanding her. Fortunately, you can turn on a surprisingly accurate CC for the lecture videos.
Update: One final note on the project. When you first open up the project file it looks CRAZY and the first thought going through your head will be to wonder what the heck you got yourself into. However, once you start reading it, you’ll understand that she went into a crazy level of detail in what is essentially a gigantic rubric for the project. You’ll earn points just for putting the names of the companies that you’re going to be reviewing. The project is a 3-5 page paper including charts and you have two weeks to work on it. It’s actually a great little hand-on exercise to apply some of what you’ve learned through the class. Far more practical and useful “real world” knowledge than just taking another exam. I was concerned that it was deceptively easy due to the large amount of copy/paste involved… but true to form, Huang isn’t deceptive at all... A lot of it is copy/paste, the actual goal is finding the correct information to copy/paste. Starting the project is the toughest part, but it’s really primarily an accounting scavenger hunt. The goal appears to be to teach you how to “read” aka find relevant information from company financial statements. She also provides an extremely easy extra credit worth an additional 5%.
“A” Strategy – Watch the course lectures. It’s based on the PowerPoint so you don’t really need to do both. However, PRINT the PowerPoint and follow along and add notes as desired. Then, use the PowerPoint and notes during your homework assignment. If you don’t get 100%, study what you got wrong and do it again. Even if you got a 85% and you’re satisfied with that, DO THE HOMEWORK AGAIN. The questions are identical between attempts (except for the order of the answers), so doing it again is mainly for practice and the fact that you should be able to get a 100 the second time around (barring careless mistakes). The Proctorio pre-test procedures will probably take you longer than the quiz. The quizzes will always be based on the exact same concepts from the homework but will NOT be the exact same questions. If there are 3 parts to a concept and you were tested on one, brush up on the other two if you need to and then just take the quiz immediately after.
Time Commitment – 8 – 10 hours. No BS to sift through, it’s very straightforward and direct knowledge and skill building.
In one phrase – “Accounting for Dummies”
Difficulty – 2.5
Comments – Huang has a great class. She seems really nice and encourages students to email the coaches or even contact her directly with questions (Unlike Yuan who really doesn’t want you to contact her). The class itself is also highly condensed with a lot of knowledge without a massive time commitment. It’s not General Accounting, it’s a more focused Accounting class that teaches skills that will be useful to future business leaders. That’s not to say the class is easy, but it’s also not as intimidating as most people expect it to be. It’s theory oriented and focuses on teaching you the ins and outs of financial statements. Math nerds might be a bit disappointed. Huang provides multiple methods for learning: text, PowerPoints, lecture videos, and supplemental videos, along with Zoom sessions. Once again, this may sound intimidating but you only NEED the PowerPoints. She provides an array of learning methods because different people learn differently. I recommend just using her PowerPoints and listening to the course lectures, although you could technically stick with just one. The class consists of a 6 weekly, open notes, Proctorio “Homework” assignments graded on the best of TWO chances. These are homework and not quizzes or assessments so you can review between attempts. Like I said, she isn’t trying to be punitive, she’s giving you the tools to learn and succeed. You also have 6 weekly, closed-notes, Proctorio quizzes. The questions are on the identical material as the homework, although reconstructed to marginally different. If you know the homework material, you will know the quiz material. No tricks. There’s also a solo project in the final two week and an extra credit assignment in the last week. To be honest, the only drawback I felt in the class is that she has a relatively strong accent and some people may have difficulty understanding her. Fortunately, you can turn on a surprisingly accurate CC for the lecture videos.
Update: One final note on the project. When you first open up the project file it looks CRAZY and the first thought going through your head will be to wonder what the heck you got yourself into. However, once you start reading it, you’ll understand that she went into a crazy level of detail in what is essentially a gigantic rubric for the project. You’ll earn points just for putting the names of the companies that you’re going to be reviewing. The project is a 3-5 page paper including charts and you have two weeks to work on it. It’s actually a great little hand-on exercise to apply some of what you’ve learned through the class. Far more practical and useful “real world” knowledge than just taking another exam. I was concerned that it was deceptively easy due to the large amount of copy/paste involved… but true to form, Huang isn’t deceptive at all... A lot of it is copy/paste, the actual goal is finding the correct information to copy/paste. Starting the project is the toughest part, but it’s really primarily an accounting scavenger hunt. The goal appears to be to teach you how to “read” aka find relevant information from company financial statements. She also provides an extremely easy extra credit worth an additional 5%.
“A” Strategy – Watch the course lectures. It’s based on the PowerPoint so you don’t really need to do both. However, PRINT the PowerPoint and follow along and add notes as desired. Then, use the PowerPoint and notes during your homework assignment. If you don’t get 100%, study what you got wrong and do it again. Even if you got a 85% and you’re satisfied with that, DO THE HOMEWORK AGAIN. The questions are identical between attempts (except for the order of the answers), so doing it again is mainly for practice and the fact that you should be able to get a 100 the second time around (barring careless mistakes). The Proctorio pre-test procedures will probably take you longer than the quiz. The quizzes will always be based on the exact same concepts from the homework but will NOT be the exact same questions. If there are 3 parts to a concept and you were tested on one, brush up on the other two if you need to and then just take the quiz immediately after.
Time Commitment – 8 – 10 hours. No BS to sift through, it’s very straightforward and direct knowledge and skill building.
FIN 701 – Choi
In one phrase – “Finance made… not easy… but easier”
Difficulty – 4
Comments – Finance is tough. It’s boring, there are a ton of numbers and weird theories, and no one really likes it. That said, Choi does a decent job of forcibly drilling a bit of Finance knowledge into your brain. I’m actually only halfway through the class as I write this and have already used some of the information I’ve learned. The class consists of reading 2 extensive PowerPoints a week, 5 weekly discussion posts that requires you to dig into one of the course topics in more detail (200 word min), 2 sizeable case analyses (500 word min, but you’ll probably do MUCH more), and 3 closed-book (Half page notecard allowed for formulas only), Proctorio exams covering two modules each. There is a HIGHLY active Q&A board and he’s extremely responsive. You get a “problem set” each week for practice that you don’t actually have to do or turn in. DO NOT SKIP THESE. They’re essentially practice exams and the vast majority of the test will come directly from the problem sets. They’re big and time consuming, but very good practice. If you didn’t catch it earlier, I said there are 3 exams covering 2 modules each. This was not a typo. The class is 6 modules with the last module spanning the last two weeks. It will probably be a bear, but at the same time it also means you could potentially finish a week earlier if you want to push yourself. That’s not to say that the class is easy, the very first thing I said is that Finance is tough. However, if you do the work and put in the time, you should be able to earn yourself an A. The case analyses are a lot of research, but at the end of the day you will learn quite a bit while doing them and that knowledge will probably be your biggest takeaways from the class. As for the actual financial calculations, it’s pretty archaic but all the math is done on financial calculators NOT Excel… TI BAII Plus is recommended. At this point, it’s practically Jurassic to use a calculator so that’s a bit odd. This is something to keep in mind as you will essentially be learning a highly outdated process that lost relevance nearly 3 decades ago.
Update: The first test is easy, but the second two can be TOUGH. The mistake that many people seemed to have made was that they memorized the problem sets without actually learning how to solve the problems. DO the problem sets, don’t just memorize the answers.
“A” Strategy – Choi gives you ALL of the tools you need to earn an A. The class is extremely straightforward with no tricks (unlike some other professors). There is literally an easy, albeit extremely time-consuming “A” strategy and that is to do the problem sets as many times as you need to until you basically can get them 100% without your notes. However, don’t just memorize the problem sets, you need to understand how to actually work the problems out. He gives you a separate file with the answers and how to solve them so you can check. Also check the Q&A board for any problems you have issues with or ask on the boards. He’s highly responsive with how to solve the any question. He isn’t going to just hand you an A, but if you really put in the time and effort it is straightforward to earn one. The first test is dramatically easier than the second and third, so you need to STUDY. You get to make a single “formula sheet”. Write down every formula you use to solve the problem sets, even if it is a variation of an existing formula. This will save you time and effort. Convert all of his answers from the problem sets into their respective formulas. Also utilize any formulas he uses on the discussion boards, as they are sometimes easier to understand. You literally get EVERY tool you need and the rest is just effort (a lot of it).
Time Commitment – 20-40 hours/week. Honestly, this one really has the potential to be a real bear for some. Others may be gifted enough to handle the material easily so there’s going to be a huge range in time required. The two case analyses are time consuming due to the amount of research involved, don’t be misled by the “500 word minimum”. If you don’t study and prepare extensively for the tests, you will probably fail them. That said, you can actually have a failing average score on your tests and still get a B in the class.
In one phrase – “Finance made… not easy… but easier”
Difficulty – 4
Comments – Finance is tough. It’s boring, there are a ton of numbers and weird theories, and no one really likes it. That said, Choi does a decent job of forcibly drilling a bit of Finance knowledge into your brain. I’m actually only halfway through the class as I write this and have already used some of the information I’ve learned. The class consists of reading 2 extensive PowerPoints a week, 5 weekly discussion posts that requires you to dig into one of the course topics in more detail (200 word min), 2 sizeable case analyses (500 word min, but you’ll probably do MUCH more), and 3 closed-book (Half page notecard allowed for formulas only), Proctorio exams covering two modules each. There is a HIGHLY active Q&A board and he’s extremely responsive. You get a “problem set” each week for practice that you don’t actually have to do or turn in. DO NOT SKIP THESE. They’re essentially practice exams and the vast majority of the test will come directly from the problem sets. They’re big and time consuming, but very good practice. If you didn’t catch it earlier, I said there are 3 exams covering 2 modules each. This was not a typo. The class is 6 modules with the last module spanning the last two weeks. It will probably be a bear, but at the same time it also means you could potentially finish a week earlier if you want to push yourself. That’s not to say that the class is easy, the very first thing I said is that Finance is tough. However, if you do the work and put in the time, you should be able to earn yourself an A. The case analyses are a lot of research, but at the end of the day you will learn quite a bit while doing them and that knowledge will probably be your biggest takeaways from the class. As for the actual financial calculations, it’s pretty archaic but all the math is done on financial calculators NOT Excel… TI BAII Plus is recommended. At this point, it’s practically Jurassic to use a calculator so that’s a bit odd. This is something to keep in mind as you will essentially be learning a highly outdated process that lost relevance nearly 3 decades ago.
Update: The first test is easy, but the second two can be TOUGH. The mistake that many people seemed to have made was that they memorized the problem sets without actually learning how to solve the problems. DO the problem sets, don’t just memorize the answers.
“A” Strategy – Choi gives you ALL of the tools you need to earn an A. The class is extremely straightforward with no tricks (unlike some other professors). There is literally an easy, albeit extremely time-consuming “A” strategy and that is to do the problem sets as many times as you need to until you basically can get them 100% without your notes. However, don’t just memorize the problem sets, you need to understand how to actually work the problems out. He gives you a separate file with the answers and how to solve them so you can check. Also check the Q&A board for any problems you have issues with or ask on the boards. He’s highly responsive with how to solve the any question. He isn’t going to just hand you an A, but if you really put in the time and effort it is straightforward to earn one. The first test is dramatically easier than the second and third, so you need to STUDY. You get to make a single “formula sheet”. Write down every formula you use to solve the problem sets, even if it is a variation of an existing formula. This will save you time and effort. Convert all of his answers from the problem sets into their respective formulas. Also utilize any formulas he uses on the discussion boards, as they are sometimes easier to understand. You literally get EVERY tool you need and the rest is just effort (a lot of it).
Time Commitment – 20-40 hours/week. Honestly, this one really has the potential to be a real bear for some. Others may be gifted enough to handle the material easily so there’s going to be a huge range in time required. The two case analyses are time consuming due to the amount of research involved, don’t be misled by the “500 word minimum”. If you don’t study and prepare extensively for the tests, you will probably fail them. That said, you can actually have a failing average score on your tests and still get a B in the class.
I highly HIGHLY recommend Huang for Acct 701. No tricks whatsoever, minimal amount of studying because she really prepares you for the class. After reading so many negative comments about other teachers, I can't stress enough how good Huang is. Straightfoward, no tricks, an easy final project (although I was confused at first because it seemed TOO easy), and an easy 5% extra credit. I ended her class with a 100% (because I did the extra credit just in case).
I'll post an updated review on my last two classes shortly.
I'll post an updated review on my last two classes shortly.
Does anyone know if the MBA assessment (the one they send out after graduation) is required?
quote:
I've taken your suggestion and signed up for Fin 701 with Joey and Acct with Huang would you happen to have the syllabus for each? can you email me them to armmika@aol.com...Yes I still use AOL.com
I'm more surprised that it even still exists.... but seriously...
I want to update one thing. FIN with Choi will be VERY time consuming. I'll post an updated review, but the second and third test were much more difficult than the first one for many people.
That said, many people probably failed those tests because they chose to be complacent with their studying. You need to make sure you know how to SOLVE the quantitative problems, don't just memorize answers from the problem sets. That might work decently well for the first test, but I guarantee it won't work for tests two or three (don't be lazy and do it for the first test either).
I won't be able to post my updated reviews for another two weeks (they're on another computer and I'm travelling atm) but I ended up with a high A... but it took a LOT of work to do so. The class was hard but I can't imagine it being easier with anyone else. Easily one of the two hardest classes in the program along with Econ. There is a small shortcut I will include in my updated review, but you will need to dedicate a lot of time to the class.
Pairing it with Huang's ACCT was probably the best thing I could have done... I don't have my grade yet for ACCT, but short of getting a ridiculously bad score on the final project, I will stand by my previous review, although I will update that one later as well.
Both of them release their final modules ahead of time as well, which is another blessing and I was able to finish these last two classes, and therefore the program, several days early as a result. Huang's ACCT 701 is probably the second least time consuming core class (along with Lin or Gibbs' ISDS 705 classes) making them good options to pair with ECON or FIN (if you must pair those two at all).
re: LSUS Online MBA Reviews
Posted by baroqen on 5/2/19 at 11:39 am to DeRidderSitter
quote:
All my transcripts showed up yesterday in the portal. How long should it take for them to either accept or decline me?
I'll be honest, I can't remember. It didn't seem very long though. Give it at least two weeks.
quote:
Anyone have an idea of when the professors are announced for the Fall semester? Most are TBA as of right now
If you can afford to do so, I highly recommend signing up for multiples of the same class each session. You can register for up to 3 classes per session, and I recommend doing so for the most challenging courses. The TBA typically won't resolve until AFTER payment is due, so you will need to pay in advance. You can always drop the less optimum teacher. You even have a few days after classes start to get a 100% refund which you can arrange to have electronically deposited back to your bank account.
I did this between Huang and Yin's ACCT 701 and decided on Huang after reviewing the syllabus and other materials in each course.
re: LSUS Online MBA Reviews
Posted by baroqen on 5/1/19 at 2:07 am to Sophiehuang
quote:
HI, Baroqen, is there possible that we can connect, my email is huanghuisuo@hotmail.com. I just start MBA in this summer, would like to hear your suggestion about each courses that you have taken so far? thank you,
Refer to page 393 of this forum. You can also google this specific forum. I tried posting instructions on how to do it twice, but it seems the forum doesn't like something about it. You will need to use google to figure it out.
quote:
I have these 2 courses for Summar AP1 - Please provide your suggestion and difficulty level. Can I combine these subjects. ? Thank you.!
Glad I could help with your MADM test, congrats on your 90%. I've heard good things about Vines in the past, bad things about him more recently. I took Choi, which is also good and bad. The good is that it will be pretty difficult to get below a "B", the discussion posts and case analyses ae typically graded pretty lenient so you need to have worst than a 57% average on your tests to get below a B. The bad is that the second and third tests are difficult and while you can ensure yourself an A with a lot of preparation, it is a LOT of studying to do so. However, the first test was also a pretty easy A, so you need to prep a ton for just two tests (I recommend 15+ hours of studying alone). He gives you everything you need to get an A for both tests though with practice tests that are very similar to the tests. The first test has a lot of identical questions but the second and third will test similar, but different problems (some people memorized the answers from the practice exam rather than learning how to solve the problems and didn't do so well).
Lind I have heard nothing but bad things about. ISDS 705 should be one of the easiest classes to take, and hers is supposed to be a bear with a lot more work and a group project as well. I don't recommend it. Gibbs is the most highly recommended, Lin (without the D) is probably a little lighter than Gibbs, but is also a complete and utter waste of time.
I had Dr. Kim for MKT. Read my report on MKT 705 if you want an idea of how Dr. Kim will probably run MADM 760. Basically, I would say Dr. Kim would be better than Dr. McLaughlin in every single way, relatively lighter workloads but a lot more fair, and she does lecture videos as well.
That said, relatively lighter is NOT light. MKT 705 was a heavy elective, but for a core class I would expect it to be just about right and like I said... probably better than the other options. I learned a lot in her MKT 705 class, which is saying a lot since I spent many years actually in the industry.
That said, relatively lighter is NOT light. MKT 705 was a heavy elective, but for a core class I would expect it to be just about right and like I said... probably better than the other options. I learned a lot in her MKT 705 class, which is saying a lot since I spent many years actually in the industry.
quote:
I'm in the 6th week, so if any suggestions on the exam prep front would be a great help.!
I've included all the tips in the "A" strategy section of my reviews. However, to clarify further... to get through her tests you need to read between the lines. Do not look for or expect the exact words/vocabulary from your reading. She literally changes words that I feel shouldn't be changed (because they are the official terminology) in order to trip you up. She thinks it "makes you think" but they're really just tricks that test your ability to connect something like:
What is the name of a Beatle's song
"The long and winding road" would not be an answer but one of the answers might be
"The random street that goes on and on in different directions". In McLaughlin's mind, this is the correct answer because it "made you think".
The other quirk of her tests is extremely difficult to prepare for and you will need either luck or a photographic memory. She typically has one question that tests your memory of a subset of a single topic (you won't know which one she will do it on) and makes you try to figure out her reasoning for something. Like... What is the best device for enhancing vision. The answers will be:
Eyeball
Lens
Glasses
Telescope
There will not actually be anything remotely related to this in the reading or materials you were given. You may have had one relatively unimportant seeming topic related to vision that didn't discuss any of these. However, the right answer would be "lens" because the others three actually all rely on a lens to function (and "eyeball" doesn't enhance vision).
Wish I could give you better tips but other than that, use the "A" strategy tips I provided. Her MADM 760 actually wasn't bad compared to her MADM 701, which was definitely worse. MADM 760 had the exams at 48% of the grade, with the discussions and case analyses being easy 100s giving you wiggle room on the tests. Her class gives you a relatively lighter workload compared to some of the other MADM 760 sections, but it doesn't come without some sort of cost... in this case it is the lack of instruction and trick questions.
re: LSUS Online MBA Reviews
Posted by baroqen on 4/24/19 at 8:27 pm to DeRidderSitter
quote:
I am considering the program. What is the general consensus for those who have participated thus far? Was it worth your time?
As socal said, it's the best value you can get, especially if you're going online. The biggest benefit of the top name MBAs has NEVER been the education, it's the connections you make during school. If you can't do a traditional MBA, particularly from a top name school, then you won't find a better value out there.
There is a range when it comes to the teachers for any particular class however. You will learn more from some classes than others, at the same time difficulty level doesn't always scale with learning. Some are simply unnecessarily difficult with no actual benefit in terms of learning. Check the reviews and choose your teachers wisely.
re: LSUS Online MBA Reviews
Posted by baroqen on 4/24/19 at 1:14 am to AlphaBravo1979
quote:
The quizzes are not challenging, the reading is out of date (2014) for a technical class, so thus far, I feel the class is a waste, albeit a requirement.
Which still makes it more up to date than Lin's text which is from 2011, and frankly would have already been considered outdated back then.
quote:
Question @baroqen. To what I was reading 740 teach us how to incorporate R for financial modeling?
This is what I got from the MBA department:
FIN 740 Financial Analytics - This course introduces modern analytical tools to solve practical problems in finance, using R. The goal is to bridge the gap between finance theories and practice by taking various financial models to the data and using them to aid financial decision making. The topics include: (1) financial time series analysis, (2) forecasting, (3) portfolio optimization, (4) fixed income securities, (5) derivatives pricing, (6) credit risk models, and (7) quantitative risk management.
So bear in mind... the class sounds tough and it will probably be a rough expeience, I won't lie. FIN is probably one of the classes I enjoyed the absolute least, and learning R was also pretty tough. Combining the two sounds nightmarish... but I'd do it over ISDS 710 if I'd had the chance.
R is a legitimate language and learning it will build a legitimate, real life skill... even if you're only really getting some basics down. At the very least, you can build a base that you can progress upon.
quote:
According to the requirements of the Data Analytics concentration/specialization, all students pursuing this route unfortunately have to take ISDS 710. I would’ve taken FIN 740 as an elective at least if I didn’t already complete that requirement for the specialization.
This email came out in January:
On Behalf of the MBA Director:
We are pleased to announce the introduction of FIN 740 Financial Analytics. This course fulfills specialization and concentration requirements for Data Analytics and Finance, as well as a general elective for specializations or General Business. FIN 740 will be offered for the first time in Spring AP2 (2019). Here are three courses of action that may apply to you:
Essentially, a specialization should only require you to cover 2 out of the 3 available electives. For DA, the useful ones would be ISDS 702 and FIN 740. Getting your feet wet in "R" is going to be infinitely more useful than the "analytics" joke that is ISDS 710. ISDS 710 should have been re-labeled MKT 7XX. It's a marketing class with only a tangential relationship to analytics.
Of course, ISDS 710 should also be an easier class than FIN 740... The choice would be more related to whether you want something useful or just an easy class to "check the box" for your DA spec. However, keep in mind that if you actually want to apply for an analytics job, being able to say "I took a semester on Financial modeling in R" will make you sound a lot better than "I have absolutely zero exposure or experience in any form of real analytics".
A single R class isn't an enormous amount of experience, but it's certainly better than zero. It also tells a prospective hiring manager that you have at least some capacity for using analytics tools rather than just a fresh grad who knows how to write papers about marketing (ie. ISDS 710).
re: LSUS Online MBA Reviews
Posted by baroqen on 4/17/19 at 9:17 pm to ConsciousGal
quote:
Any other pairings that you would recommend? My specialization is the Data Analytics one.
Don't take ISDS 710. It's a marketing class with a few numbers and formulas. Total crap for DA. Take the new DA class, I think it's FIN 740? As weird as it may seem that it would be under FIN (it has nothing to do with Finance), the class actually teaches the basics of the "R" programming language. In my reviews, it's probably very close to the first half of the ISDS 710 class I took. It can be challenging but at the very least will provide you with an actual, legitimate analytics related skill.
Take ECON alone or pair it with ISDS 702 as mentioned in my previous post. MADM 701 and MKT 701 were pretty similar for me, however I wouldn't pair those two with each other (or with Econ).
re: LSUS Online MBA Reviews
Posted by baroqen on 4/16/19 at 11:20 pm to ConsciousGal
quote:
For those of you who have taken these classes recently with these professors, would it be okay doubling this up like I am planning to do? I have done some research through this forum but I just wanted to ask just in case I may have missed something.
Good pairings. If you're going to pair FIN, ISDS 705 with Lin is possibly the best possible class to pair it with.
I took Kim for MKT 705, and I frankly loved her. 760 is typically a pretty intensive class, but I expect her class should at least have a balanced workload, even if it isn't light. ACCT 701 is also a good class to pair with a heavier one. I didn't take it with Yin, but from what I've heard it shouldn't be much more time consuming than Huang.
quote:
Your posts have been very insightful and I appreciate you taking the time to post thorough reviews. I recently applied and plan on starting the program in May (Summer AP1). As a full-time employee, I don't want to overdo it, but I would like to finish this program as quickly as possible
I paired everything to varying degrees of suffering with a full time, highly intensive job and two small children. I gave myself a goal to finish in 5 sessions with a 4.0 and I should be able to complete that journey in 3 more weeks. It requires some sacrifice but it can be done.
That said... the reason I included time requirements on each class was to help people gauge how well they could pair a given class based on their unique circumstances in terms of available time. Only you can determine that, but I would recommend taking ECON, FIN, and maybe MADM 760 (depending on who you take it with) on their own. At least for me, the first two were real bears. MADM 760 with Meeks is also supposed to be extremely time consuming.
Pair your choices of ISDS 705, ISDS 702, and ACCT 701 with MADM and MKT 701. You should be able to finish the work using weeknights and probably most of one weekend day leaving you some free time. If you're not going with Meeks for MADM 760, you can probably pair that one with the remaining pairable. Then two electives of your choosing and most of them are comparatively light and can be paired with each other. If time is a serious issue, I don't recommend any MADM or MKT elective.
Make sure you take ISDS 702, and take it before taking ECON or FIN 701 (unless you take FIN with Choi, who still uses calculators).
quote:
Long time lurker, first-time poster here. I am taking FIN 701 and Econ 705 for Summer AP1. Does anybody have a syllabus they can share, I would like to just get a bit of a jump start.
We're going to need a professor name. It's useless to get a jump start on the wrong professor's class as they have entirely different texts, materials, methods, etc.
I thought about leaving out this last review as it was written about the cluster that was ISDS 710 when they changed the format. However, it may still be valuable as the first half of the class was probably close to the new FIN 740 while the second half of the class is the current ISDS 710. Probably...
ISDS 710 – M. Darrat
In one phrase – “What… the… hell?”
Difficulty (out of 5) - 4
Comments – EDIT: The following review was written before the class did another complete 180 mid-semester and returned to the original format, except you had to catch up on 4 weeks at once. Needless to say, this was a complete cluster, and I can only highly discourage taking this course (or even the entire Data Analytics concentration aside from ISDS 702) until they fix the many, many, many problems with it.
This course has already evolved significantly from the first iteration, which was (from what I read in the previous reviews) essentially just a marketing class with some numbers thrown in. The current iteration is a complete 180 from that in both good and bad ways, and it has further evolved during the course of the session I attended. Initially, all of the teaching was done through the free portion of an online program called “Data Camp” that teaches you to use a statistical tool called “R”. Since I work closely with actual analysts, I’ve learned that “R” is actually a seriously legit tool used commonly by scholars, schools, and statisticians and less commonly by companies (which tend to prefer the more specialized Python or SAS). That said, even major companies will sometimes use it because “everyone has it” (it’s free) so it’s a convenient language to use when you’re collaborating with outside parties. As far as material is concerned, R is pretty legit. On the third week, he started doing a zoom where he actually was teaching. It was seriously helpful and made a huge difference so hopefully he keeps it. That said, it’s DAMN hard to learn this out of the blue in just seven weeks unless you have a strong background in coding or similar work. The material also skips around in a manner that is NOT intuitive. Due to the tight time constraint of the 7 week session, some material is skipped that probably shouldn’t be. Expect to be saying “What the hell?” a lot throughout the class, whether doing assignments, problem sets, or taking tests. Without the zoom sessions, this class would be recommended for those with strong programming backgrounds or strong masochistic streaks. The professor says that it will be like learning a new language, which is true. Except most people do not learn new languages in 7 weeks. It is also not like trying to learn to read, write, and speak French or Spanish. It is a lot more like trying to learn how to read, write, and speak ancient Sumerian or Aramaic… in seven weeks. Don’t pair it with a heavy class. If you’re interested in getting into real analytics, you might not want to pair it at all, spend your time doubling up on the full Data Camp program (not just the assignments) and maybe really learn it.
Comments Addendum – As noted above, midway through the course the format was completely switched back to the original, with a tremendous amount of catchup work to do in week 4. Admittedly the “new” format was valuable for DA concentrations but essentially useless for Marketing concentrations. The “old” format is almost the reverse, although it’s only mostly useless for DA, instead of entirely useless. There is actually a lot of good information in both versions, but the school’s desire to recycle the course to serve double duty to two highly different concentrations is a disservice to both concentrations in this form.
“A” Strategy –
*EDIT – Don’t take this class. There is no way to know what shenanigans are going to happen. Best to avoid until it all settles out.*
Assuming the class does not evolve again (EDIT: HAH! How prophetic this was…), I’d recommend running yourself through the free portion of the Data Camp program, and possibly also using “Swirl”, over a blank period such as Christmas Break and then taking the class immediately after. Better yet, start learning R at least 6 months before starting the MBA program, and take the course alone for your first session. It would give you a huge head start. Although you probably still wouldn’t know what the hell is going on, at least you would mostly know how to do it. Close to half of your grade comes from simply completing the problem sets (not too hard) and Data Camp Assignments (which you can do at any skill level, because you can actually get the answer directly using the “Get Answer” button – although that doesn’t help you learn it). You will not be penalized for using the button, you’re scored purely for completion of assignments. The other half comes from weekly quizzes and a final project. You will want to try and get full credit (or as close as possible) for the Problem Sets, Quizzes, and Final Project. IF you can manage to get 100% of the points for those three sections, you’ll be able to scrape out an A with just a 64.7% average on your quizzes. If you lose even 10 total points from the first 3 sections, you will need to increase your average quiz score to 71.3%. The first quiz is straightforward. You’ll want to try to study a lot on the first week to try and capture 100% on that quiz to slightly reduce the pressure for the other quizzes. You’re allowed several “cheat sheets” provided by the class for the quizzes (PRINT THEM OUT, you can use them on your computer, but the “A” strategy is to PRINT THEM OUT) and the usage of “R Studio” (open it before you start the quiz), which you will want to use for all but the first quiz. If you have at least a bit of a grasp on the course material, you can sometimes use R Studio to check some of your answers. These last two tips are also the most important - He has stated that 80% of his quizzes will come from the text so study accordingly. If you breeze through the text, don’t expect to pass the quizzes. If he continues his zoom sessions, they are also HIGHLY recommended to view/review before you take the quiz.
Time Commitment – Potentially infinite if you really want to understand what you’re doing. Maybe as little as 10-20 hours if you’re only looking for a B or a C. You’re either going to “get it” or spend countless hours continually not getting it. That said, it’s set up so you can “fake it till you make it” if you’re okay with possibly getting a C. If you want an A, you will need to get at least a basic grasp of the concepts. Then spend the time to get good scores on the problem sets, assignments, and project. Study the text and zoom and you should be able to squeak out an overall A.
ISDS 710 – M. Darrat
In one phrase – “What… the… hell?”
Difficulty (out of 5) - 4
Comments – EDIT: The following review was written before the class did another complete 180 mid-semester and returned to the original format, except you had to catch up on 4 weeks at once. Needless to say, this was a complete cluster, and I can only highly discourage taking this course (or even the entire Data Analytics concentration aside from ISDS 702) until they fix the many, many, many problems with it.
This course has already evolved significantly from the first iteration, which was (from what I read in the previous reviews) essentially just a marketing class with some numbers thrown in. The current iteration is a complete 180 from that in both good and bad ways, and it has further evolved during the course of the session I attended. Initially, all of the teaching was done through the free portion of an online program called “Data Camp” that teaches you to use a statistical tool called “R”. Since I work closely with actual analysts, I’ve learned that “R” is actually a seriously legit tool used commonly by scholars, schools, and statisticians and less commonly by companies (which tend to prefer the more specialized Python or SAS). That said, even major companies will sometimes use it because “everyone has it” (it’s free) so it’s a convenient language to use when you’re collaborating with outside parties. As far as material is concerned, R is pretty legit. On the third week, he started doing a zoom where he actually was teaching. It was seriously helpful and made a huge difference so hopefully he keeps it. That said, it’s DAMN hard to learn this out of the blue in just seven weeks unless you have a strong background in coding or similar work. The material also skips around in a manner that is NOT intuitive. Due to the tight time constraint of the 7 week session, some material is skipped that probably shouldn’t be. Expect to be saying “What the hell?” a lot throughout the class, whether doing assignments, problem sets, or taking tests. Without the zoom sessions, this class would be recommended for those with strong programming backgrounds or strong masochistic streaks. The professor says that it will be like learning a new language, which is true. Except most people do not learn new languages in 7 weeks. It is also not like trying to learn to read, write, and speak French or Spanish. It is a lot more like trying to learn how to read, write, and speak ancient Sumerian or Aramaic… in seven weeks. Don’t pair it with a heavy class. If you’re interested in getting into real analytics, you might not want to pair it at all, spend your time doubling up on the full Data Camp program (not just the assignments) and maybe really learn it.
Comments Addendum – As noted above, midway through the course the format was completely switched back to the original, with a tremendous amount of catchup work to do in week 4. Admittedly the “new” format was valuable for DA concentrations but essentially useless for Marketing concentrations. The “old” format is almost the reverse, although it’s only mostly useless for DA, instead of entirely useless. There is actually a lot of good information in both versions, but the school’s desire to recycle the course to serve double duty to two highly different concentrations is a disservice to both concentrations in this form.
“A” Strategy –
*EDIT – Don’t take this class. There is no way to know what shenanigans are going to happen. Best to avoid until it all settles out.*
Assuming the class does not evolve again (EDIT: HAH! How prophetic this was…), I’d recommend running yourself through the free portion of the Data Camp program, and possibly also using “Swirl”, over a blank period such as Christmas Break and then taking the class immediately after. Better yet, start learning R at least 6 months before starting the MBA program, and take the course alone for your first session. It would give you a huge head start. Although you probably still wouldn’t know what the hell is going on, at least you would mostly know how to do it. Close to half of your grade comes from simply completing the problem sets (not too hard) and Data Camp Assignments (which you can do at any skill level, because you can actually get the answer directly using the “Get Answer” button – although that doesn’t help you learn it). You will not be penalized for using the button, you’re scored purely for completion of assignments. The other half comes from weekly quizzes and a final project. You will want to try and get full credit (or as close as possible) for the Problem Sets, Quizzes, and Final Project. IF you can manage to get 100% of the points for those three sections, you’ll be able to scrape out an A with just a 64.7% average on your quizzes. If you lose even 10 total points from the first 3 sections, you will need to increase your average quiz score to 71.3%. The first quiz is straightforward. You’ll want to try to study a lot on the first week to try and capture 100% on that quiz to slightly reduce the pressure for the other quizzes. You’re allowed several “cheat sheets” provided by the class for the quizzes (PRINT THEM OUT, you can use them on your computer, but the “A” strategy is to PRINT THEM OUT) and the usage of “R Studio” (open it before you start the quiz), which you will want to use for all but the first quiz. If you have at least a bit of a grasp on the course material, you can sometimes use R Studio to check some of your answers. These last two tips are also the most important - He has stated that 80% of his quizzes will come from the text so study accordingly. If you breeze through the text, don’t expect to pass the quizzes. If he continues his zoom sessions, they are also HIGHLY recommended to view/review before you take the quiz.
Time Commitment – Potentially infinite if you really want to understand what you’re doing. Maybe as little as 10-20 hours if you’re only looking for a B or a C. You’re either going to “get it” or spend countless hours continually not getting it. That said, it’s set up so you can “fake it till you make it” if you’re okay with possibly getting a C. If you want an A, you will need to get at least a basic grasp of the concepts. Then spend the time to get good scores on the problem sets, assignments, and project. Study the text and zoom and you should be able to squeak out an overall A.
MKT 705 – Kim
In one phrase – “Tries hard.”
Difficulty (out of 5) - 2
Comments – Essentially MADM 760, but a little bit better due to more interaction/feedback. There are some short lecture videos as well as external supplemental videos, some of which are really interesting. The powerpoints are useful for review, but watch the lecture videos. She isn’t just reading off the PPT. Like most marketing or management classes, there’s a good deal of writing in the class. No public forums, one quiz and one paper weeks 1-6, alternating between a case analysis and application assignment. One quiz and final exam for week 7. Lots of reading from multiple sources can be a bit confusing, and some of the reading was pretty tedious. Also, pay attention to the specific pages you’re supposed to read. You’re not required to read full chapters of many of the sources (but the actual pages aren’t “cut out” for you). The teacher seems really bright, perky, and all around pleasant. Seems like a relatively new teacher that is trying hard to have a good class. Adding a public forum and zoom would be great.
“A” Strategy – Pretty much the same as for MADM 760, with the only exception that there is a final exam. Balanced course work with slightly more writing each week and the need to have a few external sources makes it a slightly heavier research load, but this is balanced by no discussion forum posts. RUBRIC, RUBRIC, RUBRIC. By now this should be a common theme, but you’re writing for a rubric so make sure you’re following what it wants because the two paper requirements are NOT exactly the same. Requirements from different professors also vary. You also get a pretty generous extra credit for creating a very simple video introducing yourself in the first week. Since you’re reading the “A” strategy, this is a no brainer. DO IT.
Time Commitment – 12-18 hours/week. More extensive external source material requirements makes it a little more time consuming than MADM 760 due to time spent on research.
ISDS 702 – Koksal
In one phrase – “Compact”
Difficulty (out of 5) – 2 (if you don’t try to understand everything) 3.5 (if you do)
Comments – If you’re in the Data Analytics concentration, I highly recommend taking this class first. This is also a good class to take prior to ECON 705 as it eases you into some of the skills and knowledge you will need for ECON. Supposedly some FIN classes can also benefit from this class, so don’t leave it off till later! The class itself can seem daunting at times but this is actually due more from the way it’s explained (or not explained). You don’t actually get a lot of information and the information that you do get isn’t always explained well. As another student put it, “It’s like he knows what he is talking about but can’t convey it properly” (pineveillj, 2019). This is an extremely accurate assessment. He either drones on and over-explains simple topics or completely skips important explanations. You’re often left doing something that doesn’t make sense because you don’t understand WHY you need to do it in such a backwards fashion. Once you stop trying to actually understand it, it’s actually pretty easy and I will detail it out in the “A” strategy. The information can be pretty good and statistical skills (as well as general analytical skills) are becoming increasingly important for career potential. If you can just “roll with it”, it’s a very good class with highly condensed knowledge and you WILL actually start to understand it better as you do it. Don’t waste your time beating yourself up about it and follow the “A” strategy.
“A” Strategy – The most important part of the “A” strategy is to not overthink it. Just try to filter out the important information from what he’s saying and DO it. Focus on memorizing instead of understanding. There are two key components to the “A” strategy. The first part is getting the Excel portion. Do the initial discussion post exercise (you don’t have to actually post it to the board though) and then compare your results with his. If you got it wrong, you need to figure out how to get it right. I re-watch the videos while doing the discussions. You need to understand how to do the Excel portion in order to complete the assignment, so you can just review the Excel portions of the videos. Excel is straightforward as long as you understand which formula to use and when to use it. The assignment quiz is “open book” and taken directly from the Excel assignment. Just have the assignment open and you should be able to get an easy 100% (You get a second chance with the assignment, your score is best out of two). The second component is memorization. Before taking the quiz, go over the lecture videos again and memorize facts, definitions, charts, etc. The quiz is proctored and not open book, but it is also purely theoretical, there is NO math and NO Excel knowledge involved. Memorizing the facts is sufficient. You also don’t need to actually understand “why” something is the way it is, just accept that it is and memorize it.
Time Commitment – 5-10 hours MAX depending on your inherent Excel skills.
MADM 701 – McLaughlin
In one phrase – “Almost great!”
Difficulty (out of 5) - 3
Comments – Since I’ve gone over McLaughlin’s MADM 760 already, I won’t re-hash it all here as the class is VERY similar. I’ve updated the strategy tips in the section below for the minor changes. Another difference is that current event paper topics are a bit more difficult to find, so you might spend more time on research.
“A” Strategy – The discussion post is not due until Thursday, which makes the timeline a bit better compared to the Tuesday deadline of her 760 class. The discussions are taken directly from one of the mini case studies at the back of one of the chapters. They require more topic integration than the MADM 760 ones, but are also more targeted questions. As a result, they’re a comparatively lighter writing load to complete. The quizzes suffer the same issue from MADM 760 and are frankly the reason for the 3 star difficulty ratings for both classes. You’re always going to have a few trick questions on the test that are supposed to “make you think” but are often just semantics. MADM 701 might actually be a little worse due to a significantly larger number of actual course topics and the amount of detail the book goes into. This means there’s a ton of information that you will need to remember for the test. Once again, I recommend using any questions at the back of the chapter. The 701 PowerPoints also include discussion topics at the beginning of each PPT. I also recommend reviewing and answering these as part of your test prep.
Time Commitment – 15 - 25 hours/week. It feels like 701 has a lot more reading than 760 did, hence the higher time commitment to read and also study. However, it does have slightly less writing, although a bit more potential research time.
In one phrase – “Tries hard.”
Difficulty (out of 5) - 2
Comments – Essentially MADM 760, but a little bit better due to more interaction/feedback. There are some short lecture videos as well as external supplemental videos, some of which are really interesting. The powerpoints are useful for review, but watch the lecture videos. She isn’t just reading off the PPT. Like most marketing or management classes, there’s a good deal of writing in the class. No public forums, one quiz and one paper weeks 1-6, alternating between a case analysis and application assignment. One quiz and final exam for week 7. Lots of reading from multiple sources can be a bit confusing, and some of the reading was pretty tedious. Also, pay attention to the specific pages you’re supposed to read. You’re not required to read full chapters of many of the sources (but the actual pages aren’t “cut out” for you). The teacher seems really bright, perky, and all around pleasant. Seems like a relatively new teacher that is trying hard to have a good class. Adding a public forum and zoom would be great.
“A” Strategy – Pretty much the same as for MADM 760, with the only exception that there is a final exam. Balanced course work with slightly more writing each week and the need to have a few external sources makes it a slightly heavier research load, but this is balanced by no discussion forum posts. RUBRIC, RUBRIC, RUBRIC. By now this should be a common theme, but you’re writing for a rubric so make sure you’re following what it wants because the two paper requirements are NOT exactly the same. Requirements from different professors also vary. You also get a pretty generous extra credit for creating a very simple video introducing yourself in the first week. Since you’re reading the “A” strategy, this is a no brainer. DO IT.
Time Commitment – 12-18 hours/week. More extensive external source material requirements makes it a little more time consuming than MADM 760 due to time spent on research.
ISDS 702 – Koksal
In one phrase – “Compact”
Difficulty (out of 5) – 2 (if you don’t try to understand everything) 3.5 (if you do)
Comments – If you’re in the Data Analytics concentration, I highly recommend taking this class first. This is also a good class to take prior to ECON 705 as it eases you into some of the skills and knowledge you will need for ECON. Supposedly some FIN classes can also benefit from this class, so don’t leave it off till later! The class itself can seem daunting at times but this is actually due more from the way it’s explained (or not explained). You don’t actually get a lot of information and the information that you do get isn’t always explained well. As another student put it, “It’s like he knows what he is talking about but can’t convey it properly” (pineveillj, 2019). This is an extremely accurate assessment. He either drones on and over-explains simple topics or completely skips important explanations. You’re often left doing something that doesn’t make sense because you don’t understand WHY you need to do it in such a backwards fashion. Once you stop trying to actually understand it, it’s actually pretty easy and I will detail it out in the “A” strategy. The information can be pretty good and statistical skills (as well as general analytical skills) are becoming increasingly important for career potential. If you can just “roll with it”, it’s a very good class with highly condensed knowledge and you WILL actually start to understand it better as you do it. Don’t waste your time beating yourself up about it and follow the “A” strategy.
“A” Strategy – The most important part of the “A” strategy is to not overthink it. Just try to filter out the important information from what he’s saying and DO it. Focus on memorizing instead of understanding. There are two key components to the “A” strategy. The first part is getting the Excel portion. Do the initial discussion post exercise (you don’t have to actually post it to the board though) and then compare your results with his. If you got it wrong, you need to figure out how to get it right. I re-watch the videos while doing the discussions. You need to understand how to do the Excel portion in order to complete the assignment, so you can just review the Excel portions of the videos. Excel is straightforward as long as you understand which formula to use and when to use it. The assignment quiz is “open book” and taken directly from the Excel assignment. Just have the assignment open and you should be able to get an easy 100% (You get a second chance with the assignment, your score is best out of two). The second component is memorization. Before taking the quiz, go over the lecture videos again and memorize facts, definitions, charts, etc. The quiz is proctored and not open book, but it is also purely theoretical, there is NO math and NO Excel knowledge involved. Memorizing the facts is sufficient. You also don’t need to actually understand “why” something is the way it is, just accept that it is and memorize it.
Time Commitment – 5-10 hours MAX depending on your inherent Excel skills.
MADM 701 – McLaughlin
In one phrase – “Almost great!”
Difficulty (out of 5) - 3
Comments – Since I’ve gone over McLaughlin’s MADM 760 already, I won’t re-hash it all here as the class is VERY similar. I’ve updated the strategy tips in the section below for the minor changes. Another difference is that current event paper topics are a bit more difficult to find, so you might spend more time on research.
“A” Strategy – The discussion post is not due until Thursday, which makes the timeline a bit better compared to the Tuesday deadline of her 760 class. The discussions are taken directly from one of the mini case studies at the back of one of the chapters. They require more topic integration than the MADM 760 ones, but are also more targeted questions. As a result, they’re a comparatively lighter writing load to complete. The quizzes suffer the same issue from MADM 760 and are frankly the reason for the 3 star difficulty ratings for both classes. You’re always going to have a few trick questions on the test that are supposed to “make you think” but are often just semantics. MADM 701 might actually be a little worse due to a significantly larger number of actual course topics and the amount of detail the book goes into. This means there’s a ton of information that you will need to remember for the test. Once again, I recommend using any questions at the back of the chapter. The 701 PowerPoints also include discussion topics at the beginning of each PPT. I also recommend reviewing and answering these as part of your test prep.
Time Commitment – 15 - 25 hours/week. It feels like 701 has a lot more reading than 760 did, hence the higher time commitment to read and also study. However, it does have slightly less writing, although a bit more potential research time.
MKT 701 – A. Darrat
In one phrase – “Where did this come from?”
Difficulty (out of 5) - 2 (with textbook) or 4 (without textbook)
Comments – Much maligned, for some legitimate reason, Darrat might still be the best professor to choose for this class as the others are generally even more maligned. That said, it is far from optimal but could be much better with just a few small tweaks. The biggest problem with the class is poor pacing, so expect your 7 week workload to be: light, medium, VERY HEAVY, heavy, VERY HEAVY, medium, light. Second major problem is that most of the writing assignments don’t feel like they tie into the course material at all. The third problem is that you’re only given a powerpoint that is VERY obviously meant to be used in a classroom setting with parts (highlighted in red) that were meant to be verbally expanded upon. The last problem is that without the text you will constantly be wondering where the test questions are coming from, because they aren’t covered by the powerpoints at all. The class has 2 discussion posts most weeks, a case analysis on each of week 3, 4, and 5, and tests on week 3, 5, and 7. No public forum, no video lectures, no zoom, and minimal interaction. The grading is heavily skewed towards your multiple writing assignments, but you can’t neglect the tests. Don’t expect to understand the tests without the textbook. It should be a requirement. A change to weekly quizzes or tests and case analyses on alternating weeks would dramatically improve the course. Tie the writing assignments with the actual course material, turn the powerpoints into actual video lectures, and you’d have a decent class.
“A” strategy – Get the textbook. Read the textbook. This will ensure that you at least don’t completely bomb the tests. If you do not get the textbook, you can stop reading this strategy because chances are you will not be able to get an “A” by just using the provided powerpoints. After that, the rest is all writing. Write, write, write, and then write some more. READ THE RUBRIC, read it each time you’re writing. You’re not writing a business case, you’re writing for a scoring rubric, so make sure you hit all the points that the rubric wants. Be creative. If you have an idea that you can support using reasoning, then just go with it. Try to throw in a few vocabulary words from the textbook when applicable. Getting top scores on your writing assignments will give you leeway on the sometimes wonky test questions.
Time commitment – Variable and possibly substantial if you’re looking for an “A”. Writing generally took me just a couple of hours, but deciding on a topic and then finding good citation sources took a lot of time. The time commitment is also highly variable due to the poor scheduling of the assignments, but expect to spend at least 25 hours on weeks 3 and 5 writing and studying. The other weeks are lighter with Weeks 1 and 7 probably taking less than 10 hours.
MADM 760 – McLaughlin
In one phrase – “Almost great!”
Difficulty (out of 5) - 3
Comments – This is what MKT 701 could be when it grows up. MADM 760 seems to have the opposite issue of MKT 701 in that pretty much all the professors come recommended, as opposed to MKT 701 where none of them are. While interaction is weak in McLaughlin’s (aka practically none), the workload is very balanced from week to week making it easier to plan for. A weekly quiz on 1-2 chapters, 6 discussion posts with multiple questions to respond to and two responses each (weeks 1-6), and a 3 paragraph weekly “current event” paper tied to the course material. A little guidance on word count would be nice, video lectures, a public forum and a bit more interaction would be nicer. The course material is relatively straightforward and the text does a relatively good job explaining the concepts. The quizzes can get very detailed however, and just understanding the macro concepts without (sometimes highly specific) details on how and when they work will make you lose points. This is the main source of “difficulty” for the class, because the writing is pretty straightforward. No fluff writing, no group work, no project, and no mega paper. Only quirk of the course is a slightly odd (to me) requirement to cite the textbook for every current event assignment, not just incorporate the concepts.
“A” Strategy – You need to make your initial post very early (Tuesday) followed by two response posts on two different days making the timeline a bit tight imho. Focus on the discussion post right away, I usually follow up with my first response that same night. Once again, you need to follow the rubric, but it’s also relatively vague. Just write a response for each question, which should probably be about a paragraph each. It probably wouldn’t hurt to throw in a vocabulary word or two from the text for the week. You will also need to read the text early on, because your second writing assignment must be tied to at least one concept from the course material. I recommend trying to tie in several to be safe, and most articles should support this anyway since the weekly topics are pretty closely related. The current event paper also partially prepares you for the quiz. The text is decent with a few topics and examples to assist understanding. However, note that the test questions can get pretty detailed, so you really will need to actually study, as opposed to just reading once. I highly recommend answering the T/F and Multiple Choice questions provided at the end of each chapter. You can review the powerpoint (if you want) right before the test to refresh your memory on those topics but it isn’t enough on its own. For writing, I recommend about a paragraph for each question (3-4 questions) for the discussion posts and 1 – 1.5 pages (3 paragraphs, double spaced, 12 point font) for the current event assignments. Don’t forget to amply cite the text for the current event assignments (don’t just cite the text once). The key for McLaughlin’s class is concise, detailed, and quality writing instead of needless verbosity.
Time Commitment – 10 - 20 hours/week (The low range is enough for an easy B, the high range for an A). A bit repetitive but the predictable nature of the course load is good for managing your schedule. Highly recommended version for those whose time is at a premium, as the other professors appear to have much higher time commitments.
In one phrase – “Where did this come from?”
Difficulty (out of 5) - 2 (with textbook) or 4 (without textbook)
Comments – Much maligned, for some legitimate reason, Darrat might still be the best professor to choose for this class as the others are generally even more maligned. That said, it is far from optimal but could be much better with just a few small tweaks. The biggest problem with the class is poor pacing, so expect your 7 week workload to be: light, medium, VERY HEAVY, heavy, VERY HEAVY, medium, light. Second major problem is that most of the writing assignments don’t feel like they tie into the course material at all. The third problem is that you’re only given a powerpoint that is VERY obviously meant to be used in a classroom setting with parts (highlighted in red) that were meant to be verbally expanded upon. The last problem is that without the text you will constantly be wondering where the test questions are coming from, because they aren’t covered by the powerpoints at all. The class has 2 discussion posts most weeks, a case analysis on each of week 3, 4, and 5, and tests on week 3, 5, and 7. No public forum, no video lectures, no zoom, and minimal interaction. The grading is heavily skewed towards your multiple writing assignments, but you can’t neglect the tests. Don’t expect to understand the tests without the textbook. It should be a requirement. A change to weekly quizzes or tests and case analyses on alternating weeks would dramatically improve the course. Tie the writing assignments with the actual course material, turn the powerpoints into actual video lectures, and you’d have a decent class.
“A” strategy – Get the textbook. Read the textbook. This will ensure that you at least don’t completely bomb the tests. If you do not get the textbook, you can stop reading this strategy because chances are you will not be able to get an “A” by just using the provided powerpoints. After that, the rest is all writing. Write, write, write, and then write some more. READ THE RUBRIC, read it each time you’re writing. You’re not writing a business case, you’re writing for a scoring rubric, so make sure you hit all the points that the rubric wants. Be creative. If you have an idea that you can support using reasoning, then just go with it. Try to throw in a few vocabulary words from the textbook when applicable. Getting top scores on your writing assignments will give you leeway on the sometimes wonky test questions.
Time commitment – Variable and possibly substantial if you’re looking for an “A”. Writing generally took me just a couple of hours, but deciding on a topic and then finding good citation sources took a lot of time. The time commitment is also highly variable due to the poor scheduling of the assignments, but expect to spend at least 25 hours on weeks 3 and 5 writing and studying. The other weeks are lighter with Weeks 1 and 7 probably taking less than 10 hours.
MADM 760 – McLaughlin
In one phrase – “Almost great!”
Difficulty (out of 5) - 3
Comments – This is what MKT 701 could be when it grows up. MADM 760 seems to have the opposite issue of MKT 701 in that pretty much all the professors come recommended, as opposed to MKT 701 where none of them are. While interaction is weak in McLaughlin’s (aka practically none), the workload is very balanced from week to week making it easier to plan for. A weekly quiz on 1-2 chapters, 6 discussion posts with multiple questions to respond to and two responses each (weeks 1-6), and a 3 paragraph weekly “current event” paper tied to the course material. A little guidance on word count would be nice, video lectures, a public forum and a bit more interaction would be nicer. The course material is relatively straightforward and the text does a relatively good job explaining the concepts. The quizzes can get very detailed however, and just understanding the macro concepts without (sometimes highly specific) details on how and when they work will make you lose points. This is the main source of “difficulty” for the class, because the writing is pretty straightforward. No fluff writing, no group work, no project, and no mega paper. Only quirk of the course is a slightly odd (to me) requirement to cite the textbook for every current event assignment, not just incorporate the concepts.
“A” Strategy – You need to make your initial post very early (Tuesday) followed by two response posts on two different days making the timeline a bit tight imho. Focus on the discussion post right away, I usually follow up with my first response that same night. Once again, you need to follow the rubric, but it’s also relatively vague. Just write a response for each question, which should probably be about a paragraph each. It probably wouldn’t hurt to throw in a vocabulary word or two from the text for the week. You will also need to read the text early on, because your second writing assignment must be tied to at least one concept from the course material. I recommend trying to tie in several to be safe, and most articles should support this anyway since the weekly topics are pretty closely related. The current event paper also partially prepares you for the quiz. The text is decent with a few topics and examples to assist understanding. However, note that the test questions can get pretty detailed, so you really will need to actually study, as opposed to just reading once. I highly recommend answering the T/F and Multiple Choice questions provided at the end of each chapter. You can review the powerpoint (if you want) right before the test to refresh your memory on those topics but it isn’t enough on its own. For writing, I recommend about a paragraph for each question (3-4 questions) for the discussion posts and 1 – 1.5 pages (3 paragraphs, double spaced, 12 point font) for the current event assignments. Don’t forget to amply cite the text for the current event assignments (don’t just cite the text once). The key for McLaughlin’s class is concise, detailed, and quality writing instead of needless verbosity.
Time Commitment – 10 - 20 hours/week (The low range is enough for an easy B, the high range for an A). A bit repetitive but the predictable nature of the course load is good for managing your schedule. Highly recommended version for those whose time is at a premium, as the other professors appear to have much higher time commitments.
Since it's that time again (registration), and I'm in the final half of my final session... I posted reviews of my current two classes. I'm following with a copy of my previous reviews as well to help those currently trying to register or plan. This is probably the last time I'll post every review at once.
Without further ado:
Econ 705 – Shaughnessy
In one phrase – “The Gold Standard of Professors in the program.”
Difficulty (out of 5) - 4
Comments – Literally the best teacher in the program, by far. This does NOT mean the class is easy, it was actually pretty tough. What it DOES mean is that he is absolutely passionate about the subject matter, and noticeably tries to help you to learn it, because he wants you to be passionate about it too (not happening). He has video lectures, supplemental videos, discussion forums, weekly live zoom sessions, and even “comedy interludes” (mostly not very funny, except maybe to economists). He is also highly responsive to email, and you absolute can and should email him or post in the forum if you’re having problems. Essentially, he is highly interactive as a teacher, and probably the closest you will get to a “classroom” setting in an online program. Certainly the closest you will get at LSUS.
“A” Strategy – The textbook really is supplemental for this class. You can get one if you want, but you should be able to get everything you need from his lecture videos and supplemental videos. Note that the supplemental videos are multiple, click the “hamburger” on the first video to see the entire playlist available. You are basically graded along the lines of a few quizzes a week (called different names). Untimed and unproctored. Don’t let that fool you, as the first few aren’t easy and the end of week module assessments is HARD. Take your time with the first video quizzes and self-assessment, which are mostly qualitative. Watch the videos, re-watch the videos again while taking the quiz. Watch a supplemental if you need to, re-watch if you need to. Do YouTube searches on the topic if you still need help and watch a few more videos. Do whatever you need to do until you are 100% sure that your answers are correct. If you want an “A” in the class, you can’t afford to lose any points on these. The extra work you put in will also help a little for the final assessment, which is mostly quantitative. You get a homework “assignment” which you should once again do exhaustively. The assignment is essentially the final module assessment. If you do the assignment correctly, you will have all the answers you need for the assessment (just make sure you label things, so you know what they are for the assessment). That said, there were still a few application type questions that really seemed subjective. If you get through these assessments with a B average, the 100’s from the quizzes will pull you back to an A.
Time commitment - Depending on your math ability (mine is moderate-high), In addition to studying time, I recommend setting aside at least 2-3 hours per quiz and much more for the assignment. At moderate-high math skill with some familiarity with Excel, 15-20 hours per week. Add more for low math and/or low Excel ability.
ISDS 705 – Lin
In one phrase – “Does this person actually exist?”
Difficulty (out of 5) - 1
Comments – If Shaughnessy is the Gold Standard, then Lin is the Sub-Standard. Several of us here at TD are convinced that he doesn’t actually exist. If he does, he’s probably on a beach sipping Mai Tai’s all session, because he sure as hell isn’t interacting with the class. Obviously there is no public forum, zoom sessions, or any interaction whatsoever. You’re given a free textbook written before the invention of the first Phone, that would be perfect for anyone who wanted to enter the IS profession in the 90’s. It’s outdated and boring as are the videos and supplemental readings you will be assigned. Fortunately for you, you don’t actually need to understand anything you’re assigned, and most of it is useless anyway! The tests also use ProctorU, which means someone will be staring at you as you take the test, and possibly accusing you of cheating for using the allowed double sided note sheet.
“A” Strategy – Your grade is based on 3 tests. That’s it. You bomb the tests, and you’re out of luck. I did mention this was a one * class right? That’s because it is easily the easiest (and most useless) course in the program. The material is probably appropriate for the high school level, and the tests are even below that. They are mostly focused on vocabulary/definitions with a smattering of trivia. You’re allowed a single 8.5”x11” double sided note sheet, so make use of it. While you are reading, type out everything you think might be a good vocabulary definition or piece of trivia. Don’t copy and paste, type it out as this should help you remember it better. Once you’re done with all of your typing, set the margins to the absolute minimum, single space, and then set the font to the smallest you can read (you can manually type to select a font smaller than 8). Use a small font like Calibri Light or Arial Narrow. You can edit the notes a little more if you need to make it fit the one page front and back. At this point, you should be able to get at least 70% of the questions correct from memory, another 20% will just be definitions that you hopefully wrote down. The last 10% or so will be trivia, along the lines of a name, date, or acronym. Once again, some of the reading is highly technical and will make zero sense. You don’t need to understand it, just try to find the possible vocabulary words.
Time commitment – Maximum 8 hours per test for 3 tests. 24 hours max for the class (probably less). The tests took me less than 10 minutes to finish each time.
Without further ado:
Econ 705 – Shaughnessy
In one phrase – “The Gold Standard of Professors in the program.”
Difficulty (out of 5) - 4
Comments – Literally the best teacher in the program, by far. This does NOT mean the class is easy, it was actually pretty tough. What it DOES mean is that he is absolutely passionate about the subject matter, and noticeably tries to help you to learn it, because he wants you to be passionate about it too (not happening). He has video lectures, supplemental videos, discussion forums, weekly live zoom sessions, and even “comedy interludes” (mostly not very funny, except maybe to economists). He is also highly responsive to email, and you absolute can and should email him or post in the forum if you’re having problems. Essentially, he is highly interactive as a teacher, and probably the closest you will get to a “classroom” setting in an online program. Certainly the closest you will get at LSUS.
“A” Strategy – The textbook really is supplemental for this class. You can get one if you want, but you should be able to get everything you need from his lecture videos and supplemental videos. Note that the supplemental videos are multiple, click the “hamburger” on the first video to see the entire playlist available. You are basically graded along the lines of a few quizzes a week (called different names). Untimed and unproctored. Don’t let that fool you, as the first few aren’t easy and the end of week module assessments is HARD. Take your time with the first video quizzes and self-assessment, which are mostly qualitative. Watch the videos, re-watch the videos again while taking the quiz. Watch a supplemental if you need to, re-watch if you need to. Do YouTube searches on the topic if you still need help and watch a few more videos. Do whatever you need to do until you are 100% sure that your answers are correct. If you want an “A” in the class, you can’t afford to lose any points on these. The extra work you put in will also help a little for the final assessment, which is mostly quantitative. You get a homework “assignment” which you should once again do exhaustively. The assignment is essentially the final module assessment. If you do the assignment correctly, you will have all the answers you need for the assessment (just make sure you label things, so you know what they are for the assessment). That said, there were still a few application type questions that really seemed subjective. If you get through these assessments with a B average, the 100’s from the quizzes will pull you back to an A.
Time commitment - Depending on your math ability (mine is moderate-high), In addition to studying time, I recommend setting aside at least 2-3 hours per quiz and much more for the assignment. At moderate-high math skill with some familiarity with Excel, 15-20 hours per week. Add more for low math and/or low Excel ability.
ISDS 705 – Lin
In one phrase – “Does this person actually exist?”
Difficulty (out of 5) - 1
Comments – If Shaughnessy is the Gold Standard, then Lin is the Sub-Standard. Several of us here at TD are convinced that he doesn’t actually exist. If he does, he’s probably on a beach sipping Mai Tai’s all session, because he sure as hell isn’t interacting with the class. Obviously there is no public forum, zoom sessions, or any interaction whatsoever. You’re given a free textbook written before the invention of the first Phone, that would be perfect for anyone who wanted to enter the IS profession in the 90’s. It’s outdated and boring as are the videos and supplemental readings you will be assigned. Fortunately for you, you don’t actually need to understand anything you’re assigned, and most of it is useless anyway! The tests also use ProctorU, which means someone will be staring at you as you take the test, and possibly accusing you of cheating for using the allowed double sided note sheet.
“A” Strategy – Your grade is based on 3 tests. That’s it. You bomb the tests, and you’re out of luck. I did mention this was a one * class right? That’s because it is easily the easiest (and most useless) course in the program. The material is probably appropriate for the high school level, and the tests are even below that. They are mostly focused on vocabulary/definitions with a smattering of trivia. You’re allowed a single 8.5”x11” double sided note sheet, so make use of it. While you are reading, type out everything you think might be a good vocabulary definition or piece of trivia. Don’t copy and paste, type it out as this should help you remember it better. Once you’re done with all of your typing, set the margins to the absolute minimum, single space, and then set the font to the smallest you can read (you can manually type to select a font smaller than 8). Use a small font like Calibri Light or Arial Narrow. You can edit the notes a little more if you need to make it fit the one page front and back. At this point, you should be able to get at least 70% of the questions correct from memory, another 20% will just be definitions that you hopefully wrote down. The last 10% or so will be trivia, along the lines of a name, date, or acronym. Once again, some of the reading is highly technical and will make zero sense. You don’t need to understand it, just try to find the possible vocabulary words.
Time commitment – Maximum 8 hours per test for 3 tests. 24 hours max for the class (probably less). The tests took me less than 10 minutes to finish each time.
FIN 701 – Choi
In one phrase – “Finance for Dummies”
Difficulty – 3
Comments – Finance is tough. It’s boring, there are a ton of numbers and weird theories, and no one really likes it. That said, Choi does a decent job of forcibly drilling a bit of Finance knowledge into your brain. I’m actually only halfway through the class as I write this and have already used some of the information I’ve learned. The class consists of reading 2 extensive PowerPoints a week, 5 weekly discussion posts that requires you to dig into one of the course topics in more detail (200 word min), 2 sizeable case analyses (500 word min, but you’ll probably MUCH more), and 3 closed-book (Half page notecard allowed for formulas only), Proctorio exams covering two modules each. There is a HIGHLY active Q&A board and he’s extremely responsive. You get a “problem set” each week for practice that you don’t actually have to do or turn in. DO NOT SKIP THESE. They’re essentially practice exams and the vast majority of the test will come directly from the problem sets. They’re big and time consuming, but very good practice. If you didn’t catch it earlier, I said there are 3 exams covering 2 modules each. This was not a typo. The class is 6 modules with the last module spanning the last two weeks. It will probably be a bear, but at the same time it also means you could potentially finish a week earlier if you want to push yourself. That’s not to say that the class is easy, the very first thing I said is that Finance is tough. However, if you do the work and put in the time, you should be able to earn yourself an A. One final note… it’s pretty archaic but all the math is done on financial calculators NOT Excel… TI BAII Plus is recommended. At this point, it’s practically Jurassic to use a calculator so that’s a bit odd and something to keep in mind.
“A” Strategy – Choi gives you ALL of the tools you need to earn an A. The class is extremely straightforward with no tricks (unlike some other professors). There is literally an easy, albeit time-consuming “A” strategy and that is to do the problem sets as many times as you need to until you basically can get them 100% without your notes. He gives you a separate file with the answers and how to solve them so you can check. Also check the Q&A board for any problems you have issues with or ask on the boards. He’s highly responsive with how to solve the any question. He isn’t going to just hand you an A, but if you really put in the time and effort it is straightforward to earn one.
Time Commitment – 15-30 hours/week. Honestly, this one really has the potential to be a real bear for some. Others may be gifted enough to handle the material easily so there’s going to be a huge range in time required. The two case analyses are time consuming due to the amount of research involved, don’t be misled by the “500 word minimum”.
ACCT 701 - Huang
In one phrase – “Accounting Lite”
Difficulty – 2.5
Comments – Huang has a great class. She seems really nice and encourages students to email the coaches or even contact her directly with questions (Unlike Yuan who really doesn’t want you to contact her). The class itself is also highly condensed with a lot of knowledge without a massive time commitment. It’s not General Accounting, it’s a more focused Accounting class that teaches skills that will be useful to future business leaders. That’s not to say the class is easy, but it’s not as intimidating as most people expect it to be. It’s theory oriented and focuses on teaching you the ins and outs of financial statements. Math nerds might be a bit disappointed. Huang provides multiple methods for learning, text, PowerPoints, course lectures, and videos, along with Zoom sessions. Once again, this may sound intimidating but you only NEED the PowerPoints. She provides an array of learning methods because different people learn differently. I recommend just using her PowerPoints and listening to the course lectures, although you could technically stick with just one. The class consists of a 6 weekly, open notes, Proctorio “Homework” assignments where you get two chances WITH REVIEW BETWEEN ATTEMPTS. Like I said, she isn’t trying to be punitive, she’s giving you the tools to learn and succeed. You also have 6 weekly, closed-notes, Proctorio quizzes. The questions are on the identical material as the homework, although reconstructed to marginally different. If you know the homework material, you will know the quiz material. No tricks. There’s also a solo project on the final week. I haven’t gotten to it yet, but I understand that it will probably be something like a paper where you have to “read” a financial statement. It might be difficult, but seems like it would be more interesting than another test or final. Being able to properly read a financial statement will also have more “real world” value than taking another test. Even people who won’t be future business leaders may find the skills useful for looking at financial statements of future investment prospects. The only drawback I felt in the class so far is that she has a very strong accent and some people may have difficulty understanding her. Fortunately, you can turn on relatively accurate CC for the videos.
“A” Strategy – Watch the course lectures. It’s based on the PowerPoint so you don’t really need to do both. However, PRINT the PowerPoint and follow along and add notes as desired. Then, use the PowerPoint and notes during your homework assignment. If you don’t get 100%, study what you got wrong and do it again. Even if you got a 85% and you’re satisfied with that, DO THE HOMEWORK AGAIN. The questions are identical between attempts (except for the order of the answers), so doing it again is mainly for practice and the fact that you should be able to get a 100 the second time around (barring careless mistakes). You can study again, but if you did well on the second attempt and understood it all, I would just take the quiz immediately after. The pre-test procedures will probably take you longer than the quiz.
Time Commitment – 8 – 10 hours. No BS to sift through, it’s very straightforward and direct knowledge and skill building.
In one phrase – “Finance for Dummies”
Difficulty – 3
Comments – Finance is tough. It’s boring, there are a ton of numbers and weird theories, and no one really likes it. That said, Choi does a decent job of forcibly drilling a bit of Finance knowledge into your brain. I’m actually only halfway through the class as I write this and have already used some of the information I’ve learned. The class consists of reading 2 extensive PowerPoints a week, 5 weekly discussion posts that requires you to dig into one of the course topics in more detail (200 word min), 2 sizeable case analyses (500 word min, but you’ll probably MUCH more), and 3 closed-book (Half page notecard allowed for formulas only), Proctorio exams covering two modules each. There is a HIGHLY active Q&A board and he’s extremely responsive. You get a “problem set” each week for practice that you don’t actually have to do or turn in. DO NOT SKIP THESE. They’re essentially practice exams and the vast majority of the test will come directly from the problem sets. They’re big and time consuming, but very good practice. If you didn’t catch it earlier, I said there are 3 exams covering 2 modules each. This was not a typo. The class is 6 modules with the last module spanning the last two weeks. It will probably be a bear, but at the same time it also means you could potentially finish a week earlier if you want to push yourself. That’s not to say that the class is easy, the very first thing I said is that Finance is tough. However, if you do the work and put in the time, you should be able to earn yourself an A. One final note… it’s pretty archaic but all the math is done on financial calculators NOT Excel… TI BAII Plus is recommended. At this point, it’s practically Jurassic to use a calculator so that’s a bit odd and something to keep in mind.
“A” Strategy – Choi gives you ALL of the tools you need to earn an A. The class is extremely straightforward with no tricks (unlike some other professors). There is literally an easy, albeit time-consuming “A” strategy and that is to do the problem sets as many times as you need to until you basically can get them 100% without your notes. He gives you a separate file with the answers and how to solve them so you can check. Also check the Q&A board for any problems you have issues with or ask on the boards. He’s highly responsive with how to solve the any question. He isn’t going to just hand you an A, but if you really put in the time and effort it is straightforward to earn one.
Time Commitment – 15-30 hours/week. Honestly, this one really has the potential to be a real bear for some. Others may be gifted enough to handle the material easily so there’s going to be a huge range in time required. The two case analyses are time consuming due to the amount of research involved, don’t be misled by the “500 word minimum”.
ACCT 701 - Huang
In one phrase – “Accounting Lite”
Difficulty – 2.5
Comments – Huang has a great class. She seems really nice and encourages students to email the coaches or even contact her directly with questions (Unlike Yuan who really doesn’t want you to contact her). The class itself is also highly condensed with a lot of knowledge without a massive time commitment. It’s not General Accounting, it’s a more focused Accounting class that teaches skills that will be useful to future business leaders. That’s not to say the class is easy, but it’s not as intimidating as most people expect it to be. It’s theory oriented and focuses on teaching you the ins and outs of financial statements. Math nerds might be a bit disappointed. Huang provides multiple methods for learning, text, PowerPoints, course lectures, and videos, along with Zoom sessions. Once again, this may sound intimidating but you only NEED the PowerPoints. She provides an array of learning methods because different people learn differently. I recommend just using her PowerPoints and listening to the course lectures, although you could technically stick with just one. The class consists of a 6 weekly, open notes, Proctorio “Homework” assignments where you get two chances WITH REVIEW BETWEEN ATTEMPTS. Like I said, she isn’t trying to be punitive, she’s giving you the tools to learn and succeed. You also have 6 weekly, closed-notes, Proctorio quizzes. The questions are on the identical material as the homework, although reconstructed to marginally different. If you know the homework material, you will know the quiz material. No tricks. There’s also a solo project on the final week. I haven’t gotten to it yet, but I understand that it will probably be something like a paper where you have to “read” a financial statement. It might be difficult, but seems like it would be more interesting than another test or final. Being able to properly read a financial statement will also have more “real world” value than taking another test. Even people who won’t be future business leaders may find the skills useful for looking at financial statements of future investment prospects. The only drawback I felt in the class so far is that she has a very strong accent and some people may have difficulty understanding her. Fortunately, you can turn on relatively accurate CC for the videos.
“A” Strategy – Watch the course lectures. It’s based on the PowerPoint so you don’t really need to do both. However, PRINT the PowerPoint and follow along and add notes as desired. Then, use the PowerPoint and notes during your homework assignment. If you don’t get 100%, study what you got wrong and do it again. Even if you got a 85% and you’re satisfied with that, DO THE HOMEWORK AGAIN. The questions are identical between attempts (except for the order of the answers), so doing it again is mainly for practice and the fact that you should be able to get a 100 the second time around (barring careless mistakes). You can study again, but if you did well on the second attempt and understood it all, I would just take the quiz immediately after. The pre-test procedures will probably take you longer than the quiz.
Time Commitment – 8 – 10 hours. No BS to sift through, it’s very straightforward and direct knowledge and skill building.
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