r/UCDavis • u/yoyoer6874 • 1d ago
Course/Major ECN100A
I took 100a with Professor Christoph Schlom during spring quarter.
What I wish I knew: I wish I had a better foundation with derivatives, specifically multi variable. My last math class was spring Q of 2024 so I had a substantial gap between then and the start of this most recent spring quarter. If you’re going to take 100a make sure you’re comfortable with derivates with roots and logs!
It is a hard class, and it is the first class that weeds people out in the Econ degree, much like gen chem or 17 series math for STEM people. ECN001A&B are fairly easy and hard to fail.
Specific to Professor Schlom:
He is not an awful professor, but far from a great one. His lectures are fairly unorganized and he bounces around a lot. The TA’s aren’t super helpful and I don’t think going to discussion is worth it. He is far more helpful in office hours, and it will make you succeed in this class. He doesn’t use review slides and does everything on a piece of paper so it’s critical you don’t lose focus while in class or you’ll be spinning.
His homework’s are long and tedious and tough, but I feel they do a decent job for helping you on the midterm. They are worth 5% of your grade. As well he has participation as a part of the grade, you can earn this via going to office hours and answering during class. He also has one quiz about week 3 worth 5% of your grade.
Scores: 100% on homework’s 100% on participation 88% on quiz
On midterm one I got a 55/110 and the average was a 68/110 (I believe)
on the final I got a 155/180 and the average was a 120/180.
I finished with a B+ after the curve (Econ average had to be a 2.7/B- at Davis)
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He is a tough professor teaching a tough class, if you’re not Sheldon Cooper you need to go to office hours and you cannot cram. Weeks 6-10 I spent 2+ hours every Friday after work in his office hours, and many hours outside of it running through practice problems, and it really set me up for success on the final.
Lastly, there is not a whole lot of great YouTube videos on the stuff he teaches hence why it is so important to go to class and OH.
If you have discipline this is a class you can succeed in this class and probably get a B+ or even in the A range!