Professor
Graciela Gelmini
1 of 2
Most Helpful Review
I took 1A with Gelmini last spring quarter. I really like her since she is really funny during class with her accent(but you can understand what she is talking about). But her homework can be a pain in the ass since it takes you a lot of time but almost worth nothing (10%), both of her midterms are ridiculously easy and the curve is really high. That is to say, her final is quite challenging so make sure you really understand the materials. Overall, I would recommen this professor.
I took 1A with Gelmini last spring quarter. I really like her since she is really funny during class with her accent(but you can understand what she is talking about). But her homework can be a pain in the ass since it takes you a lot of time but almost worth nothing (10%), both of her midterms are ridiculously easy and the curve is really high. That is to say, her final is quite challenging so make sure you really understand the materials. Overall, I would recommen this professor.
Most Helpful Review
Professor Gelmini is very enthusiastic about making sure her students walk away from the class having learned something. Her tests are extremely difficult, especially in comparison to the rather straightforward homework she assigns, and I failed my first midterm, but she was more than willing to offer redemption, and to factor the weight of that midterm into my final grade, once I went and spoke with her at her office hours. She is very approachable, and is a very good *teacher* one-on-one during her office hours (I emphasize teacher because she does not merely give out answers, but expects you to work for them), although I would not recommend conversing with her via email, as she got backlogged very early into the quarter, and tended to need several reminders to get her to respond as the quarter progressed. If she teaches 1A again with the honors section, I highly recommend that any student, whether or not they are in the Honors Program, take the class, as it was a very enjoyable, and rather easy supplement to the course. Difficult tests notwithstanding, she is a very likable and great professor.
Professor Gelmini is very enthusiastic about making sure her students walk away from the class having learned something. Her tests are extremely difficult, especially in comparison to the rather straightforward homework she assigns, and I failed my first midterm, but she was more than willing to offer redemption, and to factor the weight of that midterm into my final grade, once I went and spoke with her at her office hours. She is very approachable, and is a very good *teacher* one-on-one during her office hours (I emphasize teacher because she does not merely give out answers, but expects you to work for them), although I would not recommend conversing with her via email, as she got backlogged very early into the quarter, and tended to need several reminders to get her to respond as the quarter progressed. If she teaches 1A again with the honors section, I highly recommend that any student, whether or not they are in the Honors Program, take the class, as it was a very enjoyable, and rather easy supplement to the course. Difficult tests notwithstanding, she is a very likable and great professor.
AD
Most Helpful Review
I found this class to be very difficult. She teaches CONCEPTUAL physics, therefore, you do not really have to know the math aspect of it. She does provide you with a list of equations in class, but majority of her tests are conceptual questions. If your only exposure to physics was a year in high school I suggest you take an easier professor. Although her tests are all multiple choice they are still difficult. If you have to take her I suggest getting AAP physics tutoring also. She had entertaining experiments in class and she was very animated and knows the material really well, however, it is difficult to understand her sometimes. Also, in each class she packs a lot of information into each lecture, so sometimes it feels overwhelming. As far as office hours, she was late to almost half of her office hours, I found myself waiting outside of her room for half an hour waiting for her to finally show up. I would highly suggest taking another professor.
I found this class to be very difficult. She teaches CONCEPTUAL physics, therefore, you do not really have to know the math aspect of it. She does provide you with a list of equations in class, but majority of her tests are conceptual questions. If your only exposure to physics was a year in high school I suggest you take an easier professor. Although her tests are all multiple choice they are still difficult. If you have to take her I suggest getting AAP physics tutoring also. She had entertaining experiments in class and she was very animated and knows the material really well, however, it is difficult to understand her sometimes. Also, in each class she packs a lot of information into each lecture, so sometimes it feels overwhelming. As far as office hours, she was late to almost half of her office hours, I found myself waiting outside of her room for half an hour waiting for her to finally show up. I would highly suggest taking another professor.
Most Helpful Review
Fall 2020 - Note: took this class under remote conditions; hopefully, the reader is taking it in-person :) TLDR: Gelmini wants everyone to learn and is quite helpful but her exams are freaking impossible. Professor Gelmini is very enthusiastic and is always looking to help as much as possible. She is also very welcoming to feedback and is always trying to improve. Her office hours are very helpful, as she encourages questions and loves to see people finally understand things. She's very "motherly" and is a warm, wholesome person. One thing Gelmini lacks, however, is the ability to understand how much students actually understand the material. Professor Gelmini thinks we are all experts with the material. If she says an exam is meant to take an hour, it will probably take 3+ hours. Her first midterm was ridiculous, because it was literally find the formula in the notes, do some calculus on it, and get credit. If you didn't find the formula and tried to start with first principles (like the conservation of momentum), you wouldn't be able to solve anything. However, she curved that midterm very gently. And as always, she improved her second midterm (which was 24 hours). Even though I hate taking 24-hour physics exams (it's like 24 hours of torture), I think the questions on her second midterm were much fairer (although, the grading was a bit sus). Her final, however, was on another level. It was 24 hours of pain. I can't believe she gave that final. Worst part about it, the median was way to high. I wonder why. Anyway, Gelmini is a solid choice. Her exams are super tough, but I think this is the class where I have learned the most physics (so far). Good luck!
Fall 2020 - Note: took this class under remote conditions; hopefully, the reader is taking it in-person :) TLDR: Gelmini wants everyone to learn and is quite helpful but her exams are freaking impossible. Professor Gelmini is very enthusiastic and is always looking to help as much as possible. She is also very welcoming to feedback and is always trying to improve. Her office hours are very helpful, as she encourages questions and loves to see people finally understand things. She's very "motherly" and is a warm, wholesome person. One thing Gelmini lacks, however, is the ability to understand how much students actually understand the material. Professor Gelmini thinks we are all experts with the material. If she says an exam is meant to take an hour, it will probably take 3+ hours. Her first midterm was ridiculous, because it was literally find the formula in the notes, do some calculus on it, and get credit. If you didn't find the formula and tried to start with first principles (like the conservation of momentum), you wouldn't be able to solve anything. However, she curved that midterm very gently. And as always, she improved her second midterm (which was 24 hours). Even though I hate taking 24-hour physics exams (it's like 24 hours of torture), I think the questions on her second midterm were much fairer (although, the grading was a bit sus). Her final, however, was on another level. It was 24 hours of pain. I can't believe she gave that final. Worst part about it, the median was way to high. I wonder why. Anyway, Gelmini is a solid choice. Her exams are super tough, but I think this is the class where I have learned the most physics (so far). Good luck!
AD
Most Helpful Review
Spring 2022 - Professor Gelmini is very energetic and passionate about the content she is teaching. However, sometimes she doesn't understand the student's question well so her interpretation will be slightly different from what you want to know. Also, sometimes the contents on the class are not well organized such that the flow is not very clear, so I have to read the textbook later to make sure I know why it is this way. The grade consists of two parts: Homework and a group presentation about a topic involving GR (chosen from a given list). In general, people get good grades on the presentation and the written report as long as they don't make too much mistakes. So, the homework is very important: there are 5 of them each with about 4 problems. Problems are self-made so you'd better ask the TA for help. Don't worry because there are many OHs available in a week. Thanks our TA Joel, he's super helpful!!
Spring 2022 - Professor Gelmini is very energetic and passionate about the content she is teaching. However, sometimes she doesn't understand the student's question well so her interpretation will be slightly different from what you want to know. Also, sometimes the contents on the class are not well organized such that the flow is not very clear, so I have to read the textbook later to make sure I know why it is this way. The grade consists of two parts: Homework and a group presentation about a topic involving GR (chosen from a given list). In general, people get good grades on the presentation and the written report as long as they don't make too much mistakes. So, the homework is very important: there are 5 of them each with about 4 problems. Problems are self-made so you'd better ask the TA for help. Don't worry because there are many OHs available in a week. Thanks our TA Joel, he's super helpful!!
Most Helpful Review
Fall 2022 - Unfortunately a bad class. The topics in this class are absolutely fundamental for physics (it is the basis (pun intended) for every mathematical operation in the realm of physics). She is quite a yeller, thick accent, comes off fairly abrasive. I couldn't handle it and dropped. Seems like people who stuck it out came out well. Received very good grades on the homework but it just didn't translate to the exams. She drops one of the two midterms which can be really great and they should be fairly straight forward if you know your stuff through and through. If you can self study you will do well but if you actually need the professor to teach you, I would wait out a different professor instead.
Fall 2022 - Unfortunately a bad class. The topics in this class are absolutely fundamental for physics (it is the basis (pun intended) for every mathematical operation in the realm of physics). She is quite a yeller, thick accent, comes off fairly abrasive. I couldn't handle it and dropped. Seems like people who stuck it out came out well. Received very good grades on the homework but it just didn't translate to the exams. She drops one of the two midterms which can be really great and they should be fairly straight forward if you know your stuff through and through. If you can self study you will do well but if you actually need the professor to teach you, I would wait out a different professor instead.
AD
1 of 2
