Ron Freiwald
5 courses · 35 reviews
Courses
All Reviews
I took both Calc I and II with Friewald and the grading was super favorable - I'm not great at math, but got A's both semesters with a moderate of work (nothing compared to Gen Chem!). I agree that lectures could get boring, but cut him some slack- what do you expect from math? He's obviously passionate about calc and is eager to help his students.
1/1/2018
I had Prof. Freiwald for both Calc 131 and 132. His lectures were boring and it often seemed like he was just talking to himself. The webwork was 10x more difficult than what was taught in class. The exams were tough, but he allowed notecards. He dropped a fair amount of quizzes. Go to class for clicker points.
7/23/2017
Simply put, he cannot teach math to others. Going to lecture actually makes things more confusing. Would not recommend to my worst enemy
4/10/2017
His exams were very T/F heavy and he weighted the final very heavily. Also, his exams were super theoretical and exams were tricky. Not clear during lecture and unable to explain things in multiple ways.
12/19/2016
One of the worst professors from of all WashU. I have had my fair shares of professor taught courses but Freiwald tops the bunch as the worst. Can't teach, tough exams. You'll need not only the book but Advil to not suffer a stroke as result of this class. Not to mention, who teaches integrals a week before the final and then comprises 50% final...
12/15/2016
I cannot speak for other math courses Freiwald has taught as I have only taken Calc I with him. That said, he is by far the worst math teacher I have ever had--and I have had some really bad ones. The only reason I knew what I was doing was because of high school math knowledge. His lectures are so confusing to follow and he is WAY TOO THEORETICAL!
12/8/2016
He is one of the worst professors I've had at WashU. WAYYY too theoretical. He was so interested in every little detail that he missed the main point. The exams are true false trick questions. Take this class with anyone else. Several of homework each week, not counting the suggested problems.
12/9/2015
As someone who considers themselves pretty good at math, this was a hard class. Lectures are somewhat all over the place, exams are T/F and multiple choice on theory rather than application. HW and webwork are easy, but exams are 70% of the grade. He does write nice notes for every lecture, but I wouldn't take Matrix with him unless you have to.
11/11/2015
One of the worst classes I've taken. Lectures are not helpful. Read the textbook. Webwork and homeworks are easy, and then he wrecks you with multiple choice and true false tests. Really poorly done.
11/9/2015
Too theoretical. Interested in every minute detail but never helps you get the overarching principals. One of the worst at this school.
10/9/2015
He is extremely helpful. In fact, he is the best Math professor I met in Wash U!
2/1/2015
Best prof in Washu. take it if you can learn 309 with him. Most interesting prof i have ever met. Exams are easy and he is a generous grader. Always helpful at office hours.
12/11/2014
Professor Freiwald is to this date the best professor I have had in the Math department and possibly all of Wash U. He is extremely helpful and his lectures are interesting. I would definitely take Math 309 with him.
5/2/2012
Great class. Great professor. He really cares about his students and helps you if necessary. Although attendance is mediocre, definitely go to class, since he explains things extremely well in class.
3/15/2012
I took Calc 1 in high school, and I still couldn't understand anything he said. He didn't explain anything clearly; I went entirely off what I learned in high school.
3/17/2011
Make sure to keep up with suggested readings and practice problems, or you may get lost in lectures (especially if you haven't taken calc before.) It's fairly easy if you take the initiative to utilize help resources and ask questions outside of class. DON'T FALL BEHIND.
12/18/2010
Wow, this guy is incredibly organized. He follows the syllabus perfectly and his lectures are fluid and informative. The material isn't easy, but he clarifies the difficult topics well. Never mention formulas like the chain rule until you actually get to them in the lecture...he'll know that you've taken calculus already (which everyone has done)
10/13/2010
Best math professor I've ever had. Never seen someone so organized before. Exams are not easy, but very similar to homework problems. So if you start studying early for the exams, you can get perfect scores. Take any math class with him!
10/4/2009
an absolutely terrific class. lectures are interesting and very clear, and ronnie frei is always willing to go over something someone missed. homework was sometimes time consuming but always reasonable and exams were straightforward. recommend this class for anyone with an interest in math, major or not. one of--if not the--best profs in the dept.
6/16/2009
Fantastic teacher. Incredibly clear and extremely helpful. Best professor I've had here so far.
4/14/2009
awesome class. he is incredibly clear. i'm taking another class by him this semester. best math teacher i've had in washu so far
1/12/2009
Alright Prof if you've already had Calc in high school; otherwise, difficult to understand
12/30/2004
I took Calculus I in high school and still had a hard time understanding the material that was being taught in lecture. Eventually, I stopped going to class because it was pointless and a serious waste of my time.
12/28/2004
Prof. Freiwald made the class extremely challenging. I learned new things in Calc that I had not in high school. He did an OK job.
12/28/2004
He is definitely a very smart man who loves math and wants his students to understand it as much as he does. However, he must think we're a lot smarter than we are because the work is very hard and his lectures are dense.
12/28/2004
The pace of the class was way too fast, not enough time was spent to ensure that all students understood the material.
12/27/2004
I went into the class thinking I had a pretty good understanding of calc. I soon learned that i was wrong as every assignment and test was a challenge. Class didn't teach anything and the textbook provided minimal teaching. Basically, you're on your own.
12/27/2004
he was a good professor if you already had background on the material---but for new people, he would be probably be horrible---he did seem to genuinely care about the students learning though
12/27/2004
his class is totally pointless and he never really answer any of the questions in class. going to class is a total waste of time.
12/27/2004
he sounds like John Lithgow from Third Rock from the Sun and he is having an affair with his multi-colored chalk.
12/26/2004
Freiwald is a nice guy who thinks that calculus 1 students are a lot smarter and more interested in math than they really are. Hence, a lot of class time is devoted to doing complicated proofs of various theorems that have no practical application on an exam or homework. He makes time for students.
12/10/2004
going to class is pretty pointless because he just does proofs the wole time that really arent that helpful. webwork is ridiculously hard and on the mult. choice parts of the tests there is like 10 answers, which sucks. hes REALLY boring.
12/9/2004
His classes are pointless- he just reteaches what the book taught. The webwork is on stuff you haven't learn and its unneccessarily hard. The questions on the tests are harder than the practice ones. Quizzes range in difficulty.
12/6/2004