Schaefer
5 courses · 120 reviews
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I feel like it's tough to give an accurate rating for prof shaefer. On the one hand, he's super nice and gives very in-dep
5/9/2026
2 or less hrs/week
So many formulas to memorize calc 2 was much more fun
4/2/2025
Schaefer is the best professor for Calc classes. The materials he taught and the tricks he gave are so useful on exams and I am pretty sure that the other professors do not give the same tricks. And the exams are written by Schaefer so you should totally take him.
10/24/2024
Such a fun class. Can always email with questions and he replies instantly!
10/15/2024
Professor Schaefer's lectures are clear and engaging, which makes understanding difficult math concepts easier. He is also very accessible outside of lectures and provides online resources like practice exams for us to succeed.
10/12/2024
Schaefer is an inspiring and caring individual who deserves the world. His passion for math is unmatched, and he's always available for conversation outside of class. His explanations for problems are always perfect. His kindness and warmth are rare, and I will never forget him. Thank you for everything you do for your students!
9/27/2024
Best Professor I've Ever Had. He explains complex concepts with such clarity and depth that everything feels understandable. What truly sets him apart is how deeply he cares about his students. His kindness and compassion create an incredibly supportive learning environment. On top of that, he's hilarious, making class not only informative but fun!
9/6/2024
4-6 hrs/week
Honestly made me want to get a math minor. Schaefer is the best.
7/9/2024
Schaefer remains unparalleled for Calculus lectures. Precup was also very good.
6/5/2024
Schaefer is a very skilled educator and he is very qualified to teach the sensitive 310W. Schaefer's 310 included a good coverage of foundational topics. The class is very difficult, that's just the nature of it. Schaefer doesn't seem to hold punches but still gives exceptional lectures and is very accessible and helpful outside of class.
6/5/2024
2 or less hrs/week
Schaefer is the best professor I've had at WashU. He is an incredible lecturer, and it is easy to follow his work. The WebWork is annoying but incredibly helpful for gaining mastery of topics. Exams are not hard, just keep up with classes and homework, don't try to cram all the lecture recordings in a few days.
5/28/2024
2 or less hrs/week
Free A if you know how to study, he's great.
5/24/2024
2 or less hrs/week
Free A if you know how to study. Schaefer is the goat.
5/24/2024
Professor Schaefer is an amazing Professor. He is very organized and gives practice tests and quizzes to help people succeed.
5/22/2024
2-4 hrs/week
Thinking in 3D can seen somewhat daunting at first but Schaefer makes it doable. Don't forget your basic differentiation and integration techniques e.g. chain rule, u=sub, integration by parts, etc. but overall not too bad at all.
5/21/2024
2-4 hrs/week
Schaefer is the goat. Very concise and humorous lectures. Overall course content is arguably much easier than the high school equivalent of AP Calc BC (no polar coords & diffeq).
5/21/2024
4-6 hrs/week
Lectures aren’t necessary and tests are reasonable. Homework can be a little difficult, but you have lots of time to do it.
5/19/2024
2 or less hrs/week
content is pretty easy and exams are predictable and follow the practice ones. I didn't pay attention in lecture, all the concepts can be figured out pretty intuitivly
5/19/2024
2 or less hrs/week
Just go to lecture, shaefer is good. Its calc, its not a hard class.
5/19/2024
2-4 hrs/week
definitely take with schaefer if you can or just attend his lectures. webworks took a bit of time so best to not save them for the day they're due. easy to get behind if you're not going to or watching lectures, but not bad if you're paying attention.
5/18/2024
Schaefer is a really good calc professor. If you can, take calc 2 +3 with him, you will do a lot better that way. I will say, it would be nice if there was more partial credit on exams, but that's a math department problem, not a schaefer problem.
5/15/2024
Take Schaefer if you can, and if you can't, just go to his lectures or watch them online. His lectures are very engaging and he teaches calculus in the easiest way to understand as possible. He's also a very fun and sweet guy.
5/13/2024
Schaefer's so kind and sweet. Makes an effort to connect with the class and learn names. On top of that, great lecturer and is excited to answer questions. In office hours, he'll explore material deeply with you. Not enough partial credit on MC exams, but other than that, he's one of my fav professors and makes me want to pursue math more. Calc 2+3
5/10/2024
Professor Schaefer is the goat of calculus at WashU. Clear and concise lectures, easygoing and humorous personality, and is always happy to help. You can feel that you're learn so much after every single lecture.
4/28/2024
He is an all-time great in the WashU math department. This is unfortunately the last class I will get to take with him but he will forever be one of my favorite teachers here at WashU.
4/26/2024
Who doesn't love Schaefer? PS solve the practice exams since they are super similar to actual exams!!!
4/19/2024
Schaefer is the actual GOAT of the math department. 4351 is my favorite math class I've taken here, and it's all due to Karl. If he's teaching a class you want to take, then take it. He is a generational talent in the math department.
2/1/2024
Schaefer is an incredibly skilled educator. He's a funny and caring guy, and he's great at math. He builds an intuitive understanding that I feel respects pure mathematics, and also acknowledges the relevant applications (especially relevant in Calc II imo). I think you should do everything in your power to take calc with Schaefer.
1/18/2024
Schaefer is one of the best teachers I've ever had. He made sure to be available outside of class and did a great job of supporting my class' varying levels of learning. He's responsive, funny, a great lecturer, and his cats are the cutest.
1/15/2024
BEST LECTURER. Believe the reviews. He's kind, interesting, and a teacher who truly cares about you understanding the material and how comfortable you feel with it. He is always willing to help if you ask!!!! I wish I went to more of his office hours.
1/12/2024
good professor and clear lectures. make sure you pay attention because they'll try to trick you on tests. would definitely reccomend.
1/11/2024
While Calc 2 is generally a tough class, Schaefer made lectures super enjoyable, and his writing was always clear and easy to follow. As someone who didn't take any AP-level calc is hs, the class content was pretty difficult to get the hang of, but as long as you go to lectures (or watch them after class), you should be fine.
1/10/2024
He is such an amazing professor, even though I didnt go to class, i still learned so much. As much as I wouldnt want to do calc 2 again, I would do it if he were teaching. tests are reflective of what you learn in class, and homework actually makes u learn. i hope him and his partner are happy listening to lana del rey.
1/2/2024
Schaefer is an incredibly skilled educator and you should do your best to take calc with him, even if it means waiting a semester. He is concise and efficient, clear, and caring.
1/2/2024
He does a phenomenal job explaining the all the content for the course in a relatively small amount of time. I don't think anyone could do a better job teaching this course. There is definitely a heavy load outside of class to prepare yourself but totally doable.
12/22/2023
Schaefer's lectures are very good, and he's always available outside class to help! There are many resources you can use if you are struggling with calculus. He makes class enjoyable, just make sure to do your homework and quizzes and study for the exams.
12/21/2023
Prof Schaefer is a super compassionate to student needs! Always rooted in logic and numbers but will accomodate student needs if you advocate for yourself. Great lecturer -- though you do not need to be enrolled in his section to listen to his lectures. Lectures always recorded and posted online same day.
12/19/2023
If you need to take Calc I, II, or III please take it with Schaefer. He is the best math professor I have had and he just really wants everyone to succeed. Super sweet, funny, and will be there if you seek him. I have nothing bad to say about him, and the course is super fair.
12/19/2023
He's one of the best math teachers I have. He made calc 2 a little easier and he cares about his students. His lecture are amazing and he knows what he's doing
12/19/2023
Best professor to have for this course! He goes in-depth about the material and his examples, and he's also sort of visual. Will answer all your questions clearly and make sure you understand his answer. You'll leave the lecture understanding the material more than being confused by it if he's teaching it.
12/13/2023
Professor Schaefer is an amazing professor who really makes you appreciate the beauty of calculus. Lectures are clear and generally easy to follow, and he's very active on Piazza, an online discussion forum for course-related questions. He always carries a positive vibe around him, and you can tell that he genuinely cares about his students.
12/13/2023
He is an amazing lecturer and makes every topic really clear. Tests were extremely fair and there are so many resources to succeed. Would definitely take Calc 2 with Schaefer or watch his online lectures.
12/9/2023
Nicest and best math teacher I've ever had. I love this man with my entire soul and wished he taught other courses that I'm taking.
12/8/2023
I really appreciated that Shaefer really seemed to care that his students understood the concepts and I really liked the class grading system. It was a very collaborative vibe and he is just very kind.
12/7/2023
Karl Schaefer is the best math teacher I have ever had. Calc II is easy with his lectures and he is one of the nicest professors on campus. The class structure gives you tons of resources and Piazza is amazing for figuring out tough questions. TAKE CALC II with SCHAEFER!
12/3/2023
So worth the hour of reloading the page during registration to get into his class
11/7/2023
Professor Schaefer is genuinely one of the best teachers I've ever had. His lectures are engaging and super clear, and his in-person office hours are really helpful. Webwork is a bit annoying, but the exams are not as hard as the webwork questions. I had him for both calc 2 and calc 3, and would definitely recommend taking both classes with him!
6/21/2023
Amazing prof. Great lectures and was able to get help when needed
6/1/2023
Schaeffer is really caring about students, he makes little jokes, but he also teaches math extremely well. I love my notes from this class because he draws such interesting pictures on the board. All the material is made very clear. If you miss a lecture, it doesn't matter because all the lectures are recorded and posted. Love this guy.
5/16/2023
Schaefer is definitely one of the best math professors at WashU! Humorous and gives very clear lectures. Very helpful in office hours. I really enjoyed taking this class with him.
5/12/2023
He is a nice person, but I don't think his exams are well done. He consistently gives practice exams that aren't as hard as the exam. Having practice exams that actually mirror the type of content that will be on the exams, especially the more conceptual ideas, would be very helpful. The final was also way too long, & needed more than two hours.
5/9/2023
Schaefer is easily one of WashU's best professors. I took calc III not because I needed to, but just so I could take another class with him after taking Calc II. Incredibly clear lecturer, devoted and patient in office hours, and really kind. His love for the subject is infectious, even if math or calculus isn't your favorite.
5/9/2023
He is an extremely charismatic professor, and he is very passionate about what he teaches. He is one of the greatest professors I have had in my first year.
5/5/2023
One of the best Profs I've ever had. Very concise and understandable. Also just a genuinely great person. Cares about students.
5/2/2023
AMAZING professor. Lectures are so understandable, he excels at explaining concepts. Taking AP calc AB in high school did help at first but we quickly learned past AB content. Doing well on exams is extremely doable with the amount of practice available (all the past exams). You see patterns in the test questions.
4/21/2023
Prof Schaefer is seriously the greatest! Everyone comes to his sections regardless of what class they are actually enrolled in. He is by far the best prof I have ever had and I am sure he has contributed to many people taking a math major/minor. Makes content understandable and enjoyable. Even if you don't like math go sit in a few of his classes!
4/16/2023
He is seriously the nicest prof ever! He was so helpful to me in office hours. He really cares about his students. People used to sit on the floor of his full lectures because he was so good. He is so funny and ask him about his cat!
1/26/2023
Mr. Schaefer is of no doubt one of the most amazing math teachers I have ever had. He did such a wonderful job explaining concepts and preparing students for exams. The exams were very fair as long as you study and pay attention in class. His sense of humor also made the classes very easy to get through.
1/18/2023
great teacher, caring, approachable, and overall the BEST professor I have ever had.
1/9/2023
He is very clear, patient and kind. Overall, he teaches very well.
12/27/2022
Schaefer cares so much about his students, and it really shows. He does so much to help students and responds quick to questions via Piazza. But I felt that math 132 wasn't really meant for students who haven't taken BC calc or WashU calc 1. I took AB in high school, and did fine for the most part, but REALLY struggled when it came to midterm 3.
12/20/2022
Professor Schaefer is the best teacher I have ever had. His lecture style effectively conveys information without being dry, as he consistently interacts with students and keeps the mood light. He is incredibly kind and giving with his time outside class, and spent an entire day on piazza before the exam giving exhaustive help. A true king.
12/19/2022
This may be a hot take, but although he is a nice person, he is not a good teacher. I don't feel like I learn from his lectures and learned more from outside resources or attending the other section. He goes over very simple problems that don't prepare you for the homework.
12/15/2022
Dr. Schaefer is the best professor I've ever had. He is an incredible teacher and an incredible human being. He really cares about his students. He is willing to do anything to help his students succeed.
12/14/2022
There is no better professor at Washu than Schaefer truly passionate about what he teaches and clearly explains the topics. You emailed him almost anytime of day and he'll almost instantly respond. He also goes above during office hours staying an extra hour multiple times just to answer questions.
12/13/2022
Made calc easy to understand and had very energetic lectures. Tried to include students in lecture as mush as possible by asking questions (both fun and material related)
12/13/2022
Professor Schaefer is seriously an amazing teacher. You can truly tell he cares about his students and is great at relaying the content. He makes lectures interesting and is obviously passionate about math. I seriously recommend taking him!!!
12/10/2022
Schaefer is an incredibly effective and fun lecturer. His engagement with his students is unparalleled from what I have seen, and he has a great talent for de-mystifying mathematics for people of all backgrounds and abilities. Homework is very reasonable and engaging with subsections and practice exams will practically guarantee you a good grade.
12/9/2022
The reviews speak for themselves. Although he's great at lecturing and explaining difficult topics better than any prof/teacher I've ever had, the most important thing about Schaefer is that he cares about all of his students. For such a huge course (200+ students), he'll happily meet 1:1, respond to emails/piazza within the hour, etc.
11/28/2022
No one was ever able to explain p-series like Schaefer does. 1 hour lectures feel like 10 minutes. nnSchaefer and Johnson probably best math professors I've ever come across.nnnnnP.S.nnHi Schaefer's Mom! Your son is so good at lecturing it's crazy :)
11/18/2022
Schaefer is clearly the best Calc 2 professor, it isn't really close. Hes an amazing guy and cares about his students, even if there are more than 100 students in each of his classes. Tests are reasonable based on the lectures, the only thing I find a little unreasonable is the Webwork.
11/16/2022
Such a sweet human, very obvious that he cares about his students and listens to feedback. 100% would recommend
11/15/2022
Karl Schaefer is one of the best teachers I've ever had. He's great at explaining the material, and he's such a likable guy even if you don't like the class itself. I felt compelled to write this review just so he knows that non-math majors appreciate him more than he can imagine.
11/13/2022
Professor Schafer is genuinely the best lecturer I have had. He is so interactive and makes lecture extremely fun to attend. He is so funny and class is so chill but at the same time I have learned so much from him. He makes the information extremely digestible. I always look forward to attending his class and have literally never missed it once.
10/21/2022
Great professor. Professor Schaefer genuinely cares about his students and is willing to stay/meet with you for extra help. His lectures are also very clear. Would recommend any classes with him.
6/9/2022
I am just adding to the already positive reviews, but seriously Schaefer is an amazing professor. He clearly exemplifies what it means to be a professor. He is always upbeat, engaging with his students, and is absolutely stellar at explaining concepts in class and on Piazza where he will answer questions quickly. Practice exams reflect real exams.
5/16/2022
One of the best professors, he understands his students very well and is cares about each one individually.
5/14/2022
Best professor I have had the pleasure of working with yet. He is not only a wonderful person, but truly cares for and respects every student that he has and genuinely wants to help everyone succeed. Explanations in lecture were fantastic and he was always accessible outside of lecture or on piazza to answer questions.
5/6/2022
Schaefer is probably one of the best professors at WashU. They reply to piazza post with thorough, helpful explanations. In lecture, they review old concepts to make learning new things easier. Pace of class is perfect. Schaefer's lectures are so clear and articulate that you can figure out even abstract problems. Practice exams are like real ones.
5/6/2022
one of the best professors out of any STEM course I've taken so far; engaging and easy to follow lectures; Schaefer's lectures have great pace, often pausing to let us absorb the information; very active on the Piazza; provides extremely helpful practice exams that basically mimic the real ones; 1000% recommend
5/6/2022
Karl's great with Calc 2, where he was able to give very very good lectures. But Calc 3 is a little bit of a hustle, as sometimes we struggle to get everything covered and end up only with one example given, which makes the prcoess a little more challenging. Definitely look out for online instructions and stuff like that for 233.
4/24/2022
Professor Schaefer is really good at what he does; some professors teach without understanding that they were once in our shoes but Schaefer is patient and answers all questions. He makes hard concepts easy to understand and you can tell he really loves doing what he does! He is also funny and makes lectures enjoyable.
4/15/2022
Professor Schaefer is probably the best professor I've ever had. He explains topics very well, has a great sense of humor, and is willing to put in extra time to help students understand the material. His class is a large reason why I have an interest in taking more math classes and possibly even pursuing a minor. I would take his class 100 times
4/14/2022
A pure legend. Probably the most legendary Professor I've had in college. A hilarious, brilliant teacher, who is extremely considerate and thoughtful, who ensures everyone understands and is super duper conceptual. A great teacher, and a great person!
3/29/2022
Prof Schaefer is the goat, best Calc 2 prof at washu. Great lectures and very caring prof. Webwork is fairly chill and exams are not outrageously hard.
1/31/2022
Professor Schaefer is simply a legend. Brilliant and rngaging lectures plus he always adds a little bit of levity to the class and is all around a little bundle of joy. Will continue to take classes with him.
1/28/2022
Schaefer was a fun calc teacher -- engaging in class and does a good job explaining concepts. I watched his recorded lectures so I could slow things down, which was fine because participation/attendance isn't necessary. Homework was manageable with unlimited attempts and quizzes were straightforward. Exams were fine but the final was hard.
1/25/2022
Charismatic and fun, so lectures are always interesting. Goes the extra mile to make sure all student questions are answered, especially staying a few hours late in office hours.
1/19/2022
amazing professor. never thought math was my thing, but he honestly made me love calculus so much that i plan to become a peer leader to tutor others.
1/18/2022
Dr. Schaefer is special. He goes out of his way to help his students understand concepts, is very accessible outside of class, gives amazing lectures that are easy to follow and take notes on, and has a genuine passion for math. A good math professor makes all the difference in a math class. If you can, take a class with Dr. Schaefer.
1/16/2022
great professor. fast paced, but also easily accessible for questions
1/14/2022
Prof. Schaefer is INCREDIBLE. He made me smile every day and made every class engaging & enjoyable. The way he teaches concepts makes them very easy to understand, and hes quick to respond on piazza when students need help. He genuinely gets joy out of teaching math, and it shows. He really cares about students, and hes great to talk to. 100/10.
1/3/2022
This man is one of a kind, especially in the math world. I have never had a more incredible math teacher than him. He explains difficult concepts very clearly and cares deeply about his students. If you are taking calc 2, definitely take his section or else you'll be confused.
12/26/2021
Schaefer was an amazing professor. He explained concepts amazingly and you can tell he cares about his students. He does so much for the math department and gives good material to study from.
12/22/2021
I would highly recommend taking calculus with Dr. Schaefer. His lectures are dynamic and clear, he is super responsive to students (responds to Piazza posts almost every day), and obviously really cares about the wellbeing of his students. While the transition to college math wasn't super easy, I really enjoyed taking calc 2 with Schaefer.
12/16/2021
Professor Schaefer is a great teacher. He really understands the material and presents it in a pretty easy way to understand. The homework makes up for a fair portion of the grade so the grades aren't solely based on exams. Overall, great class and he is very inclusive and cares about his students.
12/9/2021
Genuinely a great math professor who cares about the success of his students. Easy to follow along with and is always willing to answer questions
11/5/2021
I found this class difficult but Professor Schaefer's lectures were great. Lots of examples to refer back to.
11/3/2021
I know people that watch all of Schaefer's lectures on top of going to their Calc II professor's class because he is so great at teaching. On top of that he is just a great guy. He also cares a lot about his students and is VERY receptive to feedback. He goes above and beyond to make the class enjoyable. Couldn't recommend more, 10/10!
10/29/2021
An amazing person and professor. Although Calc II is by no means an easy class lectures are well planned, well-paced, run smoothly and prepare you for the homework and quizzes. Professor Schaefer seems to get the perfect balance of time for questions, lecture, and the time seems to really fly by. It is clear that he cares and wants you to succeed.
10/21/2021
Despite his poor handwriting, I thought Prof. Schaefer explained concepts pretty well, or at least well enough for me to understand them for the quizzes. Quizzes every week can be annoying but ensures you are cumulatively understanding the information. He is very accessible and willing to help, and the workload overall is pretty standard.
5/11/2021
I also had him for 233. He is a completely reasonable and intelligent professor, and I thought he did a perfect job explaining concepts and performing examples via online lectures. His explanations of calculus concepts were the clearest I've seen any professor give. Quizzes are not easy, but 100% manageable, and I had option to drop lowest 2 or 3
4/23/2021
I took him remotely, so take this as you will. I am not a big math person, but his lectures were interesting and thorough to make me understand concepts I had not previously. The hw is not too bad, but the quizzes/tests will be difficult, so make sure you attend your discussion sections, as often the quizzes will be based more on those than the hw.
1/16/2021
It's a lot of work. I don't know if COVID played a major role in my opinion on this class but I think Prof Schaefer could've done a better job of finishing examples in lectures, providing HW that at least resembled what we were being quizzed on, providing any practice quizzes, & giving reasonable length quizzes. Some of the quizzes averaged 55%.
1/12/2021
This is a hard teacher. I personally liked him. Many people did not. He taught the concepts okay but I think he cared about the students. The quizzes are HARD. However, read the syllabus and you will see that the class grading scale gives leniency. You really need to do textbook problems, pay very good attention in class, and work super hard
1/10/2021
Professor Shaefer is a really great guy. Although this class was definitely the hardest class I took this semester, I think he did a good job teaching considering the pandemic. The best part about Professor Shaefer is the amount of genuine care he has for his students. He is incredibly accessible by email and writes really kind & lengthy responses
1/7/2021
Professor Schaefer is an amazing prof! I don't always enjoy math, but his lectures were consistently interesting and informative. There was usually some stuff that I didn't get on the first pass - I think he could've gone a little slower - but I was always able to get help in office hours. Quizzes and the Midterm were hard but fair. Study lots!
11/6/2020