Skip to main content
Sign In

COMM 3720

Intermediate Corporate Finance
Carola Schenone
Last taught: Fall 2026
2.5 Rating
3.4 Difficulty
3.30 GPA
Instructor
2.7
Enjoyability
2.4
Difficulty
3.4
Recommend
2.4
Reading
1.2
Writing
0.1
Group Work
0.7
Other
1.9

Total Hours / Week

Hours 3.9

Grade Distribution

A+: 50 (6.1%)A: 180 (21.9%)A-: 165 (20.0%)B+: 167 (20.3%)B: 99 (12.0%)B-: 59 (7.2%)C+: 27 (3.3%)C: 26 (3.2%)C-: 22 (2.7%)DFW: 28 (3.4%)
Average GPA 3.30
Students Measured 823

Sections

2
Review Summary Updated April 5, 2026

This class is highly polarizing, with students either praising the teaching style and supportive approach or struggling with frequent exam typos, confusing tangents, and a heavy reliance on economic theory over practical finance. Success almost entirely depends on completing the optional problem sets, since assessments closely mirror them despite the work never being collected for a grade. Exams can be notoriously unforgiving and occasionally feature unclear phrasing, though a standard course curve usually prevents severe grade penalties. Skip this section if you want hands-on corporate finance applications or flawless testing materials, but take it if you prefer a strong theoretical foundation, consistent practice resources, and an enthusiastic lecturer who actively engages the room.

56 Reviews

Add Review
Anonymous Spring 2012
2.00 Average

Really disappointing class. Wish I had been able to take Smith. My grade in the class was in no way a reflection of my knowledge of the material. Tough grader, hard to understand because of her accent, unclear about things during lecture. She seemed really apathetic about our class during the semester as well. Had a bunch of guest speakers where she wouldn't even bother to show up. Take Smith if you possibly can.

Instructor 2.0
Enjoyability 2.0
Recommend 2.0
Difficulty 4.0
Hours/Week 0.0
Anonymous Spring 2012
1.33 Average

This class is just ironic. Basically she tells you a bunch of corporate finance theory since she is an academic not a practitioner. Every other corporate finance class you take the professors basically ask you to set aside what she told you and just do it the way it's done in practice. I found her to be a poor teacher, and hard grader. Somehow got an A even though the final was a killer 200 questions. Take with Smith if given the chance.

Instructor 2.0
Enjoyability 1.0
Recommend 1.0
Difficulty 5.0
Hours/Week 8.0
Anonymous Spring 2012
1.33 Average

Very disappointed in this course and Schenone as a professor. Was unable to take 3720 with Smith, and I paid dearly for it.

Instructor 2.0
Enjoyability 1.0
Recommend 1.0
Difficulty 5.0
Hours/Week 4.0
Anonymous Spring 2012
3.67 Average

Theory-based course. Unorganized at times. Hard to understand because of accent. Homework answer keys are fraught with misspellings and mistakes. Very approachable, however.

Instructor 4.0
Enjoyability 4.0
Recommend 3.0
Difficulty 2.0
Hours/Week 4.0
Anonymous Spring 2011
4.33 Average

Unlike Smith, Schenone's class emphasizes more on theory and less on case-based learning, which suits my learning style. Midterms and quizzes were easy but the final was more challenging.

Instructor 4.0
Enjoyability 4.0
Recommend 5.0
Difficulty 2.0
Hours/Week 0.0
Anonymous Spring 2011
3.33 Average

She's course is more like Economics than finance. Will do well in the class if following her slides and problem sets.

Instructor 4.0
Enjoyability 3.0
Recommend 3.0
Difficulty 2.0
Hours/Week 0.0
Anonymous Spring 2011
1.00 Average

Don't take her. You won't learn anything

Instructor 1.0
Enjoyability 1.0
Recommend 1.0
Difficulty 5.0
Hours/Week 8.0
Anonymous Spring 2010
2.33 Average

teaches in a world of theory, she is almost clueless about the real world. had to explain to her what short-selling is.

Instructor 2.0
Enjoyability 3.0
Recommend 2.0
Difficulty 3.0
Hours/Week 10.0
Anonymous Spring 2010
2.00 Average

Schenone doesn't teach a damn thing about corporate finance, period. She teaches economic theories and investments, but NOT corporate finance. Not until I took advanced corporate finance did I realize I never learned a single thing about valuation or financing. Her lectures are boring and she pretends to be smart...TAKE IT WITH SMITH...!!

Instructor 2.0
Enjoyability 2.0
Recommend 2.0
Difficulty 3.0
Hours/Week 0.0
Anonymous Spring 2010
3.67 Average

The professor is very competent and knows the material well. The class is taught in a logical sequence. Not a lot of new concepts and overlaps with some ICE finance classes.

Instructor 4.0
Enjoyability 3.0
Recommend 4.0
Difficulty 3.0
Hours/Week 5.0