Midterms were short answer/drawing graphs and not that hard. Final is 75 multiple choice..they are tricky! I got solid A's on the midterms and a C- on the final. So a B+ for the year... Discussion section very helpful if you're confused and TA office hours are great. Once you simply the material in discussion it's very understandable.
Elzinga's class has two faces. Everyone has heard of the first: the class is awesome. It's a lot of fun, changes the way you think about the world, and introdces you to one of the kindest people put on this Earth. But there's a bad side too. The final exam makes up half of your grade and does not reflect your past exam scores. There is no way, even through studying, to guarantee that you will do well. The final exam is pretty much a toss up and is terribly disappointing. Although I might expect an A in this class because I know my econ, I still suggest you take the unfair final into account.
I really enjoyed Elzinga but the final was a killer.
Elzinga is an amazing professor! He keeps lecture interesting by taking real world examples and fitting them into the theories and concepts. Beware - his midterms are very simple and straightforward, but the final is challenging. Study, do the reading, go to lecture and you should be okay.
The lectures were really engaging... don't be fooled by the first two tests. The final is pretty hard.
hahah the first 2 tests are so easy. The final isn't, and I prepared 18 hours of studying and got a D after having a B+ average in the class. So much for the comm school...
Good professor, hard final
Elzinga is a great teacher, it is better to get him than Mirman.
I would definitely recommend this course to others, because this introductory economics course really challenges one to think and look at the world using a different set of lenses. Prof. Elzinga is a gifted public speaker and an awesome instructor. This was truly a worthwhile class and I was always lookin forward to sit in the lectures.
I thought the class was rather interesting but way too overrated. Elzinga was extremely nice and fun, but I ended up doing the crosswords instead of listening to him.
