W. Gerald Platt

If you want to learn anything about Finance, do NOT take this teacher. If you just need this course to fulfill the Core Requirement, try another teacher, first. (I've since learned that Messina is excellent!) I think Prof. G. Platt has a good heart -- just maybe he makes a better administrator than teacher. Though seeming to be very knowledgable about the subject of Finance, and also seeming to convey it semi-interestingly in his lectures, it turns out that his lectures do not tie into either a) the homework, or b) his tests. I sat through each class period feeling like, "Ah, I get this!" Then going home and wondering what the heck one thing had to do with the other. (And I was NOT the only one who felt this way. All the students I talked to - over half the class - felt this way.) I spent SO much energy trying to understand this course. I WANTED to "get it." I WANTED to learn. After the 3rd week (of a 5 week summer course), I approached Mr. Platt and asked him if I was going to need this course for anything else, since I'm not a Finance major. I told him that I just wasn't LEARNING anything -- that it was all I could do to keep up with his take-home tests. He told me that, no, I would not need this course as a prerequisite for any other, and thoroughly agreed with me that I (nor anyone, excepting someone of exceptional intelligence) would be able to learn the material presented (in 5 weeks). He felt that it was much too fast a pace for this course. However, I feel that if he had simply lessened the level of difficulty of his tests, that I would have learned at least SOMETHING. Instead, I spent my days floundering through the book(s), seeking out tutors, getting frustrated and frightened that even the TUTORS couldn't help me! Prof. G. Platt would preface the quiz he handed out by saying, "you will have to make some assumptions." Well, that's all well and good, except that we haven't learned WHAT assumptions we are to make!!!***!!! You see, Mr. Platt felt that since the class had taken so long on our 1st quiz (1.5 hours), that he would make them "take-home," so that he had more time to lecture. In doing so, he assumed that we wouldn't do our homework; therefore, he chose the most difficult questions for the quizzes. I must say that I don't quite agree with his rationale. And, it certainly didn't "work" for me.

I liked him a lot, an excellent lecturer and if you only keep up with homework and readings, A is practically a guarantee All of those who claim the class is difficult is due to their lack of time input to do the homework and you'll learn a lot from the class too

Platt knows his stuff. Problem is, he doesn't communicate it very well, or at least, with much enthusiasm. He strolls in, opens his soda, sits in the chair, and proceeds to write on the overhead. What could otherwise be a very interesting subject, is utterly boring by day's end. Too bad really.

Professor Platt is one of the, if not the toughest teachers you can have. His teaching tactics are extremely hard to understand. Students are left confused of the problem workups. And he knows it!!!!!!!!!!! His solution, "well, you don't need to worry about this during the exam." Yeah sure, but about the ones who do want to learn it. He is very tough and the organization of the class is screwed up. This semester, he picked a very tough text book and we only went through half of it. Half of it!!! I think this class should at least meet 2 days a week. Meeting for 3 hours and having Platt is the most horrible experience anyone can have.

Professor Platt's teaching techniques suck! His lectures are confusing and boring. He needs to treat his students better. He goes through the materials too fast. He assumes that his students know the materials already. He gets irritated when asked too many questions. I thought "no question is a stupid question" but in this case every question is a stupid one. Well, we pay for our education here and we should get the best service possible. We don't go to school for free. He needs to change his teaching techniques or the College of Business needs to find a better FIN351 professor.

His wife, professor Cathy Platt is a wonderful professor. He can surely learn something from his wife.

Professor Platt, if we knew as much as you do, we wouldn't be taking your class.

All the horror stories about Platt came true on the first exam. I have to give him credit though, he has changed his style. He's taking his time in teaching problems and tries to help us understand the steps involved. Cutting down the workload from a chapter a week to a chapter every 2 weeks has helped. He does want people to pass his class though, just look at the grading system. To be fair, the 2 finance classes he has taught are the hardest in the concentration curriculum.

Prof. Platt is an intelligent person, but his tactics for teaching are very questionable. He teaches material that in theory is all well and good, but how can undergraduates apply these abstract concepts? Also, he assigns homework that has no guidelines and does not offer feedback as to the proper method to complete the homework. He does not appear to be very patient with students' questions and tends to get irritated very easily. His reluctance to explain concepts makes his presence very intimidating in the classroom. I do not question the man's intelligence, but I seriously question his ability to teach students effectively.