The University of Southern California (StudentsReview) - The University of Southern California:: Professor Darin Clay Course Grades, Reviews and Ratings

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Professor Darin Clay
University of Southern California

Overall

6 ratings, [AVG: 39 min, 36 sec]

Workload: Challenging

Responsible Grading:

Enjoys Teaching

Arrogance:

Normal

Speaks & Writes Clearly

Respect for Students:

High

Sensible Lectures

A-

Appreciates Creativity:

Yes

Organized course

A-

Student Feedback is:

Considered

Instructor Effort

Coursework:

Concepts and Practice

Grading System:

Informed afterwards

Course Requirements:

Well Defined

Assignment Instructions

Well Described

Exam Design:

Well Written

Exam Coverage:

Followed from course

Grades Reflect:

Understanding and Mastery

Final Grade Verification:

Allows some "fudge factor"

Gets class involved

Competent with material

Friendly/Sociable

Adds to content

This instructor is: Really Liked

Courses:
FBE532

Comments

Overall: A

No hand holding. Very interesting, shares insights knowledge and experiences freely with students, genuinely cares, but the course is only for the strong. If you want an easier grade (but less hard-core learning), take Prof. Ozbas class of the same course number.

Should do to do well...
be prepared. Best at USC, but very demanding. Most useful (by far) for the real world.

Should know...
Participate! Better tool up on your financial analysis tools—he expects you to use them.

Student Competency: Unusually High
Student's Grade: A
Liked Instructor?: Really Liked

Overall: A

Learned more than any other class I've had in finance. Exciting and interesting classes, attendance is possibly a record for MBA classes.

Should do to do well...
Challenge him, I think he likes a good (though mutually respectful) fight.

Should know...
keep up! It's impossible to catch up if you get too far behind. Lean on your group.

Student Competency: Expert-Level
Student's Grade: A-
Liked Instructor?: Really Liked

Overall: A

Best Prof. I've ever had (J.D., MBA and B.S.) The class was hard but entirely relevant. This Prof. is the cream of the crop for USC. I hope he stays, but I don't think USC can afford him.

Should do to do well...
Challenge him, but respectfully, we had an I-banker who thought he knew better then Prof. Clay (but clearly he underestimated the prof.). This student (name witheld) made some snide remarks under his breath. I think the prof. heard him because after that when the student challenged, the prof. chewed him up and spit him out—repeatedly. It was beautiful. That student had been hard on other professors and was both bright and very arrogant. But no match for Clay. There probably aren't many people who are.

Should know...
keep up, show up, participate, go to his office hours if you have questions—he's really quite approachable and will not give up until you understand. He really does care.

Student Competency: Expert-Level
Student's Grade: A
Liked Instructor?: Really Liked

Overall: A

very tough class, but most meaningful I've had at USC. Prof. Clay just left USC to join a hedge fund in London, GB. I think it's called 'GSA Capital Partners' or something like that. USC's loss. If they keep losing their best professors, they'll continue to slide in the ranks. Watch and see.

Should do to do well...
Challenge him, he likes it, but be prepared for a butt kicking.

Don't show up late or be disrespectful to other students

Should know...
participate, work hard, go to office hours, he's even better 1 on 1.

Student Competency: Unusually High
Student's Grade: A-
Liked Instructor?: Really Liked

Overall: A

Prof. Clay could have given more guidance on the case studies and portfolio formation. I think he assumed we learned more in intro investments clases than we actually did. I have tried to keep in contact with Prof. Clay, he is no longer at USC. his email is darin.clay@gmail.com

Should do to do well...
Don't forget to turn your cell phone off! You need to be able to have someone disagree with you. When you're right, press, when wrong, admit it. The Prof. sometimes plays “devil's advocate” to try to get you to challenge him—you should go for it. Prof. Clay is the best prof. in the FBE dept., I work in investments and the stuff he taught on valuations, strategies, signalling, and M&A have been priceless—he went way beyond the trite info in most textbooks.

Should know...
Pay attention and show up. Engage in class discussions. Pretty much what others have said.

Student Competency: Expert-Level
Student's Grade: A
Liked Instructor?: Really Liked

I do mez. investing. Prof. Clay was the best of all i had at USC. He was the smartest prof. there. he will be missed. He was very patient with my English problems and had high respect for China and Chinese culture. he made it hard to cheat in his class so easy for student to avoid conflicts of honor. I very much respect prof. clay.