Mirahmad, Mortazavi Izadi  

Dr. Mortazavi is honestly one of the best professors I've had so far. Although people complain he goes off topic a lot, it's honestly not even a big deal, he's such a great teacher and I definitely recommend him for statistics. As for his tests, you want to study your notes really really well and homework problems. Oh, you also have about 10-12 pop up quizzes in the quarter but they're easy as long as you know the material; and there are 3 midterms and a final, each worth 100 points. He gives homework daily and those are a ton of points. Also, go to his office hours, he will help you a lot. If you get to know him as a teacher and he knows that you're actually trying, then he will definitely take that into consideration when he grades your tests.

Well, let me start of by saying, this class is a great deal of work. Muir, however, is one of the best teachers I have had at Cal Poly. He is a large Russian guy, with a very a great sense of humor. He cares a great deal about his students, and KNOWS A LOT about statistics. He has probably been teaching it for 30 years, and he is a master of STATS. Your grade is composed 30% final, 20% midterm 1, 20% midterm 2, 15% homework, 15% quizzes. GO to class everyday and if something is unclear, ASK! Overall a great guy who makes class entertaining, but does expect a lot from his students.

He doesn't speak English well, and that's not to say his accent is hard to understand, it's that he doesn't always understand what YOU are saying. Chooses weird example problems, and made some off-color remarks such as calling an autistic student an outlier and apparently someone told him saying "It all looks like Chinese" wasn't right (probably because the phrase is "it's all greek to me") but instead he changed it to "it all looks like Japanese"... I'm not saying don't take him because overall it's pretty easy, but he also moves extremely slowly and I'm not sure we're covering all the material we're supposed to. We also get hardly any homework so that's a plus.

I really enjoyed this class and the teacher. Sometimes he would go off topic for 30 mins of class and tell stories about his life which are super funny and then only assign 1 homework problem. He was a great teacher and explained everything really well and went extremely slow. I would take him again if I could. There were plenty of points and pop quizzes to get your grade up. The tests were straightforward and there were no surprises. Take him if you can!

Loved this guy. Very hard class but it was actually really useful when I got a job a few years later.

Mr. M is seriously a great teacher if you are a business student. In STAT 251 (business stat), he knows that business students won't need to memorize formulas and what not, just know how to apply them. No memorizing needed, goes off topic a lot, but it is a pretty easy class. He gives about 14 quizzes, and takes the best 10 to put in your grade.

Nicest professor ever. His accent might make things hard to understand at first, but honestly you get used to it after a couple of classes. He does assign homework nearly everyday, but that's not that big of a deal. His tests are easy and extremely straightforward, and to top it all of he even gives you all of the formulas. Getting at least a B is doable for anyone.

The guy knows his stuff, but he is very hard to follow and understand. His thick 'Russian' accent and lack of familiarity with the rules and grammar of the English language don't grow on you with time either. He also tends to make off color remarks that can be offensive, yet he finds it humorous. He'll spend approx. 15-20 min of class a day on off topic tangents. That being said, Mortazavi strives to be a good professor and want his students to understand the material and adjusts to their needs. His teaching methods are effective since he has a lot of experience. He is 70 +/- 10 years-old at sig. level = .10. The homework is fair and quizzes and tests aren't too difficulty either. But he is picky and will dock you a lot of points for missing simple things, fair enough though. If you do take him, just be sure to read the textbook and do your homework correctly because he grades every problem.

Really funny guy with a good sense of humor. His lectures are easy to follow and guides you through each step. The class is 3 midterms and a final. He hands out a study guide about a week before an exam so study what's on there and you'll be fine. No tricks on his exams and are straight forward. There's homework almost everyday but it's not bad at all. Overall a great professor and recommend.

Mortazavi is awesome. I had him in 252 as well (where I got a B+). His accent is a little thick but you get used to it pretty fast. He writes EVERYTHING on the board so you will have clear and easy to follow notes, and he wouldn't waste his time writing something thats unnecessary so almost everything he writes on the board is useful on tests. His tests are really straightforward and he even gives you a review sheet of everything you need to know. He also gives formula sheets so you don't need to memorize anything. He does have pop quizzes A LOT during the first half of the quarter, but he only takes 10 of them and averages them so he'll drop a few of your lowest quiz scores. If you attend class and participate in class, he'll also bump you up if you're borderline.

If you are a girl and go to his office hours please bring a friend

AMAZING INSTRUCTOR. STAT is a hard course in general, but Mortazavi presents the material straightforward and extremely clearly. He is a little hard to understand, but he is very helpful if you need extra help (go to his office hours). Tests are straight from the lecture, no tricks. Hardest part was the homework since every problem and step is graded. The grader was extremely hard (I hope to hunt that sucker down) for my class, so it could be a hit or miss.

Honestly, This class is easy. However, you won't really learn all that much. If you care about stats, or are going into finance I would recommend you don't take him. If you want a fairly easy A, and learn "ze sixa stepzz," then take him.

If Math isn't your strongest subject, don't take his class. He is terrible at office hours, tests are very difficult

terrible teacher. he teaches as if you have already learned everything and he is simply reminding you. on top of this he has a very strong accent and is hard to understand. it was a struggle for me to get a C in his class and that's coming from a student who never missed a single day of his class (STAT 252) and got a high A in STAT 251.

First of all, it's tough to understand this guy because of his thick russian accent. that's not his fault, but it still affects him as an instructor. there is homework every night and it is quite hard, and it is actually graded for accuracy, so people's homework grades are commonly between 60-80%. there are also pop quizzes very randomly through the week, and those can kill you if you aren't comfortable with the material. during class, he quickly goes over material and it is easy to space out or quickly lose interest. he picks on about 5 people in the class. his tests are tough and he takes off a bunch of points for small errors. if possible, do not take this professor. i would go as far as saying to wait another quarter if possible. one of my worst experiences at cal poly so far. he makes stats harder than it needs to be.

I really enjoyed this class. I took AP Stats in high school, and I found this course to be basically just a review. Dr. Mortazavi is hilarious and goes on the most random of tangents during almost every lecture, but it's nice because he gives us a good laugh here and there. He does have a strong accent, but who cares? It's not like you can't understand what he's saying. I found that going to office hours was very beneficial because he genuinely wants to help his students succeed. I highly recommend him if you have a stats background of some sort!

Mortazavi is extremely intelligent and no doubt knows quite a bit about statistics. However, there are several problems that made his class unpleasant. To start with, the homework problems are very challenging and the grading on them is UNREASONABLY harsh and often times problems are marked wrong that were actually correct. The tough grading on the hw and the pop-quizzes on previously undiscussed subjects make the class difficult at times. The midterms and test were actually really fair and came 100% from his well-written study guides. His lectures were hard to interpret and dry and he claims to love statistics then is constantly in a bad mood and rude to students when they present questions or need clarifying help.

Look, I am by no means his number one fan. He has an accent (it's not that bad, you get used to it), and he goes on hilarious tangents. At the end of the day, he presents the material incredibly clearly. His homework assignments and quizzes are graded harshly, but his exams are very fair. He will not test you on material not on the study guide he emails out before the exam. He'll also probably round your grade if you show up to office hours and give half a shit. BTW: If you're a girl, he will make slightly uncomfortable comments to you. Bring a friend to office hours.

Professor Mortizavi's class was definitely challenging but it was nothing impossible. He gives homework daily and pop quizzes (keeps your best 10, I think we took a total of 12). The material can be difficult at first sometimes but he did well to help us understand stats. He tries to make jokes but because of his accent they can be a little hard to understand. I recommend him though because I heard Olga moved through the material a lot quicker that he did.

Mort's class was challenging but he does a good job of getting the information across. Although he has a strong accent and talks from bell to bell, if you actually go to class and sit down and listen for 50 minutes you will understand the material. I came in right from AP Statistics without taking 251 and a lot of the material was overlap. He spends almost 1/3 of the quarter reviewing 251 and moves at the pace that he believes his students can learn at. His pop quizzes and homework are what can ruin your grade but just be sure to check your homework with friends. His tests were very short and straight forward. Not a bad class at all, you just have to put in the work!

First off, let me just say that in no way will my review resort to any ad hominem attacks as such only undermine the value of the information. I took AP statistics my senior year and ended both semesters with an A. Until Professor Mortazavi's class, I had not received a C in three years. After being exposed to many teachers as a student, I can confidently say Professor Mortazavi was the most incompetent I have ever had the misfortune to come across. I have no trouble with Mortazavi's accent, merely his daily presentation of information that I felt could have been explained in much simpler terms. His arbitrary grading of the homework and tests was so frustrating to me that I resorted to writing this polyrating. My advice to any of those who read this, trust me and try to switch out of his class. I was unsure myself if I should switch and I wish the polyratings currently posted were a better reflection of the overall dislike most students have for him. Professor Mortazavi, if you ever come across this review, I am sure you will pay no mind to it. However, though I like you as a person, you truly are a terrible teacher not fit to teach at a collegiate level. Perhaps the fact that you still have a job is a testament to the resilience of top tier students. Beyond that, it confounds me that you are deemed fit to teach.

Dr. Mortazavi is an amazing teacher. He isn't here to mess around and teaches you what needs to be done. In the beginning of the quarter he tells you what he expects from you so that you can decide if this is the class for you.He is straight forward about his work. He specifically tells the class that his test are exactly like his notes from class. And it's true ! Before taking his class, I hadn't taken a stats class in 5 years ! I was close to dropping the class when he made me realize that I can do it. It's all a matter of the dedication you put in as a student for the grade. I was satisfied with my grade of a B. Could I have done better ? Probably. It's not an easy class but if you show up to class, take notes, and study you will be fine! He is one of the most amazing teachers I've had who has a passion for what he teaches. You actually leave the class learning something great and can use it for future classes. So if you want that good grade, do good on the quizzes, do the homework, take great notes, snd study your notes. You do all that, you can get that A!

Mortzavi is a great teacher. Yes he is hard but if you want to learn the material and ACTUALLY retain the information for future classes there is no better teacher than him. I was a transfer student and my stats class did not fully prepare me for his class. I wanted to drop the class within the 2nd week because homework took forever and I honestly did not know 80% of what he was talking about. But after speaking to him about my decision not only did he encourage me to stay in the class but told me if I ACTUALLY went to class, took notes, did my homework and studied his notes for the tests then I will be okay. I got a B in the class, and I can say I couldnt be happier. Could I have received a higher grade? Maybe but if you put in the time and effort then you will do fine. I appreciate the fact if you went to office hours he did clear up alot of questions and anything you did not understand on your tests and your homework. Mortzavi is a great teacher and he is worth the extra hours of studying and actually trying not just getting by. Easy teacher is not always the great route to a better future.

Honestly, I don't understand how this "professor" teaches at a school like Cal Poly. The fact that he can't effectively teach fundamental statistics to a 4.00 student is beyond me. His accent makes his curriculum incredibly hard to follow. Additionally he'll go on tangents about volatile topics (e.g. ideal weight in women, political party, etc.) His style of teaching is deceptively simple, but he often leaves out steps that will prove crucial to doing well on his midterms. The content of his midterms are fair, however his grading style is highly suspicious. He will often take off a questionably high number of points for minor intricacies that only a professor such as Mir would require. As a first year student, this man left a bad taste in my mouth regarding the statistics department at Cal Poly: SLO.

Mortazavi is just bad at teaching, there's not much to it. His lectures are really boring. His tests are decent, except he takes off an insane amount of points for the smallest errors. I went into office hours and asked him to do some extra practice problems with me and he straight up said "No." Everyone in my class hated him. Regretted going everyday. There are pop quizzes all the time (which aren't too bad) but again, he takes points away for literally anything. I busted my ass for just a C-, and it was really stressful. The tests are not curved and he gives a formula sheet thats kinda helpful but I heard Smith and Frame were actually better compared to Mir, despite their Polyratings. They do everything on the computer- we had to do everything by hand. There's homework every night and he mostly gives you the evens so you can't check your answers. If you get stuck with him, enroll in a study session..trust me..

He would sometimes give me back massages when he would walk around the class. At the end of the quarter, before the final, I went to his office hours to discuss some questions I had missed on the previous tests. In retrospect, I should have brought another student with me, but I just wasn't really thinking. He proceeded to touch my upper inner thigh multiple times, took my sweater off and rubbed my shoulders, and tucked my hair behind my ear. I was there for over an hour because every time I got up to leave, he would say something about my grade and how subjective it was. Please be careful and wary in taking his class.

Dr. Mortazavi is honestly a great professor. The first week is going to seem sketchy and you may consider dropping, but DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT do it. At the beginning of this class I wondered whether he would be the right professor for me and considered dropping, but I am very thankful that I did not. He teaches the old school way with notes on the board and lots and lots of chalk. He will always clarify something you have questions about, but you cannot be afraid to speak up and ask. His teaching methods helped solidify concepts in my head and his office hours are always very productive. Make sure that you always listen to what he says and chances are you will be prepared for any test or quiz he throws at you. Basically, if you go to lecture every day and participate, he will like you and you should be able to sail through his class with ease. His grading is tough, but in the long-run it ends up teaching you more and lets you take more away from the class. Overall, great guy and if you ever find that you want to talk politics with a sophisticated and well educated man, swing by his office hours!

Doctor Mortazavi is an awesome professor! He makes his lectures interesting by relating the material to current events and he always has funny stories to tell. Before the quarter started, I was a little apprehensive about having STAT 252 from 10am-11am in the morning, but it was definitely worth it! He really cares about his students and is always available during office hours. I went many times throughout Spring Quarter and I usually leave learning more than just Statistics. He's been teaching around 30 years and really knows the ins and outs of the subject. In class, he is big on student participation. I sat in the first row and it's not intimidating at all. He likes to have conversations with students and it's really nice since he doesn't drown you in material after material after material. Don't let the other reviews scare you away - he's a very straight-talking, no non-sense, no BS kind of professor.

Mortazavi knows statistics very well and teaches it very clearly. There are points in class where he goes off on tangents and you don't really know what he's talking about though. His tests are fairly hard, and he takes points off for the smallest of errors. However, there aren't any surprises. You won't use any of the statistical software for most of the class, and he assigns hw every day. I honestly didn't like him very much at the beginning of the quarter but he grows on you. By the end of it, he became one of my favorite professors.

Professor Mortazavi is the man. Although he is a little bit quirky and sometimes difficult to follow in class it is worth taking his class. Everything is very straight forward. You always know what you are going to get from him and he is very knowledgeable and passionate about statistics. The best part about his class though is the tests are very straight forward. The lectures translate into exactly what is on the test. You know what is expected of you and it is easy to be successful if you put in the work. He has definitely lightened up with grading as well. Also participation in class will get him on your side and that is highly recommended

You're going to sit in the first class and be like "holy crap I don't understand anything." And by the end of the year, you're going to realize that he is one of the most knowledgeable professors in statistics and really wants you to be the best student you can be. The reality is that if you pay attention and show INTEREST in his class, you're going to do great. Invest in what he's saying and this class will be a breeze. He works hard to relate to students and gives you plenty of opportunities to ask him questions. Follow his notes, listen to him, laugh at his "humor of the day" (which can be funny) and you're going to be just fine.

Great Professor. I was extremely concerned going into 252 considering my 251 professor was absolutely horrible, but lucky I had professor Mortazavi. He definitely tries to give his students a little bit of a scare for the first few classes, but don't let that worry you. He warms up to the class quickly and becomes a very friendly and approachable professor. Not to mention he is extremely knowledgeable. The main thing to know about this class is in Dr Mortazavi's terms, "It's a two way street". He is there everyday and provides excellent examples in class with well thought out lecture notes. If you are responsive to what he requests, go to class, do the homework, and become an active participant in class, this course will not be difficult for you. I would describe his midterms as fair, they are not "easy" but if you do the work you will succeed. Overall he is not only an experienced professor but a nice and funny guy, I really enjoyed him this quarter.

Mortazavi is a great professor! After just a few weeks in his class, I understood everything that I could never grasp in 251... Just pay attention, do all the homework and you will be fine. His tests are straight forward and follow exactly what he teaches in class. He's also very approachable and personable. Take him!

Professor Mortazavi is not only a very intelligent man but he knows how to teach. I have retained so much information this quarter and actually understand the concepts of statistics. He tends to say things that may be misinterpreted and strewn as creepy. I honestly believe it's because of a slight language barrier and his quirky sense of humor. Mort is awesome- he grades fairly, cares for his students, and has effective teaching methods. I also wish he was my grandpa... his stories are always on point.

Mortazavi has been one of my favorite professors so far at Cal Poly. His teaching style is crystal clear; in fact, he continuously asks "are we clear?" during his lectures. He adds humor to the not so exciting subject of Statistics. He also adds relevant world/business events into his lectures to expand on the subject to help his students understand why they are learning what they are learning. He is available every day for an hour (his office hour) where students can come and ask questions, or laugh with him as he tells a humorous life story. He is also very understanding and is one of the professors who actually wants to see his students succeed. Yes, Mortazavi is a military strict teacher when it comes to homework and talking in class, but he also gives a lot of points during the quarter! Oh, and yes, he does have a heavy accent, but I promise you, you will get used to it and learn to love it. Honestly sad my quarter with him is over!

Mortazavi is a ver knowledgable professor and presents the material very clearly! I got a way higher grade than I thought I would have coming into this class. You need to put in the work and pay attention to everything he says. But he makes everything clear and is the best math/stats teacher I have ever had. I have gotten one of my highest grades out of any class here at cal poly because of him, but it does require an hour+ of homework a night. Plus, I highly recommend a workshop for 252 to help clear things up!!

"Are you with me?"? I am 99% confident that Dr. M has said this statement over 400 times this quarter, in my section alone. I believe he says this, because he wants the student to understand this topic. I had him last quarter and failed his class, some people told me I was crazy that I took his class again, but in all honesty I am glad I did, because I did a lot better than last quarter. Not only that, but Dr. M has plenty of years of experience teaching Statistics. Therefore, I am 99% confident that I am to pass STATS 252 this time around, and my grade will fall between a solid B to an A-. Thank you Dr. M

Professor Mortazavi isn't a terrible professor per say, but for someone who has been teaching for ~20 years, "not great" shouldn't be the standard. He clearly knows about statistics, but he is poor at teaching it. Multiple things in his course bothered me. First, he insists on keeping us to the very last minute of class every day. This usually would not bother me, however, he spends a large amount of the time going on random tangents and telling stories that are almost completely unrelated to the subject matter. It is very frustrating to know that I could have got out of class in 30 minutes if he just focused and taught statistics like I signed up for. Homework is assigned every day, and graded with extreme scrutiny, not to mention that he grades tests very subjectively. The midterms are hit or miss in difficulty, with some problems being very challenging and others being straightforward. I only got an A from studying like hell for the tests, doing well on the quizzes, and attending all the classes, no matter how tortuous they were. Not to mention, there is a reason that there are comments on here about him acting creepy towards female students, I saw it all the time. Good luck if you get stuck in his class, transfer out if you can.

he sure does like his women, wet!!