Niner, Carolyn  

BOYCOTT!!!

This was Professor Niner's first quarter teaching at Cal Poly and at first I was very nervous. Her powerpoints were filled with information and the book she made us use had chapters of over 40 pages that were a struggle to read. The class is made up of homework, participation, 2 projects, 2 midterms, and a final. The homework is super easy. You can buy the answers to the homework online because the textbook sells a workbook with the answers and explains the answers so if you do not get a 100% on this I don't know what you're doing. She will call on people randomly in class. She doesn't make a scene if you do not know the answer...in fact most people just say I don't know and she moves on. But she will like you a lot more if you know the answer. The questions are usually based on the reading from the night before. The first midterm was rough. She expects you to be good at using a financial calculator and doesn't go over how to use one in class. This was a problem because half the class took Gorman for 342 and he doesn't teach how to use a financial calculator so we were stuck teaching ourselves. The average on the first exam was a 48%. Instead of curving, she decided to double count the second midterm if you do better. The average on the second midterm was a very high B. The second midterm she made it shorter so we had enough time and was very clear on what to know. She also lets you use a cheat sheet on each exam so you have all the formulas. The first project is a credit analysis project. Do not start this early. She doesn't really explain how to do the math part until the last class so I ended up doing it wrong and had to redo it all. It's not that hard of a project just tedious to do. The second project is a fed analysis project where you determine what moves the federal reserve will be making in the future and why. This was super easy because she gave you all the information you need. Also just go on Business Insider. The final was the second midterm just with a couple new problems so it was nothing to be too stressed about. A lot of people complain about her because of the results of the first midterm. She was a new professor that went a little too hard on the first midterm get over it. She learned from her mistake and was very clear on what we needed to learn for the second midterm and final. Just go over her slides before the exam and she literally puts in bullet points what she will ask. Overall, not the most interesting class in terms of content but she is super nice and wants to see everyone do well.

Professor Niner is an excellent professor. She is extremely knowledgeable and tries to get to know each student in her class personally. Her classes are mainly based off of the PPT presentations, however she provides very valuable explanations in class. This class was very difficult for me, and I would NOT recommend taking it as an in-season athlete or with other difficult classes. Her exams are difficult but she allows two, front and back, 8.5"x11" cheat-sheets. As long as you give yourself adequate amount of time to study, her exams are very passable. There are two projects in this course. The 'Credit Analysis Project' is difficult and time-consuming. The Fed analysis project is less demanding. Overall, I recommend taking Niner. She is really nice and a very good educator. However, I would be strategic about when to take this class because I found it to be one of the more difficult classes I've taken.

She is a fantastic teacher. The class isn't too hard. Do well on the projects and know all the material from the Powerpoint slide and you will succeed.