Reviews of professor Ross Sowell

Rating: 2.0/5, difficulty: 4.0/5
Really nice guy, but pretty bad teacher. He is the definition of "too smart to teach." He tried to help me, but I oftentimes felt more confused than anything after going to office hours. His projects are unbelievably difficult, but actually pretty interesting. All in all, he is a great guy, but I would try to take another professor if possible.

Rating: 1.0/5, difficulty: 4.0/5
He's a cool guy, but he just does not teach you anything. Most of the time I had to learn by myself and my classmates had to help me understand. I got screwed over with most of my test because I couldn't understand the material no matter how hard I reread the the text. Did I get better at programming? Yes. However the material is still iffy for me.

Rating: 4.0/5, difficulty: 4.0/5
His projects are difficult and at times you will enter an INTENSE RAGE finishing them (I did), but it prepares you for REAL LIFE PROBLEM SOLVING and time management. I'm comfortable saying anyone who thinks they should avoid his classes should either not major in comp sci or drop out of college altogether, b/c your priorities are backwards asf

Rating: 3.0/5, difficulty: 4.0/5
Labs were incredibly frustrating, but definitely came out of the class a much better programmer, having learned so many essential aspects of programming. Tests were super difficult for me, it was hard to connect the things in the book/what we talked about in class to the questions asked on the test. Office hours are somewhat helpful though!

Rating: 1.0/5, difficulty: 4.0/5
I am taking two classes this summer to catch up on the information that was not taught to me in this class. He's a nice guy, but doesn't seem to understand what he is teaching, and doesn't really teach at all. His office hours are kind of a waste because he is guessing what is wrong with your program as much as you are. Get ready to teach yourself.

Rating: 2.0/5, difficulty: 3.0/5
The class itself is not super difficult, you just have to self taught everything and i have learnt a lot form it. It makes me sad but he is a super super nice guy, and he explains things well if you ask him. He might just need to change his way of structuring class. I mean who would do readings assignment for a cs class.

Rating: 5.0/5, difficulty: 4.0/5
His projects are hard but very rewarding. Also hes always willing to help! Personally had a good experience taking his class. Would recommend 100%

Rating: 5.0/5, difficulty: 4.0/5
Dr. Sowell is a tough professor, no doubt of that. His projects are difficult and his tests are difficult, but if you put in the work, you'll be a much better computer scientist for it. He's more than willing to help with programming/studying and is always very fair about extensions and grading.

Rating: 4.0/5, difficulty: 3.0/5
If you come to him outside of class, you will get the help you need. Makes class doable and some lectures are fascinating. Sometimes vague with assignments but if you come to him should be a pretty smooth A if you do the work.