Kara Hoffman

This professor has taught: PHYS106, PHYS171, PHYS171H, PHYS260, PHYS275, PHYS276, PHYS401, PHYS407, PHYS420, PHYS758E
Information Review
Kara Hoffman
PHYS171

Expecting an A+
Anonymous
05/16/2022
Her TA is the only reason I’m surviving this class. She missed our last final review session and was unable to coordinate a sub. Very nonchalant about the worries or successes of her students
Kara Hoffman
PHYS171

Expecting an A
Anonymous
05/06/2022
Extremely inconsiderate and completely devoid of any empathy. Lectures were boring and monotonous, and there’s lots of homework (it’s all hard.) would not recommend even though I currently have an A in the class.
Kara Hoffman
PHYS171

Expecting an A
Anonymous
05/06/2022
Dr. Hoffman is one of those professors who is a wonderful person and a great scientist but not a stellar teacher. My main quibble is that she teaches off of slides but reads them word for word, without adding much during lecture. She often struggles to convey what she wants to say as well. If I hadn’t taken AP Physics in high school, I doubt I would’ve done nearly as well in her class. That said, she truly cares about her students and I personally thought that her exams were quite good for a physics course.
Kara Hoffman
PHYS276

Expecting an A+
Anonymous
05/11/2014
As a course, PHYS276 was very easy. Just read and understand the pre-lab material before class and you'll have the easiest time. Dr. Hoffman, however, wasn't the most helpful professor. I found the TA to be much more useful. This class was easy, but I wouldn't take a more difficult course with her. You would be fine in the lower level labs though.
Kara Hoffman
PHYS276

Expecting an A
Anonymous
01/03/2013
Dr. Hoffman has a clear lack of understanding about the information taught in the class. Her tests were very difficult, and not an accurate measure of the course.
Kara Hoffman
PHYS273

Expecting an A
Austin90
05/09/2009
Dr. Hoffman is one of the better professors at MD. Her lectures are very useful, and her demonstrations in class are very interesting. The only problem is that not-too-uncommon questions catch her by surprise. Therefore, she isn't able to answer them until a day or more later. However, she is very easy to talk to, because she doesn't have an ego that dominates her personality. Her tests are a little harder than most (Hence our average test score for the spring 2009 semester was a 60%) However, she gives generous curves (1/3 As, 1/3 Bs, 1/3 C's, and some "stragglers" get Ds and Fs ) If you do well on the webassign and homework, none of which are too hard, then you should really enjoy her class. As a side note, GO TO RECITATIONS EVERY FRIDAY since not doing so can take up to 10% off your final grade.