Nicky Yuen

Effort For Reward

Overwhelming workloadHeavy reading and videosExtra credit safety netTA-dependent experienceParticipation-driven

Core Points

Only take him if you can commit major weekly hours and leverage extra credit and TA support; otherwise pick another professor.

Key Points: Very heavy weekly load with reading, videos, projects, and civic engagement tasks.

Score

52%

Recommended

79%

A Rate

Key Questions

AI analysis of core concerns

Easy A?

FairEffort62/100

Extra credit and late acceptance can buoy grades, but earning an A still requires substantial weekly work and engagement.

Easy Course?

Challenging33/100

The course demands fast-paced, multi-source content with numerous assignments, projects, and quizzes each week.

Flexible Attendance?

Recommended55/100

Help sessions are labeled optional but often feel necessary for high grades, while some sections require attendance.

Recommended?

Depends52/100

Students are split between finding the class inspiring and fair versus overly demanding, ideological, and unhelpful.

Grade Distribution

33 data points

79%

A Rate

A+

24%(8)

A-

21%(7)

B+

6%(2)

C+

3%(1)

12%(4)

Course Selection Guide

Comprehensive analysis for informed decisions

Lenient Grading

Lenient68/100

Many reports of abundant extra credit, late acceptance with small penalties, and multiple paths to recover points despite tough quizzes.

Light Workload

Overwhelming12/100

Consistent claims of 15–20+ hours weekly with heavy reading, many videos, frequent chats, projects, and civic engagement tasks.

Teaching Experience

Average55/100

Highly polarizing mix of inspired students praising structure and care and many others citing confusion, dismissiveness, and ideology.

Assessment Method

Balanced50/100

Blend of frequent quizzes, discussions/chats, projects, participation, and extra credit rather than a single high-stakes exam.

Exam Style

Standard60/100

Online quizzes and project work dominate with no strict proctoring noted, softened by generous extra credit options.

Student Voices

Based on 36 student reviews

Credibility

High

AI Analysis + Student Proof

🎯 Teaching Quality55/100

"Professor Yuen is extremely caring... If you want to expand your thinking and alter your personal trajectory, then his class is worth it."

👍 Recommendation Rate52/100

"Would probably take again."

⚖️ Grading Fairness68/100

"Help sessions are available which you get extra credit for attending... accepts it late with very little points taken off."

⏳ Workload & Pace12/100

"You must put in over 20 hours of work... Assigned wayy too much reading, half the assignments are unrelated to class."

Student Highlights by Theme

👨‍🏫 About Teaching Style

"Structured and caring, but polarizing and can feel dismissive."

"Some find it inspiring and transformative; others find it confusing."

"Participation and engagement are central to success."

📈 About Difficulty & Grades

"INSANE amount of classwork/homework with busy work."

"Lots of extra credit that can rescue grades."

"Quizzes are tough; help sessions feel necessary for an A."

🧪 About Assignments & Projects

"Heavy reading and many videos every week."

"Civic engagement and voter registration projects included."

"Group work and TA interactions strongly affect outcomes."

Analysis Methodology

Voice snapshots generated from 36 reviews, clustering repeated patterns on workload, grading, and teaching style; Credibility rating: High.

Nicky Yuen teaches these De Anza College classes

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