William Clinger is a Computer Science professor at Northeastern University rated 2.2/5 by 50 students, with 3.6/5 difficulty and 14.0% who would take them again (TRACE + RateMyProfessors + Reddit, updated July 2026).
William Clinger professor reviews and ratings: 2.2/5 from 50 student reviews at Northeastern (14.0% would take again). TRACE + RateMyProfessor + Reddit.
He makes the course more difficult than it already is.CS5010 2023-08-23 18:45:47 +0000 UTC
waste moneyCS5800 2018-04-30 00:30:07 +0000 UTC
Hard to pay attention in this class because Clinger is boring and the material is too. The exams are tough and are worth a decent amount of your grade. You are better off reading from the textbook and not coming to lecture at all. Try to take this class with someone else if you can. Plus side, he curved my grade by at least 10 points at the end.CS3800 2017-12-19 11:21:07 +0000 UTC
His lectures are a total waste of time because he talks about totally irrelevant stuff. The homeworks are a waste of time because they don't teach you anything. The tests will have questions about minor insignificant details from the lectures so you still have to attend class even if he never teaches you anything.CS3500 2014-03-31 10:24:29 +0000 UTC
Professor Clinger tries to be interesting but his self-interest and dry approach to trivial (and frequently irrelevant) anecdotal topics has every class leaving a bad taste in your mouth. He does not assist those challenged by the material and doesn't leave any constructive feedback on exams and assignments. The most frustrating course I've taken.CS4500 2013-11-05 14:09:29 +0000 UTC
Professor was very precise in what he said to the class. Class material was structured very well. Forced students to ask questions using exact vocabulary (almost too much so). Never left a question unanswered. Flexible if absent with notice ahead of time. Sometimes felt he thought too highly of himself. I feel I learned a lot (Recommended).CSG111 2008-12-31 20:28:01 +0000 UTC
One of the better CS teachers, although he talks a lot about himself. Midterm and Final wernt too bad and were scaled. Homeworks were easier than previous CS classes. He sings.CSU370 2007-07-16 11:50:39 +0000 UTC
wow. what an ego. he thinks he is amazing. no one cares about how he worked at techtronics or wherever. all he does it talk about himself. the MT anf final have the dumbest q's. good luck staying awakeOOD 2006-04-03 13:13:05 +0000 UTC
Clear, can be entertaining. Recommended if you're serious about the subject.CSU665 2006-02-22 10:50:13 +0000 UTC
Class is totally mental masturbation for both professor and student. He basically takes you on a pointless ride through his 'distinguished' career while teaching you nothing of value. The student has to endure the contstant tangents and ramblings being left with nothing of value at the end of the semester.OBJDESIGN 2006-01-02 20:51:38 +0000 UTC
This goes out to most teachers in CS: STOP BEING SO ABSTRUCT AND TEACH US SOMETHING! WHEN YOU MAKE A MISTAKE IN CLASS, TRUST US WE DONT NOTICE BECAUSE YOU DID NOT SAY ANYTHING THAT MAKES CONCRETE SENSE TO US.COMPORG 2005-09-21 11:54:31 +0000 UTC
This professor is the biggest tool I have ever seen. He would be a good teacher if he wasn't so vague and kept going off on random useless tangents. Oh, and he thinks he's hilariously funny... when not a student in the class laughs at his terrible jokes.CSU215 2005-06-06 17:39:14 +0000 UTC
Also took fundamentals 2 w/him. Very nice and funny guy. Challenging but not overly so. Put in the time w/the hw, readings, and labs and you should be fine. His lectures are sometimes hilarious, sometimes enlightening, but I feel not usually very useful. Overall great guy, just do your work.OBJORIENTEDED 2005-04-07 12:01:06 +0000 UTC
Dont try to contact him. He has no consideration for students needs. I came off a 9 month coop and rusty from programming. Got 100's on the first three assignments then failed the midterm. BEWARE, he is more concerned what is on the cover of the book then what he is teaching.OBJECTORIENTED 2005-04-01 11:07:19 +0000 UTC
He goes off on tangents alot. Course was good software eng class not totally focused on OO totally. Still learned alot. He's one of the most eloquent and perhaps intellectual professors I've ever had (Erdos number of 4!! Damn!). Sometimes I wish he would come to his drawn out conclusions faster.CSU380 2004-12-20 23:07:33 +0000 UTC
William Clinger has an average rating of 2.2/5 from 50 student reviews. 14.0% of students said they would take them again.
William Clinger's classes have a difficulty rating of 3.6/5 based on student reviews.
William Clinger has taught CS3800, CS7400, CS5800, CS5010, CS5011, CS5500 at Northeastern.
Data updated July 2026.