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keep good notes he is helpful but keep close tabs with your test and labs scores he is not organize with grading. test are difficult

Funny guy. Analogies are easy to follow and makes the learning process easier. Tests aren't so hard, given the fact that you can make copies of the the test from the previous semester. Lab is easy but the lab report can be confusing.

Genetics was really fun, I learned so much. Chess has great analogies, make the material easier to grasp. Labs are quite simple, just tedious (aren't they all). You'll have fun in this class, take it!!!!!!!!

HES AN AWESOME TEACHER, GREAT GUY AND GREAT TEACHER. I wish he could teach other science courses!

chess is all around great... great teacher and great person. if you want to truly learn micro and have fun at the same time, take him. highly, highly recommended.

he makes lecture fun and interesting, but his tests are really hard and he grades really hard.

i love chess! he's such a great person and an even better teacher. it's odd to say, but if there were other micro classes at pcc... i'd take them just because of him!

You will understand the subject completely the night before, then his test will empty your brain onto your desk. He means business. It's not a good sign when you get to a class and 5 other people are re-taking it.

An awesome sweet guy that is willing to take his time to help his students. One of the few great teachers out there =)

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Microbiology is really touch, but Chess is a great teacher. He was extremely helpful, made lecture and lab lots of fun. Really cared about all his students.

This is a hard class it seems easy but you really have to study hard to pass.for the lab there is hardly any help at all.if you like to study hard take this class if not take someone else.

Excellent teacher. I am in his class now and am afraid that I may receive my first 'B' in eight semesters, but it's worth it. Professor Chess is a great teacher, is highly knowledgable, and is really cool, too! If you want to learn, take this class. If you want an easy A...take someone else!

Dr. Chess is great. He's funny, understanding, and really helps his students. Although he seems to like people who are outspoken, I sat in the back, never spoke and passed the class. READ! Study, from the guide and both books. Those unknowns will get ya...

The guy is funny. Just take notes and listen in class. You don't even need the book, or at least I didn't. If you think the unknowns are hard then you probably should have dropped the class in the first week anyways.

One of the best profs I've ever had! Great lecturer & easy to talk to. Class is tough but as long you take good notes & read the book, will do fine. Also previous exams available at computer lab.

Awesome teacher! Lots of reading. If you keep up and don't procrastinate you'll be fine. Follow the syllabus and read along with it otherwise you'll be sorry come test time. Sample test in the micro lab are a big help! Prof. Chess was very cool and always willing to help if you ask. He's funny and cool, but to do good you've gotta keep up!

Very good teacher. He's very funny and makes his lectures interesting. He also writes everything down for you so that note-taking is easy.

This was an incredibly hard class for me and even though I only got a C it was a very fullfilling one. I think Chess does what he can to make it make sense for the students, but with such heavy material, it is just the nature of the beast. Chess has a good sense of humor which goes far in lecture and keeps it interesting.

class could be intimitating to some ppl, who hasn't had much backgroud in bio/chem. Lots of materials going back to as far as two semesters of general bio and first semester chem. Labs are stupid hehhe..but nurse ppl might like it because some feels like this is a glimpse of what they might do later on. He curve the class, so pretty easy to get A.

Professor Chess has to be one of the best teachers I've ever taken. Comparing him to all of the UC Santa Barbara Biology Faculty, he beats all of them with flying colors. Just take notes and listen in class. Save your money, don't buy the book and borrow from your friends. The tests are straight from his notes. Awesome guy.

great guy, excellent teacher, tests are easy. Just listen to lecture, and study his note, you'll do fine on the test. If you think Dr. Chess is difficult, give up biology because this is a very hard subject, and Dr. Chess' tests are much easier compared to other professors. Good luck

he's a great guy. there's lots of work to do and but it's not that bad. i skipped a lot of his lecture but still passed.

i didn't have chess in lab only lecture so i don't know how he teaches in lab. but the lectures are easy. he writes everything down for you and everything is from his notes. he also explains everything and makes it interesting

Had him during Winter Session. Excellent teacher for Micro! Explains everything, but gives too much info to remember. If you study hard, you can pass the tests. He's really funny and makes everything really interesting! Relates to the students and cracks jokes! Don't sit in the front, don't do something stupid, or you'll become one of his stories.

Dr. Chess is absolutely great. He lectures straight out of the book. He gives you study guides for every test, and also sample tests of the lecture exams are available in the science study lab. Use these! Great guy, good sense of humor. Yes, it's a science course, which requires you to study VERY hard, but he does everything he can to help you.

Dr. Chess, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways.... He is AWESOME!!!! Micro is a hard subject, he makes it interesting and even fun. His tests are a little tricky, go slowly and really think about what he is trying to ask. I cannot recommend him highly enough. STUDY!!!!!!!!!!

Barry is an excellent instructor. Uses humor and life stories to keep interest levels high, but you cannot just float thru and expect a good grade. This is a hard science course that demands you study, & your grade will reflect this. This is a "weeding" course; you must dedicate yourself or you will not pass...its up to you, not the instructor.

Chess is the best teacher I have had at PCC. You have to study hard for his class, but what do you expect. He is hilarious and very helpful. Whatever you do don't cheat because he will catch you, about 10 people got F's for cheating in my class. Take him though, he's great.

the class is difficult on its own. its a lot of material. he's not an easy grader. you gotta work hard of your grade. he makes his lectures interesting.

Hilarious! Microbiology requires a lot of memorization but when there's a lot of fun and laughter involved along the way, it makes the class a lot more bearable. Tests are straightforward and his lectures always cracked me up.

Very hard class. GREAT instructor. He really wants you to learn the material, but will not let you float through the class. I almost switched majors from nursing to micro just because of how interesting Dr. Chess made the class!

Prof.Chess is a GREAT professor with very good lectures. Very organized, clear and extremely helpful by giving a list of concepts he expects u to know on the exam. I'm surprise he's not teaching at a 4 year University where they would pay him more for his high quality teaching. Exams were hard but fair. LA ZOO at end of class. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

great instructor! Has a lot of knowledge and gives great lecture. But mirco is a hard subject, so need to study VERY HARD!

he's the best. tests r not that hard, that is if you study. he knows what he is talking about. highly recommended

Chess is a great guy with an amazing personality. He'll get you through tough subjects by keeping you laughing. Class was extremely organized and notes were crystal clear. Provides study guides in advance so you know what to study. If you write down what he writes down on the board and go through the study guides, you'll get an A. Great experience!

Hardest B I ever earned. Only because of my own limitations. He's a great prof who will help you to the utmost of his ability. This was not an easy class for me but I'm glad I took it with him.

I took Barry Chess during Winter intercession in 2007. He is in my Top 5 Teachers/ Professors of all time list. He's an amazing teacher, making the plethora of information super clear. You'll study in this class, but definitely take him if you get the chance. He's funny, caring and to this day, I still keep in touch with him via email. In fact, h

Mr. Chess is in my Top 5 Teachers/Professors of all time list. He's an amazing teacher, making the plethora of information super clear. You'll study in this class, but definitely take him if you get the chance. He's funny and tells great stories in class. He also wrote me my letter of recommendation for Grad School. BTW, I got in. :)

Micro with Chess is much harder than Genetics with him (partially due to the insane amount of material to cover) but he makes Micro fun! Lots of stories and laughs and he's an easy going guy - easy to talk to. Expect to work hard in micro if you want an A - but I recommend him over other profs.

He's a great fun teacher =D!!! makes everything very easy to learn and even if the material itself is bland and boring, he makes it so that what you're listening to is the most interesting thing in the world. he doesn't keep attendance, but it is recommended to sit in on his lectures and fun labs to stay ahead in the class. Just take good notes!!

Dr. Chess is AWESOME and I can't recommend him enough. Took his class during the summer and it was hard, but he made what can be really dry material fun and entertaining. Highly recommended!

Dis is a great professor and u will have alot of laughs in his class wit a serious subject like dis.It was 1 of da hardest subject i ever took,but i wouldnt take it wit any other micro teacher. Labs were fun,lectures were interesting.

EXCELLENT teacher! Makes even the abstract parts of Micro understandable with great examples. Lectures are funny and interesting. Tells you at the beginning what you need to do to succeed. This is a tough topic but he makes it fun - you do need to work, though. If you have to take Micro, take it w/ Chess.

Modern genetics was a straightforward class. I've taken bio at my other school and this was a lot of review, which is helpful especially during the summer if you're a science major and you want to keep your mind fresh. Chess is a funny, charismatic guy who genuinely knows what he's talking about. I'd definitely recommend him!

might not be the easiest Micro teacher at PCC but you will learn the subject and have fun at the same time. Great lectures, gives you the info and has a ton of great stories and jokes. Tests are hard but fair. Read the book and attend the lectures and you'll do fine.

great teacher. It's a hard class, but other teachers can make it much harder. But you will have to study to do well, grading is very fair.

I just checked my grade and found out I got an A! This class was very hard. Pretty balanced between memorization and uderstanding of concepts. I literally studied the whole day every day for 6 weeks. Pay Attention to the lectures and read the assigned chapter. Labs were fun. He goes over it as a class before we do it on our own. Tests were easy!

Prof. Chess is hilarious and entertaining. Made the subject really interesting. Some people think he's difficult, but if you stay on top of stuff, it's not overwhelming. I highly recommend him. If you don't have a sense of humor, you might not like him...

Professor Chess is super funny, I enjoyed his lectures as well as the lab. However, his test were super hard!

Chess is a great professor. Its not an easy A, but if you work hard its definitely possible! His class is interesting and labs are fun.. Take his class

One of the best professors ever. You really need to keep up and do your part in studying but he explains things really well and lectures are not boring. He made a tedious subject doable. He is approachable if you need extra help or have questions.

Prof. Chess is probably the best professor I'v had so far, in terms of keeping my attention throughout the course. He is approachable and nice, but he is not, and repeat not, an "easy" professor. If you are going to take him, make sure u have some extra time on your hand for reading the book. I got a B -__- but that was my fault, not his.

Excellent teacher, hard class. This guy knows how to teach, but i'm telling you right now that this is a tough class. you have to read. AND I MEAN READ, not that skimming crap or "just to the study guide" do the practice exams, memorize them, read the chapters and record the lectures. seriously... YOU HAVE TO READ!

This class is hard because of the amount of information. The lab is easier than the lecture tests bec there is so much info in the lecture to cover. You have to READ THE BOOK x2. It's hard to know what ?'s will be on the test sometimes. Lab is a must, can't miss it. Lecture, I suggest teaming up w/ classmate exchanging book and lecture notes.

READ THE BOOK! His lectures SUPPLEMENT the text so most of the questions on his test are sneaky facts from the book. But he is a great professor. He's just tough.

Great teacher. I learned so much from him and it was all so interesting! Lab tests are easier than the lec tests. Points are out of the highest grade receive in the class for tests. Surprise quizzes were exactly from the website. Not hard if you just pay attention in class and understand what you're doing in lab.

He wrote the book and it's well written, he's very articulate and as long as you have a sense of humor, he'll help you no matter what. Chess prepares you for university level/grad school work. Definitely not a waste of your time, but if you're not sincere or serious about your education, he'll weed you out.

Professor Chess is great. People might complain about how tricky his test are, but once you get to know his way of asking things the tests become much easier. He is not tricky at all. In fact he helps you with any questions you might have and also helps you by giving you pre-tests and going over the answers with you.

Great teacher, bio is a tough subject but if you gotta take it, he's the one you want to take it with.

Prof Chess is a great professor. He's funny, makes micro as interesting as it can be, and makes himself available to help if you need/want it. Hardest course I've taken so far. I'm an A student and I got a B and it was hard fought. You have to attend class, pay attention, and study. Being an active listener and actively participating will also help

Funny and simplifies chapters to the point where lecture is not long and boring. Most assignments are easy, lab work is super fun. Grading on exams is curved by highest score. Only thing is that the lap report assignment is super hard. If you're confused, ASK QUESTIONS. Other than that, I highly recommend taking this class.

Truly one of the hardest courses I've taken in college. He is an awesome teacher and makes lectures beyond fun. He's really funny as well, I enjoyed this class very much. BUT the exams are extremely hard and sometimes confusing. You have to study like crazy to pass this class. I like a challenge, so I liked this class.

He's a great professor, and a funny one too! In micro, as long as you take lecture notes and then supplement your notes with the book (in accordance with the study guide), you should be fine. In genetics, all you really need is the powerpoints and study guide. His lectures are that good! His tests are a bit challenging, but he curves them.

Hard but fair. Make sure you read the book and go over his quizzes. The majority of the tests are from the quizzes. He explains everything with amazing clarity. Take hime if you want to learn something

You have 5 exams, 23 online quizzes, some labs - one where you write up a report and another w a small group activity, and a presentation. The online quizzes and presentation are easy but he grades REALLY hard on the labs you turn in. He curves the test but don't expect that to save you. Just go over the practice tests online before exam day.

online WEEKLY QUIZZES 3x/week. TESTS are similar to online quizzes--MULTIPLE CHOICE 50 questions/40 minutes time for each exam. Do extremely detailed lab report write-up with citations and abstract just for 30 points. WORK hard, teach and red textbook ourself, does NOT explain well so student comprehends and digests human genetics. TAKE other prof.

LOVE professor Chess! His exams are not easy, and you do have some work, but he is an amazing teacher. The way he lectures is very easy to understand because he gives great real life examples. By far my favorite professor I've ever had at PCC!

He's very good but you must work

my fav teacher at PCC. you have to work. but he wrote the lab manual and knows what hes talking about and is very clear. you have to do some online assignments but they really help you study and you get points for it. this is my second time taking this class and he is so much better than the other micro teachers here. really nice guy

Professor Chess cares about his students and he wants to see you succeed. If you do the work, even if it's not your best, he will grade you fairly. Attendance does matter. Just show up, do the work and you'll be sure to get an A or B easy.

With Professor Chess what you see is what you get. He knows micro and he knows how to teach. He wrote the book you will use in class. Don't expect to take his class and do the bare minimum and slide by, it won't happen. Micro is not an easy course. Put in the time and effort required, and you'll do well. Great professor and a great person!

Awesome teacher, will help you with any question, so ask! You have to work hard to get an A, it doesn't come easy. It was a fun class, I took it the winter course, you need the book to be successful, his study guides are exactly the test, know them by heart and you will get an A. You don't have to attend lecture but you do have to attend lab.

He is a really funny person who is also very knowledgable! His class wasn't easy so don't fall behind on studying because before you know it there's another test creeping up on you. He really welcomes any questions and concerns so ask away! Time management is crucial in this class, I can't stress it enough. Half of each class dropped so be ready!

Professor Chess is hands down one of the best professors at PCC. It's Micro so it is one of the harder classes, BUT professor Chess makes it easy to understand. His teaching method is amazing and he ensures you understand the material by answering all your questions. Study his slides and read the chapters because both will help. Loved his class.

Professor Chess has been my favorite professor at PCC so far! He makes his lectures very fun and entertaining! His tests and labs are pretty challenging, but he is always there to help answer questions and makes sure you really understand. He def. wants his students to do well. As long as you're willing to put in the work, I would DEF reccommend!

Professor Chess was a great! He does have really high expectations of what you should know and you have to study in advance and keep up with the reading! There are many lab and lecture exams that can really begin to feel like you have an exam every week. He is tough but he is a great professor. If you are willing to work for it you will pass.

Amazing professor. Attendance is key if you want to pass his class and participation. He'd had pretty awesome stories, learn as much as you can from him. You won't pass his tests if you dont study both his lectures or the book, he does have study guides for all exams. There are very few good professors at PCC and he is definitely on top of the list

Professor Barry is awesome! He is hilarious, which makes the material easier to learn. He talks about current topics in genetics, linking the information to the curriculum. Quizzes online with unlimited attempts. Tests are fair, but surely difficult if you did not put effort into studying. Labs were fun and useful to know!

Mr Chess is truly an excellent professor for Microbiology. His lectures are fun and he is always willing to answer many specific questions regarding class material and lab tests. Make sure you take the advantage of office hour cuz he is very accessible to students. He uploads the grades super fast as well, like 5 hours after the test!

Have to study for a good grade. Do the practice exams. Pay attention in lecture, study the slides. Overall fun class, don't be discouraged by the negative reviews. Keep in mind I took this class in the summer and I survived!

Professor Barry can seem intimidating at first but he is available to students. I took this course over the summer and it was alot of work! I had not taken a biology course before so I had to put the extra work in. Make sure to use the lab book when studying for lab exams. The lecture exams are hard so make sure to do the study guides

Taking it in the summer was pretty difficult but not impossible. Just know you will be studying nonstop for 6 weeks but luckily he is a great professor who genuinely cares for his students. It was one of the most challenging courses but I was amazed at how much I enjoyed micro. Put in the time and youll succeed! Chess was always willing to help!

I took Prof. Chess over the fall semester. If you study hard and focus more on the book than on his slides you should do fine. This class isnt one that you can breeze through without studying though! For me it was all new content. He makes it engaging and interesting and provides a study guide and practice tests. Its a tricky class but doable!

His lecture was well organized. Why? Because he wrote the microbiology textbook by himself(except for his sense of humor). He drew a full board of experiment instructions in minutes (like a robot) in the lab and demonstrated step by step. In his multiple-choice tests, E. two of these answers are correct. was confusing.

PROS - answers emails quickly, helps everyone w/o problems, teaches a lot of material you can genuinely use in real life so if you are focused on the medical field he's a good choice CONS -hard homework almost every day of the week, grades harshly, exams are very hard and gives very little time to complete (97Q must be completed under 110mins)

Took him over the summer session. Nice guy but not an easy A. There was about an hour and a half of lecture every day, which wasn't enough to cover all the details, so don't rely on just studying off the power points or the tests will surprise you. A lot of reading and homework, but as long as you put in the work, you'll pass.

Professor Chess is great!! The layout of his class helps prep for exams, he keeps you entertained, and is always available. Its reading/studying heavy but you learn alot. There are many exams but theyre not bad. Put in the effort and you will get the grade you deserve. It would have been better in person but he does his best to teach this course.

I took Microbiology with Professor Chess during the Fall 2020 semester. The entire class was obviously conducted entirely online. I will admit that there is a lot of coursework and homework. Buying the homework program he uses and his textbook is very helpful in passing the class. Studying and attending lectures are very very important!!

Professors Barrys class is challenging, yes, its microbiology. But I highly recommend taking his class (dont freak out on the ratings). He simplifies the material during lecture and makes it understandable. The book along with the course materials are easy to read and follow. Advice: do all the assignments they help. Study his lecture material!

Microbiology is a hard class! Professor Chess was actually wonderful. He makes you crack up during lectures but also really wants you to learn the material. If you have a hard time understanding anything he is more than happy to talk you through it. Study his lecture slides,read the chapters and you should be fine. I would recommend him to anyone.

Currently taking Professor Chess for Microbiology. I can't trash him and say he is "horrible", because he is an awesome professor. If you expect an "easy A", go with another instructor. Class is not too heavy on homework, in saying that, use your time to STUDY & READ TEXTBOOK! His exams are very detail oriented, either you know it, or you don't.

His lectures are long and in person but he does make you laugh! Be sure to study the study guide he provides and don't be afraid to ask him any questions. He is kind and will take the time to explain anything unclear. Exams are around 100 questions so be careful answering correctly on the scantron. Read the book if you have time if not study PP

Prof. Chess was one of my favorite professors at PCC so far! Lectures were online which helped me study and take notes. That being said, there is a LOT of material to cover. If you want a good grade, expect to spend 10+ hours studying per week. His explanations were very clear, but it took time to actually remember everything.

Where to begin? Prioritize every single point on every given assignment/exam. This is a sink-or-swim course with no break. Back-to-back lec/lab exams will keep you on your toes; it's necessary to have awesome lab partners & solid study guides. Prof Chess isn't easy, but he wants you to learn; which I can say I truly did!

read lots and make sure youre on top of your labs, and ESPECIALLY study the study guides provided exams are 80-100 questions also there is lab exams on top of the lecture exams. tough professor but amazing, lectures well, and if youre done early you can leave early from the lab. Would not reccomend if you are taking multiple classes for winter.

Prof. Chess has a rigorous teaching style, but if you put in the work, you'll learn a lot. The exams are challenging, so stay on top of the readings and study guides. unstuck study was a lifesaver for prep.

Posting this again– Many reviews say this class is insanely hard, but honestly, most of those people just couldn't keep up. He really cares about the subject and wants to help however he can. His study guides saved me, and his lectures actually helped things stick. It's tough, but it preps you for the medical field. Totally worth it–take him!

I enjoyed his microbiology class, but if you're looking for an easy A do not take him. Professor Chess wants you to work for your grade which is do able if you put the time in and effort. Microbiology is usually a prerequisite for medical schools, heavy workloads is something you'll have to get used to. Nonetheless he's a very chill professor.