My favorite TA thus far. Brian is sarcastic, funny, and the most interesting person you will ever meet. This guy is so smart he basically knows everything about organic chemistry.

Brian has a really witty sense of humor and is a really interesting guy to get to know. He is super helpful and REALLY smart. Always holds extra office hours, which we can all be excited about!

Considering how much O-chem sucks, he does a great justice. Always holds extra office hours. Exams based on problem sets (don't have to do book problems), but still difficult quizzes/exams. Definitely great option for O-chem.

Really engaging and funny guy. He definitely knows his stuff. Exams and quizzes are pretty tricky. Understanding the entire problem set helps a lot. He expects a lot from his students, which can sometimes be overwhelming, but he's still pretty fair. Overall, great prof, but be ready to study hard.

Being a sarcastic person myself I thought I would appreciate his sarcasm, but too much sarcasm does get old - he borderlines condescending! He expects students to retain a lot of information. While his exams are fair (be sure to STUDY the problem sets, no need for the book), he underestimates difficulty on quizzes!

Brian is an awesome professor. He is great at explaining the mechanisms and how to approach different problems. His exams are very hard but if you study the problem sets and more challenging/odd problems in the book you should be fine.

Not a bad guy, just not a great teacher. Ridiculously hard and tricky tests as evidenced by a less than 50% class average on 3rd midterm.. Helpful otherwise, has a lot of office hrs etc., and has a good sense of humor.

Brian is an awesome, he is very excited about o-chem and always makes reference to interesting space molecules. His exams and quizzes are challenging but they are exactly like his problem sets. He always throws a curve ball from a chapter ahead in the exams, but they are always related to things you already know and with and would be able to get it

You can tell that Prof. Esselman really enjoys teaching and knows a lot about Ochem. He is very enthusiastic and funny during class which makes the subject more digestible. If you do the book problems and his handouts you should do well. He is the most accessible and helpful prof. I have had so far... But you need to work a lot to get an A

He has high expectation to students but try to be helpful at the same time. You can tell he really wants you to learn and know the material rather than simply makes your life easier by giving you a good grade.Also give him credit for trying so hard to be funny.

Great lectures, harsh but fair grading scale, study ahead of the material he says the exams cover and you will do great

Loved this professor! He makes awesome nerd jokes to keep the class interesting. Averages for exams were around 50%.

My favorite teacher to date. Focuses on teaching you the why instead of having you memorizing what's expected under certain conditions. Clear, approachable and helpful. Also throws in some nerdy humor I really enjoyed. He is a fair grader. He has high expectations so you have to earn an A. Midterms and final average around 65 percent.

OChem is hard and you need to work but Brian is doing us a favor because he makes it clear. He genuinely cares that students are learning the material. He has a good sense of humor. Lots of office hours held. Exams are very fair. If you truly understand/can redo everything on the problem set you are golden. He's one of the best professor I’ve had.

Smart, but very cocky and have a high expectation. Good luck.

Brian is an incredible teacher. He knows a large amount of chemistry and is willing to answer any question (even beyond what is taught). He has high expectations but you're at UW-Madison, it's not supposed to be easy.

Definitely would recommend to friends. Entertaining (for those with a sense of humor), and clear. Pay normal attention, complete problem sets, and you should be setting the curve. Exams require specific answers, also makes studying easier. Shoutout to Ben Haenni, my TA. His nerd humor is entertaining and he reinforces concepts noted in lecture.

By far my favorite professor at Madison. Great teacher and super entertaining.

Had Brian for 343 and 345. Focus your studying on the problem sets he puts out as most of his exam and quiz questions come from those. For 345 I didn't even have to open the book and I got an A just by studying lecture notes and the problem sets. Lectures are important to attend and he speaks and writes clearly.

Brian is a great instructor. Although he is cocky, he is hilarious. He not only wants his students to succeed in his class but also in other life aspects as well. If you go to him with a problem or concern he is more than happy to work with you. Ochem is hard and it's always going to be. He challenges you but when you finish you feel proud.

He is a great lecturer, so.. "feel good about that". Do A LOT OF questions if you want to succeed.

Ochem is painful, but there's really no way around that without not really learning anything. Brian makes the best of a bad situation though, and while he may seem a bit cocky he knows his stuff and is very helpful and clear. I would definitely reccommend!!

He's a pretty good lecturer and not boring at all. OChem is a really tough subject but he makes sure you can get resources.

I would definitely recommend Brian for anyone taking chem343. He really makes an effort to help anyone who needs it and provides enough practice problems to succeed. This course is tough, and I definitely felt challenged, but I see this as a positive thing since the class is graded on a curve. Focus on class notes and practice problems to succeed.

Not exactly sure why no one hasn't pointed out that Brian is extremely attractive yet, but HE IS. He is really nice and helpful during office hours. Tests are hard, but that's not his fault. OChem is difficult no matter who it is taken with. Definitely take Brian's class- super helpful, nice, and great prof!

Dr. Esselman is very helpful. I definetly recommend office hours and do the problem sets! He has high expectations for a clear understanding of the material

O chem is hard. Dr. Esselman is a good teacher, clear, and fun. He doesn't beat around the bush with the material. You need to study. Go to lecture. Do the optionals. Don't go into anything not knowing how to do everything asked. If you have to take Ochem, take it with Brian. He also teaches lab and intermed so you can have him multiple semesters.

Expectations for exams are very clear, and he explains things in a concise manner. He has a dry sense of humor that some people interpret as arrogance, but he is very helpful. Put time into this class and understanding WHY things happen and you'll do well.

He was very professional but still had a good sense of humor. The class is hard but if you do the problem sets and go to lecture you should do fine in the class.

Fantastic professor. Good at explaining concepts in lecture and office hours and sets clear expectations. Exams aren't necessarily easy but very fair. Know the info in the problem sets and you'll be set. He has a sense of humor and is a personable guy. I feel like I actually learned a lot - not just memorization. Work hard and you'll do well.

Covers everything you need to know in lecture or on the problem sets. Don't buy the book as it is not used at all. Show up to class and do the problem sets and you will do fine.

Awesome professor and favorite class in college. His practice exams are structured exactly like his real exams. Never skip lecture and attend office hours regularly for more clear explanations and you will not have to read the book.

Go to lecture, pay attention and do the work and you will be great. DO THE PROBLEM SETS AND ALL THE PRACTICE EXAMS POSTED. The exams are very similar to what he gives you to study off of. Exams are a little difficult but fair. He is very helpful in office hours and is willing to answer anything. Do not try to memorize reactions - understand them

Although Brian can seem like a jerk sometimes, he is a very good teacher. As long as you put the effort into his class, it is very manageable. Completing the practice problems and the practice tests is necessary to succeed in the class.

Esselman was a very fair professor. He was very clear about his expectations and provided a ton of materials to help you succeed in the class. Be sure to do the problem sets and practice exams. Sometimes he repeats questions or styles of questions.

Highly intelligent, crystal clear, funny (sarcastic humor), approachable. Exams and grading curve are fair. Tells you why/how the material you're learning is applicable/important. I highly recommend.

I've had Esselman for an entire year now, and I have no complaints. Then again, I got two A's by working my ass off which is required in these classes. It is imperative that you do his problem sets, because that is the best gauge of the difficulty of his tests. He's a bit of a smartass and a bit condescending at times, but he's a great teacher.

Brian was the best professor I have ever had. He is always willing to help and always available in his office. He is very organized and explains things well in lecture. The practice problem sets and practice exams are very helpful and the practice quizzes are very similar to the real ones. Work hard and you'll do great!

Brian is my favorite professor I've ever had. He is hilarious, approachable, helpful, and extremely clear on what he expects from you. The problem sets and practice exams are perfect study materials for exams. If you can understand those, you will do well on the exams. It's hard work, but Brian has made it my favorite class I've ever taken.

Phenomenal instructor. He really makes it hard to forget previous material, ensures you utilize critical thinking skills rather than memorization, and is more than willing to help. Just put in the time and you will learn so much.

I had Brian for both 345 and 344. Overall, he was a great teacher. I would definitely recommend taking both classes at the same time, as the material overlapped a lot. His exams are hard, but very representative of what you should know.

Brian makes the best of a bad situation (Organic). Do the problem sets and past tests he recommends and you'll do fine.

Excellent professor! I had him for both 343 and 345. The key to getting an A in his class is studying the LECTURE NOTES and doing the practice exams/problem sets. If you can do the problem sets back & forth with no problems, you will do well (harder than the exams). Do NOT waste time reading. Hardest test is first, know how pka controls reactions!

To say Brian was a helpful instructor would be an understatement. He was nothing short of fantastic when I went to visit him during office hours. He writes problem sets that are very indicative of what the exams would be like. I wish I would have put more work into this class. The reason I didn't get an A is certainly not Brian's fault-its my own.

Exams are very difficult and you definitely have to have a great understanding of chemistry to do well on them. However, he offers many resources, such as online lecture vids, problem sets, practice exams, etc. Take advantage of the resources and invest LOTS and LOTS of time in this class. Get all the help you can. Don't bother with the book.

Took his course over the summer (15 weeks crammed into 8) and it was awful. Though, if you have him during the academic year and understood 343 pretty well you'll do fine.

OChem is a tough class but Brian is great on giving you what you need to succeed. He makes it clear what he wants you to understand and know, not just memorizing things. He gives you what you need to succeed and it's your choice what you want to do with it. I suggest doing the problem sets and the practice exams to prepare for exams.

Professor Esselman is fantastic. Definitely taking 345 with him next semester. He is very helpful and has great lectures which he makes interesting by throwing in some jokes. Most people warned me that his tests are difficult, which they are but a bad grade is completely on you. There are plenty of practice problems to do and old exams to look at.

Esselman may have hard tests but they're very fair and worth it to be in his class. He is a great lecturer and very entertaining, and he definitely explains things very well. You do have to put in a lot of work, but no other teacher will provide you with the depth of understanding. I would definitely take him again over anyone else any day.

This class was definitely a challenge but he makes it bearable. Material is difficult and you really have to stay on top of the new information or you will become overwhelmed. Do the problem sets and take the practice exams as they are pretty indicative of what the actual exam will be like. Clear lecturer and good teacher

Brian is by far the best option for 343. He provides a ridiculous amount of resources for his students to work from, and writes exams that are hard but fair. He is adorably nerdy and makes going to class totally worth it. Smart and sexy.

Brian Esselman is a great professor. You'd better take him for Chem 345 but having him for 343 will prepare you very well for higher level courses. Recommended.

I had Esselman for 343 and 345. I came into 343 with only college-level chemistry in high school. The first few lectures, I understood very little, but I learned to love his lecture styles. My favorite things were probably the tests. The writing style, question style, and difficulty and length made me feel challenged.

Brian Esselman is by far my favorite instructor that I have had at UW-Madison. I took him for both 343 & 345. I came into this course with little interest in chemistry, but his enthusiasm as well as his ability to clearly convey the information made me love organic chemistry. His exams are difficult, but he gives you tons of materials to prepare!

Esselman is a great professor. I took him for both 343 and 345. He has an excellent speaking voice which helps in lectures. His exams are difficult so putting in the effort is a must, as well as being able to expand on concepts learned in class. I heard his office hours are very helpful. The class is no joke though, so keep up. Lectures recorded.

Esselman is the best professor I've had thus far. Although he may give much harder tests, they really test your understanding rather than memory. The way he teaches made it much easier to study for tests because you have a solid understanding of the concepts beforehand. Therefore, cramming is not necessary. Don't be intimidated! Highly recommend!

Brian is an AMAZING professor! His class is designed to test your understanding rather than your ability to memorize content. Expect to work hard but expect the hard work to pay off. He is always willing to help so don't be afraid to knock on his door. He comes off intimidating but he is actually a really nice person if you get to know him!

Through Brian's class I was able to understand ochem rather than just memorize content. Brian is the smartest organic chemist I have ever met! He comes off a little sassy but don't let this scare you from getting to know him because he is actually really nice! Get his blood boiling by incorrectly using ellipsis whenever you can.....................

This guy does not play around. He spent 5 minutes every day for the first 2 weeks of class reminding us that if we didn't master the material, we were "absolutely going to fail." That being said, he's a strong lecturer who's also great at cracking a joke or two, and also helped a bunch by answering questions on an online forum called 'Piazza'.

Great teacher. Online resources extremely helpful. Very specific and strict grading standards. If you work hard you should have no trouble getting an A in this class. DO NOT FALL BEHIND, YOU WILL NOT CATCH UP. DO NOT MEMORIZE, UNDERSTAND. I did not use the text book AT ALL, would recommend not buying.

Professor Esselman gave us the hardest exam of the semester on the Monday after Thanksgiving. This could have been easily avoided, and the fact that he gave hundreds of students, many of whom live far from home and almost never get to see their families, a choice between spending time with family and passing the exam/class makes me sick.

Professer Esselman gives excellent lectures and posts them on Learn@uw so you can rewatch them if necessary. If you can master the study material that he makes available, then the exams should go smoothly. Be prepared, his exams are hard. I would recommend taking him if you want to actually learn O Chem. Especial if you are pre-med.

Esselman is so epic. I feel like he gets a lot less respect than he actually deserves. Once you get to know him, his quirks become more understandable (he's not arrogant, just a little quirky sometimes). He teaches O-Chem for the learning instead of memorization, which is also really cool. I'm delaying 344/345 until the spring to have him again

Amazing guy. Easily the best professor I've had at Madison. Study the material and ask questions.

Esselman definitely makes you work. His exams are extremely difficult and they force you to really learn all of the material, and there's a lot of it. However, he is probably the best teacher I've ever had. Lectures are amazing and you 're provided with so much material to help you succeed. He also records and posts lectures online which is amazing

He was an incredibly hard teacher, but I learned SO MUCH and everyone who had Esselman was SO PREPARED for 345 (including myself) :) 10/10, he was absolutely fabulous and I am so lucky to have had him for my first ever organic chemistry class.

Professor Esselman structures his class and lectures so you actually learn and absorb the material. I hated gen. chem, but loved O. Chem because Brian actually sets you up to succeed, and make the material feel like it actually means something. DO PRACTICE EXAMS AND PROBLEM SETS even though they aren't graded!!! Exams are completely fair.

Esselman is an amazing prof. His lectures are informative and he has many good jokes to keep you entertained. He does not collect homework but I would HIGHLY recommend doing the problem sets that he provides as these are similar to the exams. His exams are tough but fair. The only grades are exams and quizzes but if you study you should do well.

I really loved having him for OChem and wish I could have him for second semester. The practice problems aren't required which is nice because you can get them done on your own time, but make sure you absolutely do them. They are very indicative of what to expect on his exams/quizzes. Tough class, but possible if you put in the work.

Easily the best and most organized professor I've had at UW-Madison. Gives you absolutely everything you need to succeed.

For a tough Organic Chemistry course, Brian sure makes it interesting and keeps topic information extremely clear.

Esselman is extremely passionate and engaging. I switched into his class from Gellman knowing it was a hike up in workload but also in quality. This class is extremely challenging and he forces you to know the material. Put in the work and you will love it! Also he is quirky and adorable and has great jokes.

I think he's probably the best professor but definitely not the easiest professor for organic chemistry. He makes sure you really understand it. I didn't get an A in the class but I think he taught us a lot for sure. Personally, probably would not take his class again just because of grades. But he's a good professor.

GET TO KNOW THIS MAN. He's a great teacher and a great person. READ the textbook to prepare for lecture, DO the problem sets, KEEP up. Brian makes the class interesting and fun.

He really focuses more on the core concepts which makes O chem more manageable than trying to memorize formulas. The class is formatted super consistently so practice exams, old lecture videos, etc. are super helpful in preparing for exams. You get out what you put in. Definitely recommend him.

Esselman is an extremely passionate and enthusiastic professor! He stresses the importance of understanding concepts rather than simple memorization. He provides plenty of practice problems and exams that will prepare you well. This class requires lots of effort and time, but he provides resources that make it doable. You get what you put in.

Esselman is very tough but very fair. Do the practice exam; the exam is always laid out the exact same way. Make sure you keep up because if you fall behind you'll never catch up.

He made organic chemistry interesting. Instead of just writing the reactions out, he explains why they happen. He is a difficult professor, but if you put in the effort he will respect you. He is by far the best professor I've had on campus and highly recommend him. He knows the subject well.

I don't understand the recent negative reviews. He is a far better alternative to Jia Zhou. There are plenty of resources to help you learn the material (problem sets, discussion worksheets, practice exams, etc.) Tests are the only grades. All of his lectures are recorded and I recommend rewatching them. He is awkward and hilarious. Best OChem prof

Esselman is a tough professor but he makes sure that his students master the material. Make sure to do the practice problems that he provides.

Extremely good professor!! Best I've had at Madison so far, would totally be a chemistry major if I could have him for all of my classes. Posts previous tests before every midterm/exam, so you know what to prepare for. Prepares you for weird/new applications by explaining the chemistry behind the reactions. Would definitely take if you're premed

Great lecturer, but do problem sets, practice exams, and discussion worksheets. Keep up and listen to his PSAs and any advice that he has to offer!

Course is incredibly professional, well-structured, and well-organized, with clear expectations. Brian lectures quickly, clearly, and concisely, with occasional humor. If you can do the problems on the problem sets, discussion packets, and practice exams, you will succeed in the course. Overall, a fantastic instructor and great way to learn ochem.

the best uw has to offer. the best uw has to offer. the best uw has to offer. he teaches you so many things and you actually retain them. i switched my major to chemistry in hopes that i will be able to take more of his classes, hes that good. easy A if you do all the work. all the grades are exams/quizzes, and they are very fair. hes fantastic

Honest to God one of the best professors. I was really busy the semester I took him and didn't have enough time to study, and my grade reflected that, but I was given the chance to succeed. He demands mastery, but he gives you the tools to master ochem. He's an amazing professor and a great person to talk to.

Good lecturer, but lots of quizes. Challenging, but youll learn. Brian needs to get a new pair of shoes though, also kinda looks like the keebler elf.

Brian does not care how much you care about organic chemistry. Brian cares that you learn and understand organic chemistry. The only thing that will get you an A in this class is your own hard work. Brian is a good guy, incredible lecturer, and an average comedian.

Very passionate educator. Explains things well. May appear slightly cold/rude, but that's just his personality. Don't be scared. Great guy to have a conversation with. Attend office hours regularly.

Brian has a cold/sarcastic personality that can come off as rude, but he was one of the smartest professors I've had, and explained concepts well. Quizzes and exams make up most of your grade, but you are provided with all of the resources you need to succeed. Take advantage of problem sets, practice exams, office hours, etc. and you will do fine.

Brian is a funny guy and makes 343 entertaining. He explains things well, but moves very fast. His tests however are extremely difficult. The curve is huge, but the tests are mentally, physically and emotionally draining. Definitely go to office hours and do all the problem sets a few times.

Esselman teaches a tough subject and may seem cold and distant, but he really makes everything clear. Problem sets and discussion packets follow the same format of the exam. Definitely join GUTS for Chem 343, it drastically improved my test and quiz scores from an F to a B. Do problem sets and work with other students. O chem is a manageable class

He is a very smart guy who has done this for a very long time. He's a fantastic public speaker and explains better than anyone I've had yet. Problem sets are not graded but doing all of them will get you VERY prepared for quizzes and exams. He also has tons of recources from past years.

Dr. Esselman is awesome. I had him for Chem 343 and had a different professor for 345, and ended up going to his lectures instead because I really enjoyed him. Hard material (obviously) but explains it thoroughly. Tests can be somewhat ambiguous but the class is curved.

Professor Esselman gives fantastic lectures that stress the important topics usually covered on exams. That being said, going to O-chem lecture and making notecards will not get you an A in the course. Esselman crafts incredibly detailed problem sets and packets; mastery of these along with great notes taken during lecture will lead to success.

Okay so yes the TAs technically teach lab, but Brian is integral to the entire set up. It is a HARD class. Absolutely so demanding on your entire life. Don't let Brian fool you, he's extremely approachable and will answer all of your burning ochem questions. You WILL need to visit office hours to do well in this class. They're there. Use them.

O Chem is obviously a very difficult topic for most people, but Brian does a great job at explaining most of the important concepts in lecture well enough for you to figure things out for yourself better on problem sets and practice exams. Performance in this class really depends on your individual work ethic, but Brian's guidance is very good.

Professor Esselman is a solid Organic Chemistry Professor. He lays out the information very clearly in lecture and stays very organized and efficient in order to benefit his students. Ochem is hard but if you put in a lot of work and pay attention in class it really pays off. Make sure to take the problem sets seriously.

I took him for Intro OChem (343), and he knows his stuff. I ended up really liking the class especially because he made the lectures very interesting because he was so passionate about the material. The textbook is not necessary, just a waste of money. His tests were fair but required a lot of studying. If you put in the work, youll be fine.

I took Chem 343 online over the summer. Esselman wasn't my actual professor but he was the professor whos videos I watched. He made everything so much easier to understand and did a good job teaching. I do recommend reading the book and taking notes so you get info in several different ways so it's easier to understand.

The only way to survive OChem is to have Esselman. His lectures are extremely precise and he explains the last bit of concepts. You have to keep up with the practice sets to make sense of the next chapters as the concepts keep piling up!

Esselman is the best prof I've ever had! He explains all the reactions in terms of the core concepts of the course, so if you understand those you'll understand all the reactions in the course! Esselman's passion for chemistry is really clear in his teaching and makes you want to learn! He's also really funny and makes lectures fun and informative.

Brian Esselman is definitely one of my favorite professors I've ever had. I was in the combined lecture with him for 343, 344, and 345 and I absolutely loved it. He's passionate about chemistry. I had a couple of circumstances come up that made me unable to take 2 exams at a scheduled time and he was extremely flexible, caring and accommodating.

Esselman is a good lecturer and I liked what he did with the honors section for the second semester with listening to grad students' research. I hate this class though. It really should be at least a four-credit with all the content that is covered and the amount of time that you need to put into it and I think Brian should know that by now.

Brian is a very nice guy and is always willing to explain and re-explain hard concepts. His lectures aren't flashy or exciting, but he teaches the material in a solid way and if you pay good attention you get a decent understanding. Attendance, reading, problem sets, all not required but definitely help if you do them.

Professor Esselman keeps lectures interesting. However, during his lectures do not hyper fixate on the reactions that he draws out on his slides, but rather what he says about them. A good way to succeed with this professor is to go to lecture, write the reactions, and then later rewatch and listen to what he says about it.

Brian is passionate about organic chemistry and makes you write pretty in depth lab reports, but this makes studying for the exams a breeze. If you're taking 345 with Esselman/Ellison/Stowe, it is 100% worth taking the lab at the same time. The amount of work this course requires makes me think taking this in summer would be mildly nightmarish.

Prof. Esselman is a fantastic OChem lecturer; he explains every very clearly and concisely. Posts all of his notes, previous lecture videos, and current lecture videos online along with a ton of practice material. He writes tough exams, but is a solid teacher and a good choice for Chem 343.

Esselman's lectures are helpful, organized, and worth the time - and they're recorded and published online for extra flexibility. You have to be willing to put in a lot of work (for not many credits), but this course is very do-able. My only frustration was that the problem sets and practice exams had unclear or non-existent answer keys.

Dr. Esselman overall is a good professor, explain content clearly and willing to help students. Exams are relatively harder than other professors but acceptable because they distinguish those who perform significantly better than others. Would recommend if you are a chem/biochem major because you'll learn more with him than other professors.

Brian gets a lot of unwarranted hate because he comes off arrogant. He is, but he's also a really good teacher who knows the material and will help you know it too if you're willing to put in work. It's not meant to be easy, and he won't kid you in pretending that it is. Good guy, good teacher. Work for it and you'll be fine.

Hard class but hes one of the best teachers for it. His lectures are paced nicely but BE AFRAID of asking him questions about your grade over email. man will bite your head off

Such a good professor and can explain some complex things. As far as an ochem professor goes, he is really good since he can explain pretty difficult things in a kinda comprehensible way. Once in a while, he goes on a passion tangent where he goes in depth about something we really don't need to know (ozonolysis;epoxide rings).

Wouldn't have done well in this class without Brian (watched his recorded lectures, he wasn't my prof). Amazing lectures, and always available over Piazza. Best you can have for 343. Don't read textbook, watch and rewatch every lecture, and do the problem sets(!!!)

I love Esselman so much I am taking honors ochem with him next semester. He is very funny (especially in office hours), explains material very well, and is always available for questions. His exams are tough, but just know the lectures and problem sets inside out. Don't need to read textbook, and make sure to start studying early for exams

Amazing, example heavy lectures, and Dr. Esselman knows his stuff. Course is structured very well, and the teaching team sets you up for success. They are so many tools and opportunities to get help, I think anyone who applies themself properly can get an A. Lots of practice exams are provided that mirror actual tests fairly well. Use piazza!

total steve harvey moment and released the wrong grades but overall fine

Dr. Esselman is awesome. Ochem is a very hard subject, so don't expect any of the teachers to be easier than the others. With that, Esselman makes the journey through Ochem actually enjoyable if you're willing to work at it. He is very passionate about what he does and has a very dry/nerdy sense of humor that makes lectures enjoyable.

10/10 the best professor I've ever had. I came into organic chemistry terrified - I thought I was going to fail, but I ended up succeeding in this class because of him. He's an entertaining lecturer and he explains things extremely well. He's very passionate about teaching and wants you to succeed. I left class feeling like I really understood.

Prof. Esselman is one of my favorite lecturers ever. This is a hard class but the way he teaches the content helps immensely, and he is very funny. I am not sure why some ratings say he is condescending, I never felt that way and he is always willing to answer questions. He is also very considerate with regrades and rounding grades.

Great professor, great at explaining complicated organic chem topics. Grade was because of course content not professor. Would highly recommend Dr. Esselman for Organic Chem.

Brian is an amazing organic chemistry professor and I would totally recommend him if you are taking 343. Ochem is a difficult subject, so be prepared to work hard, but if you attend lecture and work on the problem sets you will do just fine.

Makes me wanna get a Phd in chem even though that sounds terrible. If that doesn't allow you to understand how inspirational and chill Dr. Esselman is idk what will.

Esselman not only could thoroughly explain tough topics quickly and effectively, but he would say a random one liner about once a month and the lecture hall would erupt in laughter. He was often honest and sometimes brutal, but it prepared you for what was going to come.

Esselman is the best. The class is pretty good too, I found the exams to be nothing crazy and everyone gets to skip 1 lab for any reason.

It's a little sad that the only grades are 4 exams and 3 quizzes. But Esselman is an amazing professor.

Really funny guy who is clearly very passionate about what he teaches. Probably my favorite prof I've ever had. Genuinely might convince me to get a PhD in chemistry. He knows what he's talking about and makes a difficult class very enjoyable. Gives a lot of coolness at parties advice so listen up

Chem 343 is defiantly not an easy course but he is a great professor. If I hadn't been so busy I really recommend reading the textbook and watching lecture videos in person and then later on your own (he records every one). Good luck! Also- attend his office hours. He is super kind and willing to help

He was a good teacher but the class was very difficult.

This class was relatively hard in the beginning, but Brian really helps us grasp the concepts, rather than memorizing patterns. I would highly recommend going to his office hours and using piazza for help, as you will understand fundamentals for the course and how to connect ideas, all while listening to Brian's jokes. What more could you want!

Brian is fantastic. Ochem is a hard class in general but Brian makes the content easy to understand and it is laid out well. All my friends in other lectures came to Brian's lecture with me by the end of the year. By far the best instructor, I recommend taking him if possible and changing your schedule to be in his lecture.