3.7

Bruce Ganem

Chemistry - Cornell University

3.7
Quality
3.9
Difficulty
80%
Would Retake
135
Reviews
3.7
Quality
3.9
Difficulty
3.5
Helpful
4.0
Clarity

80%

Would Retake

135

Reviews

Rating Distribution
Official

5

50

4

42

3

25

2

10

1

8

What Students Say

He makes a very tough subject seem a little more manageable

CHEM3570 - 4.0 rating

Or he will be pretty mean to you

CHEM3570 - 5.0 rating
Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

22%

Textbook Required

40%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

A-

95% confidence
Based on 36 grades
Most common grades:
A (10)
A+ (8)
A- (7)
Grade Distribution
A(18)B(5)C(1)D(1)F(0)A-/B+(11)
Based on 39 reported grades
A: 10
A+: 8
A-: 7
B: 5
Common Tags
Respected (12)
Test heavy (11)
Skip class? You won't pass. (10)
Graded by few things (7)
TEST HEAVY (6)
Amazing lectures (6)
Inspirational (5)
Accessible outside class (5)
Rating Trend

Stable

+0.18 avg change
Dec
Jan
Mar
Jun
Nov
Dec
Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

CHM3570

5.0

(1)

357

4.7

(3)

CHEM359

4.5

(4)

ORGO

4.5

(2)

CHEM3590

4.5

(4)
+7 more courses
Difficulty by Course

CHEM106

5.0

CHEM208

5.0

CHEMCHEM

5.0

357

4.0

CHM3570

4.0

Reviews (135)
4.0
4.0
CHEM359
Apr 5, 2002

Challenging, but wants students to succeed. Likes trick questions on exams.

3.0
4.0
CHEM357
Oct 12, 2002

No Comments

5.0
4.0
CHEM359
Dec 16, 2002

hard class...hard tests... but very helpful with questions and in office hours

3.0
5.0
CHEM357
Feb 16, 2003

Tests are real tough, Don't mess up the first one, it's the easiest of the smstr

4.0
4.0
CHEM357
Feb 17, 2003

First test is the kicker; decent overall; weird sense of humor

2.0
5.0
CHEM357
Feb 17, 2003

No Comments

3.0
4.0
CHEM357
Feb 18, 2003

No Comments

4.0
4.0
CHEM357
Feb 20, 2003

Devoted professor and chemist. A jerk in office hours, I hear, though.

5.0
3.0
CHEM357
Mar 2, 2003

He is a hot bald man who looks like a troll, likes to give motivational speeches, hard but very fair tests, excellent lecturer

3.0
4.0
CHEM357
Mar 11, 2003

Hates students, wants to them fail, or seems that way, encourages questions, then gives you lectures about being an adult when you ask them, discourages all who are pre-med, but is a very good lecturer

5.0
4.0
CHEM357
Mar 25, 2003

Ganem was an awesome prof it you weren't smart enough to figure out his tests that's your problem.

4.0
4.0
CHEM357
Mar 25, 2003

Tests seem real hard when you take them but the simple after you know the answers. He likes concepts, not memorization so that's cool. And considering the low fun factor of organic chemistry, his lectures are pretty bearable as he is so energetic

3.0
2.0
CHEM357
Apr 7, 2003

Good teacher. Actually made Orgo easy.

5.0
2.0
CHEM359
Apr 19, 2003

Good teacher. Some students think he's a jerk, but I never got that impression. Lectures are very clear. Responds quickly to emails, and helpful at office hours.

5.0
5.0
CHEM357
Apr 25, 2003

dr. gamen is hands down the best organic chem. prof. that i have ever heard of, and that is coming from someone who got rolled out of o-chem b/c it was just too hard for me

4.0
2.0
CHEM357
May 8, 2003

hard tests, but fair i guess

5.0
5.0
CHEM357
Oct 24, 2003

Bruce Ganem is the greatest professor that chemistry has ever seen.

4.0
4.0
CHEM359
Oct 29, 2003

Dr. Ganem is brilliant, and gives very clear, organized lectures, but his attitude is poor. He brought a box of kleenex to the final exam, and passed it around before the exam itself was distributed, saying we would need them since the exam is so hard.

5.0
3.0
CHEM357
Oct 29, 2003

Good Lectures, Clear, Structured. Tests are fair and if you know your material, you can ace orgo. :-)

5.0
2.0
CHEM357
Oct 29, 2003

Very good lecturer. Also has a nice balding pattern.

5.0
4.0
CHEM357
Oct 31, 2003

He is the man Cornell hired to crush the aspirations of dreamy pre-meds. Even outside the characterization of a tyrannical orgo professor, he is malicious and harbors a massive amount resentment. As per lectures and exams, he is deadly clear. Give him

4.0
5.0
CHEM357
Nov 3, 2003

Businesslike air during lectures. He'll try to crush you with his exams.

3.0
4.0
CHEM357
Nov 8, 2003

you spoiled fall 03 fools don't know anything, wait til you see prelim 3

4.0
4.0
CHEM357
Nov 23, 2003

helpful lecture notes but he will but he will definitely run you over on the exam. he will also make you inferior for asking questions

4.0
4.0
CHEM357
Nov 23, 2003

This class is impossible. But we're not taking it because we want to...so I guess we have to stick with it. Dr. Ganem is a really good lecturer though.

5.0
3.0
CHEM357
Nov 25, 2003

Wonderful teacher. Explains concepts very clearly, but is condescending when you ask questions in office hours.

3.0
5.0
CHEM357
Dec 22, 2003

he made the exams ridiculously hard, and they were unfair since there is no partial credit. i do not like this man at all.

4.0
3.0
CHEM357
Jan 4, 2004

he was a great lecturer...although i was not a fan of orgo, he made it as fun as possible and made sure i learned a lot. very helpful whe ni went to his office hours.

5.0
2.0
CHEM357
Feb 2, 2004

Excellent lectures - great speaker. His tests are clearly written and fair. There's a good balance of material so that you can do fine if you don't get it, but you're still challenged if you do.

4.0
5.0
CHEM357
Grade: B
Feb 21, 2004

I took the class nearly 15 years ago. I still consider it one of the best taught classes I ever took at Cornell. I am a professor now and still admire the clarity of his lectures.

4.0
5.0
357
Mar 17, 2004

he is a great lecturer, but I've heard he can be a jerk in office hours. stick to the tas if you have questions. it's a hard class, but he does a good job.

3.0
5.0
CHEM357
Apr 8, 2004

Not very interesting

4.0
3.0
CHEM357
Jul 14, 2004

No Comments

4.0
4.0
CHEM357
Jul 20, 2004

His lectures are outlines of the book-- completely unnecessary. I don't even know what the guy looks like because you don't need to go to class. Just read the book.

2.0
5.0
CHEM357
Oct 1, 2004

He was extremely unhelpful in office hours and was derogatory to students not only in the office but in class as well, often making comments such as, "what, are you dumb?" Also, the problem sets were in no way related to the prelims and wer

2.0
3.0
CHEM357
Nov 1, 2004

Lectures are completely useless. I went to 0.5 lectures, yes, i left halfway during the first lecture, just read the book and pulled off an A+ in the class. But i did read the book and knew my stuff. Anything in lecture is vague and must read the book to do any of the problems on the prelim. overrat

1.0
5.0
CHEM357
Grade: A+
Dec 30, 2004

Orgo is a terrible experience.

2.0
5.0
CHEM106
Apr 3, 2005

His lectures are quite useless, and his pre-lims don't cover what he says they will. He's a jerk in office hours.

5.0
5.0
357
Jun 28, 2005

bruce dominates; i think he might be the smartest prof. at the university. like his attitude or no (you probably won't), but i think it's hot when a prof. knows his**** forwards and backwards...that is bruce. the hardest "c" i ever worked for, and i'm damn proud of it

5.0
2.0
357
Oct 12, 2005

Not a hard class, but it's helpful if you go. Prelim wasn't hard, but it woulda helped if I didnt cram last second. Study maybe a week in advance, and you'll be okay. Orgo's not as bad as its rep.

5.0
3.0
CHEM357
Oct 19, 2005

best chemistry teacher i've ever had. go ganem

3.0
4.0
CHEM357
Dec 16, 2005

not a great professor..lectures are unclear/boring, you'll learn it from the book or not at all. i didn't like him in office hours, he was just a jerk. there is no need to be an ass when someone comes to you for help. cornell's seen better, in my opinion...

4.0
4.0
CHEM357
Dec 16, 2005

If you keep up with the readings the lectures will be a clear and useful summary of what's in the textbook. Otherwise, they won't teach you everything you need to know. The textbook is excellent, and I found myself learning all of the material from it. Ganem obviously knows his stuff, but it's impossible for him to go over every detail in 50 min

5.0
4.0
CHEM357
Dec 28, 2005

Read the book before you go to lectures and before you you the prelim! Exams are not that hard if you have read the book and understood his lectures. This course uses one of the best organic chemisty books. Go Ganem and Loudon!

4.0
4.0
CHEM357
Jan 9, 2006

Organic Chemistry. The material is not easy, but the book is very clear. I learned all the material from the book. I didn't really use the lectures. I now realize that if I read everything before going to lectures I would have done a lot better. So prepare for lectures. Also go to the "00" class, or maybe just their office hours - very helpful!

3.0
4.0
CHEM357
Jan 23, 2006

Lectures are pretty clear though you do have to concentrate to follow them by the end of the semester. Book is very good, but definitely a class where you need to keep up and study hard- you really get out what you put in, grade-wise. It's quite possible to do well- you just have to work hard for it.

4.0
4.0
CHEM357
Jan 25, 2006

His lectures are pretty clear but I hated his multiple choice tests. It's hard to know what he wants to focus on for the tests so I suggest studying everything well. Try doing the problems in the book; it's a lot of work, but worth it.

5.0
4.0
CHEM357
Feb 17, 2006

best chemistry class i have taken at cornell.the lectures are very clear and follow the book. read the book before going to class. ALOT of material to take in. Do the problem sets and go to "00" office hours. exams are not hard if you have read the stuff and done the problems.very clear lecturer and well organized. never gives doubtful answers.

4.0
4.0
ORGO
May 10, 2006

This professor is very cool, tests are exactly what you expect/prepare for. Somehow makes this mind-numbing subject interesting.

5.0
2.0
CHEM357
May 20, 2006

one of the most organized and clearest leactureers i have come accross. I learned ALOT from his class. tests are harder than chem 358, but not inmpossible. regualar work is needed. go to his office hours. never gives doubtful answers. if you ask hinm what needs to be focused on, he is very clear on telling you YES or NO.

2.0
5.0
CHEM357
Jun 21, 2006

The tests were wayyy too difficult. He is pretty fake. At first he seems friendly, but he really isn't. Lectures are okay. Unfair sometimes.

3.0
5.0
CHEM357
Aug 15, 2006

He is an okay professor. Seems friendly, but watch out he can get pretty mean during office hours. His prelims had too many questions that had no partial credit. Much more harder than general chem.

5.0
3.0
CHEM357
Aug 17, 2006

He is an excellent lecturer. Overall his class was good, but I would not go to his office hours. He was slightly mean, but other than that great course.

3.0
4.0
CHEM357
Aug 20, 2006

He seems friendly enough, a good lecturer. His first test is not too difficult at all, but watch out for the 2nd and 3rd. He did nothing for my interest in the subject, I still dislike orgo, though. I've been to office hours, he hasn't been a jerk to me, but he does expect us to be geniuses.

2.0
5.0
CHEM357
Nov 7, 2006

Ganem's an excellent lecturer, but he's a pretty fake guy. He gives off the impression in class of being nice and caring, but if you get to know him in office hours you'll see hes pretty much a creep. He makes you feel like an idiot when you ask a question and like you're wasting his time. Go to TA office hours instead and you'll be fine.

1.0
5.0
CHEM208
Nov 10, 2006

Lectures are pointless...All the material comes from the textbook. First and second prelims are not bad. Third is rediculous. Does not believe in partial credit-thus either get everything right, or get a bad grade. Not allowed to make mistakes on tests, expects you to be a genius.

2.0
5.0
CHEMCHEM
Dec 23, 2006

Horrible professor. Was snide and clever during the first day of class which made me dislike him instantly. His fake personality and the mean stories i heard about him just made me do even worse in the subject. If you can get over his stupid personality and find SOME interest in the subject, then you'll do fine. Absolutely hated the class.

5.0
3.0
CHEM357
Jan 4, 2007

i never really do reviews, but ganem deserves one. Took 357 with him, made organic chem 100x better than what it's known to be. brilliant lecturer, clearer than the light of day, and engaging. Went to office hours before prelims...never made people feel like an idiot. He was always trying to help.

4.0
3.0
CHEM357
Jan 9, 2007

Not bad. I didn't find Ganem to be as cold and heartless as people paintt him, but the material of the course is hard, although he does try to make it easier in some ways. Not easy, but not how the rumors paint him (although the averages of the class ARE pretty low sometimes).

5.0
4.0
CHEM357
Jan 22, 2007

Anyone who talks bad about Ganem probably got a bad grade in his class and is blaming him for their mistakes. Ganem is a stellar teacher. You really must put the time in if you want to do well though. I MISS BRUCE IN 358!

1.0
5.0
CHEM357
Jan 27, 2007

He has dry humor and is boring! His lectures do not follow the book and he is obessesed with solvents! Made me hate orgo and the only thing useful I learned was the IR, NMR material.

4.0
3.0
CHEM357
Jan 29, 2007

don't have to go to class. got a+, went less than a dozen times all semester.

3.0
5.0
CHEM357
Apr 2, 2007

Boring. He's a nice guy though

4.0
4.0
CHEM357
Jul 12, 2007

Good professor, despite the rumors. Very well-organized lectures with reasonable exams. Seems like a rather nice gentleman, as well. May have a thing for Movados.

4.0
4.0
CHEM357
Aug 1, 2008

I decided the rumors aren't true. Orgo is a fascinating subject and not THAT difficult if you keep up with the reading and do the P.S. However, the prelims are annoying. This guy doesn't really believe in partial credit. And you are better off going to TA hrs, or asking friends. I went to his OH, but he felt very uncomfortable and stiff.

4.0
3.0
CHEM357
Jun 18, 2009

His lecture is pretty straight forward but tough to follow if you haven't already read the book. Just read the text. You just have to learn it all on your own since you won't pick up enough from just the lecture to even get a passing grade. He's extremely cocky and degrading during office hours. Beware the Ganem.

3.0
2.0
CHEM3590
Jul 17, 2009

Didn't go to class very often yet got an A+. For the times that I went, he wasn't bad at lecturing.

4.0
2.0
CHEM3570
Jul 25, 2009

Class wasn't hard. Not to be boasting but I managed a great grade. Most of the material came directly out of the textbook and the tests weren't too bad. He speaks with a businessman-like air so beware...you might fall asleep like I did!

5.0
2.0
CHEM3590
Mar 31, 2010

Very clear, engaging lecturer. Makes orgo interesting and understandable. Can be a bit cocky, but overall a very good professor.

5.0
4.0
CHEM3570
Nov 15, 2010

Ganem is an excellent lecturer, very organized and poised. Orgo is tough; you have to really work for it if you want to do well. I've been to a couple of his office hours. He's a nice guy but a bit cocky. I don't blame him. He's a Harvard alum. The prelims are fair but he doesn't award partial credit so there's little room for error.

5.0
4.0
CHEM3570
Dec 5, 2010

This class was ph'nol-menol. The best part of the class was when he says the word "ph'nol"(phenol) and "goash"(gauche). Be sure to check out my vocaloid ganem phenol remix. Oh yeah, he's a great lecturer btw.

5.0
3.0
CHEM3570
Dec 11, 2010

Ganem is exceptionally clear. Practice test style mimics real tests. Ganem loves questions that ask you to apply your knowledge to a new problem, can be tricky but fair. Is warm and helpful, i suspect that some find him cocky because he tends not to answer directly but rather address your deeper understanding, which is more helpful in the end.

5.0
5.0
CHEM3570
Dec 19, 2010

His lectures are crystal clear, and he goes through all the details he wants you to know. Go to lecture, pay attention and you'll do fine. He prepares you well for what he tests on.

5.0
4.0
CHM3570
Jan 18, 2011

A truly gifted lecturer who has a gift of conveying difficult material clearly and skillfully. A true whiz in his field, don't let his Harvard/Stanford/Columbia/MIT training make u intimidated. He's really down to earth and wants to know you in office hours. Def. one of the best profs at Cornell or academia period!

5.0
3.0
CHEM3070
Apr 1, 2011

Amazing lecturer, extremely organized notes, makes lectures seem interesting, never monotonous. He gave great exam prep questions so you could be very prepared on his exams, no tricks.

5.0
3.0
CHEM3570
Oct 22, 2011

Great prof. overall. Very clear lectures, fair tests. Made Orgo as decent as it can be.

5.0
2.0
CHEM3570
Dec 8, 2011

Ganem is a great guy. Unbelievably rich, but still gives off the vibe that he wants to be there and enjoys teaching. Very good lecturer

5.0
3.0
CHEM3570
Dec 19, 2011

Ganem is amazingly clear and extremely good at lecturing. Still, it's orgo, and it's going to be tough - Ganem just makes the course more pleasant than it normally would be. Do the problem sets, read the book, study the notes, go to office hours, and stay caught up and you'll do great.

3.0
3.0
CHEM3570
Sep 16, 2012

The lecture are very clear and easy to follow, but he's very condescending in office hours and not very helpful.

4.0
4.0
CHEM3570
Jan 19, 2013

He makes a very tough subject seem a little more manageable. He does an AWESOME job of pulling his lectures directly out of the textbook, so if you're lost or miss a lecture, all you need to do is look at that day's section in the book and you'll be fine. The tests were tough as to be expected, and he seems a little impatient at times. Good guy.

3.0
5.0
CHEM3570
Jan 12, 2014

Ganem is decent. He moves pretty quickly in class, and his office hours weren't very helpful. He does follow the book pretty closely. Working in depth with the book and problem sets in addition to studying the notes is the best approach.

3.0
4.0
CHEM3570
Feb 5, 2014

Ganem has an inflated ego; he thinks that he is a genius, on par with the likes of Linus Pauling. He also loves to name drop his Nobel Prize winning acquaintances. He is fairly obnoxious, but he does teach well and knows the material. The tests are definitely challenging and require a lot of patience and skill on the part of the student.

5.0
1.0
CHEM3570
Mar 23, 2014

Ganem is great. Don't go to office hours to ask something that can be learned by you just reviewing your notes or reading the book. Or he will be pretty mean to you. Only go to office hours to ask hard questions!

1.0
5.0
CHEM3570
Grade: B+
Nov 10, 2014

You're on your own. He wastes a lot of time telling fictional stories of other scientists. His presentation skills are inadequate, and he mumbles a lot. Honestly, the textbook will be what saves you. He will punish you with unfair questions involving reagents he breezes over in class, so make sure to note every. single. reagent. mentioned.

5.0
3.0
CHEM3570
Feb 2, 2015

Ganem is great. The tests are hard but fair, if you don't do well it's your own fault.

5.0
3.0
CHEM3570
Grade: A
Feb 12, 2015

Go to office hours, and do all the problem sets! His exams are tough but fair.

4.0
3.0
CHEM1570
May 15, 2015

His lectures were very clear and well prepared for a chem course at Cornell. I didn't do crazy well, yet I still really enjoyed his lectures, he made things interesting and simple; relating them to real life situations to help you remember or just be intrigued in general.

2.0
5.0
CHEM3570
Nov 21, 2015

The person below probably hasn't taken chem here before because the averages are ALWAYS in the C/D range lol. Usually D. That being said this class is horrible. Starts out super slow and then progresses really fast. You need to do orgo everyday to do well

4.0
3.0
CHEM3570
Dec 28, 2015

Ganem is an amazing professor. His tests were extremely reasonable, and tested critical thinking skills, which is crucial for scientific research. If you put in the work, and understand the mechanisms conceptually, you will be just fine. His office hours were also extremely helpful!

4.0
3.0
CHEM3570
Jan 21, 2016

Lectures are dull but he's organized and clear. Nice guy. The type you'd go bowling with.

4.0
4.0
CHEM3570
Grade: A+
Mar 19, 2016

Was clear about his lectures. Exams are fair if you study.

5.0
3.0
CHEM3590
May 27, 2016
Would take again

Professor Ganem's lectures were always very clear and his exams corresponded exactly to what was taught in lecture. They were very fair if you listened and followed. Aside from that, Ganem was very accessible and helpful during office hours if there was ever something specific I didn't understand

3.0
3.0
CHEM3570
Dec 9, 2016
Would take again

A good lecturer but somewhat impatient if you go to him for easy questions. But he is really an expert and prepared for all hard questions that students have. So get the insight for orgo and go to his office hour. He will be very passionate and nice if you have good questions. However normally students still struggle.

Respected
4.0
3.0
CHEM3570
Grade: A
Dec 23, 2016
Would take again

He's a good lecturer despite the fact that he can breeze over topics sometimes. His tests are pretty straight forward and fair. He doesn't post the notes online either so go to lecture and skim the textbook.

Respected
Inspirational
4.0
3.0
CHEM3570
Dec 26, 2016
Would take again

Probably one of the most straight-forward teachers I have ever had! He teaches the information at a very comprehensible level, and he is a very nice teacher. His lectures follow very closely with the textbook, which helps with understanding. As long as you study, go to lectures, and read the textbook, tests are very fair!

Skip class? You won't pass.
Clear grading criteria
LECTURE HEAVY
5.0
5.0
CHEM3570
Grade: A+
Jan 9, 2017
Would take again

One of the most intelligent and straight-forward professors in Cornell. His lectures are always at comprehensive level. His tests are very hard if you do not spend enough time on the orgo studying. Talking with Ganem will be your most interesting experience if you get closer with him. Dr. Ganem will make Chem 3570 interesting for you.

Respected
Skip class? You won't pass.
TEST HEAVY
4.0
4.0
CHEM3570
Apr 7, 2017
Would take again

Very clear and easy to follow notes. Difficult class, but he makes it as bearable as possible. Look over his notes for the exam, they help simplify the book

3.0
5.0
CHEM3570
Grade: C
Oct 17, 2017
Would take again

OK guys I screwed up big time in his class. I got overconfident on the first exam since I got an A-, then was putting off studying, and fell behind immensely. I don't know how I didnt get an F honestly. He's a great teacher but I made huge mistakes.

LOTS OF HOMEWORK
TEST HEAVY
LECTURE HEAVY
5.0
5.0
CHEM3570
Dec 7, 2017
Would take again

Ganem is by far the best chemistry professor Cornell has to offer in my view after taking Gen Chem 1 and 2 and Orgo 1. Out of all chemistry professors I've taken he is the most innately brilliant and teaches in the most organized and understandable way , but is also very personable. I say this even after receiving a lower grade in the course.

5.0
4.0
CHEM3570
Grade: A+
Dec 11, 2017
Would take again

Professor Ganem is, simply put, the best professor I've had at Cornell, period. The man is a genius, and he truly is passionate about Orgo and teaching. His lectures are crystal clear, but this is still a difficult course. Lots of studying is required to succeed. However, Professor Ganem makes it all an enjoyable experience. I recommend him fully

Respected
Amazing lectures
Caring
4.0
5.0
CHEM3570
Dec 20, 2017
Wouldn't take again

Bruce Ganem is a brilliant man who is enthusiastic about Orgo. I can appreciate him as a professor, but I truly hated this course. It's incredibly difficult and the pace is super quick. There is a very competitive nature in this class and once you stop understanding something, you get left behind.

1.0
5.0
CHEM3570
Mar 4, 2018
Wouldn't take again

Ganem is the worst professor I have had at Cornell. He is a rude and arrogant professor who only favors a select few. Very unfair and poor lecturer.

Tough Grader
LOTS OF HOMEWORK
TEST HEAVY
4.0
5.0
CHEM3570
Nov 5, 2018
Would take again

I struggled in chem2070/80. I was very worried about taking orgo due to everything that I had heard. Prof Ganem is THE man! Even though the material is HARD, his lectures are SO clear and he really wants you to succeed and understand WHY things are happening. If you stay up on your readings and go to lecture, you will be good! Exams are very fair.

Respected
Skip class? You won't pass.
Amazing lectures
5.0
4.0
CHEM3570
Grade: A
Dec 4, 2018
Would take again

Definitely attend lectures and do practice and assigned sapling, and you will do well. I always enjoyed his lectures (but less so towards the end of the semester with IR and NMR topics). CHEMM 1570 with Jane Walcott was also very helpful

Skip class? You won't pass.
Amazing lectures
5.0
4.0
CHEM3570
Grade: A
Dec 20, 2018
Would take again

Prof Ganem is very clear lecturer and genuinely cares about his students. Orgo is hard because of how it's graded but the subject matter itself is not very difficult and there were no surprises on prelims. Questions are very much taken from concepts learned in lecture so go and pay attention-- he doesn't upload notes online-- and you'll be fine.

Skip class? You won't pass.
TEST HEAVY
LECTURE HEAVY
5.0
4.0
CHEM3570
Grade: A+
Dec 21, 2018
Would take again

Ganem is easily one of the best professors I've had at Cornell. He's caring, accommodating towards the demands of college, and an incredible lecturer. His lectures are easy to follow, clear, and organized. Study his lecture notes religiously and keep up with the material and you will do fine on his exams, they're fair and mostly straight-forward.

Respected
Skip class? You won't pass.
Amazing lectures
4.0
3.0
CHEM3570
Grade: A
Jan 20, 2019
Would take again

He's definitely a nice guy and tries to learn people's names. His tests are also very fair- he doesn't test you on what he doesn't teach. His lectures are also very straightforward and keeps you paying attention. Only downside is that he's not that clear when answering questions... more of the watch you until you figure it out type.

Skip class? You won't pass.
TEST HEAVY
Caring
5.0
3.0
CHEM3570
Grade: A+
Jan 21, 2019
Would take again

Interesting material, great delivery in lecture, tons of help from many sources out of class (himself, TAs, CHEM 1057, tutors). Make sure you do as many problems as you can get your hands on, both from the text and from the old prelims that he gives you to study from.

Skip class? You won't pass.
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
TEST HEAVY
5.0
4.0
CHEM3570
Grade: A-
Mar 28, 2019
Would take again

Great lecturer!

Respected
Accessible outside class
Inspirational
3.0
4.0
CHEM3570
Jan 4, 2020
Wouldn't take again

Okay, so Professor Ganem is like everyone says a great lecturer. He is honestly an interesting guy and tries hard in my opinion to please people, but personally, I found him to be very condescending. During office hours and problem solving sessions, he makes you seem dumb if you don't know something. Beware of some prelims and the final ...

Skip class? You won't pass.
Test heavy
Amazing lectures
4.0
4.0
CHEM3570
Grade: A+
Jan 20, 2020
Would take again

Ganem is one of the best professors I've had at Cornell; he is a really good lecturer and super engaging. I've been to his office hours and he is very patient and helpful. His prelims become progressively tougher but he is not the type of teacher to ask trick questions. I really enjoyed learning orgo because of him!

Respected
Skip class? You won't pass.
Test heavy
5.0
3.0
CHEM3570
Grade: A
Feb 18, 2021
Would take again

Thank you Dr. Ganem!

Respected
Get ready to read
Clear grading criteria
3.0
5.0
CHEM3570
May 26, 2021
Wouldn't take again

Dr. Ganem is a great and organized lecturer. He took feedback into consideration during the semester about the course during the Covid-19 FA20 semester. Overall though, he was not very transparent about how he derived our grades and gave no practice questions/exams to the class to prepare for the exams.

Get ready to read
Test heavy
Amazing lectures
2.0
5.0
CHEM3570
Grade: B
Nov 21, 2022

Orgo is always hard, but it definitely felt like he made it harder. He also makes it hard to see him directly through office hours, and when you do see him, it's only for 10 minutes, which really doesn't help that much.

Tough grader
4.0
5.0
CHEM3570
Grade: Not sure yet
Oct 24, 2023
Would take again

Professor Ganem definitely knows his stuff, but can sometimes fixate on certain topics that do not count towards much on the prelims. You definitely need to read the textbook and do practice problems outside of homework. Practice prelims are usually a good way to gauge how well you will perform & tend to be tougher than the actual exam.

Tough grader
Test heavy
Graded by few things
2.0
5.0
CHEM3570
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 11, 2023

Probably one of the worst professors I've ever had. His lectures are extremely hard to follow and I pretty much learned everything from reading the textbook. Even then, the course itself is very hard but he made it 10x harder. Also, the final exam was on stuff that we hardly learned. Don't take with Gamen if you can avoid it

Graded by few things
1.0
5.0
CHEM3570
Grade: D
Dec 22, 2023

If you want to learn Organic Chemistry don't take this class. I learned more from the Organic Chemistry Tutor. I got a B in Biochem and Orgo was way harder. Worst professor I have ever had. The average on the final was a 50 SD of 39 to give perspective on how ridiculous the class is. As a professor if your students are failing, it's your fault.

Test heavy
Graded by few things
4.0
5.0
CHEM3570
Grade: A
Dec 22, 2023
Would take again

I've never had a more organized professor. He carries out lectures seamlessly. That did come with some bad parts he would often brush past details that he didn't feel were that important but left me confused. He's very passionate about what he does and he wants people to get into it which is nice. It doesn't seem like he wants people to fail.

Accessible outside class
1.0
5.0
CHEM3570
Grade: Rather not say
Dec 26, 2023

Prof was very condescending and unapproachable, and his lectures were far below the rigor of the exams. The exams didn't allow for explanations or work to be shown, so there was no way to differentiate between an A and B scoring student. Get ready to study for this class more than your other classes combined, only for some wild guesswork on exams

Get ready to read
Test heavy
Graded by few things
1.0
5.0
CHEM3570
Grade: A-
Dec 28, 2023

The only hope you have is to guess on the test. Too much to memorize. Start early, like before the semester starts.

Get ready to read
Test heavy
Graded by few things
5.0
5.0
CHEM3570
Grade: B+
Jan 10, 2024
Would take again

Yes this course is difficult- it will be no matter where and who is teaching. Prof. Ganem makes the best of it by presenting the material in a witty way and tries to keep your attention by explaining why it is important in everyday life. I highly recommend going to every lecture as it is easy to fall behind.

Amazing lectures
Inspirational
4.0
4.0
CHEM3570
Grade: A-
Jan 15, 2024
Would take again

Orgo is a hard class in general, but the lectures were generally pretty clear. Exams were harder than lecture material. Take notes and READ THE TEXTBOOK! I found the textbook super helpful and did practice problems from the book after/in between lectures. It is easy to fall behind, so stay on top of studying bc it can be stressful to catch up.

Test heavy
Accessible outside class
4.0
4.0
CHEM3570
Grade: B+
Dec 13, 2024
Would take again

Orgo is a tough class, but Professor Ganem makes it bearable with his witty lectures. Stay on top of the material and use resources like the textbook and Unstuck study - it really helps offset the difficulty.

5.0
3.0
CHEM3570
Grade: B
Dec 25, 2024
Would take again

Dr. Ganem is an amazing professor. Although his credentials can seem intimidating, he's actually quite caring and approachable. He is the only professor I know of who carves out time each week to meet with students. Although exams can be hard, the curve usually compensates. Pay attention in lecture, read the textbook, and you'll do just fine.

Respected
Lecture heavy
Graded by few things
5.0
1.0
ORGO
Grade: A
Jan 11, 2025
Would take again

Best Professor at Cornell. I've never enjoyed any lectures at Cornell until Orgo with Dr. Ganem. He's a great professor and does a great job at explaning everything simply and nicely. If you pay attention in his lecture and understand and memorize everything he says during lecture you're going to do well on the exams. Fair exams

Inspirational
Caring
Accessible outside class
5.0
3.0
CHEM3570
Grade: A
Jan 14, 2025
Would take again

Orgo has a lot of information, but if you do the assigned text book reading, and go to a lecture, the tests shouldn't be too bad. The curve helps a lot too.

Participation matters
Amazing lectures
5.0
3.0
CHEM3570
Grade: A+
Jan 24, 2025
Would take again

He explains things clearly and is very organized. gives good analogies

Gives good feedback
Caring
Lecture heavy
4.0
4.0
CHEM3070
Grade: A-
Mar 9, 2025
Would take again

Very engaged in students success, and good lecturer

5.0
4.0
CHEM3570
Grade: B+
Mar 21, 2025
Would take again

Dr. Ganem is easily one of the best professors at this university. His lectures are direct and inspiring, and he truly gives you all the tools you need to do well in the class, if you work hard. Weekly practice is your best friend in this course. Also, pay attention in lecture, and you will be able to predict what will be big on the exams.

Amazing lectures
Inspirational
Respected
4.0
4.0
CHEM3570
Grade: A-
Jun 3, 2025
Would take again

Go to lecture, and go to the practice review sessions because the test questions are not like the lectures. Difficult class but good lecturer

Lecture heavy
Test heavy
5.0
4.0
CHEM3590
Grade: B
Nov 19, 2025
Would take again

I loved Dr. Ganem even though I didn't get the best grade in honors orgo. I learned so much and he is genuinely such a cool guy. Please go to office hours to learn more about him if you have the chance because he has super cool stories and a very effective one-on-one / small group teaching style as well that you don't get from lectures.

Amazing lectures
Respected
Accessible outside class
3.0
4.0
CHEM3570
Grade: A
Dec 26, 2025
Would take again

His lectures are good and cover everything you need for the test. His tests were generally fair. Curve is generous and better than gen chem. If you go for 1 on 1 office hours with Dr. Ganem, he's very condescending which doesn't help so it's best to learn what you can in lecture and use the TAs for outside help. Great teacher, meh person.

Lecture heavy
Test heavy
3.0
5.0
CHEM3570
Grade: A-
Dec 27, 2025
Would take again

It's organic chemistry that makes u wish u were deead... not Ganem. His lectures are actually really helpful. However, they DO NOT ALWAYS cover everything on the exams -- anything from the assigned textbook chapters is fair game. On that note, don't expect the exams to be fair... expect them to be hard.

Tough grader
Amazing lectures
Lots of homework
3.0
4.0
CHEM3570
Grade: A-
Dec 29, 2025
Would take again

He is pretty good at teaching but the course itself is pretty difficult. It takes a lot of practice questions to succeed in the class. The optional sections were very helpful.

3.0
5.0
CHEM3570
Grade: B
Dec 29, 2025
Would take again

I personally didn't find Ganem's lectures to be very helpful. Most of my learning came from taking the support class (highly recommended!), going to the learning center, and using outside resources like the organic chemistry as a second language textbook. The exams are difficult, but the curve is very generous

Tough grader
Test heavy
Graded by few things
Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

22%

Textbook Required

40%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

A-

95% confidence
Based on 36 grades
Most common grades:
A (10)
A+ (8)
A- (7)
Grade Distribution
A(18)B(5)C(1)D(1)F(0)A-/B+(11)
Based on 39 reported grades
A: 10
A+: 8
A-: 7
B: 5
Common Tags
Respected (12)
Test heavy (11)
Skip class? You won't pass. (10)
Graded by few things (7)
TEST HEAVY (6)
Amazing lectures (6)
Inspirational (5)
Accessible outside class (5)
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Stable

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Ratings by Course

CHM3570

5.0

(1)

357

4.7

(3)

CHEM359

4.5

(4)

ORGO

4.5

(2)

CHEM3590

4.5

(4)
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Difficulty by Course

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357

4.0

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4.0

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