Dr. Kunkel is very nice and very enthusiastic. The class itself was pretty easy and if you've taken Chemistry in high school it should be all review for you. Kunkel is good at explaining how to do all the problems and she posts past tests and quizzes online which are very similar to the ones she gives. Overall she's a very good teacher.

Kunkel is probably the BEST professor I had in the quarter . She's very clear and rarely uses slides, just the chalkboard which is helpful taking notes. She also posts videos on Gauchospace of her doing more examples from the lecture's topic. However, the quizes and midterms ARE pretty hard. CLAS helped me A LOT for the exams.

Very good teacher. Very clear and enthusiastic. She makes you very interested in the subject. The class is not difficult as long as you take the practice tests. The midterms and final are very similair to the practice tests.

Teaches very well, but compensates by taking test hard.

She has tons of online practice tests & quizzes that help a lot!! Take multiple tests & quizzes before test days and you're good to go. There aren't really any surprise questions on the tests. Oh and go to class for iClicker points because they can salvage your lowest quiz score (if you're like me and bomb your first quiz in college).

Dr. Kunkel is hilarious and a very engaging lecturer. Her class is tough but if you put in the work, you should be okay. She wants you to do well and makes time outside of normal office hours to see you if needed.

Ridiculously enthusiastic, and an all-around great teacher.

Definitely a passionate teacher. Obviously, Chem isn't the easiest subject, and while Dr. Kunkel is very clear and informative, the class is still very difficult. Practice tests are a must, along with clear understanding of each topic in order to pass with ease.

Very good lecturer overall, exams good be a little tricky though

I really loved going to her lectures. She's very enthusiastic about Chemistry and she's really funny. If you ask questions she'll try her hardest to give a clear example. The only problem I had was she didn't work out her practice exam or practice final problems.

I love Kunkel. She is so funny and explains things very well. As long as you take notes in her class, you'll be fine.

Make sure you understand the content for the tests, but she is fair.

Great professor! However, her tests are pretty difficult and always includes a question that throws you off. I got a D on the chem 1A final but still managed to get a C+ in the class. Definitely do Aleks and try to do as many book problems as possible.

I am a Bio major and don't like Chem, but Professor Kunkel made it doable. I got a F on my first quiz, and after meeting with her/revising my study plan I got an A in the class. She gives you second chances: 2 quizzes (one can be replaced w/ iclickers), 2 midterms (worst replaced w/ final if better). A lot of hw though, like all Chem 1A classes.

Great lectures with clear explanations, timing of it all is perfect. Her tests can be challenging but she prepares you well. Great class though!

Amazing teacher!!!! Very helpful and funny!

Her lectures are very clear and thorough. She's pretty funny and makes the class very enjoyable. The only thing is that there are two quizzes, two midterms, and a final but if you study a lot and work on her practices quizzes and exams, you'll be fine. The final screwed me over though but other than that, she is an excellent and helpful professor!

Kunkel's a great teacher, and she makes sure she tells you what she wants you to know on the test. However, she will also go out of the way to make sure that you know the material, and gives tests that you really need to concentrate on in order to do well. She's pretty funny and quirky - not bad at all.

Kunkel is an amazing lecturer, she is clear and precise. She writes in chalk on the chalkboard but has good handwriting and it well organized. She is constantly willing to help and has many resources like past tests and recommended book problems. All of the tests and quizzes are multiple choice and tricky though

Go to lecture and understand and know examples from class. What is presented in lecture is exactly what is on exams. Very clear and wants students to actually succeed, unlike many professors. Uses clicker. Book use recommended, but got an A never opening it.

Hilarious. Solid teacher.

Professor Kunkle is honestly great. Take her class, you won't regret it. She is supper funny and awesome and it makes you want to go to her class. Showing up in every lecture and take notes and do practice test are the key to a very high grade.

If you're gonna do Gen Chem, this is the best way to do it if you want to truly learn the material. She really engages with the students, super helpful, and accessible. Beware though, her tests especially her finals (I took 1A-C with her) are rough no matter what. Practice tests don't help much, DO BOOK PROBLEMS!! Also, be prepared for no curve

It was an absolute joy to be in Professor Kunkel's class. She gives clear lectures and provides copious practice materials for the quizzes, exams, and the final, all of which are not egregiously difficult. Stay on top of your ALEKS homework and study diligently for the tests and you can get an A or A-. She's also funny and makes the class worth it.

Not so hard for AP Chem learners. You won't earn enough iclicker points for not showing on class, but don't worry it's only worth 5% of total score and replaceable. She is very nice and could be very helpful for newcomers like me.

Dr. Kunkel is pretty cool and does a good job teaching. I would definitely recommend her to anyone taking the Chem 1 series. Class is mandatory for iClicker points which can help boost your grade in her class. Overall, lecture was never boring and she's really enthusiastic about teaching. The final for her class literally blew me over though ):

She seems very passionate about chemistry. The best part about her lectures is perhaps that she provides specific examples for solving chem problems using the theory we learned (the how), which can be very helpful. However, if you have taken AP chem before or like to learn more about the theory (the why), you may find the lectures to be boring.

She was very caring about here students and I loved her energy in the mornings. Doing the practice quizzes and exams are a must; I think they are the most helpful for knowing what to expect on tests.

Kunkel is a great professor that looks out for her students. She's quirky and makes chem more bearable. However you do need to put in the effort for this class. Final is significantly harder than the midterm. Do the textbook problems and know how to do all the questions on the practice exams!!

Kunkel's teaching style is cool. Her class will make perfect sense during lecture, but the tests are so tricky that I changed professors for 1B. She's a nice person, but I think she tries hard to make her tests extra challenging with little tricks. She provides plenty of material to study, but sometimes even that won't prep you for her exams.

everything is perfect except final

Tests are extremely tricky (e.g. lots of unit changes, tricky wording) compared to her lecture questions. Practice exams are almost useless and book problems are slightly useful. Some questions in her tests can be found in CLAS resources, but other than that you really have to know the concepts.

She is a good professor, although be prepared to write fast because she does not put up powerpoints of lecture and writes fast and sometimes messily on the chalk board.

Kunkel is a quirky, fun professor that makes going to lecture enjoyable. I found her 1A class to be easy, but when it comes to 1B, she does not teach that particular course very well at all. Lecture examples and practice midterms are not reflective of the tests. Book problems are your best bet but still will not do enough to prepare you.

She is a decent lecturer and prepares you pretty well. Her tests and quizzes are pretty tough, although the final is harder than them. To get an A do book problems and review Iclicker questions.

I think Kunkel is a great teacher. I had her for 1A and 1B and am taking her for 1C. If you do all the book problems and practice quizzes, you'll do fine on the tests. I did all the recommended book problems and practice exams and got an A in 1B. The difficulty of 1B is not kunkel's fault and a lot of people are blaming her for their bad grade...

Prof Kunkel is a wonderful, old-school chalkboard lecturer. Best qualities: 1.) She has surgical precision with scientific language; 2.) She is clear, organized, and concise with no filler words (umm); 3.) She has an energetic, engaging tone; 4.) She is hilarious... I will definitely try to take her again. Powerpoint is overrated!

Kunkel's lectures are to the point and her tests aren't bad if you do her old exams and book problems.

I know what you're thinking, "this professor's reviews are all over the place" and the only reason for that is that is that she has wildly different reputations depending upon the level of gen chem you're taking. She's a real standout for Chem 1A and definitely more than a solid choice. She's really passionate and teaches very well. Worth your time

Kunkel is a good professor in general chem. Ber lecture is clear and pretty easy to follow. Besides, her exams are not hard. As long as you go through the lecture notes and do enough past exams, you don't even need to do the book problems and ALEKS, you will do well in her class. A Good choice for general chem.

you gotta go to lecture, do the textbook problems, and all the practice exams she posts online in order to do well on her tests! she has a quirky sense of humor and you can tell she tries to keep the class entertained!

I really enjoyed Kunkel! She was funny during lecture and gave all the information you needed to pass the class. She heavily emphasized before every quiz and exam to do the practice tests she posts online, and they help so much. For the people on here who said the exams are hard, they probably didn't take the practice tests lol. I loved her!

Kunkel tries to make Chem passable. The course is hard and her tests are hard, but she provides a lot of resources that will prepare you for the test. Lectures are somewhat confusing for students who didn't take AP Chem in highschool. Overall she is a very nice person and is available for extra help.

Kunkel has a reputation of being very intimidating for students, and maybe that's the case for the rest of the chem series, but if you study hard and put in the effort that she expects of the class, you shouldn't have a problem with achieving the grade that you want. And if you end up messing up a few things, don't worry because the curve is FAT.

Best professor for CHEM!!

Kunkel seems to be a fair professor. She provides multiple practice quizzes and tests in order to allow students to practice. Her lectures are clear, and she always makes sure everyone's questions are answered before moving on to the next topic. Chem is a hard class, but Kunkel seems to be a good choice for the class.

Kunkel doesnt use power point, meaning all her notes are on the board. This way of teaching helps you see her thought process and shows you how to solve problems. All I did was do the practice exams which are the same difficulty as the actual exams. I only took general chemistry in High School yet she made this course easy (great teacher).

Kunkel is a firm believer in chalkboards, and doesn't post slides from lecture. So, if you miss class for whatever reason, you're screwed. That being said, she's a fantastic lecturer and walks through every step of the problems she does on the board. Also, DO PRACTICE QUIZZES AND EXAMS. Exams are tough only if you don't study.

Kunkel does all her notes on the chalkboard and hardly uses the slides at all. This makes it pretty hard to get info if you miss class. However, if you're like me and learn really well from having someone walk you through the problem, Kunkel is the professor for you. As long as you don't skip class, all you really have to do are the practice exams.

Definitely has tough tests, so do not rely on just the lectures. Takes effort outside of class because she goes over the easy stuff in class. Although she has hard tests the class is very forgiving because you can replace a quiz with iclicker and the final replaces a midterm grade. Very good option if you prefer chalkboard.

Goes over all the easy stuff in class and gives super hard book problems which are never on the test. Both midterms have questions from the practice midterms on gauchospace. The final is super hard and has problems you've never seen before.

Best Professor!

Kunkel makes the horrors of general chemistry seem bearable. She is super sweet and gives you many opportunities to pass the class with her grading style. You really have to pay attention in lecture (handwritten notes benefit you more) and I recommend choosing the graded ALEKS option because the extra points really do help in the end!

Her exams are fine if you studied the practice exams. She doesn't curve as much if the average is good! Just do book problems and practice exams. Also choose the graded ALEKS option since it's much helpful!

She is a very good professor. Her tests are very hard, but if you study for them and do all the practice tests and textbook problems you will be fine.

She is literally a great professor for chemistry. Clear and great at explaining concepts. Goes fast but manageable. I personally benefitted from ALEKS and doing all of the practice quizzes/exams. Just study and be on top of your stuff and you will get a B. Just don't do bare minimum and expect to pass. Glad I had her for 1A and 1B.

Great lecturer for Chem1C! Material covered in class is a solid intro, but practicing textbook problems and ALEKS are a must to do well. Uses the hardest/challenge problems from the textbook on tests. Practice tests and quizzes help a lot.

Easily the best CHEM1A professor. Although her lectures may not be as inspiring as that of Price, they are always clear thorough. Midterms and the final were a breeze as all questions are basically from the practice exams she provides. The homework is somewhat heavy but is definitely a grade booster. Also has quite a generous curve. Attend class.

She is a really nice professor! The lectures are really clear. She provides several practice exams and some exam questions even directly from the practice. Theres two quizzes, two exams and one final. She will also curve the final grade. Its not very difficult to get an A in her class.

Very nice professor. Her class is relatively easy and well organized and explained. Only test on what is taught in the lecture, which is great. Handwriting on blackboard sometimes could be hard to be seen clearly from the back of the hall, but once seen easy to understand. I got mad wiz chem in high school but really like her university chem class.

I only gave a rate point of 4 in my last comment by mistake... which I should have given a 5. Making a new rate to make up lol. Great professor! Take her class!

Nice professor, lectures are easy and clear. She's friendly to beginners in chemistry. Course is not very much in depth and if you go to lectures and do the homework then you're fine. Could've gotten an A+ if I had not screwed up on the final... Anyway, she is a nice choice for CHEM 1A.

If you have taken AP Chemistry, Chem 1A is cake. Sylvester/Kunkel also had really easy tests. Take advantage of practice tests if you struggle. A few questions are reused and are representative of the actual tests

Her tests and quizzes are very similar, if not pulled off with different values, to the practice material she provides. She writes everything on the board, and you have to be there in order to learn the material, because she doesn't post it on Gauchospace. I like her teaching methods, though.

Sylvester is such a sweet and enthusiastic woman. She wants her students to do well, so the practice quizzes and tests are extremely helpful, and she gives opportunities to replace a quiz score with iClicker points or a midterm with the final. Lectures on the chalkboard, so be ready to go to class and pay attention, but it's just review of AP Chem

Her lectures are clear and organized and she is very helpful when answering questions. She posts a lot of practice tests that are just like her actual exams, so make sure you understand the problems on them. I highly recommend her for Chem 1A!

All of her lectures are done on the chalkboard and aren't posted online, but are more informative than Prof. Joseph's lectures. Her quizzes and exams are almost identical to the ones posted on Gauchospace, but also use problems taken from ALEKS and the textbook. Would've gotten a higher grade if the final wasn't canceled due to COVID-19.

Took her for every quarter of gen chem. Very passionate about her field. Subject matter is very difficult but she gives you the tools to learn it. Tests are difficult but practice tests provided are very valuable prep tools. Only complaint is that the class moves too fast but that is just the qtr system. Also online version of the class was rough.

I had her for 1B and 1C. Excellent lecturer, reasonable tests, and all around really helpful. Gen Chem will always be a pain (especially 1B in my opinion) but if you put in the work you'll be fine. Would recommend for sure!

Took her for all of gen chem. I used to hate chem but now I love it. Always available outside of class during office hours or email. Really funny and really cares about her students. Tests are very similar to the practice tests which she posts a ton of, sometimes some book questions too. Writes everything out on the board w examples which I loved.

I had her for all 3 quarters of gen chem and loved her! Doing textbook problems isn't essential to succeed because she provides practice quizzes & tests and uses similar problems in her exams. I got a 2 on the AP chem exam in high school but got high B's and low A's in gen chem. It definitely helps to have taken a chemistry class before.

I really enjoyed her class. I had taken this course before and failed but her teaching really made it easy for me to learn. I took her during my spring quarter of 2020 during quarantine and she made the class worthwhile. Shes a great professor in general!

I retook this class because I failed last quarter, and I'm glad I took it this quarter with Sylvester. She made it so much easier to understand subjects I was struggling with, and provided forums in which she answered any questions, even silly ones. Her tests are based on previous exams/quizzes, which was a lifesaver this quarter due to quarantine.

I had her for 1B/C and her exams were fair. Do her practice exams, go to CLAS, and book problems. Book problems are very helpful for the tricky questions she usually uses towards her end of her exam! The curve for her class is small compared to the other gen chem classes. Her exams are also a time crunch.

She looks out for her students which shows that she cares unlike many professors. She puts in effort and therefore she wants you to show effort as well. The chem series is always going to be hard but at least with professor Sylvester it's going to be acknowledged.

The tests in CHEM 1A/B were very similar to her real exams. She provides a lot of practice, so as long as you take good lecture notes (usually one or two questions related directly to a factoid in class) you're set! CHEM 1C was much more book heavy, but she gives you recommended practice problems before each exam so nothing is out of left field.

She's quite enthusiastic and gets so excited to do more problems it's pretty fun to see. If you do the practice quizzes/tests the midterms were super easy (some questions were almost literally copy-pasted). The final hit me like a train though, way harder than the midterms. Overall though pretty easy class and pretty good professor.

She's easily approachable and pretty good at explaining things during office hours. Lectures and required homework covers only the very basics, I recommend doing the optional book problems and looking over Aleks topics before the test. I did really well on all the tests but absolutely BOMBED the final.

I retook CHEM1A with Sylvester this quarter and it went way better for me this quarter than the last. I do admit I just skimmed through the lectures because most of it was review for me. CLAS was a good resource too, that really helped me. I also really liked the practice exams Sylvester uploaded for each exam.

Retook this course and I enjoyed it much better! Her sample exams are so so helpful they are almost identical to the test, some tests even had the exact same problems from the practice ones. Really responsive, her lectures are really short though

This class is asynchronous, but there's lectures and homework every week. The tests are weighted really heavy, but your lowest test is dropped. The class average is usually a D, but if you do all your work and go over the practice tests, you'll be fine. Make sure you understand each weeks topic! The class moves really fast.

Her lectures were not the best and the tech quality kinda sucks, but theyre easy to follow along with. Its not too daunting. The exams are practice exams heavy. Book problems are not needed but can help. CLAS is great as a backup, but I didnt use it that much. Class averages on each exam was 65-70. There was a curve for us. My A- went to an A.

I had to retake chem this quarter and I would recommend anyone who is retaking Chem to do it with Professor Sylvester. Professor Sylvester's class was easy to go over, since her lectures aren't long. I would recommend everyone to use her practice tests and use CLAS since her exam problems were mostly from there. Overall, she's amazing!

Her lectures and tests were very similar and she was an overall great teacher! I would def recommend!

All lectures were prerecorded bc of covid and besides doing ALEKS, watching lectures was pretty much the only assignment so the class is very manageable time-wise. She posts practice exams that are similar to the actual exam so if you study those you will be fine. I didn't enjoy the class simply because I don't like chemistry but she is a good prof

Overall solid professor with solid lectures and she is a very nice lady in office hours. I bombed the first exam and did okay on the second exam because I am very bad with chem but she was helpful and I was able to end up with a B+ in the class, almost an A-. Aleks can be annoying but its helpful and overall solid course, would recommend.

I took Joseph for Chem1A & 1B. I was TERRIFIED to take Sylvester at first, but she was by far the best and I wish I took her sooner. Her lectures were WAY more straight forward, there was actually a curve, she was available to Zoom anytime I had a question, and I spent significantly less time studying for her than for Joseph & I got a better grade.

Her lectures are straight and to the point. Understand the book problems and youll have no problem getting an A in the class.

Practice exams are your best friend- and time yourself; the most difficult thing about this class is the time crunch on tests (and tests make up 80% of your grade). Utilize CLAS worksheets for extra practice; ALEKS is also good concept practice (and helps your grade). Attend class and/or watch recordings. Good luck!! :)

Lectures are straightforward. There are a few times it would be nicer if she could go in depth but doesn't. Tests are fine if you study reasonably. There will be 2 tough questions that aren't really something that can be studied, you just really need to get the concepts and apply them. Otherwise just attend 3 50 min lectures, do the work, pass.

DO HER PRACTICE EXAMS! Don't waste time on textbook q's. ALEKS also helps. lowest exam & ALEKS is dropped- but exams are tough. 17 q's in 45 mins so practice managing time on exams. CLAS for extra worksheets (great for practice) or in-person groups if you want to attend groups. Watch the lecture vids for review or if missing class (same content)

She's really good at lecturing and basically an easy formula to do good in the class. JUST DO THE BOOK PROBLEMS and you'll be fine!

Had Sylvester for first 2/3 of 1B then got switched with Anyika. Sylvester was straightforward and posted lecture videos that covered exactly what was on exams. Had very fair exams with Sylvester but after switching with Anyika, the final was much more difficult. Not as good as Price, but much more straightforward than Joseph.

Lectures are really great and straightforward. Exams are easy if you do the practice exams.

The lecture is clear. The test is a bit more difficult than the class content but it is acceptable. The exam in general is not too hard.

Sylvester is a great lecturer and is very clear on basic concepts. Always try to do the practice problems she gives in class before she tells you how; it's great practice! Exams are hard but do all practice exams. Some of the same problems from the practice exams appear on the exams. Difficulty comes from fact that its chem, not Sylvester.

Overall chem was very difficult but if you put in the time to do the book problems multiple times through, go to office hours, and take advantage of CLAS and her practice exams you will be fine. For me this class was stressful, but know it works out in the end even if you fail the first midterm!

Her lectures are very good and thorough. She has her lectures pre recorded but I would recommend going to class as well. Definitely recommend doing the book problems throughout the course and when preparing for the exams do each practice test multiple times. The tests are very hard and often tricky.

Her lectures are clear, concise, and easy to understand if you are a beginner in chemistry. She walks through the material step by step. Her midterms and finals are also extremely similar to her practice tests! If you score higher on your final than one of your midterms, that midterm score will be replaced by your final score :)

Prof Sylvester is very passionate about her classes. She gives us relatively easy midterms and final. There is often a review class before each exam. ALEKS is the only graded homework. Practice exams are available and best for preparing for midterms. Just attend her class and get your notes down and you should be fine.

The class was very straight forward. ALEKS was a pain, but not impossible. First midterm I got a 46%, and I got an 80% on the final, I studied the night before. She doesn't teach in depth, and her office hours were not helpful because she doesn't know how to answer questions. However, if I would have tried I could've have passed with an A.

She's a great straightforward professor and won't overcomplicate the material but does have speedy lectures! She's very approachable/caring during office hours. The midterms and final are fair and extremely similar to practice tests. Got a 58% first midterm and 80% on the final. *hardest part of the class was leading up to 1st exam so master that!

Great lectures. Make sure you do all the textbook questions recommended by the professor so you can succeed in exams.

She is straightforward and covers the material well. The first midterm was a bit of a time crunch but the second midterm and final are much easier. Doing all the practice tests will prepare you well for the tests.

She is an amazing professor who will teach you everything you need to know for the midterms and exams. She didn't make us do the book problems but instead seemed to pull a lot of the exam material off of aleks so make sure you really understand the modules. Always go to the lectures, its just better in person with the live questions people ask.

Fair class, kind teacher, arguably the easiest exams among Gen Chem professors. She isn't the lecturer that Price is, but her exams are for sure easier.

Very straightforward and kind professor. Very helpful during office hours and had the easiest exams. Only says what needs to be said, and is very nice.

I liked her straightforward teaching style in CHEM 1A. She taught just enough content, all relevant to the exams. I had a bad chemistry experience in high school, but her enthusiasm for chemistry and her simple, legible notes motivated me to attend lectures. I also did all the ALEKS, book probs, and practice tests to achieve my desired grade.

I enjoyed Professor Sylvester's lectures. I skipped the last three weeks of class but still managed to pass with an A using her lecture videos and midterms (still recommend going to lecture). The practice exams are the same as the actual exams so highly recommend studying those. She responds to emails quickly. She's funny too. Really liked her.

Sylvester was a great professor. I had her for Chem 1A and I really enjoyed her class. She is super helpful, caring and every time I went to her office hours, she helped me to understand the material. The tests were pretty difficult so take advantage of her practice tests. Although, after the final she had a curve and it helped significantly.

Prof. Sylvester is honestly (in my opinion) the best chem professor for gen chem at UCSB. I missed the last two weeks of lectures because I was out sick yet I managed to get a B+ after the curve. Her lecture videos saved me. Make sure to do the textbook problems and practice exams and you'll do great.

Sylvester was the greatest teacher for a freshmans transition from high school to college. She genuinely cared about students and tried to make lectures as funny as possible. Your grade is only based on ALEKs and tests. DO THE BOOK PROBLEMS!!!!

Sylvester was the best chem professor I ever took. Writes things down on the whiteboard and doesn't post direct notes (she has videos) but I liked that because I'm a slow writer and learner. Content is difficult but she's an amazing prof and made it very easy for me. I like her way more than Anyika and Price even (sorry price ily)

Professor Sylvester is a great teacher and super kind. I'm not the best at chemistry, but I'm really grateful for all of the resources she provides to get help. The tests are challenging and cover lots of material, but thanks to the amazing curve I was able to pass this class. Sylvester is great and I definitely recommend taking her for Gen Chem!

I had Sylvester for 1A/1B, and I thought she was a great professor! Her lectures move very fast and are straight forward though so make sure you get help when you need it. The exams cover lots of material, so doing the practice tests/book problems are essential. Although the course is not easy, it is doable if you really put in the work and study!

Chem 1A is definitely a difficult class. However, Sylvester's tests are very similar to the practice exams which is very helpful. If you do all the practice exams, attend and pay attention in lecture, and do the book problems, you'll be just fine! Sylvester seems super caring and keeps her lectures light-hearted.

I loved Sylvester and would highly recommend. Her practice tests are exactly like the tests and she really wants you to succeed. She puts together countless resources to make you more confident before tests. Lectures can be fast but CLAS will help if you need more time with a topic. She also records every lecture so is very flexible with attendance

She is quick but explains material in an understandable way. Exams are SUPER easy and the practice exams on Canvas are almost identical. Aleks is easy just be on top of it.

I don't really get the criticisms about her tbh. I found her to be a pretty clear lecturer, and I really appreciate that her exams are almost exactly like the practice exams. Do the recommended book problems, especially focusing on the ones similar to the practice exam ones, and time yourself.

Disclaimer: I already know all contents of the course in highschool and only taking as this as an essentially free GE. I seldom attend lectures, but I can attest the she explains stuff pretty well. Only 3 tests: 2 MTs and FT. Tests are always relevant to course material. She uses ALEKS, which is really good (though costly).

I am so glad that I chose her as my chem 1A professor. Her lecture is fun, she use the simplest words to explain everything. Not a lot of work, just remember review everything and do the practice before exam. Definitely want to take her class again.

her lectures are online so you can miss lecture if needed; gen chem curve is fat i would've has a C without the curve, i went to CLAS bc it is very fast paced but i like how she works everything out on the board with you, do book problems if you want an A, but rlly just do all practice exams bc she gives a lottt and theyre similar to exams

I actually enjoyed sylvester as a professor, many of my friends did not, I understood almost everything she said in lecture, I thought she was very clear. Tests exactly like the practice tests, but definitely do not procrastinate studying.

Sylvester is honestly one of the best chemistry teachers. She bases her exams on the book problems versus pulling random stuff you've never done. Watch the lecture videos and do all of the practice exams and you will be fine.

love her. teaches very well, and will explain things to you if you don't understand. It's obviously hard, because it is chemistry, but she makes it so much more bearable. her tests are pretty easy and straight forward if you do the practice exams.

I was a fan of how she taught! Pretty straightforward.

In my opinion she is one of the top chem professors at UCSB. If you have the opportunity to take her class, I would.

makes chem pretty easy to understand and gives practice tests that are suuuuper helpful to prepare for exams. i never did book problems and i was fine just do all the practice tests and watch the vids if u miss lecture

Professor Sylvester is probably the best intro-chem series professor that the school offers (which is not saying alot). Her lectures are extremely well organized and she provides a lot of resources for you to succeed. The course is just extremely hard, so be prepared to log many hours studying.

Her lectures are organized and there are videos posted online which is nice. The midterms were chill but the final was significantly harder so be prepared for that (do the book problems!). The final can replace your lowest midterm score and the class is curved at the end which is nice. If you put in the work, you can be successful in this class!

Love her. She's great, easy midterms but insanely hard final. Super kind and funny person. Hard just because it's Chem, and there's wasn't really a curve because our midterms were so easy (80&86 avg).

I took Chem1A and B with Joseph and 1C with Sylvester. Personally I like Joseph's lecture style better than Sylvester's, but frankly speaking she is also definitely one of the best gen chem lecturers. Very organized. Although she talks very fast, so it takes some time to adapt to it. Midterms are very easy and the final is significantly harder.

Sylvester is honestly a solid professor in the chem department. I don't really see why people have given her a hard time in the past. She tells you what to do to succeed and even posts study plans. The practice exams are ESSENTIAL to studying, as she does pull from those as well as the textbook occasionally. Her class is very doable.

This was my first-ever chemistry class, and she made it easy to follow along. The class isn't bad at all because if you don't understand something in the lecture, the videos will also help explain the lecture again. Her sarcasm is pretty funny and she doesn't make the lectures boring.

I really liked how she taught by writing notes on the chalkboard--it made it much easier to follow along and process what we were learning. If you only do one thing to study: DO THE PRACTICE EXAMS (posted on Canvas); the tests are usually very similar. Do them until you understand all the problems and you'll be successful.

Very good at explaining the material. Homework and practice tests prepare you well for the exams. Not difficult as long as you pay attention and study a little bit.

Sylvester is great+funny, but this class drained my soul like a fifteen-year-old laptop's battery. She curved after the final, but grade was based on two midterms and a final (+ALEKS completion). So if ur like me & don't test well, sorry ur screwed. I would rather breastfeed a snapping turtle than ever go near this class again + ALEKS is hell

Most of your grade is based on two midterms and a final. She provides practice exams for the midterms and the final, but not all questions are identical. Some textbook problems have also appeared as exam questions. This course can be challenging, but it's definitely doable--ask questions, go to CLAS tutorial groups, STUDY EARLY!

Sylvester's lectures are a bit fast paced, but she gives you all the tools needed to succeed. Do as many book problems as possible (some book problems are harder than test questions but help you really understand topics), and take all the practice tests (with a timer).

Caring teacher who has clear expectations on grading and curves. The first midterm hits hard if you aren't ready, but the end-of-course curve is really nice.

Professor is very clear in both lectures and setting expectations for the class. Though she doesn't take attendance, you should attend all lectures to fully take in all the material. Do all the assignments and study and you should be fine in her class. The toughest part of this course is one midterm score can make or break your grade.

Hot take I loved her. She was straight to the point and taught what we needed to know. Gave us plently of resources to do well on tests, tons of practice tests, only had multiple choice. Obviously you have to put in effort, especially if your bad at chemistry, however, you have all the resources to do well.

I really enjoyed having Sylvester, her practice midterms are almost exactly like the actual midterms. Her final is harder and way less like the practice finals she gives you, but your final replaces one of your lower midterm grades if it helps.

The class moves at a fast pace, and although I got a C in the class, I could have put in more effort to study for the midterms. She is very organized and has everything set up in canvas for you to get help or review different topics that are taught. In order to succeed in the class, you need to utilize the book problems and practice tests.

I was lowk a hater earlier in the quarter, but she ended up being a great professor. The lectures can be confusing because she goes through content rather quickly; it just depends on your learning style. The class is passable; you can fail both midterms and still pass if you lock in for the final. Def recommend taking her.

Very fair teacher, has video lectures and practice midterms/finals that are exactly like the actual exams. Just do your ALEKS and textbook problems and you are set. It's chemistry, so you have to put in a lot of the effort yourself instead of just relying on her lectures. Also heard she was one of the easier chem profs!! VERY PASSABLE CLASS :)

Good prof! Had her for Chem 1A and 1B, wanted her for 1C. Lectures are fast paced & she writes only on the chalkboard, but videos very similar to the lectures are available for review. Goes over easier problems than you'll see on the exam but provides many extra study materials w/questions VERY similar to the exam. Content is hard, be ready.

Low ratings are because the course itself is difficult, she teaches well. Don't be fooled— ALEKS is NOT optional, the grade boost is a lifesaver. Exams are hard but 90% of exam problems are ~identical to textbook ones. Grind the heck out of those and you'll do well. Her lecture videos are confusing— Joseph has good vids on yt, or just google it.

Best teacher I could have for chemistry

Took her for Chem 1A and 1B. Chill professor, nice lecture. Be ready to do Aleks (which is torturing, but the whole chem department use it...). She would provide tests in previous years on canvas for you to practice, just remember to do them cuz they are SO HELPFUL.

very good lectures. she goes over lots of example problems during them that are similar to what is on the midterms/final. During the example problems provides students the time to do the problem on their own first before she gives the explanation which is nice.

Professor did an amazing job of teaching the difficult concepts. Was easy to talk to and made lectures fun and interesting. Exams were difficult but not impossible if you studied and did book problems consistently.

i wish i could take her for the entire chem series. exams are usually similar to the practice problems so do them multiple times!!! (midterms are only 45 minutes) her lecture videos are pretty bad so go to lecture. do book problems (as you would in any gen chem class) and aleks.

Had her for all three parts of the gen chem series. Lemme say this, she is a great professor and offers many resources however gen chem is just hard. You need to put in the effort to study at least 2-3 hours a day cranking out practice problems. She tries to trick you on exams but as long as you study and ask questions during lecture you'll be fine

Good teacher but lectures weren't very helpful. You have to do a lot of studying outside of class, just going to the lectures alone won't help you get a good grade.

this class is hard but all the information is there for you for tests. tests are like the practice tests. she moves quickly, even though attendance isn't mandatory you should go. definitely go to section and her office hours. do book problems, they are more helpful than aleks is. overall she is really sweet and funny and would take her class again.

She was honestly a great Chem 1A teacher. Tests are straightforward -- pretty much the practice exams. I didn't do any book problems and put minimal effort into the ALEKS, and still got 100 on all the tests. Just do the practice exams, and you will be fine.

Super great prof. I took AP chem so it was review for me but she really loves what she is teaching. tests are all multiple choice and she posts tons of previous exams so STUDY those and you can easily get an A on both midterms. lowest midterm gets replaced by final score. has old lecture videos posted as well. doesn't go as in depth as other profs

She was a good teacher sometimes taught too fast in lecture but it was a good class overall.

Sylvester teaches with real compassion and genuinely cares about her students. Her lectures move fast, so be ready to keep up. She's flexible with makeup exams. The class is tough, especially without AP experience. Do the practice tests. You'll need to teach yourself outside lecture to do well.

She's a great professor for chem 1A and gives you literally all the resources you need. I scored 100 on every exam in this class and I'd have to agree that the only way to do well is to make use of every resource given (book problems, practice exams, discussion...). Exams are very similar to class content + practice exams so take them seriously!

I loved her lectures because she explained concepts in a way that made sense and really tried to make people understand. It also felt like she cared and she seems so kind and nice. The midterms were really similar to the practice exams sometimes even like identical questions so make sure you do them. The final however I found very hard.

Sylvester is great! Her lectures move fast but she breaks it up her sarcasm.Midterms are VERY similar to practice exams so just grind all those and lecture examples and you'll do fine. Got an A without doing any book problems just did all the practice exams and went to section and lectures. Final is HARD but the curve at the end is pretty good.

shes so chill & accommodating. she makes her lectures fun but they do move fast so you'll have to self-study. her practice exams are past exams, so they'll help when studying. tests are very fast-paced (45 mins for 17 questions) and there are 2-3 questions that are extra difficult (but getting one question wrong is -6% each) so tests are a bit hard

Chem 1A is a very hard class but I think Professor Sylvester does a really good job at teaching. Definitely do a lot of your own studying since the aleks homework doesn't reflect the kind of questions you will find on exams (book problems and practice exams are very helpful). I would definitely take her class again if I had to redo chem 1A.

Gen chem is just so hard. Prof Sylvester does a good job making lecture effective and also provides a ton of resources (practice tests and lecture recordings). I failed the first midterm, got a C on the second, and got a D on the final but ended up getting a B. This class is really hard without prior knowledge but it's doable with effort!