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Dr.Cairo is extremely helpful, and his lectures are surprisingly interesting (considering it's chemistry). His exams are pretty hard, but study the concepts well and it's not too bad.

Chris is an awesome prof! His lectures & notes explain concepts well, and then he goes above and beyond by explaining how the concept relates to the real world (which can be pretty cool!). If you're having toubles he's very approachable and helpful, and he even provides MCAT prep material. I would definetly recommend taking his class.

I thought Cairo was well-rounded. His tests were generally fair, and I liked his enthusiasm for the subject. He made the lectures a lot more interesting than they could have been

He was an Amazing teacher, very clear you can READ his notes that he writes in class, or you can get them online. Very enthusiastic about chem making it alot more interesting, exams are easy and fair if u do your work. He is very aproachable and answers all your questions

Awesome prof, I found him really fast at first, as I was taking Chem 101 concurrently and he expected the first part as review. But his notes are clear, he is very helpful and clear and although i did end up sleeping in his class (i think narcolepsy is slowly becoming a transmissible disease) fair tests, and he looks like a hippie, which is a plus

Good lecture notes that are posted before class. Pay attention during the beginning of semester or you will be left behind. Hard tests. Do well on the quiz and midterm as the final is difficult. Go to classes and review if you don't understand. Work through the little book that comes with the organic chem textbook.

In a word .... aproachable. I think he's a great prof that will undoubtably go out of his way for you student if you need help. His notes were great, but the class is a lot of memorization so keep up.

Dr. Cairo is awesome! He is super-helpful, and he explains everything really well. I went from a C+ in Chem 261 to an A- in Chem 263 with Dr. Cairo! Watch out though, his final is pretty tough, but fair.

he's very friendly and approachable, needs to slow down in class though... very helpful in office hours... tests are long and more conceptual

BRUTAL midterm - (just wrote it).. hating resonance structures. Learn resonance well!! And don't expect to learn things a couple days before the test. While it may work for math or bio, it does NOT work with org chem. Regular review is a must. Easy quiz misled me into thinking the m/t would be easy too- do not fall into this trap!!! Good luck:)

Best chemistry prof I've had!

The material gets complicated so it can be difficult to follow along with what he's saying in class, but if you study you'll be fine. STUDDYYYY

Really nice guy, funny sometimes with his awkward chemistry-geek sense of humour. I tried to pay attention in class, but it was hard so i did most of my studying from his internet notes, which are incredibly clear and NOT fill in the blanks, so you can learn without going to class... but its a hard course so I'd recommend going.

Yea Cairo! Pretty good course, fun labs, Super hard final, that was kind of mean. Good prof though, very nice and helpful.

Dr.Cairo is AWESOME! seriously he is the best prof ever...so nice, and EXTREMELY helpful out of class...his exams are a hard, but the curve fixes it all, and he has really good notes, but u must go to class...overall excellent prof who loves what he does and knows it really well too

He's undeniably nice and enthusiastic about the subject but his exams are pretty difficult, as is the course material. Don't make the mistake I did; practice everything!

Very very nice..extremely helpful during office hours..knows his stuff very well and overall a very nice and enthusiastic prof...loved everything about the class (until i wrote the final) he started going too fast towards the end (cramming the material almost) and the final was pretty tough...midterm was fair and so was the quiz...STUDY!!!

I agree he is a very nice prof..very helpful during office hours and he explains concepts quiet well...but his exams are NOT easy...just a fair warning study hard!! most of them are fair...keep up cause the amt of material becomes overwhelming by the end of the semester

Cairo is a good prof, he teaches quite well. Do good on the quiz and on the midterm because the final is extremely tough. Midterm, know ur chair conformations. For the final, KNOW YOUR REACTION MECHANISMS AND RETROSYNTHESIS. The whole final exam was reactions. Good luck!

Dr. Cairo made organic chemistry extremely clear. If you pay attention in class and do regular review like he strongly suggests, you will do well. The first half of the course is relatively easy, but between the midterm and the final a lot of information is covered quickly - so be careful! Very helpful and knows what he's talking about.

Cairo is a good prof. His lectures help make sense of the textbook and although he just goes over his own notes it is still very usefull to go to class. His tests are fair with a somewhat difficult midterm. The biggest thing is to keep up and do examples problems LOTS.

hes good at explaining concepts but the notes and what he talks about are all in the course pack that you can buy so you dont really have to go to class, his tests are fair so study alot consistently throughout the year and dont buy the textbook, you wont need it and it wont help

I took both 164 and 263 with Cairo, and he is one of my favorite profs! He is funny, helpful, and smart. However, he is TOO smart that his level of speech is relatively high. He has informative help sessions before all the exams, which are pretty difficult, though manageable. I highly recommend him.

He's a very good prof, definitely stands out at teaching. Organic chemistry is a terrible subject all together, but he breaks it down into very organized little chunks and makes it manageable! If this is a class you HAVE to take and aren't too excited about the subject, he's the prof for you. Attendance not mandatory, the package has all you need.

I had Dr. Cairo for both 164 and 263 and he is an amazing prof! He breaks things down really well and his course notes explain everything you need to know. He is very willing to help students outside of class. His test are quite straight forward, he isn't trying to trick you at all. Just do and understand the practice problems and you'll be fine.

he teaches extremely well, however tends to go slow at the beginning of the course then leave much of the course to the last 3 weeks or so. exams are fair but study hard! note: chem164 for undergrads in their first semester at university isn't any harder than chem261, only a very small portion of the course requires chem101 knowledge.

I've had a number of o-chem profs, but chris cairo is by far the best. He is clear, helpful, and fair with his marking. Best of all, I found his lectures easy to follow, and something in his delivery made me want to listen and learn more. Also, he has a rockin' red beard and a shoulder-length wavy red ponytail, so yeah.

Fantastic O chem professor. Goes out of his way to make sure that people understand the course content, and also gives the answers to the prelab in class. Hugely reccomend going to the lectures to clear up problems with the notes, as well as buying his class notes. It only costs 20 bucks and has problem sets. The final is really tough though.

The midterms are really easy (pretty much EXACTLY like the practice midterms), so its easy to do well on them but class averages are really high (around mid 70's)…BEWARE of the final though!!!!

this man is a great prof. he really wants his student to do well. He is the most prepared teacher i have ever had, he is well organized and has great notes. He provides so much resources that any student can get a A+ if they work for it

Professor Cairo is a good prof! My only complaint is that he went too slow in the beginning for the easy stuff and literally crammed the last part in a couple of weeks and the last part of ochem is the hardest. I had to read the textbook a lot to learn it towards the end which was stressful nearing finals. Other than that he's SO nice and helpful!

For teaching OChem, probably an average prof. Slow at first on easier concepts, cramming the last few more difficult concepts into the end. However, I don't think it is easy to learn/understand OChem. Tests seemed to be graded well (pending final), as they give ample part marks. Lots of work is necessary in the course to do well.

Dr. Cairo was an exceptional Prof. ALL exams were extremely fair. Just study, do the problem sets, review the lecture notes-that you should be making...Yea he does go slow at first but that makes sense, you need to know the basics really well in order to grasp the mechanisms. Final was VERY VERY fair! He answers email questions REALLY fast too.

Fantastic prof. VERY DIFFICULT class. If you need help, go see him. If for some obscene reason he can't explain it (he knows his stuff) then go to the lab help and they'll help you with lecture stuff, too. Overall, fantastic class. A bit fast, but pay attention, study hard, and you'll ace it.

He is errrrr.. ok here is the thing- 1. SUPER EASY exams which is very bad because class is curved. SO you ll get a B even if you have an 85 because class avg is 80. 2. We did not practice enough for the reactions in the end which is the hardest stuff. Goes slow in the beginning and rushes in end. FINAL was relatively EASY. DOES NOT SCREW STUDENTS

Honestly I knew nothing about any of the material past the second midterm. I got 36% on the final and still got a B- in the class because the two midterms were easy and the lab was easy marks as well. He's interesting to listen to and is a nice guy also. That being said, a friend of mine worked her ass off and only got a B+. Curve is weird.

REALLY enjoyed Dr. Cairo's class! One of my favorite profs! While he did spend a few too many lectures going over basics from 101/102, he gave effective and (for the most part) clear descriptions of the material. If you study and do problems, getting an 85+ is VERY easy on the midterms. Don't be surprised if your mark drops after the final. STUDY.

too much time reviewing past material and not enough time spent on the last (hardest) part of the course, but not necessarily his fault. Cares about his students though - put on a variety of help sessions before midtermsfinal. Decent professor, much better than most others who teach 261.

I liked him cause as long as you listen to his lectures, most of the material given would be on the test. We learn a lot and its pretty clear-cut on what we have to learn

Looks like the glasses wearing version of weird al. Lectures well done, all on doc camera, answers questions effectively and keeps up with lab material. Rushes through some stuff but has flexible, book your own, office hours. Would take another course with him for sure.

I love his lectures, I found them very interesting and he always tries to make his class interesting for everyone taking it. He always tries to relate the topic at hand to other courses like pharmacology or biochem, making it way more interesting. Textbook helps for exam studying just to help review, but not necessary at all. Got great hair too.

Great lectures and tries to make class enjoyable. All notes are posted online. Exams get progressively tougher through the semester and could spend more time on the hardest part of the course - reactions.

Everything's good but he rushes towards the end of the course, which is the hardest part (reactions). His exams get harder as course progresses but do his problem sets and you are okay. My biggest help was studying in groups for this class.

Dr. Cairo's notes are awesome, plus he uploads all of his written work from lectures. His tests are pretty fair but he grades super hard, e.g. I got the sterochem and mechanism right but I accidentally added a CH2, and I got 0/12 on that question. Able to answer questions well. He goes over the lab mechanisms on Mondays which is super helpful.

Chem263 is known to be a tough class but Cairo taught concepts well and thoroughly. He always went over the mechanisms that were in lab that week, which was extremely helpful. Overall, an awesome chem professor! Tests were always fair, if you studied, you did well.

Love Cairo, he cares about the content that is put out to students and really hammers things like resonance home because he knows itll be important. Great lecturer, explains all the concepts really well. Overall I thought he was very clear, exams were fair, and was probably one of the nicer/cooler professors that I've had

For a class with such a scary reputation, Dr Cairo makes it seem very easy. His lectures are clear and interesting. He makes sure the class has a good understanding of the basics, and then takes you through the rest of the material pretty quick. First two midterms are really easy though.

Cairo is concerned about your progress and his lectures make the information clear. His tests are fair and although the content is quite challenging he offers review sessions before the exams to ask questions.

I really enjoyed Dr. Cairo's class this semester! He is clear and straightforward with material, and he is willing to help if you need it. The first two midterms are pretty good if you practice. My only issue is that he zoomed through mechanisms, which for me was the most difficult in the course, and critical to know for the final.

Great prof, writes clear and understandable notes and expectations are very clear. Fair exams, explains/relates to other topics. As long as you take notes and listen in class, you can easily do well. Would take again 1000%.

Cairo provides an entire note package at the beginning of the term, and all of his lectures closely follow it. His lectures are engaging and insightful into other topics! He made the class actually enjoyable and had very fair exams. Highly recommend him for 261. He also reviews the labs the week before, giving good hints for the pre and post lab.

I really like Dr. Cairo. He is very knowledgeable and is very transparent with his students. If you have to take 261 then take it with Cairo. He made the war stories seem less brutal. Good Ochem prof.

Cairo makes organic chemistry easier to understand. He goes over the labs every week which is really helpful. He occasionally gives hints about exam questions during his review sessions. His midterms are very similar to the practice ones he gives. Overall 10/10 prof.

Chris was super entertaining in class and explained the midterm material super well. However, when it came to the final exam, the material (reaction mechanisms) was kind of brushed over and then tested very heavily to ensure a low average. His notes are great, and you can get a good grade if you're willing to work for it.

He blows through the first half of the course (gets up to 2 classes ahead) and then slows down in the second half and does not get enough time to cover all content. Dr. Cairo is a nice guy and throws out an occasional joke in class, but he can seem a bit awkward 1 on 1 in office hours. Midterms were easy, while the final was tough. Recommended.

Cairo was the best prof I had in my first year. Gives amazing, detailed note packages with everything you need to know. His lectures were enjoyable and I found he taught in a way that made you really understand the material he was teaching. I highly, highly recommend him for Organic Chemistry

He makes O Chem way easier than it should be. Tells you tips and tricks on how to solve questions. Also gives you tips for the lab. Easy midterms, however he tends to rush the last part of the course, which is reaction mechanisms.

He explains everything so clearly and his note style is organized and easy to follow. I found that he went at a good pace through the class and didn't rush through the harder material. He is also very explicit with what you have to know and his practice exams are highly representative of the actual exam. Without him I wouldn't have even passed!

Really organized. Good notes. This is OChem so get ready to read the textbook and seek additional resources to get to those little pesky details. Great prof that cares and fair exams.

very helpful and tries his best to take more time on concepts people dont understand very well. everything post-midterm is super ruff imo but he provides alot of practice for u so it works out in the end :). very iconic dogs they are very cute they are the reason why I'm not failing

DrCairo was an amazing prof! I was pretty intimidated to take Organic Chemistry because it is a very difficult and heavy course but Cairo made it so much better than I thought it would be. He is very accessible and his office hours were super helpful. He explains concepts in ways that make it easier to understand! Def would take again.

Dr. Cairo is a great prof. He explains the concepts well and the assessments are very fair! The structure of the course was also helpful for learning organic chemistry (i.e. quizzes, textbook problems, problem sets, workshops). I would highly recommend him for CHEM261!

Dr. Cairo is a great choice for CHEM 261! All of his exams and quizzes are fair and well adjusted for the online format. He holds weekly workshops, which are great to clarify any topics or questions covered that week. His notes are also really organized and easy to follow!

Professor Cairo is an absolutely amazing instructor. His lectures and notes are very clear and easy to follow. His communication with students is second to none, and his tests are fair. I would consider Professor Cairo the best prof that I've ever had at the UofA.

Super good prof. Quizzes help prepare for the midterms and he explains all the content really well. Ochem is a heavy course so its not an easy A at all but I'd definitely recommend Cairo to help make it more understandable.

Really good prof. Ochem is a hard course but he makes it better. Super helpful, always had review sessions before exams and his quizzes really helped prepare for exams. Super nice and was always willing to give extensions or help out if youre busy. Definitely cared and made sure we knew what was going on

Christopher Cairo has some excellent notes that will really help you understand OChem. The midterm and quiz are really easy, and the final is fair. His weekly workshops were great as well since he presented representative material on his exams. Lectures were a bit boring imo, but informative. Overall a solid choice.

I took Prof Cairos class in the fall semester, and would definitely recommend him for any person looking to take organic chemistry! He was accommodating and an excellent lecturer, with fair quizzes and straightforward midterms. He gives out a lot of supplemental practice- do them for the final, especially reaction mechanisms!