Very good teacher. Only complaint is she can be very unfair in her grading practices.

Excellent teacher, very willing to help when asked. Manages to keep a very dry subject interesting.

Wonderful Teacher, she was hard but very strong lecturer and if you put in the time and effort it definitely would pay off. Wonderful lecturer, made it interesting.

For the 1st time in my life I omprehend Chem! She makes a difficult subject clear, but you DO have to work at it. She gives many opportun-ities to bring your grade up. Notes are clear and concise. Don't take this class if you lack a sense of humor. Only complaint-sometimes over sensitive;gets defensive to innocent questions.

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Clarissa kicks ass

I concur, Clarissa does kick ass.

I had serious trouble even getting a C in this class, but I heard she changed how she taught, and a friend of mine said it was a pretty easy class when he took it.

You can tell she really enjoys teaching.

Her class is not easy but she gives lots of good examples, great notes on the board and powerpoint, and her tests questions are clear. You will walk away knowing your stuff. Risa rocks!!!

She made a difficult subject as clear as anyone could. Very good lectures. Willing to give the benifit of the doubt. Willing to help out of class. Tough though... she wont put up with any crap, and you must work hard.

She's very energetic and obviously interested in what she teaches. She isn't the easiest with her quizzes and tests, but she does it mostly to prepare her students for the standard chemistry exam (which isn't easy at all). I think the fact that she doesn't try to go easy on her students shows great character in her as a teacher.

Take HER!! Probably the best chem teacher! If you go to class and take notes you will pass the class with at least a C. She explains everything very well. Her tests are not easy but also not too difficult. The only people i saw fail the class were those that did not show up! getting anything less than a C would mean u didn't show ANY effort!!!

she is an excellent teacher. take her class if possible

Awesome instructor, she made a really difficult subject easy to learn, she's really into her job, and will go the extra mile for her students. If you want to learn about chemistry and have fun doing it, take her. You wont regret it

SHE IS THE BEST TEACHER!!! TAKE HER I CAN'T IMAGINE A BETTER INSTRUCTOR SHE IS VERY EASY TO FOLLOW AND MAKE THE CLASS FUN BEST THING TO DO IS STUDY PREVIOUS EXAMS!

Prof is extremely energetic and very thorough. She breaks concepts down into easily understood steps. Her enthusiasm shows how much she enjoys teaching and is very contagious!

I have mixed feelings about this teacher. On the one hand she is extremely helpful, patient and funny BUT, her test are very tricky. She does have some ego issues and I believe that somehow she takes pleasure in how many people drop and how many people fail her tests. If so many students are studying and trying so hard why most fail? hummm....

She goes really fast. Her quizzes and test are hard. I felt like I was totally lost in her class, but somehow I had a high B. This class is challenging. Her help sessions are helpful. She's kind of funny, but at times she thinks she's funnier than she really is. I hated the class and don't see myself taking another chemistry class with her.

I learned a lot from her, she made the subject easier to learn. Very humorous, so it makes the class not so boring.I would def recommend her!

Love her! Yes, her class is not the easiest, but she will do everything she can to help you. Clarissa has a great sense of humor. I enjoy her class.

She really spells things out and makes info simple and clear. Expresses her thoughts in an organized way and writes them out for us visual learners.HOWEVER,her tests are very hard and almost all problems involve math. If you put in the work, you'll do fine. Can't be afraid to ask questions even though she acts perturbed sometimes when you do.

Clarissa is a very good professor. She is very detailed and organized in her notes and knows her stuff. She can be a little condesending when asked questions but if you are mature enough not to let it bother you then you'll enjoy her class. Dont be afraid to ask questions and don't miss class if you want a good grade.

She will bend over backward to help anyone at anytime, her class is hard and you will work for your grade, but she is extremely fair. She teaches this boring science in a fun and energetic way, so the material is actually fun to learn. She inspires people to do their best.

Her exams are DEFINITELY HARD! If you want to do well, the only thing that will save you is reading everything in the textbook. She doesn't cover everything in her exams and expects you to know more than she teaches. She will help you if you ask, but you have to know specifically what you are talking about or you will not understand at all.

Clarissa is an AWESOME teacher! Those who say she is horrible just probably didn't study enough.She gives examples then has u work on them in class with other ppl so ucan uderstand it. She had study sessions,go to them I was pregnant and made it to every one. I got an A and she lets u have cheat sheets for tests!! c'mon!

Took Sorenson for both Chem 1510 and 1610. Be warned-her tests are very difficult. She is an excellent instructor and really knows how to teach Chem at this level. She is approachable and willing to help. She is airheaded and is relatively disorganized, but overall a great Chemistry instructor! Would certainly take her again!

All of the students who come prepared and do work outside of class to keep up seem to think she's a great teacher. If you can't handle the heat, don't take the class. If you feel like working hard and really learning chemistry, this is the right teacher for you.

She expects that you have read the material prior to class. Hmmm. Imagine that. Has a good sense of humor. Wants to see you succeed and willing to help. Could use a little more practice problems in class but overall a good instructor. Is straight from the getgo about how much time will need to be put into studying outside of class, 18 hours a week.

She is a good teacher and will help you if your willing to ask. Just don't ask silly questions and you'll be fine. Humor is awesome and she is really smart!

She is hilarious in class and does video lectures which can be watched at anytime. Very excellent teacher

I had a great experience with this teacher. She really knows what she's doing and is willing to help outside of class. She sets up tutor sessions on thursday. She rarely used the textbook and on exam 2, 3, and the final we were allowed an 8" x 11" note paper. That was REALLY helpful. Be prepared for a challenging course!

A great teacher that is willing to put in the effort if you are. Great sense of humor, but beware ignorant questions-wasting class time will lead to an abrupt end to babble. Homework is not strictly assigned, but it is likely that you'll be working practice questions 12-18 hours per week if you want pass. You get the grade you earn.

A great teacher!! She is willing to go the extra mile- provided you are too. She expects a lot from her students, don't be lazy. Don't study? Don't expect her to be sympathetic and give you an A or a B just because you show up to class. Her tests are hard and the average is low, but the grades are reflective of the effort you put into class.

hybrid course: covers material quickly, must stay on top of homework. makes herself very available with office hours, allows you to sit in her other classes to get stuff twice if you want. knowledgeable, interesting style of presenting work. not easiest, but fun if you are into chemistry at all.

Rissa is an amazing teacher if you catch on quickly and are willing to ask questions without being intimidated. She will go out of her way to help a student if you take initiative to ask. I've taken her for 1410 and 1710 and will be taking her for 1810. I would definitely recommend her if you are willing to work for your grade.

Organic I was fun but quite challenging. I felt like I learned something new and valuable from each of Clarissa's lectures. She swears a lot, and so will you after every exam. Go to the help sessions and study as much as humanly possible if you want an A.

Took this class as distance learning (DL). Seems disorganized - which is not good for DL classes. Doesn't get all course content available via Blackboard even three days before a test. Gives extremely short test times (80 mintes) for exams.

Maybe this is a new thing this semester for this professor, but she doesn't seem to have her act together this spring. I signed up for her because of the positive reviews here. Hard doesn't bother me. But this semester she seems very defensive with regard to any issue that comes up. Maybe she's getting shell-shocked by dealing with students.

easy class if you do the homework and watch videos. DL class is easy, just 3 take home quizzes and 3 tests are graded, not including the exam. The class is really straight forward if you realize this is college, not high school. The prof. isnt going to tend to your every need. loved this class and learned a lot... with a LOT of hard work.

Relies almost entirely on her videos online which poses a problem if you are not in her hybrid or online class and prefer a teacher who lectures clearly. See her in her office hours on a regular basis to get help on everything if you want/need to pass.

It is good to have many resources when they are organized and cooperative. Stuff is all over. In the videos instructor uses a party language and tone. This is science, not dudes-and-chicks gathering. Oversimplification sometime causes sidetracking. When you come back from sidetrack, she is already on something else. underestim. students' mentality.

First of all, since when did having a professor become mandatory? When is the student finally responsible for what he/she learns? I find her class wonderful. The world is your oyster on what YOU want to learn. If you go to her office hours, you'll find that there's a lot of info waiting for you. She provides the tools- you pick them up. Learn.

General Chemistry is hard, and this instructor does the best she can. She is a good instrucor and I hope that I am prepared to take the next class. Her take home test will boggle your mind, it is so hard! But I enjoyed the challenge.

Clarissa is very knowledgeable in the field of chemistry. Her exams are very hard because they are math based. The truth is that science is math based so it is to be expected. I earned a B in her class and let me tell you it was hard earned. But in the end I learned chemistry instead of just rehearsing terms or flash cards.

Very clear and easy to understand. Very Fair. Hard multi-step tests with a strong emphasis on the math. But if you come prepared you can do well. Also I did much better in the lab than other students with easier lecture teachers, so sometimes thorough is better, even if she is challenging.

Very hard, but incredibly thorough. Hands down the best chemistry professor at CNM. I learned more in her class than any class i've ever had. She is wonderful. Always pleasant, always approachable and available. If you put in the time and effort you not only gain an A, but you understand the material at an A level.

Very clear teaching. She is fair but her tests are hard. If you work hard in this class you will do well. She is very good at teaching the math. Her lecture videos are very clear.

Professor Sorenson is absolutely one of the best in her own field. Her exams might be hard, but they prepare you for the final, she gives curves, and always ready to help you. There are many scary rumors about her but not true. Her video lectures are fantastic; she loves chemistry and does care about her students.

I took her online, she wasn't very good at getting back. She also took a long to time to post grades. If you want to see your graded exams, it's hard to get them. Sometimes she puts questions on tests on material that she didn't cover in the lectures. She's OK.

You either love her or hate her. I personally like her she is a great teacher. I will not tell you her test are not hard because they are, but she teaches great makes it easy to understand.

This was a hybrid course and I did have to work hard, probably 10-12 hours a week, but I stayed on top of everything and did well. Most of my learning came through the book. I found the strategy of reading the chapter once, doing mastering chemistry, re-reading the chapters and redoing mastering chemistry problems worked best for me.

I loved this class. For those who say you're supposed to kniw it, that's the point of the format of the class! You do all the studying beforehand and then do problems and ask questions in class. Clarissa gives good representative practice exams and really prepares you.

Clarissa explained everything very well it helped me understand a lot because my lecture teacher wasn't very clear in her lectures. Watch her videos!!! They are VERY helpful!!!

Clarissa was very willing to help during office hours. It did take a little getting used to what was required in her class. I liked that the lectures were available to watch at home, and I could watch them repeatedly.

Clarissa was a great instructor! She did rely on the students doing work outside the classroom such as reading the textbook or mastering chemistry; however, that is what is required in college. The readings were short and her clicker questions helped to teach the material which helped with the labs. Overall, I learned quite a bit of material.

I thought she was a bit intimidating at first, however in the end i totally admired her. She is fair and you better read your assignments thoroughly before lab. Write down everything she puts on the board and watch her videos on bB. Her final review is excellent. Do the work and you will end the class knowing you learned alot. Excellent!

Going to office hours, studying with fellow students and spending hours doing problems is how you pass Organic Chemistry. Clarissa does expect students to have already covered the material at home. Class time is used for clarification and questions. It was a little disconcerting to not have a traditional lecture.

I took her hybrid class and relied mostly on the book for the material, however, her lecture videos were very on point with the book and she explicitly states the should only be used as a reference for clarity and such. She expects you to be prepared for class, but is happy to clarify anything you are confused about will take the time to explain.

I took her hybrid class and what I liked about it is that she provides so many resources to learn from that no matter what your learning style is, there is something for you. I liked her video lectures because they gave you a good idea of what to expect to be tested on, and the book was mostly just for reference is you needed to clarify something.

Clarissa is an absolutely wonderful professor. She expects you to do the work but loves to help students along the way. She went above and beyond for me in so many ways. Best teacher and friend Ive come across at UNM and now CNM. Get to know her! She's worth talking to :)

This was a great course. I took the Hybrid course the lectures were clear and helpful. Also, having a study group before and after class helped me understand the material. I suggest working on the material and go into the lecture ready to ask questions.

Be prepared for a REAL college course and to put in extra time studying, implementing, & retaining knowledge out of class. Clarissa is totally in love with Chemistry, and breaks things down in easier terms. She offers a plethora of study sheets, lecture videos, a personal youtube channel, handouts, etc. for you to work with. Highly recommend!

The video lectures were very straight forward. They may not have always matched up with what was expected in mastering chemistry, however you got to use the hints option in the homework that gave you extra credit. You do have to work on multiple sites but it was just a matter of time management. Her test are tricky, but you get a note card.

Clarissa's class is tough. If you are going to take it online I suggest using her SI. Watch the online videos and do the practice exams to prep you for the exams. Study hard.

I took Clarissa for the General Chemistry 1 Lab and I thought she was a great instructor. She helped us with any questions we had and always explained in detail what our lab for the day consisted of. I didn't take her for the lecture, which I hear is very hard, but I definitely recommend her for the lab!

She was honestly so funny and very down to earth. Her lectures were very informative and she actually takes the time to make sure everyone understands material. Literally only reason I passed Chem was because she was willing to help me understand the material.

I do agree. Don't take this course with this professor if you're looking for an easy A. Her course is more difficult because she teaches it as a Distance Learning course with required class attendance for further explanation and work. She also tests for understanding rather than knowledge. However, if understanding is your goal, you will get it.

She was a very good lab professor. She focused more on your understanding of how to do things, and only marked you off for messing up if you didn't understand why you did. The work load was reasonable, and her explanations in lab helped supplement the lecture course.

Great Professor, she really cares about students. She is very easy to reach with questions and gives great explanations.

I knew no chemistry going into this course and I did well and learned a lot. Their lectures were interesting and informative. You do need to study for the exams and the homework assignments are long. They offered extra credit, allowed notes for the exams, and offered a lot of resources. There isn't feedback on the exams and the grading was slow.

Not too bad. Would have preferred to take this class in person, wouldn't do it again online. For her part, she was very reasonable with grading on exams. Expect short exams with problems that go over the material in depth. If you do the homework and put in the effort, you will pass.

Rissa is really great and friendly. Her lecture videos are great and have all you need to know. Sadly, 5 mandatory learning journals.. such a drag. Not horrid, but they don't help learning. I'd rather be studying. Thankfully she's lax about them.. and also with the rest of grading and deadlines. Great if you're ahead, bad if you struggle with chem

Clarissa is an incredible professor, her "un-grading" method is so forward-thinking and gives you every chance to succeed. She grades based off of your learning process, rather than focusing only on you getting the exact, 100% correct answer. The way the class is set up can be confusing, so pay attention! The Game Plan sheet is your best friend.

One of the best professors I have had. She does require you to write reflections which is not a bad thing. They are a grade booster and you get to explain to her why you deserve the grade you want. She is easy to talk to and really cares about her students doing well in her class. I plan to take her for gen chem II and I am excited!

Clarissa is amazing!