2.9
Quality4.1
Difficulty49%
Would Retake296
Reviews49%
Would Retake
296
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
296 total ratings5
52
4
74
3
50
2
57
1
62
What Students Say
“Hilinski made me hate my life and hate my college experience”
CHM2210 - 1.0 rating“Hilinski is patronizing and downright condescending”
CHM2210 - 3.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
19%
Textbook Required
7%
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CHM2211L
5.0
(1)ORGANICCHEM1
5.0
(1)CHM12
5.0
(1)ORGO2
4.5
(2)CHM1051
4.0
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CHM10
5.0
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5.0
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Reviews (294)
Very difficult teacher, compared to the other organic teachers. he expects a lot from you. his notes are concise and he is a good lecturer though. tests are extremely difficult. Most tests averaged around 60%.
I don't know why everybody hates Dr. Hilinski. He's a nice, friendly guy. Orgo lab was interesting, and he is very reasonable when accommodating students' needs. Get to know him and you will have an easy time in whatever class you take.
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Very difficult teacher. Expects alot but is willing to help you during office hours as long as you understand the basics and have actually tried. Off topic lectures. Tests very hard. Combines many concepts into one question.
Organic CHemistry is a hard topic, so chances are you wont know what hes talking about unless you read the book. When you think you have it, you don't. Also his pace speeds up after 1st exam. I had to drop this class when the average was a 43%. I hear your best bet is with DOURGHTY or something.
i loved hilinski. he explained the topics well and he motivates you. i got an A+ in hilinskis class, and if u do the homework and study like 2 hours after each class, u will get nothing less than an A, most of the course is just memorization.
Slit your wrists first.
Hilinski is an AWESOME teacher. You will learn so much in his class and his class will help you a lot in 2211, especially if you have a really crappy teacher like Saltiel, who by the way, you should aviod like the plague for Organic I this fall.
The class is time consuming, but he is always available to answer questions and help you really understand the material, take advangtage of office hours. Unlike with Saltiel you actually get a good grip on the material and he is glad to help. The only down side is you have to take Saltiel in the spring because Hilinski doesn't teach in the spring.
Not a bad class. Definately gets harder as the year goes by and if you get behind, it's hard to get caught up. He's overall not a bad guy and would recommend him.
Worst teacher ever...
Organic Chemistry is not an easy subject, and Dr. hilinski does all he can to have you understand the material. All homework and quizzes are extra credit, which in turn, gives you practice for the test. Also Gives all the tests and quizzes from the previous semester! What a caring professor!
Worse teacher ever! I came in as a CHEM major and because of him I changed my mind! Do not do it! Class was centered more around political interests than Chemistry!
Well.. I really should thank him because I got to choose a new major AND get to start a life instead of med school.... Seriously, he's good if you have high ambition and are 100% sure you want to go to med school or some other. Or, he can 'help' you make the decision to not do so. however i could do without his 'sense of humor' that makes me cringe
Can't really say anything that hasn't been said. A VERY good teacher, but also a difficult tester. Make sure that you want to be in the class before you start. He will do everything in his power to help his students. By the end, you will know whether or not you want to go into the sciences/med school.
Wonderful teacher. Very difficult subject matter, but he gets you through it. The way to succeed in this class it to put the time into it. You realize the tests aren't all that hard because you've seen all the material so much while studying. Really great instructor but this class will make you work!
Started out easy, then all of a sudden got super tough. READ THE BOOK, his lectures don't help too often with more than one problem on the exams. When it seems you can't pass just try your hardest, you can do it.
Not difficult if you put time in to the class, and by that I mean studying about 15 hrs a week, doing every homework problem, and studying his practice tests and quizes. He gives lots of x.c. so there is no reason not to pass. I made a 52 on one of my tests and still made an A in the class. He is a very funny professor that makes lecture fun.
HILLINSKI IS ALRIGHT..AS LONG AS YOU GO TO CLASS ALL THE TIME COS HE GIVES RANDOM QUESTIONS IN CLASS THAT CARRY BONUS POINTS..HIS TESTS GET HARDER BUT ARE MOSTLY RECYCLED WITH SLIGHT CHANGES..FOR THIS CLASS ALL YOU NEED IS STUDY! STUDY!!..HE PRETTY MUCH DOES EVEYTHING ELSE..BONUS QUIZZES, HOMEWORKS AND THE LIKES ARE VERY HELPFUL...NOT FOR THE LAZY!
Half the people who take this class for the first time fail it.
good teacher. Really enjoys helping the students. If your willing to put in the effort, its possible to get an A
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He gives alright lectures.. But, he is not someone I would recommend. Half the students have dropped, perhaps more.
He is a decent professor when it comes to material but he zoomes through everything. Maniac!
If you are going to take his class I suggest that you don't take any other classes bc his will completely consume all of your time and you'll fall behind in every other class and still maybe not pass his class. lol Take his class when you are ready to devote your weekends to Organic Chemistry and not Baja's or Yanni's unfortunate but true!!!!!!
For org 1, I'll say take Hilinski. Organic is really hard so obviously ur not thinking yu getting an easy A. Hilinski gives extra credit for quizzes and homeworks. think they are not important? very wrong. Be ready to dedicate MOST of your time to this class, take NOTES in class, STUDY the problems in the book and you shd be alright. Good luck!!
You will definitely learn Organic. If you have to take the MCAT i would take hilinski. It was one of the most time consuming classes ive ever taken but he doesnt want you to fail and he gives you enough oppurtunities not to. He moves REALLY fast though so NEVER fall behind or you might as well drop, 60% of the class does.
he wouldnt let us take the test at a later date when halloween was the day before. I really wanted to go trick or treating... :(
If you are not interested in being a chemist or not taking the MCAT or taking any other classes, do not take this guy. He seems nice enough but goes a million miles an hour and doesn't curve.
I have one reccomendation for you. Readf the chapters before class and actually comprehend the material before going into his class. He goes over the same stuff that the book does but in a different light. You will be lost if you don't atleats have an understanding of the material that he is teaching during class. I got an A doing this.
Prepare to teach yourself. Arrogant teacher who offers extra credit but does not give and valuable one on one help.
absolutely horrible, DO NOT TAKE HIM. expects chem to be your life, and even tells you that, he is NOT kidding. take someone else....because half way through the semester you'll be failing or drop it if you're smart.. 1st test = hard, 2nd test gives you hope...3rd and 4th crush all that hope.... WORST EVER.
Actually Wants you to learn the information, not just scare you out of class.
He is definetely hard...HOWEVER, if you are planning on taking the MCAT- he is your best bet. The way he teaches is for you to actually learn the material. He is one of the best I have seen as far as Organic Chemistry is concerned. I had to repeat the class and I took another teacher and realized just how much better Dr. Hilenski is
Now, a lot people get the wrong impression about this guy....he's sort of eccentric and weird, he cant help it, but one things for sure, you'll understand the material if you study his notes and do extra reading like any other class. Organic Chemistry is not one of those subjects that you can take with any easy teacher!! you have to understand it..
However, if you plan to go to medical school, this is the professor for you..You have no choice but to learn the material, it will help on the MCAT, and he's really helpful, just got to his office hours, plain and simple. If you dont do good, its your fault because there is plenty of resources!!
He is okay. He tries to help you but his test are kinda hard. He doesn't make you go to class but he notices people that aren't there. Pretty boring class. Slides are EXACTLY from the book.
Very poor teacher in my opinion. He wants you to learn but he doesn't teach. His slides come straight from the book. His tests are hard.
good teacher. grades low but curved appropriately so I have no complaints. He's funny. i don't care what anyone says he's hilarious.
Organic is obviously tough and its absolutely crucial that you read the chapters to really have any idea what is going on in class. Expects everyone to have read the chapter already. Tests are very hard and harder than the problems in the book but you'll get use to it and he gives EC through HW and quizzes. You have to learn the material!
Hilarious guy, OCD for sure. Very good teacher, but organic is a very time consuming subject, and when I say time consuming I mean expect to read all chapters you cover (only ten!) There are 4 tests (ea worth 100 pts) and a 200 pt final, you also have the opportunity for 100 easy extra credit points throughout the semester. Easy A.
He's funny if you're smart enough to get his jokes. It's not an easy class but he gives plenty of extra credit, and explains things well (though he assumes you have already read the material). Be prepared to spend nights and weekends on Organic, and come to class prepared. If you fail this class it's your own fault, not his.
He is the best Orgo teacher, I took his class 2years ago and I still use his notes to tutor MCAT, PCAT, DAT and Orgo. If you want to learn this material take his class. I has Salteal and he is the worst you dont learn anything from that old man. Helnski is not easy, but hez not hard if you do the homework in the back of the chapter without copying
do all the extra credit, get the solutions manuel so you can copy the HW instead of wasting your time trying to get the wrong answer. go to office hours and he'll give you the old tests with the answers. study the old tests but watch out because he usually has subject matter on the new ones that wasnt anywhere on the old test
He's ok. He tries to be as helpful as he can, but don't think you're gonna do well without reading the material prior to lecture, and studying atleast 2 hours a day. DO ALL THE EXTRA CREDIT. I never went to recitation unless there was going to be a extra credit quiz, but who knows...maybe if I would have gone to recitation I would have gotten an A.
Good teacher. Took this past summer and got an A. 20 EC points from hw, four 10 point EC quizes. All I suggest is to read ahead if you ever get a chance to, look over your notes often and find as many practice tests as you can besides the ones he posts on blackboard. First two tests you should get an A on, last two tests get harder( mechanisms )
Does NOT try to be as helpful as he can. Highly egotistical and allows this to ruin his lectures by rushing through material, leaving the student better off alone. Yet he requires students to memorize useless material only covered in class to ensure lecture attendance. Vague and last minute on test details. Rants aloud absentmindedly during tests.
This class is tough because its organic chemisty. yet if you work hard and read ahead or stay with the material it is very managable class. I would recommend doing the pratice test and then asking him to go over the answers in his office. if you have questions.
Hilinski has amazing notes--everything is clean cut and to the point. Basically learn your notes inside and out. READ THE BOOK and do book problems for xtra credit! You either will love it or hate it. I recommend to write your notes in class, and recopy them after to make things cleaner and clearer in your head. Highly recommended over others!
I really liked Dr. Hilinksi. Don't miss any classes and go over your lecture notes on a regular basis. Practice with his practice tests and quizzes and you'll be fine. Also don't miss any HW's. An A is possible if you work really hard! :-)
He's an self-righteous, unhelpful professor.I missed a test attending a funeral. For this he made my cumulative final over 50% of my grade. He's unorganized and takes forever to grade tests. He tests on every minute detail instead of focusing on important topics. He rants on during class and then gives a bunch of notes at the end. BAD TEACHER!
I liked his teaching style a lot better than Saltiel and Kearly. His notes are very good but you'll probably have to rewrite them because he moves quickly through lecture sometimes. EC opporutnities (20 pts for HW and 40 pts for quizzes). Tons of practice quizzes and exams... It's Orgo2, it's hard but it's totally passable if you are committed
Dr. Hilinski is no doubt enthusiastic about chemistry, but I believe his delivery of notes and information is not well organized as he writes very little on the overhead. His tests are tougher than other professors, but he does offer more extra credit via quizes / HW. He also assigns ALL the book problems, many of which are irrelevant to the test
First of all, you need to accept the fact that you're taking organic chemistry, so its not a breeze. If you don't get an A or B in Dr. Hilinski's class, you did not try at all. He does move quickly, but suck it up, its college. Very passable, just keep up with the material. Feeling sick is not an excuse to fail a test. YOU FAILED the test.
you either like him or you don't..I did. He scares the crap out of you, but thats good because it forces you to actually learn. you need to know your stuff for the tests, that simple. lived by his notes and book. tip: go to office hours, he will notice!!!
If he puts on his notes, its a poss its on the test. If he doesnt, DONT worry about it. His tests are fair, he covers what he puts on it. He teaches good enough for an orgo teacher. Most important: the last 2 lectures before a test, is what most of the test is going to be on! Do your hw and well on ur quizes. my tests were 69,72,73,86 i got an A-.
Ridiculous. Assigns EVERY problem in the book for homework. Deviates away from the text book, goes whole lectures of material not in the text. Speeds through material. We did an entire 35 page chapter in 2 days. That being said, tests are actually pretty easy.
HILINSKI IS A LEGEND!
Not a great professor. He's the kind of guy where people either love him or hate him. I personally have a very difficult time following his lectures and I only understand the material when I use the book to teach myself. His tests are hard. He gives pop quizzes which are EXTREMELY annoying.
Loud and will keep you on your toes. Does not enter grades online which bothered me a lot. Annoyed that you get only 2 pts for a whole chapters work. Whole grade depends on Test and quiz. So if you get this stuff, do well on exams, and don't need hw grades he's perfect. If you're like the majority of kids and need the hw grades, he's not great
As far as orgo professors go, Hilinski is straight forward and really not that difficult. If you understand his lectures, you are fine. Quizzes and Homework is all extra credit (like a built-in curve). But it's orgo; gotta work hard to get a good grade. Some people can't stand him, I kind of liked him
First of all I am doing well in his class only because of ME. His lectures are not very useful as far as information goes. My advice to people who are going to take him is to read EVERY chapter, go to recitation, take all his quizzes and hw which are extra-credit. His lecture notes are posted online which are useful. If you do this you will get A
He uses this really cute and not irritating Kermit the Frog voice in class to teach. He's also God's gift to comedy and he's really hilarious when he randomly screams during exams and calls students "dumb" for missing quiz questions. His lectures are cool in the way that they don't teach you and doing 60 problems is worth 2 extra credit points.
If you want to end up memorizing the entire course on your own, listening to a pretentious man purposely talk like Kermit the Frog, and watching a few student pets be praised while most of the class struggles with low test averages while being laughed at, Hilinski is the guy for you.
Worst organic teacher ever. The only reason I did good in this class is because I taught myself. Horrible lectures, boring, screams at us, calls us stupid because we get things wrong. Only 2 points extra credit for doing ALL the problems in the chapter. SO disrespectful. TAs were the only good thing from this class. DO NOT TAKE.
If you show him you are trying your hardest he will pass you. I failed every test but went to office hours and did all the e.c. I passed. He is very hard and since I was not taking the lab so I didnt need to fully understand the material.
Dr. Hilinski is definitely a difficult teacher. But he DOES teach the students everything they need to know. If students actually cared and tried they would not be complaining on here. I have a 98 in his class cause I work my butt off. He is a great teacher! Kids just don't want to put the time in and then blame him because they did bad.
From all the professors I've had, worst ever! Take his class if you want to teach yourself orgo. No point in going to class. The extra credit he offers is the least he can do.
Dr. Hilinski is an ok professor. There is no doubt that he KNOWS Organic but he does have a tendency to goon rants and ramble on about useless information.It helps to actually READ the book. Try to take your own notes in addition to the one from class. Overall, he's not that bad of a guy. He's blunt too. Also, TA's are YOUR FRIENDS AND RESOURCES.
He was ok orgo is very hard but if you go to class and take the notes, even what he doesnt write down it will help. I found myself in stroz hours before the test with a group going over everything. The practice tests are very helpful but overall not a horrible teacher.
Read the book, study off of old exams and use any tutoring service. Also go to office hours; he will notice! Incessant rambler but helpful to those who show they want to be. If you hail from Tallahassee and you need to take orgo 2 over the summer, do it here (especially if you attend UF; faculty and TA's are more readily available for help!!)
He is the BEST! I failed Orgo 1 with saltiel and got an A with hilinski! He is so smart and makes the material comprehendible. Study from the book and practice tests (which are very similar to the actual test) and you will do great! I strongly recommend going to class and taking a good set of notes to review, goodluck!!
Awesome teacher, very clear and he knows his stuff.
Great teacher. Lectures can be extremely fast paced at times, but he often punctuates them with a story or something. Very clear and concise. Reading the book before or shortly after class helps significantly, but is not absolutely necessary like some people claim. I took Orgo 1 over the summer, and he gave out a ridiculous amount of extra credit.
GREAT teacher for either semester, extremely helpful and funny. Organic is difficult but he makes you really want to do well and you get a fundamental understanding of the subject that sticks with you in future classes. There is also a big curve so don't freak out about test scores too much! Hilinski or die
Hilinski is the man. If you take orgo, make sure you take it with Hilinski. People complain about the class incessantly, but if you put in the amount of time he recommends (3-4 hours of studying per hour of class), you'll do fine, especially with Hilinski's help.
He moves very fast in lectures, be sure that you are able to write and draw structures fast!! He is helpful if you need help. He gives lots of opportunities for bonus points, I suggest you do these. When people hear Orgo, they usually cringe; but He is the best orgo teacher. Take him... he is way better than Saltiel.
Sometimes class is confusing, but he always tells his students to come to office hours, he even holds weekly meetings outside of class if anyone has any questions. He really does want the best for his students, and I highly recommend him, especially with all the halarious stories he tells. Don't expect an easy A, but put in an effort and you fine!
Such a great teacher. Gives an exorbitant amount of extra credit that if you actually do will help you understand the material very well. I read the text book cover to cover which was really helpful as he goes at a very fast pace so it's hard to keep up when you're clueless about the material.
Hillinski is a great teacher that is very clear on what he feels you should know. He gives a lot of practice problems with answers included that help give you and idea of the type of questions he will ask and the information you should know. With the amount of extra credit given and a good amount of time and effort put into the class...an A is good
Organic is a tough subject but Hilinski will teach you exactly what he expects you to know on the test. If you go over his notes, do his practice tests/quizzes and follow through with what he asks of you then you should be able to do fine.
If you know that Organic is your strength, this class will be a breeze. You will have a lot of studying to do (obviously!) but he lays out everything that is important. I didn't drop below 100% all semester with extra credit (another bonus)
He is very funny and a good teacher. He goes over everything in class and there are lots of ec points. Its a lot of work but if you dedicate the time to it, you'll do fine
The best organic teacher I have encountered. His notes and practice problems are almost exactly what you see on the test and quizzes. I barely passed orgo 1 and I did very well in his class. Office hours are helpful too.
I cried because of this class.. He goes way too fast in lecture. Hard to understand if you didn't read the book prior. Way better in office hours. Pretty much taught myself. Curves. Show you're making an effort! His practice problems are the type of questions you see on the exam. A lot of work outside of class. A lot of studying. Gotta work hard!!
Hilinski has a god complex, almost every class he tells you how amazing he is at organic chemistry and how stupid the class is. When you start to ask a question he won't let you finish before he starts talking. He grades tests extremely fast, but there are tons of mistakes made and you have to resubmit for regrading.
So funny and nice! He really cares a lot about his students and teaching. His problem sets are just like the exams and quizzes. I'm taking him for Orgo 2 and couldn't be happier about it. He gives a lot of room for buffer with your grade with extra credit. You MUST put work into this class to do well!
Tests are difficult, however even if you fail them he doesn't make it seem like it's the end of the world. I didn't receive and A on a single test in his class and ended up with an A for my final grade for Honors Orgo 2. Honestly just show him you're trying and he will reward you. But trust me, do NOT expect an easy A.
He does not seem to like people at all, and he seems very uninterested in them when they speak to him. he treats his black TA like crap. pretty ok teacher, but disgusting attitude
Go to class, read the book, practice the problems at the end of the chapter, and be prepared for the exams to be super difficult. He truly does care about his students and wants them to succeed, but he isn't a great professor... I had to teach myself the entire time
Don't be expecting an easy class... you have to work insanely hard for it... But in the end you will thoroughly understand Chemistry. I thought I had a B- but Hilinski ended up giving me an A. He is a very fair professor and I'd recommend him to anyone
As someone who is now finishing up medical school and going onto a competitive residency program, I have to say Dr. Hilinksi's class was a turning point in my undergrad career. He makes it a point to get you ready for the rigorous curriculum in medical school and makes his expectations clear early on. He also provides plenty of help.
One of the worst professors at FSU. He is mean and condescending. Shows zero respect to students and is not approachable at all. stay away if you can. Class isn't hard to pass as long as you put in the effort. He just sucks though
Very hard class. I ended up withdrawing. He curves, though, which is good. If I stayed in the class I probably would have scraped by with a C-, but I didn't want to risk it. I like him a lot but he is not very clear in explaining things. I ended up retaking orgo with a different professor and it is much easier.
Hilinski is the best professor for this course. He is extremely intelligent which makes it seem harder than it is, but he has his stuff together!! It makes the class enjoyable because he is so funny and he loves Organic. He'll kick your butt but it's worth it and necessary. Great guy.
In my time at FSU, I haven't had a professor that provides as many resources to help you succeed as Hilinski does. However, he believes speaking like an organic chemist is more important than understanding concepts, so his lectures are completely useless unless you essentially memorize the book beforehand. You have to work on your own regardless.
Dr. Hilinski is patronizing and downright condescending.If you're a starry-eyed student, then you may think he's the bee's knees. However, he provides all the resources you need to ensure a good grade on the exams - he's predictable in that regard. Even though he tends to be incomprehensible at times, hang in there,it'll all make sense eventually.
Took Hilinski for Honors Orgo 1 and 2. He appreciates students who work hard and come to office hours. Must study outside of class. DO PRACTICE SETS. Old exams are floating around (he returns them after grading) and are helpful. He's not warm and he's rather peculiar, but he is a brilliant man who wants students to succeed. Memorize the mechanisms!
Prepares you well for exams. Good luck on passing. Very tough grader. EXTREMELY SASSY ...
One of the worst professors for orgo 1, not because he doe not know the material, but lacks the ability to lay a strong foundation to build upon. I can understanding him being a better professor for orgo 2. I highly suggest you do not take him for orgo 1!
Hilinski is interesting. He doesnt teach during lecture, just throws the answers on the projector and itll make sense when you teach yourself. I stopped going to lectures when I realized I would just have to teach myself. DO THE PRACTICE EXAMS, they are mirror images of the actual exam, seriously, mirror images. If you put in some work, easy A.
Try not take him for Orgo 1. Does not explain anything well. Also is just plain rude to people for no reason. If you can teach yourself... and I mean TEACH... you can probably pass. But for most people, you have never seen this material before and Hilinksi does not explain or give helpful examples at all.
He's a tough professor, but it's not an easy subject. You have to put a lot of your own work it but he gives you clear expectations and if you follow what he says, he recognizes that and your grade will reflect it. There's usually a big curve at the end, but it only helps if you put in the effort.
Amazing professor, but going to class is absolutely necessary. Go to class, do the worksheets, and occasionally read the book and the class will be easy to pass. Getting to know him can help you as well. :)
Took Hilinski for Gen Chem 1 Honors, Orgo 1, and Orgo 2 Honors. Study his problem sets and practice tests, because tests and quizzes are identical to those problems. He's very helpful in office hours. Not very approachable, but nice when he gets to know you. Gave "pop" quizzes but he always told you when they would be. No homework. Fair grader
I currently have him for Orgo 1 and it is a tough class. Do not expect an easy A or B.. You must work your butt off but if you do it all makes sense and you will do well. He tells you exactly what he expects on exams w his practice exams and problem sets .. SO DO THEM. Book is essential!! Teach yourself.. Don't skip class. makes class interesting
I'm taking Orgo 1 with him right now (after not passing it the first time with another professor) and I absolutely LOVE him. Do the problem sets and re-read your notes for good test practice. There won't be any surprises on the test if you do that. It's hard work but well worth it. Im taking him again for Orgo 2 in the fall. An A is possible!
His tests and quizzes are just like old tests, so if you can get those you'll be fine. But honestly, he sucks at teaching. He does not want to be there, and he treats his students really poorly. Don't even try going to office hours. I stopped going to class halfway through the semester. His lectures are extremely confusing.
Clearly shows you what you need to pass and if you do all of his old tests and problem sets there should be no surprises on the test. If you put the work in an A is definitely gettable. Reading the book before class is also a good idea, even though he is good at explaining the material.
It's Organic Chem so its going to be hard. So just keep up with the lectures and rewrite your notes. I am pretty sure there is a curve at the end. He does not enter grades into blackboard you have to calculated it yourself its not that hard to do so.
He was the best professor I ever had!! He really inspired me to horn my study habits. I feared that I was going to fail but I got myself together towards the end. I HIGHLY recommended him, and that's coming from me who isn't such a strong chemistry student.
Dr. Hilinski is a wonderful professor for orgo 1 at FSU, he makes lecture enjoyable but everything you have heard from him is true; his class is tough, he is condescending, but if you pass with an A, you know the material in-and-out. I recommend summer semester - 4 tests w/o final, and 4 out of 6 quizzes. Fall/spring 4 tests, final, 4 out of 6 Q
Professor Hilinksi is an amazing teacher! He is very helpful during office hours as long as you have your notes and a specific question. He offers so many resources to his students in the form of practice tests and homework packets. The quizzes rotate difficulty and the tests come right from the homework and sample tests. Just rework problems!!
His lectures are very confusing, mostly because he gets off topic a lot and starts talking about Orgo. If you put in the study time the tests won't be so bad and he curves at the end of the semester so that basically everyone gets an A or a B. He's a confusing professor but a nice guy.
Doesn't teach well at all. Jumps all over the place in lecture so there's no structure in what you're learning, just a bunch of random things that you have to piece together. Tests are predictable but you get less than 50 minutes to take them as he talks and wastes time passing them out. Condescending to his students.
Hilinski is an eccentric lecturer and keeps things interesting. He is very helpful if you go to his office hours with questions and he makes it apparent that he wants his students to truly understand the chemistry as opposed to just being able to pass the class. Definitely recommend him if you are interested in organic chemistry.
Dr. Hilinski is not the best lecturer ever, he goes over time and goes off on tangents every day. The good thing about him is that he gives practice exams and you can find all of his old class materials online. This is a tough class, do not expect an easy A. IF YOU NEED TO TAKE ORGO 2, TAKE HIM. He will make sure you are prepared. Use the book!
Tests are cumulative and get increasingly harder. He skips a lot of stuff in lecture so reading the entire book is necessary.
He is so condescending and unhelpful. I am a junior and have never received even a B+ in college and I received a C in his class. Yes, Orgo is hard, but he does not teach nor explain anything. His lectures are useless therefore the book is your best option. If you can avoid taking him, I definitely would.
His lectures are very confusing. He has random tangents that he tries to make pertain organic chemistry. He is very rude and disrespectful to his students and colleagues. I advise you to use textbook and khan academy. However, he does give you some of his old exams so you will be familiar with the format and types of questions he will ask.
Hilinski is an interesting character. He is very funny and incredibly smart. He digresses a lot during lectures which means you will probably end up self-teaching but the class is hard itself, its not just the professor. I would definitely recommend him, he is the best orgo professor at FSU.
If you have to take orgo 2, take hilinski. I took saha for orgo 1 and realized i knew nothing compared to students in other classes so i had to withdraw and took it with hilinski. He is definitely a better professor. It's hard to get tutored since the questions he puts on exams is harder than even what honors classes have. read the book.
Organic chemistry is a hard class in general but he is more difficult than the other professors. The average is very low in the class due to the difficulty of the exams, if you can pass this class with a good grade I feel that you will do well in Orgo 2. I would recommend him only because he will prepare you for Orgo 2. Very stressful class for me.
Hilinski is a very interesting man. His lectures are sort of all over the place, but he has very clear cut expectations for what he wants you to know. Can be rude to students, but if you attend office hours, he's very helpful. DO the practice tests he gives you and use ClutchPrep for extra help (trust me), and getting an A is definitely doable!
His class is very difficult but if you do what he asks of you and put in the effort and time it is doable. Make sure to do the practice exams and go to class as well as read the book. His office hours are very helpful as well.
Hilinski was by far my favorite professor at FSU. He was interesting and enthusiastic and was able to spark my interest in the otherwise difficult subject matter. He is super helpful in office hours. Above all, he makes you learn the material - which matters.
I hate this guy. He's rude and condescending like most of the chemistry department. He knows his stuff (because hes been teaching for +30 years which is constantly reminds you) but he is very arrogant to students. Be arrogant to your colleges sure, but not to your students who you are supposed to be TEACHING. avoid. oh and he gives NO curve
Avoid at all costs. He'll prepare you for Orgo II however he doesnt care if 10 kids out of 200 pass because he doesn't think the class is meant to be easy. I believe if the average of your class isn't passing that doesn't indicate the students don't know the material, it means you aren't accurately grading the exams or you don't know how to teach
Hilinski is a great professor in my opinion. His lectures are confusing and the class itself is quite difficult but if you actually look over the lecture notes (which I never do but did) you can see why things happen. Also his Exam questions come straight from practice exams, problem sets, quizzes, and lecture notes if you pay close attention.
Organic chemistry is a hard class no matter who you take it with. Hilinski is mediocre, his lectures are long and he doesn't actually teach much. Read the book, do his practice tests and problem sets and you should be fine. You really have to work for an A or B in this class. I took him for both Orgo 1 and 2, I think this was the best route.
He will stop in the middle of class and tell you information that you do not need to know or go off on stories that are irrelevant. When he is actually teaching he explains the information as though you've been dealing with Organic Chemistry as long as him. Gives plenty of examples but does not explain how they work
took him for CHM2210 and CHM2211, I learned so much from him, he really teaches you a lot about chemistry. His class is hard and requires a lot of studying but an A is do-able, study the notes and you'll be good to go. The book wont help at all, and the TAs kind of all sucked
Very hard class no matter who you take it with. He gives plenty of practice quizzes and tests before the actual ones. Goes through examples too fast. 4 tests and 4 of 6 quizzes are graded. DO NOT SKIP CLASS, towards the end of the semester a whole chapter can be covered in a lecture. Rent the solutions manual , it will save you
Do all Problem Sets & Practice Exams in advance, it outlines tests very well. Read the book b4 class EVEN if it doesn't make sense at 1st, take voice recordings during class b/c it's easy to miss little details, do book probs, review class notes every day. Go to Hilinski's Office (no one else) if something's confusing. That's how I got an A-
He's a phenomenal teacher -- gives clear expectations and gives you the tools necessary to succeed. It's a tough class that requires a lot of work, but the content is difficult regardless of the teacher. Hilinski makes it easy to understand the material, he relates it to a broader perspective, and he's pretty funny too. He cares about his students.
This class is very hard and Dr. Hilinski isn't too great at teaching and explaining the material. He expects his students to automatically be good at organic chemistry. As well, he often is rude to students in class and makes you feel very inferior. His exams are very hard and there's no homework, so you need to do well on them
Hilinski is not only not a good person, he is the WORST professor I've ever had or heard of. He is very rude and expects you to know everything just as well as he does before he teaches it, which is ridiculous considering its his job to teach . He acts like you are inconveniencing him by asking questions. Expects WAY more than necessary out of you
Not only is he not a good person, but he is the WORST professor I have ever had or heard of. He acts like you are inconveniencing him by asking questions, as well as like you should already know the material as well as he does as he teaches it, and barley teaches anything. Expects WAY more than necessary out of you, and is an all around rude person
Would not take. Take someone else. Save yourself!
Does not teach and is more of a show an tell teacher. Exams are fair, but he provides no resources to help you understand the material. It's a free for all, so be prepared to spend extra extra hours for the textbook and online resources. Incredible how he gets paid to not teach.
He used to be a good professor but due to personal issues he has become terrible. Do not take him this is the hardest course I've taken at FSU due to the professor. Does not teach in class he posts pre written slides and reads them in class. You will have to teach yourself from the textbook just to get a c average. DONT TAKE HIM
I really enjoyed taking organic chemistry with Dr. Hilinski. His concise lectures really helped me focus on the subject and succeed. He taught me the importance of a great backdoor attack, an SN2. I would have failed without that personal touch.
Hilinski started off as a great professor, teaching the notes well, I even got a 96 on the first exam. But then he decided the class wasn't moving fast enough and started reading off prewritten lecture slides that leave the entire class completely lost. It's a better use of time to watch khan academy videos than to show up to class now.
Honestly, I think he is a good teacher but this is organic chemistry. It is not an easy A course and if you don't put the effort in, you wont make a great grade.
It's orgo, it's gonna be hard, you're gonna have to work for it. That being said his exams are very similar to his practice exams he gives you. Class can be confused if you don't read ahead. If you work for it, an A is possible. Just find as many practice problems as possible. I think he was an okay teacher, better than some other orgo teachers.
Worst class I have ever taken. He doesn't help when asked questions during review and lectures you about how you should already know the answer. He reads from pre-written notes during class and does not explain anything. He expects you to be on the same level as him even though this is an intro class. DO NOT TAKE
He's definitely intelligent, but I don't think he's necessarily fit to be a teacher. He can be extremely condescending and just began reading off of a PowerPoint slide rather than working out the problems. Of course you have to read to do better, but he doesn't even provide a solid foundation. Learned more from tutors and videos.
If you want to learn Organic Chemistry then I suggest taking him but be warned it is extremely hard. The tests are difficult and most questions are not found in the book. I suggest reading the book thoroughly, going to office hours, and doing practice problems to pass. He is very helpful but a tough grader. No matter what this class is difficult.
He's kind of crazy but he really knows what he's talking about. Definitely requires a lot of work, but his exams are SOOOO similar to the practice exams he posts. He drops your 2 lowest quiz grades and curves at the end of the course. If you have to take organic 2 then I would recommend him, you wont leave orgo 1 without knowing what you're doing.
Dr. Hilinski is the best organic chemistry professor on campus. I received a B in the class due to the toughness of the subject. Treat office hours as if they're lectures, for I have learned the most in office hours. Overall good guy, study after every class for 10 minutes. Lots of memorization but they'll make sense afterwards.
Hilinski is a bit of a crazy guy but if you really show that you're putting in the effort, he'll help you out at the end of the semester. The highest I ever got on one of his tests was a 54 and I studied hardcore for the final and he gave me a C in the class. Really nice guy when it comes down to it. Definitely go to office hours
He's a smart guy, but super inconsistent in his methods and assistance. Sometimes he'll release 3 sets of problems throughout the weeks leading up to the test, and then the next chapters he will leave you out to dry and maybe release last years exam the day before the test. He goes off on tangents during lectures and tests as if we all r chem maj
Professor Hilinski is a nice guy but he expects you to know a lot coming fresh from Chem 2. He will teach as if you have already read the chapter so READ AHEAD. His slides have mistakes often and he doesn't fix them online. He posts old tests to study from but only 48 hours before the exam so you usually don't have enough time to get through it all
Unbelievable teacher. Obviously knows his stuff especially cuz he got his PhD from Yale. Very tough subject but if you put in the work you will succeed. If you don't put in the work, you don't get to complain about having to retake the class.
He is very condescending and rude. I went to office hours constantly and he WILL belittle you If you ask a question he doesn't like. Some days are good but overall he is in a bad mood all the time. He honestly believes that you should teach yourself everything and that its not his job to teach you DO NOT TAKE, HE IS HORRIBLE.
He was literally the worst. Orgo wouldn't have been hard with any other professor. He doesn't set up clear expectations, his lectures don't match up with the quizzes, he stopped posting practice problems 2 quizzes in, he gives new material for the test the day before, and he doesn't answer questions or help very well. don't waste your sanity.
Dr. Hilinsky is one of the smartest professors I've ever encountered. He's a genius, incredible at explaining the complexity of Orgo. He prepared me unbelievably well for organic 2. READ THE BOOK and ill reiterate it once again, READ THE BOOK. Stay ahead about a chapter before each lecture and if you don't study the night before, you're good.
He would be okay if he wasn't so condescending to his students. He thinks he is the best thing since sliced bread. He really does know what he is talking about though and he prepares you well for his tests, but his personality is quite offsetting.
I'd only recommend taking his class if you want to fall into a pit of despair and self-loathing. Hilinski made me hate my life and hate my college experience. Not sure what my grade is yet, but if there is no curve, it will most definitely be an F, and this is coming from someone with - formerly - a 3.8 GPA. I'll be retaking it, but not with him.
He is a terrible. He teaches as if you already know everything coming in, expects you to be nearly a chapter ahead, and he makes you feel dumb for asking questions. And the exams were nothing like the practice exams he posts. Quizzes are not the same for recitations so you can get a harder quiz then your friend. Orgo is hard but not this hard
Hilinski is tough. Would recommend taking over summer if you have the chance so you can dedicate time to class. He is a character for sure. Funny guy, a little off taking but be brave my friends... Ask TAs for help. Maxwell, ILY. USE his notes. PRINT them out. USE book as well. USE practice exams. PRACTICE! You will learn something
Hilinski tries to keep it light by making jokes and going on tangents, which I find helpful to get my concentration back (lectures can get dense). He outlines how to pass the class at the beginning- listen. Don't let the material scare you and you can pass. I have never found school difficult, but I worked 15+ hours per week for this course.
Orgo is a hard class no matter who you take it with and Hilinski is better than most. The nice thing about his class is everything comes from his notes ( I didn't really read the textbook) and he posts practice exams very similar to what the exam is going to be. This class is really about the effort you are willing to put in so set aside time.
Seems like the worst guy ever in the beginning of the semester, I think he just wants whoever is going to drop to drop, but tells you everything you need to do to pass. Listen to him. He may seem super arrogant but he knows what hes doing & will help you get an A. Overall organic chem is just an intensive course on its own. Curves at the end.
Orgo 1 and 2 are both based on three tests and quizzes. Really smart guy who knows his stuff. Orgo is hard. Period. Hisinski's note's are great. Just study a ton from the start and DON'T GET BEHIND and you'll be fine. He curves a lot too. (And he loves his honors classes).
Took hilinski for both orgo 1&2 and even though it put me through the ringer, Ive heard people who took others for orgo 1 then hilinski for orgo 2 and had a tougher time. Makes you know the material and you certainly feel accomplished after two semesters. Tests & quizzes follow the same format for both semesters so just find old ones to practice.
Use the textbook for supplemental reading and thoroughly review his notes because sometimes he reuses reactions in slides to see who pays attention. Curves a lot at the end and ive known people who got 50s and 60s on every exam but passed, just stay above the average. Tough but if you cant handle pushing yourself, goodluck in med school etc.
Notes are hard to understand. So much material to memorize at once. Very stressful. Never been so stressed in my life before. Switched my major and career goals just because of this class
Hilinski is a crazy guy, but really knows his stuff. His powerpoints are your bible for passing his class, know the slides and do ALL practice problems you can find and you will do fine. Test averages are low but the curve is nice. If you are a little weaker in chemistry, I would recommend taking this class in the summer so you can really focus.
Easily the worst professor I've ever come across during my time at FSU. He talks about the most useless things during lecture and then whines about how his ratemyprofessor reviews says that he just points at his pre-written notes with a laser pointer.. which is exactly what he does. Lecture is useless. Tests are so much harder than they need to be.
Your grade is based on 4 exams and a few quizzes. All his notes are prewritten powerpoint slides but he does a good job explaining them, you must pay close attention or you will get lost. Test are exactly like the the practice problems he gives you so you will never be surprised on an exam. I got 75s on every exam and ended up with a B+.
His notes are ALL YOU NEED. Outline the mechanisms and reactions and do his problem sets over and over. If you learn the material off his slides early along with mastering his practice problems, I don't see why you can't get an A in the class. The only time it is difficult is when he posts problems late. This is a weeder out course, and he knows.
Easy the hardest courses I have taken. Took over summer which may have made it more difficult. ALWAYS read the book before going to class so that you can understand the lectures. Got a C on three test and a B on one. Ended with a B+. DONT DROP HE WONT FAIL YOU. My friend had a 44% and she passed!!!
I took him for the Summer 2018 semester. His class is not easy at all, however you need to put in 3-4 hours a day and then almost 30-40 hours for each test. I studied mainly from the slides and learned to understand why everything happened. Study them and be able to explain what you are doing. Fat curve at the end, averaged 80 on exams and got an A
Listen orgo is tough but Hilinski is without a doubt your best option. His practice exams are really similar to the real exam and he curves the heck out of the test grades but not until the end of the class so if you're failing halfway through the semester don't worry. My raw score on all my tests were like C+ and I got an A in the class.
Extremely difficult but I really enjoyed him. I got the A in Orgo 1 but then didn't work hard enough in Orgo 2 and ended up with a C+, so you get what you deserve in the class at the end. All his exams are exactly like the practice exams he gives you, so the exams will never catch you off guard.
Orgo is hard no matter who you take it with, but Hilinski gives you all the resources you need to do well. His notes and problem sets cover exactly what will be on each exam. I rarely attended his lectures and never opened the textbook once; just study his notes and old exams! He can seem intimidating but he's super helpful at office hours.
Okay, this is by far the hardest class I have taken at FSU. Hilinski expects you to stay a chapter ahead which is almost impossible. I got a D on every test and thought I would fail the class but somehow ended up with a C so Dont drop!! HE CURVES A LOT. Stay ahead and you'll be okay but.. good luck
Tests and quizzes come STRAIGHT from his notes and practice quizzes. Get a whiteboard and copy the reactions and mechanisms over and over and understand what's happening. They're fair but you have to learn how to manage your time. Lecture is useless, the curve is super generous though. Drops 2/6 quizzes too. He's funny but I had to teach myself
Love this man. Only studied max 3 days before every test and was always at least 10points above the mean. its really not that hard just study his notes. way easier to get a C or a B with the cure though. You need to be doing extremely well for the A.
Hilinski is not such a bad guy despite the rumors. His exams & quizzes weren't awful, because the material came from textbook problems or the notes. An A is attainable if you try hard enough. You mainly have to teach yourself, but take advantage of office hours and practice exams (they resemble the tests very closely). Curves very nice at the end!
This was the worst class I've ever taken. I personally couldn't get used to his teaching style at all, he has all the notes already written, and he just reads them occasionally adding his 2 cents. He explains nothing, and makes you feel stupid in front of the class if you ask a question. His lectures were pointless to go to, but I still went anyway
Dr. Hilinski is the smartest person I've ever met. He yells at students in lecture, which I don't like. You have to learn a lot on your own. Practice exams and extra problems are given before exams and the final. The wording of his questions are very clear. He can be intimidating and sarcastic but overall a great guy.
very intelligent guy, that is passionate about chemistry. He can be crazy at times, but literally gives everything you need to know to pass his exams and will help you in office hours, but you have to put in a lot of effort. Big curve at the end of the semester
The best teacher for Orgo 1&2 no doubt. Very intelligent and answers all questions if you go to office hours. Gives 2-3 practice exams before the exam and they are super similar. Orgo is the hardest class Ive ever taken because of the material but study 4-5 days for tests and you are fine. Good preparation for med school. Big curve at the end
I took Ochem 2 with this guy and got an A. I normally didnt go to FSU and went to another university that is typically ragged on by FSU folks. So. Anyway. I took notes, went to office hours, asked around for help when I needed it and voila, I got an A. I did all the homework and practice tests, which helped.
He doesnt teach at all. He already has his slides up for the semester and just reads off them or ramble during the class period. Be prepared to teach yourself every lesson. He does upload about 2-3 practice exams before each test and their almost exactly like the test so take advantage. Also doesnt post grades on canvas.
This was one of the most challenging classes I have ever taken. After scoring not too well throughout the whole semester, I passed! He curves, DO NOT DROP. The slides are uploaded to Canvas and he gives practice exams before every exam. As long as you master how to do those, you should be fine.
THIS CLASS IS HORRIBLE. worst professor I have ever had in my life. I do not understand why FSU even has this professor. he does not care about the students, and he belittles you if you ask a question.
Get a tutor or someone that knows how to approach his class/TA and meet w them weekly. I got an A by never picking up the text book (waste of time) just use his material (problem sets/old tests) and do them over and over, youll never be suprised on an exam! You need to put In the work this is hard class and most people dont want too
Take him over Saltiel any day. Had Saltiel for Orgo1, worst class ever. Took Hilinski for 2, rose almost a whole grade point. Had a B- before the final; prob. didn't do well on final, still got a B+. Huge curve at the end. Read the book to better understand concepts. Tests are super similar to practice tests. His slides are crucial too. Don't drop
Hilinski is one of the best professors Ive had at FSU. I put in 15+ hours a week of studying and always studied 4-5 days before each exam. All you need is his problem set, past quizzes, and past exams. Do each of them 2-3 times. I realized this after the first exam and was always 15-20+ points above the average. Office hours are very helpful.
The only reason he is the best option for orgo is because he has a structure that if you follow it, you will pass. Lecture is useless and be ready to teach yourself. His notes have everything you need, but you need time to understand it. His tests are straight from problems set but you have to understand it. Don't rely on his curve to pass
I LOVED HIM!!! best professor ive ever had.
his way of teaching wasnt my favorite but if you go to him and show youre making an effort you will pass the class. i didnt get higher than a 50 on any test and i ended with a C in the class not a C- a freakin C so i was happy. hes a weird but cool dude, practice tests are life, wish i wouldve started them sooner
Dr Hilinski is an interesting guy but I genuinely feel like I learned a lot from him. His notes can be confusing but if you go to class he explains them pretty well. My biggest recommendation is to take the practice test over and over and if you understand those you'll do great. He curves a decent amount so it's definitely not impossible!
He definitely knows his material. He rambles a lot when he lectures. He gives about 5 past exams each test that you *need* to use to study. If your grade isn't that good DO NOT DROP. He gives a major curve at the end of the semester. I had a 61 before the 4th exam and I ended with a C.
Dr. Hilinski is a good choice for Organic 1/2. Very difficult - you will need to know the material VERY well to succeed on his exams. If you go to his office, attempt problems in the book or the practice exams before and bring your work with you. Otherwise, he can be a bit standoffish. He is hilarious. Understand the old tests and study hard!
Honestly, i had orgo 1 with hilinski and it was hard and he makes you work hard for your grade but he provides you with good materials to study with. Im in orgo 2 with a different professor bc hilisnki wasn't teaching and i really wish i had hilinski rn. hes a good choice and is knowledgeable
Dr. Hilinski is the best teacher I have ever had. If you study the practice exams and go to office hours you will pass
He really cares about his students and their well being. He makes you work for your grade, I recommend watching his lecture videos BEFORE you go to class and read the textbook if you dont understand his explanations. He has practice exams and you NEED to do those, their so helpful. He is available all the time, and makes that known.
Had Hilinsky for Orgo 1 and Orgo 2. Personally, his lectures never did it for me. On the upside, he releases 5 past exams for each exam which, if you do them, you'll know exactly what is being tested. Read the book, watch his uploaded narrated slides, do the past exams. 3 steps to an A.
Taking Dr. Hilinski for Orgo 2 was the best decision ever. He cares about his students and wants us to get the most out of his class. The practice exams are nearly identical to the actual exams so just do those and you're fine. You will know what to expect each exam. Orgo is hard in general but Dr. Hilinski makes it manageable. Love him!!!
Goes off topic a lot during lectures. Easily assessable for office hours, you will have to teach yourself.
I knew orgo was going to be a hard class but this is the most I have ever studied in my life. After studying for weeks and hours straight, I still can do better than an F on his tests. He posts similar versions of the tests but it's still so difficult to learn from him and understand so much information. Goodluck if you take him.
DO NOT TAKE HIM!! I absolutely do not understand anything, he doesn't explain any of the material and assumes you remember everything from gen chem. I will say he gives you a lot of study and review material but it doesn't help when you don't know what you're doing. Does not give good nor helpful feedback when asking about test grades.
BAD CHOICE! When I stopped going to class and just learned from his old lecture videos, my exam grades went up, so don't even bother going to lecture! PRACTICE with his old exams and problem sets cuz they're the same format as his actual exams!! If you have time, practice with the book too, but DON'T GO TO CLASS cuz you'll just waste your time.
Ed Hilinski is an interesting teacher. I did not find the lectures helpful. He does put past exams on canvas which is the only way I even slightly understood anything. I don't recommend this class but it's orgo so it's going to be tough no matter what.
Hillinski is a great professor and provides lots of practice problems and exams. I did struggle with his lectures, but I did end of purchasing clutch prep which definitely helped a lot. I got two Bs a C and a D on his exams and ended with a B. PLEASE STUDY AND USE HIS MATERIALS! I know I could have done so much better if I'd tried even harder
His lectures are not helpful and he is really rude to students. But he posts 5 or 6 practice exams for EACH of the 4 exams, which are basically the same as the real thing. Practice those until they make sense, watch his narrated slides, and do the problem sets, and you got an A.
Hilinski gives very boring lectures that are not helpful. He gets off topic and goes on tangents and doesn't explain anything well in class. He does give 5 examples for every exam and they are pretty much exactly the same as the tests. Get a tutor to help you understand how to do the practice tests and you will get an A. There's a huge curve.
If you are failing his class DO NOT DROP I had an F at the end of the semester and somehow ended up with a C. He wont fail you. Just make sure you do the extra credit, study his practice exams, and go to office hours.
Hilinski cares deeply about his students, he believes this class is a metaphor for the rest of your professional career. Class notes are posted online but you need to come to class every day for them to be "translated" and make sense. Feedback on exams/quizzes is quick and he posts practice exams online too. They are essential to doing well.
I DONT recommend going to class since he repeats the same stuff that he says on the online lecture videos. He posts multiple examples for each of his 4 exams so study off those if you want to do well. "The Organic Chemistry Tutor" channel on youtube was a lifesaver in taking this class so I HIGHLY RECOMMEND reviewing off his videos for extra help.
Dr. Hilinsiki knows the material well. You need to put in the work to get a good grade. An average of about a 50 in all exams guarantees you at least a C
Hilinski is an amazing professor. The class itself is hard, so you would have to study and practice a lot for you to pass. His lectures were not helpful at all for me, but he provides practice tests that are the same as the actual tests, and he is available to help you out. He curves the class at the end. If you put in work, you will be fine. 10/10
literally do not take this class unless ur prepared to drop a check on skoolers or clutch prep he requires u to teach urself and just rambles in lecture and his notes are a mess.. only saving grace is tutoring and the amount of materials he posts on canvas are life saving.
The tests he gives are exactly the same format as the 4+ example tests he posts for people to practice taking. His notes were helpful too. He does go on tangents during lecture and he's a bit loud but he certainly cares about the material. He curves hard at the end. I had like a D+ before the final and ended up with an 85.
Those considering this prof for Orgo 1 read this carefully: do the practices tests, worksheets, quizzes and practice problems in his posted lectures and you WILL pass this class and likely get an A or B. This class is time consuming but thats just how it goes. I went over the practice exams 4 times before the exams and got an A in the class.
Four exams, a final, and 15 extra credit points (if you do them). Do not drop this class because he curves everyone, my average on the exams was a 35 (at least 20 points below the average) and I still passed with a C. If you MEMORIZE how to do every question on practice exams you'll at least get partial credit which helps a lot.
You definitely need to spend a lot of time/effort in this class, but Hilinski is very straightforward with what he expects on quizzes and exams. He always announces what lectures will be on the quizzes/exams and releases old exams that are *exactly* the same as the real exams with slight changes. I got over an 80 on every exam and ended with an A.
Confusing lectures and does not posts grades to Canvas ever. Orgo is hard, and I can't say Hilinski conveys the material well, but he is very fair with his exams and the curve at the end of the semester. Make sure you aggressively study the practice exams he uploads because the real exams are just like them. Skoolers/Clutch Prep are a huge help.
I absolutely hated this class. He doesn't input grades into canvas so you have to try and calculate what your grade is in the class. His quizzes are one question and if you so much as mess one thing up you're looking at a fat 0/10. His lectures are terribly confusing and if your don't read the text book then you WILL fail.
Professor Hilinski is a mean person who yells at students in class unnecessarily. He was not positive or encouraging at all and often used the phrase you will fail. The ONLY good thing was the old exams he posted but these were still not enough to do well in my opinion. This class was so hard and he didn't make it any better.
Didn't learn in lecture, was rude and went off topic sometimes, and lecture notes are hard to read. Had to use outside sources to learn. Grades are based HEAVILY on 4 tests and somewhat on 4 open-book quizzes. No curve until the end of the semester but its very big, I went into the final with a 46, left a lot of questions empty, but ended with a C.
If you do the practice problems and ask a lot of questions during office hours you are guaranteed to be successful in this class. Hilinski wants you to be successful and provides plenty of bonus points and a very large curve. Go to all office hours and TA office hours too.
This is orgo. it's hard. My advice is truly to dedicate a lot of time to this class. Read the book, go to class, study, and practice (PRACTICE!!) which he offers a lot. Don't let yourself fall behind. You will genuinely do good if you work hard. His lectures are sometimes eh, and he can come off as intimidating, but it's doable. you can succeed!!
I love this man! He's a little unhinged at times but really funny. Lectures are really review sessions, but he posts recorded lectures from previous years and practice exams that are the exact same. He is so crystal clear about every expectation in the class, if you are willing to study you will love this man
This class is definitely duo-able! Organic chem is a hard class but the way Hilinski structures his course makes it easier. He isn't the best lecturer, but the resources he provides for practice make a huge difference.Provides extra credit on exams. Key to an A is schoolers, tutoring, using his practice exams and staying on track in his class.
I enjoyed having Dr. Hilinski. The recorded lectures on Canvas were super helpful for understanding the material that he covers in class; make sure you watch these & take notes on the slides. I would also make sure you know how to do the chapter questions, worksheets, and practice exams. There are a lot of EC points offered on exams & quizzes.
Hilinski deserves a better rating. Orgo is a challenging subject, however, Hilinski tells you in the beginning how to be successful; come to class prepared (read/take notes a few sections ahead of the lecture), use all practice material before tests, and go to office hours. He even gives extra credit on all exams. Very fair guy.
whatever good reviews you read... they're lying. Hilinski is absolutely terrible, avoid him at all costs. His lectures are terrible, he treats his students terribly. Every test average was an F. Horrible professor and even worse exams. 5 exams and 4 quizzes and thats it.
He is rude and condescending. Berates students and blames everything and everyone but himself when he doesn't give any help until 24 hours before the exam. Do yourself a favor and take it with anyone but him, this is already a hard enough class.
Amazing professor, don't even try in this class, the curve means everything. Teddy bear vibes.
Worst professor i've ever had no doubt. I'm saying this as a person who took Orgo 1 with him and got an A-. Do not even bother going to his lecture; he wastes your time. Only thing you need to study is the practice test. This semester he released them the midnight before test day and was surprised when the average was an F. Take anyone else.
I read all of the comments on this thread before taking the class and the miraculous curve did not happen. His tests are extremely difficult and he does not teach during lectures AT ALL instead he rambles about nothing. I would say find another professor but they're all terrible :(( #chooseyourbattle
Hilinski was frustrating at times, but as long as you do all the problem sets and practice worksheets (which he gives a ton of) then there's no reason to not succeed in this class. His lectures are completely useless, but his slide narrations (which he didnt post until halfway through the term) are pretty useful. Honestly not the worst orgo prof
IF YOU ARE BETWEEN PROFESSORS ON WHO TO TAKE THIS CLASS WITH, CHOOSE THE OTHER ONE. Never take Orgo II with Hilinski. Easily the worst professor I have ever had the displeasure of speaking with. Acts like an a-hole, always insulting students, and completely unapproachable. He does not care and takes pride in a failing (50-60%) average on exams.
Worst professor to exist in the history of professors. I have no idea how he has such a good score on here I expected it to be a dead 0. He is the meanest, evilest man ever who does not care about students at all. He will berate students the entire semester and the entire class will fail and he blames it on us like its not his own awful teaching.
WORST PROFESSOR EVER I LITERALLY JUST MADE THIS ACCOUNT TO RATE HIM. AS A STRAIGHT A JUNIOR THAT GOT AN A IN ORGO 1, I DONT KNOW IF ILL PASS HIS CLASS. he legit finds pleasure in torturing students. stressful testing environment, impossible exams, useless lectures.
One of the WORST professors I've ever had! Has no clue how to teach and overcomplicates everything. I passed orgo 1 with a B+ and found the class enjoyable and not too difficult, yet I am most likely not going to pass this class which will be the first class I ever fail even as a pre-med student. Save yourself the trouble and the stress.
I made an A in Orgo 1, and I am unsure if I will be passing this class. Exams are meticulous on tiny details and berates students for not doing well when we have to teach ourselves. Exam averages are in the 50s each time and is confused why. Genuinely the worst chemistry professor I've had at FSU. If you can avoid taking him, please do.
If you have any other test heavy classes in the same semester, good luck. He enjoys watching his students fail. his lectures are useless, he puts wrong answers on worksheets on purpose, and he offers no help
This class is very hard and will attempt to make your life hell. Don't bother going to the lectures, read the book and complete practice.
This is a hard course but hilinski does give the resources needed to succeed. Writing down every reaction in the powerpoints and understanding the mechanisms helped boost my grade towards the end. He does curve at the end which is very nice.
Hard course but it is orgo 2. Graded by 4 quizzes, 4 exams and a final. The quizzes are an intro to the exam and are not very hard. Exams are not extremely hard, but you will likely lose points for small mistakes. Use his notes and practice exams to study for exams. Final exam is just the first four exams combined and last couple of chapters.
Hillinski gave many resources to help succeed but his lectures were not helpful. Had exams very dense in material, always had a quiz the week before exams, sometimes he would rush material just to put it on a test. Tends to humiliate his students. FAT curve ! Practice exams are very similar to actual exams.
This Orgo 2 class is notoriously tough, but using unstuckstudy AI alongside the provided practice exams really helped me stay on top of the material. The lectures may not be the most engaging, but attending and taking detailed notes is key. Prepare to put in the work, but the curve makes it doable.
Professor Hilinski is a very fair professor, there was not a single test where I felt that there was something on it that he did not teach. Going to the lectures is very important though and if he asks that you read the chapters ahead of the lecture I would recommend doing that as well.
ok honestly I was nervous about taking this class from the reviews but its not as bad as it seems. I never read the book but I went to every lecture and although attendance isn't mandatory he learners everyone names and remembers them. Practice test are super helpful, I averaged out about a 70 between all test and still ended with an A.
He just said he'd been here for 40 years, and that the average for test one is the same 50-60% as it was then…40 years and he can't get that up should tell you all you need to know about his teaching style. He wants you to teach yourself then gets upset when he brings it up in class and nobody understands it. Clearly this man has wasted his life.
I don't understand why his rating is not a 0. He wastes so much time during lectures and even right before we take an exam. Sure he gives practice exams that are similar to the test, but they're physically impossible to complete during the limited time he gives us. He expects us to learn all the concepts ourselves and just yells in class. DONT TAKE
Dr Hilinski was an experience to say the least. He is very passionate about chemistry and is very informed, but does not care if you understand the material. You will not get the grade you want if you do not take precision into great regard. Points will be taken off for anything and everything, and your grade does not reflect your understanding.
Organic Chemistry is a poorly designed course, and Dr. Hilinski doesn't do anything to supplement that. Exams cover a whopping 3-4 chapters of pure reactions from his error-filled notes, and you're bound to make mistakes. Hilinski's class is the equivalent of Where's Waldo—except Waldo keeps moving, and you're flipping through five books at once.
His lectures are the worst thing I have ever been to, I stopped going and got skoolers and my exam grade improved by over 20%. Not sure about his grading scale as he tells u to aim for above a 50%. Gives practice exams that help but he tells you to use them after studying, I used to study and that was most helpful. STAY AWAY!!!!!
Everyone gives this guy a bad rep. Organic Chemistry is a hard subject. There's no way you can expect to show up here and it will be a walk in the park. I admit I used Skoolers to help me, but Dr. Hilinski genuinely wants his students to succeed. His office hours have helped me before. He tailored specific problems to help me out.
He's a funny man, and lectures are pretty okay. Tests are ‘fair' Why a 2/5? Cause you don't get to know your grade until right before the final [maybe after]. Frustrating criteria. His study materials are designed to make Organic chemistry as dull a class as possible. Heavily focused on memorization. He has passion, but it's far from contagious.
His lectures are terrible imo but I've heard good things about his offices hours help. He is also really bad at responding to emails on time. Your whole grade is based on exams and quizzes. No graded HW, but he does provide A LOT of practice worksheets and old exams. Massive curve at the end of the semester depending on your grade (40% was a C-).
Graded by few things, EXTREMELY precise when it comes to grading mechanisms. He gets a lot of hate but he is a kind person and will help when you go to office hours. Orgo 2 is not an easy subject at all! however, the curve at the end makes up for the lack of extra credit that other professors give out, like he is VERY generous
He grades hard for sure but teaches the material very well and posts all his lectures more in depth on canvas. Although tests are very hard he puts a big curve on the class and you can actually understand the content if you give it some effort.
I'm so glad I took hilinski with skoolers than krishnan with no outside help. This class is very doable with memorization and using his old exams. My 79% was an A- but it's all passed on exam averages
Worst grading criteria of any prof I've had at FSU. No clue what your grade is for the entire semester, no clue of how big the curve is, curve makes no sense. A person who gets a 50 curves the equivalent of 25 points, while a person who makes a 78 curves 8. Punishes you more the better grade you want, which is frustrating. You deserve better.
Orgo 2 is notoriously hard, so you need to put in the work! Hilinski gives tons of practice that's identical to his exams. Skoolers made the content so much easier to understand! I averaged an 84% on exams but got a B+. Fat curve! Frustrated with the curve since a 50% was a C and my 77% was a B+ and not an A-. Hilinski wants everyone to do pass!
Edwin Hilinski is by far one of the most disrespectful professors I've taken. He constantly embarrasses students in front of the class, and he only reads from prewritten notes without explaining the material. You will have to teach yourself the entire course, half of the class had to get skoolers just to pass. Insane curve at the end. DONT TAKE
He has a very eccentric personality but he is actually quite kind. Going to the dsc sections and tutoring helps a lot. His lectures aren't that good but skoolers was a great help as well. He does not give homework but he has many practice exams that basically have test questions on them. He also gives quizzes before the test. Possibly curves too.
He gets a bad rap but he's a very fair grader and professor, even if he's lowkey alittle crazy
Genuinely the hardest class I have ever taken. I had to drop and I have never dropped a class before. He barely teaches, theres no study material (besides the textbook which wont help you), and he tests you on things from gen chem that he never went over in the classroom. The material of the class is not even bad, he just makes it more difficult
Dr. Hilinski is extremely harsh and critical, ridiculing his students for not succeeding when he designs the course for failure. Attendance is not mandatory, but he makes sure to include little tidbits from the lectures in his quizzes/exams that you wouldn't know otherwise. He refuses to help his students, but instead questions their competence.
I personally don't struggle with organic chemistry itself or the concepts. I enjoy the subject in itself, but Professor Hillinski made it harder for me when I took him. One of those classes where the course material didn't line up with the exam questions. Also was just rude and sarcastic. Wish him the best but I did not enjoy his teaching.
Edwin doesn't care about the quality of this class. He wants to assert his authority by giving bad grades. You will leave this class without learning anything.
One of the worst professors I've had. He reads off the slides, doesn't answer questions ( yells at people when they ask something to be clarified), and will give exams on stuff he hasn't lectured on.
ash whole!
Never dropped a course before. Only exams and quizzes. Exam averages are in the 50's. Got a 70 on exam 1 and dropped as soon as I got the result. There is apparently some magical curve that is sometimes given after the final. Not worth the risk. The lectures are just him rambling and making random noises. Grown adult acting like a toddler.
Continuation of previous review. Tests are very difficult. Oftentimes the problem is not that you don't know how to solve the problem but that there is not nearly enough time to do it. If you are not a very fast worker you will leave a lot of points on the table. Most blatantly disrespectful teacher I have had here. Puts forth zero effort.
Awful professor, I'm a Biochemistry major and genuinely loved chemistry and organic chemistry. This class has completely sucked the life out of my love for the major. It feels as though he doesn't want us to like the class or succeed, he yells at us and the ta's berates us constantly and doesn't put ANY grades in until after the semester ends.
Terrible professor. Don't take him if you can.
I think if Hilinski and 25 of his students were on a sinking ship and he had 26 life jackets. He would take one for himself and throw the rest in the water. (Also he will yell every lecture for absolutely no reason)
Literally gave me mental health issues. If Vecna could be a person it would be him. Not only a HORRIBLE professor but also the worst person to talk to. He is genuinely such a mean and grumpy old man. the only thing getting me through this class is the fact that I have kevlittle next semester for orgo 2. I pray for anyone that has hilinski in spring
DO NOT TAKE HILINSKI he is old and rude. very test and quiz heavy, there are no assignments or homework for grades. his slides don't have any words. my class has complained to the higher ups about him being rude to his TAs and students and nothing has been done. our class average for tests was below 55 every single exam.
Not a great teacher overall. Lectures just him reading from slides straight from textbook. Exam 1 had material we hadn't covered yet, but got better after first exam. Need to dedicate a LOT of time outside class, exams were hard. Skoolers + ACE tutoring saved me. All test averages 50s, bell curve at end. Better you do, less it affects you though.
Do not take him. I blew through Chem 2 with Dillon. But this class was so ambiguous and not strucutred. Literally no transparency and lack of effort. NO PRACTICE TESTS GIVEN. Just told you to read the book. First two exams had questions that tested concepts not even covered yet. Rude and obnoxious. No study materials. Pointless lectures.
Let me start by saying that with Sub 59 averages on all exams, I think this class will be curved quite heavily. But in hindsight its simply too risky. Quite literally no practice material given at all and it was basically a crap shoot what to expect on the first two exams. Only positive is the exams were well made and conceptually creative.
There were little to no resources outside of the textbook and lectures were not helpful if you didn't already have a foundation of what he was going over. Cram better helped me through this course more than attending lectures and reading the textbook.
People make him out to be the devil. He really wasnt THAT bad. Try not to pay too much attention to everyones complaints. Yes he yells quite annoyingly sometimes but just try to get past that because it happens. Read on your own time and takes notes up to 5 or 6 sections ahead. Study for tests around 4 days in advance. Course hero for old tests too
Class is graded entirely on quizzes and exams, which would sometimes have content on them that we hadn't even learned yet. Exam averages in the 50s. Lectures felt overwhelming and I often felt like he just made topics more confusing than they had to be. Only upside was the MASSIVE curve at the end. If you take him, be prepared to teach yourself.
Ok listen. I hated every second that I spent in his class. There's a million things I could complain about, but if you study on your own, use his online exams, and just try to learn the concepts on your own, you'll be okay. Had a 66% at the end without the final and ended with an A- (there's a big curve), and the final is super easy (if you study).
This class was not easy and Dr. Hilinski is not a great lecturer or accessible outside of class, but it is possible to succeed. I found the first exam was significantly more difficult than the rest, so don't let that deter you. Other than that, just be aware that you'll have to teach yourself the coursework. The massive curve at the end is real.
Worst prof I ever encountered. Extremely rude to students and will make the first exam unnecessarily hard. Exams do get easier as you get used to the format. Textbook questions were sort of helpful. Doesnt offer practice tests so good luck trying to find additional practice. Final was super easy tho and the curve is insane. Horrible but doable.
Let me start by saying that at the end of the day passing or getting an A in this class is not impossible or even that hard. HOWEVER, the class itself is mismanaged and Hillinski is really rude. My exam averages were in the high 70s and got an A after the final (which was easy) and a HUGE curve. Honestly just do your best and stick it through.
Dr. Hilinski is not a good teacher nor does he answer emails. Grades by 4 quizzes, 4 tests, and a cumulative final which is first 4 tests combined (easy). Massive curve 50% average pre final was a B. If you can stick through his rude demeanor and degrading tendencies you most likely will pass.Take with another professor if you want to learn!!
Bad lecturer, honestly, stopped going. YouTube and textbook problems got me through. With that being said, the tests are not that difficult and mostly all follow the same format. The final was just questions from previous tests. The curve was insane.. I averaged 70s + a 47 on one lol and got a B.
Doesn't post our grades online. No one knows what they got on the final. Yells at everyone, including his own TAs, for the smallest "transgressions". Can't teach and his PowerPoint slides are just pictures from the book. Doesn't respond to emails and no longer gives practice exams. The highest exam average was a 59. Only good thing is the curve.
if your not up to basically teaching yourself this entire course and putting in boat loads of hours of work on top of the classes you already have please do not take this teacher. I thought I could do it and get through but I failed everything and found it impossible to apply myself with this teacher. Prioritize knowing your limits.
Not that hard, very fair exams and quizzes, literally just go to class, read the textbook and study for a couple hours a day for like two days before each exam and you'll be fine. had roughly a 65 and it got scaled to a A.
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