3.9
Quality3.8
Difficulty73%
Would Retake90
Reviews73%
Would Retake
90
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
50
4
13
3
14
2
2
1
11
What Students Say
“He will curse at you in front of everyone”
CHEM120 - 3.0 rating“Do yourself a favor and take anyone else who is available”
CHEM110 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
79%
Textbook Required
71%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Stable
-0.10 avg changeRatings by Course
CHEMI110
5.0
(1)CHEM121
5.0
(3)CHEM2014121
5.0
(1)CHEM120CHEM121
4.8
(13)CHEM110
4.1
(48)Difficulty by Course
CHEM150
5.0
CHEM120
4.0
CHEM120CHEM121
3.9
CHEM110
3.7
CHEMI110
3.0
Reviews (90)
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Definitely take Forest's class! He starts with a little bit of a shock on the first test - you could fail like I did if you don't pay attention with the Significat Figures and all that Math, but it really gets better. Awesome teacher, also very entertaining. I wish he taught other subjects, too ;)
Makes lecture interesting. Funny personality. Tests are at a pretty decent level. Not too hard. I would recommend him.
So here's the bottom line: this is not supposed to be an easy class! Forest is deeply invested in his students, he wants them to understand the material. I struggled a lot in the class but I worked hard and went to office hours and ended up doing well. Now I am at a CA university taking higher levels of Chem and am doing great because of him.
Smart, energetic, and enthusiastic. Wants you to succeed - not an easy teacher at all, but will help all you need if you ask. Jokes around a lot; don't be scared if he gives you a hard time. Good guy all around. Don't take his classes (or ANY chemistry above 110!) if you're not willing to show up and put real work into it. Be ready to learn fast.
He makes students cry and doesn't really seem to care about it. More interested in boosting his ego than teaching anyone.
Although I know of a few students who have taken his course and disliked him, I can say, from my own experience, that was an effective challenging teacher who enjoys teaching chemistry and the presence of his students. Hes very enthusiastic, full of energy, and constantly seeking to improve his teaching. I would rec him if your interested in Chem
BEST teacher ever!! Forest takes a subject that could bore you to tears and makes you actually look forward to going to class. It will benefit you to take this class with him!
Take someone else!
good teacher. very high energy which was good for a 4 day/wk 8am class. he wrote on the board everything you should write in your notes instead of just lecturing faster that you could write. cares about the success of his students, always encouraged students to go to office hours. expects you to use your brain and never just gives you the answers
Bad teacher. Not helpful at all. Expected you to know everything. He make you feel like an idiot and doesn't make you feel comfortable. Recommend to take Dr.Fawl! he's the best.
He's awesome! He teaches at a fast pace, but do all the chapter homework problems and you'll ACE his tests. He tells the funniest stories and is a good teacher, makes you feel welcomed to his class!
His tests are hard but he gives you all the material you need. Cares abut the success of his students. Makes the class fun with his sense of humor wich makes everybody laugh during lecture while at the same time he is teaching. Its not an easy class but if you put effort then you will get a good grade which IS something he WILL notice.
Don't expect to pass this class thinking you can study the weekend before. He's a really cool person and he cares about his students and takes time to get to know you, but you MUST take time to study and do homework.
What a nice guy. He makes you enjoy learning such a difficult subject. I highly recommend him.
Really great teacher. I loathed the idea of taking chemistry and he made it understandable and even (dare I say) fun. He did a great job of engaging the class, not just lecturing monotonously. He expects students to work, but I expect that from any great teacher. Plus, he was totally available if you needed extra help.
The subect matter did not come to me naturally but he made palatable, even enjoyable. I agree with the other reviews, he isnt easy. But if you do the work, you should be ok.
Really makes a difficult subject interesting. Comes off as unapproachable at first, but he's actually a decent guy who wants his students to succeed. Exams are not easy, but if you need extra help he's always available via email or office hrs. Study lecture notes regularly, work as many problems as you can, always go to class, be ready for quizzes.
Very funny personality and a great teacher if you loathe chemistry, but he over-simplifies in his teaching which makes things more difficult if you actually want to learn and use chemistry as part of your career.
Great teacher. Honestly, he's probably one of the best teachers I've ever had. Bear in mind though, that he is not easy. This is a true college level class that requires a lot of studying time. The exams are no joke. Fortunately, he takes his job very seriously and is very prompt with answering emails and meeting with students. Highly recommended.
Funny guy.
Forest is able to make a hard class fun. He relates topics to things that are actually useful in life. He makes jokes and tries to keep everyone engaged and involved. He wants to help you succeed. I would definiteyl recommend taking him!
Wonderful teacher!! Intimidating at first but if you get past that feeling and actually ask for help he is very willing!!Must do his practice test to pass. Grade based on tests and labs. He is very funny! Text book is only for extra credit homework and extra clarification, if needed.
DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS. This may sound harsh but seriously he is the worst teacher I've ever had. He is not helpful at all. He rushes through topic and just assumed you understand the material. He makes the tests and quizzes as hard as possible. He doesn't get papers back in a timely matter. Moral of the story, DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS!
I do not believe that the "easiness" category should be weighted, any class worth taking will not be easy, it will take work if you actually want to LEARN! Quinlan is VERY helpful, passionate, and cares about his students, but like anything, you get out of it what you put in. So if you want to get an A you need to do the HW and study...
Forest is great! Will answer any question you have and WILL help you out. Always ask for more examples or go to the Q&A's and he will gladly assist. Very funny and uses awesome analogies that will help you remember concepts.
This class is hard but its very straight forward. He is so funny and genuinely cares if his student learn. He is a very dedicated professor and is incredibly smart. Its obvious he is very passionate about his career. Show up to class every day and please ASK QUESTIONS. It helps so much more, even if they are super random questions he will answer.
He's the best! His class made chemistry fun. It's not easy by any means, but if you have to take the class anyway, he'll make it the most enjoyable! Plus he's hilarious. Just do your work and be vocal during lectures. If you have questions, FREAKING ASK THEM. He loves it!
Not nice at first (he prefers that "tough guy"reputation), he knows his stuff, very sharp, can't fool him. HW up the wa-zoo. Doesn't care if you have other classes. Moves fast, Intimidating, Funny and tests are very hard. If you get to know he him does have a soft side.
Forest, does not grade Lab Reports fairly. His tests are based on his lecture not the standard practice in the book. He is full of himself. He knows how to teach, but he doesn't know how to teach a class. His tests are simply garb. He asks the D***mb questions, instead of what we learned. You're grade is based on tests. Don't even bother doing hw.
Tough grader, makes you feel dumb, very fast paced. What more can you ask from a teacher?
He's hard to like because he's rude but also hard to dislike because he has humor. He will curse at you in front of everyone. Asking questions will sometimes get you mocked. I always get anxiety even when I'm less than 5 minutes late to lab because I know he'll put me on the spot and make me look stupid because of it. But at least he can teach.
Forest is a great teacher. His lectures are very clear, and he is there for you if you don't understand something. He loves helping students. If you didn't like him or thought that he was too tough , maybe you should have studied harder. :) His exams are very reasonable, he isn't going to test you on something he hasn't gone over with you.
Forest is a great teacher. He might come off as a Hard teacher and doesn't seem to care but don't let his attitude fool you he is a really good teacher. If you put in the effort and ask questions he will help you. You need to study hard for a good grade and the exams are very difficult but if you pay attention and study you will learn the content
Chemistry was a tough subject for me. However, Forest was extremely helpful. He expects hard work and pushes you, but is ALWAYS willing to help if you get stuck. His lectures were always fun and interesting; he's a pretty funny guy! The material you work on in class will be the material on the test. Be prepared and read your lab manual before lab!
I took Forest for both chem 120 and 121. I really liked how he teaches. The lectures can be long but they are packed with need to know info. Don't be scared to ask questions if you don't understand. If you aren't doing the homework and the lab reports you will fail. If you want to improve on your lab reports go in and ask him to look it.
Forest is one of the best teachers I have ever had! The class was difficult and he makes you work for your grade but doing well in his class isn't impossible. Make sure you see him during office hours for help. His teaching style really prepares you for what you will see at a university!
He may seem intimidating, but he isn't if you just talk to him and participate. Make sure to partcipate! Don't slack off on the HW or studying (2-3hrs/ wk)Tests can be difficult, but he won't surprise you with anything he hasn't lectured on. Read instructions for labs. Always ask for clarification. Reasonable, encouraging, and AMAZING professor.
He is a tough grade. Need to study a lot. Do the HW and lab reports on time. He is not an easy person to get to but. just ask question and talk to him about stuff.
Forest seemed intimidating at first, but it's just bc of his assertive personality. His lectures are insightful, clear, and straightforward. They are extremely thorough, so as long as you pay attention in class and take notes, do the labs, and at least get a good sense of the hw problems, you should do well on the tests. Definitely recommend!
Now, I am a new college student. I took him as my first not only STEM class, but also first time taking a college class. It was difficult. He will make you work. If you are expecting to pass by showing up, you have the wrong one. However, he has been one of my fav teachers of all time. As for help and he will give it to you. Worth taking!!
Professor Quinlan cares about his students success, if you make the effort to help yourself he will see that.
Forest is awesome! He makes chemistry fun and really cares that his students understand what they are learning instead of just memorizing lists. One of the very best professors I have ever had!
He is an awful awful professor. He is really really intimidating. He can be funny at times but can also be carried away with his "humor". I would really suggest not talking his classes at all.
He is a professor that wants students to succeed and takes note of who does. He is passionate and knowledgeable about chemistry, and will make topics that seem hard, a bit easier to understand. His humor makes the class enjoyable, and he will tease you and make jokes, but it really is harmless! Take him if you are serious and ready to engage fully.
Good teacher, considering it's a hard class! You get to keep his quizzes for the exams. The labs are kinda hard so you should ask him to review a draft before turning in the final for credit.
Forest is one of (if not the) best professors that I have ever had. On top of being a genuinely good guy, he is great at his job and he cares about the success of his students. He is super helpful and loves when his students interact and ask questions. He wants you to learn the material! Cannot speak highly enough of Forest.
He is the best professor I had in chemistry. He is hilarious and makes the class fun for u. If you do the homework and listen during his lectures, you will pass with an A.
Forest is by far the best professor and teacher Ive ever had. Really caring, helps you understand the difficulty that is chemistry, hilarious guy. His class isnt easy but if you do the homework early, ask for help understanding things and show up and pay attention, youll be just fine.
My favorite professor, by far. His class is great if you are looking to actually learn the material. He is so caring and will go the extra mile to help his students. He wants you to reach out for help if you're struggling. If you're looking for an easy A and don't really care, don't take his class.. This class is hard, but very rewarding and fun!!!
Seriously the best professor, cant speak highly enough of Forest. He is a kind, genuine guy that cares so much about his students. Hes hilarious and makes Chemistry so much fun! Do yourself a favor and TAKE HIS CLASS!!
Great teacher and very welcoming to questions. Very lax when you don't have your manual yet or if it hasn't arrived yet. The tests are hard and I had to take them every week for a summer course. I don't recommend taking chemistry in summer unless you have taken a similar class prior and your memory is still fresh. Helpful TA too!
Definitely take this class if you have a good understanding of basic chem or else you will get behind unless you study hard. Having the class online just made it 10x harder for me in my opinion, so be aware if you have to take it online as well.
Forest is a good teacher for fast learners. Chem Is the hardest subject for me and both times I've taken his class it was very challenging for me to keep up. In my opinion, he is an intimidating professor so it was hard for me to ask questions. Definitely had to attend every SI to understand the material. Exams are very hard and stressful!
Forest is very caring and teaches in a way that is easy to understand. The only problem is that what he teaches in lecture is only 50% of whats going to be on the quiz. If you take notes in lecture, read the book, and do all of the homework youll do fine on the quizzes. Not a easy class whatsoever but if you put in work youll do fine.
Professor Quinlan is amazing. He has his own technique of teaching ensuring students are comprehending the topics in lectures and provides thorough examples for students to try. The homework assignments are not mandatory yet it is best to do them regardless to help practice. Study. He cares so much for his students and passionate about teaching .
Closed mouths don't get fed! Student's responsibility to go to class or office hours prepared with questions you have; he will not openly offer help if you don't ask. He's nice enough to upload recorded lectures; rewatch lectures to instill the content into your brain and add to your notes. Hw not required, but they are helpful for practice!
Course is very lecture heavy and the labs to be easy. He can be a bit condescending if he has to repeat himself. The biggest drawback I have with his tests is that there is no study guide. I failed 3 of 6 tests because I had studied certain material more than what actually was on the test. Very Frustrating
I always hated asking him any type of question cause he would respond back with so much attitude. Especially in labs. You get something wrong, he won't help you at all and if he does, it's a 2-5 word sentence coming out of him. However, when he's teaching material during lecture he's really great at explaining during those moments.
If you are taking chemistry at Napa Valley College, take Forest's class. Mr. Quinlan was always there to offer a helping hand, and I could tell he actually cares about the success of his students. He's a funny dude too which always helpsThis class overall was pretty difficult at first but just go to the lectures, and do the hw and you'll be fine.
Professor Quinlan was a great teacher! There was a lot of homework, and the lecture was heavy and fast. If you study and do all the homework, the exams won't be too hard. He cares about his students and will help you in any way he can. He expects a lot from you but still will help you through the class. TAKE HIS CLASS
A genuinely frustrating person. Professor Quinlan manages to make a cool subject feel like a slog, and seems more interested in hanging out than in actually helping students. Wait for Hanson to get a much better experience.
Explains things clearly and makes class fun! Best professor on campus
Chem110 was the hardest class I've ever taken. We had tests every two weeks, and labs due the day of exams. However, Quinlan cares about his students. One time, he pulled me aside and had a real conversation with me about my personal difficulties, and even offered to let me take the test a different date. The class is hard, but he truly cares.
Do not take this class unless you want to come out of lecture crying every week!!!!
Professor Quinlan is funny and makes us laugh. His lectures were fast but he explains the material clearly. If you need more help I would recommend going to his office during hours! There was lots of homework but it was worth it to succeed in the class. He's such a great professor.
HORRIBLE professor. Do yourself a favor and take anyone else who is available. Assigns a lot of homework, makes you feel dumb when you ask questions and is too sarcastic.
Taking this class over the summer was intense but if you stay consistent it won't be that bad. There was an exam every week up till the final with homework due the day of the exam. You will have to go to him about your grade because he doesn't use Canvas but he will always be there to help and has very good advice!
Both semesters were similar regarding workload, always has time for students. Attendance isn't mandatory but if you miss at least once make sure to go to his office hours. He is very sarcastic but funny in class, and always ask questions during lectures, it helps make the lecture more interactive and the material sticks better.
Make sure you interact during lecture, the more you engage the more you'll get out of it. Go to office hours at the beginning of the semester and go consistently especially if you aren't comfortable speaking up in class. There was a generally consistent structure. He can be sarcastic at times but he does genuinely care about his students.
I took this class over the summer so it was only a 6 week course. It was very challenging because you need to make sure that you have enough time to study. I really enjoy going to this class because I like the way Professor Forest taught my class. It's also very important to be interactive during lectures, good way to understand the materials!
Professor Quinlan was honestly one of the best professors I have had in my college career. He is super caring, super helpful and always willing to go above and beyond if you put in your share of the work. I will say there is quite the bit of homework but it prepares you well for each exam. He follows the syllabus strictly so be ready for that.
He can be awful at helping the students understand his material and will judge you heavily in labs if you're confused about something you learned five minutes ago in his lecture. He's only able to appeal to students by being some type of social butterfly. I would strongly urge people to not take his class, especially if you're new to chemistry.
Quinlan will seem rude at first, but he is very straightfoward and wants you to be more proactive. He will "teach you to fish". Be comfortable with being called out. His lectures are engaging and sometimes funny. This is not an easy class. 3 exams, weekly lab reports, and 12 chapters of homework. But you will learn a lot.
Forest barely gives you any help for this class, and you have to reach out to find out your grade. Take advantage of the study guides and start the homework as soon as possible. Doing the homework helps you learn the material on the tests. This class is doable, but you're on your own.
Dr Quinlan is the best professor I've ever had. Hysterical sense of humor, you have to be present in class because otherwise you miss vital info. He's clear in what he wants from you and you should be a participator in his class to get the best out of it. He truly cares about his students and is open to helping you if you ask for it. Forest rocks!
One of the most funny and best teachers I've ever had. He truly is not for everyone, but he was certainly the best teacher for me. He will let you know exactly what to study for the exams. I was so nervous about a summer chem class but it was the perfect pacing and everything.
He encourages students to engage in the lectures but if you say the wrong thing, he will certainly let you know. Grabbed and raised my arm twice in the middle of his lecture because no one else wanted to interact with him. Doesn't give students enough time with study guides and doesn't post any grades. Very unprofessional overall.
His humor is full of dadjokes during lectures. Lectures are fast paced I reccomend doing homework a week before the midterms so you dont juggle them all at once which stresses you out more. He is very old school and becomes very literal.
Forest has a great sense of humor, but he is not for everyone. His humor can be taken as "rude," so be comfortable with sarcasm and being called out, but he cares a lot about his students as long as he sees that you truly want to succeed and put effort into his class. Make sure to do your homework on time because it is a lot of work.
There is a lot of information to remember so make sure to study and practice frequently. Try not to miss lecture since there is a lot of information you can miss. Communicate if you are struggling and he will help you through different methods. He will not fail to entertain in class to keep your attention. Put in the work and you will do great!
He speaks/writes so fast in lecture and it is hard to keep up, let alone study. Even though he says he is there to help you, he loves to belittle you and make you feel dumb. There is a LOT of questions on the homework and his lab reports are very vague. I do not recommend him at all.
He cares for his students and is mostly willing to help if asked. It is crucial to attend lecture for this class, otherwise, you risk quickly falling behind. He will call you out during lecture, even if you aren't raising a hand, so beware. If you ask a question during lab, he will sometimes make you feel silly. Do the homework and study to pass.
Forest is a great professor. People may see him as rude but it is truly just his humor and I can tell he really cares about his students. I recommend showing up to every lecture because even missing one will get you behind. As long as you do all the homework and set a lot of time to study, you will be fine.
Among my favorite teachers ever! Super clear expectations, very engaging, really good at explaining concepts in lecture and answering questions. He's a chill guy and is willing to work with you if you need extra support. Just do your best, ask for help if needed, and you'll be fine.
this class was a slog. everyone seems to love this guy. not me. i took it at solano and excelled. he's too immature for my learning style.
He claims that he wants to help students achieve in his class, but also publicly criticizes his students!! Definitely not a class to take if ur an introvert. cant miss a lecture or youll fall behind, his class isn't for everyone. funny jokes but can be very mean or offputting sometimes.
It was a hard class but he has amazing lectures (very organized and detailed.) But his tests are a bit difficult.
Forest is smart and old-school. His humor can feel rude, but he cares and expects real effort. The class is tough, a lot of ppl drop, but he will go the extra mile to help if you ask. You must study outside class and space out homework. Labs are mandatory. He doesn't use Canvas for grades, so talk to him. Make friends and stay on top of everything.
Forest is a good professor if you put in the effort. You need to study for this class! His lectures contain basically all the information you will need on the tests, but beware that he will put a lot of application type questions on midterms. His humor might seem rude, but he's only joking. Be sure to ask him any questions and you will succeed.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
79%
Textbook Required
71%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Stable
-0.10 avg changeRatings by Course
CHEMI110
5.0
(1)CHEM121
5.0
(3)CHEM2014121
5.0
(1)CHEM120CHEM121
4.8
(13)CHEM110
4.1
(48)Difficulty by Course
CHEM150
5.0
CHEM120
4.0
CHEM120CHEM121
3.9
CHEM110
3.7
CHEMI110
3.0