Dr.Almy is the new prof. of GWC. I took his Chem 185 in summer. This class was the combination of Dr. Lingi Chen and Dr. James Almy. First half lecture was taught by Dr.Chen. She was terrible. But the second half lecture belongs to Dr.Almy. He was very clear and understanding his material. He was much much better than Dr.Chen about explaining thing

Although he is new at GWC, not mentioning his many prior teaching experiences elsewhere, he quickly showed his ability! His lectures are very straight-forward and easy to understand. It's great how he does powerpoints and use the board for sample problems. He has a very good teaching technique and I would surely recommend him.

Great professor. His powerpoint lectures are clear, he works out problems pretty thoroughly. He tells you exactly what he expects of you on an exam. Took the class over the summer and there was a distinct contrast between him and Dr. Chen (she taught the first 4 weeks). Not exactly the funnest class, but you'll definitely learn the material.

One of the best Chemistry professors out there!

I attend his Chem 180 Lab. Comparing to Prof. Souto, he is way cooler and kinder. He helps us out much more than Prof. Souto. However, you have to take Prof. Souto lecture to attend Prof. Almy lab. lol :))

Great chem professor! He is interesting and funny. Very helpful!!! Dr. Almy will go way out of his way to help his students.

Almy is a really nice guy. I highly recommend him. What you should know before entering this class though, is that it is not set up like a typical class. There is only one short lecture a week and every week you have to complete a syllabus which you have to work on in the open lab Mon-Thurs. So, there is a lot of self-learning going on. Almy i

Almy is always very helpful and good at explaining things to you. It is definitely a tough class which requires a LOT of studying. Expect to work your tail off.

He is extremely helpful and very good in teaching. I worked my ass off all semester long in Fall 2008, even had a privit tutor that I used 3 times a week. I got an A. It is posible but very difficult to get an A, because this class is on line- based.

Someone must have gotten their papers ripped up. Dr Almy is the best teacher I have had at GWC. He is clear and very helpful. This is not an easy class but Dr. Almy does a great job and I highly recommend him.

this professor is really good at teaching. he posted up lecture slides ahead of time and taught the class with his own examples. he doesnt just teach out of the book. i took him for a chem 185 class in the summer. he made a summer class really fun.

good professor, the exams are based on his lectures, so attend the lectures and you'll be fine. he's very helpful and made it easy to understand the subject

His exams are quite tricky so you have to know your material very very well. I took him over the summer and thought that his exams were not fair. You really need to study really hard for his exams.

I got an A without trying hard. He's always there to help you out if you have any question. Nice Professor !

He is so nice! Great professor ever!!!

dr. Almy is fair, funny and cares for his students. his tests are quite tricky but expected. i liked him actually.this class is no easy A but in the end you will feel rewarding for sure.

I took this class for summer and I have to say this was not the easiest class to take over the summer, this class i think is a fairly easy B but for an A you have to be willing to work your ass off so if your obssesed with your GPA only then take this class during fall, summer will be hard no matter what because it is fast pace.

Dr. Almy is a very down to earth professor. However he is really hard on labs very clear and helpful. Really hard for an A but a little easier for a B.

Dr. ALmy is the best professor on campus. The way he handles this course is very logical and reasonable, which extremely helps students master the materials. If you are really willing to learn chemistry and want to move onto next level, take Dr. Almy?s class.

I had Dr. Almy for lab. He was very helpful and polite. He is not easy but I think he grades fair. Do your lab write up well and you should do fine. I actually don't dread the three hour lab that I had.

He gives packets that have to be signed off each setion. This class is very time consumming. You have to work on your packet in class, but out of class time. His grading is fair. As long as you study your packet and memorize everything he note you need to it's a pretty decent class. You have a quiz every lab hour!

I hated this class with a passion. So time consuming, but I studied hard and I got an A. I miss this class so much now. Dr. Almy is a very good professor. Thank you Dr. Almy you are great!

I also hated this class with a passion, but Dr. Almy is an amazing person! A lot of work, but paid off in the end when I had a few F's on tests. Didn't buy book and borrowed or rent from school when I needed it

All other reviews are very accurate. I wouldn't take this professor simply because he doesn't give partial credit on questions that have multiple answers. If you only got 3 out of 4 right you get 0 points. It really affects your grade

Got a B in his summer class. He is a great teacher, but do not expect his tests to be easy. I love this guy, if you study hard then you will survive his class.Not for students who arent serious. He is a MUCH better professor than Kate Green.

Almy's class isn't easy. You'll need to dedicate time. Great enthusiasm for chemistry, very nice professor. His class is structured so that you can easily compare/contrast different compounds so that every week, you learn the same basics in the same order for different compounds. Caution: The final exam is MUCH more demanding than the midterm.

Almy's class was difficult. He actually explains material well, but his tests are tough. He gives out practice tests, but they're usually pretty different from the real test. His quizzes are generally easy though & similar to the HW. He curved, which helped me a lot. But I don't think he usually curves that much. Lab & attendance points will help.

He's way better than Green. Yes, it's a lot of work. It's chemistry, it is not the easiest subject. If you work hard, you can manage a B. If you're natural at it, you can get an A no problem. I'm not the best at chemistry but I pulled it off. He is willing to help and gives good reviews for his tests. Recommend.

Dr. Almy is a phenomenal teacher! His class is not easy tough. Do the suggested hw and the practice tests. Attend lecture and print the powerpoint so you can follow along in class. I wish he taught chem 185. Overall nice guy too!

He is a super nice guy, I took his class last semester, and got an A. His lecture slides are very helpful. If you study hard, B is easy. I recommend him

For students who can dedicate time and effort into the class, Dr.Almy's class is highly rewarding. For students who are simply trying to maintain their GPA's without actually doing anything, then do not take professor Almy. His general chem class entails 9 quizzes, 6 exams, and a cumulative final.For chemistry majors, I truly recommend taking him

This guy is brutal and has a slight arrogance/condescending attitude, however his passion for chemistry is very strong, and one will really learn the material really well, though his tests are really brutal, took him in the summer and got a B, lots of people got a B and passed the class

Solid lecturer. Quizzes and tests' difficulty level were fair for the most part. The last questions on his tests were always brutal. Just do the suggested homework and practice exams plenty of times and you should at least get a C. Labs weren't terrible. Warning: only 50% of the class stuck it out for the entire term. Overall, not a bad professor.

He is really clear about what he wants and about how hard the class is. If you want a good grade (a B or A) you HAVE to put in the effort, no BS. His grading for lab is not that easy but is an easy B. The only hard thing about his class are his tests and final. Each consecutive test will test critical thinking skills to the max.

Online homework is tedious. He's a very nice teacher and jokes around with his students. Lab is okay just try to do them right. The only bad thing is his tests. They are considered hard, but try to study the practice exams and everything he tells you to know. They are almost identical. Also work on significant figures.

Wow, are his exams killer... particularly the 4th exam. Study the lecture slides thoroughly; do the suggested hw & practice exams. You MUST know the material inside and out for every exam. He is very picky about grading on labs and exams, so be extra careful! Otherwise, he was very helpful in lab and a fantastic lecturer! Definitely take him :)

Dr. Almy is not rude at all, in fact he is quite friendly. And hilarious. Some people just take his sarcasm too literally. He is very helpful and gives LOTS of partial credit. If you know how to do the problem but mess us somewhere along the way he gives you most of the points. He notices when you do well and writes nice things on your exam :)

Overall, I really enjoyed his class.I think he is extremely helpful if and only if you actually come to him and ask questions.His tests are fairly hard. They require you to think outside the box a little bit. didn't even use the book. JUST DO THE HW, SUGGESTED HW, PRACTICE EXAM, LISTEN TO LECTURES AND YOU'LL BE FINE.

Very funny and charming; yes his tests are very hard, but if you do what he says to do (hw, sugg hw, practice tests, read) you can do well! He will help with anything you need to understand better. He hangs out after class if you need help. He gives tons of partial credit and consistency points. His class is hard to prep you for later sections.

His analogy for the first day of class: "Lecture 1 will be on how to use a hammer and nails. Lecture 2 will be on how to use a saw. For the test, I'll ask you to make a birdhouse. Even though you haven't done this difficult task, the basics will help you accomplish it." He is very clear and helpful but the tests are impossible. Take someone else.

The test are pretty difficult, and tough grader as well. You will need to spend a lot of time studying outside of class just for getting a passing grade.

Yes, this class is hard, but if you study and do the suggested homework and work hard, you'll get a really good grade. His lectures are extremely easy to understand and he gives credit whenever he can. If you want a professor to consider that you have other classes, don't take the class. If you think you don't have time for this class be realistic

Come prepared with chem 100 or 130 and pre-calculus or above, then the class is not all that hard. Dr. Almy is a great lecturer and provides all the material you need. The trick is that most of the material is not required work and you have to reach out and take the knowledge for yourself. Kindergarten is over. No spoon-feeding here.

This is the hardest class I'd taken. Barely had time for any other class bc there's so much material. Tests are very difficult. First half is like the homework, and other is mostly critical thinking to test how thorough your knowledge is (most points). I have learned a lot in this class and he's also very helpful! Be prepared to have no life.

Lectures were clear. Tests are very difficult; you must do the practice test and suggested hw. Really strict in lab grading but very helpful. You don't need the book because everything is based off lecture slides. Very knowledgeable and sometimes quite funny. Office hours were extremely beneficial for me. Nice guy and great professor.

Hardest class I have taken. If you do well though it is very rewarding. Dr Almy is an amazing teacher and his lecture is enjoyable, especially when he does demonstrations. You HAVE to do the practice tests and practice homework if you want to pass this class. Be prepared to be constantly studying. Tests are extremely difficult and stressful.

Bombed the final. You have to study like crazy. Not an easy C. His lecture powerpoints, suggested hw, online hw, and practice tests are what get you through the class. Go over them vigorously and you will have a chance. He is a funny guy and intimidating but don't be afraid to ask him questions. I think because I didn't ask him ques. I failed.

Almy is a very good professor, especially when it comes to his lectures. Everything is clear. He is helpful if u ask for help. However, tests are super duper hard! He is picky on lab. Make sure u do suggested hw, online hw and practice tests. I tried so hard to get B. Be prepared to spend most of ur time on this class!

He gives out extremely hard exams, to get a passing grade you have to do the Suggested HW + Practice Exams and review the materials daily as well. Take the other professor if you can, my friends told me he is much better.

This class showed me how I, as a student, needed to change in order to be successful in my studies. I appreciate science more than ever, especially chemistry which I had no interest in previously, and I get more out my subsequent classes because I now take an active role in my studies. Highly recommended for those who want to be challenged,

The class is overall amazing even though I did not pass it. His test are very very difficult and you need to do practice exams, homework, and suggested homework if you want to keep up. I would not take this class at the same time as other difficult classes if I were you. Extremely difficult though is challenging and changed me as a student to work

While I was taking his class I would curse his tough grading. I was always stressed for his exams. I would work my hardest for an exam, study for days on end going over practice problems, practice tests, and the homework, and would still only end up with a C or D on the exam. However, I now KNOW the material. I actually want to take him for Chem B.

He actually makes you WORK for your grade. This is a TRUE college level course. The exams test your ability to apply concepts; do practice exams+suggested HW. He answered all my questions with questions. Never just handed me an answer. He makes you think. He doesn't treat us like robots, he treats us like we have brains. I have much respect for him

he is very helpful. the lecture is funny and easy to understand. He will give you a series of questions in the exam, which mean that you need to use the answer of question A to work on question B, C.. However, if you get wrong in somewhere, which cause all of the next questions are also wrong, he will follow your work and grade your understanding.

As a lecturer, he makes chemistry easy to understand. But his exams are another story -- the kind that'll make you cry. If there's anything I've learned from Almy, it's "Practice, practice, PRACTICE" and "If you're not suffering, then you're not learning." Most students expect to breeze through life, but Almy will make you work hard for your grade.

Took Chem180 in Spring 2015. He's a good teacher, makes things very clear, just need not to be intimated and ASK if you don't understand, he will answer your question. His test are extremely difficult, do practice tests over and over till you can finish it in 45 mins, do all suggested problems he posts. He prepared me well for chemB and Ochem.

Almy does his best to make sure that you KNOW the material. He is very misunderstood in my opinion, because he is more than willing to help and no one gives him that credit. Be prepared to work your hardest for his class, but going to his office hours WILL help you. You will learn how to survive a tough college class. But don't take him for lab.

He's a witty and funny guy, but he is no nonsense about his curriculum, his tests, and his grading. He lets you know all of that up front so it's no secret even to him that he's an incredibly tough grader. Try to keep up because the final is cumulative. Don't bother buying the text.

He's a good Professor. Do all his suggest homeword + practice test, you probably get B for this class.

He's very knowledgable and is willing to help when you need it. He's a stickler in terms of grading and will absolutely deduct ANY points he can from your labs or exams. The exams are designed to be finished only if you know what to do ( you don't have extra time to "figure things out"). If you want to get an A, be prepared to work hard for it.

Professor Almy always wants us to do well in his class. He gives you all the material necessary to pass with an A, and leaves it up to you to work for it. He welcomes us to come to his office hours and will always try to answer your questions.

Dr. Almy is great!

Dr. Almy is great! I think he is the best professor for many reasons. He is well prepared for his teaching. He provides all tools to set us to succeed. He is very professional. He respects and cares his students.(He remembers students names!)... He offers his best as a professor, it's our decision whether or not to offer our best as a student.

Great teacher! If you want a no nonsense class that will actually make you work for your grade because you actually want to learn chemistry. he is your man.

Professor Almy is the best professor ever! it is a tough class and requires a lot of input, but as long as you do what is required, you will be fine in this class.

Dr. Almy is an amazing professor, but very tough as he is passionate about chem. There's 6 total tests, 5 exams and a final. Get into study groups, do ALL the hw, suggested hw, practice exam, and do it all repeatedly. Repetition is key. He is probably one of the toughest professors you'll ever take, but he prepares you for any other course.

Dr. Almy is the best professor I'v had at GWC. I really enjoyed his class. His lecture is well designed. With the ppt and in class practice problem, i felt I learnt a lot during lecture. The best outcome would be preview PPT before and review after. The exams were tough, but suggested hw and sample exams were provided to help preparation.

I just want to say that even that I am not chemistry major and I do not need any more chemistry classes for my major, if Dr. Almy teaches chemistry 185, I want to take it. I dislike chemistry before, but chemistry with Dr. Almy is not boring at all. I really enjoyed chem180 class, thank you professor Almy!

Best professor I've had. Also one of the most difficult courses I've taken. Be prepared to put in time and effort to do well in his class. This class will force you to become a better student, which is what Dr. Almy wants.

Dr. Almy is prob the best chem professor I've had so far. His lectures are intensive and his practice problems are nothing like the exam but he challenges you to be a better student and curves! I went to every single class and bothered him during office hours in order to get my B. he genuinely cares for his students and his jokes are funny.

What a great guy, Almy is. Bit odd, but very caring. Chem 180 is a hard class, especially the summer course, but I'm glad that he was the one to teach. Lectures are excellent, very well explained. His tests are hard, but he prepares you well for them. The work you put in is what you get out. Watching videos helps a lot to understand concepts.

If you want to choose the best professor and the most interesting and helpful chemistry class, please choose Dr Almy. He is the most caring, funniest and most knowlegable professor that I have ever met. His tests require a lot of critical thinking and you won't regret to take his class to prepare for your future. I'll miss his class so much!!

He is a good professor. If you do want to learn Chemistry and Chemistry is needed for your major, I strongly recommend you to take him. He is a caring professor and is always pleased to help you out with questions. His test is hard but you'll end up understand a lot about Chem. I love his class since he is fair and helpful.

I took him fall of 2015 and he is still my fav. I am currently taking the PCAT exam and he prepared me VERY well for the Chem section. I am actually studying his notes rather than the prep book. He is a VERY hard professor but chem classes also get MUCH harder after 180, so struggling here is not a good sign if your major is heavily based on chem.

I had to take Dr. Almy's class twice and I don't regret it one bit. His lectures are amazing and if you listen well it'll shave off hours of studying, though you still have to study A LOT outside of class and practice as much as you can. Follow his "blueprint for excellence"as much as possible, be honest with yourself, and you'll be fine.

The class is hard, but not impossible. Just do homework and study. I didn't use the textbook and still got a solid A. Most of these bad reviews are by people that are not cut out for STEM. If you're serious about school then you'll do fine in his class. Almy is a great professor that prepares you very well for his exams; drops the lowest exam too.

Professor Almy is very caring and is willing to help you during office hours. Exams are difficult but definitely do-able if you read the chapters aside from going over the lecture notes. The class is going well so far. I'll have an update at the end of the semester.

If you get grade C at this class, You will get an A at OCC. Dont take this class if Chem is your GE. The average grade of my class was 48% (Below F) But if you want to challenge yourself or you plan to apply for Medical School, this class will be helpful because Dr. Almy is a very good and caring teacher, & his tests are similar to MCAT tests.

Professor Almy is an amazing chemistry professor. I never had to study so hard in my life to get an A. Anatomy and Physiology is easier compared to his class! If you want to at least get a B, DO the suggested hw, study session worksheets, and practice exam on repeat(1 week before each exam).

the readings were difficult sometimes. He is a great teacher. His exams were very difficult and the exams of practice are not similar to what will come in the exam.

Dr. Almy is relentless when it comes to grading, and it truly shows how honest a student is with their study ethic. Previous concepts will pop up in each exam, and the final is comprehensive. Try not to procrastinate! Stay diligent with your studies; its the most important aspect of this course! (:

This was my first chemistry class, and I really enjoyed Professor Almy's lectures (more than any other class, I am well into organic chemistry now). He had great science puns every day, funny analogies that helped you remember the content, and fair tests. He was definitely difficult, but I enjoyed learning the content from him.

Dr. Almy is very knowledgeable and professional at what he does. However, exams will be immensely difficult but doable on the third exam out of six. One exam per week. Only gives us one hour for each exam. Do practice exams and suggested hw and make sure you study repetitively! You'll learn a lot, but exams are ridiculously hard. Put in time!!!

Here's how Almy curved the final grade requirements for Spring 2019, but they'll be different for you depending on how your class performed: A88.0, B75.6, C58.4, D40.0 (He doesn't want anyone to barely miss the next letter grade, hence why they look randomly specific.) Also, the final exam contains a lot of questions from the previous exams.

Dr. Almy is a great professor in that his lectures are enganging and comprehensible and the expectations for the class are clearly defined, but he has too high of expectations. I do not recommend taking this class in the summer. On top of lots of hours spent in class, there is homework every night, lab every day, and a difficult test every week.

Amazing professor. Of course it's hard its chemistry! If you don't try you'll do poorly of course. I'm not a super genius or anything but I got a B because I took advantage of his resources, kept up with material and he's very helpful and organised compared to other chem professors. He makes the class fun and the daily chem jokes are great...

Look Chem 180 is a really really hard class. The material is very hard to understand but Dr. Almy knows how to talk about it. Dr. Almy is the best professor I have ever had in any subject and very clearly teaches the material. Seriously amazing, his rating should be higher. Diamond in the rough. Listen to every word he says.

I put in minimal effort and my final grade reflects better than the effort I actually put in. Chem 180 is a whole semester class that has been squeezed into 8 weeks, something that students seem to forget. I dropped the class Spring for Summer, labs being online was easier. All the reviews below are accurate in terms of workload but super spiteful.

He is a solid choice. The course is not easy to begin with, so be prepared to work. I would take the professor again.

Makes you work for your grade. At the same time, If you can make it in his class, you should be fine in any where else. I found the prof to be very knowledgeable and fair.

Getting a B in this class is attainable if you study smart and grind. Getting an A is extremely difficult especially if you are taking other classes and/or you have a job. FOCUS on doing the optional homework and practice exam way before the next exam and master those problems and concepts. He makes you WORK for your grade!

This class requires your efforts and time. There are 6 exams and 1 final exam. Lowest score is dropped. Professor Almy is strict but fair. If you really want to learn chemistry, take him. If you want easy pass, then don't. Do the suggested homework, study session, and practice exam. Bonus: he wears suit and likes anything from Bath and Body Works.

Dr. Almy's class is a challenge. He is present to support your journey. He is accessible outside of class & is very encouraging. Focus: suggested homework, study sessions, practice exams. The more practice the better. Go to tutoring. Tough grader, get ready to work. This class is math, word problems & critical thinking under the guise of chemistry.

Dr Almy is amazing 6 exams and one final. He does his job perfectly, your job is to do all the required&suggested stuff to get good grades. Not hard to get a B The only thing I didn't like is the final. He was still putting challenging questions that we never had before in the last 3 pages of the 14 page final. You really need to put time for this.

He loves teaching and it shows. He has a lot of passion and really wants his students to succeed. He makes you earn that though, get ready for a lot of homework and challenging exams. The class is incredibly fair, he tells you want you need to know, it's just difficult

Very helpful, extremely recommended.

By far one of the most skilled, dedicated, hard working professors in the GWC chem dept. Come to his class and you will learn alot guaranteed 150%

He is the best chem teacher I have had. I would go to office hours to let him get to know you.

Dr. Almy is definitely a professor I will never forget. He's one of the nicest I have ever had, just beware of his test difficulty because they can be extremely tough. There are 6 exams+ 1 Final. Exams 3 & 5 are the hardest so be prepared for that. However, he is available to help, and you can tell he wants you to succeed

tbh, his lecture is fun. he gave lots of examples. First 2 exams are fine. Since the third exams, there are terrible. Ready to learn so hard

Very friendly and great professor, definitely sets you up to succeed in future classes that are difficult. Although he is a harsh grader and you will have a difficult exam every 2/3 weeks as long as you put the time and effort in you will do well. Unlike a lot of professors you can tell he cares and wants his students to do well.

I took the Fall23 class. He is fun, likes to crack a few jokes in lectures, and can explain things well (If you do understand what the content is). He is a really tough grader though, he grades very specific things so be sure you know what you should write and what his criteria are. If you know his rules, you'll be fine.

Dr. Almy is the man! Loved taking his class, even though it is tough, he gives you all the tools you need to do well if you decide to put in the effort. He teaches his class with a focus on critical thinking and is a great person. I recommend taking his class if you're the type of person that wants to push yourself to be a great student.

Be willing to work very hard. Take this class if you want to become a better student and truly learn chemistry, but don't if you want an easy A. Dr. Almy is why I am the motivated student I am today, teaching me the skills I had needed to be successful in pre-med. He cares so deeply about all of his students and is such an amazing human being.

This class will be difficult. You have to be prepared for 6 exams (1 lowest dropped), weekly homework online, a final, and lab reports to make up your grade. No quizzes, take opportunities to go to office hours and be ahead for this class. It is recommended that you take easier classes the same semester you take this chemistry class. Nice prof.

Writing this 2 yrs after his CHEM A This is the smartest and most skilled teacher you will ever have. If you hate chemistry but have to take a lot of it for your major, take him. You will learn chemistry better than most and dominate your future classes. He's so good I think about things in the real world with chemistry now.

To start, chemistry is just a difficult subject and you need to put in effort to study. Lectures are comprehensive to me personally, but Almy does clarify if you ask him to do so, and he makes them bearable by trying to make it fun. Exams are difficult, but are doable if you reread lecture notes and do practice exams. Take him for 180, trust me.

Prof Almy is one of the best teachers I've ever had, he's kind, caring, and funny. Saying that, He is a tough grader, online homework always due the day of class, 6 exams and a final exam, lab and pre lab quizzes, and lots of studying. This is a tough class, but if I tell you you can't do it and your mindset yeah I can't, don't take this class.

Professor Almy is someone who cares about his students, and REALLY cares about them learning the material. Don't expect to take this class with minimal studying and get away with it. Tough tests and final, he expects you to know and understand the material. That being said, if you put in the effort, you will enjoy this class. 10/10 professor.

Almy is real tough but also very good. He has high demands, but gives you the tools to succeed. His lectures are amazing, and he gives you multiple ways of mastering the material. He is very hard, he grades harshly and had 6 midterms and a final, so you have to hold yourself accountable to stay afloat in the class, but you will learn quite a lot.

Dr Almy is a great instructor. His lectures are clear and concise and his demos are helpful. His exams (70% of the grade) are VERY hard as you only get 1 hour (final is 2). He provides many resources for practice (practice exam) so with enough studying, you'll be fine. You must study hard to do well but it prepares you well for other STEM courses.

His class is tough but he does provide everything you need to study for the exams. His Google Slide is very detailed and easy to follow. He also provides extra practice problems beside online hwk so that you could enhancing your knowledge. Just acknowledge exam 5 is the toughest!