mean as hell

A lot of people hate Grabowski's class- I thought it was very challenging and demanding but fair. If you were having trouble with things and went to him he would help you- I do admit I got a lower grade than I wanted in there, but he IS a good professor!

A demanding teacher yes, but not a poor teacher. Raises standards for pitt which i must say need to be done. Can't disagree that the class is hard as **** and i hate powerpoint. take honors. its better (less people more 1 on 1)

Excellent Prof, best chem teacher there is. Be sure to take honors, just do the work. very demanding, but very fair and available. also take Siska.

Genuinely interested in teaching and helping students understand the subject rather than just memorize reactions. Has high standards, but is that really a crime? Don't get too upset about the take-homes. Everyone fails a few,but it works out in the

Nice guy, helpful. Learning ochem is hard no matter what and you will think he is going to fail the entire class but he'll actually be very generous with final grades (honors only). Very dedicated to helping you learn but is by no means easy. You'll learn things that will confuse the grad students.

The best professor on campus! I learned more about how to think in one week than my friends did in one semester in their Orgo classes. I always aced my friend's orgo exams while they rarely could start mine. Take him if you want a quality education; take another prof if you only want a grade.

Dr. G is the man. He is one of the best profs I've had here at Pitt. His courses are very challenging and demanding, but it is worth it for the amount you will learn and benefit from the course. He's a very nice guy and very helpful. I would definitely recommend his honors classes...

The book is crap. Joe G is def. the man. Though intimidating and sometimes a bit arrogant, he is still friendly and very willing to help. Class is very hard; never studied harder before. But you learn a lot. Get on his good side, read a different textbook or talk to Joe G a lot, and you will love Joe G's and his class!

Whoever said Joe G "narrows the success of the best students" wasn't kidding...the take homes and clicker questions are cake, but the in class exams will destroy the graduate school hopes of even the highest calibre students.

You won't find a more organized teacher. He'll ask you to think on exams - but isn't that the point of college. You'll learn a lot in his class and you'll always know your standing because of his absolute grading scale - which completely eliminates student-student competition.

Make no mistake, he is a competant professor. Lectures are clear and, though the tests are ridiculous, grades are often salvagable. However, it can be very off putting to work with such an arrogant man. He is not likeable. You will feel mocked. Either find a prof you can like, or decide what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Your choice.

JoeG is a really good professor if you want to really learn and understand the material. He grades fairly, has homework grades (in the take home tests) and lets you drop one bad test grade. He also averages about 30 EC a semester. I'd recommend him if you were really interested in ochem. And I'd recommend doing all the problems the book.

Dr. Grabowski teaches O-Chem, it isn't going to be easy. Yes his tests are difficult but they are extremely predictable- look at the previous years tests. He allows you to drop a midterm and gives ~30 extra credit points. His class is not hard to do well in if you put in the time. I would definitely take Dr. Grabowski again.

This is by far the hardest ochem 1 professor at PITT. He gives extremely difficult tests. However, he does curve the grading scale and gives extra credit. Thus if you get at least a 70 on all the tests, you will most likey get at least a B in the class. Studying is a must in his class!

Dr. G is a very tough teacher but his class is possible. If you do the expected problems and do the problems from his old exams you could get a good grade. He is a clear teacher and his exams are very similar to his old exams. Although the exams are hard, they are predictable.

Extremely organized; best web site with lots of resources; does expect one to understand the material - you can not do well in his course by surface memorization alone; absolute grading scale; encourages collaborations; extremely approachable; gives extra credit and allows you to drop an exam if your final is better. I recommend him.

Extremely organized; best web site with lots of resources; does expect one to understand the material - you can not do well in his course by surface memorization alone; absolute grading scale; encourages collaborations; extremely approachable; gives extra credit and allows you to drop an exam if your final is better. I recommend him.

Here's the deal: If you plan on doing all his recommended problems, old tests, and going to the fishbowl for take home test help, then you'll get no lower than a 'B'( most likely some sort of A). He sets up his class so if you work hard, you'll succeed. If you think you don't need to go to class or do the work, you'll absolutely fail.

Dr. Grabowski is a great professor. He is extremely helpful, especially at his office hours. For this class, you need to study. It is organic chemistry, after all. He is tougher than the other professors but, he will prepare you for anything. There is also a ton of extra credit. I would definitely recommend him to anyone.

His exams are really hard and he holds the class to a very high standard. He speaks fast and covers a lot of material per lecture. He really prepares students for grad. school or the mcat. His final grading curve is pretty generous.

There are alot of comments on this page ripping this guy to shreds and whatnot. If you are taking Ochem 2 at Pitt it is going to be hard - you are going to work your butt off. Personally I didn't mind the guy, he's very knowledgeable on the topic and really puts a lot of time in. 80% required to get an A, which is very doable.

Grabowski was an easy A in my opinion. He gives over 30pts extra credit, there are three 100pt exams (one a weekly take home), a final that will count double if better than any other exam, and there's an automatic 10% curve! Also, he's highly intelligent, very organized, and overall a very effective teacher. Don't believe the idiot-hype.

I have misgivings about grabowski.On one hand, his exams are are so hard all you can do is laugh, but on the other, he's above average in all other measures of a good prof.Most final grades tend to turn well if you put in a ton of work,but don't ask me how.i got 2 exam scores in the 50s and 1 in the 70s, and did real well on take homes and final.

He gives plenty of extra credit opportunities, a lot of past year questions (which usually pop out in his take-home exams or the real exams-so DO THEM!). Go to the ARC, ask your TAs for help. Do all the recommended problems from the textbook. Grabowski is challenging, but you'll learn a lot. You can also drop the lowest score from your exams.

He was a pretty good teacher, he 's very smart and will answer your questions. But WOW, are his exams brutally difficult. You have to spend enormous amounts of time on this class, it's possible but there are better options out there even with all his bonus points. Better teachers at teaching the material and certainly many easier ones.

I had Joe for freshman programs class. Easy 1 credit class that only required you to show up for the 12 weeks it ran. There was a 'final' that was actually just a jeopardy game. Joe is a cool dude and I may just have to take him for OCHEM next year.

Grabowski is very smart, and he expects a lot out of his students. Just go to class, do the recitation worksheets, read the book, do the practice problems and previous exams, and use his online resources, and you'll be fine. It's a ton of work, but if you do it, you'll get the results you're looking for.

Great prof and guy. Although he seems uptight during lecture, he is a very nice prof that is willing to help. Is a bit tough, but with some good studying, an A is fairly easy to obtain. 3 in class exams, 1 take home exam, and a final. If you do well on final, he counts it twice and drops one of the other exams. Great professor, must have!

Great professor and guy. Uptight in lecture, but very personal and helpful outside of class. Expects a lot from his students, but it benefited us greatly. By far one of the smartest profs I've ever had. He drops an exam and counts the final as 2 if it will help your grade. A great prof, and one I would love to have again for OChem 2.

Grabowski demands a lot out of his students. Hours of work are required for this class-- if you're dedicated you'll learn the material. Very condescending when you ask a question, but is a very involved teacher. He's very frustrating, however I definitely learned a lot.

Look its ochem so it's gonna be hard but his incomplete lecture notes are very helpful if you go to class. does a good job of explaining things. His grade scale is really fair (lots of EC for clickers, final can replace lowest test) best prep for orgo2 out of all the teachers. Also posts lots of previous exams which great test prep. Recommended

He is really helpful during office hour and explain things really clearly!His tests cover exactly what he covers on lecture. If you don't go lecture, it's totally fine.You just need to go through the text book. I went to lectures but I did not take notes for his incomplete slides. He curves the grade a lot! I guess A is above 88. I got 94.

Dr. Grabowski's class is really tough and the lecture doesn't feel connected to recitation or lab. But he is a fair grader and gives you lots of resources. Answers email about 50% of the time. Gen Chem 1 was a HUGE lecture hall class, but participation mattered (you use a clicker to answer questions). Show up to lecture to get extra credit points.

Bottom line, difficult prof. Hard class, you need to work for every lecture in the class and out. Know the material and dedicate yourself to OWL and the extra 'non-graded' assignments and you will learn loads. You'll gain more than just a grade with Grabowski.

Professor Grabowski is misunderstood, yes, the exams are hard - however he posts learning objectives online that explicitly state what you should be prepared to do on each exam. In addition, there is more than enough extra credit points available in class that are easy to obtain. Bottom line: unless you have to take higher level chem courses, avoid

Definitely not an "easy" class. There are weekly online homework assignments and you must read the book, as well as do the book practice problems, in order to fully grasp the chemistry concepts. However, Grabowski is an underrated teacher-- he is very organized and gives good, clear directions. Tests are tough, but ends up fair with the curve.

Dr. Grabowski gets a bad reputation because his expectations are high, but in reality he's a very good teacher, especially in small group settings. I went to his office hours every single week during the semester and ended with an A in the class. He was originally an Honors O-chem teacher, which helps to explain the difficulty level as well.

Grabowski as a human being is someone I despise. With that being said, he is not a bad teacher. For some reason students think if they have to study for a class, the professor is awful. The class is not easy, but he does a really good job preparing you if you do the homework and make sure you understand it. You just have to put the work in.

DON'T DO IT! I wish someone would have told me about him before I took him for Gen Chem 1. He assigns 50 homework problems a week and each problem almost always have multiple parts to it. The exams are timed and extremely difficult. Save yourself the stress if you can and don't take his class.

Grabowski is great. He is very helpful if you go to his office hours, and his lectures are pretty clear. 50 online problems due a week, but they are very very helpful for the tests. He gives multiple past tests so that you have a lot of practice.

Dr. Grabowski makes the Orgo 1 class very fair. The in class lecture notes are very helpful, and he explains things well for the most part.

Dr. Grabowski cares about student's feedback and really wants everyone to succeed. He made ochem bearable by getting the students involved during lectures. It's difficult but doable. Attend class for extra credit, do all the graded HW and all the passed exams he gives you and there's no reason you shouldnt get atleast a B. He curves too.

Honestly thought that Grabowski was a pretty good professor. Took him for ochem 2 and definitely learned a lot. If you do the online homework, book problems, and practice exams, you'll be set for the real exams. He gave a ton of extra credit and curved the class so much. He may be hard, but its not hard to get a good grade in his class.

Had him for OCHEM II. He's a tough professor, but keep in mind OCHEM II will be tough with anyone. As far as developing a real understanding of organic chemistry and why it is important for graduate learning coupled with developing a passion for learning; he's one of the best professors out there. But make no mistake. It's never easy, not even a B.

Dr. Grabowski is tough but fair. He is a very good professor, he knows his stuff and very passionate about it. He gives extra credits and hw is a test grade and its easy to get As on all of them. You also get to drop a test grade so thats bonus. 80% is an A so it's really not that bad. He also puts tons of stuff on courseweb.

Professor G is honestly the best professor I've ever had! I was so scared to take his class because everyone says hes really hard but it really wasn't that bad. He gives over 30 extra credit points and they boost your grade so much. Also 80% is an A so if you put in the work it's not impossible.

Loved him! I saw on this site before I took his class that he wasn't good so I was preparing for the worst but he's an amazing teacher! Really knows his stuff AND he really knows how to teach it. Great and explaining things and giving you the confidence you need to succeed in his class! TAKE!

I've heard a lot bad things about Dr. Grabowski but he isn't really that bad. He gives tons of extra credit and his lecture is extremely organized! It really isn't that bad

Ochem is hard no matter who you take. For grabowski 400/500 total points is an A. You get extra credit just for attending lecture and answering clicker questions. Final can replace your lowest exam score. Posts lots of old exams for practice. Its alot of work (as it is with any professor) but if you study and do the homework its not hard to get a B

All the people who are saying he's a bad teacher are liars. They're pissed they were forced to realize they're not as smart as they thought they were. Grabowski is a GREAT professor. I was super scared going into the class but he is very easy and fun to talk to, thrilled to answer questions, and values student feedback.

Professor Grabowski is amazing. He's passionate for chemistry and if you want to really understand it / actually are interested in the topic, you should absolutely take him. If you're not interested in those things, you probably shouldn't take Ochem anyways. grabowski goes into the fundamentals and will help you become the chemist you want to be.

The class is not easy and the averages are in the 50s, but he's a great teacher. The class is appropriately curved so you don't have to worry about failing or getting a bad grade--and you'll learn a ton about ochem. Lots of practice tests are available so you know exactly what to expect for the exams.

Amazing professor. Not only does he care about the subject he's teaching, he cares about the students and wants them to do well. He'll go out of his way to help you succeed in his class in every way. Accessible, easy to understand.

Awesome and totally fair teachers. Tests are clear and straight forward, but not too easy. The homework can take time (avg. 2.5 hrs a week) but is super helpful for the exams. If you listen in class you'll pass fine.

Ochem seems scary but Grabowski makes it clear and easy to understand. You get a ton of extra credit from attending the lectures which is a plus. Doesn't require too much outside of the classroom work to do well on the tests. Great guy, great teacher. 10/10 recommend.

Not too much work tbh. If you do the assigned homework and the practice tests its study enough and besides that you don't have to put much time into the class. Lectures are easy to follow and he's always there to help you if you're confused. Very invested in his students succeeding. Def should take him.

Go into his office hours and ask specific questions, If you want to learn the material for whatever reason he will help you. He has 4 office hours a week and is a walking chemistry book. People that talk bad about his class just got embarrassed because he makes you work. I got a b- in his ochem 1 section but actually learned then got the A in 2

Dr. Grabowski clearly outlines the grading criteria for the class and sticks to the course schedule. I found the print-out lecture notes to be extremely helpful. Quizzes given over the two weeks leading up to exams motivated me to review relevant material. Overall, there were no unpleasant surprises. Staying up-to-date on material is key to do well

I had him for 1 and 2. Gr8 teacher. He is very, very hard but he is one of the best teachers I have ever had. His powerpoint were so detailed and his tests were extremely challenging, but he prepares and teaches you the right way. We took the ACS orgo1&2 test as our final and I scored in the top 2 percentile so that is a testament to his teaching.

Great teacher with very clear grading requirements. You can literally get a 50 on every exam but a 100 on hw and get the extra credit and get a B in the class. So easy if you put forth effort.

He's a really difficult professor, but he gives a LOT of extra credit in class. 2 quizzes and a midterm per unit, and the quizzes are REALLY helpful in boosting your assessment score. DO THE HOMEWORK. It's worth the same as an exam and it helps with studying. I got an F and had to repeat this class with him and did amazingly.

Dr. Grabowski is a great professor in my opinion. He expects you to work hard in order to succeed but you will come out of the class knowing the material well. Exams are quite challenging. However, there are weekly homework assignments , quizzes, and extra credit that will boost your grade.

I had Dr. Grabowski for UHC Org. Chem 1 and 2 all the way back in 2003-2004. He is a tough grader, but he is an excellent professor, and I would take his courses again if I could go back in time. He prepared me very well for my pharmacology and biochemistry courses in pharmacy school. One of the very best professors at Pitt!!

Organic Chemistry 2 is a hard class regardless of the professor you take. Grabowski is a great choice because of his very informational lectures. His exams are tough, but fair. I loved going to this class to hear the dad jokes and extra information he would give us. Practice problems and you will pass.

This is the hardest class I have after taken but Grabowski is one of the best professors I've ever had. He wanted us all to learn so badly. Very accessible and will help you at any time if you ask for it. BUT his tests are extremely hard with averages in the high 40s/low 50s. Generous curve and offers bonus points. There is no other prof I'd take.

The class is going to be hard no matter what, but Grawboski gives mostly clear expectations of what to know. Spend time on things he tells you to and you will be fine. He tells you the material on the quizzes a week in advance and gives LOTS of practice for the exams (including old exams). I struggled in OChem 1 and found this class to be easier.

Orgo 2 is going to be difficult no matter what. Dr. Grabowski makes it bearable through his incomplete lecture notes which force you to stay engaged with the material during lecture. His quizzes can be tricky, but the material he releases for exam prep are REALLY helpful and show you the exact format of the exam. Study hard and you should be fine.

Grabowski isn't an easy choice for Ochem 2, but he gives you all the resources you need to succeed. Do ALL of the practice exams, and use every resource that he gives you. In office hours he can be helpful, but only if you come with very specific questions to ask. For reference, I finished the course with a 76% and ended up with an A-.

He is a very tough professor and expects you to know a lot about Ochem 1. His tests and quizzes are very difficult but if you put in the time you can succeed. His assignments were very fair and he gives you plenty of chances to make up points where you may have lots them. Overall I say take if you want to understand ochem.

I really liked Grabowski, but do not take him if you are not willing to put in the work. He uses top hat as part of your grade so you can't really skip class. He explains concepts well and tells you what will be on the exams, but you need to do extra work to succeed in his class. Do all of his old exams and the recommenced problems from the book.

Lots of people were very upset by Joe's teaching style because he is very quick, condescending, and places emphasis on the big picture. This class requires a lot of memorization and his tests are very doable. If you do the practice Achieves, the practice tests, and the book problems I can guarantee you will do well. Nothing to be scared of.

Although condescending, Dr. G isn't a bad professor. He wants his students to succeed in his class with tons of extra credit (30+ points in the semester). Take everyone's opinion of his "tough" exams and quizzes with a grain of salt. They likely didn't do all the practice exams and homework properly. Keep up with the workload and you will do fine.

Fall 2021-I loved having him!! He had exams, quizzes, and homework. He clearly cares about us succeeding since he even had 2 surveys (both EC) asking for feedback on what we liked and how he can improve (also gave up to 25pts EC throughout the course!). Print PP slides for LEC, so helpful! Also orgo 1 was on the dept final but he gave practice too!

jk thank you for the curve

Grabowski was an amazing O Chem 2 professor. His exams are tough and the average was low but he gave lots of practice material and listened to students suggestions. His lectures were entertaining and although his exams were hard he gave plenty of extra credit and homework points. I really feel like I learned a lot from him and he's a great prof.