3.0
Quality3.9
Difficulty46%
Would Retake104
Reviews46%
Would Retake
104
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
20
4
28
3
15
2
20
1
21
What Students Say
“Tough class but I really enjoyed it”
CHEM285 - 4.0 rating“He can be confusing and hard to follow when teaching”
CHEM285 - 4.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
48%
Textbook Required
0%
Grade Predictor
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Predicted Grade
B+
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ORGANIC
5.0
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5.0
(1)CHEM455
5.0
(1)OCHEM352
5.0
(1)CHEM353
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
CHEMCHEM
5.0
CHEM351
4.3
285
4.0
CHEM351352
4.0
ORGANIC
4.0
Reviews (104)
Good teacher. Fun to listen to. He knows his stuff and does a good job. Class isn't super easy, but he's a good teacher
Great teacher that knows his stuff and how to explain it clearly. If you work hard in this class, a good grade is possible because you'll actually learn the material.
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Professor Andrus rocks!
Had to learn ochem from the text book/kaplan book, learned more in one month of kaplan review than 8 months in his classes. awful teacher
He is one of the greatest professors I have had. He was very flexible with the students and was very capable of explaining everything well. If your going to take o-chem take it from him.
Very good Professor. Knows his stuff and wants you to know it too. Very comprehensive of students and their lives. You can tell he loves what he does because he is well prepared to teach only what's important, and organizes everything in a way to allow students to learn it as well if they try. I was very impressed. Good job.
Great Teacher
All these other comments are from people who must've aced his class. For the average student, he doesn't explain anything well. 70% of the class doesn't know what he's doing. He only uses chalk board, never powerpoint. Don't believe the previous comments.
though his teaching was very weak atimes,i liked him.60% of tests is multiple choice,and 40%-free response.His tests are not insane at all!He is funny, he is encouraging.He has random in-class quizzes.The secret to passing his class is this: Make sure you do the reading and understand the material before class! Take notes in class! Get to know him.
Really caring guy; always willing to help. Random in-class and take-home quizzes, but he drops hints about them so you usually have some warning. Fair expectations. Nice sense of humor. Take O.Chem from him!
nice teacher, willing to meet with you anytime and help you out with your quizzes, etc. you will be prepared for any national test (DAT, etc)
Great teacher, really cares about his students. A very fun and entertaining lecturer. Random take home and in class quizzes. His tests are very straight forward, and only tests you on material you have studied, he isn't trying to trick you like other OChem prof's.
Dr. Andrus does a good job of explaining the underlying concepts behind the reactivity you need to learn in Ochem. I enjoyed his class. He has a smile on his face most of the time he lectures, I don't understand how you could like Chemistry that much. Anyway, he is a good teacher.
nice teacher and very helpful.. i really appreciate him...
Chem was just a general requirment i had to get out of the way and in high scholl personally i hated the subject. Yet, Prof Andrus made it fun and inersesting. He was by far my favorite teacher of the semester. I would strongly recommend him to anyone!
He is friendly but don't mistake that for helpful, clear, and easy. Rewriting already previously written problems does not help a class learn. When asking him questions he is too technical in his explanations. He may be great for upperlevel classes but too technical for chem 101
Fantastic teacher. He lectures straight from the book, and bases the exam questions on the text as well. He clarifies his expectations well and also gives many examples of problems in class. Definitely need to study, but getting an A shouldn't be a problem. I never enjoyed science until taking this class from Professor Andrus.
He was always saying if you need help come to me. so my friend and i went to get help and he gave us the cold shoulder and told us to go look at the cabinet. His tests are not too hard and overall pretty easy class but can be rude when going in to get help.
Dr. Andrus cares a lot about his students. It's very possible to get an A in his class. You're going to have to rely on the chemistry lab along with Dr. Andrus, the TA and the book because these three are incomple resources by themselves.
It's sad when you feel Chem 105 was easier than 101. I now have taken both. Andrus just writes on the chalk board how to do the problems and half the time you can't hear him or read his handwriting. He contradicts himself when it comes to due dates. He seems to get annoyed if you ask him more than one question. Chem 101 shouldnt be worse than 105.
A fairly straightforward class. Sometimes in class he goes off on problems that are much more difficult that you will need to know. The tests are easier than the book problems and the problems done in class. Do the sample test.
He's a great guy but not the best teacher. I found lectures pointless because he left me more confused after class than before. The book is very helpful. I used this as my teacher. He stands at the front of the room and talks to himself basically. He gets frustrated when people ask questions. He loves chemistry but isn't good at teaching it.
Andrus is a great guy. He does lots of demos in class and has a bunch of really bad chem jokes. He's pretty available for office hours, and is willing to help. Overall, he's a pretty great professor, and I'd take a class from him again.
A nice guy but not a very good chem 101 teacher. Lectures were pointless and I was always more confused than before class. Got frustrated when asked questions. Tests were way harder than expected because we hadn't been prepared for them in class.
Andrus is a really good, fun guy, but didn't work well as a teacher for me. I usually ended up confused at the end of class. Things seemed jumbled sometimes and I didn't feel prepared for the final! Even though Andrus is a great guy, I would try taking this from someone else.
Let's face it, chemistry is not easy, so don't expect the class to be a breeze. With that said, Andrus is a fair grader and willing to help. This was my second time in chem 285 and after comparing tests, his were MUCH easier (no tricks!) He keeps things simple and if you keep up on the hw, a good grade is possible. Would take from him again.
Be prepared to spend a LOT of time for this class. Material is fascinating and Dr. Andrus did a great job teaching it. Make sure to read the sections before coming to class, or you won't understand as much during lecture. I wouldn't say this a difficult class as far as material, you just really have to put your hours in if you want to do well.
He was so fair and consistent. I loved this class - not because the material was super interesting to me, but I knew that my grade would reflect the effort and preparation that I put into it. There are no surprises. Its hard because of the amount of material - that's just the nature of the beast. I loved this class.
His lectures seemed a bit scattered at times, but it's just because he's genuinely interested in the topics that he wants to tell us all of the interesting things he knows about them. His tests are very reasonable and don't blindside you. He has consistent office hours and plenty of them. If you go to him he will tell you what is most important.
Nicest guy in the world but lectures were so confusing and tests were pretty tough. However he is very encouraging and gives students lots of hope. Study the textbook 100% to do well on tests and form a study group.
He is a genius and wants to share as much as he can with us but most of us are a little lost. Very nice man and gives you hope until the last day of class and the TAs were lifesavers. Dont fall behind! Go to OChem lab and talk to the TAs.
Tough class but I really enjoyed it. Professor Andrus made it interesting and applicable. Tests were hard but the review material was very helpful. Definitely worth turning in a regrade- the TAs will give you points most likely. Extra credit at the end of the semester bumped my grade up two letter grades.
I TA'd for Doctor Andrus after taking this class and thoroughly enjoyed sitting through it, again. Dr. Andrus is extremely knowledgeable about his field and is probably the happiest lecturer I've ever taken. Be careful to note any interesting facts that he repeats, as they will probably be on tests. Study the book and dedicate lots of time to class
Dr. Andrus loves what he teaches but it is often hard to follow him and his lectures. I took his class Spring Semester with no other classes. I got an A because I formed a study group, became good friends with the TA, and basically lived in the TA lab all semester. Get ready for a lot of reading, memorization, and application.
He can be confusing and hard to follow when teaching. If you'r really struggling to understand a concept, ask the TAs instead. However he is kind, caring, and interested in your success. Tests are very hard but he wants you to succeed and he is always willing to help students.
He is very hard to follow sometimes during lectures. He puts some random things from lectures in his tests sometimes that you would never expect to be on a test (like a specific molecule's effect in a certain drug). But, he has a big heart and loves his job! And is always smiling!
He really is a nice guy who genuinely loves chemistry. With that being said, however, I would never take a class from him again. His lectures go all over the place, and he expects you to remember kind of obscure things. Its a gamble, depending on the day, if he will be nice to people who have questions, or treat them like they're stupid.
He's a solid teacher, but seems to forget that students are taking more than just his class. Expects you to work alot. The hardest thing in this class was keeping up with readings and memorising literally everything. His tests are hard, but it's good preparation and makes the final seem easier. Overall a good teacher and willing to answer questions
Lets's be honest, Dr. Andrus isn't the best at understanding and answering student questions. He loves chemistry and often took up the entire class talking about something irrelevant. I often left the class wondering why I came. Bottom line is, know what is on the test then memorize the heck out of it and you will do fine
I learned SO much in this class, including how to sift through material; Dr. Andrus offers a lot of fun facts that aren't always relevant to the test or curriculum, which can make it challenging, considering the latter half of the semester is very memorization-heavy. However, he is extremely kind and willing to help. Don't miss class!!
The course material comes hard and fast. He is a genius! Went to an ivy league school on scholarship! The first half of the semester, it seemed like he was teaching over our heads. I did a lot better by reading the book before class - even if I didn't understand it then. He is also easily accessible. Also, use the TA labs - it saved my life.
Professor Andrus KNOWS his stuff. That's what I enjoyed about him. You can ask him any question, and he'll have the answer. Read chapters and do practice problems before lecture because there are in class quizzes that are worth a fairly good portion of your grade. I would take him as a teacher any day.
He gives random pop quizzes to make sure you come to class and stay on top of the readings. Cramming is bad in his class because of this. He doesnt assign to much HW; he only gives you what you need to master concepts. His tests are fairer than all the other professors. Id recommend taking his class
Dr. Andrus is the best professor for your grade (more quizzes/graded homework, and easier tests), but doesn't teach super clearly. You'll have to work really hard before class to learn the material as his teaching style is kinda random and not as much teaching as it is just talking about Chemistry. Reading before class is a MUST.
He was very inconsistent with the other professors who taught this class. He taught on many subjects not found in the textbook and which are very difficult to study. I felt he wasn't actually teaching to the university standards but to his own and it shows when he asks questions in class and nobody can answer them. Memorize everything or fail.
He's a difficult professor, but he outlines what students should expect for passing the class. He explains everything clearly, and often goes over test problems in class, verbatim. Great professor, would take again.
I've had three different O. Chem. professors at BYU and Dr. Andrus was by far the easiest. Even the TA's say he is the easiest professor to take O. Chem. with at BYU. His tests are extremely fair. He doesn't try to trick you, but tests you on what you know. I would highly recommend taking O. Chem. from him.
Ochem is hard but Dr. Andrus was significantly easier than the other professor I had. Tests were very similar to practice tests in questions and difficulty. Never felt like he was trying to trick me on questions. Quizzes and homework combine for about 30% of the grade and are very doable. An A ended up being an 88 after a hefty curve. Best option.
He was a great professor. He understands us when it comes to grades, and tries his best to give as many A's as he can.
I loved taking ochem from Dr. Andrus. Its a really tough class but its worth it! Its been my favorite class Ive taken at BYU! I started off really poorly in the class and almost withdrew but Dr. Andrus told me to stay strong and keep going! I did and it was totally worth it! Hes clear and upfront about the material but tries to make it fun!
A lot of reading is required, but honestly it was the easiest chemistry class that I have ever taken. His tests were super straight forward, and he was always willing to sit down and answer questions. I would 10/10 take a class from him.
Dr. Andrus is interesting. His lectures aren't amazing, but they aren't bad either. The TA recitations were really what helped me understand. The best part is the practice tests; they are very very similar to the actual tests, so make sure you do them! I skipped chem 105, 6, and 7 and went straight to this and it was manageable (but challenging).
His lectures are mediocre at best, and while he likes to stress that he wants to help students, he is the least available and least helpful professor I have ever had the displeasure of taking a class from. I almost always get an A in my classes at BYU, and this was only the second class I did not, largely due to how unavailable he and my TA were.
Dr. Andrus is a legit good guy, just not so great a professor. He's really intelligent and I think he sometimes struggles to "dumb-it-down" for his students. He is usually quite vague in lecture, and make a LOT of assumptions of his students' comprehension, usually to their detriment. If chemistry comes easy to you, you'll probably be okay.
I think Dr Andrus is great. Class is very straight forward and I always knew what he expected of us. I wish lectures were a little more engaging. But then again, most of it was pre-recorded because of COVID so with that in mind I think he did great.
Professor Andrus does a great job in lectures, but you will only be able to follow along if you read the textbook! Definitely read read read the textbook. The lectures and quizzes and homeworks felt supplemental to the book. Very clear grading, and you can tell he wants students to do well in his class. Hardest class I've taken at BYU so far.
Going into this class, I knew that it was going to be pretty hard. I think that his teaching style didn't really click with me right away and I didn't clue in until too late that you really have to rely on your textbook to teach you the coursework. Someone told me that you should use the textbook to teach you then use Andrus as a TA during lectures
This is a difficult class. Dr. Andrus does not do the greatest job of prepping you for his 5 tests throughout the semester. If you are really wanting to succeed, pay attention to the book and constantly review the material. It is not an easy class and Dr. Andrus fails to truly you prep you for the exams.
In terms of grades the average in our class is much higher than any other class. But his teaching style is okay nothing great. He lectures a ton and doesn't slow down for students to write things down. Also my biggest annoyance with this class is that we have a "midterm" 2 DAYS BEFORE OUR SCHEDULED FINAL that covers all of 351 AND 352.
Dr. Andrus is super intelligent but that can't go without saying how mediocre he is at teaching. 5 tests with the 5th testing being the ACS final. Prep yourself via the book because his lectures are more of a TA session. Don't expect much in terms of a study guide or test prep. One of the hardest classes I have taken and taught myself.
You have to use the textbook along with lectures. He spends most lectures doing mechanisms, which are not heavy on tests. Most test content is from the book. His tests aren't the kind you can just ace without studying. 4 midterms and final, the last midterm was 3 days before the final. No TA reviews before tests. 1 HW and 1 Quiz each week usually.
His lectures were understandable, but reading the textbook is a MUST. His testing schedule is brutal. Any emails you send him will receive a not-very-personable 3 to 5 word response that will most likely be a hard no if you're asking for any kind of favor. Good at teaching concepts, but doesn't seem to care about individual students very much.
Prof Andrus make you work for your grade. He doesn't do much teaching, just a high-level overview so rely on your book. His tests aren't too bad but be prepared to study and prep for everything as he provides no study guides. Beware of the ACS final! It Wrecked my grade and being with the abnormal students that understand this does not help.
I took Andrus for both ochems, but I got an A in 351 and a B in 352. His tests are not super difficult if you do a ton of practice problems, but the 352 final was ACS and cumulative for both semesters and it tanked my grade. He posted his lectures on Youtube so I watched them all after class and that was a lifesaver. BEWARE THE ACS FINAL IN 352
I really enjoyed Dr. Andrus' class. It was very well organized and I was always aware of what was going on and what I had to do in order to do well. I appreciated that he was very efficient in going over the material. However, I would say that reading the textbook was more helpful than the actual lectures.
Dr. Andrus is a very sweet man who is a very boring professor. I stopped watching the lectures because they didn't help me at all on his tests. Go to the recitations!!
Dr Andrus is the best bet for a good grade. Very nice guy, makes you take the ACS exam which is difficult but I recommend buying the ACS practice book and you will ace it. Also he will curve the class average if it is below 80%. Do the practice problems lecture! Test 1 and 2 are easy but 3 hits you hard so work hard and do the HW/quiz problems.
Isn't very understanding of his students
This is a very difficult class. You will only do well in the class if you teach yourself from the textbook and go to the TA's all the time! He does not prepare you well for exams at all, and there are a lot of them. If you have another option for ochem, take the other option.
Dr. Andrus is a good lecturer though he is terrible at answering questions. do the reading before class and it will all be clear, don't do the reading and the lecture will be meaningless.
I felt like I had to teach myself the entire time through the textbook and TA lab. If you aren't extremely well prepared before coming to class, you won't learn a thing. He's a nice person, but probably not my first choice as an instructor for this class.
OChem is hard, no going around it. His lectures aren't terribly clear, the textbook and the TA's are what end up teaching you. Practice problems are what saves you and take really detailed notes. "Curve" can really help too! Buy the ACS Prep Book for the final!!!!! Prepare to spend at least 2-3 hours a day on this class.
Definitely the worst professor I've ever had at BYU. Extremely rude to students, doesn't answer questions in class, and made the comment 'I see you all look discouraged' and laughed out loud. The 4th "midterm" was two days before the scheduled ACS final, giving us no time to prepare. Tanked my grade. Lectures useless. Beware at all costs.
Worst teacher I've ever had. Bad teaching style, and lectures are a huge waste of time, but you still have to go to class for random pop quizzes. I had a near 4.0 GPA until this class and I work hard, but his style of teaching sucks. O-chem is hard, so find a teacher that makes the class easier. Andrus takes a hard subject and makes it harder.
Lectures were useless unless you already read the book and understood the material beforehand. The TAs and book will be your saving grace. Andrus is an intelligent guy but has no idea how to explain difficult concepts in a clear way and tests often included material we hadnt even covered yet. Dont take from him unless you like teaching yourself.
Andrus is the worst teacher I've ever had. Hes a big jerk. Never would allow questions in class, made my friend cry in his office hours, lectures were useless, no organization, had an exam 3 days before the ACS final, and treated you like an idiot if you asked him anything. He publicly humiliated a student in front of the class. Rely on TAs/ book.
Ocher is hard, but Dr. Andrus makes the class very doable. The work load was not too much, there were a couple pop quizzes but if you paid attention in class they aren't too bad. The exams are also very very fair and reasonable, nothing you haven't seen from him before. He is not the best lecturer sometimes but his exams makes up for it!
Worst professor I have ever had. All I'm going to say is class average on the ACS final was a 66%. The ACS is a standardized Ochem final given in the US. Based on the outcome, it is clear Andrus does not know how to teach, doesn't care for students' success, and does not prepare you to do well. Class average was below 80% and he didn't curve.
His tests aren't as bad or as long. Read the book before going to class, then for lecture u already have an idea of what's going on, and then he would explain and expound. Lectures r VERY organized. He laid out all the concepts one by one with practice problems in class. We only had like 3 "pop" quizzes. 91% was an A, and there was a curve.
I've had Andrus twice and it's been miserable both times. In lectures, he's facing away from the students and drawing mechanisms. Explanations are lacking and he is a jerk when you ask him questions. A student in my class asked a good question, the 2nd day, and he said "just stop." Then ignored them. Go to TAs and do the homework to do well.
Dr. Andrus was a decent o-chem professor. His lectures were semi-helpful. His grading criteria are very clear. His tests were fair albeit difficult. This class is not assignment heavy and you really have to study on your own. Read the textbook, it is very helpful.
I'm usually an A+ student. Worst professor I've had. Don't expect to learn anything in his lectures; you have teach yourself from the book. "I'm great at chemistry myself but hate teaching and the students." sums up his attitude. STAY AWAY! You will be grateful you took it from someone else. Never felt like he cared or wanted the best for students
Do not take this class from this professor, its hard enough and he made it 10x worse. Multiple times I reached out to him in need of help and he did not care to help, his tests are very difficult, and his lectures are horrible and very confusing to follow or see the point. The only way to pass is to memorize the textbook.
The worst professor at BYU. He does not care about his students and his lectures are confusing and sometimes not related to what we need to know. I never review on here, but please do not take this class from him Ochem is already hard enough.
Lectures are hard to understand unless you read the entire chapter in the textbook carefully. Sometimes beneficial. Study groups and TAs will be your saving grace
This man is the worst professor I've had. The material from ochem 1 to ochem 2 isn't harder, but working with him and understanding his lectures was a chore to say the least. He is very socially and mentally absent when it comes to his students and their needs. Even if you can't get into another professor, I would wait a semester than take from him
He's a nice guy, but his class is just alright. You have to read the textbook before coming to class or the lectures aren't helpful. His tests and teaching style are good for learning mechanisms, but not for preparing you for the ACS final. A lot of the class was doing really well until that final. I'd recommend taking the class from someone else.
What you should know: - Pre-class readings aren't required but are crucial to saving time and being successful - Andrus uses class to practice not to teach much - Tests are reasonable - Be prepared for an occasional pop quiz - Pace yourself and space your studies/hw so the material sticks - Give yourself some grace--OChem is TOUGH
Dr. Andrus is probably the most disorganized professor I've had at BYU. Lectures were chaotic and did not flow, which was disappointing after having an incredible experience with Dr. Nielsen in O Chem 1. He was pretty aversive to questions; he usually ignored raised hands or gave roundabout answers. Tests were doable but the final was impossible.
Took Andrus for both OChems. OChem 1 was much easier than 2 with him. The textbook he uses is superb, so I really relied on that and felt like it taught me the material and then I could review it in class during lectures. His tests are okay, but the free response questions are really difficult. Pray you get a good TA cuz there are some lame ones.
He is a good lecturer, but does a poor job of clarifying all content needed to be successful on the tests. I completed his hw book challenge but was not awarded any points for it (or at least it did not change my grade at all) I was very disappointed by this after putting in all that work. He also was not consistent with what is in the syllabus.
I despise how Andrus's lectures flow. After having Dr. Nielson for Ochem 1 this has been a HUGE disappointment. However, his tests are so much easier than Nielson's! If you are good at self-teaching yourself (aka reading the textbook very thoroughly) I would recommend Andrus simply because his tests are much easier than Nielsons. Extra credit!!
If you have a problem with Andrus, it's likely you don't read the book. If you read what you're supposed to before class, his lectures are 90% practicing the reading and can be very helpful. If you approach him with questions he's very kind and helpful. We only had one pop quiz all semester and his midterms are easy if you know what he says to know
Only took it from him because he was the only one teaching it this semester. My main beef with the class was that we finished all the Ochem 2 material by the end of October. Everything from November 1st through the last day of class was spent on biochemistry material, including 2/4 exams. ACS final was our final.
Andrus is the worst lecturer at BYU. He comes to class and is unorganized and proceeds to do practice problems on the board, rarely taking time for questions and if he does, he sucks at answering them. If you read the book, you should do fine but beware random things he talks about in lecture will likely make it on the tests. ACS standardized final
I would say doing the HW book challenge is worth it if you know you are going to end up in the high C or low B area. Otherwise don't bother because I spent probably an extra 15 hours a week working on it for it not even to count. It's a heartbreaking thing TRULY devastating. I'd wait a semester if he's your only option
Your best chance in this class is to study the text book. His lectures do not reflect the tests. I had an A the whole semester and then his final dropped me down to a B, be prepared to take the ACS final. His writing is kind of hard to follow and goes really fast, watch out for that.
this guy is the worst chemistry teacher at the school. when you go into ask for help he seems very annoyed. his lectures do not prepare you for the test. but I will say if he's the only option it is possible to sneak by with a B. if you want an A wait for another teacher.
Andrus does not prepare you well for the tests he gives. It's clear what you need to know but expect to learn it on your own. Class is a demonstration of his ability to do chemistry, not his ability to teach it to anyone else. Take it from someone else if you can because you might actually learn something.
Prof. Andrus is probably one of the worst professors I've had. His lectures are hard to follow & he only writes on the chalkboard. There are very few assignments in the class, so beware if you aren't a good tester. His exams aren't incredibly difficult but they dont prepare you for the ACS final. OChem is hard enough & this guy only makes it worse
Ochem is hard, but don't make it harder by taking it from him. His lectures are basically practice the whole time, he ignored questions in class, and I felt like it was expected to teach myself everything. The average grade on our final was AWFUL and no one felt ready for it. When I asked him for help he lied to my face about one of the tests. BAD.
Chances are, if you are one of the students who left an awful review of this man, you didn't spend enough time studying on your own. If you prepare for lecture, his lectures make sense, clarify what you need to know for the exams, and are entertaining. Exams are by far the easiest in the department. IF YOU PUT IN THE TIME, best option for ochem 2.
Andrus' class can be a challenge, but with the right preparation it's manageable. Definitely use the textbook and take advantage of study aids like unstuck AI to supplement the lectures. Attend class and stay engaged - it pays off on the exams.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
48%
Textbook Required
0%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-1.20 avg changeRatings by Course
ORGANIC
5.0
(2)CHEM553
5.0
(1)CHEM455
5.0
(1)OCHEM352
5.0
(1)CHEM353
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
CHEMCHEM
5.0
CHEM351
4.3
285
4.0
CHEM351352
4.0
ORGANIC
4.0