To me, he was a jerk. But I had him at 8AM. Lab quizzes are tough.

lectures/explains well. it's a shame, he's nearly a memorably good prof, but he'd rather be snide/smug instead of enthusiastic/supportive.

Had him twice for Chem Labs at 8am! Tough quizzes, can be a jerk at times, but will be more helpful and kind if you go see him in his office.

He is very nice and very helpful once you get to know him. I had him for 217 at 8am, and decided to get up for 218 at 8am just to take him again.

I had him years ago for freshman chem. He is a pretty good teacher and a nice guy, you just have to get used to his personality. his labs were a little disorganized, but the granding scale in the tests was great!!! 70% and up = A!

tests will kill you. there is a reason a 70% and up is an A, and thats because no one who hasnt memorized every problem in the book will make a 90% or higher. otherwise, good class.

Although his labs were 8am, I took him twice. If I ever needed help with anything, even non-chem lab stuff, I felt very comfortable going to him. Has a very high opinion of himself, but it very well may be deserved.

he was really full of himself, but he wasnt a bad teacher, his tests were hard, but he scale makes up for it...

He is VERY knowledgeable of everything being covered in the class, and is very approachable inside and out of class. But, make no mistake, his tests are incredibly hard!

His tests are really hard, but he's a nice guy, and if you have a question he'll do everything he can to explain it to you. Pay attention to the example problems in the book, and the questions people ask in class b/c they're usually on the test

Castellani is a SUPER, SUPER nice guy. I talk to him often during office hours. He does introduce material quickly though, and you have to keep on your toes to succeed. We've had 2 Tests and I've received 2 A's. Can't be that. Again, he's really nice.

Very helpful. If you have questions he is very thourough in explaining. The tests are hard but a lot of the material is covered in class. His webpage is very helpfull also!

An awesome teacher if you aren't a slacker and just trying to get by with an easy grade. The best chemistry teacher I have ever had! Very helpful and cares if you aren't a jerk to him. I highly recommend him.

I think Dr. Castellani is one of the best teachers. Heck, last test I took I got an 80 on it. That is an A on his scale. Those who don't do well are just slackers trying to get by.

This class has a lot of information to it, so the class in general will be hard. Castellani is a very enthusiastic teacher and will help anyone who asks for help. Tests can be difficult, but he makes up for that with his grading scale. ovelall a good professor, i would take him again if possible.

He's the toughest professor I've had yet, demanding lots of study time. In his defense, however, I'll say that I've learned the most I've ever learned by his method of teaching. (Constantly asks the question, Why) If you're up for a challenge, willing to work hard, and want an excellent quality course, take him; just remember, it will be tough!

If you're lazy, don't take him. If you're motivated and genuinely want to learn, I'd recommend him. He is extremely helpful out of class and truly wants his students to learn. I credit him with much of my interest in Chemistry.

Dr. Castellani is one of those professors who genuinely want his students to learn. If you're motivated and willing to swallow your pride in order to tough the class out, in the end you'll find yourself endebted to him for the vast amount you've learned from him. The biggest thing I can suggest for any of his classes is to get to know him.

This is a hard class. I eventually had to drop it. He was extremely helpful and understanding, even with no reason to be polite to me. I did not go to class and did not give it a chance. If you are willing to work and want to learn a lot, then he is the professor you want.

No doubt his class is very hard, but everyone gave me the impression it was going to be impossible to get an A-- but it isn't. You will need to study and you won't get high grades on the exams, but he scales them in a fair enough way that its possible to pass-and get an A :)

Extremely receptive to those needing help understanding. I missed the first test due to being sick, and I didn't have to make it up until the end of the semester, and he said he'd throw it out if it was bad. Always in his office ready to help. A nice guy that loves his subject matter. I'd take him 100/100 times. Chemistry's rough, but he's great.

Very skilled at his subject, and very willing to help. I came to him before even taking the class, and he answered any and all questions I had. He's more right brained, and thus teaches without a lot of number work. Creative, and overall the best I've had. Does like to test you with mind-games though. Hope to take again in the future.

His class can be difficult, but he is more than willing to help you learn. Although the tests are tough, you're given a very generous curve. If you go to his office hours or make an appointment, he'll gladly sit with you and go over whatever you want even if it's inconvenient for him. Overall, he's tough but a good teacher.

The negative comments saying that it is impossible to do well in his class are highly exaggerated. Yes, he's hard as hell, but I ended up finishing with an A. Super nice guy and always extremely helpful. If you're interested in chemistry, you'll like his class.

I had 211 with Dr. C, but I also worked for him for four years in his research lab. Over that time he became like a father to me. Yes, his tests are difficult and yes, he is sarcastic. But, that's what makes him great, IMHO. If you just want to get through 211 with an easy "A", take someone else. If you want to learn chemistry, take him.

This is not an easy class, but Dr. Castellani makes getting less than a B impossible. By far the most involved professor I've had; if he passes you in the hallway he'll stop and help you, even if that makes him late for a meeting or class. Very helpful in office hours, and he's likely to give you life advice. Don't take his humor as criticism.

Really a tough class to take! He grades very harshly and the tests are much harder than the other 211 professors. However, if you want to learn chemistry, TAKE HIM!

So many things I could say about Dr. Castellani. Tests are very tough and between 85-90% of your grade in the class. Totally knows chemistry. Gives you 15 page notes for each chapter, everything that would possibly be on the test is in the notes. You can go to his office to talk to him about anything. He is a fantastic prof, fair, but difficult.

He is a really nice guy outside of class but can come off as arrogant in class. His tests are hard but there is always a curve. Also he will take points off for every little mistake you make even if it is small. His notes are more helpful than the book and are easier to read.

Dr. C gets a bad rep. Yes he has high expectations, & yes he expects you to earn your grade. But he was arguably the most helpful professor I've had. Any time I walked into his office he would take time to explain in detail any concept I was struggling with. He has a unique sense of humor usually at students expense, but he wants to see you succeed

If you have the option, take this class. Although it was extremely difficult and time consuming, you will learn a lot of material that will prepare you for future chemistry courses. Dr. Castellani is sarcastic and a tough grader, but extremely helpful in his office and genuinely cares about his students. Lots of homework, but he only gives A or B.

Dr. Castellani will really challenge you, only take his class if you're ready to work. Don't be afraid to ask questions though, he's always willing to help and explain and work with a student.

Really is a good guy, he's just super smart and can seem condescending at times. He really wants you to learn and is a little unconventional. Stop by his office hours once or twice and it really will help you improve your grade. He also has a curved grading scale because he realizes his exams are harder than other professors.

Dr. Castellani is funny, encouraging, kind, and helpful. Your grade comes from two exams, weekly lab reports, and quizzes (about every other week). The lab reports were not hard, because he changes what is required each week. He understands the difficulty of chemistry and grades accordingly (some curves and retests). He appreciates participation!

218H is by no means an easy class, but Castellani does a good job with it. He lets you see old quizzes and they ARE LITERALLY THE SAME. The only difference is that he changes the compounds and the NMR spectrum. You have a known and an unknown lab report due each lecture. Dont write more on the reports then what is needed.

Be prepared for quizzes! Read/understand each experiment thoroughly before class - this makes studying for the midterm/final much easier!! Dr. Castellani is both very intelligent and caring, and is willing to talk with you outside of class. Would definitely recommend him for 218!

This class will certainly make you work for it. All of the labs are done on your own time outside of class. Castellani will always help you if you schedule office hours or just randomly see him in the hallway. He gives good feedback and will tell you what you're doing wrong so you can improve. You might regret taking the class at first, but its fun

Castellani is very intelligent and willing to work with you inside of class and out, that being said his class is difficult. You will have to study outside of class and you wont get a 100 on his tests but he does grade on a curve and he is willing to adapt the curve to the class if the class as a whole is strugling.

Dr. Castellani is a great professor. Attendance is optional but going to class will help you so much in the long run. His tests are difficult but his curve accounts for that. He expects a lot from you, and you will have to work hard to do good in the class, but you will learn so much.

Castellani is a very good professor. You are most likely to get a B no matter what you get on the final. Don't stress over the final! You should work your hardest on the 7 quizzes and the unknowns and knowns. You should use the teachers assistants. They were very helpful and aided to my success in this class.

Do not take this class. It's too difficult for a lower-level class. With that being said, Castellani is a cool dude who is funny and loves what he's talking about, he's just made his class really hard.

He is a very hard professor, lecture can be heavy, but! He genuinely cares about you and your grades IF you show you care. Meet with him during office hours, ask questions, and be respectful. The one thing I learned the most from him was how to study. Learning how to study is what he wants to show us students. Thankful I stuck with Dr. Castellani.

I personally took Dr. Castellani's class this semester. He is a great professor if you go about his class in the correct way. Be sure to read the lecture notes and textbook before class. If you are interested in passing the class do not go into lectures mindless. You need to study.

A difficult yet rewarding class for chemistry majors. Covers material in-depth and is willing to answer questions both in and out of class. Tests are somewhat difficult as majority of points are free-response. A very involved teaching style that asks students lots of questions and has students discuss with others around them. Ask questions!

Chem majors should take this class because he provides all the important background info for why things happen. His tests are difficult, but they are ok if you study in advance. He provides in-depth notes, so you don't need the book. He's a hard grader, so answer each test question carefully. His class is hard, but it prepares you for the final!

Very good professor to take if chemistry is something you need to use and understand for future classes such as higher chemistry and biology. Very stingy on tests but gives a curve to compensate. Lectures mainly on theory and application but will always work an example problem if you show him one.

Dr. Castellani is a tough professor who's lectures are hard to follow. The exams are difficult, but he curves VERY fairly. Castellani assigns a lot of homework that is very useful to figuring out application of the material. He is incredibly intelligent and provides all the tools for success in this class. If you try to pass, you'll pass.

I took him for Chem 111, he is lecture heavy and most of the time its homework assignment per section we went over. attendance isn't mandatory but he has quizzes every class. harsh grader, but I feel like it helped me do better. His grading scale is very wonky.

Castellani is very understanding but he is a very hard grader and has a different grading system than other professors.

Dr. Castellani gets a lot of hate for being a "tough" teacher, but he is not as tough as people say. He gave incredibly interesting lectures, going further than the textbook. He knows his stuff and expects you to know what you're supposed to. If you are looking for a no-effort Chem class, do not take him, but if you want to LEARN Chem, take him!

This course requires a lot of effort. Grade mainly relies on tests, which are graded very tough, but he compensates with a modified grade scale. He doesn't post grades, but provides a spreadsheet to calculate your grade. If you are willing to study and learn a lot you will pass.

After completing 211 it was fair to say I was devastated when Dr. Castellani was the only available professor for 212. This is by no means an easy class. I bombed the first test but after going in and talking with him about it things started to go much better. If you have trouble in his class just go to him, he truly doesn't want to see you fail.