Pete is the chillest, most entertaining, yet also most clear and helpful and available professor I've had at Berk so far. He's also amazing at drawing organic chemistry, which is REALLY helpful. He visited every single lab we had, and I even played volleyball with him at the gym a couple times. Love this guy, fully recommend 100%.

O-chem over the summer couldn't have been better.

Final exam significantly harder than midterms, however the midterms were pretty easy.

BEST CHEM PROF EVER. Honestly, this guy is clear, helpful, nice, etc. His tests aren't exactly easy (you really do have to study for them) but they are very fair and he makes everything very clear so as long as you study you'll be fine. The best thing about him is he's very approachable and he answers q's in lecture as they come. AWESOME PERSON!!

Insanely easy lab exam

I took Professor Marsden's Ochem class recently, and he made a terrible class less awful. It's a hard subject, but he's super helpful and clear. He does extra review sessions on his own time. Also, he's a super chill guy.

Pete gave us a lot of work during the prelabs, but that made everything pretty understandable during the labs. It seems like a lot of work if you leave it to the last minute. He'll literally give most of the answers to the prelabs during the lab lectures, so go to those and save yourself some time.

Pete was generally great. He's really fun and enthusiastic. The only thing is that he sometimes glosses over important details. That wasn't such a big deal for me since he was the lab instructor instead of the actual 3A lecturer. It would've been a problem if I had actually taken 3A from him though.

Dr. Pete knows what's up. He's totally chill and gives off a very good-natured, laid-back vibe, but he is an excellent professor. He goes over the material well and is answers questions thoroughly. While he does tell you not to "trip" over the exams, they are sort of difficult (but if you study well enough, you should be fine). Dr. Pete is awesome!

Such a great lecturer! Always so good at writing things on the board, very clearly! And such a fun guy!

Amazing professor. Pete tries his best to make sure everyone understands what's going during lecture by being as clear as possible and asking the class if we understand. His jokes also made this class my favorite this semester. One of the best professors at Cal, no doubt.

Pete is an excellent lecturer. He is very clear and walks you through the problems and concepts. Going to lab lecture is not mandatory to do well in the class but he helps a lot with the pre-labs during lecture.

Pete was one of the coolest professors I have ever had. Before he'd walk us through the assignment, he would attempt to try and cheer up the mundane mood caused by having the lab lecture on friday. Heck, he even danced for us!

Best professor I've ever had. Probably one of the best guys I've ever met as well. Take any of his classes, it's worth it.

Pete is one of the best teachers that I've ever had.

Dr. Pete is the best professor I've had at Cal so far! I had him for 1AL, 3A and will have him for 3B and 3BL in the summer. He makes super hard material interesting and is very helpful and fair. The classes he teaches are not easy (besides 1AL), but they are worth taking.

GREAT Professor. Very good at teaching organic chemistry, very cool, and cares about his students.

Very friendly & enthusiastic professor. Midterms were straightforward and the final was very hard—do study extra.

Pete is by far the best professor I've had. He really cares about his students - he teaches them how to learn, rather than just lecturing at them. His lectures are stellar, and he's so helpful in his office hours. If you have the chance to take class with Pete, DO IT! You won't regret it at all!

Marsden is a cool person, but for me a bit too chill. I would have preferred a little more professionalism. That being said his lab class was easy beyond measure. Minus the mass spec part. Easy, easy exams.

Dr. Marsden is a charming professor. He has his way of teaching, but the final is SUPER hard!!!

Awesome blossom

Dr. Pete Marsden changed my life. Before taking his Chem 1AL class I had chronic diarrhea and an irrational fear that my left leg was longer than my right. But now I know the Based God and find fulfillment in my life.

Super easy class. Pete breaks down the material so you understand how to do the calculations. He uses colorful chalk that keeps you engaged in the class. Final is easy. Really, don't stress. It'll be a chill class.

Pete was definitely an amazing lecturer and super funny. All the labs are a breeze (depends on your GSI though). My GSI just gave us full credit as long as we tried. Lab final was pretty easy, definitely go to the review sessions at the end of the semester and PRACTICE THOSE QUESTIONS LIKE CRAZY!

So great! Teaches well enough that he cleared stuff up for Chem 1A and lab lectures were enjoyable without having to set difficult labs or exams. Labs are a little basic, though.

It's lab, so I really hope you ace this class. Dr. Pete is the best.

Pete is amazing. Super chill for lab class. Lectures are amazing, and is essential for the lab final. Plus he's hilarious and truly cares about students.

Pete made Ochem survivable; his chalk drawings during lecture are easy to follow and are essential for studying. The homework is long, but preps you well for exams. He's also amazing in office hours and he wants students to succeed and understand. His passion for the subject is contagious. One of my favorite professors at cal!

Professor Pete was the best! His lectures were amazing and he is funny. He draws everything out and it is super clear. DON'T skip the lectures though because they are essential to passing the final. Plus, they are helpful for chem 1a anyway. He is much better at explaining than the chem 1a professors.

Pete is really something. He knows pedagogy well, masters the art of teaching. He does EVERYTHING for students to learn. The most moving time was when he erased the exactly the same molecular diagrams on the board and drew it again just for us to follow the thoughts more smoothly. He is a GREAT lecturer.

Really great professor who is passionate about teaching. Tests are very fair and representative of what was taught in class, but not easy by any means. Gives quizzed in classes every week but not homework. Marsden is a great professor and a really great guy.

He is cool, hilarious and smart, tests are fair

Finally, a professor who cares about his students! Hilarious, laid-back, well-respected, and treats us as individuals. He even has a student-run FaceBook fan page & music video. Quite literally the best professor I've ever had. Homework is a must for exams and quizzes; DON'T FALL BEHIND. Office hours help a lot. This class is not an easy A.

Pete is a fantastic teacher. His homeworks are lengthy but they prepare you well for quizzes and tests. The tests are not easy but are doable if you've put in the effort. The class itself requires a lot of effort, but Pete makes it easier to manage. He really cares about his students too.

Pete is a super clear lecturer and writes on the chalkboard (very legible handwriting) instead of using PowerPoint slides, which is more engaging. Lecture isn't mandatory, but pre-lab questions will only make sense if you go to lecture. The final lab exam was very easy. He respects his students and individuals and is there if you ask for help.

Dr. Pete is the best professor I've had so far at Cal. The class really speeds up after the second midterm so don't fall behind.

AMAZING PROFESSOR

Pete is honestly the best teacher I've had so far. He's funny and really knows what he's talking about. His exams are difficult but if you go to lecture and study your notes you'll get an A. Never read the textbook.

I've had Pete for 3 semesters now, and he's an amazing professor. Sure, 3A and 3B were some of the hardest classes I've taken at Cal, but he really cares for you to learn.

Marsden provided a clear, informative class in which I learned a lot, worked a lot, and saw results. I enjoyed it, but I would recommend that future students take advantage of the SLC. I was there for 3 hours every day, and it was quite helpful. Definitely do the hw, it's very similar to the exam.

Pete is amazing. He cares so much about his students. He teaches them not only what to learn, but how to think about it and apply things for themselves. His lectures are immaculately organized with color coding and lots of different examples and visuals. He is funny and engaging. His exams are extremely fair but go to lecture and do the homework!

Made ochem bearable. I had him for my first 3 semesters at Berkeley, and I think I might miss him a little. Thanks Pete :')

Obviously organic chemistry with anybody is not going to be a 100% pleasant experience, but Pete makes it just about as close as you're gonna get! He's funny, enthusiastic, patient, and very clear. If you don't understand something in lecture, go to his OH or talk to him before class. He's also just a wonderfully funny and kind person. Yay pete!

Very fun and devoted professor. His own lectures will be your gospel when prepping for exams. The flip side is that he doesn't teach ochem conventionally and requires both intense conceptual and memorized knowledge (idk how else to explain it) and you never quite know how you'll do. Put a LOT of work into this class even for hopes of passing.

3 semesters of Pete, AKA 3 semesters with the best chemistry professor ever! He even has a FaceBook fan page. He makes ochem enjoyable (using magic, probably) and puts real effort into making sure everyone who asks for help gets exactly what they need. Office hours were EXTREMELY helpful (and if you go enough times, he'll even remember your name)!

Pete is INCREDIBLE. Hands down the best professor I've ever had--if not at Cal in general. He genuinely cares for his students; Pete puts teaching first and wants each and every one of us to succeed. He is HILARIOUS and makes O-Chem fun. His lectures are organized, thoughtful, and extremely helpful. Pete is an awesome guy. Everyone should take him!

I had Pete for 3 semesters and he is a truly inspirational professor. He cares for his students, gives plenty of practice problems, and provides organized color-coded notes. This semester I felt he was highly generous with extra credit and a relatively easy final but in the end I learned a lot from Pete. Go to office hours!

Very approachable professor and tries to help students as much as possible, despite the fact that 1A is a huge class. He is funny and clear, making the lectures less boring. His tests are hard but as long as you do enough practice, your average is probably be a B for test scores. If you are to take chemistry classes, I'd definitely recommend Pete.

Honestly one of the best teachers I've ever had. He made chemistry extremely doable and made the class in general manageable. He really cares for his students and truly wants you to succeed in the class. His test have a conceptual approach that made chemistry so applicable to the world vs the typical plug and chug.

Best Chemistry Professor I have ever had. Ever! Explains concepts in a conversational manner, like he's chatting with a good friend. His tests are the definition of fair and as long as you keep up with the homework he assigns, you will do just fine. Also, such an amazing guy! Truly cares and makes students look forward to coming to class.

Best Chem professor in Berkeley, he is a very clear person and a very nice person. I had to retake Chemistry and I wanted to give up but he is such a helpful and actually cares about his students. Make sure you do his homework and go over lecture notes/ slides after lecture and tests should be manageable, I was able to pass midterms with a C avg

Really good lecturer, really funny professor! I honestly respect Dr. Marsden and feel the grade I received is what I earned. GO TO OFFICE HOURS!!! It's one huge mistake I regret.

Pete is a great lecturer and made chemistry more bearable than most other professors would. The homework (not collected) is similar to the test which helps, although the tests are still difficult. He grades with a very generous curve and really cares for his students.

Pete made Chem 1A almost easy. His lectures are awesome (colorful chalk, highly organized & clear), and he really encourages questions. His exams followed the format of his non-mandatory homework. He will never test you on something he never explained in class. Wish I could have him for o chem.

Marsen is an all around amazing professor. I really enjoyed class with him because he wanted everyone to do well in the course. I recommend taking 3A/3B with Marsden!

Everyone loves Pete for a reason. I had him for both 1A/1AL and 3AL, and they were such a breeze thanks to him. 3AL labs are long and usually take all 4 hours if you want to do good, but he has data-analysis sheets instead of the postlab, which saves a LOT of time. Pete makes it all SO worth it. Best professor at Cal, hands down. Also, hilarious.

Marsden was one of the best professors I have had yet. I took 3B with him this Summer and it was an exceptional learning experience. His lectures were extremely clear and well organized, he provides plenty of "optional" homework which you need to do if you plan on succeeding in the course. I took 3BL too, the final was straight from the prelabs!

Pete is the BEST professor I've had at Cal. He's very clear and uses the blackboard to write EVERYTHING down, which is super-helpful. The labs are long, but his grading rubrics are chill and it's not too hard to do well in the class. Go to lecture, go to office hours, understand the prelabs, and you'll do great. TAKE ANY/ALL YOUR CLASSES WITH PETE!

Took Chem 3b/3bl with him over the summer and loved it! He makes ochem enjoyable and fun. Lectures are detailed and clear. The homework packets were really helpful practice and similar to how he does his midterms. Doing lots of practice problems are how you can succeed in this class! The lab is harder and more detailed than 3a but not too bad

He is very casual and friendly. He simplifies concepts and makes them much more easier to grasp, thus making the content more enjoyable to learn. His final was very easy and straightforward. You don't need to study as long as you know the purpose and chemistry behind each lab. lecture not mandatory. Only regret is not having more classes with him.

Pete is amazing! By far the best teacher I have ever had. His lectures are very clear and organized. It is evident that he knows a lot about OChem, but he makes it accessible to intro-level students. He seems to have a genuine desire to help his students understand and is very passionate about teaching. His office hours are very helpful too.

Best chem teacher you can have in life. Everything makes so much sense and you will be never afraid to ask him questions even in class. Absolutely amazing.

He really tried his hardest to get everyone to understand everything. He was extremely respectful and tried to make the material as easy as possible. If you show up to his lectures, you'll do well because he makes them interesting and helpful. His office hours are a huge plus because is so easy to talk to and is the nicest professor I've ever met.

Pete is a really gifted lecturer, and he actually made chemistry FUN for me. I had never taken AP chem in high school, but it's still very doable if you put in the work. I wouldn't take chem with anyone else.

Pete is a great professor and I'm pretty sure he is well aware of that.

Pete is an extraordinary lecturer. A real gem amongst the Cal lecturers. Really cares about his students, and his exams are truly fair. His color-coded lectures are so helpful, and so many components go into your grade that any one thing won't hurt you terribly. Lectures are webcast, but attend anyway! It's worth it. Pete is amazing!

One of the best teachers I've ever had. Do the homework, understand it all and you'll do great. Exams, for the most part, followed the homework, but even the challenging exam questions could be figured out based on what he teaches you. Super nice and helpful in office hours too. 110% would recommend.

Pete is an amazing educator. I am eternally grateful to have had him for Chem 1A. I came into this class with a bad chem experience, and came out in love with the subject. I would recommend this class with Pete 10, no, 100 times over. Study enough, at least review the homework keys, and attend lectures/discussions, and you should be fine.

AMAZING LECTURER. I have had some great professors, but Pete wins by a landslide. He is well-respected and extremely easy to follow in class. You actually want to listen to him. If you do all his assigned homework and extra problems, the midterms and final should be a breeze.

After hearing horror stories about the lower div science classes, I am so pleasantly surprised by how amazing Pete is! He is a great lecturer and I am so grateful that I had him for my first STEM class at cal. Do the homework and discussions and you'll be more than prepared for exams.

Pete!! Chem 3B was one of the hardest classes I've taken at Cal, partially because I took it during the summer. Luckily I had Pete, who is an awesome professor who genuinely wants all his students to succeed. If you have to take any chemistry class at Cal, take it with Pete!

His lectures are fantastic. To do well you MUST attend, pay attention, and take notes every single lecture. Tests are difficult, but he gives lots of partial credit. You have to study a lot, do all HW, do all practice tests but it is possible to do well. They're hard but fair. His curve is really fantastic also because the SD on tests are high.

He's a great lecturer! Be sure to bring a notebook, because he's a chalkboard-kind-of person. Class was pretty easy--I didn't really go to class and did pretty well. But do go if you don't understand some things. All of the lab work and final exam is pretty easy, as well. Just do your best to keep up and understand the purpose behind each lab!

PEEETTTTTEEEEE!!!!!! He is amazzzzinnggg and makes O chem actually bearable. Genuinely just an awesome person and so passionate about chem. The only good thing about chem at Cal.

Best Chem professor at Cal! Amazing, clear, organized lectures. Stay on top of the homework/problem sets. Generous curve. Funny personality. His tests were tough and he wanted students to think critically rather than just memorizing materials. Make sure to do all homework (not graded) and practice exams multiple times.

Pete is the best chemistry professor I've had at Cal! I highly suggest taking Ochem with him, because he lectures very well and makes the material easy to understand! The exams are difficult, but he provides lots of practice exams. If you study your notes and do all practice exams before every exam you can score very well on your midterms!

I took Chem 3B/3BL over summer. He can get cocky/arrogant during OH or one-on-ones. Regardless, one of the most caring professors on campus. Take good lecture notes (his chalkboard skills are on point) and do/understand his hw/past exams.

Pete is the best! He is really nice, a great lecturer, is funny and cares. That being said his tests are very hard so definitely do the homework he assigns. All the homework he gives is optional so its easy to not do it but it really helps. Also, show up to class or at least watch the course captures

Pete is so great! Chemistry is a subject I absolutely hated before taking his class but he made chemistry so fun and engaging. His lectures are awesome and there are so many resources to do well in his class which I find atypical of introductory STEM classes at Cal. He's also HILARIOUS. If you have to take Chem 1A definitely take it from Pete!

This class was extremely difficult. However, that is to be expected when you take a class primarily taken by pre-med students. Pete is super funny, very smart, and really helpful during office hours which he has twice a week. The drawback is that you can expect to work REALLY hard and possibly still not do as well as you would have liked.

PETE IS THE BEST!!!! I came in thinking I already had a good base knowledge of chem, but now I understand everything on such a deeper level. His lectures are amazing (super clear and engaging) and he's the funniest. Exams are build-on-it style, so you either do very well or very poorly. Do the optional hw if you want to succeed. Highly recommend!!!

Homework is a MUST to be successful. If you don't do the HW, you will likely fail. For some reason, it seemed like Pete's exams were harder this semester than the last, and Pete often divulges important information during office hours (or he drops hints in lecture as to what could be on the exam). Pete's the best, but the class is tough!

PETE IS FANTASTIC!! I came into Chem 1A worried because I hated chemistry in high school, but he made it so accessible and understanding for me. Definitely a difficult class, but doing all the homework and reviewing is enough to do well. 10/10 would recommend taking a class with him.

He puts a lotttt of effort into helping students understand important stuff

Organic chem isn't going to get much love from most people but Pete makes it easier. He really tries to make really boring stuff fun and cares and loves his students. Since you probably have to take this class, try to take it from him. Don't skip lecture, study for the quizzes. Midterms are easier than you might think. Try to do well at the start.

Pete is awesome. He has super clear lectures that are easily able to be followed in a logical, cumulative manner. He made general and organic chemistry enjoyable (even at 8am) and accessible in ways that many other professors would not be able to. . . On a side note, do the homeworks. They are well-designed and essential to understanding the class.

Pete was a great professor but his tests were tooooooooo difficult.

He makes OChem FUN. Ton of (optional) homework BUT do them because they HELP. A LOT. Obviously very difficult course but by doing all his hw, will eventually understand. Super inspirational+engaging, clear grading criteria, lots of extra credit opportunities, and just AWESOME overall. I am SO glad to have taken Chem3A with him and no one else.

Pete is awesome. The lectures are very organized and his explanations are very clear. There's a lot of optional homework, but DO THEM because they'll prepare you for the exams later. The weekly quizzes can be kind of annoying, but it helped me keep up with the materials (which is necessary for ochem).

Pete is amazing! Failed 3A last semester and passed this semester with not so great scores. Curve is amazing 30% was a 70% (c-) like wowwwwww! Pederson wouldnt dare -.- lectures are engaging and fun. DO ALL PRACTICE PROBS when assigned, midterms and finals are hard, but thats ochem for you, at least go in knowing 35% of something & youll pass.

Pete is an amazing person, with lots of enthusiasm and love for teaching. I had him for Chem 1A and 3A, and he was delightful for 3A moreso than for 1A. Lecture material and homework, along with practice exams, are all you need to do well on his midterms and final. Beware of tricky questions, and attend office hours if you are unsure- a big help.

Pete is a really great professor all-around. For Chem 1A, if you go to lecture, you'll do pretty well on the quizzes, if you review the practice exams you'll definitely at least pass, if not walk away with a B (which is easier considering the grading curve is 70-89 for the B-range.) He doesn't do research, so he is really focused on the class.

I had Pete for Chem1A and Chem3A. Best professor ever, he made me enjoy chemistry. He's funny in lecture and makes organic chemistry easy to understand. I wish he taught Chem3B!

I was scared about taking chem, but Pete is incredible at making the material accessible and is always trying to help us succeed. He knows what he is doing, is super organized, has an amazing course captures and is super funny.

Pete is a great lecturer, he definitely knows his stuff well and is super funny. Homework is not collected but DO IT, you will not do good unless you do the homework. You can always ask him or any GSI for help outside of class which I love. Course captures as available if you missed class but do not slack off because of that.

Amazing professor!!!! Even in lectures with 100000000 other students, if you make the effort to engage with him, he is very social and always wants to help out his students. Though the tests can be VERY challenging, he does give students the adequate materials that they need.

Great professor, interactive lectures and makes sure you understand concepts. Tests are pretty easy too.

Dr. Pete is simply amazing. He makes OChem pretty straight forward

Best professor ever. He is an extremely organized lecturer with a great personality. He emphasizes understanding the material over memorization. He tells students exactly what to expect on exams, but he'll still throw some curveballs at you on exams to make you apply the concepts in new ways. His color coding is beautiful. "Crushed it! Nailed it."

Pete is the best science prof at Cal. He explains everything with great detail, color codes everything, and makes learning fun. He provides a lot of homework that is optional but is crucial for you to do if you want to pass. Although he is great, the class itself is very difficult and I did not pass. I am retaking it and Pete was 10 times better.

I have mixed feelings about Pete. He is the best STEM professor I have had at this school, he is funny, and he is pretty fair on exams and assignments. However, I lost all respect for him when he became cold and punished the entire class after people cheated on the second midterm.

The best professor I met at Cal. Very organized and make each point clear. I can feel that he cares about students and try to give us more points. (Many extra credit opportunities). Do the past exams !

He seems super passionate and really cares about students. There are many extra credit opportunities and grade bins are generous. However, the final is MUCH harder than the 2 midterms so don't slack during unit 3. I would have gotten an A if I studied more for the final. Looking forward to having him for 3B!

I love Pete and he's probably the best chemistry professor I've had the pleasure of learning from at Berkeley but his class was probably also the hardest class I've had so far here. Things only got harder after the second midterm when he learned of students cheating. The final was ridiculously difficult. Regardless, I thought he was fair.

Truly an amazing professor, one of the few that actually teach. His notes are clear and organized, and his class is designed for success. Do the assigned work and you'll be fine. If you have a choice between him and another teacher, I highly recommend Pete.

Professor Marsden is one of the best professors at the school. Took 3B in Fall 19. Long homework sets every week and post lecture worksheets but if you do them all you will be ready for all the quizzes and midterms. Do all the homework and all the practice tests. Class not graded on curve, strictly on points so eliminates the competition.

I highly recommend giving his class a try to anyone who didn't have a great 3A experience because it's impossible to hate orgo after his class!!! His lectures are very organized and easy to follow, and he makes it very clear what he expects you to know. Tons of extra credit here and there and Pete is just such a wholesome and amazing person.

Pete is one of the best professors I've ever had. He has amazing lectures and really cares for his students. His homework may get hard but it really prepares you for his exams. The class is uncurved but there are tons of opportunities for extra credit. 10/10 would recommend him.

By far one of the best chemistry professors at Berkeley. I personally had a tough Chem 3A experience with another professor, but Prof Marsden made me love organic chemistry. I would highly recommend him. His class is fair, easy to follow, but you have to do your work to succeed and get the most out of the class.

Took chem3a in summer 2020 and 3b in fall 2020. Do his hw problems and take notes along with the lectures every class. His lectures are amazing and almost all the quiz/exam mech questions come straight out of hw or lectures. Super understanding and replies to emails within a day. Best chem professor ever!

Loved Pete. Arguably the best organic chemistry professor here @ Cal! I came in being insanely scared of organic chemistry & left having a newfound love for this supposedly scary subject. Attend his lectures, do ALL THE HOMEWORKS & practice exams and you'll do great. He is witty, humorous, and extremely accommodating especially during COVID.

Pete is arguably the best organic chemistry professor here at Cal, and many of my friends would agree as well. I came into the class scared of ochem and left the class having a newfound love for this subject, largely because of Pete's passion & solid teaching in all his lectures. He will reteach concepts when necessary & is extremely accommodating!

I took both 3A/3B with him. He's an amazing lecturer, and very funny, but the class is very difficult. Quizzes were actually more difficult than midterms/final. He made the midterms and final a LOT easier than past ones. I got a B in 3A, but I studied hard in 3B and got an A so don't give up! Also, do NOT cheat he will report you.

Professor Marsden is truly one of the most wonderful professors I've had the opportunity to learn from. He made organic chemistry my favorite subject and his humorous remarks throughout class kept me engaged. If you have a chance to take CHEM 3A or 3B with him, definitely take it.

I love Pete! I had him for both 3A and 3B and he is hands down one of the most caring and understanding professors I have had at Cal. Your success in this class depends on YOU and how much of the homework you complete (the HW is not mandatory) and Pete does a great job to make lectures engaging and interesting, even if you don't like ochem :)

Prof Pete is a good lecturer. What makes this class hard is the prelabs and the nature of the course (during covid) which has impeded ability to actually learn lab fundamentals. The final in this class was also very difficult but the EC in the class negates this. I got a 71% on the final, and still got a 95% overall. Easy A, just do the work

Online lab classes are bound to be worse than in person labs, so there's not much I can say about that. His lectures were pretty good though, and they helped me learn the content without needing to refer to the textbook. The assignments felt like busy work at times, however. I think that's something that could be improved.

Pete is a great person and a funny guy but through zoom you could do well without the lectures. The labs are confusing but clear up with OH or help from GSIs if you work for it. I recommend taking extra care and not getting little points off. The exam is a bit rough but not the worst thing in the world

His lectures were very clear and organized. The GSIs grade your labs so you have to be SUPER careful in writing all observations. I had a couple points deducted but the 1 extra credit pt and 1 dropped lab allowed me to score perfect on all the labs. The final was the most DIFFICULT. grade bins were shifted down, got A+ instead A

Chem 3a and 3al over the summer. Pete seems to care about his students, gives extra credit and is fair with grading. He is the type of teacher who tries to be "hip". However, your grade depends on the effort you put in. oChem is hard, and he makes you work for it. Lab isn't too bad, but time consuming. You have to keep up with lectures to do well.

Took Chem 3B with Pete and he is amazing! Very knowledgeable of the material and a wonderful person. Get ready to do lots of practice problems and memorize reactions, and your hard work will pay off.

Pete is a nice guy, but there was SO MUCH HOMEWORK FOR THIS CLASS with really rigid deadlines. It was really necessary though, ochem requires a ton of practice to get the hang of it. If you want to pass, GO TO CLASS AND DO THE OPTIONAL HOMEWORKS.

I would take this class an an elective. It is SO fun, and so well done. 3A is rough, but 3B w/ Prof Marsden is truly enjoyable/easy to understand. Try to take 3A + 3B with him if y'all have the option, even if it's over the summer. Do the practice exams + HW, study hard for the quizzes, and don't worry about the exams too much!

This is the best, and the only professor you should take Ochem with. Make sure to take his class. I had absolutely the best experience. Material is taught SO WELL, tests are clear and based on information taught in class, and he is a good/fun person.

This class was pretty enjoyable and super easy. Pete tries really hard to be relatable which is a little cringe sometimes but he's overall a great professor and I learned a lot (esp after having Vollhardt). The exams are insanely easy if you do hw and practice exams, some questions are the same. Quizzes can be difficult but lowest two are dropped.

I have him right now for Chem 3A Summer and I think he is so awesome! Going into it, my friends told me lots of great things about him and they were right. Good lecturer, wholesome and fun, approachable :) lots of OPTIONAL but useful HW. Very straightforward.

I took Chem 3a this summer. In-person lectures are better cuz online ones will feel longer. Practice problems are useful if you do them consistently, don't wait till before exam to do them. Pete is chill and respectable, but at times almost he acts like he's half kid - half man. & he often seems bothered to answer questions during office hours.

Putting aside my opinions about his "humor", he's a very competent and clear lecturer and I really like his multicolor chalk system, so much better than pre-written slides. I've had all three of the ochem professors here and you should definitely aim to get him for at least one semester. Made things very straightforward.

Great lecturer! Please take ochem with him if you can!

Pete was one of the best professors without a doubt. He designs the class to not pin the students against each other, meaning he does not curve, encouraging helping each other. He keeps it real with you, and the homework sets are necessary, as they help very much. He provides all one needs to succeed, especially in a hard class like ochem. Goat.

Marsden is such a caring, funny, and chill lecturer. His lectures were always engaging and the assignments(plws )+quizzes basically covered the material we learn. great professor. def recommend!!

Professor Marsden was MADE to teach notoriously hard courses like organic chem. He provides a ton of practice + answer keys to allow you to drill skills needed for the midterms and quizzes. He also gives a lot of tough examples so you don't get surprised during exams. He also gives opportunity to earn extra points. Very great professor!

Pete really wants you to succeed in his class and will therefore give you ALL the material you need to succeed. Practice exams that actually are like the actual exams, homework that helps, quizzes that are hard but beneficial, etc. His lectures are phenomenal too, and the curving is GREAT! Great professor, wish more ochem professors were like him

Pete is awesome. Like, really awesome. Ochem is hard and requires you to work for your grade, but he is fair and very accommodating. He wants his students to succeed and he is very passionate about what he does. Being instructed by him is inspiring. I would absolutely take more classes from him in the future.

A fantastic lecturer that offers plenty of HW, optional HW, and many practice exams to refine your knowledge. Exams seem to have gotten easier over time, which is great. Lectures are dense, and ochem can be overwhelming, but this is likely one of the best lecturers for the topic.

the GOAT

Pete is a chill professor but very childish in nature. Lots of EC opportunities, so it's partially my fault for not making the A cut, but in general, 3A is a fast faced course, so don't get behind. He also assigns lots of homework and a worksheet due after every lecture. Overall, he's the better 3A/B professor, so choose him if given the option.

Pete is wonderful at teaching and provides all the materials necessary to succeed. I came into ochem thinking I would P/NP it but his midterms were fair and he offered so much extra credit that I managed to get an A. Do all his extra homework and practice exams and you will do amazing!

Marsden is a funny and relatable professor who taught ochem in an intuitive way. He is fair in terms of grading and regrades and sets clear grading criteria. His class is homework heavy, with post-lecture worksheets due after each lecture. Stay on track with the content and attend OH when needed since ochem is an inherently tough subject.

MARDEN IS THE BEST. His lectures are incredibly clear, a grading rubric is provided for everything, and his exams are very fair (DO THE PRACTICE EXAMS). HW is optional, so it is tempting to ignore, but it will pay off when prepping for exams. I have no complaints, he changed my view of chemistry. If you have to take Ochem: TAKE IT WITH MARSDEN!

Chem 3A is hard but Marsden made it engaging and was good at explaining topics. It was clear he genuinely wanted you to succeed. There were Post-Lecture worksheets after every lecture and quizzes every Tuesday instead of homework. Homework problems were optional. Exams followed the same structure as the past ones he provided.Hard but good teacher.

goofy man, very cool

I think Dr. Pete is a fun person. He explained everything fairly easily and did not give us tough questions on the exam. He offered quiz drops and it was possible to score higher than 100% on his exams.

Absolutely fantastic teacher! As long as you really try to understand the material, you'll be fine regardless of you comfort with chemistry. There is enough built-in extra credit where by the end it's pretty hard to get a low grade. All of this applies to 3A and 3B, classes are practically identical in terms of structure. Pete!!!!

Literally the best professor at Cal. I had Pete for 3A and 3B, and it was the best experience having a professor who genuinely wants their students to succeed. Do ALL the optional homework packets, go to lecture in real-time, and go to his office hours if you need help with anything! Study hard for the exams, and you'll be good. Best prof ever

Pete is an amazing lecturer. Chem 3A is hard but he makes the materials easy to understand. There are post-lecture worksheets after every lecture. Some of them are challenging, but they are very helpful for understanding the concepts.

I had Pete for the Chem 3 series, 10/10. Got a B+ in 3A and an A- in 3B. Very understandable and well-organized lectures, many opportunities for extra credit, and exams were very fair. We also had weekly quizzes that I regularly bombed, but was still able to make up for in midterm grades. HW is not graded but is very useful

i loved having this goof as a prof. got over 100 on all midterms and da final but flopped almost every other quiz. my advice is ASK ASK ASK questions to ur GSI during discussions and ask in office hours. really try to understand what ur doin during the plws and do at least 3 practice exams for each midt and final. love you pete thank you.

Ochem is hard and Pete made it somewhat manageable. I'm not going to sugar coat and say he made it the easiest or he was the best but he was very lenient and offered lots of extra credit opportunities so you are guaranteed at least to pass if you put in the effort. Attempt the homework, there is ALOT but it helps, also make friends in the class.

He gives us so many opportunities to succeed. There's extra credit as long as you put in the effort and the homework is quite related to his lectures. It's not an easy class by any means, but thats because theres so much content to take in, but that's the expectation when taking OChem for the first time.

Pete genuinely cares and wants all his students to succeed, and his class structure gives tons of leeway and support to students. Lectures were extremely clear and made ochem one of the most straightfoward and fun classes I have taken at Berkeley. There is a reason he won the distinguished teaching award. Highly reccomend!

While everyone raves for him (for good reason), the course felt unnecessarily complex at times. Exams are very conceptual, but each question is based on these ultra-complex molecules he reads about in scientific journals, which can be intimidating. Lectures at time feel superficial, as he moves on too fast if he feels like only a few understand it.

Organic chemistry is going to be hard regardless of where you take it. Pete explains the material thoroughly and in a comprehensible way. He gives you all the tools to succeed. If you put enough time in you will get an A.

Pete was an excellent instructor, and his class served as a great introduction to org. chem for me. Though the class is hard, his lectures are quite engaging and funny at times, and his in-class examples were clear and straightforward. He gives out many practice problems to train yourself, as well as a lot of room for extra points.

Lectures were engaging and quizzes/exams were all more than fair. There are so many review materials at your disposal that if you take the time to get a lot of repetition with the concepts and find the patterns, the course is relatively easy. Only complaint is poor response on Ed, far slower, less reliable, and less detailed than 1A.

Marsden's OChem class is like a preschool entrance exam compared to any other OChem class at Berkeley. If you pay attention, take decent notes, do the homework, and study a bit for the exams and you don't get at least an A- in this class, you shouldn't be at Berkeley bro like what are you doing this class was so easy. So much extra credit too man.

Pete made complex topics engaging and understandable. The abundance of review materials and practice problems made exam prep much easier, and the lectures were well-organized. The exams were very fair, and the opportunity for extra credit was a great bonus. Make sure to ask questions, as there is a large amount of content to cover.

THIS MAN IS ACTUALLY THE GOAT. In all seriousness he is a wonderful lecturer and I really hope to take 3B with him next semester. You can get a good grade through completing PLWS, office hours, his test analysis/extra credit, studying hard for quizzes. He sets you up for success and THAT is what sets him apart from other science professors at Cal

His lectures are very easy to understand and he makes the concept of Ochem easy for someone who is not good at chem. The midterms always allowed for test correction. The only hard part was the final exam and the quizzes. The post lecture worksheet was a bit much too as they were due 12AM the next day after the lecture was drop.

Pete is a great professor! I took 3A with him in the summer, and I thought it would be undoable, but it is doable. It is pretty difficult since he expects you to know things from the previous lectures, but as long as you are caught up in lectures, you are all good. DO ALL PRACTICE MATERIALS TO DO WELL ON THE EXAMS!!!

Pete makes the lectures fun since lab lectures are usually somewhat dry. Pete doesn't give out practice exams (which sucks) but as long as you genuinely review the post-lab WS, prelab WS, know the lab procedures, and somewhat review the lectures, I think you would be good to go! Also, it is very easy to lose points, so make sure to check your work.

I love Pete, he has made ochem enjoyable, which is crazy coming out from my mouth. It's really helpful that he draws with chalk on the board as well. Super kind and wants you to succeed bc he offers so much extra credit, ty king😎!!

Professor Marsden makes complex organic chemistry concepts engaging and accessible. While the exams can be challenging, the abundance of practice problems and extra credit opportunities help offset the difficulty. Unstuck AI was a great study aid alongside the free textbook.

We had a quiz every Tuesday and post-lecture worksheets after every lecture. He gives extra credit opportunities every chance he gets and gives us a lot of resources to study from. He's super chill and funny during his lectures, which are all recorded and not attendance mandatory. I couldn't have done so well with any other professor.

I had Pete for Chem 3A and 3B. Everything from the course flow to grading criteria is the same and overall super easy to follow. Pete gives students every resource we could need to get an A, and I think he genuinely wants all of us to get good grades. He's been teaching 3A/3B for so long that he simplified the everything to be easily understandable

Pete is amazing, the best Berkeley lecturer I have ever met so far. I strongly recommend you take the organic chem series with him, even if your schedule needs to be delayed. The exams were not easy, but as long you do all the work you will be fine.

We love Pete‼️ I'm average/maybe on the slower side, and while I worked hard to do well in this class, I don't think I would have done as well with any other professor. Pete really tries to help students, giving extra credit opportunities on assignments and exams to help cushion grades. He also has very fair grade bins given the class's difficulty

Anyone can succeed in Chem 3b with Pete SERIOUSLY. If you are about to take this class pls pls trust me when I say watch lectures before and add onto your notes during lecture. It takes more time but is worth it. For exams, study by doing as many practice exams as you can and clarify any question in OH or at the SLC. I recommend the SLC yall!!!!

I took 3A and 3B with Marsden. The class is tough and there's a never-ending amount of work, I'm not gonna lie, but it's 100% to do well if you put in the WORK. He's a great lecturer and prof but I didn't love his teaching style. Do not fall behind, take detailed notes, ask for help when you need it, and make friends in the class. Trust.

You can succeed in Marsden's class if you put in the effort. I was really scared for OChem but having a professor like Marsden made it fun and enjoyable. Sure, there's a lot of content to be learnt quickly, as in most STEM classes *cough 1b*, but Marsden makes it enjoyable. He gives a ton of extra credit & an 85 is an A-. Would 💯 take again.

I took 3a, 3al, and 3b with pete. i really liked him, he helps a lot in office hours and his grade bins are AMAZING imo. his exams are difficult and there is a lot of work, but i think that helps to sharpen your ochem skills. i recommend him compared to the other ochem professors.

For how visual and conceptual ochem is, Pete's style of teaching with chalk was SO helpful. He was really funny and super engaging as a lecturer, though a little condescending at times. I also appreciated how much extra credit and partial credit there was in literally everything despite the the class being very challenging.

Very clear in his lectures, and also provides post lecture worksheets after every lecture to help reinforce the concepts that he taught. The PLWS are the main key to learning, so make sure you do them and you will succeed easily in class

Dr. Marsden has a great sense of humor. He breaks down the tough topics into easy steps that anyone could follow. The first unit was very simple, and was just the basics. The second and third unit had a steep learning curve, so be prepared to actually complete the worksheets and homework. The quizzes were simple if you do the homework.

Professor Marsden was a good professor all in all. Ochem is not an easy subject but he gives clear steps in his lectures as to how to approach each mechanism. It's just taking t

Great teacher. His lectures are quite funny. Breaks down difficult concepts in understandable ways. My one complaint is that there is not enough time to study for the weekly quizzes. As of fall 25 he is extremely strict on cheating and tracks attendance for extra credit.

I had Marsden for 3A so I was already used to his teaching style by the time I took 3B. He was always super engaging and fun to listen to and he explained ochem concepts super well. I always appreciated how much extra credit he puts into everything and the tests were difficult, but fair. One of the best professors I've had at Cal so far.

Pete is a very funny and engaging guy. Unpopular opinion: Ochem straightforward for me both semesters. I really really urge you to go to lectures and focus on understanding what Pete says, not just copy it down. You'll see that everything is a result of what's a good nucleophile/electrophile/leaving group/acid-base and therefore I rarely memorized.

Marsden made ochem so much more enjoyable and understandable. If anything I feel like his teaching style is very unique. Class was very fair and he gives a heck ton of extra credit points. Beware of weekly quizzes and actually do the homework even though it's not required.