Great teacher! He explains the concepts very well, the tests are hard but well reflective of the material taught in class, and he's pretty reasonable. I would definitely recommend Castle for O-chem

Great professor. You need to keep up on the reading, because you can do well on the tests and still do poor in the class because of the quizes. The subject was difficult but Dr Castle made it a little more palpable.

I hate O-Chem!!!!!!!!!!! It is the worst ever! I'm so glad it's over. Dr. Castle was alright, it was just the drab, dull subject manner. I hated this class. I also thought that Dr. Robinson was a better teacher.

Dr. Castle was very nice and he is easy to approach. His class however was very tough I mean O-chem is tough as it is but he uses an open format test that was much tougher for me than Dr. Petersons multiple guess.some how the class average on the tests stayed at mid 60's while mine dropped to the mid forties.

Very nice, very fair, grades tests fairly easy

Dr. Castle is awesome.

Excellent, and wonderful hair

I really enjoyed this class and thought that Dr. Castle did a great job at teaching the subject and making it easy to understand. Tests are challenging, but if you review all of the homework problems you will be fine. I definitely recommend him. He is very approachable.

Dr. Castle is a great teacher. Chemistry is the toughest subject in the school and yes this class is hard. But he loves the subject, explains it well, is always willing to give his time and his tests actually demonstrate understanding, though really dumb kids will say otherwise. Overall, I learned a lot and would recommend him for this class

I thought Dr. Castle did a great job teaching the class in a way that students didn't get confused. I went on to TA for a different teacher, who made it way harder by skipping around. If you read the book and do the problems he assigns then you will do great on the tests.

awesome teacher... like this guy

Ochem is a hard class. Castle is good at explaining things, and if you do the homework you should be fine on the tests. If I didn't do the homework, I probably would have failed.

Dr. Castle is a great professor. Doesn't waste any time and tells you exactly what you need to know. Teaches very clearly. Tests are extremely fair and manageable--just do the homework.

he is a great teacher. he is very helpful during his TA hours and is very interested in his students. during class he fuequently answers question by name showing he knows his students. he gives random quizes to make sure you go to class so be sure to do so. his class is difficult but organic chemistry is difficult in general, so hes worth it.

Dr. Castle is the man to take O-Chem from. He learns students' names, has a nerdy sense of humor that keeps things fun, and really tries to help individually. Tests are challenging but not tricky. If you do HW (there's a lot...be warned) you'll be in really good shape.

Dr. Castle does a great job! You understand exactly what he expects and he teaches with a lot of clarity. He also doesn't try to trick you on tests (not to say that they are easy). He has my recommendation any day!

Dr. Castle is the bomb! Extremely clear, fair, and though I don't like O chem, he made it a good experience. Take it from him.

Be prepared to work. Homework is a tiny part of your grade, but do it if you want to do well on tests. Book is great. Tests are very fair. In class quizzes (7 given randomly during the semester at the beginning of class) can be difficult if you don't keep up on the material. OChem is hard, but Castle is awesome at teaching it. Totally recommended

Overall decent, as good as the other professors. Very kind, good guy. Wasn't engaged by his lecture style- tends to have his face in the notes or toward the board and recites longs lists of principles. Test 1 is WAY easier than the others- beware.O Chem is the weeder class for all of BYU's MANY med/dent, so competition is rough, don't screw it up.

If you have to take O-Chem at BYU, I highly recommend Castle. HIs lectures are clear and comprehensible. The homework may not be worth much, but it does prepare you for the tests - so do it! His tests are part multiple choice, part free response. The final was standardized. Attending recitation for this class is a very good idea!

I've never had a professor I like better than Dr. Castle. Very approachable, very helpful to students, very down-to-earth. (We had a review during BYU's NCAA tournament game...right after the review he wanted to know the score and how much time was left haha). Best professor to take O-Chem from if you'll put in the work to learn.

This guy is amazing. I can't imagine taking OChem from anyone else. I thought his lectures were great (others think he's dry). A few pop quizzes given throughout the semester at beginning of class, so make sure you attend AND stay on top of the material. Tests fairly, although you'll only do well if you do the homework. Take this class from Castle!

Dr. Castle is an awesome professor. He is always willing to explain things to you after class or during office hours. He moves pretty quickly, but the class is very well organized. Tests are challenging, but very do-able if you do all the homework. Wouldn't take that class from anyone else!

I had him for both ochem classes and I would highly recommend him. His teaching correlates highly with the textbook, so if something is unclear, the textbook can fill you in. (And you will be best friends with the textbook for these classes)

Castle is a really great professor, and I recommend him. He follows right along with the textbook so there are no surprises. His tests are multiple choice and free response and are much fairer than Petersen's who I had for 351.

Really wants to see students succeed. Clear on his expectations for the class and does all can to help students do well on his tests. Going to his review are very helpful before the tests.

Very good teacher. I loved doing the exploratory labs, they were fun and educational. He gives exam reviews, and so does the TA. The tests can be tough, but I suggest reading the chapter BEFORE class, taking good notes in class, reviewing the notes and book, then doing the hw and quizzes. Time consuming, but effective. Daily iClicker quizzes

Professor Castle may not be the most interesting in class to listen to, but he definitely provides opportunities to listen to you outside of class. He is a pretty shy guy, but is more than willing to help you if you proactively approach him. When he is in a one on one environment he is much better at explaining concepts.

Dr. Castle is awesome, the best you're gonna get for Chem 351. He is very clear in his lectures, and talks about everything that will be on the test. There are surprise quizzes throughout the semester to make sure you're caught up, but besides that it's zero homework!

Doctor Castle is literally the BEST professor that has ever lived. He is SO clear on what he asks you to do. If you want an A, then do the homework. DEAD SERIOUS, The homework prepares you so well for the tests that can expect an A if you do it. This class is a lot of work, I put in 3-4 hours a day and ended up with an A in both halves. Take Him!

Great Professor. The class is structured very well and he follows the book closely. The key to getting an A is keeping up with the work and dong all your homework. I thought his tests where challenging but fair. This was honestly one of the best college classes I have ever taken. He also give extra credit which is a nice bonus!

Dr. Castle is awesome. Very clear and systematic lectures, easy to understand. Grading policies are fair, and offers extra credit for doing the homework. DO ALL OF THE ASSIGNED HOMEWORK! Test questions are often based off homework questions. Exams are challenging, yet manageable. Expect to put in several hours of study daily.

Organic chemistry is hard despite your teacher. Castle was great b/c his grading scheme is very organized and laid out from day one. Im very thankful for his humor and respect for students even when we probably sounded real dumb. easy? no. The best help you have in a super hard class? YES! read before lectures, he follows the book to a tee!

The other reviews are right--you really can't get an A without doing the optional homework. I hardly did any and wound up with a B. He uses every second of class to teach. If you don't do the homework everything he says will go right over your head after a couple of weeks. He is the best professor for this class, but o-chem is extremely difficult.

Dr. Castle is extremely fair when it comes to tests. He is passionate about the subject, and he truly cares about his students. Super nice guy, super humble, very willing to help outside of class. Best class I've taken at BYU, hands down. If you read before class, do the homework before exams, and go to his reviews, you will get an excellent grade.

Awesome teacher. Clear, effective, and not trying to trick or demean you in any way. But Ochem is hard, my class averaged around a 64% on the midterms. But he is very willing to help you out during his office hours and all of his tests/quizzes follow the exact same dynamic so they are very predictable and easy to study for.

Dr. Castle was an amazing teacher, probably because he taught in line with my learning style. He writes everything on the board so you can't get behind, the whole class is very structured and laid out at the beginning of the semester, and he is very passionate about the subject. DO THE HOMEWORK, even though it is not required. It helps immensely.

Dr. Castle was a great teacher. He respects his students and his subject. He teaches clearly but sometimes flies through things super fast. He does offer some extra credit, but it isn't really worth a lot. Doing the homework isn't required but sure helps!

This class was incredibly difficult. If you fall behind on the reading, you can expect to do poorly. The homework is time consuming and sometimes it feels impossible to stay on top of. However, Castle is SUCH a sweet professor. It never feels like he is trying to make you fail like some of BYU's chem department.

This class in inherently difficult, but Dr. Castle explains things really well. He follows the book EXACTLY, so definitely use that as a resource. Homework isn't required, but you should really do it for the practice. Tests and quizzes are straight forward.

This class was hard, but if you read the book before lecture, do the homework, make flash cards, and practice, you should do fine. About 80% of your grade is tests/the final, so study well for those. There's a multiple choice and short answer section on all but the final, which is the ACS final anyway.

Lets be honest: o chem is the hardest class Ive ever taken. But I loved having Castle as my professor! He offers extra credit, has a few pop quizzes, and the rest of the grade comes from tests. The tests are hard, but I never felt like he was trying to be tricky. He was very fair! Lectures are good, he teaches up until the bell. Great teacher!

The homework is optional extra credit, but do ALL of it. Dr. Castle is a great man, and I thoroughly enjoyed organic chemistry from him. Tests are intense, so prepare well. Take notes on what he is talking about before lecture starts you go over the material and you will remember the material better. Keep up with HW and notes and you'll do well

Very nice and very reasonable professor. The class is difficult but he follow the book very closely to it brings structure. You really need to read and do some problems BEFORE the material he will teach that day. If you consistently do this and know the WHY behind the reactions you will be fine. He is very helpful if you don't understand.

He is a good professor. His lectures followed the book almost section for section. His tests were a little more difficult, but they were still easier than some other Chemistry classes. He has kind of a quirky sense of humor, but he is a cool guy.

Organic chemistry is super hard and not my strength at all. That said, if you have to take it, take it from Dr. Castle. He follows the book very well so the class is very structured and it's clear what you may be tested on. Both o-chem classes will eat your time like crazy, so plan on taking a lighter credit load if an A is really important to you.

Absolutely amazing professor, but the class is immensely difficult. I would say O-Chem 2 is more difficult than O-Chem 1, but they both are intense and severely time-drains. I really appreciate the devotion this guy has to be a great professor and care for his students. Eight months of Castle's O-Chem, and then the immense relief of being done.

Great teacher, second semester ochem doesn't follow the book as closely though, he added several things the book oversimplified, but it is still your best friend for the class. Teaches very clearly, but a huge amount of material to cover.

He has been my favorite chemistry professor at BYU - no doubt! He is very well organized, he knows the material like the back of his hand. Students know exactly what he will be teaching the next day because he goes right through the book. His tests are not unreasonably long like my other chemistry classes. Homework is optional but really helps!

Dr. Castle is amazing!! He gives you about 7 pop quizzes but only keeps 5 on your grade. He's by far the best Chemistry Professor that I've had at BYU. O chem is hard but Dr. Castle sets you up for a success. I feel like I learned more in this class in this semester than I have in any of my other classes combined.

Dr. Castle is the BEST! OChem is hard no matter who you take it from, but Dr. Castle follows the book SO closely that he makes it very straight forward. He works hard to know student's names and is very fair. 7 pop quizzes (but only grades 5), homework is extra credit (but DO it), 4 tests + final, he curves the grades at the end of the semester.

Castle is a really solid choice for 351. He is a human textbook, so all you have to do is understand what is going on in the text. Really good at answering questions, this guys is really smart. You will have to be fluent with OChem terminology to understand what is going on.

If you take CHEM 351 from anyone but Dr. Castle at BYU, you're making a mistake. As a lector he meticulously covers the material in the manner he expects you to know it. He is also an editor of the textbook, so it 99% matches his lectures. The homework for the semester is optional, but the assigned problems cover every aspect of the exam material.

Castle is a walking talking textbook. That being said, expect to read through the entire textbook if you want to do well in the class. The textbook will cover things more thoroughly than Dr. Castle will during lecture. He teaches the material in the order they appear in the textbook. This class is very test heavy so expect to study hard for exams

One of the hardest classes at BYU. Expect it to be a full-time job just to study for it.

This class is not for the faint of heart. Expect to study 15-20 hours for each test if you want to get an A or B. There are hardly any points that pad your grade; almost all points come from tests and pop quizzes. However, Dr. Castle is a great teacher, very approachable, and with very hard work an A is achievable.

Dr. Castle is a very clear teacher. He has pop quizzes which are a pain to study for. He can have some pretty tricky questions on his tests. If you read everything in the book and do the extra credit homework, and sell your soul to the chemistry gods, then you should get an A.

This is a very tough class and you should plan on dedicating 30+ hours to it per week to get an A. The key to doing well on the tests is to find past years exams and take them as practice tests. My only complaint with the class is that Dr. Castle and some TA's can be condescending when they see that students struggle to conceptualize everything.

I love Dr Castle for how he taught OChem. This class could have been much more painful but he does a great job of making it clear and straightforward. If you study the book and do the homework you'll do great. He teaches almost exactly the textbook and it's refreshing. I hated his pop quizzes but they aren't a huge part of your grade.

Cannot respect this man enough, he tries to be really fair. He tells you what he expects on day one and it is up to you to do well and succeed. Lots of homework problems make good practice problems. Tests on material gone over in class and in the textbook. Learned a lot from his class, it is a hard class but worth it if you put time into it.

OCHem is very hard! Dr. Castle is a walking text book. His lectures are very clear, lots of info but very clear what he is teaching. His class is very fair. Tests are hard but if you can find previous test that will help a lot, he tells you to do this.

Best Organic Chemistry professor at BYU. If you don't take his class you are making a huge mistake.

Professor Castle is a great professor. I have dropped OCHEM three times, and he was the professor that actually helped me finally figure it out. He is great at teaching difficult concepts, and overall he is a fair grader. He knows his stuff, and he seems to genuinely care for his students. I would recommend him for OCHEM over any other professor.

Dr. Castle is great. I loved his lectures. He goes fast but that just how it is in ochem. His tests are hard so study but he sets you up very well. Live in the TA lab and get to know them and you will get good help. Castle is very understanding and reasonable. Also a surprisingly funny guy. Ochem was rough but it wasn't too miserable.

Dr. Castle is the best professor I've had!! He gives you a syllabus that makes his expectations really clear. Homework is turned in at the end of the semester and its extra credit. Your grade is basically 4 tests and a final. Do the homework/reading and you'll do fine. BEST OCHEM PROFESSOR!! HE LOVES HIS STUDENTS. ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP.

Dr. Castle is a great professor. I sold my soul to this class and barely scraped by with an A-. He's really good about explaining difficult concepts but I still had to put in about 3 hours a day to understand what was going on. The tests are tricky but the final is pretty easy if you read the review book. Do the reading and hw or you're screwed.

Is this class incredibly difficult? Yes. Is it because of Dr. Castle? No. His class is very well organized, and sets you up for success. Dr. Castle may be a bit more unpopular because he is not a super outgoing guy, but as far as Ochem goes, he's a great professor. Do the reading, and have hope for a grade curve at the end (cutoff for A- about 88%)

While o-chem is all the difficulty it's cracked up to be, Dr Castle is a legendary and makes it totally possible to get an A (with about 2 hours of studying a day). My advice: take detailed class notes, do the homework problems over and over, and go to all the reviews. The tests aren't hard if you understand principles WELL.

Dr. Castle is the best OCHEM professor ever. He explains things so clearly and is a very fair professor. He is clear about what is expected in the class. It's a HARD class, but it is doable if you read the textbook and do ALL the homework. Tests are rough, but the final is easier. I loved this class, honestly.

Dr. Castle was amazing and very clear in his expectations of the class. He also laid out what our expectations should be. It was a hard class because there was so much reading and homework, but ultimately I feel like I learned so much from this class. It was worth it to take it from Castle.

ORGO is hard no matter who you take it from, but Dr. castle made it palatable. THERE is SO MUCH material to learn in organic chem 1 so you need to get ready to read ahead of class and start preparing for exams EARLY. Dr. castle is one of the better choices but his exams are difficult and I often felt like he made tricky questions that very few knew

Get a study group, keep up with the textbook reading, write out all the things you need to memorize from memory. Dr. Castle teaches from the textbook; great lectures, but just going to class isn't going to give you the comprehension needed to do well on tests. Tests are everything.

Dr. Castle is the most organized professor I've ever had. He truly cared about his students and wants them to succeed. That being said, I have not had a class that has pushed me more than Ochem. To do well in this class you have to work your butt off and do every assignment that is given out. The HW is extra credit but it's the best way to practice

4 exams + final (ACS worth 2x exams), pop quizzes total to 1/2 exam, extra credit available ~2% of final grade. Can only miss a few lectures if you don't want to fall behind. Tests are difficult, ~60% multiple choice ~40% short answer. Good lectures, do the homework it's "mandatory" for a good grade. A not guaranteed even if you work very hard.

Insanely good professor for ochem. Loved how organized and available he was. Super knowledgeable and just a good guy. Obviously, the class is tough and requires steady effort, but tests were pretty chill as long as you know everything he teaches. Most people that don't like castle is more that they don't like the high expectations he holds.

Dr. Castle knows his Ochem and is a great lecturer! Ochem is super tough, but he explains it clearly. Tests are all the same format except for the final which is the ACS exam. He has a lot of extra credit and drops low quiz scores to help your grade (it does mostly come from the exams).

Dr. Castle is brilliant and has very organized lectures but Ochem is just a really hard class. It's a good idea to take a lighter semester when you take this class because it will take a lot of your time. Most of your grade comes from your exams. Make sure to spend some time every day studying.

Dr. Castle is hands down the best professor I've had at BYU. Ochem is naturally hard, but his expectations for students are very clear, and his class is very well organized which makes it easy to succeed if you're willing to put the time in. Tests really aren't that bad if you're willing to put the time in to learn the material.

Dr. Castle is really smart and his lectures are amazing. However, the averages on the tests are typically in the low 60s. He curves at the end of the semester but not enough to help the people that actually do well. It ends up helping people that don't. Their grade goes from a C- to a B+ from the curve. If you get an A-, you're stuck with that.

Castle is very straightforward in what you need to know. His lectures exactly follow the chronology of the textbook so it is very easy to prepare for the lectures. Pop quizzes aren't bad, he drops at least 1 and they are only a couple questions, just don't fall behind. Tests are hard, but no trick questions, just know your stuff. I learned a lot.

This class is hard but fair. He is really good at following the textbook (which is also really good), and although his lectures are really fast paced he explains things well. His tests are hard, but if you take detailed notes and go to his reviews (which are really good), you can do well. If you stay on top of reading and practicing you'll enjoy it

Make of flashcard of everything he says in his lectures, read the chapters before the lectures, and do all of the homework. Class is very fast paced and you'll need to put in the work. His class prepares you for the ACS final. ACS was much easier than the prep book questions. Go to every lecture, he does go by the book but teaches new things too.

OChem 2 is just straight-up tough no matter who you take it from, Dr Castle doesn't make it easier. Don't get behind, do the hw problems integrated in the reading sections after each lecture and you'll be prepared for every pop quiz. Exams, do all the after chapter book problems and practice each mechanism he does in class. great and fair teacher

Exams 84% of grade, 20 MC with FRQ. ACS Final scored raw out of 70 questions. 7~ pop quizzes but 5 graded and 1 replaced from online HW. He is a GREAT lecturer. Do practice questions, flash cards, etc. I feel like I know organic chemistry on a deeper level because of this class. It's not the easy way out, but you will be thankful in the long run.

Dr. Castle is one of the toughest professors out there, that being said, because of his class and the work I was forced to do in it, I aced the Ochem section on the DAT. So the class will make you pull your hair out and probably change you a little bit, but his ability to teach organic chemistry is out of this world. I also took his 352 course btw

Coming into this class I thought I liked Ochem. I quickly found out this class was going to be more of a grind than a joy. He expects a lot out of his students. If you're pre-dental or pre-med I would take it from him. I had to study just 3 days of Ochem after to prepare for the DAT. I ended up getting a 27 on Ochem. I credit that all to Castle.

Super helpful, very knowledgeable in organic synthesis. Went out of his way to help us during lab. He is pretty strict on grading the lab reports, but as long as you have all of the necessary requirements, and are organized in your reports, NMRs, characterization sheets, etc (use the examples on LS) you should get close to full credit. Fun class.

CHEM352 with Professor Castle is challenging, but rewarding if you put in the work. Attend lectures, use the textbook, and try unstuck AI for efficient study prep. The class is tough, but the learning is worth it.

I took Ochem from Dr. Castle and had a good experience, but I enjoyed taking 455 from him even more! He is an excellent lab professor and really knows his stuff. He is also super patient with everyone asking him the same question 10 times and cares about his students. The content with Chem is always hard, but it's very doable.