2.5
Quality3.9
Difficulty50%
Would Retake110
Reviews50%
Would Retake
110
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
9
4
28
3
19
2
33
1
21
What Students Say
“I really felt like I wasn't given the means to succeed”
CHEM122 - 1.0 rating“Unpredictable tests and uninformative lectures”
CHM104 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Attendance Mandatory
40%
Textbook Required
90%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Improving
+0.63 avg changeRatings by Course
CHEM101
5.0
(1)CHM202
5.0
(1)CHM111113
4.0
(1)CHM103104
4.0
(1)CHEM102
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
CHM114
5.0
CHEM111
5.0
CHM111AND112
5.0
CHEMISTRY
5.0
CHM103105
5.0
Reviews (110)
Won't go over anything - Rushes - Only have 3 grades a semester - Doesn't care
No Comments
He's clear when he wants to be.
The worst CHM teacher I have EVER seen!!!!!!
very unorganized and is all over the place during lectures. also, he is very dirty
No Comments
I FOUND HIM TO BE A GREAT TEACHER. HE'S VERY SMART AND KNOWLEDGEABLE. HE'S VERY FUNNY, ALSO. HE'S SO NICE THAT HE LET ME VISIT HIM IN HIS OFFICE HOURS AND HELPED ME EVEN WHEN I WAS NOT EVEN IN HIS CLASS.
sucks
Not that bad...He doesn't try to make tests superhard and he's always available to give extra help
I HATED HIS CLASS HORRIBBLE
i thought he was good
??? What's with the bad reviews...he's a very good teacher, not the most helpful or approachable, but you'll still learn a lot. I wish I could say the same for other Chem profesors here at the U...
No Comments
He isnt a very bad teacher, but not the best. He tries to make jokes so the class won't be boring, but it still is. He has practice tests online that are helpful, but the tests are still hard.
His tests are hard, and they cover material just a little differently than he does in class, the text does, and the practice tests did. The curves usually come toward the side of helping me greatly.
Started semester off by basically telling us we weren't real science majors because our CHM requirements were different. He's ok, but I had to teach myself most of the information. Would write down complete formulas wrong, then would have to teach them like 5 times to get it right.
His tests didn't sometimes even dealt with material he had never covered before!
very unhelpful, generally bad teacher, bad attitude, tests on material not covered in class
I wanted to kill myself...Hard tests...difficult to understand material...I wasn't happy
Kinda of a lunatic, but if you get cool with him he will pass you regardless of your grades.
Not very clear in explaining the topics at hand. He seems to know the subject, but doesnt seem to understand how to convey his thoughts to others. Not a good speaker at all. His tests dont seem to match course material and are incredibly hard.
I hated him!!! I dropped the class!!!
People its chemistry. Its not the easiest thing on campus, but its not the hardest either. He gives like 6 practice exams per test so if you study those you'll usually do fine. I barely paid attention in class and made a B.
I took Dr. Berg for Organic Chemistry I over the Summer. BIG BIG MISTAKE! He is not only disgusting as a person (sweaty as a pig), but he also has no compassion for others.
His class is plain copy, copy, copy from his notes and they do not provide a clear path to be able to solve the problems or questions in his exams.
ok, so all chm 111 teachers are hard except for purcell (or so ive heard), so if you have berg than just stay with him. He has all his old exams online and STUDY THE NOTES!!! if you dont you'll regret it. As for chm 112, take Hoff... whatever you can.. i repeat, take hoff!!!
sucks
No Comments
Made my life HORRIBLE. Tests are simply too hard.
Funniest Man Ever! Makes a potentially boring lecture hysterical and worth waking up for. He will help you if you ask for it. Chm is not gonna be easy but Berg will make it at least entertaining.
he was aight, the tests arent that bad if u do the practise tests before.
No Comments
he doesnt explain anything and his tests are a reflection of that
No Comments
No Comments
bad teacher - doesnt explain anything well, pulls questions from nowhere - dont take him!
You have to go to every class AND read the book. Do all the questions he hands out and past exam questions, he tends to reuse questions (from the exam you've just finished too...) Pulls questions out of thin air. His explanations are really bad. Do not take him!
Such a horrible teacher...doesn't explain things well and his test questions are ridiculous. The curve is also very strict and sometimes doesn't even help because he only gives such a small percent of A's and B's. Don't bother going to office hours either, he's useless.
His tests get easier as you get used to his format, he really wants people to get an A and curves the tests pretty well. Be sure to look at the past exams he posts online, you'll get used to the format faster and he tends to reuse questions.
I didn't want to wake up at 8 am for Hoff, but now I wish I had. I stopped going to class because he just confused me so I read the book. Went to office hours once and got even more confused. I had Lewis for 111 and she was amazing in comparison. Never made less than an A in science until now. I got a B in what should've been an easy class.
Boring professor, talks in monotone. Confusing grading scale. He simply goes through problems from top to bottom without explaining how he gets his results, often leaves you more confused than you were at the beginning. If you can, take Hoff.
Totally unfair with the tests. The book is terrible! The tests are specific, and impossible. The only way to get a good grade in the calss is to make sure that everyone else does worse then you, so that you above for the curve.
not an impossible teacher but try to avoid him if you can. exams are hard; you need to know every part of all the information because questions are more complex, but he provides exams from previous years which help out. goes fast through notes during class and sometimes stutters through words. cracks a lame joke every once in a while.
Lectures and that's about it, rushes through problems on the board so if you don't get it you'll have to work extra. Often times teaches differently from the book. Avoid if you can. Stutters a lot and sweats profusely. Funny, but you laugh at him not with him. Not a great teacher, will have to work hard.
AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL!
HORRIBLE TEACHER!!! hardly uses the book, exams are mostly calculations which he has twisted to almost make them impossible!! if you don't need a chem class then avoid him as much as possible!! for everyone else who need either a CHM 103 or 111 good luck!!! and try to stay awake during lectures!!!
TERRIBLE! His class is awful. He just writes on the board w/o explaination and then he expects you to know what you're doing. He thinks we're chm. geniuses already. The test are really difficult (thank God there's a curve). Practicing with the old test helps.
No Comments
MADE CHEM ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE. i actually understood it before i took his class & his tests are absolutely impossible to do well in unless you spend at least 2 hours a day practicing the problems until you memorize HIS method.
Class is ridiculous... dont bother attending. Tests are straight from his 20 page practice question handouts. He barely curves and the avg. test grades were D's throughout the semester. Hes also a sweaty pig and creepy. The tutors suck too. Try another teacher!!
this class is quite difficult..not for ppl who want an easy A..I failed the first test cuz i just studied the notes only..berg just tells us the basic stuff we need to know, his practice tests definitely helped..do all of them and attend his lectures and u will get through chm 112...he's not as bad as ppl say, he's cool with a sense of humor too :)
No Comments
One of the worst science teachers I ever had. His lectures dragged on and his tests were nearly impossible. One of my advisors felt sorry for me because I got stuck in his class.
Professor teaches the subject well, but his tests are EXTREMELY unfair. If you know the material it doesn't matter. Take Hoff, everyone who did is happy with thier grade.
I think Dr. Berg is a great professor. He is very willing to help and has a very strange sense of humor that you can't help but appreciate.
Avoid him if you can, i took chm simply to fulfil a science requirement (I actually used to enjoy chem in high school) huge mistake! his exams are crazy and he cannot teach!
Easy lectures, difficult tests
A public speaker he is not. He's pretty cool though. Test problems are hard, but his curve is generous.
horrible teacher. average grades on tests are Fs and Ds. all he does is curve it, but you absolutely don't learn a thing.
He's not a great lecturer and he gives simple problems in class yet he'll give you the hardest thing alive on the test. The tests are SUPER hard but he does curve alot!!!
Boring class. Avgerage class grades for tests was D- and Fs. He would just curve but you don't learn anything.
I hate chem to begin with, but Dr. Berg really isn't a horrible person. Lectures are fine, but tests can go either way; usually pretty hard. LOTS of studying; reading the book and doing the back tests definitely help. He's willing to answer any questions. With his bell curve, chances are you'll get a B/C. Lets you take a test early if you need to.
really not as horrible as everyone says....the tests are difficult but an A is not impossible, you just need to work super hard for it and memorize all the practice tests.
Berg is extremely smart but he is not the best teacher. He teaches very fast and does not go step by step...I felt lost in his class...He gives you access to his old exams to study from, but they are not very helpful because his new exams are completely different from the old ones. This class is very hard...And the tests are the hardest ever!
everyone needs to stop hating on berg! i had him for 103/104 and he is not nearly as bad as people make him seem.. an A is attainable with not a ridiculous amount of work. just pay attention to him and study notes and practice exams.. reading the book is usually not necessary
One of the best professors and humanitarians I've ever met. Dr. Berg really cares and will help you if you ask!!!! Chemistry is enjoyable in his class, but if you have a prima dona attitude-stay home. Dr. Berg helped me after class with any problems and even though he is not perfect, he will show you how to resolve problems.
Well, he is not that bad... however, the lectures too quickly.
I had a very hard time in that class. When I went to ask for help, he wasn't that helpful. He lectures to fast.
Dr. Berg is a great teacher; you will learn (and retain!) the essential information of the course as well as many of the smaller intricacies that make the class interesting. Great preparation for Orgo II !!
hes really helpful, i even asked him to take one of the exams another day and he was cool with it... but he stutters a lot in class and seems a little insecure, it was kinda hard to understand him at times...
Professor Berg is a great teacher! You actually learn in his class, not just memorize facts and forget them. He teaches everything on the tests and gives you old tests which are very similar to the new ones. You have to study in this class but if you go to class and understand the practice tests you will do fine. He curves well too.
Berg seems to have gotten a bad rap, but he's actually a really good professor, and funny as hell. He does a good job teaching and is always willing to help. Also, he gives his old exams to study from, so there's never a surprise on the test. If you do whats expected of you, you should be fine!
great professor
He doesnt teach well at all and his notes are hard to read...definitly have to teach yourself and the exams are difficult but he curves so it ends up not being too bad. i wouldnt recommend taking him though
He really isnt as bad as most people make him out to be. Just do all the previous semesters' exams (theres like 7) and you'll do remarkably well... i did half or 3/4 of them before an exam and got in the high B's-A range. Hes a unclear during class but lookin ovr his notes at home n reading the book makes things alot clearer
I love Berg!
He's really not as bad as people say he is. The lectures I don't attend as often as I should but his old tests can teach you everything there is to know because of his solution sets. You definitely have to study but overall he's not too hard.
terrible teacher. study his old tests and you'll pass but he's a horrible teacher.
A bit disorganized in lecture, although I took it during the summer at a very fast pace. Beware of excessive amounts of unrelated handouts. Exam questions sometimes come out of left field. Practice old exams, practice old exams, practice old exams. He's taught it now in the double digits, so there's only so much new information he can put on them.
Really all over the place and unclear. Expects you to already know a lot of information without him explaining it. Gives out massive handouts written in cursive. Provides old tests and they can help if you study them, but overall, not a great teacher.
Class lectures are thorough and helpful, but exams are tricky and very hard. His curves can help a lot. Past tests aren't as helpful as other reviews say. Don't even bother going to Berg's office hours. He's rude and doesn't even make eye contact.
His lectures are so ridiculously easier than his tests its almost hilarious In order for you to do good in his class you have to teach yourself everything and spend hours to try and master chemistry because the only people that will do good in his class will have to study for hours. Bad Teacher dont take him, unless you dont mind studying for weeks
I've had Berg for CHM112 and CHM201. Ive taken purcell and currently Colonna. I think out of all the chem teachers he is by far the most predictable even though none of them are. Study the old exams and know the book front and back. Its mostly self taught tho, but far less so than the other teachers. I got an A in both but did study a lot on my own
I had him for 112 and after attending 2 classes, I realized I'd be teaching myself a lot of the material and stopped going. I would recommend if you have access to his old practice tests to do A LOT of them as you can before an exam. He tends to repeat a lot of the same questions and plus you'll be more familiar with the types of questions he gives
Nice guy! Go to the class, take notes, and do his practice exam, you'll be fine.
You can go to class, take notes w/e but it's not of much help. It's only helpful because you kind of get an idea what you have to focus on more for the exams. I taught myself mostly everything. Lecture didn't help me much. His practice exams are helpful but a little off because of course every semester is different. I wouldn't recommend him.
He would go off on rants, which were occasionally funny, but unrelated to the course. Attending lectures was pointless because he would do an entire problem out for 5 minutes then realize he did it completely wrong. Better to just teach yourself the material.
Hard class, only because I also hate chemistry. But he gives you four practice tests per exam and there are four exams and then the final. Read the chapters, take notes, and do the practice tests and you should be fine.
Class is impossible!
I've now taken classes with most of the chemistry faculty, and remembering orgo 2 with Berg I have to say he was the most clear and easy to understand out of the rest. He helps individually during office hours if the room isn't crowded, and will always give clear objectives for you to know what's on the test. He's funny too. Best Chem teacher I too
Good guy, jokes around, easy class
This professor is pretty easy if you practice his old exams. Also go to class to see what his "sneaky" questions are ONLY!!! (cause you wont be learning much)
His class is manageable. It is not easy but all of his questions are tricky. If you study ALOT, and i mean a lot. An A is obtainable. Just study everyday, but the class is graded on a curve, so sometimes it depends on how smart your class is
Terrible professor. Unpredictable tests and uninformative lectures.
Study his old tests on blackboard, they are a lifesaver. Class helps but isn't mandatory, it teaches a lot of extraneous material that you won't find see on the test. Nice guy, makes the subject as bearable as possible
Dr. Berg is a great teacher. The fact that there are so many people citing this class as difficult is a huge indictment to the education system as a whole. I feel bad for teachers like Dr. Berg who get bad ratings from kids who don't show up for class, take his test, do poorly, then complain. Grow up! This class was an easy A for me.
Uses someone elses powerpoints throughout class so he gets confused about what he is teaching at times. When test time comes, questions you have never seen before are there. The hardest questions from the book that don't even have the solutions are the ones he picks, eventhough he won't practice them in class. Tests are multiple choice
OChem is obviously really difficult but Berg made it more managable. His exams aren't easy but he does curve quite a bit (50% is a 78% roughly).
Tricky question professor. Must go to class to know the one exception to the rule. However he is friendly and keeps you awake in class by telling jokes.
Organic chemistry is a difficult subject to learn, and no doubt to teach. His notes are very true to his tests, so if you go to class and study all his examples, you should be fine after the curve. Good teacher overall, but youre going to have tp get used to his hand writing.
Favorite phrase "I'm not going over this." Very frustrating teacher. He certainly tries, but I taught myself how to do the majority of the material.
As he is teaching, he will stare students who have questions straight in the eye and continue talking, never addressing their question. He just goes on ranting about pointless trivia, never actually getting to the point. He assigns homework on stuff we haven't covered yet because he never gets to the point. Chem121 wouldnt be hard if he did his job
If you haven't taken chemistry 103, I suggest another teacher. He vaguely covers material that is mandatory for his tests. He bases them off of the MCAT, yet incapable of teaching at those standards. His averages are normally a 40-50% so he curves a ton, If you get a D+ on the raw exam you'll most likely have a B+ or A- for the class.
He doesn't make anything clear in his lectures and doesn't assign enough useful homework for allow one to figure the material to any reasonable degree on their own. Not even the book helps much as he mentioned several times that he hasn't even looked at it. I really felt like I wasn't given the means to succeed.
AVOID THIS CLASS. Berg was the worst professor I have ever had. Please do not make the same mistake I did. He barely teaches. I attended every class but it did not help. He purposefully tries to trick you on exams. No partial credit whatsoever.
I know a lot of students struggled in that class. Average for the exams was a low D. Expect difficult exams, however, PRACTICE EXAMS WILL SAVE YOUR GRADE. Utilize them b/c most questions are same just reworded. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING CURVE. C- is an A. Lecture is a bit confusing but Berg is willing to help. Tricky. However, I would take again.
Exam averages are pretty low and it is clear that most of the class struggles but this is only because they did not apply themselves correctly. As long as you utilize ALL of his old exams and the text book, you will be fine. I never paid attention in lecture and I managed to get an A only because of the old exams. You'll succeed only if you try!!!!
Very clear grading scheme and curves largely due to the fact that many do not do well. This is only because they have not tried enough. If you study all of his old exams and use the book, you shall do fine. Yes, you may have to teach yourself the material, but do it to succeed, it's your grade!
Berg knows his stuff; however, he has a difficult time conveying information to his students. The everyday class is him reading word for word from a PowerPoint and stumbling over terms and phrases. Very boring but you can learn if you apply yourself. His tests are generally easier as most kids dont try to learn on their own so the curve is great.
Lectures are incredibly boring. Did all of my studying based off of the practice tests that he provides. The curve is insane.
Class Info
Attendance Mandatory
40%
Textbook Required
90%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Improving
+0.63 avg changeRatings by Course
CHEM101
5.0
(1)CHM202
5.0
(1)CHM111113
4.0
(1)CHM103104
4.0
(1)CHEM102
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
CHM114
5.0
CHEM111
5.0
CHM111AND112
5.0
CHEMISTRY
5.0
CHM103105
5.0