Adds a humorous touch to each lecture. Definitely keeps things interesting (explosions keep us awake too)

Good teacher, hard class

He's a funny guy. It helps make the class that much more interesting even though the class is fairly difficult to keep up with if you don't already have a chem background.

Easy Class, slightly boring professor. Just take his advice from Day 1 (which no one does of course) and do the optional book assignments. Take notes and pay attention + chapter assignments = EASY A. 105A is literally plug and chug and converting units. Oh and BERTOLINI is a GENIUS. 'Nuff Said. Also funny prof picture on Dept. website.

Good professor, clear, funny, interesting demonstrations, but very difficult class.

If you have the choice to take CHEM105 with Parr or Bertolini, take it with Bertolini. His lectures are in-depth and he is clearly very knowledgeable about what he teaches. I had both Parr and Bertolini, and I found Bertolini's lectures to be much more elucidating and entertaining, his demonstrations are great!

Really smart guy who knows Chemistry thoroughly. The material in the intro Chemistry classes didn't strike me as that fascinating, but out of all the Chem/Ochem teachers at USC Bertolini had the most intriguing way of presenting the material. He's got a witty dark sense of humor too which lightens the lectures up quite a bit :)

This class is extremely difficult. The practice tests from last year were much easier. The class averages are in the D range.

Good demos and interesting sense of humor. Helpful in his office hours. Exams are ridiculously hard and averages are around 50-60 range. Exams are much harder than previous years' exams and in-class example. Its about beating the average to do decent in the class. Go to class to get clicker points but it takes natural intelligence and to get an A.

Bertolini is a very funny professor and very willing to help during office hours. His lectures are also very interesting and keeps the class awake. However, this class is extremely difficult with the averages being in the 50-60 range. I worked my tail off to get a B-

Prof. Bertolini seems quiet boring, but is actually quite funny and makes lectures interesting. Granted, this is a weeder course. The exams are difficult, and you need to read the book and do many practice problems to do well. Didn't go to his office hours much, which is probably why I didn't do so hot.

He's a good lecturer. He's got a good sense of humor.

Bertolini is a very good teacher. He is very clear in lecture and explains the subject well. The class itself is a lot of work. I've heard Bertolini's tests are hard, but he did not make the exams in my class (Parr did). Her tests were not very difficult. His humor is subtle but witty. I think he's the best chem professor.

Explains well, but his tests are difficult!!! Nonetheless, if you put a lot of effort doing book problems & SI, you can do relatively well. He's also hilarious at times.

Bertolini is a intriguing lecturer and a good teacher. That said, his exams are extremely testing and he doesn't give much partial credit. Your class grade is heavily weighted by your midterm and final exams grades and there is no extra credit. Do not take this class for fun or as a GE. I made that mistake.

He's a great professor, but his tests are very difficult. In order to be successful in this class you MUST do the suggested book problems, the sample exams and go to SI sessions.

Bertolini is definitely one of my favorite professors. Lectures are very helpful and clear. Requires a lot of effort and time, but an A is not impossible.

Prof. Bertolini is nice and clear in his lectures. He's really helpful in office hours and teaches well. He makes occasional funny jokes too. What more could you ask for?

Best PowerPoint slides I've seen; the animation conveys information well. Has a dry voice but occasionally throws in some dark-humored jokes. Demonstrations roughly once a week in 105 but rarely for 322. These are pre-med weed-out chemistry courses; they simply aren't going to be easy. Had him for 3 semesters and found doing well entirely plausible

Organic chemistry is not easy. YOu need to prepare for this class during summer or spring break if you are not sure. The professor is very helpful if you ask for help during office hours or by sending him emails. If you are not sure about regrading your exams, send him an email first. Other wise you could loose 5 points.

Such a great professor. I really wished I had spent more time in his office hours to get to know him. His lectures are very clear, and his slides are easy to follow. He is very good at answering questions after class or even by email. Ochem is hard, but Dr. Bertolini explains difficult concepts very well and makes his tests very fair.

This professor is nice but his exams are very difficult and therefore the course is unpleasant.

Bertolini kept the class relatively interesting and moved at a good rate and explained everything thoroughly. His exams weren't too bad - there would often be a question designed to trip everybody up, but the class was curved, and exams were fair for the most part, covering what he had taught in class. Textbook practice problems REALLY helped.

GREAT PROFESSOR!!! He is very clear and organized in lecture. His lectures are fantastic and make going to class fun because of the in class demonstrations. He is super helpful during office hours. He remembers you by name if you consistently go to his office hours. Great guy and Great professor. Tests are fair and easy if you study for them.

He's a great teacher, but I still had to spend hours studying for chem.

He's great! Go talk to him in office hours, he is super helpful. A very sweet guy, cares about his students, and cares that you understand the material. Exams are tough, but he drops hints about them in class and in office hours

Excellent, excellent teacher. Chemistry is hard, no matter what. But Bertolini has a way of making things easier to understand, and he has a subtle sense of humor that keeps class interesting and engaging. If you read the book before exams, do practice problems and attend his lectures, the exams are managable. Take Bertolini!!

TAKE HIS CLASS. HE IS AMAZING. THE CLASS IS REALLY HARD; BUT I MEAN IT'S CHEMISTRY SO OF COURSE IT IS. BUT GO TO OFFICE HOURS. I LOVE HIM

Bertolini is awesome. Lectures can be a bit dry, but he throws in some jokes now and then. I didn't realize how good and clear of a lecturer he was until we had a substitute for a few lectures, and I really missed Bertolini. Class is curved, you'll be fine as long as you do above the average.

Bertolini is one of the best professors I've had at USC. His lectures are concise and incredibly easy to understand if you follow along and read the textbook BEFORE coming to lecture. 105a is a piece of cake if you read the book, do practice problems, and take Bertolini. I had no problem averaging a 96 on all exams.

Dr. Bertolini is an amazing chemistry professor. Classes are very interesting and he often does class demonstrations of some reactions, like the thermite combustion reaction. Professor selection for chemistry is not very high at USC, but Bertolini is an awesome professor, so it's not an issue.

Super clear. Easy to get all the notes and lectures online. Hard material but he's a great teacher. And really hot in a like sciencey way

He is the BEST chemistry I've ever had in my entire life. And I'm a chem major so trust me on this. He explains the materials very well; exams can be hard because he does like to ask application problems. However, if you really listened and tried, it should be a fun/memorable course you will ever take.

Your grade in this class definitely reflects the amount of effort you put in. If you make an effort to stay ahead, the class isn't terribly difficult. Bertolini made Chemistry fun. His snarky, dark humor makes class worth paying attention to and makes the class more enjoyable overall.

Super nerd. Very Fair. Really nice. Crazy hot.

Great professor. Super clear and helpful. Lectures are clear, so reading the textbook is unnecessary. The curve is generous. Put the time and work in and you'll get the grade.

He is super helpful and funny. Breaks down hard topics and is always available when you need him. Office hours are great. Exams can be tough but he gives example of old ones. Study and it's not-that bad. Definitely not an easy A though. TAs sucked though which is annoying. Nota far of lab... Also Bert is cute. Talk nerdy tome lol

Good professor, helpful if you approach him. His tests are rather difficult and there are a lot of curve balls. Be sure to attend SI sessions. Would still recommend taking Bertolini over other chemistry professors.

I really liked him in forensics. I'm a chem major but haven't gotten a chance to take any of his classes (he teaches the less populated section - 105a, 322a in the spring and b in the fall). He was very clear, really funny, and pretty nerdy in a good way. Hope to have him for another class somewhere down the line.

Bertolini is a good lecturer, he's funny and keeps things interesting and clear. He's friendly and helpful if you go to his office hours. His tests are the hardest out of all the CHEM 105a professors, however, and go by a strict grading system. Really takes a lot of work to get an A.

Great guy and perhaps one of the best professors at USC. Throws in much humor into his lectures and demos work about half the time. His lectures are very clear and he is always helpful during office hours. Every point in the class matters, so make sure to go to exam reviews and practice with his old exams and you should be just fine.

His slides include lots of pictures, diagrams, and examples, which I like for visual learning. Definitely a hard class if you did not take AP Chem. You have to keep up with the material that he lectures (e.g. review on your own, refer back to the textbook, do practice problems) every day if you want to do well

The best 105a lecturer. It's a hard class and Bertolini takes the time to explain things properly and do clicker questions to make sure everyone gets it. Great examples and demos, hilarious stories. To do well on the lecture exams you need to pay attention in lecture and then review with lots of practice problems. I regret skipping the SIs I did.

Bertolini is the best lecture professor I have had. He makes is very clear and goes as a good pace to fit everything but go over what the students do not know. The clicker points are important (literally just have to show up to get them) so go to class

Bertolini is one of the best teachers I've had in my academic career. He makes chemistry interesting and his lectures were very clear and organized. I did not need to go to SI sessions; I just looked over my notes and did the practice exams he provides. People say that his tests are tricky, but he goes over most of the tricky stuff in class.

I loved Dr. Bertolini's class. He's super funny, an amazing lecturer who explains concepts very clearly, and great about answering questions in person or via email. People say his tests are tricky but I thought they were pretty straightforward, as long as you understand the concepts.

Hard class, but that's the nature of chemistry. Very clear lectures with all of the slides uploaded. He is an interesting/funny guy to listen to lecture.

Great professor - tough class though. The material is pretty hard itself and the tests are ridiculously strict

Funny and entertaining in lecture. If you have any problems with the non-lab component of the course, go up to talk to him before or after lecture or in office hours because he will try to fix them! Fun demonstrations (especially liquid nitrogen ice cream and gunpowder cotton).

Professor Bertolini is one of the better chemistry lecturers. He does a lot of interesting demos in class and goes over exactly what you need to know for the test. If you go to his office hours, he is more than willing to go over the material again. That being said, his tests are on the tricky side and really go into the concepts.

The downfall for students in CHEM105A is not the lecture, but the lab. So for Professor Bertolini's sections, it was pretty much a repeat of high school chemistry, minus the last two chapters. Attendance isn't essential until the last quarter of the semester, but other than that, the tests are straightforward and again, the focus should be on lab.

The downfall for students in CHEM105A is not the lecture, but the lab. So for Professor Bertolini's sections, it was pretty much a repeat of high school chemistry, minus the last two chapters. Attendance isn't essential until the last quarter of the semester, but other than that, the tests are straightforward and again, the focus should be lab.

Just like my grade the quality of this professor is in complete questionable discord. His lectures had the quasi-facade of being completely understandable, engaging and humorously put people down. Yet, for the last six fortnights I have struggled the miasma known as his exams that plunged me into oblivion. Only Indians and pre-meds will survive.

Professor Bertolini is good in his lectures and is willing to take questions. Unfortunately, he is rather hard to approach and ask questions to. His lectures contain some dry humor that make the lecture interesting. Decently difficult class because of the curve. Go to SI sessions.

Bertolini is a great teacher and he's funny so lectures are interesting. I found the content to be easy and a repeat of AP Chem/IB SL Chem, but for someone without that background the content may be difficult. He explains concepts clearly and well, but his exams are very difficult. Do every single practice exam to study.

Go to lectures

Bertolini's tests are hard, but not impossible. Do as many practice exams as possible to familiarize yourself with the types of questions he asks. I would suggest reading the book as well, at least briefly, just to hear things explained in a different way. Don't neglect lab! It can help your grade if you do well enough.

Bertolini is an amazing teacher, I loved his class. Funny and smart. tests are actually not that bad, but he is not a fan of partial credit so be careful because silly mistakes can hurt. it's the chem labs that will destroy you. chem105 labs take too long and they grade on strict criteria. follow all the directions because they are textbook af.

CHEM 105a is going to suck no matter what, but Bertolini makes it almost bearable. Almost. His lectures are really good and he does several interesting demonstrations throughout the semester. He's also funny sometimes and willing to help you after class. On the other hand, he writes the tests himself, and though they are monstrously difficult.

As with many science classes, the professor solely teaches material and makes tests. Great teacher and encouraged participation. The tests were convoluted and he found joy in tricking his students with confusing test questions. I recommend never talking to Skibo or Erickson if you can avoid it. They are rude and unhelpful.

His slides are always clear and engaging and he makes clicker questions fun. He's pretty lenient with attendance (you're allowed to miss five lectures and receive full credit for participation) and he explains everything thoroughly. Be sure to study for tests, though, because the first one will probably give you a false sense of security.

Dr. Bertolini has been the best professor I've had at USC so far. I had him for chem105a and 322a. His tests are really difficult but they are also very fair. Although the exam averages are really low, if you study hard, you can definitely do well. I put in at least a week for each of his exams. I would highly recommend taking him!

Bertolini is great in Forensics. He's well aware that it's a GE, so the class is curved to a B+ and all the material is online. The lectures are short, interesting, easy and funny, and although the labs are difficult, if you go to section the TAs will basically give you the answer. Midterms are easy, final more difficult. Attendance optional.

Easy and really interesting. Curve is very generous. Pretty much all the material on the test is from the slides. Definitely take him for a GE D.

Contrary to everyone liking Kyung more, I loved Bert. He's not the most enthusiastic guy and is really more of a dry humor kind of guy. You really should go to lectures as he does a lot of drawing and further explaining than his slides provide. Tests are really tricky but you can do well if you study, no partial credit though. Go to recitation!

He is far and away better than the other chem lecturer. He does a good job covering material and makes going to lecture worth it. I went to the other professors lecture once and it was much worse. If you are taking 105a, choose bertoloni

GREAT chemistry professor. Cares about the subject, purposefully and accidentally hilarious, tricky tests so be sure to study creatively (know the material inside and out), webquizzes are extremely easy, textbook problems not necessary but you're shooting yourself in the foot if you don't do them. Good luck!

This class is structured to make students want to drop the class early on (the first lab is one of the most difficult). However, if you study hard you can do well, even if you feel like you aren't. I got 2 Cs on midterms, but, because of the ridiculous curve, got an A- in the course. Do sample exams and go to lecture, Bertolini is a great prof!!

Dr. Bertolini always gives ample time to record information in lectures, and he often provides complementary information to solidify student understanding of content. His exams are tough if you are unprepared, but as long as you complete the recommended practice problems and review the lecture material, you will be fine.

Bert was the best. Around final time people made a meme "bertolini bertolini give me the formulini" and I died. He's this awkward guy who expects you to shout out answers in a huge lecture hall. Lectures can be straightforward until chapter 9-10. Don't ditch or you'll fail the midterms. No homework but do practice problems because tests kill.

The course itself is difficult (as would be expected with organic chemistry), however in my opinion Dr. Bertolini makes it a fair enough class. He does not bog you down with tons of reading and as long as you keep up it is manageable. If you ever go to his office hours (super accessible) you will more than likely get a clear answer.

Considered among students as the better of the two 105a professors. Lectures and explanations are clear. Amusing jokes here and there. Watch out because even though basic chemistry information is straightfoward, sometimes the tests aren't. Bertolini likes to add trick questions because it's a weeder class, so just try to think carefully when test

Don't need the textbook at all. There are "clicker questions" for attendance but you can miss half of the lectures and still get 19/20 points from my experience. Can easily learn from the online powerpoints. Doing the practice exams is the key to doing well, otherwise not much effort necessary.

bertolini is a really average prof. the class isn't confusing or difficult, but the tests are hard. the best way to study is to do the practice exams. the curves aren't super generous in this class but it's not that bad. you don't need the textbook unless you plan on doing a lot of practice q's which don't help nearly as much as the practice tests.

Ochem is known to be challenging and this class was no exception. Bert's exams are very challenging, and even after studying for weeks leading up, it is still possible to not do as well as you want. Be prepared to go to SI and do all the problems assigned. He is a good lecturer though, and his sense of humor makes class more engaging.

Explains concepts pretty well. Dry humor kind of guy; likes cracking jokes in class so it doesn't get too boring.

WHAT A GUY!!! berto is amazing and I will miss him. ��

Bertolini is notorious for his hard tests but I thought they were a fair representative of the material. Definitely go to office hours; he's open to help. Love his dry humor during lectures but beware of silly mistakes on exams. Lab for this course though is a killer although TAs are usually super nice. Go to SI sessions!!

Bertolini is the better choice for Chem105a. Clicker questions used for attendance. I never used the textbook. Literally the trick to succeeding in this class, since it is obviously a pre-med weed out course, is to time manage. Go to SI and don't wait til the night before to start learning material. That's how you get the A.

Bertolini was a solid professor! Boring content, but he's funny. Clicker q's, weekly homework quizzes, 4 midterms, 1 final. Very test heavy and final grade depends on the class curve. Do the practice exams (he gives out 9 per exam) and go to SI. Difficult lab, exam, & practical (look up Catherine Skibo) that is included in your final grade.

Bert was very funny and made lectures easy to understand and pass by quickly. His tests are hard, and he adjusts the difficulty depending on how well the class is doing throughout the semester. The online practice exams were a lifesaver! The curve is very minimal, so don't rely on it to make or break your grade. Overall, good chem professor.

Good prof

Berto!!! I loved him because he was really funny and was good at keeping your attention and explained concepts well in lectures. The web quizzes and clicker questions were nice to pad your grade at least a little bit. Exams were hard but well written and the previous midterms posted were a lifesaver (105b doesn't do this).

Dr. Bertolini is one of the better professors in the chem department. His dry humor and chemistry demos make class worth attending, and he does a good job at explaining topics clearly. His tests are tricky, but he gives a lot of practice exam material and has a lot of experience. I would definitely recommend him.

He explains concepts well and is a pretty good professor. His tests are hard but he posts exams from previous years on the class website so that makes it easy to prepare for them. Lectures are mandatory, but if you want to skip just have a friend do your clickers. If you study for the tests, you can definitely get a good grade

Bertolini is a great lecturer and really kind and helpful during office hours. He may seem dry, but get to know him out of class. The only problem is that his tests are BRUTAL. He use to write questions for the SAT and it def shows. Test averages were usually in the 60s. You could study and know everything and still fail one of his tests.

There is a steep learning curve in o chem and the grading reflects it with a "you get it or you don't" theme... I had to retake this class and met a lot of other people who did too. That being said, it was fairly easy the second time. He explains concepts well in lectures, it's extremely valuable to remember them!

Dr. Bertolini is one of the top professors Ive ever had. His lectures are easy to follow, hes accessible for questions, and his tests, albeit hard, are fair. He cares that his students understand the material that they are learning rather than just memorizing it. Absolutely take classes from him if you see his name on the schedule.

Chem 105a is a lot of pointless work, mostly in lab, but Professor Bertolini was a great lecturer: he's taught this class for a long time and he really knows what he's talking about. It's a tough class in terms of workload but the material is understandable and you can do well if you stay on top of it.

Bertolini is a great professor. While Chem105a is never a fun class, he does his best to make his lectures engaging and even does demonstrations sometimes that are interesting. He cares about his students and it's clear he wants them to do well. I would highly recommend him if you can't avoid the class ;)

Bertolini is a great professor - he knows what he's doing. While his tests are hard, they're very fair and can be prepared for by doing ALL the online practice exams. CHEM105a sucks in general and there's no getting around it, but Bertolini's dry humor, subtle memes, and frequent in-class demos make lecture the least stressful part of gen chem.

Chem in general is hard as it is a weed out class but Bertolini made lectures bearable and knew the material. His tests were fair, you can score well by doing the practice tests he posts. While attendance isnt mandatory there are clicker questions for participation points.

We call him Daddy Bertolini for a reason. Definitely one of the best chem professors at USC. I would try to take him for CHEM322b as well (I believe he teaches the class in the spring semester). He also doesn't throw curveballs in his exams - if you know your stuff, then you'll do well.

The tests are plugging in to equations that are given, and easy to prepare for by doing practice exams. If you took AP chem, the content part of this class is easy, but Lab grading is annoying and the final is more content than equations so study for that more. Not sure fully how final grade is calculated as there is some curve, but they dont say.

CHEM105a is not a fun class but Bertolini is a good teacher. He's straightforward and makes chemistry very clear. He also provides previous tests to practice for exams. Take all of them! If you understand your mistakes you will succeed in the class. This class can be frustrating because of the grading but Bertolini isn't the person who grades.

He is really funny for 11 am lectures, compared to 9 am lectures. The second half of the course was taught by another person, which was horrible. But his first half was amazing. He is very clear and knows the content so well. very good at explaining.

When it comes to weed-out chem professors, I think it can't get much better than Dr. B. He is a great lecturer & explains concepts well, which means if you put in the work/time, you will get the grade you want. He cares about students, especially those who seek help outside of class. Very accessible and helpful. Made chem smoother than expected.

Bert is a great guy. He explained the material so well. My friends who took Broyer looked at my lecture notes and said "oh it makes sense now." He is a great teacher. Tests are difficult but fair and he gives 7-8 practice exams before a test. Go to his office hours!! curve for the class is competitive. took off track. no regrets

I had him for 105a and 322a and I learned a lot and overall liked him EXCEPT when everything went online. He's not understanding of things going online and seemed like he kinda gave up when class went online. Online exams waaaaay harder than in person to the point that SI, practice test, and book problems were all too easy

okay today was the last day of class and yes i'm emotional but i'm also BAWLING since this is the best prof and class i've ever had at USC.. the class is insanely difficult (esp being online) but he breaks it down so well and his tests are hard but fair. didn't even mind putting in extra work bc he really made ochem so enjoyable for me haha

Bertolini is an excellent lecturer who makes the material interesting, but his tests are insanely difficult. Definitely do the optional homework problems he assigns and go to office hours! There are 3 midterms (usually 4, but our semester was shortened) and a cumulative final, so be prepared to be tested on new material like every three weeks.

I took 105a in person and 322a online with Dr. B. He's an amazing lecturer. The contents are easy to follow as long as you attend each lecture. Final is cumulative. Exams could be tricky but he shows all the tricks in lectures. Definitely do the extra practices and previous exams. Book practices are time-consuming and easier than test problems.

Bertolini's lectures were fantastic! They're very interactive and Bertolini does a great job keeping students engaged. Fun GE.

Professor Bertolini is great!! He's one of my favorite professors at USC. For my people who are taking 322 with him: definitely do the textbook problems AND the practice test. Start early because the class is actually incrammable... BEWARE of the third test!! I started with an F and ended with an A so tis definitely doable. Good luck everyone<3

Dr. Bertolini is REALLY patient and answers everyone's questions thoroughly. His lectures explain concepts very well and the guy is just so smart lol. Exams are not bad, just do all of the recommended textbook problems and you're set. He's funny and nice, I highly recommend him for Chem105!!

I was nervous going into ochem but Berto's class hasn't been bad at all (I've averaged an A- on each exam). Granted, you need to stay on top of the lectures (do the practice problems & go to SI/ OH, but that's typical of any hard stem class. Really accessible, patient, and can crack a solid joke here and there. Highly reccomend for chem 322A.

Awesome class highly recommend for a GE as Bertolini makes it entertaining to go to lectures even if they aren't mandatory. Labs are pretty easy and the lectures are non mandatory. Exams can be a bit tricky but nothing impossible. One of the best professors I have had at USC

Definitely a great class if you're at all in true crime and forensics. Prof. Bertolini is a super chill, funny guy. Attending lab sections is optional and the labs themselves are easy, especially if you go over it with your TA. Exams could be tricky sometimes but as long as you attend class and have great notes you should be able to cop an A.

Bert is really a solid choice for 105A, and his lectures are very comprehensive and cover everything you need to know for the exams. His exams are not that hard, and it is more so the course coordinator Dr. Erickson making them hard by changing the format of every single exam. If you attend lectures and do nothing else you could easily pull a B.

I LOVED THIS CLASS. I wasn't interested in forensics before but this class changed me. I def learned lots of cool things. Dr B is very chill and his lectures are fun to attend. Lab assignments every week. If you don't know how to do it, go to the lab session and TA will teach you. Otherwise you don't have to attend lab.

He's really sweet and his lectures are entertaining. There's a lot of tests (3 midterms and a final), but they're based on the lectures. Beware of some questions that are pretty misleading, but it's pretty easy to get a B+ - A on all of them. The labs are also really easy, make sure to attend the lab sessions with the TAs to check answers.

He's a cool guy. Labs were pretty easy and the content of the class is interesting. I had a hard time with his tests because the questions were vague and not always directly answered by his slides. Very responsive to questions and makes his class accessible as a GE for non-STEM students. If you can get past vague questions on tests, it's worthwhile

I can assure you one thing: Prof Bertolini is not the reason for any students' downfalls. I found his lectures reasonably paced, easy to understand, and honestly, enjoyable. He is receptive to questions and quite amusing. I've been very entertained learning about poker from a class solely on hydrocarbons.

This man is a LEGEND! I don't understand why he isn't rated higher. Lectures are super clear and he gives super helpful study guides for exams. Doesn't assign homework, just gives a list of suggested problems. Exams are super reflective of course material/study guide and 8.5/11 sheet of paper notes can be used on exams. 85% is an A. Recommend!

Dr. B helped me find my love of chem again after Skibo just about killed it. Fair grading, interesting content. Dr. B is really nice; classes are fun and he's willing to answer emails that are literally just lists of chem questions, even over the weekend. Even lab is okay! TAs are friendly and competent (!!!) and labs end early. Amazing class.

I took Dr. B over the summer and he is a very solid professor. With that being said, be prepared to WORK. It is a LOT of material to master in five weeks. Be prepared for LATE nights of studying and for some exams to be MUCH more difficult than others. I probably would have gotten a higher grade had the material been more spread out.

Just finished his summer ochem class and he actually made the material super interesting! Dr. B explained concepts clearly and was accessible via office hours or email to answer questions. Highly recommend doing the practice textbook problems and especially the past exams! Be prepared to work but definitely manageable. So glad I took his class!!

Bert could not have been a better choice for 105a. His tests were pretty easy last sem to accommodate online learning, repeated info as many times as you needed if it did not make sense, and posted all the practice problems(textbook and test) that you need to get an A. Something as boring as chem was lowkey interesting w him. Def recommend

The class was pretty poor when it came to organization of lab+quiz dates/formats etc. But Bertolini is a really nice and understanding guy and he's accessible outside of class with office hours throughout the week. He makes his lectures entertaining and was pretty generous with grading. Got an 89.48 but gave me an A which is very nice of him!

Professor Bertolini is great if you want to take an interesting GE class. There are many case studies included, with a pretty light homework load (one lab a week). The test questions are pretty vague - you cant really study for tests online because they are open book. Overall, a good professor and class.

Very entertaining professor, the content of the lectures were boring but he made them fun to watch (not that I watched that many). Relatively easy weekly quizzes if you at least read the slides and take note. If you took AP Chem (and was decent at it) this class will be a breeze.

Take ochem with bert its lightwork.

My experience with Professor Bertolini was exceptional. Great professor and solid option for Chem105a. Highly recommend.

I took this spring 2021 where it was hybrid for a bit. For the hybrid part, lectures were on zoom and recorded. The in person ones were not. I stopped going to lectures like 3 weeks in(attendance is not mandatory), and got high B's on all of the 3 midterms. Don't let the 3 midterms scare you, this is literally the easiest class I took at USC.

Dr.B taught the material very clearly and told us what he wanted us to know before the exam. By far the best teacher to take ochem with.

Bertolini's exams were killer but he curves a lot. The class was pretty good and his knowledge of chemistry is really amazing. He explains concepts well. But, the tests were incredibly difficult. A lot of questions covered in class and a few weren't. The final was much easier though. Put work into the class for an A but it is easy to get a B or C.

Professor Bertolini is a good teacher, but an incredibly harsh grader. I got a 93.35% which is a A- in his eyes.

Dr. B was the ideal Gen Chem prof. His lectures were not boring, but he did make the content on the exams a bit challenging. He is willing to work with students though and uses a curve. I loved his lectures with engaging questions and little animations. Would definitely take him again for another chem class.

I am surprised by other people saying that bert is a tough grader! Organic Chemistry is indeed a tough class. I managed to get an A even though I got a B in Gen Chem II in Community College and a B+ in BISC-22! I took this class as a full-time job and went to all his office hours. His practice exams look really similar to his exams!

Professor Bertolini was a solid OCHEM professor in that he was kind towards us with grading policies. I mostly read out of the textbook for review and did the problems in there. There wasn't a clear final grade distribution, but his practice exams/study guides are helpful. Made a mistake with my grade but fixed it within 20 minutes.

Solid professor. Just get the textbook and you're fine.

I LOVED Prof Bertolini. He was kind and generous, and the class itself isn't bad at all. Just make sure to read the textbook on your own and review notes! His practice exams are also pretty useful, as his tests model the practice exams pretty well. Good luck!

could not have been a better choice for 105a. tests were pretty easy, repeated info as many times as you needed and posted all the practice problems(textbook and test) that you need to get an A. def recommend

Prof berto is awesome !! He didn't respond to emails at times but all good in the end. Lab was okay, just hope you get placed next to good people. Would take again

Bertolini is by far the best organic chemistry professor at USC. He clearly explained all the material during lecture and was also available for a lot of office hours. His tests are completely based on the lecture material, and he always gives a list of exactly what topics you will need to know for the exam.

Organic chemistry isn't easy, but Professor Bertolini's lectures were clear and succinct. Extra credit assignments, clearly laying out which topics his exam questions would cover, and allowing us to use a "cheat sheet" made it easier to get a good grade, while still making sure that we needed to know the fundamentals in order to succeed.

Chem105a is a drag but Bertolini helped greatly. Very accommodating and always willing to answer questions.

Best choice to fulfill science GE! Attendance is not mandatory and there's a lab due weekly, which is mainly just watching an episode of forensic files and answering questions. If you do go to lectures, however, it is super fun, and he fills up his slides with memes. An hour or two of studying before the tests (3 total) should get you an easy A.

Really cool professor, easy GE class. Topics can be a bit heavy so beware. Labs aren't as cool as you'd think, usually watching a forensic files video. Lectures are great and interesting. Extra credit participation points. multiple choice midterms (3, open note) and final. I still struggled with the tests, but they weren't too hard.

Very solid chem professor. Explains concepts well, accessible outside of class, and exams are open-note and fairly straightforward. The weekly labs and quizzes were a big pain though, and the lab manual we used was always confusing and covered topics we didn't learn in class, which made lab period drag.

Bertolini was effortlessly funny and it was a relatively easy and laid-back class. The workload is pretty light but the labs and tests were a little difficult and unclear. Lab section attendance was optional but definitely helped me understand the assignments.

Do the Pollev for extra credit!! it raised my grade so much and was able to get an A even with an average of B's on the exams. Lab attendance is optional, I rarely went but still figured them out. Lectures were clear and interesting plus we had class Fridays on Zoom. I would recommend this to anyone that needs a GE and is interested in forensics!

Don't take this if you're not in stem as a GE. Hilarious prof, he does demonstrations in class that are fun, but the class moves quick and assumes all students have a background in chem, so it's pretty difficult if you're not already in stem. Final graded on a curve, labs were mandatory.

Great for non-majors. Very funny professor. Class is true crime themed so if you're into that then you'll love it. Everything is on the slides; tests are open book. Tests are about 25-30 mcq. Warning: don't try and use your own intuition; go off whatever the slides say. Tests questions are made to make you think and are not always straightforward.

Really funny professor. Makes sure that you know what will be on the exams and what is expected from you. Overall, a very clear and funny professor who makes ochem as painless as possible.

dr. bertolini is the best chem teacher i've ever had. he is clear with what he expects on tests and he made learning chemistry painless honestly. super funny, caring, and overall rly enjoyed

Okay let me save you by telling you how to study for this class. Literally do all of his past exams, try to really understand each question. Go to SI sessions they HELP SO MUCH. Literally practice practice practice! Bertolini is really reasonable, he allows an index card for notes on exams. If exam average is low, he offers extra credit!

Lectures are interesting and sometimes there are cool demonstrations related to course content. The exams can be tough but as long as you pay attention in lecture and review the slides, you'll do fine. You don't have to attend labs, but they do help (very specific criteria). Overall this is a solid GE course to balance with other classes.

Pretty easy for a GE, tests are confusing but all open note/online. Grade: 8 labs, 3 tests, final. GO TO LAB - optional but if you go they check your answers and tell you how to get 100. Also go to lecture for the poll ev clicker questions (extra credit), they saved my grade at the end of the semester. Lectures were interesting and had fun demos

Bertolini made 105a really manageable and actually kinda fun. The tests aren't the worst. Just study a lil and you'll be fine.

Very informative and clear lectures that directly related to the content of the exam. During the lecture, offered extra credit points for interactive questions about the material being taught, which was helpful and motivated one to pay attention. Tests were very straightforward based on the lecture slides and textbook.

CHEM 105a with Bertolini is a super fair class. There are many opportunities for points (4 tests, a final, extra credit, lab), and he gives out A LOT of practice exams that are extremely helpful. SI is also super useful for this class. Just do your best to show up to lectures and stick with the material; you'll most likely get a high grade!

Lectures were interesting, and even did some demos in class. Tests were hard because the questions were vague and confusing, but they are open note. As long as you go to class to get the PollEv clicker extra credit and take good notes, it should be fine. Lab optional, but TAs helpful if you ask for help (only top 8 count). Definitely not an easy A.

Super interesting & fun class for sure, but it is not the easiest A. The midterms are open note but tough, but you can make up the grade by attending labs (get your work checked there) and the extra Poll Ev credit (go to lectures). Lecture slides are provided at the end of the chapter. Most labs are based on videos and readings. Highly recommend :)

Dr. Bertolini was one of the best professors I've had at USC. His exams are very straightfoward (tip: he releases his old exams to use to study; I only used these and got a good grade on the exams). He provides a ton of opportunities to boost your grade. Overall, a great 105A professor. Definitely recommend him if he is teaching this course again.

Took him off track in the spring of 2023, he was the best professor I have ever had, he has cool demonstrations, his tests are easy so long as you do all of the practice exams. Showing up to class and answering his clicker questions can give you extra-credit, which can boost your grade a fair bit; grading is generous you only need a 85 to get a A-

Now that I'm in ochem B I miss the days of bertolini. He is like one of the ONLY ochem professors that wants to do anything he can to make sure you pass. He gives you a cheat sheet notecard to help on exams, he gives all past exams to study with, and has so many useful resources. Genuinely take him if you can.

It's a good class to get your GE credit out of the way because it's interesting. The labs are simple and fun. However, the midterms are quite hard and don't make a lot of sense.

Took this for a GE, labs weren't fun due to the TA but all of his tests were online and his lectures were entertaining because he has a lot of fun pictures, anecdotes, and relates chem to the real world. I hate chem but the class wasn't too hard.

Thomas Bertolini is an interesting professor that clearly has a love for teaching chemistry. His lectures were engaging and funny and I learned a lot in his class. But I wouldn't recommend this class to someone who knows they are not good with chemistry or hasn't taken a chem class before. Overall easyish graded and all slides are posted.

I love Bertolini!! Chem is hard and that's not his fault, but he does a good job of teaching. Lots of extra credit points if you attend class and he really cares about his students.

the homie. heard everyone suffering in Moon's class and he's definitely a better test maker. also he's hilarious, even in exams (you'll see what I mean). only downside is class is graded off purely webquizzes and exams, so you can't troll those things often. he does give a lot of extra credit w his clicker questions though.

Professor Bertolini is probably one of the best for chem 105A. His exams are very manageable. Web quizzes were confusing because there's no due date, just due the Friday of the week that the chapter ended during lecture. Very easy to miss and I missed a few. A good professor overall though. Office hours are very helpful.

He's a very good and clear lecturer - his content aligns really well with the textbook but that being said you only have to know what he covers in lecture for the exams. I'm a little butthurt that he didn't give us any insight on the final exam and then everyone found out it was a 75-question final the minute we opened that test booklet tho.

good teacher, provides previous exams, extra credit for just for showing up at lectures, generous curve, final was kind of painful. only complaint is that (despite him denying it) some of the midterm questions this semester were kind of "gotcha" based but this is just a nitpick. you will have to work for a decent grade

Dr. Bertolini is a very good and funny professor and lecturer. The curve was generous, and the extra credit he gave for showing up to the lecture was beneficial. Tests were just really difficult, especially the final. The key to a good grade is to self-study a lot.

Solid professor and tests are not hard if you study everything on his slides. In-class lectures are a bit hard to follow so be ready to self-learn. Attend class so you can get extra credit from his clicker questions, they boost your grade quite a bit.

Dr. B is a great professor for 105B. The only downside is that he doesn't do a lot of practice problems in lecture. Make sure to do clicker questions. He has office hours every day so he is very accessible. His exams were nice, too bad he didn't write most of the tests for the course and defaulted to the other prof. Very nice and likeable guy

I was very nervous for OChem, but Dr. Bertolini made the class manageable, even though the material was difficult. Engaging lectures with "clicker questions" for extra credit and pre-lecture quizzes. Provides past exams which are very similar to real exams. Go to SI and discussion, do the practice exams and textbook problems, and you'll be fine!

Orgo is hard in general, but Bertolini is one of the best professors at USC to take the class with. Do all the practice exams he posted and go to SI then you'll be fine. Attendance isn't mandatory, but there are couple clicker questions during lectures. Those clicker points can boost the grade at the end.

He's really easygoing and funny! He genuinely cares about his students -- he gives extra credit/curve lenience when necessary. The tests aren't too hard, but occasionally, they were only MCQs, which is annoying considering 7-point questions became all-or-nothing. He gives extra credit for clicker questions in class -- go to lecture (I should've)

Great great great professor! The toughest exams were the ones made by Prof Moon but those made by Bertolini weren't that bad. Don't make the same mistake I did and DO THE CLICKER QUESTIONS! They add so many points.

Fair exams (averages were 60-65 but that's normal for chem) and decent lectures. He's understanding and the only bad part of his class was it was at 9am so I rarely went. I personally dislike chemistry but he made it bearable.

Ochem is hard no matter what, but Bert made it enjoyable. Go to office hours, review his slides, and do the practice exams! He's pretty funny too.

Lectures were not mandatory at all, but he gives questions for EC which is easy to accumulate if you show up. I liked him a lot and although he can be boring, he is pretty witty and can be funny at times. The lab is what makes chem so bad, so take it out on Skibo not Bertolini. Pretty cool dude that had interesting demonstrates too.

Professor Bertolini makes chem bearable with his humor and clear lectures. Though the exams are challenging, the generous curve and extra credit for attendance help. Unstuck study AI was crucial for studying the material efficiently.

Interesting lectures, open note tests, extra credit for attending classes. Really really made the lectures enjoyable, labs are a bit annoying but they don't seem to be managed by him.

He is very sassy and stubborn; however, if you attend class, he makes the content very digestible. Clicker questions, answered correctly, are used as extra credit points. It is very easy to succeed in this course, although it was made more difficult when the exams went from online to in person (open note), all because one person cheated.

took in spring 2024! go to lecture!!! extra credit from clicker questions was what bumped me up to a B+! experienced the horrors bc i didn't take AP chem but i'm glad bertolini was my lecturer. only downside is bertolini usually taught bare min amt of material (which i like) but sometimes moon (the opposite) made the midterm for both classes...

Man actually tries to save my grades. PLQ and Webquizzes could be a bit annoying (always forgot about them), but put them in calendar and they are easy credits. Clicker questions are easy extra credits that pumps me up to A. MTs are quite easy as long as you study through the lecture slides seriously. Lab is a problem but thats on Skibo.

easiest GE-E. exams all online and remote. 3 midterms, 10? labs total (w/lowest being dropped). Labs are super easy and attendance isn't mandatory for lecture. Bertolini does a few interesting experiments in class, but for the most part, it's pretty dry lectures. The content could be more interesting from a different prof, but it's an easy A.

SI saves your life by giving exam review that tell which concepts will be on the test, otherwise his lectures cover a lot of stuff that isn't always on the test, gives extra credit questions by attending class, exams are all fill in which was new this year but it gives you good curve and options for partial credit on exams. lecture isn't necessary

Very funny prof who makes lectures really fun and interesting. A decent amount of homework but nothing too hard. Lots of opportunity for extra credit and overall a pretty good professor, especially for chemistry.

Very fair professor. Bertolini explains everything simply and clearly, making chemistry digestible even for a beginner. His class is entirely lectures (no exam reviews, nothing). Clear grading criteria, past exams published in advance. Make sure to keep up with the homework. Offers a very generous curve. If you put in the work, you will do well.

Fake reviews lmao, the PollEV was 75-100% people correct the whole semester (plus he gives extra credit). The recommended textbook questions are helpful. Partial credit was ALWAYS given on the midterms and if not just submit a regrade request (I got like 7-8 points back consistently). The final wasn't even written by him (WHICH HE SAID IN AN EMAIL)

Overall, he is great and nice. He gave us extra credit for clicker questions, so you have to go to the lecture to get these points.

his tests are pretty difficult but his curves are generous. go to all the lectures because the clicker questions add up as extra credit and can be really helpful! not too much work outside of class.

Took this for a GE. Exams are ridiculous and he doesn't release answers but the class itself was just lecture. All exams were online and remote. This was the prof that gave everyone 100 for technical difficulties though so can't be mad

he is honestly such a good and funny professor. a lot of ppl blame the prof in a class that is already difficult but if you put in the work and study, you will be fine! the first half of the class is mostly ap chem review, and i didn't think the tests were too hard. go to lectures to get the extra credit clicker questions

He is the boy, hella clicker questions

I personally had a great experience with Prof. Bertolini. I took 105A and 105B both with him. There were so many clicker questions throughout the semester that gave you extra points at the end, but also kept you engaged in class all the time. For exams, practice problems are enough. Overall, the grading was fair.

stopped attending lecture a quarter of the semester in. No studying is required I got 100 on the final easiest premed class ever

Boring lectures but definitely go to class because he always has a ton of extra credit clicker points that add up over the semester. Exams aren't difficult if you do his recommended openstax practice problems and go to SI sessions. He's a good lecturer and has his funny/engaging moments.

Dr Bertolini was a funny and passionate teacher. His lectures are entertaining and he keeps us active with extra credit questions throughout the lecture. Homework can take a while (on Aleks) but it works pretty well. His SI leader Micheal Che was also very organized and helpful!

he makes chemistry as easy as possible for ENST students. exams are open book, online, and based on the worksheets and lectures he posts. i showed up to class less than 1/2 of the time and did well