3.3
Quality3.7
Difficulty59%
Would Retake90
Reviews59%
Would Retake
90
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
28
4
20
3
16
2
7
1
19
What Students Say
“There is really no way to describe how awful this man is”
CHEM353 - 1.0 rating“Bronson is horrible and has put together probably the worst class at BYU”
CHEM353 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Attendance Mandatory
96%
Textbook Required
0%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.41 avg changeRatings by Course
OCHEM353
4.0
(2)CHEM354
4.0
(8)CHEM285
4.0
(32)CHEM353
2.8
(48)Difficulty by Course
OCHEM353
4.5
CHEM285
3.8
CHEM353
3.8
CHEM354
3.1
Reviews (90)
The redesigned labs are pretty good. They teach you a lot and he's done his best to cut down on frustrating busy work. Fortunately they are graded on your write-up quality, and not percent yields. Tests, however, are really challenging. You've got to become an NMR master. A's on most of the labs + class average on exams = B- in class.
You don't have a choice for who to take for O chem lab, but Dr. Bronson is great! I had a lot of fun doing the labs. Much, much better than Chem 107! Tests are tough, but if you make sure to know everything about the labs, including post lab questions, you can do well. Good class.
This class was hard, but Dr. Bronson is the most approachable teacher I've ever had. Go talk to him for help! He likes helping. The labs are fairly ace-able but the exams are hard; it is the exams that Dr. Bronson uses to produce his grade distributions. Study your butt off for them.
Dr. Bronson is a great teacher, very approachable, knows his stuff so well, and wants you to learn, work hard and succeed. The tests are hard but the labs are easy and buffer your grade a lot. You'll probably like this lab more than most of the other ridiculous labs you have to take here.
Bronson is the man! I loved this class, it was way better than 107. Tests are pretty hard, as others have mentioned. Dr. Bronson is very choosy about his TAs, so you get really good ones. He also circulates though the labs and helps you if you need it. He's very knowledgeable, wants his students to succeed. Get in one of his sections if possible!
The hardest 2 credit class I have ever taken. Required a ton of outside classwork and the exams took several hours each. That being said, the TA's were extremely helpful and Dr. Bronson was always willing to help students. Just be prepared to put a lot of time into this class.
Bronson is a great professor. I dreaded taking this class, but actually really enjoyed it. Unlike chem 107, you usually are not rushed for time. And, even tho there is a lot of work, you do learn a lot. Bronson also teaches you the way it is in the real world which is nice. The TA's were also great which made the lab enjoyable. Study hard for tests
Really, really good professor. Bronson is very approachable and willing to help and he knows what's going on. Wanders the labs helping you troubleshoot and gets great TAs (easily the best I've had). I loved 353, it was so much more fun than Chem 107.
Hardest 2 credits ever. The tests are ridiculously hard and there's no curve. Become really good friends with the TAs and study your brains out for the tests. Signed - a former straight A student who got below a 60% on the final.
It's hard to figure out what he's asking for in the labs. Tests are ridiculous and not an accurate reflection of what a student learned in class. He sits in the back of the lab with his arms folded waiting for someone to approach him rather than going out and trying to help. Not approachable in my opinion.
4 test drop you lowest onenot too hard but study! and then the final is some random standardized test that is one jacked up test well its not that hard but you have like 110 minutes to answer like 120+ Q the class is curved but you have to be on of the smartest or hardest working kids in class to get an A
Doesn't post answer key for midterm, he has a stupid system where you look at it during one period and then your test is shredded. This means you can't learn from your mistakes and make the same ones on the final. The tests don't line up with class material. Even other professors say that the test material is useless.
Professor Bronson was great. It is a very difficult class just due to its nature, but if you're willing to study and get help when you need it, you will do fine. One of the best things about taking it from Professor Bronson was that he helped our class bond and it felt like we had a mutual friendship between each other and with him.
The way he runs the exams are bad. He makes it so essentially you cant study what you did wrong, just so that he can reuse the exact same exam year after year. Not a good way to learn.
Dr Bronson is a good teacher. This material is just really difficult to grasp. There are 4 hard midterms and a very hard standardized final. He will help if you need it. Reading and attending lecture are crucial.
Dr. Bronson cares a lot about O-Chem, and he's obviously spent a lot of time preparing the labs for this class. His voice can be sleep-inducing at times, but he knows what he's talking about and his input is interesting and relevant.
Dr. Bronson is a good guy overall, but his test are not fun! I got a 99% in chem352, but his test were much harder than any other ochem test I have ever taken, but the good news is you only need to average 84% on the tests to get an A so it is doable, but he will make you work for it. The lab portion is super easy so the class is not too bad!
Dr. Bronson is great for Ochem lab. His tests are super difficult though. Go to as many TA reviews as your possibly can! You can never study too much for his tests. The lab is super fun though once you get the hang of it and Bronson is the chillest professor on campus. He's hilarious too and not afraid to speak his mind.
I feel that a lot of the poor ratings for Bronson are fueled by poor students... Generalization? Maybe. But in all honesty Bronson rocks. This class is tough, but Professor B makes it a little less painful. He is very qualified in all aspects, level headed about expectations, and overall the best professor to take this class from at BYU. Promise.
Bronson is great; super friendly and funny and definitely knows his stuff. The class, however, was pretty rough. I'm used to getting As on most of my tests, but I got Bs and even a C on his tests. I probably would have done better if I had done the reading before class rather than after, so do that! Group project & participation are way easy.
Chem 285 in general is just a hard class. Dr. Bronson understands the material, but his lectures are a little dry sometimes. He's pretty funny, but his lectures are still boring. The tests killed everyone's grade (watch out for the first test especially) but THANK GOODNESS for the curve! He usually curves grades 5-6% at the end of the semester.
He comes across pretty intimidating at first, but he's actually hilarious and is very helpful/legitimately understanding if you're having a tough semester. Also the clearest ochem professor I've had so far. Labs are a great experience and almost impossible to fail. Tests are tough but he prepares you well and curves fairly if necessary.
This class is hard but not as hard as people make it seem. i got an A- in both my ochems but finished with an A here. this class prepares you extremely well for the mcat, something i did not expect while taking it, so don't put it off. its hard but i believe it pays its dividends. labs are easy and distribution is created by the two tests
Just learn NMR well and you'll get an A. Lab part is easy - you're not graded on yield and TAs will basically give you post-lab questions.
Dr. Bronson is a very engaging professor and his lectures are very helpful to listen to before the lab is done.
I was SUPER nervous to take this class and I also had no idea to take this class from although I definitely chose the right teacher! He is always there to help and the TA is awesome and helped a TON! Super easy group project and quizzes if you study. VERY tough class but if you study and stay on top of it you will do great! Read the textbook!!!
Love that he always posted powerpoints. Homework not required. Grades come from few, DIFFICULT tests that sometimes include minute details from pp slides. This semester he offered to replace midterm average with final exam score. Group project and attendance make for some easy but small points. Funny guy. HARD class because of memorization.
Dr. Bronson was a great professor for this lab class. The spectroscopy for this lab is the only bad part, but you'll get pretty good at it by the end. The labs are fun and you can get 100% on them if you check your answers with the TAs, which can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your personality. This was a fun class overall.
Dr. Bronson is great. This is a lab so most of the interaction is with the TAs. Grade is based solely on lab reports and exams, a midterm and a final. Labs are fun, clear, and can be easy if you're prepared for them. Exams are killer. TAs are lifesavers for lab reports and exam prep. Ochem is tough, it is what it is.
Dr. Bronson is horrible and has put together probably the worst class at BYU. He is a stickler for points on lab reports. Tests have almost nothing to do with what you learn and they are the hardest tests youll ever take at BYU. They take about 4 or 5 hours to complete and are so much harder than would seem a fair assessment of your knowledge.
This a 2 credit class. But that fact has slipped out of the empty mind of this awful instructor. To be fair, the hotness question I couldn't answer it because YOU WILL NEVER SEE HIM. He does not show up classes, the tests do not reflect anything gone over in class. Dr. Bronson is horrible, there is no question about it.
There is really no way to describe how awful this man is. The problem is, he is the only real option BYU students have for their ochem lab credit. So we are all screwed, and with his tenure, he isn't going anywhere. Hopefully, he grows a soul and changes. Maybe he will realize that his job is to be helpful, but I am not counting on it.
Awful, awful, awful class. Everything about this class is engineered to waste time: get ready to spend 1-2 hours a week copying handouts into your lab notebook, post-lab questions are designed to make you spend hours with the TA, and this doesn't even include test time. Clearly Dr. B didn't notice this is a 2 credit class. Worst experience at BYU.
This class was really hard because of the material but Prof. Bronson isn't the best lecturer. His lectures are boring and long and I didn't understand much after I left the classroom. There were four midterms and a standardized final in addition to a quiz each week over the chapters we read.
Professor Bronson was an alright professor, but honestly the TAs were more helpful to me. He really worked with me when I went in for office hours and he'll work around special circumstances awesomely. The tests count for 50% of the grade, plus the final which counts for 20%. Lots of tests so beware.
I personally loved Dr. Bronson. It was a class jam-packed with information and the exams were EXTREMELY hard, but if you work for it, you'll get a good grade. He's really funny and keeps your attention exceptionally well during class. He taught the concepts clearly and answered questions to the best of his ability. 10/10, would take again.
You will have to study a LOT. Took as much study / prep time as Chem 352. Pre lab takes about an hour, with post lab taking about an hour to an hour and a half. Tests were brutal. There are a few tremendously difficult HMNR questions (very point heavy too) on the tests that will wreck your souls. You've been warned.
Overall, pretty lame. Too much work for only a 2-credit lab and the tests were unnecessarily difficult. My rating is for the class itself as you will never actually see or hear from the professor. Unfortunately you have to take the class if you are pre-med/pre-dent etc., so just get it over with.
He is awesome! He made it really easy to understand topics with his lectures and I loved his lecture style. As long as you do the reading and assignments outside of class before lecture and come with questions you will understand everything.
Terrible class. The friends I made during the course made it much more tolerable. Working in a group was the only way I survived. Everybody hates this class. Anyone that tells you it's not that bad is just trying to act cool and smart. Take it only if you absolutely have to. Tests are ridiculous, long, and beyond the scope of the class. Good luck.
I took ochem lab while pregnant and I felt Dr. Bronson was a little sexist towards me. He asked to meet with me and then proceeded to tell me I really should think hard about taking this class because it could affect my baby. I told him I was graduating this semester and he kept pressuring me to drop the class.
Best choice for Chem 285! Weekly quiz that is almost exactly like the homework problems in the text book so it's easy to do well on the quizzes. We had 4 midterms and the final was a national standardized chem test that was WAY easier than any of the midterms. If we did better on the final it would replace the average of our midterm scores.
Poorly designed lab. The "lab book" was just empty graph paper, and for the pre-lab assignments you have to rewrite the entire procedure by hand which wasn't toooo time consuming, but it was not an effective way to prepare for the lab or the tests. Class average on the final was a 73 (and took 3-5 hours). Tests barely reflected what we learned.
He's a very different kind of guy, and I liked him towards the end. A lot depends on your TA's - mine were awesome and helpful. The class can be a LOT of work at times, but I did learn a lot, especially about spectra. Study for the tests well, go to a review, and try to understand what is going on in the labs and you should be ok.
Really sucks that you have to take this class if you are pre med. Bronson doesn't teach, he's non existent. All you have are the TA's. Tests are unbelievably hard for a 4 credit class let alone 2. Tests do not reflect what you learn. Such a joke. BYU needs to re-evaluate this course.
switching to online classes you would expect professors to consider the students and how it would effect them. rather todd put more demands on his students and counters by saying its just as hard right now for me as it is for you and the withdraw deadline is today, so if you elect to stay you consent to these changes.. give us a break todd
his changes for online curriculum were a joke. went back on his word in a few different ways. don't understand why he has to lie and change the syllabus with one month left of classes
Class is badly mis-managed. Poor teaching for exams. Exams difficult but doable. Did not get to review Midterm. Hard to learn what you don't know when he hides your own work from you! More of a focus on keeping scores low rather than teaching. Huge disconnect between Bronson and students. Dr. Bronson lets his student instructors be his shield.
a class full of busy work, tests that take 2x as long as a biochem exam. he makes students stick to syllabus but feels free to change anything that allows him to keep the gpa of the class where he needs it to appear like a "good" teacher... i guess??
This class is hard. I did find it more enjoyable than CHEM 107. The test avg was 70% and they were hard. I didn't really learn anything from this class. Unfortunately if you are premed you have to take this class and Bronson is the only prof. that teaches it. It's not as bad as I thought, just very time consuming and confusing class!
Very heavily relies on the textbook. If you do not read the text, or practice problem there is no chance to be successful. Simple teaching, and usually easy to follow if you keep up with class schedule. Very little goes into grades, so be conscious of every assignment. Tests generally go beyond homework and quizzes so know CONCEPTS BACK & FORTH.
This class is so hard! I was lucky enough to have Dr Bronson as my instructor. He is so fun, just talk about basketball and he'll love you! This was my most time consuming class this semester. Pray you get a good TA. The tests are very hard and very heavily weighted so prepare well. UNDERSTAND NMR! That is the real key. The labs are pretty fun.
Dr. Bronson gets a 1 because he is nonexistent in the class and doesn't seem to care at all about students. However, all the TA's are great, and the labs are interesting. Lots of busy work, and tests are unneccesarily hard for a 2 credit class. It's a tough class, but if you put in the time, an A is possible. Befriend your TA's and you'll be fine.
9 quizzes, 4 midterms, a final, and a participation section that's 10% of your grade (easy).If you get a better score on the final than the average of your 4 midterms, it will replace it. He was helpful and wants you to do well. Hard class, recommend him over the others. If you put in meaningful time and work, you will be able to get a good grade.
First of all NO ONE KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING IN THIS CLASS. Unfortunately if you need this class for a prereq then get ready for such a time consuming class with an extremely difficult midterm and thankfully no final this semester. I really liked my TAs and the experiments but it was a lot of busy work all together. IDEK who Dr. Bronson is
I took this the coronavirus semester. The transition to online learning was so much easier. He literally cancelled the final (a relief bc the midterm was challenging!) and watching a video of the TA's doing a lab cut down on soooo much time each week that would normally be spent in lab which sometimes felt like busywork.
Horrible professor. Openly mocks students in private and in front of the entire class for asking questions. Tests look nothing like what is taught in class, "because then we'd all pass." Impossible to talk to without being belittled and treated like an idiot. Impossible amount of work to complete if you're taking ANY other classes. DO NOT TAKE HIM!
Dr. Bronson is soft-spoken and not always terribly clear, but he knows his stuff and helps us learn it too. Lab reports are quite difficult to earn full points on, and the TAs played a big part in helping me earn an A. He was very accommodating once classes transitioned to online because of COVID.
Never met Bronson once. The head TA for my section was very arrogant and spent more time on the phone in lab. The other TA was phenomenal though, so it really just depends on who you get. 3/5 because at least the material was very organized and easy to follow, otherwise I'd say 2/5. Got done with labs at least 1 hour early almost every day though
Dr. Bronson doesn't involve himself with this class at all. There is an enormous amount of work for a two-credit class: between lab prep, time in class, and post-lab reports, I probably spend ten hours a week on this class. Poorly structured, treat this like a three credit class.
I've never met the man - he doesn't teach any really relies on CHEM 352 to teach you everything, even if you haven't covered it in CHEM 352. Expect to spend 10 hours a week on this course, as its near impossible to complete post labs without getting answers from TAs. It should probably be a 3 or 4 credit class at minimum.
Like everyone else, I never met him. He makes himself totally inaccessible as he doesnt even have his email listed anywhere on learning suite or in the syllabus. I asked to makeup a couple points to maintain my grade due to extenuating circumstances and he sent me a rather unprofessional email response with weak arguments and misspelled my name.
If you are taking this class you have taken a few other lab classes. At this point, you should know you won't meet the lab professor. Only student instructors and TAs. This is normal. If you don't like your TAs go to someone else's office hours or walk across to the other lab. People on here seem bitter. Expect to spend 6 hours in lab, 10 outside.
OChem Lab is WAY better than Chem 107 and a lot more engaging. The labs aren't to bad and the TAs will walk you through EVERYTHING. You really have to study for the exams and KNOW your stuff, but Dr. Bronson is super fair if you talk to him and explain your reasoning. I love the lab videos that allow you to work out everything before class. Great!
This lab is run by TAs. Dr. Bronson replaced the lecture hour with a 20 min vid you were required to watch before coming to class so you won't ever see him in person. It's not a hard class, graded mostly on completeness of labs. There are 2 open note untimed tests worth about 30 percent of your grade. Overall a great class and lots of fun!
Lecture reinforces & enhances what u read. 4 tests 1 final. Tests are easy if u go to lecture. The more u understand previous chapters, the easier it will be to understand future ones. U can tell he cares about his students &loves what he teaches. 10% of grade is showing up & an EASY presentation. just put in the work, go to class, & you'll do fine
I never met the guy but he was nice enough to round my grade up 0.4% so I could get an A, which was nice. The experiments are really long and the nmr practice is tough but it gets so much easier as the semester goes on. There are also some stupidly hard questions on the tests, but if you go to the good ta's reviews, you'll do fine.
Bronson is funny and I laughed a lot in his class. It is heavy on the textbook reading but I guess it is technically optional. Weekly quizzes on Friday. Unit tests are hard but he weighs the class at the end so grades end up being much better. He totally prepared us for the final and you could tell he wanted every student to succeed and get an A.
DO NOT BE AFRAID TO TAKE HIS CLASSES! HE TALKS BIG FIRST DAY BUT HE IS A SWEETHEART (and his class is not as difficult as he says it is). Professor Bronson was amazing! He learned everyone's names in a matter of days and treated us like his friends. I recommend sitting in the front of the class consistently if you want to be extra BFFs with him.
Dr. Bronson uses slides in class that are accessible to all students. Homework is just the practice problems from the textbook and is it NOT required to do. That being said - there are weekly quizzes that are based on the readings and problems from the book. If you stay caught up with the textbook, you'll be fine!
Dr. Bronson was amazing!! The first day of class he tries to scare people off, but his class is not that bad! He is funny and willing to work with you when you need help. As long as you stay caught up with the readings and take notes, you shouldn't struggle too much!
It was difficult to sit through 2 hrs. of Dr. Bronson's lectures. You need to attend class, read the textbook, and study with the TAs to succeed. Most of my learning happened in TA reviews. Dr. Bronson is organized and reasonable. He might not be the most inspiring teacher but he gets the job done. This class is doable if you put in the work.
Dr. Savage is gone so this guy would be your next best bet. Definitely difficult class. Tests are 30 questions only so you gotta be careful. Quiz every week 10 pts. Final is standardized test and can replace your 4 tests average if you do good on it. TAs will help you succeed so go to them.
Bronson is the best chemistry professor you will ever have. His lectures were entertaining and you could tell he cared for his students. Grading is fair, he lays everything out at the beginning of the semester so you know what to expect. One group project but have fun with it. Final is standardized, his tests prepare you. Overall, funny professor.
The exams are dumb. So dumb. TAs are all you work with
Dr. Bronson is a great professor and if you do the work, you can succeed in his class. Lectures can be confusing and your grade heavily relies on your performance on his tests. The TAs are your best resource so USE THEM! Dr. Bronson wants all his students to do well and is willing to meet with you if needed.
Dr. Bronson is a quirky guy but I found him and his lectures entertaining. TAs were great and super accessible, their quiz and test reviews helped so much. Read the textbook and do your homework/practice problems!! Difficult class but doable and really rewarding.
There's definitely more work than there should be for a 2 credit class but the TAs will get you through. The lab is fun and it's very clear what is going to be on the test. It's a lot of work doing the pre-lab and the lab report, and especially HNMRS/CNMRs so plan for that.
You will never see him, the class is all TAs. Overall, not a hard class tbh, just time consuming for a 2 credit class, but thats not unique to this class. The prelab videos basically guide you every step. For exams, just go to TA reviews and you will be fine. Ask your TA literally everything and you should get an A.
This class was very difficult and would not recommend taking, have to retake this class for my major and very frustrated. Everything is based off of quizzes and exams so if you are not a good test taker, like myself, please don't take this professor. The lectures were 2 hours long and very exausting
Dr. Bronson is a pretty stellar professor. I'm not going to lie, this class is difficult, but he gives you the resources you need to succeed. I appreciate that he constructed the class in a way where we were responsible for our own education/learning. He's a little scary the first day, but once you get to know him, he's hilarious! Loved his class!
I liked his teaching style, though the 2hr schedule could be tough. I didn't read the book before lecture, only for exams, and did fine, but many will need to do both in order to succeed on the exams. He uses the standardized final, which is very simple and general, and has a merciful curve at the end. If you put in the work, you'll be fine.
I liked Dr. Bronson, but this class was HARD. The exams and quizzes were difficult. The final was timed which was hard for me. This class was interesting though; he does a good job of applying it to everyday life.
Easy A. You absolutely cannot miss a single lab though. Making them up is such an insane pain. And talk to the TAs as much as possible. Every lab should be a free 20/20, just talk to the TAs to make sure. The exams aren't particularly hard, but they're basically all your grade depends on. Know how to identify IR peaks and H NMRs for an easy A
His class is two hours, but it is totally worth it. Go to his office hours and review tests. Read the material before class so you can be ready to ask questions. He really cares about the students and takes the time to memorize names and faces. If you do everything he provides you with, you should be great.
Your TAs will be your best resources for this class. Very clear grading criteria. You don't interact with Dr. Bronson hardly at all, but he is a dawg! Cool guy. If you go to the TAs and exam reviews, this class is an easy A. DO NOT MISS ANY LABS THOUGH. This all being said, this class can be VERY time consuming, so just be aware of that.
You have to use the TAs to succeed in this course, and talk to other people to find out which TAs you should go with on day 1, it's an important decision. You may never interact with Dr. Bronson but he seems nice. Difficult and time consuming course, but it's doable!
Bronson is the BEST, he is so funny I genuinely loved him. He wants you to do well and will answer/explain any question clearly for you to understand. This class is hard but doable. The TAs help so much and their exam/quiz reviews will ensure you score well. 70% of your grade is 4 exams and the final, so make sure to study hard for those.
With this lab, you do not really get to know your professor. Overall, seems like a good dude; however, you will need to rely heavily on the TAs (going to test reviews highly important)
This class was so easy. It is a lab so obviously you rely on the TA's but Dr. Bronson walked around and knew us by name even though it was during spring term. For the midterm and final... go to the TA reviews!! They really help (;
Class Info
Attendance Mandatory
96%
Textbook Required
0%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.41 avg changeRatings by Course
OCHEM353
4.0
(2)CHEM354
4.0
(8)CHEM285
4.0
(32)CHEM353
2.8
(48)Difficulty by Course
OCHEM353
4.5
CHEM285
3.8
CHEM353
3.8
CHEM354
3.1