Not a bad teacher. He can be a little unclear, but it's always to the student to get clarification. He's not the BEST ochem teacher, but he's certainly helpful if you try. Ochem is going to be a hard class no matter who you take it with. Expect to put in a lot of work.

I think he is a great teacher, will teach you so you pass the acs exit exam with flying colors, tests are hard, but if you need help he is there.

Great professor. The subject matter is difficult as it is, but that's not the professor's fault. If you go to a UC, you won't find many professors like this one so appreciate the chance to learn this from him.

He is a bit unclear and also very hard, so study hard. Always remember, resonance and inductive effects. Dr. Alston is very awesome and very personal with his students nonetheless. A good professor as well as a good friend.

Very nice and considerate professor. O-Chem is going to be hard wherever you take it, and I guarantee you won't learn as much anywhere else.

He gives you 3 hours for exams, so you have plenty of time to check for errors and look over your exam before you hand it in. Ochem isn't easy no matter where you take it. What makes it easy if you have a knowledgeable, caring, and patient professor like Dr. Alston.

Very caring and understanding professor. Probably one of the best at Saddleback. I've taken courses at UCI and no professor even measures up to Dr. Alston's ability to teach. You'll learn so much in this class, but you must put in the effort because it's not easy.

He's an ok teacher, not as good as Mclendon is. He tried very hard in 12A but when I was in his 12B we got screwed because of his kid. He was more agitated and seemed really tired. I dont think he liked our class too much. Very interesting to talk too, taught me some Bio and Biochem. Tests are easy just gotta study more than an hour for them ;)

The reality of the situation is wherever you take this class it will be challenging. Dr. Alston provides a lot of help for his students. But even though that's the case you do have to put in a great deal of time for this class. It is very possible to do well in this class. Understand one thing,it's not Chem 1A/1B so dont expect it to be easy.

Great professor! Knows a lot and you will learn a lot. Just keep up with the reading and study the reactions on the notes and you'll be fine. People think this class is hard, but it's only because they don't put in an honest effort.

alston is a great professor with a sense of humor. o-chem is pretty hard, but he is always willing to help you. test are the reactions from the notes.

The class is hard by itself. But I recommend to take it with him 'cause you won't find a teacher as helpful as him in a 4-year school. You may feel a little overwhelmed on the first semester, but it gets better and suprisingly interesting, believe me! Don't drop this class and don't you dare to take it at IVC, or the MCAT will be impossible!

He's a really nice and understanding professor! You just have to try b/c it's already a hard subject!

Best teacher I've ever had. O CHEM is a filter course, its supposed to be hard, but there is no one I would rather have taught it to me. This teacher was not only a teacher and mentor, but also a friend. Be prepared to work hard, be prepared to do things you didn't think you ever could. Be prepared to grow into another person. A Lifetime Experience

The BEST professor at Saddleback! He is very passionate, friendly and helpful. He cares about you to learn and understand the materials. Quizes and tests are not easy but he curves. Study notes and read books for better understaning..then you'll be fine.

university prof's dont even compare. he is passionate about teaching and his students. he is hard! but you acutally learn organic chemistry.

Don't listen to the complainers. Chem is hard, duh!!! First impressions of him has he was boring, but by the end of the semester I was good for the final. His tests and quizes are exactly like whats in the lecture so pay attention in class! They arent too easy, but they arent rediculous either. He is willing to help and knows his stuff!

Organic chemistry is hard!! This professor know his stuff. If you want to learn organic chemistry take him. He is very helpful and his tests are straight out of lecture.

1st off id like to say anybody using this website is looking for an easy A. he's not an easy A but he will teach you Ochem. prepare by reading the book and review the notes and you should do fine, his lecture notes are intense but you end up with a great understanding of the subject. i recommend him to anybody who is trying to learn chem

This class is not memorization. It is strictly knowing how the mechanisms work. If you try to memorize the reactions you will fail, because the exam reactions are totally different than the lecture notes he tells you to study. Don't make the mistake I did by trying to memorize how the reactions worked; instead learn them. I think Ill try IVC nowlol

If you want to learn the fundamentals of chemistry, take Dr Alston. Tests are very hard, so a lot of studying is required. The key to getting a good grade in his class is to ask A LOT of questions if you do not understand something.

Great professor. Very clear, and gives you many practice problems to work with. He is very approachable, and makes an effort to really get you to understand the material. Tests are fair, totally doable. He actually teaches beyond what is required to know for this class, which really helps in Gen Chem!

I've took dr.alwston for first seemester of organic chemistry and i hated it. First of all, he doesn't review anything from g'chem and start by going straight to stuff in O'chem. His lecture doesn't make any sense at all. The test are incredibly hard. pretty much everything is on you, you have to read book and teach yourself how to learn :(

don't listen to people saying he's not an easy professor the class is one of the hardest classes in Saddleback but he's actually pretty helpful. His class is probably the closest thing you can find to a UC class. You have to work hard but he's greaet

Dr. Alston is a great teacher! His class isn't "easy," but it will definitely set you up for success in future chemistry classes. He explains things really well and is very helpful when you don't understand something. Tests are tough but straight-forward and graded fairly. I learned a lot and would definitely take him again!

Professor Alston was a great professor if you speak with him one on one. His lecturing style is extremely confusing. I took his day class, yet I ended up constantly going to his night class to receive help. Having said that, his class structure definitely prepared me for UCs, so I still recommend him. AVOID having busy schedules for his classes.

He was my best professor since I entered college. It is really easy to approach him on campus and he will be really helpful. I have two friendly recommendations: 1 . show up on his lectures and take notes (it seems that he does not care about it but he does). 2 . Go to his office hours and ask him for help.

VERY Difficult class. If you are a chemistry major or want to understand organic chemistry to the best of your ability this is the teacher to take for organic chemistry. Dr. Alston will prepare your the best a professor can prepare your for the ACS exam, that is required to transfer your credits to some UC campuses.

I got an A both semesters of Ochem no joke. It was one of the hardest classes I have taken but its possible. He adds 30% to your test and quiz score and drops lowest ones. Don't be scared its not as bad as people say it is. Tips for getting an "A" in class watch youtube videos of reactions, and study primarily his lecture notes. He is also friendly

Great teacher who makes you work hard

If you wanna learn not only organic chemistry but how to survive competitively at the university level, take Alston. He's tough and teaches at the level he wants you to achieve. With consistent work and effort, you can get an A. Be prepared to put in the work, but the rewards far outweigh the struggle. A valuable professor - take him.

Listen here. I took Alston in 2008. His class is very demanding and rewarding. The material is difficult. I received A's in both classes, and a 92 ACS score. I transferred to UCLA. Classes there are SO much more difficult. I am so LUCKY I took Alston and other difficult professors, because those are the classes that really counted when I went to UC

This class designed for people who they are really dedicated and have plan to take MCAT or follow chemistry major later in university. If you think you can take him without no work, don't take him. He has the PHD in the chemistry and probably the most knowledgeable person in California in the field of organic chemistry. so take hime will helps alot

Great teacher who makes you work for it but you will learn a lot in the process

Thanks to Dr. Alston, I feel prepared transferring in to a UC. He's the best professor I've taken in my life. This class isn't as difficult as people say it is. Yes, you have to work hard, but Dr. Alston does a great job making ochem easier to understand. He's a generous grader and will always be there for you if you're struggling with school/life

Very difficult class but so worth it! Dr. Alston is a great teacher and the class is interesting and challenging. He certainly won't give you any watered down material so its great preparation for upper division courses and the ACS. Tests are tough but he curves generously so it's definitely possible to do well in the class. Highly recommend!

Not the best at teaching the material, but he is very knowledgable and will help as much as you need. His class is much more in depth than other professors', but his 30% curve makes an A do-able. You will need to study more than any class you've ever taken. Don't spend too much time on the book, you're better off memorizing the lecture material.

He may not be the best teacher but he's a carrying person and wants you to succeed, if you want an A go to his office hours or constantly do major products and mechanisms at home. Only reason I took him both semesters is because of that 30% curve on the quizzes and exams. Very lenient on labs but his exams are lowkey crazy.

Dr Alstons class will make you work hard for your grade but he prepares us for our future classes.

if you want to transfer to a UC with no issue adjusting to the difficulty level there take him for ochem. His tests are difficult and you have to study ALOT but theres a 30% curve on tests and quizzes so an A is very do-able He's pretty funny and cares for his students. His class gave me the work ethic to succeed at a UC so i strongly recommend him

You will not find a more knowledgeable OChem Prof in IVC or Saddleback. I struggled in his class and I wish I took him for 12A as my 12A Prof left much to be desired. He has very intensive lectures that are mostly example problems and his tests are based directly on it. Take him if you want a deep understanding of OChem and are willing to work.

He is the best professor that I have had. He is the smartest and kindest professor that you can see. His class is not easy but If you participate to his lectures and study hardyou will get A.

As what the professor says, "treat the class like its a math class". Since the class requires you to know so many reactions and mechanisms, it is beneficial to keep writing these down until you know them from the back of your head. He will integrate concepts on the tests and quizzes so make sure to understand them too. Overall, a good professor.

Dr. Alston is a very good teacher who goes beyond to explain and help

This is a very difficult class, professor Alston assaults you with lecture notes and structures on the board and expects you to learn quick. Exams and quizzes get 30% curves, but they cover every possible reaction/type of material covered so you need to master the concepts. You will learn a lot from this class if you apply yourself.

Put in work outside of class and get ready for long lectures. Great professor with a 30% curve on tests and quizzes (not the final). Provides extensive test prep during class and he is super lenient on lab grading.

Very good professor. He is very helpful and is always ready to help. I recommend him.

W professor, he's a real nice guy. his lectures and tests are at a graduate level but he gives an automatic 30% curve on tests/hard quizzes so that saves ppl. you HAVE to pay attention to his lectures and take pictures of the maj prods on the board or youll fail. mechs on tests are from classworks. he gives W life advice and has given me guidance

The class is very difficult, no denying that, but it can be a rewarding challenge if lots of time is put in outside of class, lots. Exams are tough and require an in depth understanding of the mechanisms and reagents. Dr. Alston is receptive to questions and good at one-on-one explanations, although lecture material could be formatted better.

Make sure that you pay attention in class because he won't clarify what's on the exam as his online notes has extra material that he doesn't cover in the course. Grades labs easy, but goes insanely hard on the classwork, midterms and finals. Other section has more time to study........ Also, what chemistry course has an essay in it??

Nice guy. Easy course if you study.

Don't fear Alston! Show up to every office hours, tons of practice problems, checks hw, ask him about exam (be annoying). Get a study group. Exams 30% curve, final none. Exams similar to office hours problems and hw. Labs: easy, essay: free points, textbook: useless. Teaching style hard to get used to, tip: weed out important points & take pics.

I really liked this class and by far was one of th ebest chem classes ive taken!He is a really knowledgable person and is super helpful when you ask him questions, kind and understanding.he made ochem interesting and you learn a lot in this class.He gives 30%curves and if you have a clear studying schedule you can get A and better!I def recommend!!

Honestly, he is really sweet and nice, but he is a professor who has easier labs and a lot harder exams. All exams except for final and quizzes have a 30% curve; you get to drop one quiz, one exam, and one lab. Buckle up and do not have a slow start because he treats the class and the rigor of it as if you are at an Ivy League. GO TO OFFICE HOURS!!

this my goat, he's okay at teaching but really responsive and helpful when you ask. very much cares about you succeeding, his drop policy (1 hw, quiz, exam, & lab) is very forgiving but thats why he grades tough (expect no partial credit). you MUST go to office hours to succeed, and study multiple days in advance. STUDY MECHANISMS, memorizing dont

HE IS THE BEST!

Took him for both semesters of OChem. I would say his classes are very engaging, but you really need to find material on your own outside of the class, as the only stuff on Canvas is long PDFs, half of which is material not even covered in the class and not on exams. Study for quizzes 3+ days in advance and exams 1 week+, trust me. Funny guy!

Alston is the GOAT of Ochem, he is so kind. if you didn't understand the material in the class, ask him, he will explain very well and ensure you get it. Office hours are really helpful and save you! I would definitely recommend him.

A very approachable and very kind professor. He makes time for his students. He grades pretty hard but makes up for it in a curve. Highly recommend Dr. Alston!

Very compassionate grader. Nice curve. Makes some grading mistakes here and there but really easy to fix if you just point them out to him. Super nice guy. EXTREMELY knowledgable in ochem. I took his ochem 12a in spring 25 and am actually waiting for spring 26 to take ochem 12b just because he isnt teaching this fall. So yeah, hes amazing!!!!!

Dr Alston is a great professor who knows a lot about o chem. His lectures are not always amazing, but his office hours make up for them because he is good at explaining topics if you ask specifically. He gives a nice curve on every test. There is a lot of memorization in this class, so it can be time consuming at times.