Which Organic Chemistry professor to take?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the decision of which Organic Chemistry professor to take for the upcoming semester, focusing on the implications for a chemical engineering major. Participants weigh the pros and cons of two professors based on teaching style, knowledge, scheduling, and personal experiences.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses concern about Professor 1's arrogance and the potential distractions from friends in the class, despite acknowledging his strong knowledge of the material.
  • Another participant suggests that Professor 2, while perceived as having less knowledge, might be a better fit due to a more supportive attitude and fewer distractions.
  • Some participants question the validity of claims regarding Professor 2's knowledge, arguing that an MS in Biochemistry should provide a solid foundation in Organic Chemistry.
  • Concerns are raised about Professor 2's teaching experience, with some participants stating that her lack of recent experience in Organic Chemistry could impact her effectiveness.
  • Several participants mention the importance of self-study regardless of the professor chosen, highlighting a lack of confidence in both professors' abilities to provide adequate support.
  • One participant notes the potential for recycled exam questions from Professor 2's previous classes, which could influence the decision-making process.
  • Another participant emphasizes the importance of learning the material rather than memorizing answers for exams, suggesting a focus on deeper understanding.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on which professor is preferable. Multiple competing views remain regarding the effectiveness and knowledge of both professors, as well as the importance of self-study in either case.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the teaching effectiveness of both professors, with some relying on anecdotal evidence from peers. There are also concerns about the impact of class size and scheduling on the learning experience.

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So I am in a predicament here and can't make up my mind for which Organic Chemistry professor to take next semester. I am a chemical engineering major, so I don't know how important Organic Chemistry will be for me. I already took professor 1 last semester and barely scratched out an A, but I don't know if I want to test the waters again because it was by the hair on my chin that I got the A. The cons that worry me most for professor 1 is the fact that all my friends are in the class and can distract me as well as his attitude and arrogance (It's hard to approach him for help without being made felt stupid), and the con for professor 2 is her lack of knowledge in the subject. Scheduling is also an issue, because professor 2 makes it so all my classes are on tuesday/thursday, which means I only have school twice a week. Professor 1 is monday/wednesday so I will have classes 4 days a week, but less hours on the 4 days. Ialso signed up for gym class so if I have school twice a week the other 3 days I can go and workout and shower then study for the rest of the day, but if I go with professor 1 it will be a little more hectic juggling studying with gym time (because I will have to do my workouts at night instead of early in the morning with the rest of the day to study).

Professor 1
Pros:
- Knows the material much better (has a PhD in Organic Chemistry)
- Grades labs fairly easy
- Has taught class 5+ years
- I more or less know how he tests since I took 1st semester
- Class starts at 9:30 am

Cons:
- Arrogant/Bad attitude
- Exams perceived as more difficult
- Friends are in the class (distractions)
- There is an exam every 2 weeks
- More homework
- Lab is first thing in the morning

Professor 2
Pros:
- Nice/Good attitude
- Tests perceived as being easier
- Friends are not in that class (no distractions)
- Less exams, more content/exam
- Less homework
- Lab is after lecture in the morning

Cons:
- Doesn't know the material as well (MS Biochemistry)
- Grades labs more difficulty
- this is 2nd year teaching the class
- Not exactly sure what the tests will look like (but I looked at 1st semester exams and they were easier than mine)
- class starts at 8 am
 
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go with prof 2 and become a self sufficient learner by filling in where you leaves off. You could also ask questions as an aid to get him to fill in the details and make him a better teacher.

I think you picked him already since you worried about prof 1 with distracting friends and distracting arrogance.
 
How do you know for certain that Professor 2 lacks knowledge?? I would expect an MS in biochemistry to know organic chemistry very well. Maybe not on a PhD level, but that's irrelevant for an intro class anyway.
 
It's her now 2nd time teaching the class, and I know people who have taken it with her and said she doesn't know what's she's doing. If you don't do organic chemistry for 20+ years after graduating, I suspect you wouldn't know it very well (she has been teaching general chemistry for her entire career and was just given responsibility to teach organic chemistry).
 
Woopydalan said:
It's her now 2nd time teaching the class, and I know people who have taken it with her and said she doesn't know what's she's doing. If you don't do organic chemistry for 20+ years after graduating, I suspect you wouldn't know it very well (she has been teaching general chemistry for her entire career and was just given responsibility to teach organic chemistry).

Hmmm, then I fear you're a bit on your own. Neither profs will be very helpful to you since they either don't know the material or will make you feel bad. I fear that you'll have to self-study most of the class. I think I would go for Professor 2, but it's just a gut feeling.
 
Yes, that is the situation in short. Self-study because one teacher can't help, and self study because the other will make you feel bad.
 
Professor 1! You want to be an apprentice of the best don't you?
And in my experience, professors are hard to talk to because the majority of kids ask obnoxious questions - they don't want to deal with it.

For the record, you will probably be on his good side if you are inquisitive and ask tough questions.
 
Bump...

I signed up for professor 1 because there was an open spot today (professor 2 has 6 open spots, so I can switch back anytime) but I put myself in this one because someone else might take the spot if I don't

Still would like to hear more opinions :)
 
  • #10
Take Prof 2 and sit in on prof 1?
 
  • #11
He doesn't take too kindly to that, one student tried and he didn't let them stay
 
  • #12
Do Prof 1. You will get a better grade for multiple reasons including the lack of friends as distractions.
 
  • #13
Woopydalan said:
He doesn't take too kindly to that, one student tried and he didn't let them stay
How small is the class? I have never had a professor who minded at all if a student sat in on a course. That's odd to me.
 
  • #14
It's only 25 people..also Jesse, it was prof 2 that has no friends
 
  • #15
Woopydalan said:
It's only 25 people..also Jesse, it was prof 2 that has no friends

Sorry I meant do Prof 2 not 1. My mistake.
 
  • #16
Go talk to them during their office hours.
 
  • #17
Something very important I forgot to mention: I have the tests/quizzes for prof 2 from last year, and I think some of the questions will definitely be recycled for this year
 
  • #18
Don't memorize answers to questions to get good grades. Learn the material. Those questions will not be recycled in life after school.
 
  • #19
Something very important I forgot to mention: I have the tests/quizzes for prof 2 from last year, and I think some of the questions will definitely be recycled for this year

When I was in undergraduate, I never knew anybody who was the least bit competent in their work that did this. If I [or my friends who were similar minded] were on a project team for a class (biggest memory being senior design), we made sure that the kids with this mentality had the least responsibility.

Don't believe me? A colleague and I refused to sign a paper that said our "team leader" did sufficient work that would count for professional experience (because he neither got an internship nor summer research). He had to go to fellow slackers to get his signatures. Ha! Too bad he graduated.
 

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