David Perrin - University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

Professor: David Perrin

Department: Chemistry

College: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CHEM123
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

He taught the organic chemistry part of CHEM123 for my section. His lectures were pretty unclear and disorganized. There was no natural progression in the topics and he seemed to jump around different things so it was very hard to follow.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CHEM123
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Professor Perrin explains the organic chemistry portion of chemistry 123 in an understandable way but he goes through his lecture slides very very fast. I found that he does not really explain his clicker questions and just keeps going on to the next question.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CHEM123
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Honestly a decent guy for CHEM 123. Sometimes can get a little all over the place during lecture. His jokes are really lame but if you're like me you'll still enjoy them. Perrin gives out a ton of clicker questions that really help as long as you've kept up reasonably with the material.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CHEM123
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I thoroughly enjoyed being in Dr. Perrin's section, although I generally do not care for chemistry. I would certainly recommend to read the respective sections before the lecture, as he expects students to have a solid knowledge of the lecture topics already. I found his "rules" really useful and it was clear what we were expected to know.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CHEM123
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Helped me get a 93% overall, almost 100% on the final. Perrin was amazing and so engaging in lecture. I'd come out of class feeling like "woah." May seem arrogant and strict, but he has a passion for ochem and teaches well if you pay attention. Lots of practice Q's. Sit closer to the front. GO TO ALL LECTURES. Bring multiple colors for notes.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CHEM123
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I find his lectures a little bit confusing, but if you follow up with practicing Ochem workbook questions; then you will be fine. The clicker questions were tricky, but the good source to see if you understand the material pretty well. For sure purchase the Ochem workbook and do all the questions.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CHEM123
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Overall, Perrin is very clear on what we need to know for the exams. He is easy to understand, answers questions in full detail, and office hours are very helpful. Very strict - loves rules e.g. no phones in class, and isopropyl always wins.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CHEM123
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Gives good lectures and taught the concepts pretty clearly. Hates fischer projections. He does lots of clicker questions and had a couple clicker quiz's, which were EXTREMELY HELPFUL for letting me know what to study and where I was at. DO THE ENTIRE OCHEM WORKBOOK ITS WORTH IT!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CHEM123
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Dr. Perrin is very knowledgeable about chemistry and all sorts of related topics. His lectures are amazing and extremely useful if you follow closely. He really helps familiarize new content by explaining each clicker/webcam problem in detail(and there are a lot of problems!) DON'T be intimidated by his rating! He is a GREAT prof.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CHEM123
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Good prof! Teaches the topics well and emphasizes on the important questions/concepts that might come up in the final exam. Sometimes he goes a little fast on his explanations. He also has really useful "click-o-rama" questions in lecture (for marks though!)

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CHEM123
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

One of the worst first year profs I had. He was more concerned about talking about himself or making irrelevant jokes than actually teaching the content. Anytime, I asked questions in lecture, rather than answering it he would throw a bunch of big words at me and tell a 5 minute story that was completely unrelated to my question. Avoid having him.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CHEM213
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

The lectures are horribly taught and you can sit through an entire lecture and not get anything out of it except for one in like the five little extra reactions/details in the whole course not in notes. Lecture slide notes and TA's tutorial are the only helpful bits. teacher is super rude and full of himself. Gives little practice tests.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CHEM213
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Do readings, all the problems you could possibly do! 213 is one of the hardest science undergrad courses, so make an effort. Dr. Perrin goes through in-class problems and topics not in the textbook during class (doesn't upload) so GO TO CLASS. He isn't very clear during lectures, but going to his office hours and the TA's tutorials helped BIG TIME.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CHEM213
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

He's actually a pretty good prof. I think people just give him heck because the material is difficult, and no one likes to do poorly. Read ahead before lecture and make sure to take notes on everything in class! If you're confused, go to office hours. He's really determined to help you if you ask

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CHEM213
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I found Dr. Perrin to be THE best prof I've ever had at UBC. GO TO OFFICE HOURS; so much learning can be done there. ATTENDANCE IS KEY; some materials were given to use in lecture that were not covered in the book. EXAMS ARE FAIR; I recommend studying little by little everyday, the material is not that challenging that way. Not a good class to cram

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CHEM213
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

His exams are tough and have little tricks hidden so you have to know your reactions well. He does speed through lectures at times because there's just so much content, but office hours are incredibly helpful. Don't skip because he covers extra examinable content not found in the textbook!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CHEM213
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Perrin didn't do his job as an instructor for this insanely difficult course. He rushes through his lecture slides often without clarification over confusing concepts. What makes it worse are his exams, way too hard to be fair with how much information we are expected to know and the kind of lectures we get from him. Advise: study early, and a lot.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CHEM213
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Absolutely brutal class, I truly believe it will be a miracle if I pass. The final exam is worth a huge chunk of your grade (60-80%) and we weren't provided a sample final until about 2 days before the final (no answer key of course). There is a TON of material and most of it is difficult. Seriously, study hard for this class.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CHEM213
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Good prof, but the hard material seems to reflect on people's judgement on his character. He seems to care about the class and tries to encourage people to come to his office hours by appearing more down to earth and answering personal questions at the start of class. I like how he bans cellphones and talking during class!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CHEM213
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

So this was actually the SECOND time I took CHEM213 because I failed it the first time, and for some reason Perrin was heaps better this year. I think it's because they removed all the stuff about IR/NMR/mass spec this year. The class is still tough though, but he seems friendlier and less of a jerk about things. Go to office hours, it helps.