Donald Shillady - Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

Professor: Donald Shillady

Department: Science

College: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CHEM303304
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

One of the few professors that actually cares about the grades of each individual student. PChem is a very tough subject and he's pretty much a master at it. He makes sure you get each concept and will even meet w you outside of class. Study the old exams!!! They don't change much. Wrote his own textbook and sticks to it in closely in class.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CHEM304
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A challenging course as to be expected in a Physical Chemistry course but almost all of the questions that are asked on the midterm and final you will have seen before. The course has an emphasis on math including many concepts from calculus and physics but all concepts are covered well in the homework and lectures.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CHEM303
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Shillady is a nice man. He does not teach concepts, but theory. Make sure your Calculus is up to par. If you want to do well on the ACS, get the ACS book. His tests are easy enough, he gives you the old ones so you know what to expect. He uses his own book which may not be the best, but it will get you through his exams. Best taken over summer

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CHEM304
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great professor, his stories are hilarious. Be sure to ask questions about the topics covered, PChem is full of difficult concepts. Dr. Shillady won't stop until you've understood everything. I would recommend this teacher over most, if not all of the chemistry department, and all the departments in general.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CHEM303304
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Don Shillady is a one-of-a-kind individual - engaging, interesting, humorous. Ask for copies of old tests, practice working out each problem fully - you WILL see several of these old questions recycled. Take FULL and CAREFUL notes - problems worked out in class WILL resurface on your tests. This will ensure a B; a little extra study will get an A.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CHEM303304
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I thought I would hate PCHEM (I'm more into ORGO) but I've come to love it thanks to his old-man charm and the crazy stories about WWII. The man wrote the book so READ/ "LEARNALIZE" IT! Do the practice tests too. He makes sure you can get a good grade as long as you put in the work and he truly cares about his students even though he likes to joke.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CHEM303304
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

It is important to attend class and ask questions when you do not understand. Be sure to number each document and go to office hours. I was able to take both sections and get and A in both sections by asking questions and learning how to do the derivations. It saved my grade going to office hours and revisiting material when possible.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CHEM303
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class is not a walk in the park however you will most definitely get out of it what you put in. Shillady is very knowledgable on the material and loves to teach. He wants his students to succeed by making himself as available as he can, but participation is key so regular attendance to lecture is essential.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CHEM303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Shillady wrote his own book on the subject: "Essentials of Physical Chemistry," thus, it would serve us students best to peruse the textbook before coming to class. His course was taken in the Summer, it is the best course ever, if you love to study intensely and can remember well, which is what chemists do. Remember, Dr. Shillday stories?

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CHEM303
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Shillady is a wonderful professor. He teaches you not only chemistry but also how to apply Maths, Physic and Biology in Chemistry. He gives your chance to boost up your grade by Extra credit. You just have to read the book, do homework carefully to understand the concept and you will do great on the class.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CHEM303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Shillady is a great man and a great teacher. The material is pretty dense and he will tell you 70% of the stuff that's gonna be on the test. But I felt like he was a bit partial to his favorite students than the others. Overall, it was manageable but the material is hard

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CHEM303
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

One of the best chemistry professors I have taken thus far! He stays after class for 2 or more hours to help whomework or any questions. If u don't understand something he's not like most teachers who gets frustrated & make u feel dumb but instead he breaks it down or asks a student to help! Bottom line he's a great teacher. STUDY & ask questions!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CHEM304
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I enjoyed the class a lot. Dr. Shillady stays after class to answer questions or to elaborate the material. This helped a lot. The Final is pretty tough with the ACS portion. Since students get graded for additional knowledge (extra credit) that they can write down on the exam, studying everything does not feel wasted in case it is not asked.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CHEM301
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Shillady was a fantastic professor! He's a genius and loves what he does! He is willing to help before and after class and the homework and review are exactly what he puts on exams! He is just great.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CHEM303304
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

One of the things that I enjoyed in his class, was the review day before every exam. He would call students to the board to explain a specific derivation or to a very tricky problem, and explain it to the whole class. By making students explain things to the class, we all understood the material better.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CHEM303304
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I took Don's classes over the summer and was really nervous about it, but it was actually really manageable and enjoyable! Just go to class, pay attention, and you will be told exactly what to study.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CHEM304
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took both CHEM303 and CHEM304 with Professor Shillady. I recommend him to most anyone, because if you are a memorizing type or a problem solver you can be successful in his class. Also if you bomb the midterm, you can save yourself on the final (which I did). He also doesn't mind hanging back after class,which is very useful-take advantage of it!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CHEM303304
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Easily one of my favorite chem professors ive taken at vcu! Material is pretty dense, but he makes it a very enjoyable experience. go to class, pay attention, ask questions and you will succeed

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CHEM303304
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Shillady is awesome! He's very entertaining and has a ton of knowledge not only in chemistry but in many other fields. He is willing to stay after class and help you if you need it, and his tests are very fair because he tells you 9/10 of what will be on them. Definitely go to class! Do the homework! Enjoy :)

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PCHEM304
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Not enough room here to describe how amazing Shillady is. Go to class,do the homework,read the handouts,and ask for help.He truly cares about his students and he stayed after with me everyday to explain difficult concepts and drill problems because he wanted me to do well.Shillady is hands downthe best professor I've ever had!Take 303-304 with him!