John Verkade - Iowa State University, Ames, IA

Professor: John Verkade

Department: Chemistry

College: Iowa State University, Ames, IA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: OCHEMFORGOTNUM
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I had Verkade as a prof in 2005 for O chem and the problem is that he is so intelligent and knowledgeable that he lectures over the audience. Very tough as a prof but stay on top of lectures and recitation and read the book! He is old school which is good in a sense and he has a hard on for the esterification to produce biodiesel. Good luck!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CHEM178
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Boring lectures. I struggle to stay awake every lecture but couldn't do it. So I resorted to recording his lectures and listen to it at night to relearn the info and it helps me fall asleep. He seems like a nice guy though. Doesn't let you use calculators on his test nor to get an answer for the problems just the set up, which I thought was strange

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CHEM178
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is completely useless as a teacher. He reads directly from the slides, is intimidating, unapproachable, and arrogant. His grading system is ridiculous and his tests are 100% problem-based. Without the TAs we all would have failed.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CHEM178
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Overall bad...1 clicker question is equivalent to 5~6 pts on exam (after drop few lowest). Grade B or C will be issued if you forget your clicker or miss some question. Lecture won't be more helpful than recitation. Review book chapter then use 10 minus go class finish clicker and leave.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CHEM178
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Overall, Dr. Verkade obviously knows his stuff but the grading system is absolutely ridiculous. I would say avoid him as much as possible if you are wanting a solid A in a first year chemistry class.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CHEM178
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

In this class, its not hard to get a decent grade. Just study the homework problems and go to recitation. If you do well on the quizzes and truly understand what you are doing on the homework, the class should be cake. Although yes I agree w/ my peers that the curve is lacking. 92 = B+...

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CHEM9
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This guy has studied at Harvard and someone said Yale so hes supposedely a really smart guy. Yeah right. Do the homework, look over past exams, and attend the last 10 or 15 mins of your class for clicker points and you will do fine. hes not worth the two hours of class he takes up each week. Recitation is a lifesaver.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CHEM178
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Avoid if at all possible. Simply reads slides from the book and assigns HW problems from the book, does not teaching himself. Thank God for the TAs or everyone would fail. Grades everything on a bell curve so no matter how well you do only a few people get A and Bs. He's also unwilling to listen or help you individually.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CHEM178
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

if you want to work for an A grade and recieve a C grade this si your class. Quotes from an Email he just sent us: "There is NO shame in a C grade". "a C will not affect your chances of getting into a professional or graduate school". "Where you fall in a curve depends on how well you do to rest of class". His curve: 94 is a B!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CHEM178
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Exactly what everyone else has said. Do the homework problems because all the quizzes and tests are made up word for word and number for number from the book. (Plus he provides you with the book answer key). But his curves are usually pretty ridiculous. For one test, a C was 68-82%. And he thinks a C is a good grade..

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CHEM178
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Love this guy. Always keeps it interesting with jokes and demonstrations even when his lecture is lacking a little life. No calculator use on the exams makes it both easy and difficult, he genuinely cares for his students and is always available for questions. Best Grandpa in the world? I think so! :)

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CHEM178
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

he is a nice guy...but incredibly BORING. I only go to lecture to get the clicker points. its a struggle to not fall asleep. do the book problems and your good to go for his tests. TAs are the only reason i know how to do anything in this class.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CHEM178
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Unclear. Doesn't allow calculator use; for a class where math is half the exams. Concepts taught in lectures are only vaguely applied to exams. THANK GOD for the TA's. We would all be screwed without them.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CHEM178
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Any student deserve better teacher than him.He has a collection of offensive and nasty jocks incredibly bad professor.I think anyone can get better grade just by studying the textbook than being his lecture.The bad part is he penalize you for recognizing his offensiveness and incompetence.I am glad he is just one professor.Otherwise,life will be...

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CHEM177
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Do the assigned homework problems and you're golden. His tests are literally homework problems copied and pasted. You can't use a calculator which is a little frustrating, but not a huge deal since you only have to show the steps to solve it and don't need answers. Final exam is comprehensive but still just problems from homework. Take 177 with him

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CHEM178
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

If I were to define the best grandpa in the world. HE WOULD BE IT! His jokes are so terrible that they are funny, and his tests are copied word for word out of the questions he assigns and gives you solutions for. How much easier do you want it.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CHEM164
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The lectures are not helpful. Go because of clicker quizzes and just read the book. If you read the book and study the problems in the chapter you can do well b/c all the tests and quizzes are straight out of the book. Not having a calc is no problem but does take getting used to. He can be helpful if you ask. Not so good at teaching but nice

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CHEM164
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

boring with cheesy jokes

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Okay so the guy isn't that great at teaching but give him a break his tests a literally straight from the book. Memorize the in chapter problems and you'll be okay. The only reason you don't use a calculator is because you don't solve the problems mathmatically. If you're having problems go talk to him he's nice.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ORG101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

EXCELLENT TEACHER