Lawrence McIntosh - University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

Professor: Lawrence McIntosh

Department: Biochemistry

College: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CHEM121
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are great and he teaches content well. However, I'm not gonna lie, he's not the nicest person I've ever met. Like, I avoided his office hours for sure, but I also didn't really need them. He very much enjoys messing with people when doing clickers (deliberately sways the vote), but it's kind of hilarious. Some like him, some don't.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CHEM121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Didn't like him that much as a prof sorry. Went over concepts pretty quickly which was fine for me for 90% of the class since I took AP chem but those learning it for the first time will probably resort to learning from the textbook (a good book to learn from actually) instead. Has in-class 4 quizzes. Made too many jokes instead of teaching tbh

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CHEM121
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Good prof. His quizzes were very similar to the textbook additional problems and exercises, and the grading was lenient. The midterms and final for this course were quite easy as well. Go to the lectures--write, and especially draw everything he does. The drawings are especially helpful as sometimes they aren't in the textbook but are tested often.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CHEM121
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr Mcintosh was a good prof. He is really funny and enthusiastic about what he teaches. The course in general is not easy and you really need to put in the time and effort to memorize Chirp. If you stay caught up, you will do fine. His quizzes are IDENTICAL to Chirp problems and the examples he does in class. Work hard and you'll do fine!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CHEM121
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Chem 121 at UBC is primary knowing the CHIRP, you understand that you pass the course. McIntosh was passionate and funny but he loved giving us background information on chemists and extra info, except we didn't actually need to know it for tests and exams. After a couple weeks I stopped attending class and did fine reading the CHIRP on my own.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CHEM121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Such an inspiration! He is very energetic and passionate about chemistry and his teaching. His lectures are very fun and he made me appreciate chemistry much more than I used to.I would strongly recommend taking his class because he seems to be one of the few professors that care that we paid money to be in his class and truly tries to help us.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CHEM121
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Extremely passionate about biochemistry, and added in bits of extra info regarding chemistry-related history, important discoveries, sig. figures, etc. to help you "get your money's worth" for this course. Quizzes were easy/straightforward, kinda stuck to the CHIRP so if you wanna skip, you can still pass. Loved this course, amazing prof.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CHEM121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Really enjoyed the class!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CHEM121
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

McIntosh is actually so awesome. He claims to hate teaching and would "rather be skiing" but you can tell he really liked giving lectures. He is a very excitable person and tries his best to make the boring material of 121 more exciting. He essentially reads out of the CHIRP and adds in little insights, so attendance isn't necessarily mandatory.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CHEM121
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

McIntosh is a funny professor at times and he is good at communicating the CHIRP; however, he likes to add unnecessary detail like history of chemists or information about biochemistry which is not tested at all, so it's a bit annoying at times because I'd rather focus on what is tested. Other than that, his quizzes are straight forward!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CHEM121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very passionate about the class. Is not able to communicate the topics effectively and in an understandable manner. he'll rush over important stuff, and go off on a tangent for 10 minutes about material that is totally unrelated and unimportant. useless as ever

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CHEM121
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

After the first miderm I realized that were was a gap in knowledge that I had just lacked primarily due to the very rapid and ineffective style of teaching that Dr Mcintosh has. very frustrating, he copied the textbook word for word on his slides, the book is not helpful too! He assumes all students know the material inside and out, hard to keep up

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CHEM121
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

McIntosh is an amazing professor. He's very passionate about what he teaches and conducts that very well to his students.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CHEM121
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very passionate about the class. Is not able to communicate the topics effectively and in an understandable manner.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CHEM121
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very passionate about chemistry especially biochemistry, taught a lot of stuff outside of chirp for better comprehension of the material. Very kind and comprehensive when you ask him questions in person, even better go to his rare office hours.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CHEM121
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is simply great. He tries to amuse the class, and his teaching method is great. He explains things clearly and everything will make sense ( If you did IB chem in highschool this course is almost too easy) as long as you have done the pre-readings for the lecture. but if you are good enough you dont even need to pre read. just follow along.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CHEM121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He doesn't assign any reading. But he expects you to know everything. And he breezes through all the materials briefly. And he often doesn't make sense. He doesn't post anything online.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIOC402
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

hard exams, too hard and stupid grading

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CHEM305
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Good prof. Always enthusiastic in class

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CHEM121
• 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:

Hmm..don't know if it's just me but I found chem121 to be an EXTREMELY challenging course - and I got mid 90's in Chemistry 12 and aced the provincial. If you work hard you'll do well, but if you're prepared to breeze through this course like chem 12 - beware, it won't happen. Mcintosh is an average prof, not too amazing not too terrible