Monica Barra - University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON

Professor: Monica Barra

Department: Chemistry

College: University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CHEM267
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She's a super sweet lady but the content is way more difficult than 266 and she doesn't do the greatest job explaining it and pointing out tips and tricks for remembering/differentiating between reactions. Her accent also makes it hard to understand her especially if you're sitting far from the front. She makes her course notes available for free

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CHEM264
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Monica Barra is such an exceptional professor. She made me very confident in being able to write complete reaction mechanisms, not solely based on memorizing the textbook but fully understanding the movement of electrons. She is always willing to help students who show even the slightest bit of effort, i.e make an effort to visit during office time

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CHEM264
• 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:

The organization of her lectures are often sequential to reactions. It all flows very well and very logically. Her explanations are detailed and well-elaborated on. Overall, logic of the class is very good. As a prof, wonderful to approach her outside of class regarding help. She made a hard class enjoyable.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CHEM265
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

smh, not the best prof to take tbh. try to avoid

Rating # 5

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Her notes weren't the greatest, try to stick with other chemistry profs especially for first year courses

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CHEM123
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

very detailed lecture, I really enjoy her lecture; really helpful very nice person i would choose her lecture again next term

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CHEM265
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

lol no. avoid.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CHEM265
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Concise and to the point, her notes are amazing. Taking Organic chem with Professor Barra is fun. Recommended.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CHEM265
• 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:

Amazing professor. Would recommend to anyone.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CHEM265
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Best Prof at UW

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CHEM265
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Took this course after having Chong which was my first mistake. She expects you to do a lot of extra textbook work even though we have other courses to focus on. She was rude the first time I came to her office hours and made me look stupid. Thought I did well on the second midterm and on the exam only to find out I did horrible on both.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CHEM265
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Get ready to put in lots of work and do textbook questions or else u aint getting through

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CHEM265
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Don't think she liked our section aha that's why we all did bad.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CHEM123
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

tough teacher, all i gotta say.

Rating # 15

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:

AVOID AT ALL COST!! she is not a good personnnnn at allllllllllllllllllllll. she is soooo rude, i went in for simple equilibrium questons and she made me like I know NOTHING. i was in first year but she made feel like i shouldnt be in uni.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CHEM265
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

she's the worst prof you can ever get! she has office hours but she is INCREDIBLY rude. she will make you feel like you know nothing and make you feel dumb, let alone she'll make you cry as well!! Don't know why ppl lover her so much, she is a horrible person. she is so impatient and so blunt that it's bad. she made me had chem, every sec of it.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CHEM123
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Good prof.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CHEM267
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Wow. She's so knowledgeable. Master of Organic Chemistry. Her accent sometimes makes it hard for me to grasp what she said though. Otherwise, awesome prof who knows exactly what the students are thinking in their heads and addresses them instantly.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CHEM123
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Prof Barra is the greatest Chemistry Prof in the history of Chemistry. Students who show a genuine interest in the course materials are certain to pass. Prof Barra is always willing to help even outside of office hours. If Prof Barra could teach me every other course in my Undergraduate degree then I would accept that.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CHEM267
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I thought after 4 years I should go back and finally make a post on this website. Of all the profs I could have chosen she is the one I chose to write about. You will not find a better professor at this school. Lectures are organized and concise. Very approachable and a genuinely nice person. Really wants you to succeed.