Rob McGaff - University of Wisconsin - La Crosse, La Crosse, WI

Professor: Rob McGaff

Department: Science

College: University of Wisconsin - La Crosse, La Crosse, WI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CHM104
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

DO NOT take Rob for CHM 104. This class is already extremely challenging, and Rob just makes it more difficult. His exams are impossible even though I studied for hours on end and used every resource available to me. He never responded to any of my emails which could've helped me out a lot. If you want to pass, don't even consider Rob.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CHEM104
• Grade Received: INC
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I think Rob is a very knowledgeable professor and I thought he made some good analogies and comparisons to help us learn. Personally I thought he was usually pretty clear in lecture. HowEVER, he has the hardest exams Ive ever taken. He has 12 MC worth 48 out of 100 points on each exam. The best part is he lets you make notecards for each exam

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CHEM104
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The fact is that CHM 104 is a tough class. Dr. McGaff is a highly competent and knowledgeable professor, and very passionate about what he does. Although some things in lecture may be unclear (content or expectations) Dr. McGaff is more than happy to help you any way he can. Very accessible out of class and is willing to talk about CHM for hours.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CHEM104
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you happen to get put into McGaff's lecture or lab, be prepared to be teaching yourself the entire semester or maybe just drop his class. Lecture heavy, and really unclear about what he expects you to know, mostly because he gets sidetracked and goes on tangents about irrelevant things. Tough grader and you're tested on few things. Pretty bad.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CHM104
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I would highly suggest not taking him. He's a good person but not that great of a professor. In lecture, his notes seem very unorganized and are very hard to follow. In lab, he leaves. Just straight up leaves in the middle of lab so if you are confused, good luck. As for his exams, they are incredibly difficult and very hard to study for.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CHEM104
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is condescending, horrible at teaching, and makes his exams way too difficult, TAKE ANYONE ELSE

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CHM104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Doesn't ever answer your questions and makes you feel dumb for asking. We would stop material for a test in the middle of a problem so it was really hard to understand what you need to know for an exam. HIGHLY recommend taking someone else.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CHM104
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

DO NOT TAKE HIM He gives terrible feedback when asking questions related to content. His famous reply is, "It is that way just because it is". He will go through problems in class and his math is not even right. If you NEED 104 and are worried about passing do not take him.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CHM104
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

CHM 104 is a tough course, making Rob seem tough, but he wants all of his students to pass. I didn't like having his class at 7:45, but his teaching style and sense of humor motivated me to wake up for his class. Quizzes are relatively easy and tests and the final are tough. He doesn't post notes on D2L, so go to his class as much as you can.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CHEM104
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

You need to attend every lecture or you will easily fall behind. Reading the book is helpful but all of the tests are based off of lecture material. Focus more on the conceptual material when studying for exams. the calculations are very easy but the conceptual material can trip you up on exams very easily. READ THE EXAM Q's CAREFULLY!!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CHEM104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The hardest part about taking this class was how unclear everything was. Lectures are never recorded, notes and other materials are never online, and his tests aren't from the textbook. Exams were impossible to study for because he only provided a few practice problems and half of the exam was focused on concepts, which we never talked about.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CHEM104
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

McGaff is a tough grader but his lectures are clear and weekly quizzes aren't too bad. He goes through some things kinda fast but if you go to his office outside of class he will take as much time as you need to explain things.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CHEM104
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

McGaff is terrible! He is unhelpful and makes students feel stupid for asking questions. His exams are hard and the multiple choice has 5-6 answers, he doesn't go over the concepts so don't expect to get the multiple choice. He always disappears during lab so you're on your own. TAKE SOMEONE ELSE!!!!!!!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CHM104
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you are not good at chem and want to take someone who will really help you understand it, I would recommend taking a different professor. Averages on tests are about 65%. Averages on his lab exams are even lower because the questions he asks are unrealistic and not related to the actual lab experiments at all. Also extremely rude to students.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CHM104
• 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:

Avoid McGaff at all costs!! He flies through lectures assuming that everyone is a chem expert. Very condescending if you ask a question and not helpful at all during office hours. His lecture tests are nearly impossible to get an A on because he is such a tough grader. Avoid for lab as well because he always leaves and refuses to answer questions.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CHM104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Don't take him. Take anybody else. His tests are impossible to get As on because his multiple choice are extremely confusing and often on stuff we never covered in detail. He is rude when you ask questions. Not approachable at all. Would not recommend him EVER. Im a hard worker and good student but am not getting the grade I deserve

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CHM104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took McGaff for 103 and 104. I took him again on purpose because his teaching style is great. I learned a lot from this professor and he made me enjoy learning chem. I hated everything about the tests (4 exams, 1 final) but if you study A LOT, you can pass this class no problem. He is condescending with questions but really does like to help.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CHM104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

McGaff comes off as a nice guy, but don't be fooled. He encourages people to come to office hours, but when I went, he acted like he didn't have time for me and I only spoke to him for literally 10 seconds. His answer was simply "It's just the way it is." UM,OK? I fully understood every lecture but when it came to tests I was lost. DO NOT TAKE HIM!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CHM104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

McGaff is really clear in lecture, and tells you exactly what will be on the exams, but he grades the exams very tough. Each multiple choice question is worth 4 percent, which adds up quick when they all have 6 choices. Just make sure you really know the theories well, and the rest isn't too bad.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: 104
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

In lectures he goes over math way to much and hardly talks about the concepts which when the test comes around half the test is concepts that no one understands