Rodney Finzel - Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY

Professor: Rodney Finzel

Department: Chemistry

College: Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CHEM135
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Orgo itself is so hard, especially since it's condensed into one semester. He goes pretty fast but has been teaching for a while so he is a pretty good lecturer. His test and quizzes are hard and didn't really prepare me for the ACS. Take him if you really want to learn, but you will have to put in a lot of effort. He grades on a big curve

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CHEM135
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Orgo is intrinsically difficult at Hofstra--it is 2 semesters condensed into 1 semester. This is done so you can perform well on the ACS, and Dr. Finzel does a great job of providing material to both perform well on the ACS and in class. Take advantage of the large volume of material he provides to prepare you for every quiz and test.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CHEM135
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He made Orgo an awful experience. I get that he's super knowledgeable in Chemistry and knows his stuff, but he expects students to just understand and puts in 0 effort to help in that process. I was so disappointed by the way he graded at the end of semester (my online homework average was an 88% and considered a C ). Will ruin your GPA 9/10 times.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CHEM135
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Take Dr. Finzel for Orgo. He knows what he is talking about. He gives tougher exams, but they are formatted exactly like the practice exams and quizzes. He will replace your lowest test grade with 5 of your highest quiz grades. His video lectures are amazing. He recognizes hard work and effort. Regardless, spend time in tutoring-Definitely helps!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CHEM135
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Finzel is a good professor, but his tests are much harder than any practice problems. You should go to tutoring outside of class, and definitely use the old exams and quizzes to study. He pulls a lot of test and quiz questions from previous exams and quizzes!! But when I have asked him for help during group work, he comes across very condescending.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CHEM135
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He's caring he really is but sometimes he goes way to fast in lecture. The chemistry department took two semester worth of material and packed it into one. I feel like they should have given the option of all in one or spilt depending on the student. Class does have a HUGE curve but half the class drops by mid semester. GO TO HIS EXTRA HELP!!!!!!!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CHEM135
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

BEST PROFESSOR AT HOFSTRA.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CHEM135
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Take this class with no other hard classes because it requires all the attention and memorization. He tries to give as much partial credit as possible on his exams and purposely makes them harder than the final. Go to his office hours as much as you can, he will see your effort. Very helpful and does as much as he can to help you understand.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CHEM2
• 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:

Excellent teacher.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CHEM132
• 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. Finzel is an excellent lecturer which is hard to come by in Organic Chemistry courses. You will have to use the book and do practice problems to do well, but having Dr. Finzel as your professor makes things much more easy and enjoyable.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CHEM132A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Finzel is the bomb. He explains things really clearly, and works hard for the class (i.e. hands back exams the day after the test) You do need to spend time doing homework and reading the book to do well, but having Dr. Finzel makes Organic Chem enjoyable and that takes talent.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CHEM132
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Orgo is just hard as hell. Period. Finzel is ok, but i dont think hes as great as everyone says. I had to teach myself a lot of the information. He would practice problems in class but the problems on the tests and quizzes were much harder than that. Go to the extra help sessions and his office hours! i learned more from those than from the actual

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CHEM131
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr Finzel is an amazing professor. He's been teaching for years and it shows. He knows how to teach organic chemistry to students whether you are pre-med or the education major. His class is hard (orgo is orgo) but Dr Finzel makes it a great class! Don't take anyone else.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CHEM131
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class isn't that bad because of Prof. Finzel. No joke the topic is hard but with him he makes it so much better. The quizzes and test from previous years are so helpful and just like the quizzes and test he gives. Also, he has office hours and he's always happy to help. Plus, the notes are online so that's all there is to it.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CHEM131
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great Teacher. The only problem with him is that he moves faster than lightining shooting out of Zeuses ...

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1LAB
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Had him just for lab, but did the most fun labs. I will never forget making the polymer that stretched the length of the lab :)

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ORGO2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

i heart rodney ...this man can do no wrong...amazing professor...made me love organic...im serious ;)

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CHEM131132
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Considering how inherently difficult the course is he does a very good job. All notes are online so you can print them out and not have to worry about copying feverishly all class. Practice tests are also online so you know exactly what kind of questions are going to be on the exams. He’s also very willing to give extra help outside of class

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ORGO2
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Good lecturer, even though all you really need to do is read the book. The tests are similar to the ones from previous years. Dr.Finzel isn't too helpful as an individual, nor is he appreciative of his students' efforts. Dr. Wachter is much better!!!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CHEM132
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Awesome!!! Do not take Wachter, take him instead. He goes fast sometimes, but really really good (and he curves a lot!