Tom Vandergon - Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA

Professor: Tom Vandergon

Department: Science

College: Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO211
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Be prepared to study like you have never studied before. The exams are consistent in format and doesn't include curveball questions, but you have to really know your material to do well. An A is manageable but a TON of work has to be put in since the class itself is hard. Dr. Vandergon is a good teacher overall but he is very fast paced.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIOL211
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. vandergon is a great teacher. his lectures sometimes feel long but important for exams. He always encourages and welcomes students to talk to him for help and makes difficult info easier to understand. Tests are pretty hard so study everyday!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIOL211
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Vandergon is a great professor - he is very clear and will help you until you get it. However, it is a difficult class and he expects a lot out of his students. There is a ton of information and if you don't stay on top of it, you won't do well. Not much homework, hard tests, only a few lab reports, and engaging lectures.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Vandergon was an extremely good teacher! Getting an A in his class is very do-able. He's labeled "hard" because there is a lot of information -- that's it. There are no curve balls on his tests: what he teaches, he tests on. There is a lot of information, but he does a wonderful job explaining it.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CHEM330
• 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:

Vandergon will let you know if you are really cut out to be a biology major or not. He starts the first day of class by predicting how many A's will come out of the class and he is almost always correct. Do not be afraid to go to his office hours and talk to him because he is very helpful in those situations. Great teacher, highly recommend.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CHEM330
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Abandon ye of little faith. This man doesn't ***k around. Any class with Vandergon is not for the faint of heart. Brilliant and challenging. Reminds me of a good coach. Memorize the book because trying to find his testing tendencies is like cracking a government computer program.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CHEM330
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

One of the best classes I have taken at Pepperdine. Dr. Vandergon is brilliant and makes the class very enjoyable, even for an 8 AM. He puts a lot of time and effort into helping all of his students, extremely approachable. Tests are very fair. This is not an easy class, but if you work hard and follow his advice, you will succeed.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO210
• 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:

Vandergon is the worst professor i have ever had. His class made me switch my major away from biology. He explains things okay, but then tests on very complex things. You dont even need to go to the class, just read the book, memorize it, then go for the tests.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO211
• 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:

Wow. He is very tough. Believe me, you have to have taken AP Bio or some kind of strong science course to understand the class. It is extremely difficult and fast paced beyond belief. The tests are hard and he grades hard, the only good thing is that lab is not a separate grade. Don't do it..

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CHEM330
• 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:

I think Dr. Vandergon is a GREAT teacher. After reading the other comments and wondering why anyone would not like him as a teacher I decided the that people must blame him for the difficult nature of the material he teaches. Good grades are perfectly achievable in his class. LOTS of people get A's, but not everyone. Suck it up, and work hard.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Just a terrible instructor. From day one he makes sure you know that he's mean, really hard, and that you're screwed. he tests at the lowest level - rote memorization with unfair time constraints, and since he hates freshmen will design his tests to make them fail. gets a kick out of his students' suffering. AVOID HIM!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Vandergon makes the material interesting my giving good examples and descriptions of the material but tests are EXTREMELY hard and long. There is no way you will pass the class if you dont put some effort into it. Study hard and study early for tests...DONT cram!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO211
• 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:

He's the nicest most helpful teacher I have ever had, this man really cares about his students. He wants to see yu succeed, but that doesn't mean he's gullible. I really learnt a lot from him. Prepare to study, this is no easy class and coasters wont even get by with a C.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Just to start off, EXTREMELY DIFFICULT! I had never made note cards in my life until this class. Actually had to study before the night before to succeed. He tells you what you need to know but tests are hard. However, I learned a ton in this class and still got a fairly good grade. Overall just be prepared to work your butt off!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very hard class. He's not kidding when he says to go over your notes...a lot. Definately don't put off studying for his tests last minute. Tests are long and quite difficult. He is very helpful during office hours and explains stuff well.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CHEM330
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

PRAY HARD... PRAY VERY VERY HARD. I'm not going to sugar coat this - VANGERGON IS Difficult. You're social life will be gone when you take this class. Tests are SUPER long and will require you to think fast. 8am lectures dont help. DONT BUY THE BOOK. It doesn't help. he photocopies everything you need and gives them as handouts. GOOD LUCK.........

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Nice guy but a terrible teacher. He tries to make class impossible so that only the smartest people alive can pass. I went to every class, took detailed notes, asked questions, and barely pulled a C-. His class is not worth the stress or frustration that all his students suffer from

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Terrible! Barely pulled a low C in his class and I am a straight A student (including classes like Chem,Calc,Physics)! Instead of being a good teacher he likes to be an a** and scare away students. He designs his tests to be tricky and long, he makes class boring,and freshmen never do well.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIOL211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Worst class experience ever! Unchallenging but impossible to do well in class, not best lecturer too. He's SO rude/boring in class and discouraging. Study guides aren't very much, cuz his tests can be very random (on stuff not covered) and unfair. Won't give powerpt. until 2 late- unfair overall.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIOL211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Okay, but tries making class harder than needed. His tests questions can be RANDOM (on stuff you haven't learned yet) and are WAY too rediculously long, like 15 pages! If you don't test quickly, stay away! Extrememly difficult A or B! His lab practical is impossible to even pass! Uninterestng