A.J Bates - Skyline College, San Bruno, CA

Professor: A.J Bates

Department: Science

College: Skyline College, San Bruno, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CHEM210
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This professor makes simple concepts super complicated and hard to understand. His class won't be good if you don't have experience in chemistry before. The lab guides are hard to understand and you need to be a chemistry expert to answer the questions. Many errors too in the lab guides. Too much paper works

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CHEM192
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

AJ is definitely one of my favorite professors. Lectures are easy to understand. He also does a lot of pactice problems in class & has practice work sheets on his website to make sure you understand what you're learning in class. HW is basically lab reports & online hw which contains 15 problems. Come to class, pay attention & you'll pass!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CHEM192
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is a good teacher. MUST COME TO CLASS AND PRACTICE ALL HIS WORKSHEETS!!!! He tends to talk softly in class, and it is easy to fall asleep in his afternoon classes, so sit in the front. Make sure to do all of his worksheets, even if they are just for practice. He is very meticulous. Pay attention to all Details in every aspect of class and labs.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CHEM220
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Hes a wonderful teacher very helpfull i love the lectures which are very easy to follow and works out a lot of the problems which help you get a better understanding. Chemistry is a hard subject but with a lot of practice specially with the worksheets workef out in class it definetly makes it easier to follow along.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CHEM192
• 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:

He's a really good teacher! There's not a lot of homework that is mandatory, but he posts a LOT of worksheets and if you do them you should get an A on his tests! Expect to study, this is a chemistry class! He's really helpful too! I can't beleive that I have to wait until organic chemistry to take him again!!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CHEM192
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Bates is an amazing professor. He loves what he does and knows his stuff. He's very organized and pays attention to detail. He's makes time to help his students and give a lot of helpful extra work that directly link to his tests, DO THEM ALL. If you do this and read, you should get an A. He grades fair.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CHEM192
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is really specific to the dot. I thought this class was introductory, but he just talks sooooo much. he has a lot of requirements. most of us are just overwhelmed

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CHEM192
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is very helpful and he does generally care about his students.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CHEM220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The first day of lab he warned us that he's super picky, and HE ISN'T LYING. He is incredibly hard and very anal at times. I popped adderall a few days in a row and studied really hard for his midterms, but it's insane how difficult he can make be. I liked chemistry but after this class, I'm not too sure anymore...

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CHEM192
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He made me realize how much I disliked science. You're better off taking Levi or Ruiz.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CHEM220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Talks in a round about way during his lectures. Only positive is the example problems. Negatives are tough exams and not getting to the point. Rivera has better lectures but Bates has more examples to learn off of.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CHEM210
• 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:

took Chem 210 & 220 with him nd got As. i feel like for the gen chem its mainly math nd conversions. wasnt too bad, posts lots of practice worksheets. For ochem 1, i heard his tests were really hard, rivera for ochem is better i think, but for gen chem he was pretty easy

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CHEM210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Don't bother taking his class if you don't know anything at all about chemistry before you go into this class. The guy isn't helpful and he's really moody. When you ask him for help, he just tells you "I did it on the board" like he expects you to get it the first time he teaches it. If you ask him for help, he makes you look really bad.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CHEM220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

One of the best, if not the best professor I have ever had. Prof Bates is always willing to help. His lectures are very clear. He definitely knows his stuff. He provides PowerPoint slides to print out for notes for lecture but he does not just read off of them. Chem can be a tough subject but Prof Bates' teaching style makes it possible to do. I would highly recommend taking his class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CHEM210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Took him last semester. The class started with 60 students total, and by the end there were about 20 left. My lab section had 30 students in the beginning, and was left with 10. You do the math. Nice teacher, VERY ORGANIZED, but his exams are extremely tough. You have to pick up things easily or study a LOT on your own.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CHEM210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is a great professor! I honestly only had trouble with his final. If you study his previous tests he gives you, and the worksheets in the lab manual and understand it, you will for sure get a B.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CHEM210
• 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:

I took Chem 210 and currently taking 220 with him. i think hes a very good teacher. shuold go to all lec nd have to go to all labs. he posts old exams to practice. very helpful. if my schedule works i would take him for o chem too. exams are hard for some people but its mostly just calculations, not too bad. txtbk used mostly for end ch problems

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CHEM220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Even though I got an "A," I feel that he's unclear and unfair with his grading. He's also really boring at the board and extremely moody. He'll try to act superior to the class and insult the class as a whole. When asked a question, he'll answer "well what did I say in class?" Find someone better.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CHEM210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

58% Lecture Exams (3 Midterms + Final), 25% Lab Work (Pre/Post Lab Reports), 10% Lab Exams (2), 2.5% Lecture Quiz (1), 2.5% Homework. Lab attendance is mandatory. Lecture attendance is not mandatory except to take the exams. Class is focused on calculation and problem-solving: master lab manual worksheets to succeed on exams.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CHEM220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Typical heavy workload: pre/post labs , problem sets (which help prepare for exams), 3 midterms, final, 2 lab exams. Very fair grader so get his lab section if possible. Very helpful, passionate about subject, but moody. Only negative is lecture material is covered quickly so get a study group, go office hours, or set aside lots of time to study.