David Van Vranken - University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA

Professor: David Van Vranken

Department: Chemistry

College: University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CHEM51B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof Van Vranken lectures about organic chemistry? They're awesome (watched them on YouTube and it really helped me to grasp my concepts). His enthusiasm for the subject is really awesome and he shares certain things that I'm using even when my professor doesn't use them. Please upload his Chem 51 series on YouTube.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CHEM128
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He gives 3 pop quizzes worth 10% of your grade, so it can hurt you if you skip class. Discussions are mandatory. His tests aren't bad if you study his PowerPoints and the discussion problems. When he says "memorize this", really memorize it. It will be on the quizzes/test. The research proposal paper is a pain, but he grades them really easily

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CHEM128
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Random in class quizzes so go to class every day. Assigns 2 papers, a 1 page summary or a research article and a 5-10 page research proposal. I recommend starting the proposal early. He's passionate about the subject and teaches it well. Some memorization required but not a lot. Textbook isn't required but helps if you do the problems in it

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CHEM201
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

best lecture

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CHEM51C
• 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 is amazing lecturer! Exams are fair compared to other ochem professors. Understand the materials on his lecture slide and you will be fine! Midterm are both 25% and final 45%, hw 5% and it's easy! Take him whenever he teaches chemistry!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CHEM51C
• 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 is amazing lecturer! Exams are fair compared to other ochem professors. Understand the materials on his lecture slide and you will be fine!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CHEM51B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

NA

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: 51C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The exams can be tricky if you do not have a firm grasp of the concepts. Biggest piece of advice is to NEVER miss class. Study, go to office hours and review the concepts mentioned in the book and in class and you can get an A if you work at it!!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: 51C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Knowledgable professor but exams can be tricky. Big emphasis on concepts which consequently means the exams consist of critical thinking and application problems.

Rating # 10

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Watched his organic mechanism I & II lectures that are part of the open courseware project. Well, my professor used to take a picture out of the organic mechanism book by reinhard bruckner, write down a few short notes and talk to the blackboard most of the times. It's really good to see, that oc can be such a pleasure to learn!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CHEM51C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Considering I had to wake up at 7 am for a chemistry class Van Vranken did an incredible job of keeping me awake and alert with his lectures. He really does know what he is talking about and understands the material. For sure the best teacher I had of all 3 OChem classes I took. Van Vranken''s tests are completely fair and based directly off lec.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CHEM51C
• 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:

Man, I love this teacher. I didn't do so well the first two quarters of ochem, but he turned things around for me and suddenly made me start enjoying ochem. STUDY HIS LECTURE NOTES AND DISCUSSION WORKSHEETS. They are the key to a good grade, I cannot stress this enough. Go over them over and over again.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: 51C
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Extremely fair tests! Take notes during lecture and practice, practice, PRACTICE! I did poorly (C's in 51A and 51B) the whole year and I felt that ochem was not for me, but after taking this class, I feel more confident and did extremely well! Do not lose hope, finish the ochem series STRONG!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CHEM51C
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are very clear and straightforward. He even includes a 4-5 minute break during lecture to keep your mind fresh. Print the notes he posts online and fill them in as he goes over them in class and you should do just fine. Tests are fair and straightforward; if you know the material you will do well. Overall very good professor.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: 51C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He's an amazing teacher and his notes are amazing too. Never read the book, eventually stopped going to class, just studied his notes & still got an A- (and I got a B and B- in previous Ochem series) so I definitely recommend taking him! His tests are fair not ridiculously easy, but if you focus on his notes, dis wksheets & old exams you're golden

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CHEM51C
• 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: Not Mandatory

Comment:

AMAZING professor. Very passionate and he loves helping you and answering questions. The class material itself is hard, but his exams are fair. He's actually very funny and can keep an 8am class awake! I used to hate ochem until I took him; now I love it!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CHEM51B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He's very good and clear.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CHE321
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Vranken is amazing at relaying the organic chemistry material to students. The professor I currently have for orgo literally does not teach, which forced me to learn from other sources and that's how I came upon Professor Vranken's YouTube lectures. His lectures are amazing.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CHEM51B
• 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:

He is no doubt the BEST OChem professor I've ever had. Clear lectures, notes are extremely organized and helpful, and he explains concepts to the point you dont even need to read the book. Ignore all the negative comments about him, they're all fake. Seriously, I loved taking OChem because of him.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: OCHEM51B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Pros:1)Straight foward test; nothing tricky. 2)Lecture is clear and understand able. 3) Video is PROVIDED on youtube for further understanding and those who missed the class. 4) No need to read the textbook; studying his lecture + homework problems + some exercise from textbook is enough.5) He'll tell which material that won't be on the test