Donald Shive - Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA

Professor: Donald Shive

Department: Chemistry

College: Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CHEM103
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Seems like he knows his subject but not very good at imparting his knowledge to a new student in a clear way. Provided very little guidance as to subject matter to be tested and overall was not very personable or approachable. Overall an uninspiring individual who made me regret taking this course.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: GENCHM12
• 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:

Truly one of the great professors I've had. As a lecturer, Shive keeps his audience attached through in-class experiments and his wonderful and slightly outdated sense of humor. Because he explains the concepts in a manner that truly allows the student to thoroughly learn them, he will challenge you on tests, etc--as any great professor should.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CHM103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Gen Chem is always a hard class to pass. The exams were tough, but if you review enough and listen to what Shive emphasizes in class you should be able to pass.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CHM103
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Shive is notorious for a lot of things, but having had to self study in all my previous chem classes, actually being TAUGHT was a breath of fresh air. I liked him as a lecturer; he was open when I asked questions outside class - but he does have a limited number of explanations of each concept. If you're seeking a new explanation, don't ask him.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CHEM103
• 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:

Dr. Shive is amazing! He is very good at explaining complex concepts and really is invested in the success of his students. His tests are decently hard, but if you study for them you can definitely get an A. He's a gem.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CHM103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

It's a hard class, but it's supposed to be. He's a very nice old man, who can be a bit boring sometimes, but is very helpful.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: GENCHEMI
• 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:

After reading all the reviews on ratemyprofsesors, but after having class with him, I know there not true. Dr. Shive is a great teacher that cares about his students. He is very helpful and clear on what he is teaching. His test are hard, but fair.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CHM10300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Honestly, Shive is my favorite professor so far at Muhlenberg, but make sure to be realistic. Gen Chem is Muhlenberg's weed out class. However, this is not to say that he is unfair. He is an incredibly fair grader, and is willing to provide all sorts of extra help. Just go into the exams assuming he's trying to be a little "tricky" as he puts it.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CHM103AND104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Gen chem is NOT SUPPOSED to be easy it is MEANT TO BE hard, so it shouldn't be surprising that it weeds people out. So anyone who complains about it crushing medschool dreams is just full of you know what. I love Dr Shive, its like having your grandpa teach you chemistry. Though not easy, he is helpful and approachable.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CHM150
• 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:

Always struggled in Chem, but Shive made matters worse. He even at one point claimed his wife got an A on one of his tests, only for us students to find out his wife was an AP chem teacher for 20 years. He is inconsiderate to students with any shakiness at all in the chem background, and will make sure you wont live to see the days of med school

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CHM103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Shive is a prtty good professor. I found the textbook to be the best source of information for his class (rather than his lectures), but his tests were very fair and he provided countless opportunities for students to succeed in his class.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CHM103
• 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:

Donald is a sneaky guy. He comes off as a nice, understanding professor but he tries to catch you off guard. The tests always have some sort of twist on a few of the questions, and watch out for pop quizzes. When he says he wishes everyone got an A, he's lieing. That man is probably one of the hardest graders at Muhlenberg.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CHEM150
• 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:

He is an amazing teacher IMO. Going in I hated chem b/e of high school teachers but now I love chem. He is interactive, his tests are challenging but if you pay attention in class and do your hwk and study its manageable! He loves teaching and its ovbious. Also gives 25 bonus points for attending lectures. Love his class, excited for gen chem 2.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CHM103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He's okay. Sometimes moves through material very quickly and won't notice if you have a hand raised to ask a question. He's really great at explaining things one-on-one; he gives extra credit and there's padding from homework and labs if you do poorly on the tests. Study and try are you won't do well.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CHM103
• 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:

Dr. Shive is a great professor. Chemistry at the college level is no joke. It goes fast and covers a lot of material but Shive does the best he can teaching to 150+ students at once. He gives extra credit and encourages students to visit him or the recitation teachers for help. He is very likable and funny. As he says, "I wish everyone had an A!"

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CHEM104
• 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:

I've always hated chemistry, but after having Dr. Shive, I hated it even more, which I did not know was even possible. He is terrible at explaining in lecture, and he flies through the material as if everyone already knows it. Most of his exams are beyond difficult (I left two of them crying). I will never take another chemistry class after his.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CHM103
• 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:

I LOVE Shive! General Chemistry can be very fun and interesting IF you put in the effort! Shive is a VERY fair teacher who knows what he is talking about. Students who think they will be able to fly through Gen Chm are sorely mistaken, though Shive is a great prof you WILL need to work, but in the end you will succeed in his class.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CHM101
• 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:

I took AP chem in high school and did fairly well and understood everything well. Shive made everything way more confusing than it needed to be. Tests were fairly difficult but if u studied A LOT a while befor you could do OKAY.. maybe. easy to lose points on tests. but lab and hw bring you up. i did not enjoy this class over all. not taking chem 2

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CHM103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Gen chem will ruin your life. I was never the biggest fan of chemistry, but this class is just hell. Shive just assumes people understand these impossible concepts. Every day in that class I wanted to cry. Most frustrating, stressful, awful class ever. Take intro chem first. Save your life.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CHM103
• 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:

An amazing professor. He comes in everyday very energetic, and clearly just loves his job and most of his students. His test are only hard if you don't prepare for them and do the reading/homework. Labs are easy to do well in too, and they are a big part of your grade. Plus the extra credit as well. Take his class, you'll have no regrets!!!