Jin Zhang - University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA

Professor: Jin Zhang

Department: Science

College: University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1B
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I recommend you don't take this class he is difficult to understand in lectures. His lectures notes are no access on canvas, and you are better to read out from the book to understand the materials. I highly recommend using MSI and TA section to pass this class. When he tried to explain the content, it is difficult to understand.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1B
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Jin is a "good" professor. He knows well about the materials. He is also accessible after class and has extra office hours before final exams. He should deserve a 5 until several hours ago. He roared to one of my friends who was trying to tell him that his TAs made mistakes when reading the scantrons. 2 points from him due to improper conduct.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Don't take this class. Lectures are confusing and complicated. The material itself isn't too hard to understand, but the way he explains it makes it seem really difficult. The TA's and MSI tutors were super helpful. I wouldn't have passed without them.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I had this professor over the summer. He typically lectures over the entire period of the class. If you have questions about the material, he replies in a straight forward manner, not to be confused with arrogance. Beyond the typical textbook material, he demonstrates passion towards research, the material, and student understanding if requested.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1B
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Everyday as I walked to his class I would pray to the lord, Im not even religious, that a bus or car would run me over to end my misery. This class was not hard at all but he is hands down the worst teacher to ever step onto this earth.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1B
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Zhang is a lot easier than what everyone says. Before each exam he clearly told us what topics were/weren't going to be tested and they're all straight from his lecture. The exams are simple and straightforward and he gives a ridiculously fat curve at the end. Actually go to class , review lecture notes, read the book and youll be fine.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1B
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Zhang is rude to his students who ask questions and makes them feel stupid in front of the entire class. He teaches upper divs so he acts as if his gen chem class also understands upper div material. If I wasn't in an outside study group I would have no chance of passing his class. He's terrible!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

There is a lot of emphases placed on the tests grade wise but his preparation for tests is minimal at best, he barely lets you know what is expected. Also, his lecture notes tend to be confusing and his baseline expectations of your own knowledge is high. Also, he roasts a lot in class and is kinda rude.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1B
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I've only had this professor for a week and he's honestly the worst teacher I've had. I leave class each day feeling frustrated and confused on what I just learned. His lectures are all over the place and are literally just one math equation after another. People who have taken Chem 1B with different teachers don't even recognize what we are doing.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1B
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Zhang expects you to know fundamental physics, calculus and some reading about quantum mechanics for sure. But if you don't understand, the TAs and his office Hours always are up. You cannot just sit and wait for the A+. With good study habits, you can definitely score 100%. You just need to start understanding all of the textbook material well.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1B
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Really difficult course. I've never taken physics before, but it seems like it should have been a prerequisite for this class... Lectures are really difficult to follow and lecture notes are really unclear. It's much more helpful to just read out of the book... Thank god for the curve!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1B
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

All the comments on him teaching above the division are totally right. A lot of the things he mentions in lecture are never brought up again in homework or exams. I had to go to the TAs a lot to get help with the homework.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1B
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Zhang has a lot of passion for this subject, but he doesn't understand its an undergrad course and physics is not a pre-req. He's extremely hard to understand, especially when he starts talking fast. His tests are conceptual which is different from the other chem1 series tests. If you're not good at teaching yourself, I would not recommend.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1B
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This professor did not do a good job with lectures. He was hard to understand and had unclear notes. Would recommend to get the book in order to catch up on your own and do the homework, as well as go to MSI and section for help. There are two midterms and a final. Final was mostly conceptual and used some of the questions from the midterms.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1B
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He has a very generous curve. Homework is better compared to Rubin's CHEM 1A. He bases all of his midterms and final exams on things he says in lectures. If he does a west ion of the day make sure to include that in you cheat she at because its ALWAYS a question on the exam. Because of the curve, you can pass. He just isint a good teacher himself.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1B
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Pretty Good Class. Just the Read Textbook and you'll be fine. Not that much homework. Make sure to understand the concepts. There's a heavy curve: 80%A, 65%B. Plus Cheat Sheets are allowed in exams.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1B
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Jin seems passionate about his subject, but -- in my opinion -- he should not be teaching lower division courses. He makes assumptions that we already have taken physics, calculus, and other courses... even though they're not listed as requirements for Chem1B. He has quite a thick accent, and that makes him even harder to understand.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Zhang is one of those professors that doesn't really care about lower divs. He would talk about stuff his teaches in upper divs or his research that are irrelevant to the class. Tests are actually ok, but you don't know what to focus when studying since he doesn't give any study guide or review. Go to sections or MSI if you can.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1B
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

he was very hard to understand, homework was not super related to what he covered in class. I basically taught myself the material

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

It is very hard to hear him and he writes on the board most of the time so you have to sit very close. His lectures are long and he tries his best to explain everything conceptually. Reading the textbook actually helps in this class. Grades easy on midterm/final, allows cheats sheets, and curved graciously for my quarter.