Thomas Keyes - Boston University, Boston, MA

Professor: Thomas Keyes

Department: Chemistry

College: Boston University, Boston, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CH102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I dont get teachers that do freaking problems but in the test fill in the blank and is about words. Then why do you put problems that require using the formula to solve when in the test its about if you understand the concepts or not. Like 30% problems we did in discussion/quiz/hw but 70% about whether you understand the lecture or not.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CH101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you are taking CH 101 off sequence and he is the only professor, take the class another time. Keyes is very condescending and does not care about his students understanding the material. He made it possible to get negative scores on exams and would talk down to his students. He flew through material and refused to put materials online. Avoid.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CH102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Keyes is a terrible lecturer. His slides, which are mostly just wordy powerpoints, are not posted online, although they aren't very helpful. I ended up teaching myself a lot of information out of the textbook. He gets frustrated easily when students don't understand his questions or answer incorrectly. TF David is more helpful than Keyes.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CH101
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Chem 101 with Keyes requires A LOT of work to even to simply pass. While his power points aren't always helpful and are hard to follow, there are many opportunities that enable you to do pretty decently on the tests if you study really well. I, personally, took Chem 102 over the summer at a state school but actually did better in Keyes' class

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CH101
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Keyes is a condescending, unhelpful, terrible excuse for a professor. His ppts are giant blocks of text + he doesn't post them anywhere. Started taking off points after the 1st test for answers he deemed "nonsensical" so we could actually get a negative score instead of a zero-- shows how little he cares about learning. And he's not even a chemist.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CH101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Worst professor I ever had. He is rude and extremely unhelpful in explaining concepts. Exams do not match up to the material gone over in class. On the other hand, David (his TF), is excellent. Take advantage of discussion and ask David for help! I highly recommend taking CH101 with a different professor.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CH101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Perhaps worst professor at BU. I don't like to criticize professors because even if I don't like them they're still brilliant and accomplished, but Keyes is a mean, condescending, unhelpful person who should not be teaching. David (the TA) is only person doing any real teaching. Lecture and discussion not reflective of HARD tests. STAY AWAY

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CH102
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Made fun of my best friend's disability.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CH102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor Keyes has very hard tests, but that is to be expected in Chemistry. He gives ample opportunity to succeed, so as long as you work hard and take advantage you will do well.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CH101
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Although he is a bright man, he doesn't teach effectively. I'd advise you to review the material that'll be covered in the upcoming week the weekend before, and add details to these notes during lecture. Lectures are dull and he clicks through slides quickly so don't rely on them for initial note taking. Discussions with David keys to success!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CASCH101
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Unclear and very confusing lectures.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CH101
• 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:

Professor Keyes is a really nice guy and he tries his best to explain the concepts. If you have a question he is more than willing to go in depth to answer it. BUT he is not very good at communicating; I had no idea what was going on the entire semester. The class was stressful but manageable if you know how to study on your own. The curvebff

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CH101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Keyes is clearly invested in making sure that his students understand chemistry concepts, but his lectures aren't always the clearest (especially if you haven't read the book ahead of time). Read the textbook/watch videos and take advantage of extra credit & office hours -- if you put in the work outside of class, you should be alright.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CH101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Keyes is very confusing, boring, and rude. He doesn't put any of his slides online. You need to read the book to understand anything, so don't fall behind in reading. But David, his TF, is incredible and will explain everything much better. It is up to you to do well in this course. His one saving grace is that he offers extra credit!!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CH101CH102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Keyes is a terrible professor. He is dull, his powerpoints are no help, and his tests are fill in the blank. In a chemistry course. Which makes no sense. He is rude and unsympathetic and made fun of a kid who was having a hard time presenting due to the fact that english was not his first language. He is an awful person and teacher. DON'T TAKE HIM.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CH101CH102
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I'm an English major, but also pre-med, so CH101-102 is a requirement. Unlike most of the reviewers here, I'm very glad I took Intro Chem with Keyes and TA David. The content is VERY conceptually heavy. I struggled with AP Chem due to the math components, but Keyes focuses more on the concepts, which gave me a more wholesome learning experience.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CH102
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is very unclear during lecture. his test are unclear fill in the blanks so you could be right but its not the answer he's asking fro so you'll get it wrong. Go to DAVIDs office hours he's way more helpful than keyes and much nicer

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CH102
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Overall he's pretty good. If you put in the work and actually study the class really isn't that hard. He's pretty clear in lecture but discussions save you! Do the practice packets and you'll be fine! curves the grades so as long as you do better than average your grade will be fine

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CH101
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Keyes gives you an interesting perspective on general chemistry, but he has no idea how to teach. The only way to get a good grade is to do a ton of practice problems. The TF can be helpful but is usually swamped because people are completely lost, so you're sort of on your own. If you hate chemistryaren't down to work hard, expect a c or a d.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CH101
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Read the textbook! Keyes is a poor lecturer but he's passionate about chemistry and you can do well if you read the textbook and go to the TF or a tutor for help.