Varis Grundmanis - Hawaii Pacific University,Honolulu, HI

Professor: Varis Grundmanis

Department: Science

College: Hawaii Pacific University, Honolulu, HI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MARS3000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He was okay. You can tell that he loves his area of study, but made me feel stupid and didn't care that I was a freshman in a class of juniors/seniors (I was bumped up due to credits that transferred from HS). He stressed getting things right, but when I pointed out an error, he told me that it didn't matter and didn't explain anything to me.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MARS3003
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This course is very difficult and the assignment takes a long time to complete. Start them as early as you can. The instructions can be confusing, but if you ask questions and go to his office hours, it makes so much more sense.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MARS3002
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He really cares about his students, but his lectures can be long and tedious. Studying outside of class is very important and keeps the material fresh. Take the weekly quizzes seriously because it pays to study for them and the extra credit helps.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MARS3001
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This course was wonderful, but it was a lot of work and the homework would take me hours to finish. This is a lab class and the assignments are full of calculations, graphs, and tables. It was worth it though and I really enjoyed taking it. He helps a lot if you ask him for it and he gives you exactly what you need to pass.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MARS3000
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The whole grade for the semester is based off of two exams. As long as you take the time to review the material and really study, it is not too bad. He also gives an extra credit quiz every Monday that is worth 1 extra credit point, but it makes you study the material and eventually you could have a decent amount of points.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CHEM2053
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is respected in the marine science department, but his general chem labs are VERY HARD. He expects a lot (too much for a gen chem class) and is not lenient if you mess up on calculations or grammar. Unless you are very good at excell and understand everything about chemistry, avoid taking his class.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MARS3000
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Amazing teacher! His classes are hard, almost infamously so, but you learn a lot. He will help you with anything you need so ask him!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: OCEANCHEM
• 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:

Had Varis for chemical oceanography. Heads up, he teaches from the course required book, but gets his test material from the end of chapter questions out of old books in the library!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CHEM3040
• 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: N/A

Comment:

I took quantitative analysis and aquatic chemistry from Varis. He holds his students to high standards, but is more than willing to help. His classes can be tough but I definitely recommend him as a professor.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CHEM2053
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I have never met a more rude professor in my life. He's a grumpy old man who's ridiculously paranoid about plagiarism, which is stupid sensing it's a chem lab where all the results and numbers are typical all the same. He rambles on about the most useless/already known info during lab. Chem labs used to be interesting to me. Now they aren't.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MARS3000
• 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: N/A

Comment:

HORRIBLE! I hate the grading, the entire course is based on 2 very difficult tests. Boring lecture, much of it useless information. But, had to take the course...

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MARS2052
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Wonderful Professor! He expects respect, and lots of work, but he's there to help outside of class. Utilize office hours! Be prepared to work in this class, but if you don't take it you're missing out. He is a genius and can answer any question you ever have about marine science, even if you're not in his class.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CHEM3054
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Hard, but the best class i have taken at this school. He is very helpfull outside of class time. Expect to work hard and gain a ton for this class and him.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MARS2050
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

His test are hard you need to know alot but in the end you learn sooo much. I know it can be scary to ask a teach for help but once you do he is so willing to help you. he wont give you the answer but he will help you get there. HARD but worth it

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MARS2061
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A lot of people say his lab his hard. IT IS NOT! The important thing is to get ahead with your work and always look over your graphs. He will help you and check your work. Sometimes the work can be overwhelming, but it doesn't take 40+ hours/week. Have an open mind in the course.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MARS2060
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Cool guy. He helps you with everything. Oceanography is not my major and I had this class in my first semester after I came here from Germany, but he made me so interested in Oceanography that I will add it as a minor.

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Suuuuper awsome. alot of work. lab is abour 40 hrs a week of outside work. in this class you will know what its like to work in the field. very helpful and very smart. varis rocks. seriously, if you are serious about MARS take this class

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: OCEANOGRAPHIES
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Varis is the bomb. his classes are monster hard, but you learn so much from him. He's willing to help you with anything and everything outside of class- I even ask him for help in some of my other classes. he loves what he teaches but expects you to work. Don't expect to slack off in any of his classes, but be prepared to learn a ton of info.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: EVERYTHING
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

extremely challenging, respectfullyso.

Rating # 20

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

He expects a lot from his students. He's so smart and a great guy. He's helpful, but doesn't just give out the answers. He helps you find the answer yourself. You will learn more than you think possible to learn from one person. Awesome prof!