Piotr Kaczynski - Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Professor: Piotr Kaczynski

Department: Chemistry

College: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CHEM220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Orgo sucks already, but he doesn't help it suck any less. Lectures were unclear and didn't seem all that helpful. Tests were hard, but he reused questions from old exams frequently. Class averages were lower than other sections. Try for sulikowski if possible

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CHEM220A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Definitely a challenging course, but very possible for one to do well. Lectures are quite fast-paced, so if you don't do the reading ahead of time, you probably won't get anything from them. Pop quizzes are given at the end of certain lectures and account for a good number of points. Class average was 69%, 19 students got A's, 19 F's

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CHEM222
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Kaszynski is a little too fast-paced for me. He explains the material but not in enough detail to thoroughly understand. Also, he can be pretty tough on his students. During an exam once, I asked him what the structure of acrylonitrile was and he responded with, "guys, this is embarrassing"

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CHEM218A
• 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:

Pros: Very knowledgeable about subject and he explains the formats of his tests... Cons: HARD tests and he isn't good at teaching the information in an understandable manner. Notes were not super helpful in learning the material so I had to study from the book a lot. This class was the bane of my existence last semester...

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CHEM218A
• 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:

He makes this class very hard. The tests are hard and he isn't very helpful. He loves this orbital theory that the other professors find useless yet he shoves it down your throat. Need to read/ takes notes from the textbook to understand things.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CHEM218A
• 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:

Tough subject but fair teacher, helpful if you want it, cares about his students, an A is definitely possible if you put in the time

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CHEM218A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If not for the pop quizzes (usually there's a warning), lectures aren't necessary to attend. Tests, esp the final, are very predictable. Loves MO-theory, but those questions are also predictable. Orgo isn't intrinsically difficult to understand, but it's a lot, really fast. So just put in a lot of hours doing practice problems and you'll be fine.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CHEM218A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Although his lectures can be abit repetitive, he is very helpful outside of class. Memorize all reactions and mechanisms if you want at least a B. Tests are relatively predictable and fair, but demand much time spent studying. Definitely a hard professor, but an A is definitely attainable if you study your ass off.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CHEM218A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very nice guy and good teacher. Cares about his students and is very helpful in office hours. Lectures can be hard to understand and for the most part cover same thing as textbook. Tests are very hard, but predictable - be sure to memorize reactions and mechanisms! I'd definitely recommend taking this class.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CHEM220B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Pre-meds love to whine, but he's a good lecturer, and writes fair tests. Don't expect to do well without reading and practicing, though. That's the nature of orgo, get used to it.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CHEM218A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Organic Chemistry is hard, and Prof. Kaczynski doesn't make it much easier. In his lectures he repeats the same stuff you have to read in the book. Occasionally he'll crack a joke or give a memory aid, but mostly it's expected that you learn it yourself. The quizzes are pretty bad, but the tests aren't... if you do a bunch of practice on your own.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CHEM220B
• 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:

Orgo isn't easy, but he lectures well. Still need to read the text though.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CHEM218A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Doesn't explain, just restates concepts from the book,and uses the same examples. If you take class with him, be sure to attend TA office hours throughout the class, that way you will actually learn the "matriel."

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CHEM218
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He really wants you to do well in this class. It's organic chemistry, and it's really hard, but he does his best to help you understand it in the allotted time. He's helpful when you ask questions, has good review sessions. You MUST read the book! The tests aren't unfair, just hard. He also cracks jokes occasionally which are pretty excellent.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CHEM220B
• 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:

If you have to take Orgo, you may as well do it with someone who wants, with every fiber of his being, for you to like the subject. Anyone who would lock himself in a room with cranky pre-meds who don't want to be there and review until they actually understand is ok by me. He made me want to work harder in Orgo, and that is amazing.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CHEM220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

not great

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CHEM220B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. K really truly wants you to enjoy his class, and works really hard to try to get you to understand. It's not his fault he teaches organic chemistry.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CHEM221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

horrible class

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 20

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Organic Chemistry was a nightmare with this guy. He was more interested in his computer and overhead projector than teaching us anything.