Lawrence O'Brien - Orange County Community College (SUNY)

Professor: Lawrence O'Brien

Department: Engineering

College: Orange County Community College (SUNY)

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: GEO101
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

As a person, O'brien is a great guy. He knows how to keep your attention and not be boring about a relatively boring subject. He cracks jokes frequently (which are actually funny) and tries to connect with all of his students. As a teacher, he's a bit tough. Quizzes every class, which are mostly memorization. Tests are a nightmare, though.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: GEO101
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

By no means is the class easy. I had him for a Geology class my second semester and thought he was amazing. I went back and took another class with him. Hes a great guy and easy to talk to.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: GEO101
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Only 2 tests besides the final which both were very hard! Gives weekly map quizzes that are easy if you have a good mmory

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: GEO101
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This is one of the hardest classes I have ever taken. His tests are close to impossible to pass even after hours of studying. The only thing that kept me from failing are his weekly quizzes. He talks way too fast, so it is hard to keep up with him while writing. I would not recommend taking a class with him.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: GLG101
• 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:

WARNING : ONLY TAKE IF YOU HAVE TO. Very hard to understand. Tests are extremely detailed and filled with trick questions and will pull it out of your hand even if you are not done. If you have a slight interest in geology, he will ruin it. Lab is ok if you can memorize rocks, but will trick you as well. Not recommended at all. You were warned!!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: GEO101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Took his class last year, Awesome professor! Definitely my favorite teacher at OCCC. If you're a really good at taking notes you won't need the text book (but it will still help, I only looked at it once the entire semester to see if the text matched the my notes). Just study that and you'll pass his tests, or at least the second test and final.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: GLG301
• 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:

Absolutely loved O'Brien's classes! He is very challenging but leaves a lasting impression. If your looking for an easy A, this is not the place, but I found the classes with him to be entertaining and extremely informational. Thank you Mr. O'Brien!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: GLG101
• 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:

Very very harsh tests that account for most of the grade.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: GEO101
• 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:

IRON PANTS O BRIEN. I LOVE HIM..ESPECIALLY KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ROCKS. ROCK ON OB.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: GEOGEO
• 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:

O"Brien was not interesting for me.His class reminds me of hell. He is conceited and for those of you who think hes "Fun" good luck retaking him. It would be a miracle to get even a damn C. I got a D+ and have had enough. He is the only hard core teach . who teaches GEO101. Theres somethign obviously wrong here! esp.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: GEO101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

O'Brien should get fired.. i honestly don't know why hes still here and teaching!!! I know its college but seriouslly its not fair that he has negative expectations of his class and he doesn't give a crap that his whole class will fail..talks about his life and his life and last time he saw a volcano . I just wanna pass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: GEO101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

O'Brien should get fired.. i honestly don't know why hes still here and teaching!!! I know its college but seriouslly its not fair that he has negative expectations of his class and he doesn't give a crap that his whole class will fail.. (He's inconsiderate, talks about his life and his life and last time he saw a volcano . I just wanna pass!!!!!!!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CHEM120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Too smart to teach at an intro level. Very entertaining adorable man. Speaks way too fast. Tests are brutal. Most of the class have failed most of the tests. Takes off too many points for minor mistakes. Great guy but should be teaching at Cal Tech or MIT rather than community college intro course.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: GEO101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The man gives a fun and fast paced lecture...but his testing is brutal. He gives weekly tests that have nothing to do with the subject at hand, and that is where the majority of points comes from. His actual tests are so hard due to his fond abuse of 'all the above' and 'none of the above' or 'a and b'. If you don't love his subject, you're screwed

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHYSG101
• 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:

You have to love the subject matter as much as he does or you will not do well. He is an excellent professor that uses real world examples, many from his own experiences in the field. I still remember much of what I learned from him and it has been nearly twenty years. That my friends is the sign of an excellent professor. Thank you Mr. O'Brien.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHYSG101
• 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:

Overall an interesting class. Do excellent on his weekly quizes because you will likely fail the tests. Speaks very fast ask him to repeat and take notes. Very nice and funny teacher, has a song for every topic. Read and don't get left behind. Tests are brutal! Majority of the class was taking him for the second time. Good Luck!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CHEM200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took his chemistry class over a summer session a couple years back. He is very intelligent and sweet man who likes rocks(his geology) Overall the class was a little boring but nothing unbearable, the labs were easy and he did try to help students out..

Rating # 18

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Took it over the summer. Tough summer session. You never get out on time. Fast talker, Very jovial. Goes over it until you get it. Handouts on EVERYTHING!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CHEM200
• 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:

Its a big mistake to take Chemistry as a night class that meets once a week for 4 1/2 hrs with him!There were 12 people in my class and at midterm when I dropped the class 7 were failing.He zoomed through lecture and didnt take time to answer ?'s. His tests were impossible! Each ? was worth 10 points,no partial credit and there were only 13-14 ?'s!

Rating # 20

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

He is the funniest man ever! His classes are so interesting and you are never bored. He talk fast and his tests are pretty hard. You have to study a lot! He loves his job and it definitely shows!