Richard Lavallee - Santa Monica College

Professor: Richard Lavallee

Department: TBD

College: Santa Monica College

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CHEM10
• 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:

Goes way too fast during lectures, expects students to learn material on their own if he hasn't gone over it, and thinks he's above everyone else. Please find another professor.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CHEM10
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I'm currently an organic chemistry student at SMC. He was my first chem professor here at SMC and he's been the worst so far. I come back to warn you all... DO NOT TAKE HIM. He does not care about the students AT ALL. Horrible professor.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CHEM10
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS FOR CHEM 10! He is a horrible and rude teacher. He goes way too fast during lectures and confuses you even more if youre already confused. He gives way too much work and he is super extra. All he tells his students is that you wont pass this class. DO NOT TAKE FIND A BETTER PROFESSOR !

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CHEM10
• 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:

Just don't take his class. period't ... Take anyone else. Literally, anyone else.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CHEM10
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dont ever take this teacher, worst ever. Biggest mistake of my life

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CHEM10
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor Lavallee's classes are tough, and he can sometimes be a bit hard on students. But you will gain a solid ground for chem if you just can keep up with him. Solve all of the practice problems, and attend office hours! He will help you a lot if you just reach out to him. He is great for people who are a bit of an overachiever/loves challenges

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CHEM10
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

From the first day, he told the class that 1/2 of us wouldnt pass. Hes so sarcastic and rude. He gets mad when people ask questions. He takes off points for unnecessary things. He makes you feel stupid and he doesnt help out too much . Drop the class if you think you arent passing. I WOULDNT TAKE HIM!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CHEM10
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Overall he is a pretty bad professor. If you don't know any chemistry do not take him. I had taken AP Chem in Highschool with high success and i barely managed to get a C. His tests are graded very harshly and he removes points for stupid reasons. A headache of a professor that i don't recommend anyone take. There are better options.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CHEM10
• 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:

His lectures are deceptively simple and easy to understand. You'll feel like you understand the lecture, have no questions, and fail anyway. Uses an "arbitrary" grading scale (in his own words!), takes away more points than questions are stated to be worth, marks correct answers "wrong" if he doesn't like your approach. Avoid if possible.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CHEM10
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Avoid taking his class by any cost, he is very condescending with all students, If you ask a question he will refuse to answer it, or he will answer you in a very sarcastic way, He always will find and excuse to take points away from your work, He is very lazy also, he will give you a handout instead of doing his work which is teaching.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CHEMI10
• 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:

Taking Dr. Lavelle' s class s my biggest regret. I worked really hard, but nothing helped. His tests are super hard and the problems are nothing that you do in class. He rushes through the lecture and does the easiest problems on the board. Don't take this class unless you have a good foundation. There were barely any students left by the 5th week!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CHEM10
• 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:

He's a bit condescending, but will kinda help if you ask. His test are the main problem. The practice he gives you is not like the test. His grading is rough. He finds any reason to deduct points. If you do take him, take my advice: always write the units and read the chapter because he only covers the bare minimum in lecture and goes really fast.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CHEM10
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

You will not do well if you don't have a strong background in high school chemistry. He only goes over the introductory portion of each topic and will give extremely hard problems on the test. The webassign homework will not help with the tests he gives. He grades extremely hard. Its not a good idea to take this class if you care about your grade.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CHEM10
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I would personally not recommend this class as a first choice because it was extremely hard. Most of the students in my class were struggling, with a lot of studying and hard work, we all passed with C's and B's. Dr. Lavallee is not a bad guy how people describe him, if you put in the extra time and work, you will get the grade you deserve!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CHEM10
• 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:

He is the worst and is so disrespectful. He constantly mentions in class how smart he is and seems like he lectures to only to impress himself. You can't ask questions, if you do he laughs and snorts at you and won't answer the question because "you should already know the answer since this is a remedial class at a high school level."

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CHEM10
• 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:

By far the worst teacher I've ever had, I'm the type of student that likes a strict teacher, since most of the time they are very excited about the subject, but this teacher makes you feel dumb when you ask questions, is rude and condescending. DONT TAKE HIS CLASS UNLESS YOU HAVE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF CHEM. Biggest regret adding his class :/

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CHEM10
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you are or plan to be a Chemistry major this class is for you. Do not take other wise. Professor Lavallee will challenge you and will prepare you for higher level courses, at the expense of your hard work and time. You can not slack off or you will fail. Not an easy A. He's a difficult instructor but he is inspiring to the right people.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CHEM10
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Don't take the class unless you have to. He's a tough grader and gets mad if you ask questions. Drop the class if you are not sure that you're going to pass. Class is stressful and it has a lot of homework. Awesome subject but avoid taking it with him.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CHEM10
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Strict and rigid

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CHEM10
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Lavellee is not a good instructor for intro to chemistry. He expects students to have prior knowledge and runs his class like a fast pace review for chemistry. Online hw/quizes, inclass problems, and practice sheets DOES NOT match nor DOES NOT prepare the student for the exams. Exams are extremely difficult and does not give feedback on labs.