Emmanuel Theodorakis - University of California San Diego

Professor: Emmanuel Theodorakis

Department: TBD

College: University of California San Diego

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CHEM152
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I really loved his class. The exams are open-note, but that doesn't mean don't study. The exams are LONG so definitely either know the reagents by heart or condensed cheat sheet readily available. He really appreciates when students participate, and it's a lot more fun when people shout out answers (whether they're right or not).

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CHEM152
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

A man who really knows his chemistry!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: OCHEM140B
• 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:

I really didn't like him. He's just like every other hands off UCSD professor that makes your whole grade based on a couple heavily weighed, difficult exams.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CHEM140B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Funny guy and seems to care about his students but exams are very difficult and not representative of what is gone over in lecture. Easy mechanisms and reactions are shown in lecture but the level of difficulty on exams is ramped up much higher. His notes he provides are good for studying and provide a good general knowledge of the class.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CHEM140B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Explains very easy mechanisms in class but content on exams is extremely hard. Somewhat unorganized in teaching. He's a nice guy who cares about his students but I don't feel prepared at all for 40C

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CHEM140B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He's a caring professor but his exams are super hard. The things he teaches in lecture are nothing like his exams. He really expects you to know your stuff just to pass the class. He doesn't use the whole class time for the midterms and for the final only gives 2 hours. I don't recommend taking this professor!!!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CHEM140B
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Truly horrible professor, his tests are nothing like what he teaches at lectures. I have a good understanding of topics, homework questions but still struggle to understand how he manages to create the hardest exams. His practice tests are also nothing like the actual tests. I don't know how he sleeps at night but he made my life a living hell.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CHEM140B
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is super funny and approachable. However his tests are VERY HARD!!! Its mostly synthesis which he has never done examples of in class. He only does very simple mechanisms in class but tests you on a much higher level on the midterm. His exams are harder than the previous year midterm he gives you as a practice.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CHEM140B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is super funny, and really cares about his students. His lectures are actually worth attending even though it was 8am as the way he teaches the class grabs student's attention. I strongly recommend it although his tests were harder than you expect.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: OCHEM140B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Overall, Dr. E is awesome. His lectures are always a blast to attend. He discusses what is to be expected from you to help you prepare for the exams. His exams are very representative of his practice exams and content he tells you in class, so no surprises! He's such an approachable and chill professor! Office hours are welcoming and helpful!!!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CHEM140B
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Theodorakis is such a great professor! He really cares about his students and their success in his class. Is readily available to help outside of class and does a great job presenting material in a way that is easily understood by students. He is in no way arrogant or intimidating like other chem staff here.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CHEM140B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Ochem is not an easy subject in general but he tried to boil down explanations to the best of his ability! He's super funny and I think one of the best ochem profs at UCSD. He doesn't make you learn all the mechanisms but beware of synthesis problems because that'll be the most difficult part (Primarily what you see in 2nd midterm and final)

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CHEM140B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Maybe it's just me, but I had no trouble understanding what Professor T was saying. The mechanisms in his notes aren't very difficult, but doing the representative exams and homework will help. First midterm was easy (to send a signal to weak students), 2nd midterm more difficult (separates A students and B students) and the final is the final.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: OCHEM140B
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Theodorakis is a hilarious and well respected professor. He makes Ochem fun and enjoyable! First midterm (super easy) is in week 2/3 to weed out the D's and under students. Second midterm (extremely hard) is in week 7/8 to differentiate between the A and B students. Final is HARD.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CHEM140B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

My advice to you is stay on top of the homework and go to the review sessions. He tells you what not to study in the review sessions so you don't waste a lot of time. Overall he was pretty fair since he didn't make us learn overly complicated mechanisms, but his tests are tough because you have to combine multiple concepts into one mech. problem.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CHEM140B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr.T is by far the best organic chem professor I've had. The only downside to his class is the exams are quite difficult but you don't need very many points to simply pass. Getting a B requires some effort (doing hw) but getting an A depends on natural talent since certain problems require you to think but time is limited. His lectures are clear

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: 140B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. T is a brilliant man. His knowledge of his field and 140B in particular is beyond measure. His truly understands the material on a level that can answer any question students throw at him. The spacing between midterms was weird (one was week 3, the other week 9!) but was doable. Final was super difficult but he gave us freebies towards the end.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CHEM140B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He makes ochem very understandable. Clear and funny lectures,but board problems he did were very general. I wished that he would do more examples on the board, but knowing the general cases is very important too. Otherwise, his tests are similar to his practice exams. Midterm 1 was NMR. Midterm 2 was reactions and 1 mechanism. Final- mechanisms!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CHEM140B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This is a very difficult class. Dr. T is an excellent professor and makes ochem easy to follow. I did bad in 140A but really improved in this class because Dr. T doesn't test on random stuff. Instead, the first test is mostly (75% of it) C and H NMR. Second midterm and final are mostly mechanism and multi-step synthesis. Study practice exams!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CHEM140B
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Best professor I've had so far at UCSD, and the only one to keep me up during an 8 am. Makes everything in ochem super clear, something the book tends to overcomplicate. His tests may be more complicated than book problems, but it is all very logical and follows usual mechanisms. Just make sure you don't fall behind. If you want to learn, take him.