John Pollard - University of Arizona

Professor: John Pollard

Department: TBD

College: University of Arizona

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CHEM161
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Pollard really cares about his students. He is an incredible human with many stories & jokes, but most prominently, an incredible professor. He makes concepts easy to understand & really enjoys getting to know his students. Lectures are enjoyable & office hours are even better. I came to UA because I heard him give a mock lecture. No regrets!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CHEM162
• 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:

Dr. Pollard cares more about his students success and learning the material than the grades themselves. He goes very in-depth with his material and uses TopHat but he is willing to make time to talk to you one-on-one and answers emails. Honestly he has been my favorite professor at the UofA so far and will always tell you what you need to hear.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CHEM151AND152
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His honors chem classes are the best, he teaches clear and is always available to answer questions in lecture or his office hours. He pushes for thinking and has lots of practice problems for either you or your table to think and answer. Due dates are clear and preceptors are amazing as well

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CHEM151AND152
• 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:

If I had known about what Dr. Pollard's class would be like when I was still deciding where I wanted to go to college, I would have picked U of A without any hesitation! Pollard is such a fantastic and involved professor and I really feel that his style of teaching has helped me develop a lasting understanding of chemistry! Chemical thinking ftw!!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CHEM161
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Makes the hardest things easy to learn and understand. Makes sure every single person grasps the information. Never dread going to this class even though it was all the way across campus for me.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CHEM161
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Pollard is an amazing professor. He makes very hard concepts easy and fun to learn. The textbook is written by him and online, basically weekly homework through there. An 85 is an A. I finished the class thinking I would get a B because of my test average, but all the other components brought me to an A. You can look forward to that.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CHEM161
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you think you know chemistry from high school AP, IB, honors, etc you do not. Leave it at the door and start from scratch. That said Pollard is hands down my favorite professor. Office hours 10/10 helpful, entertaining, good connections. Tests are hard af but Pollard wants you to do well :) Preceptors/TA's are awesome. My fav + hardest class

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: 103AAND241A
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Although this professor is difficult to understand because he has as strong accent, he is very engaged and makes the class environment a comfortable learning space. The work is easy and clear but it is difficult for me to follow along in the lectures because of the accent.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CHAMISTRY103
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

good job prof thumbs up lets meet again another time

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CHEM161AND163
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I really enjoyed his lectures. Dr. Pollard was clearly very knowledgeable, was very articulate, and did a great job of encouraging class participation. The lab section was not extremely exciting, but this was run by TAs. Compared to general chemistry (CHEM151), I'd say take Pollard's course if you can.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CHEM161
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Pollard is great in lecture but the class in general required a LOT of effort. The tests make up most of the grade but wanted answers explained in a specific way. Extra credit came in clutch. The TAs and preceptors helped you actually understand the concepts so stay on their good sides. I only got an A in this class bc it took over my life

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CHEM161
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Pollard is an amazing person. Don't rely only on his lectures for the tests. Definitely read the book. Attendance isn't mandatory but if you skip you definitely will be very lost. Go to TAs for help, as they grade your work the majority of the time, and are very very willing to help. Study for tests!!!!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CHEM162
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Pollard is the best professor that I have had at college. He is super invested in every student's learning and cares about the development in the way that you think. The teaching team, which does all the grading, can be harsh and inconsistent, and will not correct their mistakes. Leave what you think you know from AP chem at the door.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CHEM162
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Really amazing professor and teaching team, but this class is hard, so be prepared to study in groups several nights a week and take exams that you will feel like you have failed afterwards, but also feel that you were able to find your weaknesses in your knowledge.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CHEM105A
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Pollard and his class was easily the best way to transition into college. Taking the class as a freshman is amazing because he teaches you so much more than chemistry. I would highly recommend taking his class. His lectures are amazing and although challenging at times, it is ultimately rewarding. Awesome class and person!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CHEM003
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Awesome

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CHEM105A
• 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:

Really good professor and enjoyable lectures/problem sets in class. Really stresses thinking for yourself. Would love being in this class if I didn't get graded on it. Would recommend taking CHEM151 instead of the honors section, though. Graders in the honors section got kicked off the grading team because they didn't grade hard enough.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CHEM105A
• 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:

My advice: do not freak about test grades, I failed 3/4 of the exams and still got a B because Sapling+the curve bumps you up SO much. go to office hours. if you fail a test, ask preceptors/pollard to look at your test and explain your misconceptions to you. Do consider that the lab is a LOT more work than regulars, but also WAY more interesting.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CHEM161
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

As someone who did not have AP chemistry I was at a disadvantage in this class because most people had it. The tests are hard so you need to put the time in to study. I ended up with a C because of one bad test so be sure to study hard. His lectures are a lot of fun and he is a very kind professor. Although the class is hard, it is enjoyable.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CHEM105A
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Pollard is the bomb. His class is not at all easy, but it's very valuable in future chemistry classes. He is very approachable and such a dad. He wants you to succeed and knows exactly what he is talking about.