John Porco - Boston University

Professor: John Porco

Department: TBD

College: Boston University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CH204
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His notes are not that organized. Be sure to ALWAYS reorganize the notes he gives you. Read the titles very carefully because he isn't always clear when he's talking about something new. An A is very possible with him. Always go to discussion or else you won't get an A. Do all the practice problems/problems of the day and you'll get an A.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CH204
• 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:

Having Rubio for discussion literally will help you pass the class. In lecture, Porco speeds through everything and throws everything at you. But in discussion, Rubio breaks everything down and makes it so much more understandable. Do BACON for extra credit, not hard or long at all, and make flashcards!!!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CH204
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Porco really was the best choice for CH 204. He really does care for his students and tries to accommodate the best he can. However, it is still organic chemistry. My tips, make flashcards, do textbook practice problems, do discussion packets (rubio is awesome) and STUDYYYYY. This class was still mad hard. better than gen chem though.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CH204
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A god amongst mortals. One of the best professors I have ever had. Made organic chemistry so much easier and he is genuinely the nicest guy. Every lecture he walks up the aisles and shakes people's hands. Don't make eye contact with him though when he is looking for someone to lead the stretch because he will pick you.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CH204
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Porco was hilarious and always willing to help you outside of class, but his lectures were often confusing and his notes were kind of messy. Discussion is lead by a completely different professor and they conflict each other a lot, so sometimes it is hard to know what to do on exams. Not a bad class, but will require quite a lot of work.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CH204
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His exams are relatively easy for orgo exams, so it's definitely possible to get an A in orgo with him. He's friendly, but he's not a bad lecturer. One time in lecture he wrote out a mechanism so wrong that a student had to help him with it. Lectures are a waste of time, but go to discussion! Rubio will explain what you actually need to know.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CH204
• 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:

Porco is a great prof, he can be kinda awkward sometimes but he teaches you what you need to know. You're told exactly what reactions and stuff you need to know, it's on you to memorize all of them, and this is orgo 2, so there are a lot. Rubio is the discussion leader and he is the true MVP, make sure to always go to discussion. It helps a ton!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CH204
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Take CH204 with porco! An A is 100% possible with him. If you want to get an A , I advise u to do this: 1) do BACON 2) Go to discussion and do discussion packets 3) Go through pdf lecture noes before tests and do problems of the day 4) If you have time, go over lecture notes after lecture and make ur own paper with all of the reactions

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CH204
• 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:

Porco is your best bet for taking orgo II and passing with a solid grade... esp. for med school. He super nice and has a rockin dad bod. All lectures are posted on BB, so there's not need to actually attend. Be warned though, always make an effort to attend discussion, its the only thing that effectively prepares you for exams (luv u Rubio <3).

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CH204
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Porco; okay lecturer, intelligent organic chemist. Rely on TF Bruno Rubio to get through this course. Also, do well on labs because they REALLY boost your grade and they aren't too difficult. Don't loose silly points by late submissions, etc. ALSO, learn from me: if you don't do too well on the previous midterms, STUDY HARD for final; rly helps!!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CH204
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This class has been enjoyable thus far. I know many people who complain about how he rushes through the material, but he uses the lecture to address classes of reactions or mechanisms. He relies pretty heavily on rubio to explain the nuances. The exams are easy, but they offer little to no partial credit so you need to know everything + MECHANISMS.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CH204
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Porco is merely a lecturer, not a teacher; he rushes through the material without regard for detail or understanding. His discussion leader, Rubio, is a good explainer but is very tricky. Unless you have had prior exposure to organic chemistry, it is very difficult to do well in this class.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CH214
• 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:

The course just has a lot of memorization, so the course just has to move quickly, which makes it difficult to study for tests if you don't study every night. Doing the homework and problems makes the course much easier. The synthesis problems he puts on the exams are difficult, without much partial credit, so make sure to always attend discussion.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CH203
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Relies on the book too heavily and is not at all interesting. He attempts at making the class more fun by having a stretch, but most of the time it's just awkward. While Rubio is alway booked, try to get someone other than Porco if possible. 8am class didn't help either.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CH273
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

never fell asleep during this 8 am lecture! his exams are totally fair - just do the practice problems and show up to class. he curves the exams so just get above the average (not hard) and you'll be fine! also doesn't hurt to go to one or two office hour sessions before the exams, he's really helpful in them.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CH203
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Best professor! At 8am I never even came close to falling asleep. He is very funny and entertaining and you learn a lot. If you do the problems he tells you and the practice tests and go to discussion you should be fine. Expect it to be hard though because it is.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CH203
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

meant to say the final was curved 20 points

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CH203
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Midterm was curved 20 points

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CH203
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Porco is great! He tries to make lectures interesting, which is not always easy with orgo but at least he tries, especially with an 8 am class. His midterms are fair and he curves the median to a 75. So just beat the average and you'll do fine! The midterm was hard but he def curved it.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CH203
• 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:

His lectures are hit and miss, at times he stutters and has a hard time understanding his own notes, which are directly from the textbook. Tests are decent if you study, but the final was way too difficult.