George Barany - University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Professor: George Barany

Department: TBD

College: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CHEM4311W
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This lab was the most frustrating course I have ever taken at the U. Do not take this class with Barany, and consider any other laboratory class instead. Expect two 35+ page reports with lots of regurgitating statements. Lab manuals were not helpful, you are expected to work completely on your own. Lectures were a waste of time.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CHEM4311W
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Barany offered almost nothing as an instructor for the class. He basically taught us how to use SciFinder and Reaxys, then it was up to us to learn about experimentation. I was in a constant state of confusion and frustration. Important deadlines were changed ~4 times, due to faculty oversight, so setting a good personal pace was really difficult.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1905
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Barany is confusing to say the least. He was rarely prepared for class and I was not ever happy to attend. I have only had him for a freshman seminar, but I can tell you, I am so glad that this class is over.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1021
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I ended up going to a different professor's lectures instead because I felt Barany wasn't explaining anything- and I doubled my exam score. His jokes get old really fast, and he likes to throw advice (that he asks for) back in students' faces. His exams often had mistakes and he spent half of the class time talking about WebVista.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1021
• 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:

Different from most teachers in that his tests are mostly based on things he talks about in class. As the year went on, tests got easier. His final was SO easy. He used old test questions for about 80% of the Q's, and pretty much told us the other 20%. He wants you to do well. A great guy, and would recommend him over other professors.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1021
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Scatter-brained and impossible to understand. Read the book and do the problems very carefully. Cares about his students and seems to really love teaching and his subject, just doesn't know how to teach it.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1021
• 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:

Barany is almost impossible to follow. I am a good student and attended every lecture, yet found myself frustrated with his lack of teaching ability. He answers emails promptly, though often with an attitude if he deems your Q stupid. His tests are nearly impossible to study for, though if you memorize lectures you have a fighting chance.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1021
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Worst professor ever, he is an intelligent man, but he doesn't know how to teach what he knows. He NEVER teaches from the book, his lectures are made up of demos he spends the other half of class talking about announcements. I lived in the tutor room, used youtube and tried to teach myself from the book-still didn't do well on exams and had to drop

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1021
• 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:

Honestly, the worst teacher I have ever had. He does way too many demonstrations in class, and when, as a class, he was asked to do more examples, he continued to do more demonstrations, saying they were the same thing. I would avoid this professor at all costs.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1021
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Absolutely loved his lectures. Didn't teach many concepts in class, but his demos were SO cool and usually showed up on the test. If you use the resources available to you (past exams online, tutor room, office hours) you will do just fine.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1021
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Completely worthless as a teacher at the beginning of the semester. Mid-semester reviews came back and he changed his teaching style from all demonstrations to actually an attempt to teach. Didn't help much. Read the book closely, do the practice problems, and you'll be fine.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1021
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He doesn't teach you. His chemistry experiments are fun to watch, but you won't learn much from his lectures. He was even visited by a specialist from the U of M teaching offices while the other chemistry teachers weren't visited --> a professor only gets this if a lot of students have complained about his bad teaching. BEWARE!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

It is a mistake to take Barany's class. Before him, I really enjoyed chemistry and it was a subject i wanted to pursue. Seriously, he is the worst. He makes you depend entirely on the textbook and the tests are too difficult for how little he teaches. He spends too much time joking around and giving completely ridiculous extra credit. Horrible

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1021
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

An acid burn would teach you more about chemistry than this guy.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1021
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

How is this guy a professor? This class infuriated me to no end considering he taught NO objective information or problem solving skills. I had to teach myself from the book and only went to lecture enough times to get participation points. This man is completely useless and should not be allowed to teach.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1021
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I really didn't like him as a professor. He seems like a nice guy, he just CANNOT teach. I was completely dependent on my textbook to learn. I also had to go to another professor's lecture just to learn the material.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1021
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I feel like he's only teaching to get research money. He's a nice guy, but he's a little out of it.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1015
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Probably the worst teacher I have ever had.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1021
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He would be a great guy to have as a uncle, but not the guy I want to learn chemistry from. I would avoid at all cost if you want to learn chemistry.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CHEM1011
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's a really sweet guy but he spent way too much time doing demos and never laid out a strong chemistry foundation. The midterms were somewhat easy and there were questions that pertained to the demos themselves, which means you have to attend lecture.