David Sommerfeld - University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Professor: David Sommerfeld

Department: TBD

College: University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CHEM102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I never went to class because it was pointless. He reads directly from the powerpoint during class, and then posts them online afterwards. I never went to class and got through the tests using what I'd learned in high school. He's nice but boring as hell. And don't bother buying the book, I didn't use it once.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CHEM102
• 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:

he is the most useless unhelpful and heartless teacher i've ever had. DO NOT take his class.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CHEM102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

useless and pompous.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CHEM112
• 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:

To tie it all up, the class average for each and every exam was never above a 55. Half the class failed. I am retaking this class now with a different professor, and I saw at least 30 people that I recognized from the class I took with this guy.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CHEM111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Boring. Relied on my chem knowledge back in High school. Class is very easy however. Didn't read the book. Professor doesn't clear up issues really well and doesn't seem to enjoy answering them. Tests are fair. If you have a good knowledge of basic chem, this shouldn't be too hard.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CHEM112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I guess the only reason I did well was because I had learned all the material in high school. The book was REALLY useless. I personally never used it, but it may be different for others...

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CHEM111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

this guy is not a good teacher.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CHEM112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

STAY AWAY!! His tests are hard and unfair. EVERYONE in the class did poorly on them, so what does that tell you? Just plan awful.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CHEM112
• 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:

Sommerfeld made me want to puke. He showed no interest in teaching and his tests were unfair. I would stay clear of this man at all costs!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CHEM112
• 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:

He is not a good teacher at all...he knows a lot about the subject but has no interest in actually helping students learned. Pretty sure that the average on all four of the exams was failing. Do not take him unless you have too...also notes are online and the book helps a lot, also he gives no practice exams which sucks =(

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CHEM112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Completely and utterly useless. Lectures are a waste of time, tests are unfair, and he is condescending and thinks this class is the most important offered. avoid at all costs, an untrained monkey could teach better.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CHEM112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

his TA didn't help at all... most of the time, the TA or SI session leader wouldn't be sure about the way the professor teaches or the way he would approach certain problems on tests. So there wasn't much helpfulness at all...

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CHEM112
• 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:

Anyone in their right mind should not take this course with this professor.Take Chem with someone else. He simply can not teach. The test are very unfair. I had a 4.0 until I took his class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CHEM112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

definitely not the best prof i ever had! don't piss him off or ask "stupid" questions unless you want a smack attitude in return. gets fed up really easily with confused students. only good thing is that exams are short and he's VERY fair with partial credit- only way i did well on exams! but be ready to teach yourself...

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CHEM111
• 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:

This man cannot teach!!! I had to teach myself everything. He doesn't explain things and his tests are hard. I only went to class for the PRS....it was totally useless otherwise.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CHEM111
• 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:

This guy is horrrible. The only reason I pulled a B is because of HS AP chem back in 2005. I mean totaly useless. His study guide is all the bold faced words, won't allow extra time at all on exams, rude, tempermental, and pompous. If you have him switch to Adams...he is wicked cool and relaxed. I went to his lectures instead of Sommerfelds

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CHEM111
• 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 advise anyone in their right mind to not take this course with this professor. If you need a PS then wait a semester and take Chem with someone else. He is impersonal, short tempered and shows no desire to help his students. You get no cheat sheet and he rarely (if ever) scales the exam. He throws out information and expects you to understand it.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CHEM111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Quite honestly, I find it hard to use sober language while writing about this guy. Definitely a thumbs down. Very pompous, wants you to fail, will do whatever is in his capacity to do so.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CHEM111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I do not recommend this professor. I signed up for Adams, but over break got switched to Sommerfeld and could not switch back. I attended both lectures, and still prefer Adams. Adams doesn't use slideshows and is passionate about what he teaches. Sommerfeld just seems run of the mill. Also, exams are hard, and you get no cheat sheet (unlike Adams).

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CHEM111
• 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:

He wasn't the worst teacher I've ever had. I went to class and he posted up the lectures online so was a bit easier. Pay attention, take good notes, and study out of the book. My best advice is to do those problems in the book and know them. He seemed somewhat short tempered, and at times very unclear, but I wouldn't race to drop his class.