Chemistry · Columbia University
the reviews were right--he's a great guy really--just need to put up with some mumbling and illegible handwriting---don't miss a day of class otherwise you'll feel even more like an idiot than the idiot's guide he makes you read- makes you feel....so enjoy....but he's really nice....just not worth spending your money on but what else can you do when its the only course that easily fulfills a requirement?
Hands down the worst professor I've yet to have at Barnard or Columbia.
I had Jim for my second semester of Bio. His lectures cover material not present in the text so attending lectures is a must if you care about your GPA. Overall he is an average lecturer. I wouldn't take a class just because he was teaching it but I also wouldn't run in the opposite direction.
Prof Mohler is very kind and cares a lot about his students. He has good intentions, however you may leave his office more confused than when you came there. He's brilliant and thinks you are not, however, you will feel that you have learned so much by the end of the course. You must study the notes if you are to do well in the class. If you want to understand your notes later, you really should tape the lectures. The take-home midterms are nearly impossible. you will stare at them for a few days before you even begin to understand what he's asking. but if you put enough time into them, you will do well. he puts a lot of time into making them, and they are entertaining, but don't try to figure them out right away, b/c he's notorious for finding mistakes in the data given. you may spend hours and hours trying to figure out a problem only to find that he messed up. this class is hard work, but gratifying if you are up to a challenge. also the curve is very accomodating.
The material in this class is often difficult and Prof. Mohler's teaching style was sometimes confusing. However, despite it being a 9 AM class I never fell asleep. He is a mediocre lecturer, not the worst, not the best. But here comes the good part: He curves around an A! The median grade (usually in the 70s) on all his tests were an A. The lowest final grade he gave was a B or B-. One student even got an A+. His curve is the best kept secret.
substantial readings, about 7 problem sets that are not to be turned in, 2 in-class midterms (speed write if you want to finish on time), 2 take home midterms (worth more than the in-class ones), and a cumulative final.
Two midterms, one final - fill-ins and short essays. He almost never gave full credit for the short essays but the great curve more than makes up for it.