CHEM W 109C
Kalju Kahn
3.1
102 reviews

102
3.1
CHEM109C . 5 Years Ago

Honestly, I enjoyed having Kahn as a professor. Yes, his courses are very challenging and yes, he'll push you to your limit but he cares about his students and about learning. Work hard as he likes this and is very approachable! Don't listen to the negative hype and be your own judge.

0 helpful 2 unhelpful
109C . 8 Years Ago

He expects a lot from you. Hard as all get out, but he expects you to do well which is refreshing and inspiring. Put in the work, meet with him in his office, go to class and be prepared. One of my favorite professors even though he was tough. Half our class dropped by the midterm, but he teaches you how to learn, which is really why you're there.

1 helpful 16 unhelpful
109C . 9 Years Ago

Only take Kahn if you need to. He relies on online lecture videos from Gainer and other online sources to teach the class. He expects you to learn all of the information before coming to class. Quizzes and tests are hard. He gives you too many resources expecting you to use all of them. Upside is that an "A" starts in the 70s.

7 helpful 1 unhelpful
CHEM109C . 9 Years Ago

He enjoys torturing his students and making his students' life miserable. DO NOT TAKE if you are not going to be a professional chemist!! The quiz questions are something you CANNOT find in your textbook. And he expects you to have 100 hours every week to study for his class and it's IMPOSSIBLE.

12 helpful 0 unhelpful
CHEM109C . 9 Years Ago

He is obviously one of the most intelligent people I've ever met. He was relearning organic chemistry from the same textbook the students used, and he found a couple of errors in the book. His vitamin pop quizzes are nearly impossible. The exams are overwhelmingly difficult, thus my 54% turned out to be a B+.

1 helpful 6 unhelpful
CHEM109C . 13 Years Ago

He hadn't taught 109c since like 2007 so he was definitely rusty with mechanisms etc but still really enjoyed the class. His tests can be ridiculous but he curves generously. also gave explicit study guides... super chill!

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OCHEM109C . 16 Years Ago

Nearly impossible to understand a word that he says for about the first week or two of class. Talks super fast and it is easy to get lost. He is a very intelligent man but his tests are very difficult so there is always a huge curve. Expect to take CLAS to do well and spend alot of time out of class trying to learn the material.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
CHEM109C . 17 Years Ago

It was his first time teaching the class and it took a while to get use to him...but he definitely listened to the class and when we didn't understand something he took the time to explain it. whether or not the explanation helped is a different matter

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CHEM109C . 17 Years Ago

He is not only hard to understand but comes to lecture unprepared. Students are constantly correcting his mechanisms. Tests are fair though.

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CHEM109C . 19 Years Ago

No Comments

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CHEM109C . 19 Years Ago

He teaches differently by not going exactly by the book. His powerpoints are interesting and he has a good sense of humor. I got an A only because he curves the class. Because he curves, he makes the exams somewhat difficult--so that he can distinguish the A students from the others. He is really approachable and nice.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
CHEM109C . 19 Years Ago

Definately not an easy professor, he requires a increased level of conceptual understanding of the topics. Its a lot of work, but once you understand the concepts your ok. Exams are constructed to test your conceptual understanding, by bringing in additional materials and even essays. Its a lot of work but you come out with more than a good grade.

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CHEM109C . 19 Years Ago

This guy is just horrible! If anyone has taken other Ochem classes and considering taking one with him or another, all I have to say is don't even think about it! Bruice is million times better than him in every way. You can't even understand him because his accent is so bad and his tests are ridiculously hard.

1 helpful 0 unhelpful
CHEM111 . 9 Months Ago

The contents aren't too difficult, but you should expect devoting a lot of time in homework assignments, which is like a small project each. Attend lectures definitely saves your time.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
BIOCHEM1 . 2 Years Ago

Dr. Kahn's classes are VERY HARD but his material is always interesting and he constantly pushes students towards harder concepts. If you really try and work hard you will succeed. Please go to his office hours if you need help. He is very kind and supportive, even if he may seem intimidating. DO NOT CHEAT OR SLACK OFF IN HIS CLASS

0 helpful 1 unhelpful
CHEM142A . 2 Years Ago

Don't take him, switch to biochem MCDB or take biochem at another UC. Always thinks someone is cheating, too much homework and assigns before midterms. Made us read a article on wikipedia to find the mistake when it wasn't there as a quiz question. Extremely condescending, started off with 44 students and about 16 were. Avoid him at all cost plzz

1 helpful 0 unhelpful
CHEM125L . 3 Years Ago

He will make you want to give up on college and/or life even though you are about to graduate.

1 helpful 0 unhelpful
CHEM125L . 3 Years Ago

He's passive-aggressive and doesn't grade fairly. Some students answered the same question essentially the same way and one got no points and the other got full credit. He will kick you out of class for using the solutions as other students cause he considers it cheating. His tests are on things he barely covers.

1 helpful 0 unhelpful
CHEMW142A . 3 Years Ago

Get ready to do tons of self- study

1 helpful 0 unhelpful
CHEM110L125L . 3 Years Ago

If you're looking for an A but not willing to work day and night, avoid this man at all costs. Change to biochem in the bio dept if necessary. He is a great professor if you want to learn difficult concepts in great detail. His theory manuals sometimes get difficult to keep up with. Heard rumors that he's mean, but he's always been very kind to me.

0 helpful 1 unhelpful
CHEMW142A . 3 Years Ago

Kahn is by far the worst professor Ive ever encountered. 3 quizzes/week on useless material. Intent on throwing students off, last minute updates to assignments, quizzes, exam structure. Abused his power to intimidate students. Hardest class Ive taken for only 3 units. AVOID AT ALL COSTS, THIS PLAGUE OF A HUMAN WILL RUIN YOUR SEMESTER AND BEYOND

1 helpful 0 unhelpful
BIOCHEM1 . 3 Years Ago

the guy should be fired for abusing students, UCSB admin I hope you are reading this and this guy needs to go. There are plenty of good prof. out there except him, no direction in class, mood points, disorganized, and does not know the content but pretends that he does. A complete joke, who hired this guy, he needs a class in manners.

2 helpful 0 unhelpful
CHEMW142A . 3 Years Ago

It's been a nightmare I wish I could wake up from. If you think about pre-med, DO NOT take his class! If you need biochem for graduation, I recommend taking it at another UC. You will thank me later.

2 helpful 0 unhelpful
CHEM11OL . 4 Years Ago

Professor Kahn is a very difficult teacher. He's also the only teacher who will give you access to concise explanations of extremely complex and theoretical material. You are not disillusioned if your reason for taking his class is to have an opportunity to use your knowlege set to look deeply into chemistry. You are if you think A+ is ab initio.

0 helpful 2 unhelpful
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