Caring teacher who has clear expectations on grading and curves. The first midterm hits hard if you aren't ready, but the end-of-course curve is really nice.

Sylvester's lectures are a bit fast paced, but she gives you all the tools needed to succeed. Do as many book problems as possible (some book problems are harder than test questions but help you really understand topics), and take all the practice tests (with a timer).

Most of your grade is based on two midterms and a final. She provides practice exams for the midterms and the final, but not all questions are identical. Some textbook problems have also appeared as exam questions. This course can be challenging, but it's definitely doable--ask questions, go to CLAS tutorial groups, STUDY EARLY!

Sylvester is great+funny, but this class drained my soul like a fifteen-year-old laptop's battery. She curved after the final, but grade was based on two midterms and a final (+ALEKS completion). So if ur like me & don't test well, sorry ur screwed. I would rather breastfeed a snapping turtle than ever go near this class again + ALEKS is hell

Very good at explaining the material. Homework and practice tests prepare you well for the exams. Not difficult as long as you pay attention and study a little bit.

Great professor, only downside is the weird questions that come up on the exams. her practice exams prepare you for the midterms and final, but only for 85% of the actual test, cuz there will always be one problem that you've never seen and have to think critically on in a way you haven't really if you want that A.

I really liked how she taught by writing notes on the chalkboard--it made it much easier to follow along and process what we were learning. If you only do one thing to study: DO THE PRACTICE EXAMS (posted on Canvas); the tests are usually very similar. Do them until you understand all the problems and you'll be successful.

This was my first-ever chemistry class, and she made it easy to follow along. The class isn't bad at all because if you don't understand something in the lecture, the videos will also help explain the lecture again. Her sarcasm is pretty funny and she doesn't make the lectures boring.

Sylvester is honestly a solid professor in the chem department. I don't really see why people have given her a hard time in the past. She tells you what to do to succeed and even posts study plans. The practice exams are ESSENTIAL to studying, as she does pull from those as well as the textbook occasionally. Her class is very doable.

Very nice professor who makes an effort to relate to her students. I didn't love her lectures, feels like she simplifies things and moved too quickly at times. Homework is much easier than the tests so be ready to study a lot on your own from the textbook.

She was clear about what to do to be successful. That is, take the practice exams. However, I did find that her lecturing wasn't all that clear. I recommend Joseph if you want to feel like you thoroughly understand the material. Sylvester just gives a very simple explanation without the nuances that sometimes appear on exams.

makes chem pretty easy to understand and gives practice tests that are suuuuper helpful to prepare for exams. i never did book problems and i was fine just do all the practice tests and watch the vids if u miss lecture

I took chem 1a with two different professors (Jospeh and Sylvester) and I found that I loved Sylvesters teaching style a lot more. Jospeh focuses on slides, while Sylvester works it out on the board, and I found that to be really helpful. She is also less strict on tests and relies more on practice tests for problems. Would take again with her!!

In my opinion she is one of the top chem professors at UCSB. If you have the opportunity to take her class, I would.

I was a fan of how she taught! Pretty straightforward.

love her. teaches very well, and will explain things to you if you don't understand. It's obviously hard, because it is chemistry, but she makes it so much more bearable. her tests are pretty easy and straight forward if you do the practice exams.

Sylvester is honestly one of the best chemistry teachers. She bases her exams on the book problems versus pulling random stuff you've never done. Watch the lecture videos and do all of the practice exams and you will be fine.

I actually enjoyed sylvester as a professor, many of my friends did not, I understood almost everything she said in lecture, I thought she was very clear. Tests exactly like the practice tests, but definitely do not procrastinate studying.

her lectures are online so you can miss lecture if needed; gen chem curve is fat i would've has a C without the curve, i went to CLAS bc it is very fast paced but i like how she works everything out on the board with you, do book problems if you want an A, but rlly just do all practice exams bc she gives a lottt and theyre similar to exams

I am so glad that I chose her as my chem 1A professor. Her lecture is fun, she use the simplest words to explain everything. Not a lot of work, just remember review everything and do the practice before exam. Definitely want to take her class again.

Disclaimer: I already know all contents of the course in highschool and only taking as this as an essentially free GE. I seldom attend lectures, but I can attest the she explains stuff pretty well. Only 3 tests: 2 MTs and FT. Tests are always relevant to course material. She uses ALEKS, which is really good (though costly).

I don't really get the criticisms about her tbh. I found her to be a pretty clear lecturer, and I really appreciate that her exams are almost exactly like the practice exams. Do the recommended book problems, especially focusing on the ones similar to the practice exam ones, and time yourself.

Sylvester talks really fast and often doesn't explain topics fully. Just go to CLAS, fully understand each topic and go over book problems. You will be fine, curve is great, she provides wonderful practice exams almost identical to the real exam. Its work, but it is possible to pass!

not good. not okay.