UCSBPlat.com directly in your GOLD Try it Now
CHEM 1B
SYLVESTER B M
Bryanna Sylvester
3.6
370 reviews

371
3.6
CHEM1B . Sylvester B M 2 Months Ago

Had her for both chem 1a/1b, I mean she was okay. Lectures only ever had surface level example problems and her exams always had questions that came out of nowhere, even after going through ALL practice exams and all the book problems. This class is going to be hard no matter but still I feel exams weren't the fairest and set up trying to trick u.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
CHEM1B . Sylvester B M 5 Months Ago

do all the practice exams 2-3x each because tests are basically identical. but her handwriting is so ahh it's like deciphering code on those answer keys... lecture is useless, do aleks, and self teach the entire course to urself and you'll get a B.

1 helpful 0 unhelpful
CHEM1B . Sylvester B M 5 Months Ago

i wish i could take her for the entire chem series. exams are usually similar to the practice problems so do them multiple times!!! (midterms are only 45 minutes) her lecture videos are pretty bad so go to lecture. do book problems (as you would in any gen chem class) and aleks.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
CHEM1B . Sylvester B M 6 Months Ago

Professor did an amazing job of teaching the difficult concepts. Was easy to talk to and made lectures fun and interesting. Exams were difficult but not impossible if you studied and did book problems consistently.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
CHEM1B . Sylvester B M 6 Months Ago

very good lectures. she goes over lots of example problems during them that are similar to what is on the midterms/final. During the example problems provides students the time to do the problem on their own first before she gives the explanation which is nice.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
CHEM1B . Sylvester B M 8 Months Ago

Low ratings are because the course itself is difficult, she teaches well. Don't be fooled— ALEKS is NOT optional, the grade boost is a lifesaver. Exams are hard but 90% of exam problems are ~identical to textbook ones. Grind the heck out of those and you'll do well. Her lecture videos are confusing— Joseph has good vids on yt, or just google it.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
CHEM1B . Sylvester B M 8 Months Ago

Sylvester isn't the worst but definitely isn't the best. Her first midterm and final were very difficult and different from her practice tests, although her second midterm was much more easier and doable. She explains concepts at a very basic level so make sure to do ALL book problems more than once as well as the optional ALEKS to pass.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
CHEM1B . Sylvester B M 8 Months Ago

Good prof! Had her for Chem 1A and 1B, wanted her for 1C. Lectures are fast paced & she writes only on the chalkboard, but videos very similar to the lectures are available for review. Goes over easier problems than you'll see on the exam but provides many extra study materials w/questions VERY similar to the exam. Content is hard, be ready.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
CHEM1B . Sylvester B M 8 Months Ago

The class moves at a fast pace, and although I got a C in the class, I could have put in more effort to study for the midterms. She is very organized and has everything set up in canvas for you to get help or review different topics that are taught. In order to succeed in the class, you need to utilize the book problems and practice tests.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
CHEM1B . Sylvester B M 8 Months Ago

ms girl is so passive aggressive when you ask questions like... and her tests had curveballs like sometimes it deviates from what she says but shes not horrible I'd choose to learn from her compared to some of the other professors.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
CHEM1B . Sylvester B M 1 Year, 7 Months Ago

Professor Sylvester is probably the best intro-chem series professor that the school offers (which is not saying alot). Her lectures are extremely well organized and she provides a lot of resources for you to succeed. The course is just extremely hard, so be prepared to log many hours studying.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
CHEM1B . Sylvester B M 2 Years Ago

Professor Sylvester is a great teacher and super kind. I'm not the best at chemistry, but I'm really grateful for all of the resources she provides to get help. The tests are challenging and cover lots of material, but thanks to the amazing curve I was able to pass this class. Sylvester is great and I definitely recommend taking her for Gen Chem!

1 helpful 1 unhelpful
CHEM1B . Sylvester B M 2 Years Ago

Sylvester was the best chem professor I ever took. Writes things down on the whiteboard and doesn't post direct notes (she has videos) but I liked that because I'm a slow writer and learner. Content is difficult but she's an amazing prof and made it very easy for me. I like her way more than Anyika and Price even (sorry price ily)

1 helpful 1 unhelpful
CHEM1B . Sylvester B M 3 Years Ago

Had Sylvester for first 2/3 of 1B then got switched with Anyika. Sylvester was straightforward and posted lecture videos that covered exactly what was on exams. Had very fair exams with Sylvester but after switching with Anyika, the final was much more difficult. Not as good as Price, but much more straightforward than Joseph.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
CHEM1B . Sylvester B M 3 Years Ago

Sylvester is terrible at explaining key concepts. If you ask questions, she's really no help at all. I often felt more confused after she explained things than if I learned things just out of the book and ALEKS. I strongly recommend taking a different professor for the gen chem series.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
CHEM1B . Sylvester B M 3 Years Ago

really be prepared to focus in her class. do the aleks and dedicate your time to self-learning and reviewing the content because it's hard to follow along through the way she teaches

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
CHEM1B . Sylvester B M 3 Years Ago

That final was so out of pocket nothing could have prepared me for it. Previous exams were nothing like it. The examples in lecture are so different from what you are tested on. The final though was just unbelievable.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
CHEM1B . Sylvester B M 3 Years Ago

You may think you know what you are getting yourself into by taking Chem 1B with Bryanna Sylvester. You do not. The class average on the final was a 50 percent. 50% !!! All the practice and teaching she gives you could never reflect the difficulty of her exams. Would not recommend to a friend.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
CHEM1B . Sylvester B M 3 Years Ago

Fine up until the final. It did not relate whatsoever to any lecture, book problem, midterm or practice test. I honestly think she pulled the problems out of thin air. She also did not teach a single in person lecture, but still wrote the final.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
CHEM1B . Sylvester B M 3 Years Ago

I really am a nice person. But Im here crying because she cant be bothered to explain things thoroughly. This is the first review Ive literally ever done. She wasnt even in class all semester because she had COVID and never explains her examples well so the exams are impossible. This is my 2nd quarter with her so Ik Im not being harsh.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
CHEM1B . Sylvester B M 3 Years Ago

Sylvester doesn't give a dang about her students. I was OUT for a week with COVID and she didn't give a flying funk. I was battling all the demons. She made me take the midterm regardless. I got a 58. DUH. I wasn't about to pass with her terrible teaching and non-empathetic persona.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
CHEM1B . Sylvester B M 3 Years Ago

She teaches through examples but skips over steps which can be confusing for people learning the content for the first time. I personally don't get the sense that she actually cares about her students. When I was extremely sick during midterm season, I asked to take the exam just a few HOURS (not days) later and she said no.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
CHEM1BC . Sylvester B M 5 Years Ago

I had her for 1B/C and her exams were fair. Do her practice exams, go to CLAS, and book problems. Book problems are very helpful for the tricky questions she usually uses towards her end of her exam! The curve for her class is small compared to the other gen chem classes. Her exams are also a time crunch.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
CHEM1B . Sylvester B M 5 Years Ago

All of her lectures are done on the chalkboard and aren't posted online, but are more informative than Prof. Joseph's lectures. Her quizzes and exams are almost identical to the ones posted on Gauchospace, but also use problems taken from ALEKS and the textbook. Would've gotten a higher grade if the final wasn't canceled due to COVID-19.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful