CHEM 1810

Harman is the most talented instructor I've experienced. He's so incredibly passionate about teaching and his lectures flow with ease. His class is without a doubt extraordinarily difficult with respect to content, but he is very accessible and has >4 office hours a week where he essentially reteaches the content.

Your grade is based off of 3 exams and a problem set. The averages on the exam are typically pretty low; be sure to know the content inside-and-out. If you're passionate about chemistry and wish to pursue it further, I highly recommend 1810.
#tCFF23

#tCFF23 . Class was very interesting for those who enjoy chemistry. If you don't, I would recommend taking the 1400 series as this class is very challenging. First half of course is very physics heavy, with some organic chemistry at the end. As recommended I think having a strong background in chem (IB HL/AP) is useful, but some can get by without. Prof Harman is nice and has engaging lectures, but often spends a lot of time answering questions from students that may not be super relevant to the exam. I went to most of the discussion periods as they are optional, but super helpful to have TA feedback! Additionally, the lectures are recorded from 2020, but I would advise people to attend the lectures and use the videos as review. Overall, enjoyed the class and Harman is generous with the curve.

this class relies a lot on lecture. professor harman is awesome and truly loves and cares for his students, but there are only 4 big grades besides 4 other big HW assignments, which makes tests extremely stressful. I don't recommend this class if you have not taken AP chemistry. It put a lot of stress on my shoulders but I still passed. I recommend only truly challenge yourself if you're a chem major and you want to be accelerated because it works out at the end of the day because you get to be done with general and orgo chem in one year if you want.

harman the actual goat, i highly recommend this class. However, I will say if you have not previously taken AP Chem or IB chem, this will be a bit challenging. Had problem sets that were completion if you did all the problems (not graded on correctness), the discussions were optional, 3 exams that were equally weighted and also given +.5 points back for points missed if you did corrections. if u go to lecture and take notes you will be fine, the old recorded videos are helpful but not required, very chill easy to get A.

This is definitely a difficult course in that there is a heavy weighting on exams. Expect to have a light courseload though, as you will only complete six assignments (three problem sets and three exams). That being said, make sure you meet with TAs during discussion sections to hash out where you are having difficulty in the problem sets/course, go to office hours, watch the lecture recordings, read the textbook (also do the problems at the end of each chapter that corresponds with introduced content), go over the checklists, and do the practice exams. Doing all this will help you tremendously do well in the course. There is some reprieve in the grading of the course, as you have test corrections for each exam (so you receive half points back), and there is a curve applied at the end of the course. However, you do not complete test corrections for the final exam, so they are automatically applied. Also, I believe the grading scale is adjusted due to the difficulty of the course, so the grade boundaries are lower than the standard grading scale (i.e., you don't need a 95 to get an A).

Genuinely one of the favorite classes I've ever taken. Harman is a god and you can genuinely tell he cares about his students - he's warm, inviting, and personable in lecture, which makes the sometimes brutal material worth it. A few words of advice - people say you need to have taken AP Chem to take this class, but you really don't. Begin studying the material at least a week and a half in advance of the exam, and be prepared for the exam questions to be very conceptual. GO TO OFFICE HOURS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE - THEY ARE YOUR NUMBER ONE RESOURCE.
Discussion could be a little tedious, but the TAs were generally nice and you could bring discussion questions to office hours. Get a good study group together fast, do the practice exams, rewrite your notes, and you'll be fine. Make no mistake, though, you need to put in the hours.

Professor Harman is a fantastic professor. He's open, he'll answer any question you have. His enthusiasm and sincerity is palpable in every word.

Before this course, I had never even taken high school chemistry course in it's entirety. I absolutely got my a** handed to me in this course. Due to generous curvature, I was able to end the course with a B+. For context, I would consistently score 10% lower than the class average on exams. I remember seeing my first exam grade, a '60'. My stomach felt convoluted in a way I had never experienced before.

anyway, MOST IMPORTANT
Harman always says have fun with it. Be enlivened and may you embark on a wonderful immersion in chemistry!

Dr. Harman is a fantastic lecturer and person, and he prioritizes your understanding of the subject more than your performance on the tests!! The people in this class are genuinely passionate about Chemistry, and we became a really tight-knit group towards the end! I had IB credit coming in and having that background was extremely helpful as Harman does not go super in-depth into the general chem aspects (though his Thinkwell videos are always there to refresh your memory).

The three exams were 25% each and the remaining 25% were the three problem sets that are graded on completion. You also get half points back for doing corrections on the exams, so don't stress about your grade as long as you performed around average. The final exam was absolutely brutal compared to the first two exams, so make sure you start reviewing early! There is no formal homework, so it is on you to keep up with the content. Highly recommend reviewing the recorded lectures from 2020 starting a week before the exam (and a study group)!

GO TO HIS OFFICE HOURS! He makes sure that you understand everything that may not have clicked during the lecture! With everything that happened this semester, the harder content towards the end was definitely rushed and while I wish that was not the case, Harman was extremely generous with the final curve! I would recommend this class to anyone considering to major in Chem/Biochem! #tCFfall22

HARMAN is the GOAT. He is an amazing an engaging lecturer. Chem 1810 is 100% worth the investment if you love chemistry. It really is a gen chem-orgo hybrid, and I honestly didn’t realize when we started doing organic chem which made exam 2 much harder. You get half credit back on exams and problem sets are basically completion, so the grade really takes care of itself. The class is not easy, but if you took AP Chem and felt like you had a good handle of it, the first exam is super easy and requires very little studying as it’s mostly review. If you didn’t take some form of AP Chem, I have no idea how you would take this class as the gen chem is extremely fast paced and taught thru a lot of review videos. HARMAN releases 2 past exams to use for studying which I found really helpful in knowing what type of questions will be asked on exams. I found the lab to be more stressful than the lecture. There isn’t really homework or assignments outside of 3 problem sets, so you have to make sure you are staying on top of the material or you’ll be stressed on exam week. Overall, if you love chemistry and want a challenge, take this class!

Professor Harman is truly a great professor. He is extremely knowledgeable and always willing to help. I have only good things to say about this course and highly recommend it to anyone coming in as a first year with some high school chem experience. It's less work than chem 1410 (at least according to my friends who took 1410) and the curriculum develops in a way that makes the material really approachable, and at least in my experience led to a really good conceptual understanding of chem. There isn't really any homework (problem sets are done during the discussion section), so the only time you spend on this class outside of lecture is watching thinkwell videos (basically an online textbook), which he stops assigning about halfway through the semester, and studying for tests. Speaking of tests, he accepts corrections for all of them, giving a nice bump to grades.

One thing to remember is that if you take this course you are in the 800 series for chem, which means that you will begin taking orgo (CHEM 1820) your second semester, although you can switch out of the 800 series to the 400s if you want. Between lab and lecture this is 6 credits 2nd semester dedicated to chem, which took me by surprise when I was signing up for classes so I thought I would mention it here.

i genuinely loved this class so much; this is why i want to be a chem major. waking up for the 8 am classes was a bit rough, but i was always so interested in lecture that i had no problems paying attention. i didn't do any work outside of discussions and studying for exams (didn't watch thinkwell videos or review unless there was an exam coming up), and i think i have an A right now even without the curve (final might change that though). i actually enjoyed taking the final-- the questions on problem sets and exams were pretty funny sometimes. i've never been this conceptually challenged by a class, but the way everything came together and made sense in the bigger picture multiple times during this course made it all worth it. i honestly don't even care what my final grade ends up being, as i feel like the experience was very much worth it over 1410 regardless. also, i had a lot easier of a time than my friends in 1410 (less work, fewer assignments, less frequent and shorter exams), so i'd recommend this class to anyone who feels like they have a good chemistry background from high school.

Let me preface this review with, "I was not prepared for this class". I don't know who let me take it, but I definitely did not have the prerequisites to get a good grade in this class. I definitely recommend coming in with an AP-level knowledge of chemistry and not just general high school chem. That being said, even though I was struggling throughout this semester with this class, I absolutely enjoyed it. Harman lays out the material very simply and gives you a lot of extra material that is not required to look at but is super helpful if you don't get the concepts.

You don't have any homework within this class other than three group problem sets that correspond with the test for that section of the material. That being said, practicing the concepts and reviewing your notes outside of class will really help you with exams.

Harman is a wonderful teacher and will make time to help you understand the concepts. I wasn't able to make his office hours this semester as I had a class during that period, but he found time to meet with my at least three times to make sure I understood what I could of the class. I wish I had a better grasp of chemistry so I could enjoy what I learned more, but Harman made it as pleasant an experience as he could.

Also, the exams are difficult, I will say that. That being said, you have a chance to get half points back and there is a curve. You should do fine if you have a good amount of knowledge of chemistry coming into the class and you study.

Harman is amazing!! Fantastic lecturer and really great at explaining concepts. He genuinely cares about his students succeeding and offers test corrections. However, the class is crazy hard. Only take if you genuinely are interested in chemistry. As a point of reference, I came into this class having gotten a 5 on AP Chem with near perfect grades, and I STILL had to work my ass off to get a good grade. But if you are considering chemistry or pre-health, consider this course!!

Heads up, this is a COVID specific review. Harman is such an amazing professor and person, I highly recommend attending office hours at least once just to get to know him. You grade is comprised of three exams, each 25%, and three problem sets that make up the last 25%. There's no real homework other than videos and readings that help you understand the content learned in lecture, but aren't graded or specifically on exams. The exams are based entirely on lectures, all of which were recorded, which was a godsend. Re-watching lectures before tests helped a lot. Highly recommend getting your answers checked on the problem sets because it guarantees you an easy 100 in that category. The first two exams you'll be able to do corrections on and get up to half of the points you missed back, which is really generous, but the questions are hard so that's why. Just know that around half of the class ends up with an A, so don't feel too bad after you get your first test grade back! Good luck!!
#tCF2020

Harman genuinely cares about his students succeeding. I was up for the challenge in this class, due to my affinity for chemistry. However, be aware, this class's exams are HARD. They challenge you to use your general knowledge from class and apply it to specific situations. I ended up finishing the class with a B, but I'm not too bitter because it could have been a lot worse. Harman acknowledges that the exams are difficult, allowing test corrections to regain 50% of the points you missed. The amount of work you need to do outside of the classroom doesn't take that much time, and it's an easy A to 25% of your grade.

This class is HARD. I took this class first semester of first year because I loved AP chem, and I really regret it. Do not take this class if you don't really push yourself and put in the time and effort to deeply understand all of the concepts. That being said, the curves for the exams are very generous. There were 3 exams, each worth 25% of your grade, and "problem sets" that added up to 25% of your grade. The problems sets were an easy 100 for completing them. You can do pretty bad on all of the exams and still pass, but this class will drop your GPA if it doesn't click with you.

This is a great course for people who are truly passionate about Chemistry! Dr. Harman is amazing; he truly cares about how much his students learn and does not want the difficulty of the exams to have a huge effect on your grade in the class. The amount of work is extremely reasonable, the problem sets are very effective in preparing you for the content on the exams, and while the exams are meant to be challenging and get you to think out of the box, the grading is also incredibly fair. Your performance/grade in this course will be very much dependent on the amount of initiative you take; Harman does not baby you and check in on you every day to make sure you understand what is going on. It is up to you to watch the videos/do the readings on time, pace yourself with the problem sets, and make sure you understand the material before the night before the exam. If you are passionate about chemistry or if you are leaning towards majoring in Chemistry, this course is definitely for you.

I wasn't the best student in this class because of how early it is, so I kept dozing off or zoning out. Hence, few days of grinding hard before the test. If you think you understand the material after the lecture, you are mistaken. I'm not criticizing professor because he is great. What I mean is that, you actually need to practice harder questions than the class material, because otherwise you may be doomed for the test. I got a mediocre grade for first test (just about the average) but still pulled A, so don't feel bad after "bombing" your first test...

Professor Harman is a great professor himself, but the material he teaches is very complicated. Do not go into this course just because you think you did well in AP Chem in high school or because you have a big ego. Go into this course because you want to be challenged and would rather gain a deep understanding of the material and compromise that premedical GPA. This is a great group of people to be around because almost all of them genuinely care about chemistry and want to help their fellow students pass the call. Expect low exam grades but corrections are allowed on both of the midterms. The final does not have corrections but there is a curve for the final grade of the course. Not as much calculations as the other chemistry courses but considerably more conceptualization. Good luck.

If you take this class with Harman, you will not regret it. He is by far the best professor I have ever had, and he explains everything in a way that is understandable. If you want to be a chemistry major, you need to take this class. That being said, it is not easy, and you have to put in the hours outside of class to study. The only grades you will have are 3 curved tests, and 3 problem sets, so it is hard to make up points if you do poorly on one test. Don't let that discourage you though, Harman is the best you will have.

Dean Harman is one of the best instructors I've ever had. He is engaging, encouraging, and always willing to go the extra mile to help students understand the course material. Don't be fooled, however, this class is very spicy. You'll learn quite a bit, but seeing people pull A's while you come to grips with your first B's or C's (before the test corrections worth half credit and the generous curve are thrown in) can be hard, but the class is still worth it in the end. Like others have said, be sure to go to office hours and use all the study materials he gives for exams.

Speaking of exams, he always includes some random information on the front page of his exams. Anything from trivia to cheesy jokes is up for grabs, and they make all the exams slightly less traumatic.

Back to Harman now. This man is God's gift to chemistry students. I slept through half a lecture one day, and after desperately failing to copy down all the notes on the chalkboards, I went to his office hours where he taught another student and me the entire lecture all over again. I would take How Hard Can Harman Punch 1211 if it meant another semester with the GOAT.

If the class wasn't at 8 am, I honestly think I would have payed attention more. Harman is an excellent teacher, I was just too sleepy to listen to him. He gives you half the points that you missed back if you do test corrections, which kinda tells you what kind of teacher he is. He wants you to learn and understand the material. He's not trying to fail you. Harman's office hours are very helpful and I would definitely recommend going to them to help clear up any material you don't understand. It's like having another class, except not during 8 am. lol.

Harman is easily one of the best professors at UVa. Yes, this class is very difficult, but Harman makes it worth it. Definitely show up to class ready to pay full attention, take good notes, and DEFINITELY do the readings in the textbook, they will help supplement the lectures. The tests are difficult, but he allows test corrections, so you'll be fine. Only take this class if you are a chem major and are willing to put the necessary work into it. The more work you put in, the more you'll get out of the class.

Harman is fantastic. I recommend always going to office hours and DO THE PRACTICE TESTS. I didn't do the practice tests in time and it really hurt me. For me, it worked best to complete the practice tests to the best of my ability before the review sessions and then get clarification there. This class was great and he curves generously, but the lab is awful. I would honestly be continuing the series if it weren't for the lab. Did I mention that you should always do the practice tests?

Harman explains material in an intuitive and concise manner through example-based lecture instead of providing lists of terms and facts to memorize. He also gives many interesting applications of the material we learnt. The class is reasonably fast-paced and filled with many desperate pre-med students.

Harman. Greatest professor I've ever had. Really made sure you were understanding his lectures. Amazing grasp of the subject, and you can really tell that he really enjoys what he does. Problem sets are designed to make you think about the material, but they're not bad at all. Also gives you exams from prior years to practice. Awesome guy. Awesome course.

This class was the best! It involves very little memorization and is entirely conceptual. You don't learn anything without understanding the reason behind it, which is awesome! The things we had to memorize in AP Chemistry are explained thoroughly in this class and it makes everything make so much more sense. Professor Harman explains high-level concepts in such a clear, understandable way and really makes sure everybody understands before moving on. He is very approachable and willing to take time to answer your questions. However, the class is definitely challenging. The exams are fair, but they require that you thoroughly understand the material. You have to apply concepts taught in lecture to problems very different from what we went over explicitly in class. You will do fine on the exams if you understand the concepts well and can apply it to any type of problem. I would definitely recommend this class to anyone who is willing to work very hard, took AP Chem, and wants to have a better understanding of chemistry.
Advice:
- Take thorough notes in lecture. Record the lecture if you are a slow writer or don't think you will catch everything the first time through.
- Carve out time after each lecture to re-write your notes so they are legible and in your own words. While you're doing this, make sure you understand what you're writing and try to make connections so that you make sure you understand the concepts. You will not regret this!! It makes studying for the exams a lot less stressful.
- Do the problem sets (you meet weekly in the evening for 2 hours to work on problem sets in small groups) and understand how to do every problem! They are a big grade boost, but they are also crucial for your understanding and they help you apply concepts from lecture to other types of problems.
- Go to office hours if you have questions because Professor Harman will make sure you understand.
- Start studying for exams a week in advance. Read through your notes a little each day, focusing on the big picture concepts.
- Do the practice tests (Professor Harman emails out the 2 previous years' tests) the weekend before the exam as if it were the real thing. Also, don't panic if you struggle with the practice tests because the material covered in the course changes a bit year-to-year so last year's test might feel slightly harder to you. But still take the practice tests very seriously because they help you practice applying concepts. If you want more practice before the exam, re-do the problem set.
Overall great class!! Highly recommended for people motivated to learn!!

The class essentially teaches you to understand concepts. How well you comprehend these concepts and how you apply these concepts in situations that you haven't seen before will ultimately determine how you fare in this class. This class doesn't involve a whole lot of memorization, but will really test on how well you understand the material. I cannot emphasize this enough - to do well, you have to fully grasp and be comfortable with the material. That said, there is a generous curve, with around 40-50% of my class getting an A/A-, and Professor Harman is indeed an excellent lecturer. If you are looking for a truly intellectually stimulating course that stretches your chemistry knowledge to its limits, and pushes it even further, do take this course. The studying methods and the way you think will change for the better after taking CHEM 1810.

Dr. Harman is a very knowledgeable and helpful professor! The class is challenging, but is very much worth all the effort you put in. I have learned so much in the course. My favorite class I have taken so far!

This class is not easy, but Professor Harman is by far one of the best professors at UVA. He is so knowledgeable about the topic, and will spend as much time as you need on a specific example to make sure everybody understands it. That being said, this class requires a lot of outside work, and the tests are tricky. However, he sends out the past two years worth of practice exams, a study guide, and allows test corrections for half credit. They adhere to their point that kids should be "rewarded" for choosing the higher path; this was true. Would recommend for any science majors or chemistry majors, Harman is awesome and you really do leave this class with a fundamental understanding!

Most engaging class I've ever taken. Take it if you have any interest in chemistry. The best part was being around so many motivated, intelligent people and listening to the connections Walter Harman makes to biochemistry. Take 1810!!!

I don't know if incoming first years even read The Course Forum. But if you're out there, here's some advice: don't even consider taking this course if you didn't get a 5 on the AP Chemistry exam. I got a 4, worked my ass off in this class, and then got it handed back to me. It's hard work and the class is full of really smart kids. I had a much better time in the 400's series for second semester.

I'm sure some people with 4's can handle it, but I couldn't. And I didn't have anyone giving me this perspective. Take the class if chemistry is really your thing. If you're doing it for the "honors", it doesn't matter .

My favorite course for my first semester. Professor Harman is literally the best teacher I've ever had. He makes the material exceptionally interesting and understandable. If you're either talented in chemistry or well experienced in it, I highly recommend it over 1410.

This class was incredible. Professor Harman was absolutely amazing. He is a wonderful professor. Loves what he does, and is really enthusiastic and helpful.

If you took AP chem in high school, take this course. But even if you didn't, and you're up for a challenge, take it anyways. Harman's class isn't general chemistry--you learn in a completely different style that I really loved. I heard nothing but complaints from my friends in 1410 all year while I felt that this was one of my easier classes. You really have to put the time in with the videos at the beginning of the class but after a month or two they're done and you really don't have much work. There are three problem sets that you do with a group, so get a good group the first night of discussion. Tests are hard, but all he really cares about is that you learn and understand the material so he gives half points back on the two midterms, and curves the final. I had about an 86 raw score test average and ended up with an A so its not very hard. And of course, Harman is fantastic--you will not have a professor that has such a love and understanding for their material. Bottom line is that if you put the time in, you won't regret taking this class.

Harman is a great professor and the course material is very interesting. It is a tough class, but Harman makes himself available to answer questions. I am very happy that I chose the 1800 series because it has been a good challenge.

Tips: ALWAYS do the practice exams before the test, go to office hours, and check your problem sets with the TAs before you turn them in.

Dr. Harmon is hands down the best chemistry professor there is! The class is extremely difficult when you first started. I got an A+ in the class but the first day was really confusing. It gets better, though, as the class goes on.

Harman is an amazing teacher! Just don't do what I did and think that because I aced the first two midterms, I would do okay on the final and get a good grade in the class. My poor final grade really hurt my course grade, but I still loved the class.

Harman is a great professor and does a great job of making the class interesting and fun. He handles questions and hard concepts very well. Some material pretty hard to grasp but he does his best to make sure that everyone understands it. This is a good class to take to figure out whether or not chemistry is for you. With test corrections it's hard to actually do poorly in the class.

I am only a first year but this was one of my favorite classes at UVA. Professor Harman is fantastic, possibly one of the best at UVA. Not only is he brilliant but he makes the material fun and enjoyable. The class isn't easy but it is easy to do well in, put in the time out of the class doing the readings/watching the videos, go to discussion to do problem sets with a group, and go to the review session he has before the exam and you will do fine. If you are on the fence between 1410 and 1810, challenge yourself and take 1810 with Harman, you won't regret it.

As a class on its own I would say it is hard but enjoyable and you would learn a lot. HOWEVER, the 800 series will be the end to your GPA, your social life, and possibly your happiness. Once upon a time the Chem department said "Hey wouldn't it be cool if there was an advanced track in Chemistry?" Without really having a plan... the end result is that random professors end up teaching whatever they feel like with whatever arbitrary expectations on the basis that the class is "advanced". And once you find out you're in over your head, it's too late- the sequence of classes and the prospect of med schools asking why you switched out makes it near impossible to go back to the 400 series...
tl;dr This class is good but it brings nothing but suffering afterwards! Not worth it!

Professor Harman will gladly guide you through the course when you work hard for it enough such as going to the office hours. Tests are hard and the fact that there are only three tests are bit overwhelming at first. However, he does gives you a chance to recover. You will definitely enjoy this class if you enjoy chemistry.

if you're interested in chemistry, i recommend this course. the material isn't easy but the professor and the tas are quite helpful. they really like the subject and want you to too.

Professor Harman is extremely enthusiastic about what he teaches, and he is very adept in drawing analogies toward chemical terms that are normally incomprehensible. His tests are hard but the letter cutoffs are quite generous.

W. Dean Harman is a fantastic teacher. He is very nice, calm, and clear in his lectures. The material can be pretty difficult, but with his help you'll get through (go to office hours). The main drawback about taking this class is that the next semester you'll be taking from...dun dun dunnnn...Sundberg, who is absolutely terrible.

I was a little apprehensive about taking the 80 series, as my high school chemistry background was extremely weak compared to my peers <cough>TJ kids<cough>. However, Professor Harman teaches in such a way that he makes the enormous amount of information to be learned seem easy and effortless to grasp. I would recommend him 100%.

One final note: he's a little TOO nice when it comes to answering questions, so if you have a few brownnosers in your class asking inane, pointless questions, well... you may need to do some reading on your own, because he will answer EVERY question at the expense of the lecture.