CHEM 2410

This professor makes organic chemistry about as good as it can be. That being said, it's still organic chemistry, and it's very difficult. There is a content to memorize, and it is almost like a specific skillset that you need to take this class. She gives 7 percent on the final grade if you do all of the extra credit, which is very nice. There are 3 midterms and a final. None of them are dropped. The exam averages for the midterms were typically around a 75, which is higher than other organic chemistry classes. As for the professor, I really enjoyed her. She is helpful during office hours, and she emphasizes what you have to know. Her lectures can be a little slow at times, but I mostly didn't think they were too bad. Good luck in here soldier. You're gonna need it. #tCFF23

I took Samonina for Orgo 1 in Fall 2024 and got an A+ in this class. It is possible, given that there is 7% extra credit if you do the PLA assignments throughout the semester. (My midterm/final grades ranged from 92%-93%)

Here is what I did:
- Once she finished going through a whole chapter, I would review the slides and make flashcards on them, then every other day or so I would review the flashcards (this sounds like a whole lot of work, but I promise it pays off --- it helped in not cramming everything at the last minute + generally understanding the topic).
- Sometimes her lecture explanations were unclear so I went through the readings and made review sheets for the chapters
- Her Zoom office hours were helpful because she would answer any questions you have + you could learn from other people's questions too. Also, I feel like she hinted at some possible questions that could be on the exam
- I typically did every assignment a day before they were due (except for the quizzes which you could only do on Fridays)

I don't think I was the smartest student in the class but staying consistent and doing a little bit each day paid off! Her exams are by far the "easiest"/most fair, because she tests you on what you know. There will not be surprises if you study everything. Good luck!!!

I took Orgo I with Professor Samonina somewhat by chance. I am an international student, English is not my native language, and I am not on a pre-health track. Despite these challenges, I earned an A in the course, and I honestly believe Professor Samonina is the best Orgo I instructor among all available options.

Her course structure is extremely fair and student-centered. She allows drops for every type of assignment and offers up to 6% extra credit through the PLA assignments if completed correctly. More importantly, she provides multiple practice exams and mock exams before each midterm, and the actual midterms closely match the style and difficulty of these mock exams. This makes studying much more focused and effective.

She also records all lectures, which is incredibly helpful—especially for students who may need to rewatch content or learn at a different pace. Not all professors offer this, and it makes a huge difference. Discussion sections are graded on completion rather than accuracy, which reduces unnecessary stress and encourages participation. TA office hours are spread throughout the entire week, and the TAs are consistently helpful and patient.

While the final exam was very challenging and I did not perform as well on it, I scored above 90 on all midterms. With the extra credit and consistent practice, I still earned an A. Professor Samonina’s goal is clearly for students to succeed if they put in the work and practice regularly—not to trick students with unnecessarily difficult or confusing exam questions.

Her class is very popular for a reason, and I am currently on the waitlist for Orgo II with her next semester. I would absolutely recommend Professor Samonina to anyone taking Orgo I. Choosing her course can realistically make at least a full letter-grade difference if you are willing to work hard.