CHEM 2420

Professor Fraser and the TAs made this class not only tolerable but truly enjoyable. It was an incredibly challenging year, but despite it all I feel that the work I put in was valuable and the class was worthwhile. The chemistry was interesting, even when it frustrated the hell out of me.

This class will be HARD WORK. Understand that going into it, and be reasonable about what classes you can take alongside it, especially during the second semester. It's hard to know how to study, and averages on tests were around 50s. I don't regret taking this class, now that it is over, but there were times during the second semester that I did wish I'd taken a class with less homework. Overall, this class is worth it because Fraser and the TAs are brilliant and very kind.

Easily the worst class I've taken at UVA. The epitome of teaching level 1 material and then testing on level 5 material. Four different assignments due at various points during the week (Sapling homework, BACON and/or "Real World Chemistry", challenge problems, on top of regular discussion problems). The average for both of the first exams was somewhere at or below 40-50%, and Fraser simply got defensive when repeatedly told about the issue. Avoid this class at all costs.

This class was absolute hell. In class, she would barely get through one-third of the chapter and then test on the most minute details. The test averages were 47%, 35%, and 56%. THE LAST ONE WAS OPEN BOOK! The final average was 63% and it was open book and open internet. So not only was her teaching style abysmal, but the test was impossible even with infinite resources. You will never know how you are doing in the class, because she curves it all in the end, which is the only thing that keeps everyone from failing. Whenever anyone approaches her about it, she only gets defensive and somehow turns it around so that it seems like the class isn't trying hard enough. She somehow seems defensive and accusatory at the same time. Dragging through this class almost ruined my whole year. There's four assignments due every weekend, the Real World Chemistry projects are are easy but useless, and I'd take this class with Frantz if remotely possible.

Professor Fraser is a great person and cares a lot about her students. However, this class was incredibly challenging. Ridiculously low exam averages make it hard to feel like you can succeed in the class, but the curve at the end really saves everyone. Hopefully after this semester the exam difficulty decreases. She really does care a lot, but the exams that she writes are sometimes just straight up terrifying.

Professor Fraser is a genius in her field, and she's worked directly with the people who discovered the things the textbook teaches. She really does know what she's doing, but a lot of the time she discussed principles behind reactions (stuff from Orgo I) instead of actually reviewing reactions and showing us syntheses. She was super enthusiastic about chemistry, and a lot of the time would talk about real world applications and interesting lab stuff instead of covering material, so we were responsible for learning a lot of material on our own. And then there were the tests. The hardest tests I've ever taken. It was difficult to open up a test and keep thinking "I'll know the next one," but then you get to the end and you don't recognize anything, even after hours of studying. The averages were incredibly low (~30s, 40s, and the open book average was in the 60s). Prof. Fraser was alway there to help and definitely took a lot of time to get to know us, but it was just so difficult. However, she curves to the highest score in the class, so when when everyone does poorly (and really, no one did really well) you all can ride the curve to an ok grade.