James Pennington - Texas A&M University at College Station

Professor: James Pennington
Department: Chemistry
College: Texas A&M University at College Station
Rating # 1
Overview:
  • Course: CHEM228
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
This class sucked. Pennington was not helpful during COVID at all. Something changed from first to second semester with him. He expected 3 hours of asynchronous videos before a 50-minute lecture, OWL for HW as well. WAY TOO MUCH FOR 3 HOUR CREDIT! Was grumpy during class, and graded harshly. DO NOT TAKE PENNINGTON. Literally, take anyone else.
Rating # 2
Overview:
  • Course: CHEM228
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
O chem is a tough class but Dr. Pennington is enthusiastic and explains concepts well. He also requires a course pack that makes it so that you can't really miss any important concepts that will be on exams. The downside is that he does not provide a key for practice problems in the course pack. However he does post previous exams and keys
Rating # 3
Overview:
  • Course: CHEM228
  • Grade Received: Not sure yet
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
It has already been mentioned but if you didn't take him for ochem1 I would highly recommend not taking him for ochem 2. Many who didn't take him the semester before dropped in my class due to his level of intensity. Study hard and get help. DO NOT FALL BEHIND! It is doable but it needs work just like ochem 1.
Rating # 4
Overview:
  • Course: CHEM228
  • Grade Received: WD
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Clicker questions, he answers emails really quick, BUT, I just could not learn in his format. He'd simply show examples and give practice problems, but I needed to actually work through them step by step with explanation rather than see pictures. If you study, you'll get a good understanding, but not recommended for non-chem majors
Rating # 5
Overview:
  • Course: CHEM228
  • Grade Received: B
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
People say that Dr. Pennington is a harder professor but you learn more information and get better prepared in his course. You literally can't fall behind in this class, so unless you have a crazy work ethic and dying desire to learn ochem (which I really didn't), I would not recommend taking this class. You barely have time to take exams.
Rating # 6
Overview:
  • Course: CHEM228
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
PSA: DO NOT TAKE PENNINGTON FOR 228 IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE HIM FOR 227. His exams are entirely free response and attendance is iclicker but must be correct. if you put in the work, utilize the resources he provides, and manage your time wisely this class is not impossible. Definitely the professor you want if you want to be prepared for Med/Vet School.
Rating # 7
Overview:
  • Course: CHEM228
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Be warned. Ochem is HARD and Pennington does not make it any easier. A lot of HW, required participation points and Free Response Exams. If you are willing to put in the work and time, his style will help you for a lot of the upper-level BIMS courses and into professional school. This is a weed out class so just be prepared to go all in.
Rating # 8
Overview:
  • Course: CHEM228
  • Grade Received: B
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Dr. Pennington is a tough grader, but overall I learned more from him than from any other chemistry professor Ive had. Prepare to study a lot and take good notes.
Rating # 9
Overview:
  • Course: CHEM228
  • Grade Received: D
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Pennington seems to care about his students, if they are doing well. He is a great prof and provides awesome notes, but the exams are excessively hard (11 pages of synthesis in 50 minutes). Went to his office hours for advice about failing an exam... told me to q drop and retake ochem one. Only take him if you are super confident in ochem.
Rating # 10
Overview:
  • Course: CHEM228
  • Grade Received: WD
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Ok listen. The man is nice, he will respond to emails. But if you do not have a firm understanding, you will immediately get pulled under. His tests are very long with very little time. I would quite frankly pick any other professor if you are not 100% confident in your chem abilities.
Rating # 11
Overview:
  • Course: CHEM228
  • Grade Received: B
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Dr. Pennington's class may be the hardest class you'll take in college. But he is an incredibly human who cares about his students. All resources, including himself, are very accessible to receive a good grade. The content is very difficult but he relates all information to applicable context in real life. You can tell he thoroughly cares about us.
Rating # 12
Overview:
  • Course: CHEM227
  • Grade Received: B
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Huge tips, if you aren't willing to study at least 1 hr or more every day, willing to be prepared before all the lectures, attend all lectures, and overall put in a huge amount of effort, you will fail. He is a tough professor but he CARES A LOT if he sees you put in the effort. Go to office hours and get help. Tough class but a solid professor.
Rating # 13
Overview:
  • Course: CHEM228
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Pennington is very kind and cares about his students' well being, however, he makes his exams way too hard for no reason (8 pgs frq). He tries to answer questions and help as much as he can but it's not enough. He makes you watch 30-60 min videos BEFORE each lecture. Attendance is clicker questions but you must get them right to get credit
Rating # 14
Overview:
  • Course: CHEM227
  • Grade Received: C
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
You can tell that Dr. Pennington is extremely intelligent and passionate about chemistry, but he expects his students to be as well. There is at least an hour of lecture to watch before EVERY synchronous lecture, you have to get the class participation questions RIGHT to get attendance points, and the tests are a nightmare. You've been warned.
Rating # 15
Overview:
  • Course: CHEM227
  • Grade Received: C+
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
He knows a lot. And expects you to as well. Study lecture and textbook, and you still might not get an A. Don't listen to ratings that say he will help prepare you for mcat. Kill that crab after you see it crawl, don't plan ahead. Either way he is the hardest, and unnecessarily, even for DAT! Get an A in this class with any other prof! AVOID AAC.
Rating # 16
Overview:
  • Course: CHEM227
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Dr. Pennington is the best professor I've had. His way of teaching ochem made me enjoy the subject so much that all the time spent studying was very doable. To do good in the class you have to understand the material quite well. He is super accessible outside of class. He has office hours 4 days a week twice a day. He truly cares about his students
Rating # 17
Overview:
  • Course: CHEM227
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
He is hands down one of the best profs Ive ever had. Took him for both semesters. Best decision ever. He made OCHEM so fun and I looked forward to his classes. OCHEM is hard work but I promise that he is the best prof out there for the class. Im in BICH right now and wish I had him to teach me, he is a really gifted teacher
Rating # 18
Overview:
  • Course: CHEM227
  • Grade Received: Not sure yet
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Dr. Pennington is a great professor. However, he is harder than any of the other professors in the sense that you REALLY gotta know your material. This is not a class for lazy people (I learned the hard way). Also, nothing was changed to accommodate for COVID (difficulty wise), which is hard for students dealing SO much during this time :(
Rating # 19
Overview:
  • Course: CHEM227
  • Grade Received: B
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
He is very caring and explains concepts in a very understandable manner, but get ready to spend your weekends studying organic chemistry because if you don't properly study for his tests, no amount of partial credit will save you. They are 90% free response, with some circle the answer, and require a high-level understanding of the material.
Rating # 20
Overview:
  • Course: CHEM227
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
With COVID his classes are synchronous and you HAVE to go to class to get participation points/ reading questions . Before every class you watch almost an hours worth of pre lecture and class is for practice problems, so it feels like a 6 hour course. If you study his practice exams and dedicate a lot of time to this class you can get an A
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