John Bender - Grand Valley State University

Professor: John Bender
Department: Chemistry
College: Grand Valley State University
Rating # 1
Overview:
  • Course: CHM241L
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Dr. Bender is a nice guy, and he grades super easily for a lab professor. However, he was a little bit unorganized, especially when it comes to grading the labs. He didn't really contribute to the lab a ton, and also wasn't the best at responding to emails. I ended up having to contact the lab coordinator to grade one of my labs.
Rating # 2
Overview:
  • Course: CHM115
  • Grade Received: F
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: No
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Worst professor I have ever experienced. Tests were nothing that he talked about in lecture or the homework. Nothing ever made sense and didn't explain anything. Avoid him!!! So many people fail his class because its SO hard
Rating # 3
Overview:
  • Course: CHM273
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Clearly passionate about inorganic chem but be ready to do a lot of work outside of class to understand concepts. His language during lecture is often very conceptual and hard to follow
Rating # 4
Overview:
  • Course: CHEM115
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
If I had not taken AP chem in high school, I would have failed this class. Don't get me wrong, Bender knows his stuff about chemistry, but cannot teach it at a 115 level. Tests have nothing to do with lecture. Find another professor to take if you can.
Rating # 5
Overview:
  • Course: CHM116
  • Grade Received: C-
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Dr. Bender is obviously very intelligent, I took CHM 116 with him my freshman year and it ruined chemistry for me all the way up through CHM461. His lectures are not related to any specific topic, he talks about his research or things that interest him and tries to relate them. I've heard he's a good lab prof, but he should not lecture whatsoever.
Rating # 6
Overview:
  • Course: CHEM115
  • Grade Received: B+
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
He hands writes notes on the board every lecture but provides very unclear explanations of his notes. AVOID TAKING THIS PROF AT ALL COSTS!!!
Rating # 7
Overview:
  • Course: CHM115
  • Grade Received: D
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Probably one of the smartest guys I've ever had talk to me, but probably the worst professor. Lectures cover zero of the material on tests and web assign so might as well not go to class honestly, and everyone in the Chem Success Center will know you're his student when you ask them one of his questions on an exam review FROM A DIFFERENT CLASS.
Rating # 8
Overview:
  • Course: CHEM115
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
he might be the absolute worst professor at grand valley. His exams are barely relevant to the lectures and his exam "reviews" consist of content that is of a 300 level course. His statements of replacing exam grades with final grades if they are better are lies and the webassign homework is unannounced and is on topics that haven't been taught.
Rating # 9
Overview:
  • Course: CHM115
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Horrendous professor. We had no tests leading up to the midterm exam, and then the midterm was 45% of the total grade for the course. Never really taught specific concepts in class, but instead would just spend the entire class period on one problem. If you're lucky enough to get a review sheet, he makes you go to the CSC to get answers. 0/10.
Rating # 10
Overview:
  • Course: CHM115
  • Grade Received: C
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
He's obviously very smart, but he shouldn't be teaching intro chem classes! People told me to switch out and I should have listened. He covers things very quickly, especially considering most students in his gen chem classes haven't taken chemistry in a while. He makes you feel stupid if you don't get a concept, and is a tough grader.
Rating # 11
Overview:
  • Course: CHEM116
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
He is very smart, and I can see that, but he should not be teaching a 100 level class. I was confident after lectures that I knew the material, and I would study for hours for his tests, but it didn't help much. I never knew what kind of weird questions he would ask on the tests. He is very fair with grading though, especially on the final.
Rating # 12
Overview:
  • Course: CHEM116
  • Grade Received: B-
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Professor Bender is a very intelligent man. Although his class is difficult, you will be very grateful you took it with him. I studied quite a bit for this class so be ready to take good notes and read your text book for extra clarification. Ignore all of the obnoxious "DO NOT TAKE HIM" comments. If you are willing to work, you will succeed.
Rating # 13
Overview:
  • Course: CHM116
  • Grade Received: WD
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Bender is far too intelligent to be teaching this easy level of a class. He thinks that the students will all understand the material at the same capacity he understands it and uses examples that are completely irrelevant to the concepts being learned. The lectures are all over the place and it is hard to keep track of what he is teaching when.
Rating # 14
Overview:
  • Course: CHEM116
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Professor Bender is a genius, but I think that he is too smart too teach. He is a very nice guy and pretty funny, but his lectures are very disorganized and he does not explain things very well. I would avoid taking him, but it's not the end of the world if you have to take his class. This class is definitely tougher than CHM 115.
Rating # 15
Overview:
  • Course: CHEM116
  • Grade Received: B-
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
John Bender is a genius. But, this means he wants you to meet his standards. Yes, this is a hard class, you will struggle, and your grade might suffer, but in the end you'll walk out knowing more. Underneath his scary intelligence John Bender is a sweet and funny guy who will help you if you go to him, he just really wants you to put the work in.
Rating # 16
Overview:
  • Course: CHEM116
  • Grade Received: Not sure yet
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Easily the worst professor I have had so far. His lectures do nothing with his exams and he has no interest on trying to help you learn the material if you don't get it. If you care about your grade do not take this professor.
Rating # 17
Overview:
  • Course: CHEM116
  • Grade Received: Not sure yet
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS WITH PROFESSOR BENDER. He is a wonderfully smart man but a horrible, horrible professor. The tests are extremely difficult and despite the insane curve he applies, it's almost impossible to get a decent grade. Please, do yourself a favor and avoid this professor at all costs.
Rating # 18
Overview:
  • Course: CHEM116
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
If you are in his class, I would highly recommend getting a tutor and getting to know as many people in your class as you can. You are all in it together, and having study groups and using as many outside resources as you can will help you keep a decent grade in his class. Worst professor I have had, good luck.
Rating # 19
Overview:
  • Course: CHEM116
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
If you're taking him for chem 116 GET A DIFFERENT PROF His lectures have nothing to do with his tests and he is too smart to teach this class. Hard to relate to and obviously a genius. I could not pass the tests and when I talked to him about my grade he talked down to me as if it was as easy as pie. I'm sure he's a good guy, but it's not worth it
Rating # 20
Overview:
  • Course: CHEM116
  • Grade Received: B
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
His lecture style is all over the place and I spent most of my time completely lost. He could spend 3-4 days of lecture on one example, so very difficult material. No quizzes, just 3 exams and a final. Decent guy, funny and VERY smart, but not an effective lecturer. Even with the curved scale, expect to work very hard for a decent grade.
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