| Information | Review |
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Nicole LaRonde
BCHM463 Expecting a B+ Anonymous 08/09/2021 |
Please no, pick another professor. Having her online in Spring 2021 was HORRENDOUS. She was rude, avoided our questions and concerns, and just gave up it felt. The readings/lectures and the homeworks DID NOT line up with the exams. GSS was extremely helpful and actually prepped me well for the exams. That doesn't mean to skip the readings and homeworks because that is where you learn the ideas (if you can figure out what's important because she won't really tell you) and GSS applies them as problems and helps you understand them(which is what the exams are; applying concepts to problems). The group project was great and gave a lot of weight towards the final grade (which she refused to share about consistently through the course since she doesn't know how to use ELMS despite saying she can). I don't know how to fully describe the vibe of the class other than "secrecy"; like everything had to be kept a secret from us until the last minute. I'm not sure if because she was lazy or more so worried about cheating, but it was rough on the mind and soul. The class online was flipped were we had to do lecture videos every week with quizzes, homework every week, and then meet once a week for breakout room discussion assignments that were just a flop (if the class wasn't taken up by complaints and questions about the course & its structure- but you had to go for participation points). The group project was to design a website blog on a metabolic problem. I did learn many thing towards the end, but I wouldn't say it was because of LaRonde, more so Khan Academy (search the MCAT section because that's where most of the topics came from). She did do a massive curve at the end so props to her on that. But the semester before she rounded down and her exams were take homes while ours were timed so who knows what curveball she'll throw next. |
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Nicole LaRonde
BCHM461 Expecting a B Anonymous 12/19/2019 |
I don't know what to say about laronde. Her teaching is not very good, her exams are meh, and her final was completely odd. I did fine in her class, but I came out feeling like I knew less than I started with. 50% of the class was asleep or on their phones during her lectures. If you are good at learning on your own, take laronde, cause her tests are easy. But if you need a lecturer or want to actually learn something, take someone else. |
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Nicole LaRonde
BCHM461 Expecting a B+ Anonymous 03/31/2019 |
I made a typo in my previous review. Here's an updated version. + Really nice, even in office hours + HW & clickers are grade boosters, you only need to meet a certain threshold to get full credit + 1 of our 3 midterms was take-home + We get a notecard for exams and she even gave us the notecard in class + Puts "things to know" on the end of her lecture slides which serves as a study guide + Posts powerpoints & old exams *Sit in the front b/c it's hard to hear in the back *This class is taught slightly differently depending on the prof. I think she incorporated more bio than gen chem, but this could be a pro if you like bio better. *We had this awful group protein project, but it's because another professor is obsessed with 3D printing. The project was being piloted the semester I took 461, so it might be easier for you all. Biochem is a traditionally hard subject, but Dr. LaRonde makes it possible to do well. |