CHEM 2420

The absolute WORST professor I have EVER had!! Her lectures are useless, but you have to go because of clicker questions. The homework has nothing to do with the lectures and sometimes you can't even find help in the text. She has no clue what she's doing, she stresses the most unimportant things. She spends endless time in lecture going over the most simple concepts, but doesn't even touch on the more difficult concepts, which you are left to figure out. Avoid her at all costs! Take McGarvey, he's a better lecturer, instructor, and overall chemist.

2nd semester is far more difficult than 1st. The number of reactions you need to know for each test double compared to first semester. The course material is also based heavily on the material from the 1st semester - if you did poorly in 2410, then study like hell over winter break so you're ready for 2420 or be prepared to fail. Test averages are in the mid 60s. She doesn't curve the overall grades, so don't expect it. If the test average is below a 50, she might curve the individual grade, but don't bank on that. Her tests are straightforward - mostly memorization and very little application. Always expect naming, mechanism drawings, synthesis, and ordering type questions.

Serbulea will help you understand the material better than mccgarvey, but only because you have to know it better for the exams which are pretty nit-picky. Sucks having to go to class/discussion because you have mandatory clickers, if you're just taking this as a prereq (premed, etc) take mcgarvey and you don't have to go to class and you also don't have to worry about discussion or weekly homeworks either.

I feel really bad for saying this, but I did not find Serbulea to be that great of a teacher. She is brilliant, but her lectures are extremely dry, and her explanations are verbose. Tests are mostly memorization, which is frustrating if you understand the concepts, but don't remember the names of specific reactions. She cares about her students - assigns homework, has mandatory lectures, etc - but they did not help me at all, personally. If you really buy in, a good grade is attainable. It is just frustrating when you learn more easily on your own, and you're basically forced to learn it her way

I don't know why everyone doesn't like Serbulea. I think she is a great professor and very informative during class. If you had her for first semester, there is no surprises for second semester and all the extra credits on the exam is the same as the previous semester. However, the material this semester is definitely harder, with biochemistry (which I hate), but if you do all the problems in the textbook and keep up, you'll definitely get the grade you deserve.

Serbulea is a hard teacher but as long as you keep up with her lectures by reading the textbook, and doing the problems in the back of the chapters you'll be fine. The homework isn't too bad and the class is doable, if a big time commitment. It's a lot of work and a little stressful but she is the best teacher to take it with.

Serbulea is sincerely passionate about teaching Organic Chemistry and dedicated to teaching it to you in a coherent, and efficient way. If you do practice problems for every chapter, and go to lecture you will do extremely well.

Best teacher I've ever had at UVA

Definitely one of the best professors I've had. Her tests are hard but definitely fair and once you know how to study for the tests you're set for the class. She actually cares about how well you understand the material and takes the effort to make it easier for students.

If you took Serbulea for first semester, prepare for more of the same. Topics are interesting if you actually like Orgo like I do, but if you don't, there's nothing difficult to understand. Just tons, TONS, to memorize. Memorize everything in the book and lecture slides, as that is what will be on the exam. I learned it was always better to be safe than sorry. Homework and material and the discussions are all very easy to manage, just remember to remember every mechanism and conceptual detail there is and do around 15 points better than the average to get an A. Good luck!

If you have to take organic chemistry, you should take it with Dr. Serbulea. She actually teaches the content. Her exams are fair, and there are opportunities such as clicker questions and homework to help buffer your grade since there is no curve. She really cares about all of her students and wants everyone to learn/succeed, so while she may seem scary if you talk to her one-on-one you will learn that she is very understanding and rooting for you to do well. Expect to work harder than you have ever worked for this class, study everything in the book that she says, and keep a running list of every reactant and what it does in a reaction because they will pop up on every test. Know your mechanisms also. Be present in all lectures and discussions and try your very hardest on all the clicker questions and mastering/sapling!