I loved Berg's class, it was definitely a joy to sit through, even though it was the horror that is Organic Chemistry. Berg writes all of his notes using the blackboard, which are all mostly mechanisms. Berg is a practical guy, he wont tell you to solely memorize a concept for the sake of knowing the concept, he will tell you to remember the concept so that you can complete problems. Berg's tests are easy if you know what you are doing, if you dont study or prepare you will fail. The class averages typically are that he doesn't need to curve. Berg does give out homework to be graded, but he gives you a week to do it, and its listed on his syllabus and some of the homework problems make their way onto his tests. Lastly, take advantage of study sessions, they do help and you may get inside info on extra credit on his tests, in some cases the answer.

Pros: He's a nice guy and pretty easy to relate to.

Cons: Apparently he got word that he was an easier teacher than Bump last year, so last semester he stepped it up big time. His tests usually cover more than what he goes over in class. He expects that you understand the material for the tests, but he doesn't take the time and emphasis to make sure that you do before the test.

I took Berg for first semester OChem and got an A-. The class was annoying, but not too hard. He doesn't go into much detail, and like I said earlier, doesn't make sure you understand it completely.

Pros: Always fun to take classes with Dr. Berg - nice guy, very friendly

Cons: Harder material than I expected

A lot of people get A's and B's in this class, but they work for it. I was always under the impression that Drug Chem was an easier class, but that was incorrect. I received an A, but only after studying, working hard, and having to take the optional final.

I took Berg for both 2535 and 2536.



I liked him for first semester but not second. I relied on the book more so than his teaching (which required a lot of patience), as often he would just scribble a bunch of examples on the board and leave it up to you to figure out the rules or patterns that applied.

He gave a good amount of post-exam extra credit second semester, but not much first semester. He did help us out by reducing the weight of our lowest test grade first semester, however.

Definitely go to his office hours (not just to your friends) if you're having trouble; I went a couple of times and found him to be extremely helpful in demonstrating key concepts and connections between ideas on a one-on-one basis (I don't know why he didn't teach his class like that though...).

To address the famous Bump vs. Berg dispute, I feel like I learned a lot from Berg's class, but it would have been easier to learn all that if I had Bump. I think I would have spent less time studying the book and I would have actually used my notes if I had Bump. I received an A both semesters, but just barely -- second semester grades were low overall so he did curve a few points. If I could do it over, I would take Bump because I think her teaching method is suited to a broader audience and she addresses key concepts more comprehensively (or at least that's the idea I get from friends).

An ochem tip: don't fool yourself into thinking the course is impossible, and actually make sure you're doing all the studying you think you're doing. I stressed over the course a lot, but realistically I didn't spend as much time studying the material as I convinced myself I did.

Pros: Homework is moderately easy.

Cons: 93 or higher is an A

REALLY HARD tests

Forced to read the book a lot in order to understand the material covered in class.

His tests are WAYYYYYYY harder than last years because he got word last year that he was the easy organic professor. Test average for Test 2 and 3 were in the low 60s. He sometimes gets off topic in class so you are left on your own to read the book, which is poorly written. His old tests are EXTREMELY easy and posts them on Scholar, but will leave you unprepared for the actual tests. Homework counts only for 10% and in order to get an A you need a solid 93 or higher! The final exam is a true challenge as it is made to maintain your current grade or if not, lower it. The final exam does not save your grade or raises it, it just keeps you at where you are or drops you lower.

Great professor. He makes Organic Chemistry interesting. There is homework assigned almost every week, but it is pretty easy and you can go to his office hours and he will definitely help you if you need help. Homework will definitely impact your grade. He drops the 2 lowest homework grades. If you can, study with a group for the tests. The tests get harder as the semester goes on. He gives extra credit for every test.

Pros: He is nice and always willing to help if you ask for it.

Cons: He is not the easy Ochem professor. His class is definitely really hard. You have to work really hard for mediocre grades. He doesn't really curve at all. His exams are harder than anything that he does in class or the homework.

Do ALL the study problems, and know EVERYTHING. He is much harder now than he was in previous years.

Dr. Berg is a great Ochem teacher. If you had Trivedi for Gen chem, you'll like Berg. He's very enthusiastic about his subject and tries to make it as stimulating as possible. He gives weekly homeworks that help your grade at the end. His tests aren't too bad because he posts up his old koofers. Use those to study and you should be alright.

Constantly goes off topic, but teaches you what you need to know. He loves his jokes. Test aren't too bad if you study and do all the problems in the book he recommends. I never got a model set and did fine, but he highly recommends it. I would take him again if I had to do it over.

He is an excellent teacher, but OCHEM in general is very, very hard, so it obviously takes a lot of work. Don't let the class ask for a cheat sheet-he'll just make the exam harder. You can always go see him for help-he's very good about explaining things one on one.

Awesome teacher. Keeps things interesting and is hilarious which is a good pick-me-up when you have the class at 8AM. Tests are pretty reasonable but you have to study the material or you won't do well.

Pros: Dr. Berg is the man. He is extremely energetic and loves organic chemistry. His antics keep everyone engaged and focused in a class on an infamous subject. The homework is easy and will improve your grade, plus you get to drop a couple. Your lowest of the midterms will only be weighted half as much as the other 2. He also posts up an absurd amount of study material for each test, and he's always willing to go over something with you or just talk OChem. Plus, each test has some extra credit points - some tests the extra credit is easy, others its hard, so don't rely on it.

Cons: Well, OChem requires practice, you need to do the self-study problems. Do all of them and you'll do awesome on the tests. Unfortunately that does take an absurd amount of time.

Like I said above, Dr. Berg is the man. Very, very, very highly recommended.

Work through all the self study problems and attend his study sessions. Dr. Berg is also really helpful if you approach him after class with questions. I don't know much about Bump to compare, but either way, it's organic and it's going to be difficult. He doesn't always explain things in a way that is easiest for me, but you can't please everyone in a class that large. He tells corny jokes in class and goes off on occasional tangents in an effort to keep the class attentive. Berg is also very fair; he only counted the best 6 or so out of 10 homework assignments, and he gave our lowest tests 1/2 weight to help our grades when he realized that this year's exams were more difficult than last year's.

Pros: good teacher

posts helpful study materials

never opened my text book

Cons: 8 am

Berg is an awesome professor and a really good guy. It's an 8 am class but he makes up for it by trying to be entertaining. He wants his students to do really well in his class and he posts old exams with answer keys, helpful cheat sheets, and flashcards to help you study for his tests. If you come to class and study with the materials he gives you, there is no reason not to get at least a B.

Dr. Berg was definitely a blessing in disguise for second semester. He is the ONLY professor that could make me ALMOST care about OChem and I hear his drug-chem class is excellent. His final is Tricky though, so even if you do well during the semester 33% cumulative still makes you KNOW the material come final season.

He was sometimes hard to get a hold of and he wasn't always in his office during his scheduled office hours. In addition, he didn't really respond to e-mails. While communication may have been difficult, he was very enjoyable to listen to and enthusiastic about what he taught.

Dr. Berg is hands down the man, he is the best professor I have had at tech so far. He is funny as hell, loves the subject, and teaches what should be known. He honestly made ochem my favorite subject, when it previously was my most hated. Dr. Berg runs things.

Good teacher, lots of knowledge, kept things simple. i usually hate memorization and like figuring stuff out but since there really isnt a method to do that for Ochem, berg did the best job he couldve and made the class pretty easy, and definitely interesting.

Really good teacher. After hearing the horror stories about Bumps class I took his class for an easier grade. Entertaining in class. The tests are difficult but the final is a grade booster

Great professor. Knows what he's talking about and is extremely willing to help. Recommend him to anyone who has to take O-Chem--he made me actually enjoy the class (and the subject)!