Mark Mascal at University of California Davis | Rate My Professors (2024)

Advertisem*nt

Mark Mascal

Compare

Test heavyTough graderGet ready to readGraded by few thingsSkip class? You won't pass.

Check out Similar Professors in the Chemistry Department

• 5.30Bryan Enderle
• 5.30Ozcan Gulacar
• 5.00Lee-Ping Wang

Advertisem*nt

• CHE118B

  Jun 8th, 2024

  Quality

  1.0

  Difficulty

  4.0

  CHE118B

  Jun 8th, 2024

  For Credit

  : Yes

  Attendance

  : Not Mandatory

  Textbook

  : Yes

  If bare minimum was a person. I don't think I've met a professor who seemed to care less if students understood anything. I went into this class knowing it wasn't going to be great, but he has blown by all expectations. Get ready to self teach, lectures are very weak. He expects the textbook to be the only needed source. Run away, run far far away.

  Get ready to readTest heavy

  Helpful

  

  1

  

• Advertisem*nt

• CHE118B

  Jun 4th, 2024

  Quality

  1.0

  Difficulty

  5.0

  CHE118B

  Jun 4th, 2024

  For Credit

  : Yes

  Attendance

  : Mandatory

  Grade

  : Not sure yet

  Textbook

  : Yes

  No homework, grades are based only on exams and labs. Exams are very difficult and he does not do a good job of preparing you for the tests (exam averages were 30s-40s). Tends to tell you to read the textbook in response to questions. Also, does not record lectures and only posts notes (which are illegible). Do not take :(

  Tough graderTest heavy

  Helpful

  

  

• CHE118B

  May 31st, 2024

  Quality

  3.0

  Difficulty

  4.0

  CHE118B

  May 31st, 2024

  For Credit

  : Yes

  Attendance

  : Mandatory

  Would Take Again

  : Yes

  Grade

  : Not sure yet

  Textbook

  : Yes

  Mascal is a good prof. The midterms are hard, but fair. While not the most interactive, he does try his best to teach 118B (which he hasn't done before). The textbook (bases a lot of multiple choice off q's off of it) and the AATC going to be your best friends if you end up w/ him. Not the best chem professor, but a whole lot better than Nasiri :P

  Get ready to read

  Helpful

  

  

  1

• CHE118B

  May 30th, 2024

  Quality

  1.0

  Difficulty

  4.0

  CHE118B

  May 30th, 2024

  For Credit

  : Yes

  Attendance

  : Mandatory

  Grade

  : Not sure yet

  Textbook

  : Yes

  Terrible class. His Canvas page is a mess with no resources. Tests are hard + key is only given in lecture, but he also doesn't record his lectures (which were at 9 am)! He doesn't even have lecture slides--only his nonsensical, badly handwritten notes he took mid-lecture. He clearly doesn't care about teaching. This was a waste of money and time!!

  Tough graderLecture heavyTest heavy

  Helpful

  

  1

  

• Advertisem*nt

• CHE118B

  See Also

  Benjamin Highton at University of California Davis | Rate My ProfessorsAndrew Farris at University of California Davis | Rate My ProfessorsRuss Carpenter at University of California Davis | Rate My ProfessorsJulia Chamberlain at University of California Davis | Rate My Professors

  May 29th, 2024

  Quality

  5.0

  Difficulty

  5.0

  CHE118B

  May 29th, 2024

  For Credit

  : Yes

  Attendance

  : Not Mandatory

  Would Take Again

  : Yes

  Grade

  : Not sure yet

  Textbook

  : Yes

  Tests are challenging, no doubt about it! But the curves are steep and a good grade is always within reach for those willing to do the work. Logical lectures. Great at office hours, very patient and helpful. You will be inspired.

  InspirationalTest heavy

  Helpful

  

  

  2

• CHE118B

  May 23rd, 2024

  Quality

  4.0

  Difficulty

  4.0

  CHE118B

  May 23rd, 2024

  For Credit

  : Yes

  Attendance

  : Not Mandatory

  Would Take Again

  : Yes

  Grade

  : A

  Textbook

  : Yes

  If you like organic chemistry then you'll like Mascal and his lecturesExams are hard and make you think critically/utilize all your chemistry knowledge, but they're not impossible. Practice midterms are like the actual examsReadings are very helpful, but you can definitely pass with a B if you just pay attention in lectureLabs are fun

  Get ready to readLecture heavyTest heavy

  Helpful

  

  

  2

• Advertisem*nt

• CHE118B

  May 5th, 2024

  Quality

  5.0

  Difficulty

  5.0

  CHE118B

  May 5th, 2024

  For Credit

  : Yes

  Attendance

  : Mandatory

  Would Take Again

  : Yes

  Grade

  : A+

  Textbook

  : Yes

  just dont be lazy and do the work lol an A is 65%, he makes the class easy for everyone to succeed

  Get ready to readClear grading criteriaTest heavy

  Helpful

  

  

  2

• CHE118B

  May 3rd, 2024

  Quality

  1.0

  Difficulty

  5.0

  CHE118B

  May 3rd, 2024

  For Credit

  : Yes

  Attendance

  : Not Mandatory

  Grade

  : Not sure yet

  Textbook

  : Yes

  this guy is buns LMAOOOOOOOO his test doesnt make sense to literally the smartest people i've met at davis

  Tough graderTest heavyGraded by few things

  Helpful

  

  3

  

  1

• CHE118A

  Apr 29th, 2024

  Quality

  1.0

  Difficulty

  4.0

  CHE118A

  Apr 29th, 2024

  For Credit

  : Yes

  Attendance

  : Not Mandatory

  Grade

  : B+

  Textbook

  : Yes

  Horrible professor and person. He expects you to read so much before each lecture and will just glaze over the textbook in lecture. He'll spend 5 minutes on a new topic and say "I won't explain further because you should already know this". He answers questions rudely if at all. If you have him it's mostly self teaching so read and go to tutoring.

  Get ready to read

  Helpful

  

  2

  

  Reviewed: Apr 29th, 2024

• Advertisem*nt

• 128C

  Aug 28th, 2023

  Quality

  4.0

  Difficulty

  4.0

  128C

  See Also

  Greg Miller at University of California Davis | Rate My Professors

  Aug 28th, 2023

  For Credit

  : Yes

  Attendance

  : Not Mandatory

  Would Take Again

  : Yes

  Grade

  : B-

  Textbook

  : Yes

  Tough cookie, but very accessible in office hours, by appointment, and even just chatting after class. His lectures are clear and follow the book chapters well. Go to class, pay attention, take good notes, read the book, and you'll do fine. You will definitely learn a lot and even feel inspired from time to time.

  Get ready to readInspirationalAccessible outside class

  Helpful

  

  

• CHE118A

  Jun 20th, 2023

  Quality

  1.0

  Difficulty

  5.0

  CHE118A

  Jun 20th, 2023

  For Credit

  : Yes

  Attendance

  : Not Mandatory

  Grade

  : B

  Textbook

  : Yes

  Lectures were okay but he is so rude and condescending! Made Nasiri's attitude toward students feel like a huge relief. He refused to provide any resources and doesn't even want you to rely on his lectures. Must attend lecture live, take good notes and read textbook. TAs saved us

  Helpful

  

  

  4

• CHE118A

  Apr 2nd, 2023

  Quality

  2.0

  Difficulty

  5.0

  CHE118A

  Apr 2nd, 2023

  For Credit

  : Yes

  Attendance

  : Mandatory

  Grade

  : B

  Textbook

  : Yes

  -His lectures are extremely essential and write almost everything he tells in class- do the damn textbook questions but do not expect these to show up on the exam, but these help a lot- study the textbook but also try the questions that you think can never show up on an exam do your work and - you will for sure not fail if you do your part.

  Tough graderLecture heavyTest heavy

  Helpful

  

  

• Advertisem*nt

• CHE118A

  Mar 30th, 2023

  Quality

  2.0

  Difficulty

  5.0

  CHE118A

  Mar 30th, 2023

  For Credit

  : Yes

  Attendance

  : Not Mandatory

  Grade

  : A+

  Textbook

  : Yes

  He made exams harder than they needed to be and it often felt like he wrote questions on exams to deduct points from us. The TAs definitely helped us succeed. He gives the textbook precedence over what he says in lecture, so make sure you read that. It was a really hard class with a decent curve. You can do well, but you HAVE TO self study.

  Get ready to readTest heavyGraded by few things

  Helpful

  

  

• CHE118A

  Mar 30th, 2023

  Quality

  5.0

  Difficulty

  4.0

  CHE118A

  Mar 30th, 2023

  For Credit

  : Yes

  Attendance

  : Mandatory

  Would Take Again

  : Yes

  Grade

  : Rather not say

  Textbook

  : Yes

  Rock star professor! Takes a tough love approach, but you'll learn a lot and develop better study skills for it. Some dry humor thrown in from time to time. It's a hard course but this is really one example of getting out what you put into it. Don't expect an easy ride even for a minute, although curves are very generous.

  Helpful

  

  9

  

  5

  Reviewed: Jun 1st, 2023

• CHE118A

  Mar 25th, 2023

  Quality

  1.0

  Difficulty

  5.0

  CHE118A

  Mar 25th, 2023

  For Credit

  : Yes

  Attendance

  : Mandatory

  Grade

  : Not sure yet

  Textbook

  : Yes

  Honestly I took his class so I didn't end up taking a professor that doesn't curve, BIG MISTAKE. He was never consistent with the material and when material is taught wrong then you should "know better". He is about as miserable as they come and it seems like the only time he is happy is when he is in a different country instead of at your exams.

  Tough grader

  Helpful

  

  

  4

• Advertisem*nt

• CHE118A

  Mar 24th, 2023

  Quality

  1.0

  Difficulty

  4.0

  CHE118A

  Mar 24th, 2023

  For Credit

  : Yes

  Attendance

  : Mandatory

  Grade

  : Not sure yet

  Textbook

  : Yes

  Lectures aren't recorded but even if I go, I STILL don't know what's going on because all he does is ramble about something, be upset at us for not understanding ochem, complain about something irrelavent, and scoff at questions. Info from the discussion manual isn't ever tested on despite how important the info is + no practice/mocks for exams.

  Tough graderGet ready to readGraded by few things

  Helpful

  

  

  5

• CHE118A

  Mar 22nd, 2023

  Quality

  1.0

  Difficulty

  4.0

  CHE118A

  Mar 22nd, 2023

  For Credit

  : Yes

  Attendance

  : Not Mandatory

  Grade

  : C

  Textbook

  : Yes

  This is the first teacher I've ever had of his kind: made suggestively belittling comments towards students during lecture, talked about Nobel Prize awards more than necessary, & noncommunicative with our TAs. He gives almost no practice outside of lecture (which doesn't even cover everything we need to know) & no info about our exams. Avoid him.

  Tough graderGet ready to readHilarious

  Helpful

  

  

  5

• CHE118A

  Mar 21st, 2023

  Quality

  2.0

  Difficulty

  3.0

  CHE118A

  Mar 21st, 2023

  For Credit

  : Yes

  Attendance

  : Mandatory

  Would Take Again

  : Yes

  Grade

  : A-

  Textbook

  : Yes

  Lectures are not recorded or posted so you have to go. He's a disorganized lecturer, but gets across the points he feels are important. Although he then turns around and tests on tiny details from the textbook (so read that). He oftentimes doesn't give any practice tests for the midterms. My advice would be to learn from youtube and study hard.

  Get ready to readTest heavy

  Helpful

  

  

  1

• Advertisem*nt

• CHE118A

  Mar 15th, 2023

  Quality

  2.0

  Difficulty

  5.0

  CHE118A

  Mar 15th, 2023

  For Credit

  : Yes

  Attendance

  : Not Mandatory

  Textbook

  : Yes

  Grade based on 3 midterms and final (third midterm and final are at the same time). No lecture recordings, no slides, no supplemental practice problems, or any such contributions on his part. He is lazy, and doesn't contribute to the class whatsoever, doesn't work with TA's for discussion session either. You must use the textbook, seek TAs for help

  Get ready to readGraded by few things

  Helpful

  

  

  1

• CHE118A

  Feb 27th, 2023

  Quality

  1.0

  Difficulty

  5.0

  CHE118A

  Feb 27th, 2023

  For Credit

  : Yes

  Attendance

  : Mandatory

  Grade

  : Not sure yet

  Textbook

  : Yes

  This professor is one of the worst professors I have had so far. His lectures are unclear and draining, so you have to rely mainly on the textbook. His midterms have unclear instructions, and he offers very little help for the course. You are on your own for the most part. The only thing saving this course was the TAs.

  Tough graderGet ready to readLecture heavy

  Helpful

  

  

  4