Reviews of professor Shaun Brinsmade

Rating: 3.0/5, difficulty: 4.0/5
Biochem with Brinsmade was a bit of a mess. He's not a biochemist by training and it shows sometimes. Class is generally well organized though exams are unnecessarily difficult sometimes, testing material in really weird ways. It all worked out in the end but this was not a stress-free class. Probably avoid if you can.

Rating: 1.0/5, difficulty: 4.0/5
Horrible prof. Exams take entire days to complete and getting them right is a matter of guessing what is on his answer key, not about critical thinking. We're expected to make multiple graphs for 1 pt. He'll only answer emails for a whopping 50 minutes during 24 hour exam blocks to answer questions on his mistake-riddled exams and still be wrong.

Rating: 1.0/5, difficulty: 5.0/5
Initially I was excited about this course because he seemed like a nice guy. However, even though I (and many other people), watch the lectures, take notes, rewatch them, read the book, do all the problems, do the practice exams, go back through the problems- the tests are not reflective of the material. Do NOT take this class. Hardest premed ever.

Rating: 1.0/5, difficulty: 4.0/5
The other reviews don't lie. Lab is highly disorganized, with postlab questions embedded in wordy and confusing procedures. Directions often contradict each other. Brinsmade knowingly does not accommodate the lecture portion of the class, assigning long and complicated lab reports due for the whole class the day after an exam. Explanations unclear.

Rating: 1.0/5, difficulty: 4.0/5
DO NOT TAKE!! Prof. Brinsmade was horrible. He did not know any of the content when asked simple questions. He didn't care at all about student feedback whatsoever. In fact, he seemed to be hurt by the feedback and would lash out on students by doing the opposite of what was requested. Exams were not reflective of the material in class.

Rating: 5.0/5, difficulty: 4.0/5
Surprised by the harsh feedback Brinsmade has gotten here. He's a tough grader but I definitely got the impression that he cares deeply about his students and about the topic he teaches. His enthusiasm for microbes was infectious and I liked how he made the class very interactive. The final project was rough, but Brinsmade helped a lot with it.

Rating: 1.0/5, difficulty: 3.0/5
One of the worst educators I've had in terms of ability to teach at Georgetown. He doesn't know his stuff and doesn't know how to teach others. Please take biochem in the spring with Rosenwald, you will thank yourself. It is painful to sit in his lectures and you won't learn much. The tests are meh, but he asks trick questions.

Rating: 1.0/5, difficulty: 4.0/5
This class has BY FAR been the worst pre-med req for me and its just because of this man. Confusing lectures. Given 24 hours for take home exams and they take at least 7 hours to complete. Harder than orgo. Gives off the impression that he cares about his students but is annoyed when you ask him for help or come to office hours.