Alexander Barnes

He cares more about teaching than any other professor you'll have. Part of what comes with him caring about you understanding the material is that it's a lot of work, and not easy. But he's very clear about his expectations and gives great written notes. He cares a lot about your personal goals and how this relates to his class. Highly recommend

11/20/2018

It's very clear that Dr. Barnes cares a lot about his students and about teaching. Material can fly by in class by going to office hours really helps. Sometimes has strict grading on exams

6/4/2018

Professor Barnes puts a lot of effort and care into his students. He is extremely approachable and tries to ensure students understand the material. I like his enthusiasm and examples of real world applications which made the class more interesting. The course is challenging but doable if one puts in the work. Honestly one of my favorite classes!

10/15/2017

Professor Barnes is one of the most caring professors I've had at WashU - by the first day of class, he had learned every student's name, and he would talk to students before class about summer plans and career goals. He tries incredibly hard to be a good lecturer; however, his lectures are sometimes scattered. His exams are long but fairly easy.

6/9/2017

One of my favorite lecturers. Provides his own class notes which are helpful and easy to follow. Takes time to guide through math and make his reasoning clear. The workload is definitely manageable. Most importantly, he is very personable and goes out of his way to get to know each student. Great at giving advice and listening to his students.

5/18/2017

Professor Barnes is a great professor, but the course is really difficult. He is really enthusiastic, understands the material well, and genuinely cares about teachings students. The homework is arduous, and the tests are tough. However, he does a really good job teaching the material.

4/29/2017

Barnes is ok. The material is a bit dry, but he tries to make it sound interesting. His enthusiasm seems forced, however. He can be a bit short with students when they do not get the material. I understand he lectures from the same notes his advisor uses at MIT. I think I would rather take it from him.

11/3/2016

Really cares about students and offers lots of resources and advice for those going on to grad school for physical chemistry. Also gives practical applications of course material, making the material more interesting. Doesn't always follow notes though, and math mistakes/typos take up time. Exams are straightforward but long.

5/1/2016

Definitely cares for his students and wants them to succeed. Top notch quality of instruction. Exams are extremely long, but doable with studying and preparation.

4/29/2016

Barnes really worked hard to make this a good course, which is tough considering it is thermodynamics. I give him ups for his effort. He is a bit full of himself. We get it, you got your PhD from MIT. The homeworks take some effort, but you will find the exams easy if you do the work. Overall, an ok class, but not great.

12/4/2014

Fantastic professor. Very friendly and approachable. Loved his enthusiasm. The problem sets were time intensive, and the exams were long. Be prepared to do your derivations quickly. For me, PChem II required more study time than PChem I.

10/5/2014

He is really charming. And his course is the easiest chem course I've ever taken.

7/16/2014

A very caring and dedicated professor. He tries extremely hard. Unfortunately, he does make a lot of mistakes, and they can be distracting. Try not to focus on the details, instead the concepts, and you will enjoy his course. Overall, nice job.

4/22/2014

A really charming prof. Teaches well and cares about his students, frequently going above and beyond.. Part of the grade for the semester comes from psets, so it's an easy way to boost your grade. Exams are long, but the questions are very straightforward. Probably the best chemistry class I have taken here - enjoyed it and learned a lot too.

4/4/2014

He's the best!!!!! I would definitely take any other course he's teaching. He really takes the time to help out his students and is extremely sweet, fair, and funny.

4/1/2014

He is a very fair teacher and is always available for help. He took the time to learn every student's name and makes an effort to get to know everyone.

3/31/2014