John-Stephen Taylor

wonderful, caring human when you get to know him. i recommend doing research with him -- he is very rigorous but in the best way for someone planning to go into research/grad etc. hidden gem of the chemistry department.

5/9/2026

prof. taylor has been one of the most impactful professors for me throughout my time at washu. he does have very high expectations, and he is definitely someone that takes a while to get to know, but he truly is so caring and kind. ..idk i kinda sound like a bot atp but i am so grateful for him.

2/20/2026

My guy cannot engage with a class. Graded only on exams and lab.

1/15/2024

I took Chen's class, but went to Taylor's office hours sometimes. I found him to be quite condescending, and he really doesn't seem to enjoy being around students. Fine at explaining things.

12/22/2023

My other three classes had restrictive deadlines which is already hard to maintain when you work full time and have a two-year-old. If not for the flexibility given, I most likely would have not succeeded. He allowed me the freedom to be an independent adult and student, and most importantly, a mom.

4/27/2023

Taylor is a great lecturer and generally does a great job at explaining difficult concepts. However, he comes off as a bit condescending during office hours and he goes really fast (which is kind of necessary for this class since there's so much to cover). Just watch lecture videos so you can pause the lectures and take better notes.

12/31/2019

Professor Taylor provides very detailed lecture slides, and the textbook is fairly easy to read and learn from. His lectures aren't high energy, but are clear and detailed. Wrote straightforward tests, medians in the low to mid 60s and A cutoffs at 80. In addition, your lowest test score is dropped. Overall generous grading and possible inflation.

11/13/2019

Very mediocre professor at the very best. Motors through lecture material at an insanely fast pace, making it impossible to keep up on notetaking. He doesn't engage students at all, making the lectures super boring and does not emphasize or transition topics well. Also very unapproachable and condescending, do not go to him for questions.

11/9/2019

Terrible course. My advisor pushed me to take Orgo during the academic year, and I regret it. It was a waste of time. You do not have to go to lecture. Just study his notes and read the text and you will do fine. Really weird guy. I don't think he likes teaching or interacting with students.

2/3/2017

Taylor and orgo are boring. but Taylor's exams are VERY FAIR. I BARELY did anything for this class except for the four days before each exam and got very very high scores on the exams. During those four days I read the book while looking at his lecture slides. Didn't pay much attention in lecture, did practice exams and went to the TA prob sessions

1/13/2017

Very awkward guy. He is clearly smart, but he is not able to connect with the students. He tried powerpoint, chalk, handing out notes, but none of it worked. By the end of the semester, hardly anyone came to class anymore. Just get his notes and read the book. I would not take this class. The problem is that Ponder is evidently worse.

1/6/2015

Terrible!! He does not teach, he just lectures. He might be smart, but he does not know how to convey the material to students. He is one of those professors who only teaches because he has to. Thank God that the lectures are taped...you don't have to go to class, just fast forward through it later.

11/26/2011