Richard Loomis
5 courses · 191 reviews
Courses
All Reviews
Excellent course, but it is really tough. The exams really make you think. Ultimately, grading is very fair and reflects how much you learn.
5/8/2026
Very challenging class, but you do learn a lot. There is anxiety about grades, w some classmates insisting they will curve. K...grades just came out. Grade lines are legit (I got an A by 1 pt), so they do just add up your points. This is nice & fair. Overall, great semester, but you work hard.
5/8/2026
Great teacher and human. I was first hesitant to approach him, but he is so great. I really like how he cleared up the kinetics material for me.
5/5/2026
Such a unique teacher. He is funny and effective. Just so engaging you can't help but learn during his lectures. That said, his evening help sessions are even better. Hope to have him again.
4/25/2026
I really like his teaching style. Mostly chalk w some ppt for pictures and plots. He genuinely cares that we are learning. HS were great for discussing topics.
4/22/2026
Awesome and funny professor and person! He's not the kind of professor that acts like he's above everyone else, he's very approachable and can joke around! He's not the best at explaining things, but you can watch Daschbach's lecture videos sometimes, or go to her office hours to supplement Loomis's lectures. Also, the exams are way too hard.
4/22/2026
Don't let anyone fool you, this is a challenging class. Yet, the grading is extremely generous. Loomis is engaging & funny. He makes some "typos", but he owns up on them. His help sessions are key. This was his and Prof. D's first time w this course, but I am sure it'll be even better in the future. Quoting Loomis "great shtuff".
4/20/2026
Had Loomis last year for Quantum, and it was so challenging. I am now in grad school, and I am just realizing how much I learned in his class. He makes you work, but you learn so much. just so good.
11/12/2025
Prof. Loomis is the best at WashU. He knows how to present material and assign problems to ensure we learn what the material means and what it can be used for. You start thinking wth, but after you digest it a bit, things fall into place. I am so thankful I could take Prof. Loomis 2x.
5/28/2025
Loomis gets it. He is hard, but very fair. You will have to work, but you will learn a ton. Just one of the best at WashU. I will miss him.
4/17/2025
Hands down the GOAT. His courses are challenging and 401 is no exception but he is great. He works very hard to ensure we learn the material. At first I wished there was less HW, but doing it and being graded on it made us learn the material. The exams were tough but fair if you did the HW. Grading was very reasonable with no curve.
1/16/2025
CHEM401 or also known as MATH401 or Physics401. This is a hard class so review and ask questions. He cares a lot and does whatever he can to do to answer your questions and he will challenge you, but you will learn a lot. He can really teach for sure, but you have to put in the effort or the class will consume you.
1/14/2025
2-4 hrs/week
Really interesting class. It helps a lot if you know math. Definitely very doable, I learned so much and loved the content
1/12/2025
What a journey. 1st 2 weeks I was wtf. Then, the math started making sense. The last 1/2 of the semester the quantum started making sense. Stick with it and trust Loomis. Such a rewarding class.
12/19/2024
Incredibly challenging class, incredible professor. By far the most difficult class I've ever taken. You'll have to work hard, but Prof. Loomis works equally hard to help you succeed. Passion for the course material is apparent in every lecture and humor makes learning the content tolerable. I'll never forget Pleft spectra.
12/19/2024
THE BEST CLASS I have ever taken. hard material but i had so many lightbulb moments. i do wish i would have taken 401 my sophomore year as it explains gen chem material and organic would have made so much more sense. brush up on calc and don't be afraid to ask questions if you miss something.
12/19/2024
First day he joked "this course should be called math 401" and then started lecturing... he was right. He's incredibly supportive tho, good at explaining tough concepts from different angles till you get it. professor=understanding, material=very hard. Lectures available on zoom, receptive to course feedback.
12/18/2024
Loomis is a goof ball. This is the most difficult class I've taken, but if you put your nose to the grindstone you can do well. Through all the anxiety he'll still make you laugh. He's very fair when it comes to grading, though his exam are tough. I love the guy. What sets him apart: he will sacrifice everything to make sure that you succeed
12/18/2024
I dunno, I love this guy. Tough, but he works harder than anyone to help us. I would run through a wall for this guy. I wish I could take another class from him.
12/18/2024
Loomis is def a goat, but I wish he would not push us so hard. We as seniors don't want to work that hard. Less hw and problems with less math would help.
12/17/2024
Some don't like Loomis because he's tough. They're nuts. He is the best prof at WashU. He works crazy hard to make sure everyone learns. I love him and this course.
12/14/2024
401 is really hard. A ton of calc. Don't let that scare you. In the end, there are only a few different types of integrals needed. Loomis has bent over backwards to help us. Just a good, but hard course.
12/12/2024
Absolutely the toughest class I have taken a WU. I am so happy that Loomis taught it though. He's always willing to help us, and he can tell he cares about us.
12/8/2024
Loomis is an incredible and dedicated educator. He has not taught 401 for a while, and it seems as though the math prereqs changed over that time. So, he spent a ton of time modifying the content and meeting with us to make sure we could learn the material. This course is very hard, but you end up learning so much. Work together on problem sets.
12/4/2024
One of the best professors at WashU! Loomis is hilarious, passionate, and genuinely cares about helping students succeed. The lectures are engaging, and using unstuckstudy along with the textbook makes the material click. Tough but worthwhile class.
10/19/2024
Quantum Nanostructures IS NOT EASY. The topics are super difficult and require a good understanding of quantum physics. Homeworks were ridiculously hard, and the exams impossible. That being said, amazing lecturer, very engaging. Going to office hours saved my life. Very accessible via email. Can't miss class or else you're behind. 100% take class!
9/12/2024
The GOAT!! I took 111A w/ Loomis 2 years ago, and I am still realizing how much I learned from him and that class. He just knows how to teach and connect with students.
8/17/2024
6-8 hrs/week
First STEM class in college and got my ass kicked. Loomis is a good professor though.
6/5/2024
2-4 hrs/week
Went into this class with zero (applicable) chemistry experience. Between PLTL graded and ungraded homeworks and weekly quizzes it was easy to know what you knew and needed to learn. Falling behind in this class would be hard. Fantastic course taught fantastically. Loomis/daschbach made a very hard subject fun and approachable.
5/19/2024
2 or less hrs/week
Awesome class, so fun. I loved the content so much. It was taught in such an easy to understand way. Both loomis and daschbach are great. Quizzes are really easy. If you do the quizzes you don't need to study for exams, which are also easy.nI want to recognize that this class came easy to me and I know some people found it hard, hence the reputation of the class. But I also know a lot of people who found this class super easy and put in no work outside of attending lecture. This course is fun and not very hard, you should take it.
5/19/2024
2-4 hrs/week
Loomis was a really enthusiastic lecturer. Not that bad if you've taken ap chem, but you really only need 111/112 if you want a faster paced gen chem course
5/18/2024
I have now had Prof. Loomis for 3 classes. It does not matter what he teaches, he is the GOAT. Prof. Loomis strives to make sure every single student in the class walks out understanding the material. He is hard, but we students end up loving the material.
5/6/2024
He inspired my whole approach to learning in undergrad... This person is one of the best professors you'll ever get to know in your career.
4/21/2024
Great instructor, great mentor, and great human. 111 prepared me for my academic career at Wash U, without Loomis and 111, I am sure I would not have made it through. He has given me so much invaluable career advice since my first year, and he always pitched it straight and respectful.
5/15/2023
Loomis just knows how to teach. I did not know what to expect with a grad course, but I learned so much. He brought together many aspects from Gen Chem, Inorg, and Phys Chem and tied them together to show us properties of semiconductor nanomaterials. I am so glad I opted to take this course as an elective.
5/11/2023
I took Loomis 3 yrs ago as a freshman. I liked him then, but I am realizing now that he is the best at WU. Yes, he prepared us well for science, but he also taught us how to think, how to ask questions, how to understand problems, and how to study. I hope to be a smaller, female version of him down the road.
1/27/2023
I once approached Dr. Loomis at his office to inquire about a question relating to semantics: "If hydrolysis is the breaking of a bond, shouldn't analysis be the breakage of the anus?" Let's just say, he answered via nucleophilic backside attack. WOULD DEFINITELY RETAKE!! SO KNOWLEDGEABLE! BEST PROFESSOR AT WASHU. HE IS A MUST-TAKE!!!!
1/19/2023
Loomis has genuinely been one of the most devoted and caring professors I've ever known. He would often stay at his student help sessions until midnight to ensure that each student gets the most complete understanding of the material. His lectures are never boring as he is a hilarious person whose passion for chemistry is infectious. He's the best!
1/17/2023
111 is a very very challenging course, but the fact that I received basically the first B of my life and still love the man says a lot. He was incredible in so many ways and truly cared not only about the subject but about the students. In a lecture hall of 250 kids, he knew my name and many other students' names. He is amazing!
1/11/2023
Funniest and most caring professor. He pushes each student to do better in an encouraging way and does his best to set you up to succeed.
1/1/2023
The LEGEND. He will challenge you and help you. There is no better teacher.
12/28/2022
Context: I took a lot of hs Chem, and was going to skip 111/112. Loomis and 111 are incredible. I had so many ahah moments where my hs material became clear. It was a bunch of work, but so rewarding. Loomis did not just teach to me though. He worked hard to help all of us. Incredible semester.
12/22/2022
Professor Loomis is one of the best professors I have ever had. Chem 111 is really tough, but he is very passionate about the subject and makes chemistry super fun to learn. Highly recommend this class if you want to learn a lot with incredible professors.
12/21/2022
Definitely the best professor in WashU I've seen so far. Passionate. Funny. Cares about the students. I can't believe he is leaving but I can only wish him the best. He's an amazing professor and you should always take his class no matter what it is, he will make it worthwhile!
12/10/2022
Just an incredible teacher and an awesome course. Loomis changed my mindset and expectations for myself, WU, and learning. I almost placed out, but my RA convinced me to take 111 - thrilled I listened. So much more of Chemistry makes sense now.
12/9/2022
Loomis (& Daschbach) are incredible. It was a tough course, but I learned so, so much, not just about Chemistry, but also about learning and adjusting how I think. I will always cherish this semester.
12/8/2022
HE IS VERY FUNNY .Both him and Daschbach are awesome. read other reviews for detail. would 10/10 recommend if you plan to go premed over the 105-106 sequence
11/17/2022
OK, Loomis is hilarious and an excellent lecturer. He is also a genuine person, who really cares about his students. I just watched a StudLife video of Loomis and Daschbach reading their RMP reviews...they are such a great team. They feed off of each other in class and in the video. Take their course and you will learn how to think.
10/13/2022
I took Loomis' 111A course three years ago. I am still realizing how much he taught us. The class prepares you for science and medicine. It teaches you how to think, and gets you away from memorizing. All students interested in STEM or Medicine should start with Loomis.
8/10/2022
Loomis is a fantastic lecturer and very funny. Very willing to help students -- attend his office hours! Daschbach and Loomis did a great job organizing this class. Genchem is difficult, but manageable if you put in the work. Go to office hours, they were the most helpful resource outside of lecture.
2/2/2022
Loomis and 111 are iconic and I was not disappointed. What a great, but extremely challenging course. All STEM students should be required to take 111.
1/11/2022
Great course and an even greater professor. You will work so hard, but you will learn so much. This is why I came to WU.
12/29/2021
Not gonna lie, your journey of becoming a great doctor or working in the medical field starts with this man, Professor Loomis. Amazing lectures, great explanation to very possible questions, extremely hilarious, and have tremendous care for his students, especially the front row and the 7th students who failed and retook the class just to see him.
12/27/2021
What a fabulous course!!! Team 111 is the real deal. Do not listen to four-year advisors. Take this class if you want to learn Chemistry and learn how to learn. This course changed my mindset. Loomis and Daschbach are equally good and complementary.
12/27/2021
Loomis is great, but tough. He works way hard. Shoot, I had a lecture given by Gru. Who does that, especially on parents day? So funny.
12/23/2021
Loomis is just so good. Gen Chem, nah. It shattered my expectations. The story of the electron was great, and we took a tour of quantum, molecular orbital theory, and ended with molecular interactions. This made high school chem so clear. Definitely go to his office hours, they are a must. I have to give a shout to Daschbach too. GO TEAM 111!!
12/23/2021
Hands down best professor I have ever had in my life. He genuinely cares so much about chemistry and making sure every student understands. He is willing to stay in office hours as long as needed to ensure everyone's questions are answered. They want you to succeed, you just have to use all the resources and go to class. Definitely recommend!!
12/18/2021
He's loud and jokes around a lot. Gives great feedback, knows his stuff and explains everything well
11/19/2021
Chem111A is a very hard class but you can get whatever grade you want if you work for it. It is doable but not free. Loomis is a great lecturer and person.
4/29/2021
Loomis was super helpful during office hours. He always took the time to make sure everyone understood concepts and answered all questions. He is good at explaining all the sides of a concept. Also, since we didn't have lectures in person, he dressed up for Halloween on the zoom call <3 Definitely can't want to take another class with him!
2/24/2021
Professor Loomis is an amazing professor. He always makes his lectures engaging, funny, and genuinely cares about his students. He is always accessible and makes sure every student succeeds. He made a difficult topic so interesting and I really hope I can take a class of his again.
2/17/2021
This class is very difficult, especially over Zoom. He is an amazingly caring professor, and he makes the material exciting and relevant by talking about his own research. It was confusing how content was divvied up between lecture, recitation, and CCVs, and I wish there were more problem sets to practice with. Loomis hosts great office hours.
1/26/2021
Great prof and course - the best course at Wash U this past Pandemic semester.
1/17/2021
A ton of work, but if you do it, the material is not that hard, and you will do fine in the exams. Loomis is able to make sense of it all, and he pushed us to learn. I gained a lot is skills that will help me throughout my career. Great prof and course.
1/16/2021
Prof. Loomis is an incredible teacher who cares about students. He has a clear passion for Chemistry and his research. "General" chemistry does not mean "Simple" Chemistry. This is a tough class. You will need to work nearly as hard as Loomis to get a good grade. Use Loomis as your main resource as he is great at breaking down & explaining topics.
1/15/2021
Loomis is a great teacher and a better human being. He has ruined my college career because I will now be comparing all of my professors to him, and they won't have a chance. He worked so hard to make sure the entire class understands even the toughest of concepts. What a great semester. I will miss him.
1/14/2021
I love Professor Loomis so much. I have taken one class with him and feel like we have a real bond because he cares about his students and makes himself available for everyone. His lectures are hilarious and extremely informative and the exams are difficult but based on the work - make sure you do the practice problems!
1/12/2021
One of the best teachers/professors I've ever had, you'll be lucky to have him as a prof. He made a very confusing and notoriously difficult subject enjoyable. He has genuine passion for teaching and is the most knowledgeable prof that I have ever had in the subject they teach.
1/12/2021
Loomis is great. The highlight of the semester. I was afraid a virtual semester was going to be a waste. Not true. I learned so much, and I had fun. Mon pm help sessions were insightful and so beneficial. Get him to talk about research and he really shows his excitement. It takes a ton of work, but you won't mind.
1/7/2021
Great Professor! Professor Loomis is super knowledgable, friendly, and approachable. Professor Loomis made a hard class enjoyable.
1/5/2021
Just finished the best class I probably will ever take. Loomis (and Daschbach) made 111 a great learning experience, even with Covid and Zoom. I just wish we could have done the course in person. Incredible dedication to teaching and the students.
12/18/2020
Loombach is fantastic. Seriously, the Loomis/Daschbach team has far exceeded my expectations. This is my favorite, but hardest class, even though it is through Zoom. They provide so much support and help. Loomis runs marathon help sessions that do not end til everyone gets their questions answered. What a great semester.
12/17/2020
Loomis is awesome. He works so hard to help us. Really hard class. He is co-teaching with Daschbach, and that is great. Ying and Yang. Hard, but interesting exams. Realistic score expectations though.
12/16/2020
Loomis was great. Course should be called Story of the Electron, but it is cool. Very challenging exams, but it is not difficult to earn an A. He works really hard to make sure everyone gets their questions answered. He is an impressive force and the best at Wash U. He does cool research too.
7/21/2020
A huge curve (should be smaller) makes this class easier than it should've been. Other than the first test, I thought that the difficulty was exaggerated (I had no prior chem experience). Put in the work before the test and you'll be fine. Dr. Loomis is also hilarious and the best STEM professor at WashU. Very approachable and gave us free monster!
6/11/2020
So good. He tells you how hard it will be, but he works crazy hard to make sure we do well. Plan ahead for exams or they will rock you. Incredible class.
12/26/2019
Simply an incredible course and Professor. My advisor told me to take Chem 105, because you need AP Chem for Chem 111. Nonsense. Loomis made the hardest material crystal clear. He works very hard to make sure we all got the material. Just a great semester. I will take any course he offers.
12/20/2019
I am a graduating senior, and I realize more and more how great Loomis was. I had him first for Gen Chem, and he and the course were fantastic. I was fortunate to have him as my major advisor, and he has gone above and beyond my expectations. He is an incredible educator, an excellent mentor, and he truly cares about the well being of all students.
5/8/2019
Loomis is the funniest teacher/professor I have ever had. He really engages a classroom of 250+ students. He knows the information extremely well, although sometimes his lectures were a bit unorganized. He loves getting to know his students. Although the class is challenging, Loomis is there to support his students.
1/12/2018
I love, luv, luvv Loomis. He is incredible. It is amazing how much he cares about ALL of the students. This really comes out in his help sessions, where he seems to take it personally to make sure everyone gets the material. The course is super hard, but with no curve and all of the help he and the other instructors offer, it is doable.
12/27/2017
Best ever. I thought I would hate it, but his Story of the Electron makes so much sense, and is kinda cool. The guy knows how to teach. He gives these amazing evening help sessions on the 40, and stayed until 3:30 am one time helping us. His class is tough, but so, so good.
12/22/2017
Loomis is fantastic; he uses humor in his teaching style so if you learn that way, he is a great professor. He really cares about the students and has help sessions on the 40 until 10 at night. Easily my favorite teacher thus far
12/20/2017
Professor Loomiss lectures are generally extremely clear, and he adds a lot of humor in to keep students engaged. I thought this class was fairly easy, especially if you keep up the current topic.
12/14/2017
Taking his class right now and want to write this before I get my grade. Loomis is incredible. He really cares and works really hard to make sure we understand the material. Loomis offers help sessions on the South 40 at night so we can just pop in. These are incredible. Passionate about Chemistry and students.
11/9/2017
He was an amazing professor. I had him last semester and is still by far my favorite teacher at wash u. chem 111 is really freaking hard but he was hilarious and made the class enjoyable. if you go to his help sessions, he will see that you care and will do his best to help you to do well
5/12/2017
Loomis is fantastic. He takes it personally that everyone learns the material, and he works very hard to make sure all questions are answered. I am a junior, and I have not met a more dedicated educator. I want to take more classes with him. Don't be afraid of 111, just take Loomis.
2/3/2017
Chem111 has some great professors, but Loomis is the best. He really gets into it, and he absolutely wants everyone to learn Chemistry, or should I say the baby quantum mechanics behind chemistry. Great guy and great class.
12/21/2016
Just finished the most amazing semester with Loomis. I have decided I want to be a professor, and I hope that I can be just a fraction of him. He is really smart, caring, and funny. He works really hard to make sure everyone gets the material. He seems to take it personally if he can't convey something. Simply incredible.
12/21/2016
I thought I hated Chemistry and that I never could ever understand it. Thank you Dr. Loomis, for showing me how wrong I was. A funny professor, I loved going to class (dont switch lectures because you dont think he will be serious). He really cares, makes everyone participate, and I learned so much from him
12/9/2016
Loomis is the best professor ever. He is super entertaining and makes Chemistry more fun to learn. The material is very difficult but Loomis always stays to answer every single question.
12/9/2016
Loomis is great. Best professor at WU. The material comes fast, but he can explain things extremely well. He really rocks in help sessions, where there is more time and he can go through multiple ways to explain concepts.
12/4/2016
Loomis is so good at teaching. He can explain things so many different ways, even the most complicated topics. I will take any class he offers. Yes, all of Chem 111 is rushed, because they need to cover a bunch of material, but it is the best class.
11/3/2016
Loomis is an awesome person. He's a hilarious guy, and he knows how to relate to students. However, his lectures definitely got progressively worse throughout the semester. I don't really know what happened, but basically everything after the second exam he managed to make pretty unclear even though the concepts were easier.
1/2/2016
Teaches the underlying physics/chemistry behind what we knew from h.s. The concepts are tough, but he knows how to convey the material. He has a lot of energy, is really funny, and is able to keep our attention. Best class I have taken at WU.
12/21/2015
Loomis is incredible. He is soooo smart, but he is the first normal-guy professor I have ever met. You can ask him anything, and he will be able to answer it so you understand.
12/17/2015
Great lectures, and able to answer any question. Some say he should write more on the board, but I think that would ruin his lectures and their flow. Go to his lectures, and then get the notes from Daschbach's lectures. He cares about all of the students, and he does not curve , which is awesome.
12/3/2015
Great professor for the first 3 exams, but for the post-exam 3 material I'd recommend going to Daschbach's lectures as it gets a bit confusing. Great teacher and super friendly :)
11/23/2015
Great Professor! His lectures and help sessions are hands down the best. He can explain anything. He clearly cares that all students get the material, and he wants everyone to do well. I will definitely take any course he offers.
12/22/2014
Loomis is sooo amazing. He tries to connect with each and every student, he even learned all of our names. He will stay for hours after help sessions to make sure we get all of our questions answered and until we really get the material. I was blown away, he even emailed me to congratulate me for a good semester. He is someone to look up to.
12/18/2014
Loomis is the man. I actually looked forward to his lectures sometimes. Not only does he know the material very well and teach it well, but he makes lecture super entertaining. One of the funniest people I've ever met.
12/16/2014
Loomis is the real deal. So smart, a great communicator, funny yet serious about education. I love everything about him and his class. Yes, he tries to learn every student's name.
12/5/2014
Loomis is AWESOME!! Really smart and a great communicator. Tests are challenging, but doable. You will definitely learn all of that orbital stuff the glossed over in h.s. Absolutely take Loomis for Gen Chem.
12/4/2014
Loomis is awesome. He does not write down as much as some of the other professors, but he explains things so that you can understand them and you will not need to write everything down. Go to his helps sessions. He will answer anything about the material, and you get a really good idea of how the material fits into the rest of science.
12/2/2014
Loomis is an incredibly talented lecturer. He keeps the class entertaining while still covering the material. His biggest fault is that he gets so passionate about some of the material that he slips in Chem 401 material which can confuse some people. Overall I think he is a wonderful teacher who really cares about his students.
11/19/2014
Loomis is fantastic. He explains everything extremely well. He also make sure we are all on board as he goes through even the most challenging material. If something still is not clear, go to his help sessions - he is great, and he will stay until you get it.
11/12/2014
The best course I have taken at Wash. U. Based on Chem 111, I thought this would be good, but it was even better. He does not use a text book, but he complements his lectures with literature handouts. I now have a good understanding of electronic properties of semiconductors and see how size can alter these properties. Take this course.
5/8/2013
Loomis is GREAT. He made Gen Chem exciting, fun, and challenging.
6/26/2012
Loomis is Absolutely Great!! He definitely combines entertainment with a lot of materials...taught at an extremely high level. He is extremely committed, and works extremely hard to make sure students get the material. Definitely the best of the 111 teachers.
3/29/2012
An incredibly insightful lecturer and teacher. Loomis fills in all of the gaps we may have had from high school, and then opens us up to the cool world of quantum mechanics. He is amazing. I have not met a professor who is so passionate about teaching, and who cares so much about all of the students.
3/8/2012
Amazing Professor. Lectures engaging and extremely thorough. Occasionally goes off on tangents and slightly out of order. But, if you take a few minutes a week to draw connections, easily one of my 5 favorite instructors of all time.
2/17/2012
Loomis is not your average professor, he is incredible. He does not fit into any stereo type. Somehow, he is very funny, engaging, and a "normal person". At the same time, he works extremely hard to get the most out of the students. Just a great semester.
1/11/2012
Loomis was great, even at 9am. He was very organized, very entertaining, very helpful, and very caring. I can't wait to take another class from him.
12/24/2011
Loomis is the Best! This is not a repeat of h.s. chemistry. It is much, much more. Loomis brought in quantum to show us how electrons behave, and how electrons dictate chemistry. It seems like a bunch of junk, but it is really cool. The tests really push you, but they are not normalized, which is great.
12/18/2011
Great!!! He is seriously the perfect professor. He's entertaining, smart, passionate, caring, and seriously demanding. Take his class, even if it is the 9 am section.
11/24/2011
Great professor in a tough class. Loomis goes the extra 9 yards to make sure students, who work hard, understand the material. He regularly stays past 8 pm for his 3:30 help sessions. This is important since some of us feel intimidated by the harder questions that sometimes come up at the beginning. He is great, and really funny.
11/23/2011
Loomis is awesome. He is really funny, and a great person. Try to get to know him. He definitely pushes students to learn, not memorize, and while his exams are very challenging, he grades accordingly. The Quantum stuff is really cool.
11/21/2011
Loomis is hilarious, he keeps everything interesting. The class itself is very difficult but if you just make it through it you'll be fine. Loomis is tough but he makes the material interesting and is just a great teacher. Glad to have met him
11/17/2011
Loomis is great. He is full of energy and can explain anything 5 different ways. He is also tough, but he does that for our benefit. What a great semester.
7/11/2011
Loomis makes 111 great. He is extremely clear, and is able to teach to everyone. He is funny, and always knows when to use humor to break up dry material. He is a great person with whom you can consult about academic, scientific, and career issues. There is no better at Wash. U.
2/9/2011
Great professor and a great course. It's amazing to learn about the true origins of the atomic and molecular wave functions. 111 has a bad reputation of being a weed-out course...couldn't be further from the truth. Loomis does aim for low means, but broad distributions. He does not normalize, but his means are a mid B.
1/15/2011
Loomis is the best. Yes, he's entertaining, but he uses that to keep our focus on the material, which is no cake walk. He is able to explain everything 4 or 5 different ways so that everyone has a chance to learn. Take his class.
1/12/2011
Loomis was awesome. He would stay for hours and hours after help sessions until all of us felt comfortable with the material. What dedication and care about the students. He even e-mailed me today telling me how I did, and he gave me a ton of confidence for next semester and in my career (even though I am premed). Thnx Loomis.
12/23/2010
He lived up to and surpassed my expectations. He is very interesting, and I appreciate how he is able to convey even the toughest concepts in an understandable manner. He is great. I hope I can take him again.
12/20/2010
No doubt the best at Wash U. Try to get to know him. He is a great person too, well rounded, funny, smart, and very caring.
12/18/2010
Loomis just won the "Best Professor" award at Wash U, yet he is one of the toughest professors there is. There is no need to say anything else.
12/15/2010
GREAT CLASS! GREAT GUY! He is able to teach us the actual origin of the atomic wave functions and their consequences on chemistry. Absolutely fantastic. By not curving, he was able to bring together the entire class, which helped all of us learn the material. I agree...go to class.
12/13/2010
He is so awesome - more than willing to help whatever the need is. He makes it his goal to know all 300 kids in his lecture class and he pretty much succeeds. BEST LECTURES EVER + EVEN BETTER PERSON
11/12/2010
Yes he is funny, but he is crystal clear. It is really cool to learn about the real properties of electronic orbitals. I am not sure I understand quantum yet, but I want to learn more. Loomis is absolutely great and interesting. He is especially awesome in help sessions.
11/11/2010
Decent. His explanations are quite, good and hes an engaging lecturer. He's also a brilliant guy who has a lot of passion for chem. Sadly, the class has a terrible propensity to laugh at everything he says, filling his entire lecture with people laughing at his sometimes funny commentary. Frey is better - energetic but not trying to be a comedian.
10/28/2010
I was told I had to take Chem with Loomis, and I have not been disappointed. He is great. Funny, smart, and a great teacher. He is the most personable professor I have ever met. He is trying to memorize all of our names, and he has even offered to have lunch with all of the students. He is a must.
10/8/2010
lOOMIS IS THE BEST. SERIOUSLY, HE IS THE ENTIRE PACKAGE. GREAT AND ENTERTAINING LECTURER. CARING. SMART. EAST TO COMMUNICATE WITH. HE KNOWS HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF HIS STUDENTS.
5/13/2010
Professor Loomis is a fantastic teacher! Clarifies difficult concepts. Tests are challenging, but satisfying if you do well. Overall very interesting class
3/15/2010
Overal best teacher at Washu. Material was novel to everybody regardless of whether you had taken ap chem or not. Very difficult class but he was an amazing teacher who was able to dumb down the material then build it back up quite well. Always available for help, cared deeply for the students dand gave out difficult, but reasonable exams
2/22/2010
Professor Loomis is the best teacher I have ever had. He is brilliant and I learned an incredible amount during my first semester at Wash U. Sure, he's hard, but college isn't supposed to be easy. He is also willing to help and talk to you about the course. If you get the chance, take his class.
1/27/2010
I never imagined that a professor would care so much about how the students do and how much they learn, but Loomis does. He is incredibly smart, and a genuine person. I agree with the previous, he is also the funniest ever. Take Loomis for Chem 111, if at all possible.
1/1/2010
Loomis is HILARIOUS. His class feels more like a comedy show than chemistry, but I still learned so much. He knows what he is talking about and loves to interact with students and answer questions. Bottom line - his class was awesome. I don't even like chem that much and I liked it.
12/21/2009
Fantastic. He can scare you at first, but he just tries to get everyone involved and in tune with what he's talking about. It was really cool to see this phys chem perspective of chemistry. I'm looking forward to taking him again. Pay attention to him and you will do fine.
12/9/2009
Great lecturer! He is even better in help sessions. He seems to carefully think about our questions and then is able to explain the material in multiple ways until we can see what he is talking about. Just amazing. I'm not sure his exams need to be that tough, but he adjusts the grades. Take him.
12/2/2009
Loomis is awesome. He is way smart, yet he knows how to communicate even the hardest material. He cares about the entire class, and he wants everyone to learn the material. Warning, get ready to work, because this is not your average Chem course. Loomis has changed my mindset about how to learn. I can already tell it will help me in all classes.
11/25/2009
Loomis was great. Perfect tempo and mix of background material with new concepts and just enough application. By the way, he definitely expects you to learn the material, and on exams you have to use the material to solve problems that you have never seen before. He will definitely push you.
1/15/2009
Fantastic guy, knows exactly what he's doing and how to cater to students without making the class too hard or too easy. Really fun class that i enjoyed going to throughout the semester.
1/7/2009
Loomis is awesome. Smart, caring, and funny. He forces you to think in a new way. You can't just memorize you have to learn and understand. This was probably the first time in my life that I have had to do that. It's great. Take Loomis if you can.
12/18/2008
Loomis is the best!! I was dreading this class at the beginning of the semester, and it was definitely hard, but Loomis made it a class that I actually enjoyed! He's funny, but he's serious about helping everyone understand.
12/16/2008
Dr. Loomis is a riot. He is a really good lecturer, but he is the best in help sessions. He seems to be willing and able to explain things different ways so that everyone can understand the material, which is tough. You can tell that he really wants everyone to learn about Chemistry, but he also realizes that it is not for everyone.
12/12/2008
Loomis is full of energy, character, insight, intelligence, and compassion. Seriously, he does a fantastic job. Somehow, he is making Gen. Chem. very interesting, even though I have had 3 yrs in high school. I hope I can have him for Quantum. Take this course. You will work hard, but it is worth it.
11/12/2008
Great man and great professor. Truly dedicated to teaching and helping his students understand the material. He makes chemistry both enjoyable and rewarding. Highly recommend you attend his lectures.
11/8/2008
Pchem I is an incredibly dificult class - do the HWs, if you do it right they will help you. Office Hours are a must. the only way to do well is to work hard.
1/15/2008
It is only halfway through the semester, but he is good. A bit hard, but a good mix of math with physics and now chemistry. I wish I had him for Chem 111...that would have been a blast. Rock on Loomis.
10/16/2007
Lectures are just an opportunity for him to "perform" as he copies handwritten notes onto the blackboard. Good comedian, poor professor.
1/4/2007
A really difficult, but excellent course. Loomis is great. To learn from someone like him is why I came to Wash. U. I can't imagine a better Quantum course. I wish that I could have him in other courses.
12/27/2006
He is HARD! Somehow he knows when we're lost and he spends the time to get us up to speed. A mean of 50 on exams is daunting, but he knows that if you get a 50 you know more than 50% of the material. I have had great profs here, but he is the best. He has convinced me to go to grad school for Phys. Chem. Take this class, be prepared to work.
10/28/2006
Excellent mix of math with Quantum and actual experimental details. Gives you great intuition for spectroscopy experiments. A must for anyone interested in advanced chemistry. You don't have to be a grad student to take it and do well.
8/9/2006
Just a great class and a fabulous professor. He really cares if people understand the material and we follow the importance of the material. You must take Gen Chem with him. Frey was my assigned Prof., but you will get much more out of class with Loomis. I look forward to having him again.
11/17/2005
Loomis is excellent. He knows his stuff and he can teach anyone. He keeps you entertained, but does not distract you. He is really, big...get over it and go to his office hours, it is really helpful. Because of him, I have switched from Biochem to Chem. I hope I can have him for my advisor.
8/30/2005
You don't have to have taken AP chem. Some stuff just requires you to be able to solve problems. Be sure to go to class and not tune out when you're there. Read the book and look at the examples when you read. Be prepared for questions you've never seen before on the exams, this guy is famous for making hard exams.
6/27/2005
A nice guy and pretty entertaining, but he assumed that everyone had taken AP Chem. he obviously knows his stuff, but since he knows it so well that is obvious in his teaching, which sometimes got overly complicated
6/18/2005
I did well in the class cause I had taken AP Chem before. I thought he did a good job of going over the basics first and then taking more time on the hard stuff. Best if you go to class rather than watch the lectures, but watching them is better than nothing. One of the better chem teacher to have.
1/11/2005
He has trouble explaining it as if we dont already know what he is talking about. The class assumes you've taking AP chem
1/8/2005
Didn't have Loomis as my lecture prof. but went to his help session every week. Makes it very clear that he expects alot from students but also is sincere and concerned for them. Takes the time to answer questions as thoroughly as he can. Writes really hard tests questions though.
1/4/2005
Loomis does a great job of keeping the class awake and he made class bareable. He gets a little disorganized & confused sometimes, but it's not as dry as Frey's lectures. He has a human side and actually cares about students, something the chem department isn't known for.
1/4/2005
Loomis was a funny and entertaining teacher. However, his lectures were unorganized and unclear. So much so that I would often watch Frey's lectures to ensure that I was caught up on the class material.
1/2/2005
Gives a good combination of material with humor to keep us in tune. He really knows this PChem stuff and can relate it on any level. Wow!! Everyone needs to hold on tight because he goes way fast. At the same time he stays aware if students are not up with him. He rocks!
12/31/2004
Loomis is awesome. I had Frey and left her class and just went to Loomis' lectures because he kept me awake.
12/29/2004
Professor Loomis makes this class very fun and interesting. He is a great teacher.
12/28/2004
Everyone needs to take this class and it's ment to weed students out. With that in mind, the class isn't so bad. Loomis makes class interesting, but it's still really hard.
12/27/2004
I found Professor Loomis to be very helpful and concerned about his students.
12/27/2004
interesting and funny lectures---though sometimes unprepared for class making his notes hard to follow
12/27/2004
prof. loomis is really funny. the subject matter is really hard, but he usually makes it interesting. dont let your cell phone ring becuase he will answer it.
12/27/2004
made things unclear to me, presented his notes in a jumbled fashion. inappropriate in class
12/27/2004
He is a very funny and entertaining guy, which makes his lectures more interesting. The subject matter is very hard, and he moves kind of fast, but I always enjoyed going to his lectures.
12/3/2004
He makes the class very interesting, very funny, some people goes to his class for entertainment...also flicks people off. On the other side, he actually covers all the material you need to know for the exam. His class gets higher average than Frey's.
11/30/2004