Second the reviews given here! Dr. Liu was incredibly caring since it was his first time teaching this class I think it will be even better the next time he teaches. The 3 problem sets were pretty extensive but I think the tradeoff for not having midterms is pretty good and the class felt like you were getting out what you were putting in. I think it was super manageable with the other 3 classes I was taking and research and the week long final that we had was also not too bad and I could fit it in after I was done with my other finals.

I think the only disclaimer is brush up on molecular orbitals because that is literally what this class is: using symmetry to make molecular orbitals and what results we may obtain with this. Deriving MO diagrams was introduced week 1 and stayed up until even the final :)

Also, here is the grading breakdown he used with our class: A+, > 100; A, 95~99.5; A-, 90~94.5; B+, 85~89.5; B, 80~84.5; B-, 75~79.5; C+, 70~74.5; C, 65~69.5; C-, 60~64.5; D/F, < 60. Each problem set was 20 points each (60 total) and final was 40 points. There were 2 points of extra credit given for completing surveys (as well as .5 bonus points possible on each pset) and honestly the grading was pretty light- I was never stressed about my grade.

Would definitely take a class with him again!

Disclaimer: Taken during COVID

This quarter was his first time teaching 172/C172, and I couldn't have asked for a better professor. He breaks down concepts in a way that makes it easier to understand (less linear algebra heavy) and is honest when he doesn't know the complete answer to something. He encourages questions and he is never condescending about it so it was easier to clear up any confusion that I had.

As for the class structure, I think it is similar to his other classes where he uploads the slides before class and uses Slido for anonymous questions during lecture.The lectures complemented the problem sets very well in that the applications are clear and straightforward. There are 3 problem sets, 1 final, and we were given around 2 weeks to finish the assignments. In my opinion, the assignments can be a little bit tough and time consuming, but some of us would go over the answers together so study groups are highly recommended. The TAs I had prepared review slides and practice questions during discussion so I never felt like I was behind.

Overall, his reviews for the other classes he taught are accurate. He was very receptive to our comments or concerns and it was apparent that he cared about his students. He taught everything he said he would, and all the content he tested for was covered thoroughly in lecture. I would take this class again and whatever other classes Professor Liu teaches!

Liu is a man of the people 10/10 would recommend

Dr. Liu is the goat! His exams were straightforward , and he was very open to suggestions. Also, you weren’t required to attend discussion because they didn’t take attendance so that was an added bonus.

Chong is the best, his tests are 100% fair. All his guidelines for the midterms and even the final are basically the exact test he just changes the numbers. So as long as you put some effort into getting the practice midterms he posts then you'll get an A. He also gives like 8 bonus points on the tests.

I am honestly shocked by how great of a professor Chong Liu was. I was in Lavelle's 14B class for a good amount of time, and Prof. Liu's lectures were far more clear, his expectations far better expressed, and his tests far more fair.

Plenty of opportunity to miss class and skip the iClicker, just not to a crazy amount. Discussion is optional, which is awesome.
Tests are very similar to discussion worksheets and practice exam material. No textbook required, but could be good to look over if you already have it or can borrow from a friend.

The grade is broken down strictly into exams and iClicker out 350 Points:

iClicker = 75 points
Four, 10 minute quizzes = 25 points each (lowest is dropped) - 75 points total
Two midterms = 50 points each
Final Exam = 100 points

If you've taken 172, this class is structured quite similarly with 3 psets and a take-home final. If you're looking at the grade distribution to decide to take this class, I'd take caution as the TA from the previous quarters has left and the newer TA is a bit tougher so it might not be a super easy A as it was before. The content was interesting but was a bit indigestible from the mountains of math and derivations with little talk about practical applications. You're also expected to be able to process a lot of the data that is not taught in class so be prepared for that. The psets are also quite hard and time-consuming and the only advice I have here is to work with others as the book and lectures don't help you at all. Also, the TAs were incredibly helpful albeit everything so email and go to their office hours if you need help! I'd probably stay away from this class unless you're interested in doing research in the field.

chong liu is the biggest sweetheart I have ever met and I genuinely could not love him anymore. 14B was not hard by any means; I rarely paid close (re: much of any) attention in lecture and the exams were extremely easy, I got a 98% or higher on both midterms and a high B on the final (mostly because i just ran out of motivation and ultimately didn't study really at all at the end) . Honestly 14A and 14B were basically AP Chem and as long as you do the guides and review things Liu provided, you’ll be fine. The quizzes were not hard either, minimal studying garnered me A’s on three out of the four and the lowest of the four he drops. Everyone did relatively well on the midterms and honestly so many people over exaggerate how hard the course is when if you put in some effort and have targeted practice you will literally have to try hard to not get an A or B with Chong. Liu really really tries to help you. The only downside was his lectures were full of proofs and integration that didn't really apply or even help all that much. Basically he's a beautiful soul that babied us through the course. He also ended up curving grades up a couple percentage points in the end to boost everyone's grade a lil extra. also discussion was optional.

Dr. Liu is a very humble and caring professor. For his first time teaching this course, I think he did an awesome job. He made the content very easy to understand. He is soft-spoken so it could be hard to understand what he is lecturing about during class. I recommend sitting in the front during lecture. His midterms and final are very similar to the practice midterms and final. He also hosts a lot of office hours during the week so if you can't make it to one, you're bound to make it to another session. His discussion worksheets are very hard but the midterms and finals are not like the worksheets. The clicker questions are based on accuracy which is annoying but helpful so you actually try to get the right answers during lecture.

Liu legitimately cares about his students' understanding of the material and tries his best to address student concerns. I came in with no Chemistry experience, and a nasty 14A grade and I did better than I thought I would. Professor Liu offers many resources for students seeking extra help and has very extensive office hours for busy students. He uploads all of this lecture slides in advance and his practice worksheets and tests are very similar to the real thing. On top of this, he offered extra credit problems on the midterms and finals