Review posted on Sun 28 Mar 2010
Course(s) Taken: Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology: 100

He knows his stuff and his lectures are straightforward but the final killed me.
I was getting an A before the final and ended up with a solid B in the class.

Review posted on Thu 12 Feb 2009
Course(s) Taken: Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology: 100

For EEB 100 he really knows his stuff and his lectures are not all that bad. However, the midterm was absolutely nothing like the practice midterm and the questions ended up being so convoluted and confusing that the midterm killed me even though I knew my stuff well. He only curves if the class average is below 75% so watch out!

Review posted on Fri 06 Apr 2007
Course(s) Taken: eeb 129

The whole course was absolutely idiotic; you will not get any points for your answers unless you answer questions exactly how he wants them. Nonacs should be teaching in a kindergarten. He said, we can drop our lowest score (4 open book tests that had pretty much nothing to do with his lectures, they were just like riddles written by some sick person) and the average is B-. I dropped my second test score, and scored more than 20 points (tests are out of 250 points) above average on 2 of the tests, and finally received a C+ for the course, because I did not talk during the discussions (that is what the TA said). Even though the subject of EEB 129 is interesting, it is better to take it with someone who is more stable and does not want to play mind games with students. Professors like Nonacs should be doing research and not teach at all. Also read the reviews for his LS1 class, ridicules.

Review posted on Sat 17 Dec 2005
Course(s) Taken: EEB 100

Bad scores for Nonacs is because of LS1 kids but for EEB 100 his lectures were pretty amazing and sometimes entertaining (he has interesting tangents that he tells you up front won't be on the exam called Aint Life Grand). I didn't do all too well on the exam but he's one of the better professors I've had.

Review posted on Fri 12 Mar 2004
Course(s) Taken: OBEE 129

I can't understand what all these people are talking about. Nonacs is a GREAT professor! I had him for Animal Behavior and not only is the topic interesting, but he loves what he's talking about, posts his power point slides on the web, and is a pretty nice guy. I have yet to take a teacher that was so absolutely different between two classes. Some of you are saying that LS 1 was horrible but I find that hard to believe. His tests were composed of some of the most straightforward essay questions and multiple choice questions that I've ever seen at UCLA. I missed a few lectures due to an illness and I still aced the class. He even lets you drop your points on one part of the class so that you can A) skip discussion for the entire quarter, B) not do the research paper, or C) drop an entire midterm exam grade. How easy is that? As long as you review the lecture notes and read the book you'll be fine. The people on here that are complaining about Noncas probably didn't do much work and were expecting an A to be handed to them so don't listen to them.

Review posted on Thu 28 Aug 2003
Course(s) Taken: LS1

NONACS was by far the worst professor I have had at UCLA. I took him a couple of years ago for LS1 in the fall as an incoming freshman and I was overwhelmed with his tests. His lectures and the book seemed irrelevant for his tests. I was purely guessing on half of his problems on the final exam. Needless to say, there was a large curve and I ended up with a B. Avoid him like the plague.

Review posted on Wed 04 Jun 2003
Course(s) Taken: obee 129

I don't know about LS1 kids, but I had him for 129 and he was really good. Maybe its because I'm graduating this quarter and I have dealt with a loooot of bad classes but his class was a breath of fresh air. His lectures are interesting and enjoyable and I have to say his tests are cake. I highly recommend his class.

Review posted on Mon 07 Apr 2003
Course(s) Taken: LS1

Its true, Nonacs' tests are monumentally difficult, his lectures were interesting and enjoyable. I'm in history and I managed to salvage a C,so it is doable.

Review posted on Mon 17 Feb 2003
Course(s) Taken: LS1

Nonacs makes you believe that his class is going to be easy because of his highly organized lecture style: he uses PowerPoint, and he lectures in a very clear, organized way. However, his exams are incomprehensible. For instance, he will ask a very poorly worded multiple choice question about Cnidarias or something and will ask you to choose from: Choice A, Choice B which sounds similar to A, Choice C which is Choice A and Choice B combined, Choice D which is "all of the above", and finally, Choice E which is all of the above except one of the above choices.

For those that study 24/7, he will make you doubt what you know. For those who like to cram, you will mostly likely fail, unless you happen to be a ridiculously good guesser. For those who do not go to class, go to Murphy Hall, and file a petition for a Withdrawal immediately and retake his class over the summer.

Heed my warning ... be very very frightened of this man. His class will make you die, very very slowly.

Review posted on Thu 19 Sep 2002
Course(s) Taken: None

i had dr. nonacs fro OBEE 129, and i thought he was great. maybe he's trying to weed out all the bad ones in ls1, but he was a very accessible professor when i took him for 129, and was more than willing to explaining things in different ways so that everyone could understand it...college is about LEARNING, not just memorizing...if you can understand, instead of just memorize, then you will be much better off. and that's what nonacs teaches you to do...so complain all you want...then grow up...med school isn't gonig to be easy...what made you expect college was going to be any better?