This class is difficult, BUT Dr. Pham is easily one of the best professors I have ever had, and I am sure that will be the case throughout my entire college experience. If you approach the class in a way where you just do the minimum, maybe just showing up to lecture and doing BACON homework, then you will get the minimum benefit from the class. Obviously, sometimes that is how you have to approach the class, but if you have the chance to get to know this amazing professor, not only will your grade improve but you will be able to see just how dedicated and how seriously he wants his students to understand the concepts. He will have full on conversations about a topic that will go out of the scope of the class which is GREAT because with the way this series is structured and with how complex ochem is, knowing more will only help you in every way. Pham knows just about every answer to any question you may have and the best part of his explanations is that it isn't a high school answer where you just have to take the answer as it is because the teacher said it's true. He will give you the why and then everything about your knowledge of anything will just click. I don't know how he does it but that was my experience. If you are only focused on getting a good grade in a class, maybe you can do it on your own or in a study group, but if you actually want to just know more about chemistry or Pham's life because he has cool stories, then I would make an effort to go to office hours or the one-on-one sessions. Do what you can to get him as your teacher because UCLA students couldn't be luckier to have Pham grace us with his presence in a rigorous and intense 14 series, pre-med environment.