This class was one of the most challenging classes I've ever taken. I think what made it the most challenging for me was the other classes I was taking alongside it. My workload this quarter was this class alongside Chem 30A and Math 32B, both very extensive courses.

I can give advice and mistakes I made that I recommend you all don't make, and I think if that advice is followed, you'll definitely have a better time in this course than I did. However, what professors and other reviews fail to account for is that you're human. This course is designed to be one in which you dedicate all your time and attention, which just isn't feasible for most students. Looking back, I beat myself up for " not doing more" than I should have done for this class, but I would have stretched myself far thinner than I was already stretched.

With that said, I'll describe my experience with the class.

The lectures are very long, and I found it hard to be attentive for the whole two hours. The professor also moves through the slides very fast; however, he does leave a lot of room for students to ask questions which is nice. The questions are VERY content-heavy, we cover 10-15 concepts a week. He does cover examples during the lectures as well, but the examples in class are a lot easier than the problem sets. I wished he would spend more time going over harder examples in class.

The tests were difficult, very difficult. They follow the exact format of prior tests (which he provided), in terms of content and wording of questions.

It is very important that you don't fall behind in this course. Review the lectures you covered right after class and begin the problem sets the next day in order to keep the material fresh. I recommend going to office hours starting week 0 (he starts lecturing material then). I had a hard time processing information in class, so I would review the slides alongside the audio recording at 2x speed and make further annotations to help me understand. I just wish I did this RIGHT after the lectures rather than a couple of weeks later.

Our year was also different though because we were provided problem set solutions. The problem sets are very long, WAY too long, in my opinion, so it was nice having the solutions to fall back on. However, that was my downfall. The problem sets were so much more difficult than in class, that I didn't have time to sit there and struggle with the material because I had other classes to deal with. He said he would not be providing solutions for further classes, which I think will help because it will encourage you to go to office hours to complete them. Just be smart with your time.

In terms of grading, he added a bigger curve because of the fact that test scores were lower and he thinks it was because of the solutions going up with the problem sets.

This class is a rite of passage and you can definitely do it, you just got to pass!

Dr Kamei is widely regarded as the best BE professor for a good reason. Genuinely, anyone who says he is mean or unhelpful or anything like that probably didn't go to class and didn't work hard. This class is very much you get what you put in.

Definitely a tough class, but doable if you work hard and really focus on practicing problems and asking questions. Dr. Kamei is a great professor-- personable, funny, and cares about students, and lectures are enjoyable and interesting. Keep looking at the light at the end of the tunnel, and you might find you enjoy getting Hulk-slammed by problem set questions about Italian salad dressing.

Other than 110, probably the most difficult class you will take at UCLA. Coming from someone who is not interested in these topics (100's/110's, especially after taking these classes), getting through and staying motivated was the most challenging things. I would say that a good chunk of the information you learn here will never be applied again after you graduate and move on to industry, should you choose to pursue industry. A lot of the material you learn is mostly applicational with respect to heavy R&D bench work that a lot of bioengineering undergraduates end up not pursuing. Thus, the challenge to stay motivated.

Midterm avgs: ~60-70%'s (definitely offset by some of the pre-med majors so take averages with a grain of salt)

Do the problem sets (with or without the master folder), study the old exams religiously, and learn the patterns of the answers. Start the problem sets early so you don't pull all nighters. At least 1 or 2 problems a day. Highlight and underline variables given, note down any important concepts he mentions in a problem, and highlight the questions he asks in a problem. He can give multiple questions in a single problem.

Kamei as a person is a cool individual. As a professor, he can teach, but the material itself is just so dense and fast-paced that it lowers the value of the course as a whole. Learning can often times become a chore with this class (and 110. 110 is similar format to 100, just a heavier math focus).

For those who find this course unrelated to what they want to pursue in the future, do not let this professor/class steer you away from this major. As long as you pass to be able to take the next course and graduate (2.0 gpa avg for the quarter, and no less than a D- as of this review date), props to you. You made it out and you are going to do great. No one cares about what grades you get in industry or after college. It sucks that 100 and 110 are mandatory, but if you keep your head down and grind, you will be okay.

Dr. Kamei is a great professor and a friendly guy, but this class is HARD. The exams and weekly problem sets are very challenging, so fall behind at your own risk. Exams shouldn't have anything surprising: all the main concepts are drilled in on the problem sets. Midterm averages were in the 60% range if I recall correctly.

Taken online during covid. This class is basically just doing the problem sets over and over and using the solutions as a guide in order to teach yourself will be on the exams (also do the extra practice problems before each exam they help). The problem sets take a very long time, do not wait until the night before to do them it will not be fun. His lectures were long and somewhat helpful, but they are a lot of information so it is hard to find the examples and equations you need. He's a nice guy, and definitely very knowledgeable, and his office hours are pretty helpful as well as discussions.

I imagine this is what doing an MD PhD is like. At least I feel like my brain has expanded, but at what price? All-nighters were pulled every Tuesday (problem sets were due on Wednesday) and tears were shed. I attended lecture, then went over the lecture again, still did not completely understand it, and gave up and started the homework. Basically, everything you have heard is true. But at least he curves.

He is by far one of the best teachers I've ever had. He manages to make the 2 hour class bearable and keep you engaged in the lectures. Even though he posts powerpoint slides online, you have to go to lectures! He does extra work on the board and describes the slides in more detail. The material for the class is definitely challenging, make sure you go to office hours (they're like another discussion)! Even though the class is tough he curves generously (to a B+ my year). It's definitely a good introduction to bioengineering upper-divs!

such a cool professor, cares so much about student learning and wants the best for UCLA's BE program. i respect him so much. beware though, his tests are challenging, and bioengineers here are the cream of the crop, so curves aren't the most ideal. although the grade does work in your favor, as he curves to a B/B+ average, be prepared to put in a lot of effort. a LOT.

in terms of success, MAKE SURE YOU ONLY TAKE 3 CLASSES when you are signing up for this class, as it demands time like none other. review lecture notes the day of lecture itself, keep up with the material, GO TO OFFICE HOURS- almost like an extra discussion, do ALL the problems he assigns, discussion, office hours AND problem sets, ask questions, and you'll be fine.

his tests will have short answer questions that are just factual recall questions to reward people that work hard, you should put conceptual explanations down on your cheat sheet that you can use, these are easy pts so nail them. there will be a couple medium frq questions- make sure you REVIEW lecture notes and his EXAMPLE PROBLEMS because these help with such questions. and there will be one impossibly hard wtf question that no one knows how to do. dont panic, just write down whatever you know. as long as you nail all the other questions you WILL be above the curve.

most importantly, enjoy the material. thermodynamics, the core of this class, can be challenging and dense, but kamei makes it bearable

He is very knowledgeable and passionate about the material that he teaches. However, office hours are kind of mandatory to get a good grade in this class and going to office hours can take up a significant number of time.

Don't take 4 classes if you are taking a class with Kamei. Curves aren't the best because Bioengineering has a very smart group of people, around 60% and keep in mind that his tests have a mix of easy, medium, and impossible hard questions.