This blog is for current and former Chem II students to interact, share, and collaborate. Look for current assignments, info and scholarly advice from former K-ville students. (As Always this Blog is Public. Remember to keep it appropriate, respectful, and represent yourself well, you never know who is reading it!!)
Friday, September 16, 2011
Former Chem II'ers: College Life
What are the best and worst parts of College? What things were better than you expected what things were worse?
Keep it clean and expect some questions from the youngin's in my class.
I'd have to say the best part is the freedom that we have, and the worst would probably be that we have to remember more than one daily schedule instead of just having the same classes everyday, so you gotta sty on your toes about what class you're going to. I was surprised with how helpful the professors are, that was better than I had expected, but the homework load is lot worse mainly because it is a LOT of textbook reading. Good luck this year, Chem II!
Okay, a lot on this. The freedom is good, but then again that means YOU as an individual have to learn how to time manage, study, do homework, and have fun all on your own. Teachers usually will not hold your hand and remind you of when to turn in assignments and such. Bad parts are classes can be tough. Chem II may be slightly difficult, but I promise you that it gets tougher in college. Get those concepts down and taking the class will be a lot easier and more enjoyable in college. Labs are usually about 3 hours and require some knowledge to understand and do correctly. Anyways, college is not necessarily harder, it is just more independent and how hard or easy it is depends on the individual. PS. You learn the value of space, free time, home cooked meals, money, and books. Books are expensive. I used about $450 on books this semester.
As someone who should have done so I would suggest minimizing the amount of activities you do outside of school, by this I don't necessarily mean clubs and school activities although I would suggest jumping right into those either. What I meant was more along the line of work, do not go into your first semester a full time student and working 40 hours a week it is a really bad combo that leads to little to no sleep, poor grades and no free time at all. I'm not saying don't work and go to school but maybe just work part time, from what I understand some colleges limit the amount of time any student enrolled can work.
Let's see... Being able to chose what classes you want without having to worry about fulfilling so many requirements is definitely nice... but in that respect you find yourself getting really distracted and taking classes that just catch your interest (I'm guilty of this) or the big killer, follow a schedule that you like (ie getting you into class late and getting you home early). But that's not to say that you shouldn't take a couple fun classes just because you want to! Just remember: Everything in moderation. If you fill up your schedule with just fun, irrelevant classes you're not accomplishing anything but if you only take the hardcore, required classes you will (without a DOUBT) burn yourself out.
The big thing to remember is DON'T BE LAZY. Sometimes teachers will assign things and not remember to check for them But that's not always the case and getting into that mind-set will set you up for major failure. Assuming that you can laze through on last minute studying is also a sure-fire way to burn yourself. Though in some classes this tactic will work, in the long run you're paying at least $3000 a semester to LEARN and not taking the initiative to study and commit the things you learn to memory basically boils down to you wasting a lot of your time and money. But be warned! It's extremely easy to OVERestimate yourself as well. Don't forget in your dedication to take care of yourself and stay healthy. Getting sick and worn out will only waste a lot of your time and set you back.
Everything in general was far more expensive than I'd hoped for (though not undo-able). I can afford all the materials and classes but it's a real pain (and painful lol) to shell out at LEAST $300 for books EVERY semester. Don't ever just buy the book! Check Amazon and Ebay first (or Brian's Books downtown) and if they don't have them or they don't differ that much in prices ask your school about a rental program. Some colleges will rent books out for the semester for about 40% of the buying price! (Also look into book swaps, selling old books on campus, buy-back deals, and if all else fails set yourself up an Amazon account! You'll make back at least 50% of what you spent.)
Overall, just remember to have fun. College is meant to be an experience of a lifetime! Just make sure it's one you can remember. ;)
So basically I'm gonna kind of just repeat what everyone else has said that freedom is probably one of the best things about college. Also, football games and all the other social events are great. That being said, freedom is also the worst part in my opinion. Being away from home seems like something that you really want to do and it is great taking that first step into adult hood, but you will miss your family there really is not much doubt about it.
Clubs are a great way to get to know people and make some friends. Feeling alone and not having anyone really there with you is by far the worst possible thing that can happen. You will probably feel that way the first couple days but I'm sure that most schools will have some kind of event or events to help you meet people. Michigan has a whole week where there is nothing but activities and groups trying to get people to join them before school starts, it really helps with the adjustment progress.
Another thing is that groups want you too join. Everybody wants you to join. Everything from the quidditch (I have no idea how to spell it) to the squirrel feeding club to the ROTC programs want new members.
Finally, I am part of the Air Force ROTC program here so if you have ever thought about joining an ROTC program feel free to ask me about it, I will be happy to tell you why it would be one of the best decisions you could make :)
Well, since I'm being forced to comment on this stinkin blog ;) juuuust kidding! But, on a serious note... I got agree with most of what everyone had to say.
College is a lot of freedom and honestly no one cares about you, your grades or your education besides you and most likely, your parents. It's not like what the most teachers in high school try to drill you with, "professors don't care whether you pass or fail, or they won't help you" granted there is professor that do not give a crap about you, but then there is some out there that do care... so, see them after class if you're having issues, e-mail them or whatever.
That's another important resource, make sure you know how to GET AHOLD of your professors via e-mail or in person, see what time their office hours are to schedule an appointment if you're really struggling in class.
Try to not work as much... yeah, you need money but school should always come before work. Try just working the weekends, or days you don't have class. Don't overwork yourself, you will be too exhausted and homework and studying will be the least of your worries.
I would have to agree with everyone. Freedom is good, just learn how to time manage and you guys will be fine. Clubs are awesome! This is where you guys will be meeting new people. For me, I didn't get to meet anyone in class because 1.) the class is so large (300 +) or 2.) it's REALLY quiet. So join one or two clubs and stick with it! Don't join more than three the beginning of your freshman year; learn how to transition then maybe join more. The worst part? College does not wait for anyone. If you fall behind you have to be the one to catch up. There are office hours and group studies. Do those so you won't fall behind. Michigan's course work is very difficult, so are other college work: don't slack off. But best of luck Chem 2 peeps :)
To James and Connor, so I know that you guys are attending Michigan right now, with the classes being so great in numbers, do you guys have any chances to ask your prof. questions via one on one????
The only classes that I have that are actually really big are my two chem lectures which are about 450-500 people each. Those are split up into discussions and labs of about 25 people though which are taught by a GSI (graduate student instructor) In addition to that, most of the professors try really hard to make office hours available to every student. On top of all that, there are plenty of places that will give you walk-in help. For instance, I cannot make it to my math teachers office hours, but there is a place called math lab where students who are good at math will help you figure out problems.
If you ever need to ask a question for a particular course, there is office hours, study groups, mentorships, homework teams, GSI's, free walk-in help, and more that I honestly can't even remember right now so you won't be lost in a sea of people
James, do you have a hard time focusing in your classes, I know that some people do better with some noise? Also how much work do you usually get in your classes? How are your professors with helping if you are struggling with homework?
So do you think the tests are hard? And I heard that the first week is usually review from highschool classes, but after that you learn new things very quickly, is it hard to catch on ?
Connor, I was kind of considering attending a big university like Michigan or michigan state, but I am a little scared since the classes are so much bigger compared to kelloggsville. Was the transition from a little school to a big college hard?
Jasmina, What are some things that you wish you would've learned more and spent more time on in Chem 2 in order to help you with college classes? Or did this class pretty much cover everything that you needed to know?
Jasmina, do you plan on staying at GRCC or are you using it as a transition school? Do you think it would be smart for me to go to CC first and switch, or just go straight to one of the bigger colleges?
Haha, sorry to comment late, but here I am :P I'd say the toughest thing in college is time management. Treat school as a job and devote 8 hours to it a day (including your class time, studying- whatever you need to do). This will prevent SO much stress when tests come up. Be proactive about your education. There are tons of resources for you to use; don't be afraid to ask. Professors won't baby you or talk to you after class about your dwindling grade, but if you seek out help, people ARE THERE to help you.
For me, the atmosphere was a lot better than expected. I knew I was going into a big school, but once you join a few clubs and make a few friends, it's a lot less scary.
For anyone: If there were 3 things that would be recommended for seniors to get involved with or pay attention to (especially in the class of Chem 2) in order to prepare for college, what would they be?
The classes really aren't too much bigger but most of my classes are about double the size of a core subject class in high school. The exception to that is chemistry which I have two lectures that have about as many people in them in all of Kelloggsville High School. The transition for me was hard not really because of the class size, but because of the speed at which everything is taught. Also, the material itself is more difficult. At Michigan they expect a drop in GPA of about 1 point. Finally, I never had to study anything in high school, so I am struggling with the fact that I am not understanding everything right from the beginning.
That being said I would recommend a bigger university because there is more opportunities during school and after. A diploma from a Michigan or a Michigan State is going to look better than a diploma from Grand Valley.
Finally, depending on what you plan on majoring in, chem II is basically giving me a free ride through my general chemistry class because we learned basically everything that we are doing now.
The transition is definitely difficult but when you think about going to a big school you just have to remember that people have done it before, and not all of them are smarter than you.
The deciding factor for me about going to Michigan was the fact that it is a great engineering school, and that it has an ROTC detachment on campus.
Chelsey,
It is kind of hard to tell you exactly how much time because it changes each and every day. Some days I am done by noon and am good for the rest of the day, others I'll be doing homework until midnight. Basically you should think of school as a full time job, devoting 40 hours a week to it should allow you to understand all your classes and do good on tests.
For everyone considering Michigan,
One thing that the Michigan does is have almost all of their homework online. Chemistry and Calculus both have online individual homework. Calculus also has team homework that is partly from the book and partly from the internet. They have a site called Ctools where everything from lecture notes to assignments to chat rooms are for each of your classes. Also, my engineering class has its own website where you get the information on assignments and lecture notes from as well.
The biggest issue I had coming to college was learning how to study. In high school I did not have to study much to get the grades I got. But attending Michigan State it is a whole different story. And for those of you asking about going to big university's and having big classes, its not all that bad. For me most of my big classes are just lectures anyway so you just sit and take notes. And if you need help on certain things outside of class there are plenty of ways to do so. You can always email your prof or visit their office hours. At state there is even various tutors or help rooms you can also utilize if you need that extra help outside of the classroom. But if you can afford going to a big 10 school like Michigan State or Michigan (boo they suck) then I defiantly recommend doing so. The experience is totally worth it.
Emily This isn't specificlly for Chem II, but it will help in Chem II, too Three things I would recommend are 1) Learn how to take good notes fast if you don't already know how 2) Work on good study habits 3) Make sure you REALLY stay on top of your homework, especially any reading homework, there is a LOT of reading homework in college.
Jie, the classes are REALLY big, but not to worry professors have office hours. Office hours are designated time where you can go in and have one on one time. I highly recommend using that.
Alicia, My mind sometimes wander when it is a boring teacher. It's a horrible habit: pay attention even if he/she is boring. The information the professor is covering is essential. And for my studying, it actually depends: sometimes I need to study with sound, sometimes with music, sometimes complete silence. You just need to find out what you are. It starts off okay, but as time progresses teachers will add on more work. For example, my Japanese teacher started out simple, now we're having a quiz almost everyday. Just stay on top of it.Do not procrastinate; start on your work the day of and you'll be fine. Professors are willing to help, but they don't ask you if you need assistance. They make you come to them. When you do come to them they'll be extremely helpful. They'll make sure you will understand the material before you leave. (This is my personal experience, some professors may not do this.)
Nhu, I prefer small classes; you have more time with the professor. The professor will take time to explain the material. In a large class, it is difficult. I mean you can ask a question, but in my large class that rarely happens. And when they do ask a question, the professor doesn't go in depth.
Alena, the fact that University of Michigan is an all around good school was the reason I applied. When I was a senior, I was debating on which career to go into: engineering, business, lawyer, pharmacy. Michigan has a great engineering program (top in the nation), their business school is ranked third in the nation, their pharmacy program is also well known, their law school is amazing (99.8% of the class of 2008 got a job right after graduating with a salary of 160,000+). If I choose one of these careers I would either way get an outstanding education and prospective future. I ended up choosing business and law. Best of both worlds I guess? Haha.
To Emily, I've heard significant figures are definitely something you should pay attention to, even if they ARE wearing and annoying. :P But other than that I would say just learn as MUCH as you can and take advantage of Chem 2 and Mr. Patin's knowledge and time. Anything you learn will be of benefit to you. Just recently, I read a book for an English class and it referenced information I learned in Chemistry II, which helped me a lot in understanding the whole concept.
I personally prefer small classes because my professor knows me, but you can learn just as easily in a large class. A lecture class is usually paired with a Lab or Discussion. Labs and discussions are smaller classes and usually a GSI runs them (Graduate Student Instructor). So, it's not bad. The nice thing about GSI's are their office hours are usually very long, so you can get help whenever. You can also go to your professor's office hours too if you would like. Though I like smaller classes more, bigger ones definitely have some benefits at times.
I'd have to say the best part is the freedom that we have, and the worst would probably be that we have to remember more than one daily schedule instead of just having the same classes everyday, so you gotta sty on your toes about what class you're going to. I was surprised with how helpful the professors are, that was better than I had expected, but the homework load is lot worse mainly because it is a LOT of textbook reading. Good luck this year, Chem II!
ReplyDeleteOkay, a lot on this. The freedom is good, but then again that means YOU as an individual have to learn how to time manage, study, do homework, and have fun all on your own. Teachers usually will not hold your hand and remind you of when to turn in assignments and such.
ReplyDeleteBad parts are classes can be tough. Chem II may be slightly difficult, but I promise you that it gets tougher in college. Get those concepts down and taking the class will be a lot easier and more enjoyable in college. Labs are usually about 3 hours and require some knowledge to understand and do correctly.
Anyways, college is not necessarily harder, it is just more independent and how hard or easy it is depends on the individual.
PS. You learn the value of space, free time, home cooked meals, money, and books. Books are expensive. I used about $450 on books this semester.
As someone who should have done so I would suggest minimizing the amount of activities you do outside of school, by this I don't necessarily mean clubs and school activities although I would suggest jumping right into those either. What I meant was more along the line of work, do not go into your first semester a full time student and working 40 hours a week it is a really bad combo that leads to little to no sleep, poor grades and no free time at all. I'm not saying don't work and go to school but maybe just work part time, from what I understand some colleges limit the amount of time any student enrolled can work.
ReplyDeleteLet's see... Being able to chose what classes you want without having to worry about fulfilling so many requirements is definitely nice... but in that respect you find yourself getting really distracted and taking classes that just catch your interest (I'm guilty of this) or the big killer, follow a schedule that you like (ie getting you into class late and getting you home early). But that's not to say that you shouldn't take a couple fun classes just because you want to! Just remember: Everything in moderation. If you fill up your schedule with just fun, irrelevant classes you're not accomplishing anything but if you only take the hardcore, required classes you will (without a DOUBT) burn yourself out.
ReplyDeleteThe big thing to remember is DON'T BE LAZY. Sometimes teachers will assign things and not remember to check for them But that's not always the case and getting into that mind-set will set you up for major failure.
Assuming that you can laze through on last minute studying is also a sure-fire way to burn yourself. Though in some classes this tactic will work, in the long run you're paying at least $3000 a semester to LEARN and not taking the initiative to study and commit the things you learn to memory basically boils down to you wasting a lot of your time and money.
But be warned! It's extremely easy to OVERestimate yourself as well. Don't forget in your dedication to take care of yourself and stay healthy. Getting sick and worn out will only waste a lot of your time and set you back.
Everything in general was far more expensive than I'd hoped for (though not undo-able). I can afford all the materials and classes but it's a real pain (and painful lol) to shell out at LEAST $300 for books EVERY semester. Don't ever just buy the book! Check Amazon and Ebay first (or Brian's Books downtown) and if they don't have them or they don't differ that much in prices ask your school about a rental program. Some colleges will rent books out for the semester for about 40% of the buying price! (Also look into book swaps, selling old books on campus, buy-back deals, and if all else fails set yourself up an Amazon account! You'll make back at least 50% of what you spent.)
Overall, just remember to have fun. College is meant to be an experience of a lifetime! Just make sure it's one you can remember. ;)
So basically I'm gonna kind of just repeat what everyone else has said that freedom is probably one of the best things about college. Also, football games and all the other social events are great. That being said, freedom is also the worst part in my opinion. Being away from home seems like something that you really want to do and it is great taking that first step into adult hood, but you will miss your family there really is not much doubt about it.
ReplyDeleteClubs are a great way to get to know people and make some friends. Feeling alone and not having anyone really there with you is by far the worst possible thing that can happen. You will probably feel that way the first couple days but I'm sure that most schools will have some kind of event or events to help you meet people. Michigan has a whole week where there is nothing but activities and groups trying to get people to join them before school starts, it really helps with the adjustment progress.
Another thing is that groups want you too join. Everybody wants you to join. Everything from the quidditch (I have no idea how to spell it) to the squirrel feeding club to the ROTC programs want new members.
Finally, I am part of the Air Force ROTC program here so if you have ever thought about joining an ROTC program feel free to ask me about it, I will be happy to tell you why it would be one of the best decisions you could make :)
Well, since I'm being forced to comment on this stinkin blog ;) juuuust kidding! But, on a serious note... I got agree with most of what everyone had to say.
ReplyDeleteCollege is a lot of freedom and honestly no one cares about you, your grades or your education besides you and most likely, your parents. It's not like what the most teachers in high school try to drill you with, "professors don't care whether you pass or fail, or they won't help you" granted there is professor that do not give a crap about you, but then there is some out there that do care... so, see them after class if you're having issues, e-mail them or whatever.
That's another important resource, make sure you know how to GET AHOLD of your professors via e-mail or in person, see what time their office hours are to schedule an appointment if you're really struggling in class.
Try to not work as much... yeah, you need money but school should always come before work. Try just working the weekends, or days you don't have class. Don't overwork yourself, you will be too exhausted and homework and studying will be the least of your worries.
P.S. I hope you enjoyed in this blog P-Dawg :)
I would have to agree with everyone. Freedom is good, just learn how to time manage and you guys will be fine. Clubs are awesome! This is where you guys will be meeting new people. For me, I didn't get to meet anyone in class because 1.) the class is so large (300 +) or 2.) it's REALLY quiet. So join one or two clubs and stick with it! Don't join more than three the beginning of your freshman year; learn how to transition then maybe join more.
ReplyDeleteThe worst part? College does not wait for anyone. If you fall behind you have to be the one to catch up. There are office hours and group studies. Do those so you won't fall behind. Michigan's course work is very difficult, so are other college work: don't slack off.
But best of luck Chem 2 peeps :)
To James and Connor, so I know that you guys are attending Michigan right now, with the classes being so great in numbers, do you guys have any chances to ask your prof. questions via one on one????
ReplyDeleteJie,
ReplyDeleteThe only classes that I have that are actually really big are my two chem lectures which are about 450-500 people each. Those are split up into discussions and labs of about 25 people though which are taught by a GSI (graduate student instructor) In addition to that, most of the professors try really hard to make office hours available to every student. On top of all that, there are plenty of places that will give you walk-in help. For instance, I cannot make it to my math teachers office hours, but there is a place called math lab where students who are good at math will help you figure out problems.
If you ever need to ask a question for a particular course, there is office hours, study groups, mentorships, homework teams, GSI's, free walk-in help, and more that I honestly can't even remember right now so you won't be lost in a sea of people
James, do you have a hard time focusing in your classes, I know that some people do better with some noise? Also how much work do you usually get in your classes? How are your professors with helping if you are struggling with homework?
ReplyDeleteSo do you think the tests are hard? And I heard that the first week is usually review from highschool classes, but after that you learn new things very quickly, is it hard to catch on ?
ReplyDeleteDo you recommend us to keep our notes from this class? Are they going to be useful or do we learn different things in college?
ReplyDeleteFor those of you that attend Michigan , what deciding factors did you use to determine that this was the school for you?
ReplyDeleteConnor, I was kind of considering attending a big university like Michigan or michigan state, but I am a little scared since the classes are so much bigger compared to kelloggsville. Was the transition from a little school to a big college hard?
ReplyDeleteJasmina, I miss you.
Jasmina,
ReplyDeleteWhat are some things that you wish you would've learned more and spent more time on in Chem 2 in order to help you with college classes? Or did this class pretty much cover everything that you needed to know?
How much of your time is actually spent on homework or studying? I am under the impression that most of your time is consumed by that.
ReplyDeleteJasmina, do you plan on staying at GRCC or are you using it as a transition school? Do you think it would be smart for me to go to CC first and switch, or just go straight to one of the bigger colleges?
ReplyDeleteHaha, sorry to comment late, but here I am :P I'd say the toughest thing in college is time management. Treat school as a job and devote 8 hours to it a day (including your class time, studying- whatever you need to do). This will prevent SO much stress when tests come up. Be proactive about your education. There are tons of resources for you to use; don't be afraid to ask. Professors won't baby you or talk to you after class about your dwindling grade, but if you seek out help, people ARE THERE to help you.
ReplyDeleteFor me, the atmosphere was a lot better than expected. I knew I was going into a big school, but once you join a few clubs and make a few friends, it's a lot less scary.
For anyone:
ReplyDeleteIf there were 3 things that would be recommended for seniors to get involved with or pay attention to (especially in the class of Chem 2) in order to prepare for college, what would they be?
Mariah,
ReplyDeleteThe classes really aren't too much bigger but most of my classes are about double the size of a core subject class in high school. The exception to that is chemistry which I have two lectures that have about as many people in them in all of Kelloggsville High School. The transition for me was hard not really because of the class size, but because of the speed at which everything is taught. Also, the material itself is more difficult. At Michigan they expect a drop in GPA of about 1 point. Finally, I never had to study anything in high school, so I am struggling with the fact that I am not understanding everything right from the beginning.
That being said I would recommend a bigger university because there is more opportunities during school and after. A diploma from a Michigan or a Michigan State is going to look better than a diploma from Grand Valley.
Finally, depending on what you plan on majoring in, chem II is basically giving me a free ride through my general chemistry class because we learned basically everything that we are doing now.
The transition is definitely difficult but when you think about going to a big school you just have to remember that people have done it before, and not all of them are smarter than you.
Alena,
ReplyDeleteThe deciding factor for me about going to Michigan was the fact that it is a great engineering school, and that it has an ROTC detachment on campus.
Chelsey,
It is kind of hard to tell you exactly how much time because it changes each and every day. Some days I am done by noon and am good for the rest of the day, others I'll be doing homework until midnight. Basically you should think of school as a full time job, devoting 40 hours a week to it should allow you to understand all your classes and do good on tests.
For everyone considering Michigan,
One thing that the Michigan does is have almost all of their homework online. Chemistry and Calculus both have online individual homework. Calculus also has team homework that is partly from the book and partly from the internet. They have a site called Ctools where everything from lecture notes to assignments to chat rooms are for each of your classes. Also, my engineering class has its own website where you get the information on assignments and lecture notes from as well.
The biggest issue I had coming to college was learning how to study. In high school I did not have to study much to get the grades I got. But attending Michigan State it is a whole different story. And for those of you asking about going to big university's and having big classes, its not all that bad. For me most of my big classes are just lectures anyway so you just sit and take notes. And if you need help on certain things outside of class there are plenty of ways to do so. You can always email your prof or visit their office hours. At state there is even various tutors or help rooms you can also utilize if you need that extra help outside of the classroom. But if you can afford going to a big 10 school like Michigan State or Michigan (boo they suck) then I defiantly recommend doing so. The experience is totally worth it.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDo you find yourself learning better in a larg or small class size? Which one would you prefer?
ReplyDeleteEmily
ReplyDeleteThis isn't specificlly for Chem II, but it will help in Chem II, too
Three things I would recommend are
1) Learn how to take good notes fast if you don't already know how
2) Work on good study habits
3) Make sure you REALLY stay on top of your homework, especially any reading homework, there is a LOT of reading homework in college.
Jie, the classes are REALLY big, but not to worry professors have office hours. Office hours are designated time where you can go in and have one on one time. I highly recommend using that.
ReplyDeleteAlicia, My mind sometimes wander when it is a boring teacher. It's a horrible habit: pay attention even if he/she is boring. The information the professor is covering is essential. And for my studying, it actually depends: sometimes I need to study with sound, sometimes with music, sometimes complete silence. You just need to find out what you are. It starts off okay, but as time progresses teachers will add on more work. For example, my Japanese teacher started out simple, now we're having a quiz almost everyday. Just stay on top of it.Do not procrastinate; start on your work the day of and you'll be fine. Professors are willing to help, but they don't ask you if you need assistance. They make you come to them. When you do come to them they'll be extremely helpful. They'll make sure you will understand the material before you leave. (This is my personal experience, some professors may not do this.)
ReplyDeleteJie, I take that back. Classes can either be extremely large or small. It just depends on the class.
ReplyDeleteNhu, I prefer small classes; you have more time with the professor. The professor will take time to explain the material. In a large class, it is difficult. I mean you can ask a question, but in my large class that rarely happens. And when they do ask a question, the professor doesn't go in depth.
ReplyDeleteAlena, the fact that University of Michigan is an all around good school was the reason I applied. When I was a senior, I was debating on which career to go into: engineering, business, lawyer, pharmacy. Michigan has a great engineering program (top in the nation), their business school is ranked third in the nation, their pharmacy program is also well known, their law school is amazing (99.8% of the class of 2008 got a job right after graduating with a salary of 160,000+). If I choose one of these careers I would either way get an outstanding education and prospective future. I ended up choosing business and law. Best of both worlds I guess? Haha.
ReplyDeleteTo Emily,
ReplyDeleteI've heard significant figures are definitely something you should pay attention to, even if they ARE wearing and annoying. :P But other than that I would say just learn as MUCH as you can and take advantage of Chem 2 and Mr. Patin's knowledge and time. Anything you learn will be of benefit to you. Just recently, I read a book for an English class and it referenced information I learned in Chemistry II, which helped me a lot in understanding the whole concept.
To Nhu,
ReplyDeleteI personally prefer small classes because my professor knows me, but you can learn just as easily in a large class. A lecture class is usually paired with a Lab or Discussion. Labs and discussions are smaller classes and usually a GSI runs them (Graduate Student Instructor). So, it's not bad. The nice thing about GSI's are their office hours are usually very long, so you can get help whenever. You can also go to your professor's office hours too if you would like. Though I like smaller classes more, bigger ones definitely have some benefits at times.