2nd Year Term 1 Review

In 2nd year, I declared Microbiology and Immunology. I didn't really know what my interest was and I thought that Physiology sounded right. So even though I was in MBIM 2nd year, I was taking courses as if I was in a Physiology major.
* Declaring for a major doesn't really mean anything. Some Specializations do start in the 2nd year (CHEM, BIOC, BIOL, MATH  etc) but for some of the majors like MBIM, PCTH (Pharmacology) or PHYL (Physiology), you are not guaranteed a seat yet. So you do have a chance to get in after 2nd year if you didn't make it in after 1st year.

 CHEM 211:

Analytical Chemistry

The lecture portion of the course was interesting. You learn about statistics in Chemistry and many different type of titrations. I liked the EDTA titration part and solving the problem sets was fun but tough. However, since this course is a 4 credit course, it involves a lab. The lab portion of this course is a killer. It is totally different from the 1st year Chem labs; there are labs every week and the pre-lab and write up takes so much time. I don't know how many times I was stuck during the pre-lab and write up and that wanted to drop this course with even a W standing. This course did make me more proficient with data handling and Excel, but if you don't have to take it, I would recommend not to because the lab portion is really really tough.

CHEM 233:

Organic Chemistry for the Biological Sciences

This course was notorious for being tough and many of my friends were taking it in the summer. However, I would recommend that you take this course during the winter session so you don't lose it from your head. This course, 2nd year organic chemistry, will be a good foundation when you later take Biochemistry courses like BIOL 201 and BIOC 302. I admit that this course is tough, but I find the materials covered in this course essential for later courses. I didn't do so well in the 1st midterm, but there are ways that you can improve it. I recommend that you be fluent with all the reactions and reaction mechanism and know them by heart, then you can never go wrong. I really enjoyed this course and I recommend Professor Ruddick or Dake.

 STAT 200:

Elementary Statistics for Applications

 I would definitely recommend this course as an elective. The information that you learn from this class is not only helpful but also not too hard. Completion of this course will help you to some degree in analyzing scientific data. Also, I put least amount of time into studying for this course (I just went to lectures and took notes) but ended up with a satisfying mark. The labs are really easy and manageable too. I loved this course in that I learned something useful and still ended up with a decent mark with minimum effort :)

EOSC 118:
Gold and Gems
I took this as a GPA booster, but I wouldn't really recommend it unless you are into gemology. Because this is a distance ed, it is really hard to follow up with the weekly materials. Plus a lot of the materials were of no interest for me. It is true that the 3 quizzes combined are worth 40% and that you can find the answers online, but the final exam is really hard. You do have to read your online notes thoroughly to do well in the final. I remember I went in and ended up guessing 40 questions out of 100 MC questions. I did end up with a good mark (Thank God for scaling !!) in the end, but I felt like I didn't deserve it.

BIOL 200: 

Fundamentals of Cell Biology

 I didn't really enjoy this course. Most of the materials were a repeat form what I knew and the new information comes up after the mid term. This course also has an essay portion for both midterm and final... :( One tip i would give is that the tutorial marks are weighted heavily. Please please prepare well for the tutorial quizzes. It hurted me a letter grade because I didn't do so well in the tutorial section (I did well in the midterm and final though, phew). Also, you really have to think hard to get the general questions right. The questions are mostly you figure it out and get full makrs or  you don't and get 0.
This also means that you don't have to know the course material as thoroughly to solve the case study type of BIOL 200 exam questions but put all the key words on a cheat sheet to put it on your essay ;)

Overall Comment:
My mark went up in this term with few A+. It doesn't necessarily mean that 2nd year is easier, but you get used to the habit of studying. Also, always try your best and never limit yourself. Just because you had C average in your first year, it doesn't mean you will be a C student for the 2nd year. It's only when you limit yourself like a C student and behave like one. For me, after first year, I tried to study as if I would get 100% in the exams; the results were positive. It's not like I did really get 100% on the exams, but I was studying like one and I could see my marks improving.

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