UoM General Chat

[LeviLamp]

The zoology department can't decide how much the mid-semester test for Animal Structure and Function is worth. Is it 5%? 10%? NOBODY KNOWS.
They've also decided to test us on every lecture up to the lecture directly before the test block because students are superhuman beings who are up to date with entire subjects during week 8.

[Stick]

I think I've just realised I've been studying for Chemistry completely wrong... Apparently we have to memorise all the amino acids and various structural formulae for important biological molecules. Whoops.

[Belgarion]

I think I've just realised I've been studying for Chemistry completely wrong... Apparently we have to memorise all the amino acids and various structural formulae for important biological molecules. Whoops.

Not until second year...

[ChickenCh0wM1en]

Wow. They actually give you that data.

Reflects on the poor structure of the course/bad teaching more than anything.

I don't think the structure of the course/bad teaching is the problem. I just think it's an extreme memory/rote learning subject which makes it so difficult, hence the reason why a lower proportion of students get H1 compared to other subjects.

[Stick]

Not until second year...

The Chemistry course has changed quite a bit from last year after the feedback given by that year level. We now have a new textbook, cover more physical chemistry (grr...) and go slightly deeper as students apparently struggle with the sudden increase in difficulty going into second year. In short, I'm not enjoying this subject too much and I don't think many other people are either.

[vox nihili]

The Chemistry course has changed quite a bit from last year after the feedback given by that year level. We now have a new textbook, cover more physical chemistry (grr...) and go slightly deeper as students apparently struggle with the sudden increase in difficulty going into second year. In short, I'm not enjoying this subject too much and I don't think many other people are either.

Yeah fail rate for MCB has been climbing since they said you could be crap at Chem and still do Biomed.

[Belgarion]

The Chemistry course has changed quite a bit from last year after the feedback given by that year level. We now have a new textbook, cover more physical chemistry (grr...) and go slightly deeper as students apparently struggle with the sudden increase in difficulty going into second year. In short, I'm not enjoying this subject too much and I don't think many other people are either.

Hmm oh well, at least it will prepare you better for 2nd year. But it isnt really the content in MCB that people find hard, it is the sheer amount of content.

[Shenz0r]

^Agreed. The content itself is not conceptually difficult - most of it is just recall. The harder challenge is to actually keep up with everything.

I think I've just realised I've been studying for Chemistry completely wrong... Apparently we have to memorise all the amino acids and various structural formulae for important biological molecules. Whoops.

I'm surprised they're making you memorise those, because we're told to do it for MCB. That said, just keep repeatedly writing out their structures, test yourself, and you should get it down in a day or two.

What have you learnt in Chem for Biomed so far?

[Limista]

What have you learnt in Chem for Biomed so far?

First up we learnt about entropy & thermodynamics. Now we're doing organic chem. 

[LeviLamp]

Re. learning the amino acids, I found that they got into my head really quickly since I was doing tutorial questions on them and watching videos about them. I don't even think you need to obsessively write them out, just do some questions on them, find some diverse ways to study them and read over your notes every now and then and they should stick really quickly

[vox nihili]

First up we learnt about entropy & thermodynamics. Now we're doing organic chem. 

Yeah we skipped this.... (which is an arse because it's the first thing you do in MCB)




Also, the lecturer you have at the moment showed up at our lecture the other day. It's 8.40 am, he's got the slides ready to go and then everyone starts laughing and he says
"what's wrong? What have I done?"
"mate, this is MCB, we've already done Chem..."
"Oh!"

Hard proof that a PhD doesn't make you smart!

[Russ]

Half the biomed students in MCB could stand to repeat chem though, so he's probably smarter than you think

[vox nihili]

Half the biomed students in MCB could stand to repeat chem though, so he's probably smarter than you think

Half of us didn't get a choice...

[Hancock]

Half of us didn't get a choice...

Doesn't Biomed get a Chem subject in first year to prepare them?

[Belgarion]

Doesn't Biomed get a Chem subject in first year to prepare them?

Ye but it is very rushed like most of our first year subjects. They have jammed Chem 1 and Chem 2 into one subject, cutting out some things which we should probably know and go through concepts relatively fast. Benefits of being in biomed....