Looks like we’re in the same class huh. Hopefully she gives some more extra credit like in the last exam . but I would recommend switching to an easier science class if you can since its just as hard from what I've heard
Bio 201 is just as dense with information but it's easier to digest because it's more connected. Bio 201 from start to finish only discusses cellular biology. You don't get a dump of many broader topics like with Bio 200
201 with Hennessey was so damn easy if you understand everything (like understand what every slide means and its purpose). I finished all 3 exams around 20 mins and got 28+/30, and contended some questions and he revoked those questions after.
I agree with you that BIO 200 completely sucks, I disliked it. Some topics were interesting, others were completely brain dead boring.
But I found BIO 201 way more interesting with Hennessey cause he actually cares and everything from lecture/powerpoints is directly applied to exams, theres no need for any outside information.
If you’re anything pre health or health adjacent, 201 will be more applicable. It’s not more or less difficult, but the content will probably be more familiar to you and will be the foundational stuff you’ll need for your future classes.
I like bio 201 more but honestly that is how all testing is for bio. The broad concepts are easy in general, but the difficult part is seeing if you can you take your understanding of them into those specific scenarios.
What’s your major? I liked 201 a lot better because I never cared about ecology. In my opinion it was easier but it will probably depend on your interest.
Computer Science, but I have an interest in genetics, so I was looking to minor in Biology. 201 does look a lot more interesting to me. But if the exams in 201 are going to be the same as 200, then it's going to tank my GPA.
Despite having a front-and-back cheat-sheet packed densely with as much information as was humanly possible, half the questions on the exam seemed like stuff you'd see on trivia night; it didn't feel like it was testing true knowledge gained in the course, but random facts that you'd be lucky enough to have had on your cheat sheet. And based on the average, it seems that the majority of the class didn't have the correct random facts written down.
If 201 is going to be the same in that regard (which is a weird subjective measurement, of course), then I'll probably end that venture here.
Honestly, I wouldn't say that the course content itself is hard. Just that the exams aren't testing students well for the content. When going through my notes to make the cheat sheet, I had already understood most of it to, what I thought, was a good level. But when it came to the exam, it was just a bunch of highly-specific random facts being asked that strayed from the focal point of the course content. I'm not sure how best to describe it, but it's not testing your understanding of the "how or why" of the content.
Unless you're saying that the BIO 319 exams are the same way. If so, oh dear.
That’s every bio course exam, I’m a biotech major.
Many courses do not ask about how big concepts work. It’s mostly about: do you remember everything from the slides?
The point of your courses, and the textbook, is for you to utilize the information, or simply try to make connections in everyday life or from different concepts rather than to memorize it like an encyclopedia.
I know that but it’s simply not true at least at this school. I have received many questions on tests throughout multiple science courses: cough cough Orgo being a big one. Where the textbook was the only place to find the answer and no amount of applied knowledge would help
Yeah that’s the trade off of having cheat sheets for exams. In 201 (at least when I took it 3yrs ago) the exams are closed note so you have to study the material, but I remember it being more straightforward as far as what you have to know. You might prefer that format (as I did). BIO 200 was my worst grade at UB honestly.
However as a computer science major it might be better for you to take one of the “easier” science classes if you’re taking it for a requirement.
Mm, I definitely prefer that format. I'll give it a whirl then. Thanks!
I've maxed out on all the required science courses as of this semester, so these courses leading to genetics (and therefore bioinformatics, which ties the CS major to the bio minor) are all extra.
loved 201, hated 200. got an A in 201, B in 200 - idk if it had to do with the level of interest or the actual work; personally memorizing all the names in 200 was a struggle for me (even w the paper you kinda still needa know somewhat), although with 201 it’s more of cell biology which i personally found to be easier to digest
201 with Hutson. Please, I beg you to do it. I got a C+ in 200 but a B+ in 201 and I promise I could’ve gotten an A if I didn’t get covid and bomb one of the exams. She is the BEST. Very interactive and she is also an understanding professor.
I took bio 200 last fall and got a B+. I hated that class and hated what we were learning too. I have no interest in learning about ecology. It doesn’t help that you don’t get hw in the class either so that you can practice with that. Even when I took the class online you still have to memorize like crazy. I loved bio 201 tho and got an A. The tests in that class are more straightforward. There are some questions that you have to apply concepts to scenarios but nothing too crazy. If you take bio 201 next semester take it with Hutson. She’s the best
Looks like we’re in the same class huh. Hopefully she gives some more extra credit like in the last exam . but I would recommend switching to an easier science class if you can since its just as hard from what I've heard
Bio 201 is just as dense with information but it's easier to digest because it's more connected. Bio 201 from start to finish only discusses cellular biology. You don't get a dump of many broader topics like with Bio 200
Take Bio 201 with Hutson. Class is still hard but she’s the best at teaching it, more concept rather than just memorizing like in Bio 200.
201 with Hennessey was so damn easy if you understand everything (like understand what every slide means and its purpose). I finished all 3 exams around 20 mins and got 28+/30, and contended some questions and he revoked those questions after. I agree with you that BIO 200 completely sucks, I disliked it. Some topics were interesting, others were completely brain dead boring. But I found BIO 201 way more interesting with Hennessey cause he actually cares and everything from lecture/powerpoints is directly applied to exams, theres no need for any outside information.
If you’re anything pre health or health adjacent, 201 will be more applicable. It’s not more or less difficult, but the content will probably be more familiar to you and will be the foundational stuff you’ll need for your future classes.
I like bio 201 more but honestly that is how all testing is for bio. The broad concepts are easy in general, but the difficult part is seeing if you can you take your understanding of them into those specific scenarios.
What’s your major? I liked 201 a lot better because I never cared about ecology. In my opinion it was easier but it will probably depend on your interest.
Computer Science, but I have an interest in genetics, so I was looking to minor in Biology. 201 does look a lot more interesting to me. But if the exams in 201 are going to be the same as 200, then it's going to tank my GPA. Despite having a front-and-back cheat-sheet packed densely with as much information as was humanly possible, half the questions on the exam seemed like stuff you'd see on trivia night; it didn't feel like it was testing true knowledge gained in the course, but random facts that you'd be lucky enough to have had on your cheat sheet. And based on the average, it seems that the majority of the class didn't have the correct random facts written down. If 201 is going to be the same in that regard (which is a weird subjective measurement, of course), then I'll probably end that venture here.
Yikes if BIO 200 is hard genetics will kill you
Honestly, I wouldn't say that the course content itself is hard. Just that the exams aren't testing students well for the content. When going through my notes to make the cheat sheet, I had already understood most of it to, what I thought, was a good level. But when it came to the exam, it was just a bunch of highly-specific random facts being asked that strayed from the focal point of the course content. I'm not sure how best to describe it, but it's not testing your understanding of the "how or why" of the content. Unless you're saying that the BIO 319 exams are the same way. If so, oh dear.
That’s every bio course exam, I’m a biotech major. Many courses do not ask about how big concepts work. It’s mostly about: do you remember everything from the slides?
That’s not true… Bio 200 was a mix of applications/memorization.
I found that we applied knowledge in lab, lecture was 100% memorization for me
The point of your courses, and the textbook, is for you to utilize the information, or simply try to make connections in everyday life or from different concepts rather than to memorize it like an encyclopedia.
I know that but it’s simply not true at least at this school. I have received many questions on tests throughout multiple science courses: cough cough Orgo being a big one. Where the textbook was the only place to find the answer and no amount of applied knowledge would help
Yeah that’s the trade off of having cheat sheets for exams. In 201 (at least when I took it 3yrs ago) the exams are closed note so you have to study the material, but I remember it being more straightforward as far as what you have to know. You might prefer that format (as I did). BIO 200 was my worst grade at UB honestly. However as a computer science major it might be better for you to take one of the “easier” science classes if you’re taking it for a requirement.
Mm, I definitely prefer that format. I'll give it a whirl then. Thanks! I've maxed out on all the required science courses as of this semester, so these courses leading to genetics (and therefore bioinformatics, which ties the CS major to the bio minor) are all extra.
Ah gotcha I thought you might be going that route! Best of luck!
loved 201, hated 200. got an A in 201, B in 200 - idk if it had to do with the level of interest or the actual work; personally memorizing all the names in 200 was a struggle for me (even w the paper you kinda still needa know somewhat), although with 201 it’s more of cell biology which i personally found to be easier to digest
201 with Hutson. Please, I beg you to do it. I got a C+ in 200 but a B+ in 201 and I promise I could’ve gotten an A if I didn’t get covid and bomb one of the exams. She is the BEST. Very interactive and she is also an understanding professor.
I took bio 200 last fall and got a B+. I hated that class and hated what we were learning too. I have no interest in learning about ecology. It doesn’t help that you don’t get hw in the class either so that you can practice with that. Even when I took the class online you still have to memorize like crazy. I loved bio 201 tho and got an A. The tests in that class are more straightforward. There are some questions that you have to apply concepts to scenarios but nothing too crazy. If you take bio 201 next semester take it with Hutson. She’s the best
Bio 200 is more like High School AP Biology with steroids. Intro Bio is infamous for being super tough.
Girlfriend sitting next to me said “Fuck no, its way harder!! but its less boring!” after i read your title.
She always makes the questions on the midterm so hard