Semester 2 USYD Chatter Thread (5 Viewers)

[Barbara Gordon]

Human Biology, not even once.

Avoid, 'mainstream' biology (1k+ students) like the plague.

Cherish this advice, I think I just saved you a semester of boredom. There's my good deed for the day.

Why is it so boring? Is it super dumbed down or something?

 

[Obvious]

Why is it so boring? Is it super dumbed down or something?

The lecturers cover about 40% of the examinable content, and expect you to learn the rest from a dodgy online micro-assessment tool called HBonline. This requires you to read the entire five-hundred-or-so page textbook over the course of the semester. I don't mean this as an exaggeration, the entire unit could be accurately summarized as memorizing a textbook.

I did BIOL1903, and if I remember correctly there was a group presentation (10%), major report (24%) and minor report (12%). They sort of hold your hand while you're writing them so it's not that bad.

A couple of positive points:
- BIOL1903 seminars were fun.
- Murray Thomson is easily the best lecturer I've ever had.
- The practicals aren't that bad, and there are quite a few dissections which are also fun.

 

[Riproot]

It's actually pretty good...

It's not even advanced.

EWWW

It's so hard trying to decide on what I'm doing next year. So far I'm set on LATN1600 and ARCA1001 for next semester but I can't decide between ARCA2610 - Minoans and Mycenaeans, ANHS2601 - Ancient Imperialism, BIOL1003 - Human Biology and ANTH1001 - Cultural Difference: An Introduction.

Omg, if I'm still here I'll be doing BIOL1903 next year!

The lecturers cover about 40% of the examinable content, and expect you to learn the rest from a dodgy online micro-assessment tool called HBonline. This requires you to read the entire five-hundred-or-so page textbook over the course of the semester. I don't mean this as an exaggeration, the entire unit could be accurately summarized as memorizing a textbook.

I did BIOL1903, and if I remember correctly there was a group presentation (10%), major report (24%) and minor report (12%). They sort of hold your hand while you're writing them so it's not that bad.

A couple of positive points:
- BIOL1903 seminars were fun.
- Murray Thomson is easily the best lecturer I've ever had.
- The practicals aren't that bad, and there are quite a few dissections which are also fun.

so the only bad point is "it is the same as every other advanced biology subject ever in that you are never taught 60% of the course but are expected to know it all"

Trust me, advanced manbulge is probably 1000000 times worse for that anyays because the subject is actually hard, whereas I never heard and of my friends (all of which got mid-Ds or higher) complain about the difficulty of BIOL1903.

 

[Obvious]

so the only bad point is "it is the same as every other advanced biology subject ever in that you are never taught 60% of the course but are expected to know it all"

Trust me, advanced manbulge is probably 1000000 times worse for that anyays because the subject is actually hard, whereas I never heard and of my friends (all of which got mid-Ds or higher) complain about the difficulty of BIOL1903.

Not quite. You literally are expected to read AND learn the entire textbook.

It's not even advanced.

EWWW

Bragging rights when you get HD's, and only for two days after results are released.

 

[Riproot]

Not quite. You literally are expected to read AND learn the entire textbook.

So like manbulge?

Bragging rights when you get HD's, and only for two days after results are released.

it's not about bragging rights, it's about learning things more in-depth in advanced subjects.
You do the advanced subjects for interest, not for marks. Gosh.

 

[Obvious]

So like manbulge?

Really? I haven't opened the textbook once. Fuck.

it's not about bragging rights, it's about learning things more in-depth in advanced subjects.
You do the advanced subjects for interest, not for marks. Gosh.

If you were serious about learning you'd be getting good marks

 

[Blue Suede]

Human Biology is terrible. It's the reason I vowed never to set foot in a lab ever again and changed my major.

 

[Riproot]

Really? I haven't opened the textbook once. Fuck.

maybe that's just advanced manbulge.

If you were serious about learning you'd be getting good marks

I thought I was interested, but turns out everything is terrible.
Otherwise I would be doing well.

But I did do the subjects mainly because of interest. Except maths, I'm just doing that because I was told to, and I did better in maths than anything else last semester.

 

[Obvious]

maybe that's just advanced manbulge.

M8... I am doing advanced manbulge. Were they really expecting us to open the book? I'm about four lectures behind. I've finished all my other subjects though, excluding CHNG which I'll finish by tomorrow.

I thought I was interested, but turns out everything is terrible.
Otherwise I would be doing well.

But I did do the subjects mainly because of interest. Except maths, I'm just doing that because I was told to, and I did better in maths than anything else last semester.

I'm a bit scared to try advanced. It looks great, but I don't know if I'll be able to cope with the learning curve before it starts hurting my WAM.

I only did MX1.

 

[Riproot]

M8... I am doing advanced manbulge. Were they really expecting us to open the book? I'm about four lectures behind. I've finished all my other subjects though, excluding CHNG which I'll finish by tomorrow.

I think they expect us to, considering all the shit in the theory assignments were taught after mine were due.
I'm about the entire course behind in everything so let's not get into that. lol
I'm legit the entire course behind in MBLG and stats, I'm ~okay~ with integ, but I haven't gone to the 5 of the last 6 lectures, I'm FUCKED for chemistry, and engineering should be fine, I've gone from 100% in all tutes to 2/21 but #yolo

I'm a bit scared to try advanced. It looks great, but I don't know if I'll be able to cope with the learning curve before it starts hurting my WAM.

I only did MX1.

If you try it next year try 2961. You should be fine as long as you're on a D+ average for maths (they recommend C+ but you'd probably struggle a bit, or have to put in a lot more effort)

But what do I know, I'm just a first year.

 

[Trebla]

Not to sway anyone's decision but MATH2961 (particularly the linear algebra part) is quite hard if you can't get into that abstract pure maths mindset. Most of my 'smart' friends (who were applied people) hated it but loved MATH2965 because it was so applied.

 

[Riproot]

Not to sway anyone's decision but MATH2961 (particularly the linear algebra part) is quite hard if you can't get into that abstract pure maths mindset. Most of my 'smart' friends (who were applied people) hated it but loved MATH2965 because it was so applied.

Well, that is now removed from my re-enrolment. lol

 

[Blue Suede]

pre-enrolled today!

And looks like I'll have a lovely timetable in first sem, and a horrendous one in second.

 

[Obvious]

So, decisions decisions...

BCHM2971 Protein Biochemistry
Assessment: One 2-hour theory and theory of practical exam, online quizzes, practical assignments and laboratory book reports (100%)

MBLG2971 Molecular Biology and Genetics A
Assessment: One 2.5-hour exam, practical work, laboratory reports (100%)

I'd like to keep at least one biology related unit, but I'm not a fan of micro-assessments (BCHM). On the other hand, I hate MBLG1901.

CHEM2404 Forensic and Environmental Chemistry
Also, has anybody done this subject? Did you find it interesting? How demanding was the material/difficulty of the final examination?

If you try it next year try 2961. You should be fine as long as you're on a D+ average for maths (they recommend C+ but you'd probably struggle a bit, or have to put in a lot more effort)

But what do I know, I'm just a first year.

I'm doing decently in MATH1003/1004, but that's not saying much. From what I've seen of your advanced tutorials, the last questions are on a completely different level.

 

[OzKo]

I think I might try to learn MATLAB as apparently it is quite pertinent to developing models in the energy industry.

 

[jet]

So, decisions decisions...

BCHM2971 Protein Biochemistry
Assessment: One 2-hour theory and theory of practical exam, online quizzes, practical assignments and laboratory book reports (100%)

MBLG2971 Molecular Biology and Genetics A
Assessment: One 2.5-hour exam, practical work, laboratory reports (100%)

I'd like to keep at least one biology related unit, but I'm not a fan of micro-assessments (BCHM). On the other hand, I hate MBLG1901.

CHEM2404 Forensic and Environmental Chemistry
Also, has anybody done this subject? Did you find it interesting? How demanding was the material/difficulty of the final examination?



I'm doing decently in MATH1003/1004, but that's not saying much. From what I've seen of your advanced tutorials, the last questions are on a completely different level.

BCHM2971 is a very good biochemical foundation. You go through the essentials of protein structure with some case studies, followed by a few weeks on enzyme biochemistry and some end lectures with some higher-level concepts. If you're even just entertaining the idea that you might study biochem or work in a biochem type lab then you should take this course. Those micro-assessments are very good throughout semester as they help keep you on track and make sure you have a baseline amount of knowledge BEFORE stuvac. Not only does this mean you'll do better in exams, but you'll also have some background for the practicals where you'll need to start talking about concepts with a certain amount of familiarity.

 

[Obvious]

BCHM2971 is a very good biochemical foundation. You go through the essentials of protein structure with some case studies, followed by a few weeks on enzyme biochemistry and some end lectures with some higher-level concepts. If you're even just entertaining the idea that you might study biochem or work in a biochem type lab then you should take this course. Those micro-assessments are very good throughout semester as they help keep you on track and make sure you have a baseline amount of knowledge BEFORE stuvac. Not only does this mean you'll do better in exams, but you'll also have some background for the practicals where you'll need to start talking about concepts with a certain amount of familiarity.

I'm leaning more towards a chemistry major, but considering how closely related these fields are I'm anticipating that familiarity with both will open up more opportunities. Small assessments tend to interfere with my study routine. When I learn a subject I usually sit down and focus only on it for as much time as I need to fully understand the topics.

But I guess I'll keep it for now.

I've got another question I was hoping someone could answer. If I were to finish my third year majoring in A and B (science), and suddenly decided I wanted to major in C and D (also science, assuming I had the pre-req's), would I be simply allowed to change?

 

[Riproot]

I'm doing decently in MATH1003/1004, but that's not saying much. From what I've seen of your advanced tutorials, the last questions are on a completely different level.

Yeah… I'm not trying to be up myself or whatever but I think doing advanced maths is pretty fucked. I can easily do all the regular shit, but the advanced shit is just terrible and I'm so bad at it. Lol. I should've done regular.

Maybe just do reg maths next sem? Or no maths if you don't need it.


Okay, so my degree is like "yeah, do this stuff in second year" and then pre-enrollment is all "lol, you haven't done the prerequisites" and I'm just like "I EVEN DID FUCKING PHYSICS, WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!"

 

[Obvious]

Yeah… I'm not trying to be up myself or whatever but I think doing advanced maths is pretty fucked. I can easily do all the regular shit, but the advanced shit is just terrible and I'm so bad at it. Lol. I should've done regular.

Maybe just do reg maths next sem? Or no maths if you don't need it.

Okay, so my degree is like "yeah, do this stuff in second year" and then pre-enrollment is all "lol, you haven't done the prerequisites" and I'm just like "I EVEN DID FUCKING PHYSICS, WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!"

Oh by the way, what's happening with that practical report for CHNG? Is it due tomorrow? Is it even worth anything?

 

[Riproot]

I think it's due on the 26th or something.

I've done nothing for it. Lol

I think it's worth like 10%

I'll probably just end up doing the calculations and then dying.