College students....question about Biology and the Lab!

Nutdotnet

Diamond Member
Dec 5, 2000
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So I am thinking that I need to take my Biology class this comming up semester. Was just curious if you all knew whether or not it is a good idea to take the lab the same semester with the class or is it alright to take them at seperate times?

Thanks!
 

notfred

Lifer
Feb 12, 2001
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At my school, you're required to take them the sme semester. (I'm taking it next semester, too).
 

Nutdotnet

Diamond Member
Dec 5, 2000
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Hmm, I wonder where I could find out. The schedule doesn't say anything about it....
 

Kenazo

Lifer
Sep 15, 2000
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for me i had to take the 6credit class w/ lab at the same time.... stupid 8:30 thursday classes.
 

geekybear

Senior member
Oct 4, 2001
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take the lab. my advice with college classes where the class and lab are separate: if you HAVE to take the lab, take it when you take the class. so far, all my bio classes have come WITH a lab but my chem classes are lab separate. in fact, i once saw a chem lecture prof go ape-s#!t on guy for asking him a question about the lab which was separate from the lecture class
 

Fraggle

Senior member
Sep 17, 2000
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As far as I know, it's required to enroll in a lab if you're enrolled in a Bio class. I've been at 3 different undergrad schools, and that's always been the way it is. Here at KU we have to be concurrently enrolled in the Lecture, Lab, and Discussion for (I think) 6 credit hours. And the Lecture is only held at 8:00am :( . oh well.
 

minendo

Elite Member
Aug 31, 2001
35,560
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<< At my school, you're required to take them the sme semester. (I'm taking it next semester, too). >>



next sememster i have my fourth bio class with lab. i really hate three hour labs cause they turn a day of no classes into a day of three hour boredom
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
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The worst time I ever had at university was bio labs. Wow what a waste of time. What a waste of time. Wow, what a redundant waste of time. Wow. What a waste of time.

These things could stretch on for houuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrssssssssssssss and all they were was stipling some stupid diagram and doing some other mindless please-shoot-me-and-end-my-pain things. Oh God.

i really hate three hour labs cause they turn a day of no classes into a day of three hour I see that bio labs are enjoyable everywhere then!
 

McPhreak

Diamond Member
Jul 28, 2000
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<< The worst time I ever had at university was bio labs. Wow what a waste of time. What a waste of time. Wow, what a redundant waste of time. Wow. What a waste of time.

These things could stretch on for houuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrssssssssssssss and all they were was stipling some stupid diagram and doing some other mindless please-shoot-me-and-end-my-pain things. Oh God.

i really hate three hour labs cause they turn a day of no classes into a day of three hour I see that bio labs are enjoyable everywhere then!
>>



Yeah, they're a waste of a good 4-5 hours a week so I recommend you take it with the course. Not because of the material, but just because it's nice to get it all over with at once. Don't drag it out or you'll be hitting yourself for years.
 

JACKHAMMER

Platinum Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Lets just say I am in a postition ot answer this;) I recommend you take the lab w/ the course. It will be easiest this way and will most likely help you in lecture.

And for all you people complaining about labs 1. Your just not a science person. 2. You take intro level courses, ofcourse they are going to be slow and laid out for you. Many people don't have legitimate lab experience and the low level labs are geared to teach you proper lab technique (atleast they should) just as much as the content.
 

exp

Platinum Member
May 9, 2001
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<< Many people don't have legitimate lab experience and the low level labs are geared to teach you proper lab technique (atleast they should) just as much as the content. >>



Agreed. Your initial lab work is bullsh*t. They hold your hand the entire time as you learn how to perform the easiest of tasks. There is little to no possibility of anything going seriously wrong and similarly you have no ability to modify your course of action if necessary. Hardly real science...
 

minendo

Elite Member
Aug 31, 2001
35,560
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<< And for all you people complaining about labs 1. Your just not a science person. 2. You take intro level courses, ofcourse they are going to be slow and laid out for you. Many people don't have legitimate lab experience and the low level labs are geared to teach you proper lab technique (atleast they should) just as much as the content. >>


who said anything about these being intro courses and not being a science person. im a Food Science major and have plenty of lab experience and I still agree that bio labs suck. they are a waste of my time cause none of the information presented is applicable (well except for the microbiology aspect)
 

isasir

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2000
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<< Hmm, I wonder where I could find out. The schedule doesn't say anything about it.... >>



I'd assume that your course schedule would list whether the lab is a co-requirement for the lecture. If it doesn't, then you prob. could take them separate, tho' I'd still recommend taking them together.
 

JACKHAMMER

Platinum Member
Oct 9, 1999
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<< I still agree that bio labs suck. they are a waste of my time cause none of the information presented >>



You can't make generalizations like this. Maybe the Bio labs at YOUR school sucks, but not at all schools. I have had some really good biology labs in the past, it depends on level of class and type of school. I have been to 5 different colleges, some good, some not so good and the difference in labs between them was great but all still applicable. Biology is a natural science, and as such must contain a lab.