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Originally Posted by reeree
Hi, I was wondering how Bio 2C03 and Bio 2B03 compare in terms of their workload and difficulty. Also, since the profs are different this year for 2c03 could anyone who took it last semester comment on how they were? I have both courses next semester and I was unsure if I should take one of them at a different time rather than together. Thank you!
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The profs last year for Bio 2C03 were really good. I took Bio 2C03 last term with Gupta & Robbins, and the notes they supply with you are enough to do well in the course. Robbins explains things really clear, but most of what she says is already on her slides. Gupta was a little disorganized and hard to understand, he was never really coherent in what he was saying, but he is really intelligent.
Genetics is more understanding and not memorization heavy like typical bio courses. Don't underestimate the course though, because after the fourth week, it gets much harder. It always seems like you can go through the midterm and exam with 3 days of studying because there isn't a lot of information in the slides like other typical bio courses, but you do get tested on big details when the test or exam comes that tests your understanding of the material. Make sure you understand what you are reading in your notes, because sometimes I would think I understood something, then when the test or exam came, I didn't know it. If you put a decent amount of effort in the course, you should be able to get at least a 10.
And for Genetics, there were two assignments which were really time-consuming if you want a really good mark on them, and the mark you get on them really depends on the TA you have. In my opinion, the genetic assignments were worse than writing essays, only because some questions will be really ambiguous asking you to describe something by using research, and then they'll be like "Well, why didn't you include X" and you're like "Well I didn't know I had to, it was no where in the question". I was really fed up with TA marking in the course.
I would think Bio 2B03 would require maybe even more time because there is a lot more content in Bio 2B03 that you need to know compared to Bio 2C03 (which is more about understanding the content and being able to apply it). Bio 2B03 is a lot of information from what I've heard, but if you keep up, it should be okay.
I would think having Bio 2B03 and Bio 2C03 in the same semester might be tough, but it also depends what other courses you have. Most students would separate them because you will need to dedicate a chunk of time to each of them.
Good luck!
