<p>For my schedule, I have 3 classes M/W/F (psychology, intro bio, fyws) and 1 class T/R (gen chem). I have Zoorob for gen chem, and I am waitlisted for a M/W/F gen chem with Todd. Is 4 classes a day a good idea, with T/R having no classes at all (is it worth it to get the "better" professor)? Or should I keep it the way I have it even though people say Zoorob isn't as good of a professor (is that premise even true)?</p>
<p>For the chem lab, how many pages of the lab notebook are typically used? I have the same notebook (we used it in AP Chem), but I used 25-30 pages already.</p>
<p>Also, at my state flagship, there is a 1 credit orchestra class for non-music majors that's basically an easy-A. Does vanderbilt have such a class (if so, could you provide the name)?</p>
<p>It’s almost always worth it to get the better professor. As for your proposed schedule, there are upsides and downsides. Having T/R off is really great for sleeping in, but it does make you less productive, and makes MWF more miserable – plus, if you sleep through classes, you miss four instead of three! </p>
<p>If you look at VoiceView, Todd has better professor evaluations for Chem102 across the board, though the courses overall seem pretty equal in difficulty/requirements, as would be expected. Personally, I would hold out for the better professor, even if you don’t like the schedule as much. As challenging at M/W/F might be, sleeping in two days a week is absolutely priceless.</p>
<p>You certainly won’t fill up a lab notebook in gen chem. I would definitely bring along that notebook. I really doubt it will be an issue, but you can ask your TA on the first day of lab. It’s a quick trip to the bookstore if, for some reason, they want a new notebook (they most likely will not care).</p>
<p>As for your last question: If you’re asking about opportunities for non-music majors to play in an orchestra, pretty sure that exists. There’s a topic floating around about it. I don’t know anything about the courses involved. You’d wanna communicate with someone in Blair if you’re interested in joining.</p>
<p>If you’re asking about 1 credit hour easy A’s, those certainly exist, but are very difficult to get into when you’re the last to enroll. You’ll hear about them as you spend more time on campus.</p>
<p>Thanks! So Todd is that much better that it’s worth taking the spot in her class if one opens? Also, is it possible to get off the waitlist even if a spot doesn’t open?</p>
<p>You can sometimes get off a waitlist even if no spots open up if you have a really good reason and email the professor, and they physically have room in the lecture hall. As a first year taking gen chem, it’s pretty unlikely you’ll get in. Professors usually will accommodate past students, or students who seriously need to take a class for their major.</p>
<p>Without a doubt, I would take Bio M/W/F and Chem T/R. That way, you won’t have a day in which you have exams in those classes back to back. Or, at the very least, on the same day. Introductory chem exams were 7pm on Thursday nights last year. Try not to put a 1-4pm Thursday lab in your schedule; it will cause unnecessary stress, trust me. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t terribly worry about the difference between Zoorob and Tara Todd. Regardless of whether or not it’s a “good” professor, your ability to devote time to the class will probably be what makes or breaks you. A lot of people like Tara Todd because she gives out outlines to her students which they can fill in, but I personally found her class very boring and unengaging. It is what it is. If you have problems with the course with Zoorob, make sure you KNOW your question when you visit her office hours. She is very helpful and friendly, but sometimes she does not answer the question to the fullest extent so just make sure you know what answer you’re looking for.</p>
<p>@skeetereater14/ @pancaked thanks for the reply! also, if I’m not in Todd’s class, do you know if is it possible for me to get the outlines, or would she say no?</p>
<p>I don’t know if she still gives out outlines. Friends who took her class two-three years ago said she still did. When I took her class four years ago, she would print off the outlines and we would pick them up from the front of the desk. Your friend could probably pick up two, but it never seemed as if Professor Todd had enough - probably because students from other classes were sitting in her class. </p>
<p>My daughter took Zoorob, but went to Todd’s lectures for the first semester. Second semester she had a schedule similar to yours, 3 classes m,w,f but only chem on t, th. She was up early (I think it was an 8:00 lecture) but she said she had the rest of the day to study after that, and it was much better than her first semester. </p>
<p>@moonpie thanks! do you know if there are any consequences for skipping your professor’s class to go to another’s? (ie, in situations for when you need a small grade bump, want to ask a question)</p>
<p>@skeetereater14 ok thanks! did friends say anything about todd or zoorob being a more/less lenient grader? I know I probably won’t be able to do anything in regards to my schedule this semester, as I was unfortunately in the third registration window, but I want to weigh in everything for the second semester.</p>
<p>@Suffer not at all… I fact my oldest told me Todd joked one day and asked everyone who was actually registered for her class to raise their hand… It was50% of the lecture. All chem students take the same test at 7:00 on Thursday evenings. So doesn’t matter the professor. My girls felt Todd was the better explainer. My oldest had her for lecture and lab, and youngest had her for lab only the first semester, and for lecture and lab the second semester, the curve is generous, but the course is brutal … Make use of your TAs and don’t give up if the first one or two don’t work, </p>
<p>I may be wrong, but I’m fairly sure Todd/Zoorob don’t grade the exams themselves. When I was a general chemistry lab TA, the graduate TAs were the ones who graded the chemistry exams. Most people seem to take Todd/Zoorob/List because they perceive one as the better teacher for whatever reason. Some of my friends found Todd to teach the material in a exceptionally clear way while I found her class to be unengaging and unnecessary. I don’t think it’s easy to have an idea of which teacher you will like until you’ve had a semester in college, unfortunately.</p>
<p>I’ll give you a word of caution before sitting in on Todd’s class if you are in Zoorob’s class. They certainly don’t take attendance, but when I took chemistry, they have ‘professor page.’ These questions went over material that was specific to each class itself. If you’re going to sit in Todd’s class, make sure they don’t have the same thing to this day.</p>
<p>@yellowgranite56</p>
<p>I have not heard a bad thing about Dr. List yet, but I have not taken a class with him. I will say he’s very friendly, and no student has seemed to have a problem going to his office hours to chat. He’s quite popular in the chemistry department. Sorry I can’t provide more information, though. </p>
<p>Same for Phillips as well. I sat in on his classes freshman year because I did not enjoy Todd’s class (personal preference), and I liked his class better. At least from my perspective, he emphasized problem-solving skills more than memorization and pulled chemistry problems that weren’t from the book, thereby giving students more problems to work them. To each their own, though!</p>