Best Professor First Year Classes

Colleges and Universities A-Z Emory University
21

<p>Chem and Bio must be taken with the lab. Also, as a pre-med, many classes will be taken w/lab ideally. Also, NBB is not really a tough major. It has one tough course. The other requirements are not that tough to complete at all (and many of the courses are just flat out easy). Just use the GERs as the side classes you take each semester for interest (at least the HAP and HAL credits). It really isn’t that hard to do. I’m a chem./bio double major and it has been no problem at all. I’ve done most of my major requirements (including grad. school electives) plus the GERs(except the extra PEs) and many other non-science courses that interested me. Basically I’ve done my majors and more “GER-like” (as in classes for interest) courses than Emory requires. I’m kind of one of those “scholarly” types that really tries to learn as much as possible, despite the grades. My grades are ok (somewhat below Emory graduating average at like a 3.25-3.3, but I’m a double science major in the subjects that have an average of 2.8ish and I’ve taken the toughest courses available. Plus not bad for a first generation African American college student lol) considering the courses I took so I don’t regret my approach at all because I’ve learned and retained lots of info. in and outside of science. It’s nice to be able to carry on conversations and apply knowledge from several different areas. If I kept it simple and took no risks, my experience here would have been a waste.I’m on Emory Advantage, so there is hardly a fin. risk to having a sub 3.7-4.0 GPA. I basically attend here for free. No risk in getting the most out of it at all.</p>

<p>If you think these GERs seem stringent, you should have seen them before 2008. Emory was much tougher and serious about liberal arts then. I actually think I would have preferred it that way as it would have provided a more unified academic experience instead of allowing everyone to avoid going out of their comfort zone as the new, almost joke-like, GERs do. Now Emory’s cirriculum and GERs are have hardly no uniqueness. We’re like most of the other comparable top 20s of our size.</p>

<p>Anyway, I really don’t understand what a PPF is and will find out this fall as I am enrolled in one lol. I’m guessing that it has a “classroom” component on top of the actual physical component.</p>

22

<p>what do you mean classes are already full? dont we register for classes at orientation? also, what exactly do you do in PE 101? do you have to swim? do most people take 5 classes per semester? </p>

<p>can you become an emory scholar your 2nd year? if so, what is the gpa req?</p>

23

<p>WOW YOUR AWESOME DUDE! What do you want to become as far as career? Thanks for all the help! True that, but chem and bio are reqs for NBB majors, so I plan to take chem this year, then bio next and based on your help I should be fine. I do want to take classes outside of my studies (i am not a science orientaed person persay, I love math, I wish I could major at math, but I dont think Emory does math justice and I doubt majoring in math could get me in med school). What p.e. class are you taking bernie? which one do you recommend?</p>

24

<p>Don’t do that. I really don’t like pedestals of any kind. I’m really just trying the best I can, and milking this institution’s resources and awesomeness for what it’s worth (I may indeed value it way more than many of my Emory peers who only wanted Ivies)
Actually, I think beyond the intro. sequence, the professors in the math. dept are pretty solid from how my friends describe it, so you’ll certainly learn. However, one concern may be that the intro. sequence will not adequately prep. you for some of the better profs., as they are generally more rigorous. People w/AP credit will probably have an advantage in such courses than say a person who took a bad/mediocre 112 prof., which is the majority of them (except for 112-Z, again, I hear it’s pretty good).</p>

<p>Anyways, I’m thinking teaching or research, maybe both (Chemistry, maybe a program in drug design/molecular pharmacology). I want to at least be teaching at the collegiate level at some point in my life. Hopefully I can beat the odds and make it happen one day. I really love to teach and mentor, especially in chemistry (mainly organic) which is why I take SI leader positions w/e I can and I also tutor people on my own time when I have it (for free of course. Again, it’s something I like doing). I typically target freshmen as I understand how tough the transition is (it was really tough for me, even though I actually did pretty solid freshmen year) for many and how little they may know about their coursework or current and future opportunities. Mentoring of various types (both formal and informal, mostly informal) mainly starting freshmen year has helped me a lot, and I think it can also benefit others who deserve it given how much they/or their parents pay for them to go here.<br>
I’m taking fitness walking lol. I know nothing about it. I just know I love walking around campus (just randomly at times to take in the scenery, try to find something I didn’t notice before, w/e. I never take this campus for granted.), often at a fast pace, so it certainly won’t be difficult for me as it comes natural. I actually needed it to be less strenuous b/c my classes aside from it are another risky, but comfortable (b/c I like the teachers I have for the most part): Organometallic (Soria, so certainly won’t be easy), Evolutionary Biology (It was easy w/the idiots teaching it in the past spring, but this time, I think we have someone who cares about teaching, so I expect a good experience, but expect more rigor), Physical Chem. (currently in life sciences, but if space opens up, real), Cell Biology (w/Eisen, so it won’t be easy). I really wanted French 201, but it conflicts w/PChem for life Sciences. If I can get into real PChem, I can take 201. But either way, I’m sure it’s obvious that my courseload is very intense (would have been less, but I can’t bank on Eisen teaching cell in the spring b/c it’s an anomaly that he is teaching it in the fall, and I absolutely wanna take a class from him before leaving this institution. Cell bio was the “toss-up” course.). Luckily, 3/4 (including myself) of my apartment (all junior friends I pulled in) will be experiencing the same thing (two are pre-med NBB majors, that will take NBB 301 next year. One will take it in the fall w/lab, so we’ll both be working hard). I’m basically just glad I’ll have a supportive environment even when I get “home” (as in the apt.) as we generally have a similar plight.</p>

25

<p>Do they find the NBB coursework extremely rigorous? And your coursework is something I would never take on, I enjoy challenges, but I also know what I can handle. I wish you luck when applying to grad schools and if I’ll look for ya for sure if I need any help in chem haha. Its great that you love emory so much (I do as well, it was my #1) </p>

<p>To Pizza, Emory scholar is 3.6+ and even then it isn’t guarenteed.</p>

26

<p>Trust me, it’s my senior year, I’ve used to this sort of rigor.<br>
As for Scholars while in college: Generally, you need like a 3.8ish because they don’t take majors into account. You are essentially competing against those in very grade inflated majors, and they don’t care if you take more rigorous courses than those w/a 3.9 in philosophy.<br>
No, one of them has taken a significant amount of the electives and stuff. One had a stellar sophomore year after taking several electives+201. The most one has struggled was freshmen year when taking Soria for orgo. (he struggled tremendously in 172 as many/most do). He took Edwards and did solidly in the fall (no A, but commendable), did well in bio both semesters (rocky start for bio 142, but pulled it together by the end), got a reasonable grade in 201 (two of my future apartmentmates were in that together and ended up with the same grade. One was consistent, and unfortunately one had an A and then the final bought him down). The one w/lots of coursework found endocrinology easy. Anyway, they haven’t gotten straight As, but they are doing really well.<br>
The thing about the non-301 classes is that rigor has hardly nothing to do with it. Many of them are in the traditional lecture settings and give multiple choice exams. Many of the courses give easy multiple choice exams, and some, like 201, give tougher exams (but not that tough. I would say, tough enough to yield a mid-high 70 average in some instances, which is a far cry from gen. bio, physics, chem, and orgo’s worst). Either way, many of the NBB classes are quite easy compared to science courses in other depts, but are generally moderate in terms on the scale of rigor at Emory overall. NBB 301 is the only one that would currently be considered hard (the only NBB recentered to B- mean, whereas chem., bio, physics, and even psyche and maybe anthro. have several classes with an average that falls at or is curved to C+/most often B-. Most NBB classes seem to fall at or are recentered to a solid B average, which makes them about the easiest grading science). The exams are hard that is and it is conceptually rigorous because it requires a command of knowledge from at least three fundamental disciplines. There is also mathematics (it’s one of the non-chem/physics upper levels where you must work problems outside of class to grasp material and prep. for exams as opposed to memorizing details from a book. It requires the active learning seen in intros., but w/more complex material). And Emory students seem to hate when something like mathematics and bio mix, but I personally love it lol. Physical biology opened my eyes to how important mathematics is to biological systems and processes, especially at the cellular level). I think human phys (counts as elective) used to be at a decent level and then they watered it down. I would in fact say my HS anatomy and physiology course was much tougher(exam wise and rigor), and I didn’t go to the best HS (I was in the academy/magnet program. Being in or out of it made a night and day difference). Many/Most of your pre-reqs will be more challenging than the NBB courses.</p>

27

<p>When will they change the PE requirements, if they are? I’m probably graduating next year, and I don’t want to take another PE because then I can’t take five regular classes.</p>

28

<p>I think it’s changed already. It applies to anyone who came in 2008 and later I believe.</p>

29

<p>Last question who’s a better teacher , Morkin or Hill for gen chem? I want an easier course load my first year so I can adapt to the rigor of Emory. Is bio easier than chem? I’'m self studying gen chem now as well, just don’t want Morkin if he’s unreasonable, doesnt help during office hours, and lectures does not help. I heard the hw is really hard, but willl she help during her office hours? does she grade hw tough?</p>

30

<p>Morkin is better. Her tests are a little harder (but still not hard), but she generally gets higher averages (and sometimes the same) than her peers. She is a great lecturer and people generally find her great in office hours. Hill’s weakness is that he is the researcher they through in. He is a reasonable lecturer, but his office hours will be somewhat limited, because he is actually quite a renowned researcher in inorganic chemistry here (much of his research is extremely relevant to “green solutions”). He’s very busy and will often go out of town, so you may have TAs for lecture more than 1 time.<br>
As for homework, it is not written. It is online. It’s apparently very frustrating because, when dealing with numerical answers (they are graded by the system, not Morkin), it has to be exactly right (in terms of sigfigs). They used to have Aries, but I just checked Mulford’s summer website and it appears they switched to another system called something like “Aleks”. Many people would procrastinate w/Aries, but it seems this Aleks is designed so that procrastination is strongly discouraged (basically, you have to stay on top of HW). Given that, it seems like a tougher system than Aries, but in reality it’s meant to help. Because less procrastination=less likely to fail. Not to mention, it kind of teaches the chapters/content rather than mainly being problem based. I have no idea if this is a summer solution which is possible b/c gen. chem. during summer does not relent like the other science courses. It remains nearly as tough as the year round schedule, so procrastination/not keeping up will hurt a lot (when you have a test like every 1.5 weeks). However, I’m betting it may carry over until the regular academic year.<br>
Grades are generally lower in biology (they give a fair share of D/F grades, while gen. chem is minimal). It’s probably because of the almost completely test based structure of most teachers’ classes. These profs. have minimal fluff (outside of dropped quiz or assignment that counts as a quiz that is normally graded “for real” when assigned) and give tests and quizzes. Problem sets are to be done on your own/at SI sessions. That’s why I recommend people like Eisen. It is more rigorous, but there are more “fluff” components to the grade where those who put in the effort can do really well (like Disease of the Week and the Case Studies), the quizzes tend to be easier because he understands the extra out of class workload he assigns vs. the other sections, and his exams are generally curved (considering the first one isn’t that great) even if the class generally gets better and gets as good as other sections’ grades. He is simply recalibrating grades for the style and difficulty of his exams. For example, a 75-78 average in his class may be curved to a B- (80-82ish), but in others, that average(or even lower) will not warrant a curve as they assume average students will get a B- because of lab (I would say 73-78 is normal in biology whereas chem. tightly hovers at 76-78, but that’s the exam average. Chem gets the free HW and clicker grades, so it really ends up close to 80).</p>

31

<p>Wow. Okay Chemistry with Morkin it is. The schedule I made for myself has like classes back to back, but only 15 minutes to get from class to class before the other class starts. DO some teachers let class out after the scheduled time? I dont want to be late to my other class since some teachers have attendance policy. Would I have to run from chemistry to spanish to get there on time? Any advice? Thanks (I have all classes most likely will be scheduled Tuesday and Thursday, do you do that or do you do M,W,F. I feel Tues and Thurs is enough for me since I can do the hw and study a lot, and have time to go to office hours and ask questions. I most likely will be living at LSM (hopefully if not Fewevans). My first class is gen chem at 8 30, so that will be fun haha. I am a morning person though, so any advice on how to get to places on time?</p>

32

<p>Also is calc 1 year long or just semester?</p>

33

<p>Oh and also is it possible for me to make it from P.E. to my calc class? (since I have to change my clothes probably and get to the math building, is it possible)</p>

34

<p>Most stay pretty on schedule, and technically they have no power over you in the attendance context. They can’t hold you past time. No, only bio classes are far away from chem. or anything on, and on the periphery of the quad.<br>
Calc. 1=1 semester.
If you are living in fevans/LSM, it’s easy to get to Atwood. Just go down the hill (from Asbury circle). Go into Emerson (which is attached to Atwood), take the elevator up to level three (Morkin will be in 360). This of course if you are in a rush. Otherwise, you can take the hill up between Emerson and Theology, and take a right (another hill, a red “scupture”/artifact will be noticeable at the top) and it’ll put you directly at level three.
Anyway point is, central campus isn’t large at all, and it really doesn’t take much time to get anywhere.</p>

<p>You should get Google Earth and maybe learn the campus. There are many routes. Some that kill time and avoid hills/stairs, and some that require much less time, if you are willing to use an elevator or go up or down a hill or two. With that said, none of them really take that long. You decide which route you’ll use dependent upon how pressed for time you are. There are also “social routes” (you know crowded ones used mostly when moving between classes). These include Cox Bridge and the Callaway/Tull Plaza Walk (mainly accessed by going under Cannon Capel)</p>

35

<p>Fall
(Full) P. E.- Simonds 9:35- 10:25 (M/W/F) <em>Woodruff PE Ctr- Varsity Weight</em> 1 credits
Calculus 1- Megan Cream 10:40- 11:30 (M/W/F) <em>Math and Science Center W302</em> 4 credits
General Chemistry- Morkin 8:30-9:45 (Tue/Thur) <em>Chemistry Building 360</em> 4 credits
(Full) Spanish 1- 10:00- 10:50 (Tue/ Thur) <em>New Psych Building 250 (36 Eagle Ro)</em> 4 credits
Religion- Ladderman 2:30- 3:45 (Tue/Thur) <em>White Hall 207</em> 4 credits<br>
Chemistry Lab- Norton 6:00- 9:00 (Tuesday) * Chemistry Building 351* 0 credits
Total Credits 17 Credits </p>

<p>Thanks! That is my schedule, now I feel better getting to class on time. What should I do with the time between classes? Such as bw spanish and religion? I thought maybe study for an hour, then go to lunch and socialize. And why is chem lab so late? I am so scared of chem lab since we never did labs in chem as I said. Should I study b/w religion and chem lab? Is my schedule difficult in terms of time. I am pretty upset that I have classes Monday-Friday, should I just not take calc until spring semester and maybe take NBB seminar on tuesday to make the time up somewhere in there? Or is this schedule fine as far as time management, having fun, and having a good first semester at Emory as far as being involved socially and academically? Thanks!</p>

36

<p>That’s actually a pretty good schedule. Just stick with it. You can do whatever you want with your time between courses. Assess your work/study load and see if you have time to socialize and stuff. It’s not my place to advise you on this. However, yes you should probably eat if you haven’t.</p>

37

<p>Okay thanks, I think I will be pretty fine my first semester as long as I stay on top of my work. What troubles did you experience your first year?</p>

38

<p>It was stressful. Some courses that I didn’t expect to be rigorous (like freshmen seminar) were very rigorous (as in lots of out of class work and projects, it was interesting and awesome, but very time consuming) and took away from classes like orgo. and bio. I hardly knew bio first semester, so had a little trouble there. I was in person’s class that required mere memorization, but I’m terrible at that (so exams on content that was simply memory based did not go as well as those where some applied questions could be asked), and then they were multiple choice, which made it worse. 2nd semester was MC, but the question types worked way better for me because it focused on Apps. and thorough knowledge of concepts. Orgo. was fun, but hard. His exams kept changing in format and were thus unpredictable. I did well, but I had to work for it. 2nd semester was significantly less stressful because I developed a legit study plan that involved studying about everyday as opposed to “test in two weeks, let me get on the ball”. I was much more prepped since I had constant exposure outside of class. I also took studygroups more serious 2nd semester, and it helped.</p>

39

<p>@emoryguy: whoa…how did you sign up for those classes? dont we register once school starts? im totally freaking out right now… i havent even looked at the classes yet :/</p>

40

<p>He can’t. Those are just the classes he’s shooting for. He looked them up on Opus to get specific times I would guess.</p>