<p>Any Dartmouth students taking this course? Is the placement exam tough? Does Dr. Smith teach it every year? What's the workload like? Examples would be appreciated. Thanks!</p>
<p>I took it a few years back. The placement exam is decent; if I recall, it's 65 questions (maybe 60?), and usually a 50-55% gets you in. Dr. Smith teaches it every year. The workload is intense, though it's not necessarily reading. She gives you summaries of the chapters (saves you from buying the $100 book). These summaries, however, are straight-up, no-holds-barred bio--the kind of stuff you try to highlight but give up because the entire page is yellow. Tests are difficult (according to another bio prof, the tests Smith gives her freshmen are of senior-level difficulty), but when you consider that you've got the 40 best bio students in the freshman class in this class, averages are in the 80s. The average grade is usually higher than Bio 15, because Smith tries to grade what you'd get in Bio 15. </p>
<p>Labs are incredible. Smith handpicks her TAs, you get incredible equipment (fluorescence microscopes, confocal, etc.) only for Bio 19, and your sections are smaller (usually 8-10 people). At times, we had two Ph.Ds (Smith and another lab advisor) in lab, along with the graduate and undergraduate TAs, all to aid 8-10 people.</p>
<p>It's a really incredible experience. If you can get in, take the opportunity.</p>