<p>I would rather not post this on the premed forum because not everyone that is taking biology is premed.</p>
<p>I wanted to know, for those of you that are taking biology and have succeeded in it, how do you study? Its not like physics or math where doing problem sets help you, or English or social sciences where reading a lot is key. Its a whole new animal.</p>
<p>I go to Pitt and it is notorious for its insanely hard freshman weed out biology. The problem is that the wording on the exams makes it difficult to discern what the prof's favorite answer would be.</p>
<p>I couldn't agree with lollybo more! S/he is completely correct! </p>
<p>The most challenging aspect of intro bio for most people is the randomness of it. This can depend greatly on the professor, but for the most part, it's just random facts about how the cell works, and it isn't until the final few weeks that you start to see things coming together. There doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason for why things happen, which makes it difficult to conceptualize.</p>
<p>The genetics portion is a bit better because a lot of the enzymes have easy-to-remember names, etc. </p>
<p>I would suggest reading the book BEFORE you go to class, take notes while in class, review them once out of class, and you should be good.</p>
<p>Personally, I never touched the bio book (literally, I never took the shrink-wrap off) and I had a 98.87% average in intro bio, but for most people, looking at the book is helpful.</p>
<p>^^^ how can you suggest reading the book if you NEVER did and got a 98? I love biology but what did you do in particular? I'm a senior in HS btw, hopefully going to Rice</p>
<p>My degree is in biology and now I teach AP Biology. I would highly recommend reading the book before class. The book can give you a framework to hang the professor's lectures (and seemingly random facts :-) on.</p>
<p>I know people who read the chapters before the lectures, but honestly I've never used my bio book. I just study real hard, memorizing all the definitions/concepts that my prof talks about in lecture. I have around a 95 average in that class as of right now.</p>
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^^^ how can you suggest reading the book if you NEVER did and got a 98? I love biology but what did you do in particular? I'm a senior in HS btw, hopefully going to Rice
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<p>That's a 98.87 to you missy!! ;) lol </p>
<p>Anyway, to answer your question, I offer advice to the general population --- It's kind of a "do as I say, not as I do" type of thing. The rules don't apply to me: I am a biological anomaly.</p>
<p>I would suggest using the internet to search out animations/interactives/narratives to help solidfy a topic. here's 1 example (don't let the name fool you. It isn't all A&P)</p>
<p>Thank you for the input. Some of you really know your biology well.</p>
<p>The biggest problem I have is not learning the material its just the wording of my professors exams. I assume its a problem with my studying, however I do know the material. It just so happens to be you must really think about the wording to try and get it right.</p>