Ugh I thought MCDB lab was disorganized but just wait until you get to EEMB lab. My EEMB T.A. has no idea what's going on (she wasn't helpful), can't answer any of my questions. Like how am I supposed to write my 6pg paper when no one knows shi Istg I just can't with her anymore. Was pretty easy depending on TA. MCDB better than EEMB.
Does not respond to emails. If you want to talk to her you have to somehow get her attention outside of class and even then, it's impossible to get a hold of her. I emailed Nguyen 4 times about the same subject at the beginning of the quarter and continued to get zero response. Eventually gave up and stopped asking questions- really disappointing.
Professor Gonzalez is the worst professor I have ever had at UCSB. His lecturing makes everything confusing and often feel so lost. He does iClickers daily, two midterms and a cumulative final. Other online videos have been my best friend. He also makes snarky remarks weekly about how we should know this stuff and it will be on the exams.
This lab was not difficult content-wise, but it seemed highly disorganized and busy-work based. We accessed course materials on a platform outside of GS, which was inconvenient. It could have been structured better, to suit both students and TAs. Your grade and how time consuming the course will be is 75% dependent on your TA's teaching style.
Most of lab section is spent sitting and waiting for something. The experiments we do are pointless and uninteresting, but every bio major has to take this class at some point. Your TA will determine how easy or hard the research paper assignment is. At least its way easier than 1LL.
His exams are always ridiculously difficult and he’ll often test details from the lecture sides that he doesn’t even get to sometimes. If you want to pass the class, you better read the textbook instead bc his lectures are nearly impossible to follow unless you are already like 80% of the content.
Lecs are very slow, disorganized, and it doesn't seem as if he knew what he was talking about. We go at such a slow pace that he often makes the first few mins of discussion sessions his lecture time, and he'll even have to send additional videos (ranging 5-25 mins) to watch over the weekend. Also, his exams are extremely hard!
The Biolab classes (1LL and 2LL) are horribly organized and a huge waste of three hours every week. This class also has super strict rules on grading and attendance and they will almost never make an exception for students under any circumstance. The only upside is that the final exam is a group test in 2LL.
Genuinely one of the worst professors Ive had here. His lectures are confusing at best and he often mixes up his info and backtracks. Moves too quickly and doesnt put much stuff on his slides so he expects you to listen but is a horrible lecturer. Feels more like a student doing a presentation than a professor. Use ipad/print the notes before
Not good at her job. Has made multiple mistakes such as telling people incorrect grade cut offs and accusing people of cheating and later admitting it was her mistake. Makes you feel like a number. Weeder class
This course moved super fast over the summer. I thought Gonzalez was a good professor but halfway through the course he gave us pre-recorded lectures from a different professor when he was teaching the course in the spring. Often Gonzalez didn't know which topics the other prof did or did not cover. Tests had tons of errors but would later be fixed
Half the class was accused of cheating on the last day of the quarter so no one could do anything about it. She didnt respond to the emails. Left us in the dark. Some got letters saying it was a mistake on their end. All exams had multiple mistakes they refused to fix. Waited to very last minute to submit final grades so we could not protest.
Lacks empathy and contributes to the (minimal) toxicity in the bio major. I dont understand how she has a job considering the immaturity and lack of self-awareness that she has. How did she even end up running the Intro Bio Labs? I cant believe the intro lab classes for the most impacted major on campus is this disorganized. UCSB deserves better.
If I could give her a zero I would. She is by far the worst faculty member I have ever had experience with at UCSB. This class was horribly organized, had unclear requirements, and Dr. Nguyen displayed a complete lack of compassion for her students on several occasions. I was actually excited to this class but this professor ruined it. TA was nice
Class is terribly organized, she doesn't respond to emails, changed grading policy to be harsher mid-quarter during a pandemic, even though the class uses 3 different websites to turn things in, all with different times due which is extremely confusing and difficult to keep track of. She is also uncaring and unsympathetic to student hardship.
literally the worst and least organized professor ever, does not respond to emails, is NOT understanding, changed the grading policy mid quarter to be less accommodating during the pandemic, and is m o n o t o n e
The class wasnt well run but not necessarily that difficult besides that. Dr. Nguyen didnt do her PhD in a molecular biology field, which was apparent when she tried do discuss even intro molecular biology topics, and especially more obvious in hindsight as you go on to upper div MCDB classes. Not the same level of quality as other UCSB profs.
Do not take this class over summer. There's so much to cover it's crazy. Niño is good though. Very likable, not very experienced, the midterms were written poorly, but he was good about fixing it so it ended up being quite fair. He only taught the first half and his lectures were solid. You can tell he works hard and enjoys it, which is nice to see
Easily one of my favorite professors at UCSB. I took him over the summer while he was the only professor teaching the course and he made the material very understandable. Not only that, but he is an amazing professor to talk to and get to know. As a minority student, I look up to him very much in all that he has accomplished
Totally unorganized, making the material which was clear in lecture more confusing. Many of the questions she writes dont feel fair and her grading policy is rigid for a 1 unit class. If you every have her, Im sorry
The actual worst, she overcomplicates the lab practicals to the point where they're more difficult and time consuming than the actual classes. The lab manual is disorganized and barely corresponds to lectures anyways. Probably the worst person they could have chosen to organize the intro bio labs.
If I could rate her a zero I would
The literal worst, the labs are completely disorganized and the practicals test on tiny details with not enough time to answer the questions. The manual is horrible, and there's no guidance on the research project. WAY too much work for 1 unit.
too much work! should be worth way more than 1 unit!!!!!!!!