Her test questions are purposefully made to waste your time. She's degrading and rude to students. Marks things incorrectly. Her lectures online are just prerecorded laid over powerpoints (sometimes they don't even match up). Asks questions about material that was never taught (oftentimes not even in the textbook). Worst STEM teacher I've had.
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.
This is my 2nd class I've taken with Low online. The lectures are pre-recorded so you can watch them at your own time. She gives out quizzes every week which are not hard at all if you read/watch lectures. Online the lectures feel pretty long but it could be different in person. Midterms are usually 75% multiple choice and a couple short answer.
Really frustrated with how this course went. Your entire grade is essentially two midterms and a final. There is very little room for error in this class. Test questions are often written very vaguely but will want a specific answer. Also, took this during the pandemic and was my only class where there was no curve and no accommodation whatsoever.
Hard to understand. Grading on tests is really tough and not too clear. Obvious lack of communication between students and professor on whats going to be on the test or what should be studied.
The exams and quizzes are very very very difficult. Professor Low is very funny but the information she is teaching is extremely challenging and she goes very quickly and tests us on SO much information.
The exams were rough.
I went to every class, read all the required readings, and studied extremely hard for the midterms and final; yet passed, and that is only thanks to the curve. Be ready for exams that are nothing like her practice tests. Her lectures barely dip into the content covered on exams, so read EVERY sentence of the required readings if you want to pass.
Exams are definitely challenging. Must memorize and understand all the concepts to do well. Curve is decent though.
MCDB 6 was the hardest class Ive ever taken, but not impossible. 2 midterms and a final; all extremely difficult, but there is a curve. Rewatch her lectures online and study for at least a week before any exam and youll be fine. I found writing down all the notes from the slides helpful and listening to what she emphasizes in class.
Get ready to memorize almost everything learned in intro bio, in much more detail, in 1 quarter -- graders dock points if your answer is not what her key says nearly verbatim, and barely-covered details from the slides will be asked about. Luckily, exams are not cumulative and the textbook is only necessary if her verbose slides confuse you.
mcdb1A is a weeder class for med students, so you're better off taking this. It seems difficult cause most fail the first midterm, but it is heavily curved. she posts all slides online, so just memorize them and you'll get a decent grade
Yes she's difficult, but there is no way I'd recommend taking 1A over mcdb 6. I have many friends in 1A and it is 10x harder and has a lab. She isn't a great teacher, but if you are able to teach yourself material you'll be fine. The class is curved to a B-, so you'd have to try to fail. Hard to get a good grade though, but most of are fine w/ a C
worst professor ever. laughs when you get things wrong and likes to watch you suffer. very rude and not approachable. very hard to get a good grade in this class
PBS majors: I also thought that this would be an easy class to take since it's SUPPOSED to be tailored to our major, but you're better off taking 1A. Her lectures are so hard to sit through and she's just generally not an approachable person. If you're struggling (like I did) good luck cause you have to teach yourself. Extremely hard midterms/final
They changed the format of the bio labs, and I had hoped that they would be better, but in fact, they have become worse! The grading scales are harder, and the lab practicals are no easier than before. Unfortunately there's no way to avoid this class if you're a bio major, so good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor tbh.
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.
Worst class I have taken at UCSB. Prof expects you to memorize way too much info in such a short amount of time. Lectures are extremely boring. Her tests are way too hard!!!!! (especially if you're a non-bio major. I am not exaggerating when I say she made this class miserable. Would not recommend. Avoid at all costs
Uses iclicker but only counts if you are correct. Two midterms and a final, both are extremely hard. If you do not study every day you will struggle I am not over exaggerating. I took this class twice and studied as hard as I could but still did not pass. When you ask for help she gets annoyed. Avoid it if you can. The hardest class I have ever had
Physiology is a pretty easy subject, but she makes it HARD. She's a good teacher and she's really funny so lectures are pretty entertaining but the exams are IMPOSSIBLE. Felt prepared for the first test but walked out wanting to cry. Forget the textbook (you don't need it) and just memorize her slides!!! class ave usually F but she curves.
Personally, I LOVED Dr. Low. She is a sassy genius. Her tests will absolutely rip you a new one if you're not prepared though, so go to class, read the textbook, and have faith in the curve.
