She is really fun and cute, and makes jokes constantly during class. She does go through the material really quickly, so writing notes of everything she is saying was hard. Study a lot, her test is hard.
If you listen to her lectures really well and grasp what she says then you should be able to pull a B.But READ the book. It enforces what she says because she can be vague at times.Her tests are meant to make you think. But she pulls everything off the slides.If you know the slides inside and out (Literally) then you can get an A. Very fair grader
She likes to trick you on the tests, she pretty much doesn't test on your knowledge but on how well you can take her tests!! Try to avoid her if you can that is because i believe shes the only intro bio prof for this class
She's so funny! I love her! She made the class extremely entertaining. If you study a lot and make sure you know EVERY TINY detail (not kidding, the smallest detail) on her lecture slides you can get an A.
she's a pretty good professor. she's very entertaining and explains a lot during lecture. she puts a lot of videos online that can be helpful. she's very enthusiastic and loves teaching, he tests are a little hard though.
1 group project (presenting medical microbiology research) + 6 quizzes (3-5 questions) that you take every week in your section, as well as 2 midterms and 1 final, which make up roughly 80% of your grade. Midterms were a cakewalk, with 100% being memorization. The final, however, was the hardest I've taken in college, but the curve was fat though!
It sucks I have to rate this class so low, because my TA was really good. The subject matter was not as interesting as MCDB lab, but the exercises were much easier since we got instant feedback/unlimited attempts. Nguyen is not very responsive, you should never ask for help unless really necessary. So many tech issues, and she's not very helpful.
NOOOOOO! She sent out emails about tech issues happening but also still asked for proof of the tech issues, will give you 3+ grading criteria docs before giving any proper instructions on the finals, cannot hold herself accountable to save her life. Screenshot everything because she will blame issues on you before accepting she messed up.
Did not know what kind of class I was getting into. It was more like AP Bio then actually learning about nutrition. Do not take this class if you do not like science. Only reason I passed the class was because of my goated TA Michelle!
This whole course is in shambles. TAs are always unclear of how to set up experiments, but it's not their fault, because they aren't properly prepped. Unclear lab directions messed up our research poster project, which was a HASSLE for half the quarter. The actual biology was interesting, but the department honestly needs to scrap/rework this class
the final highest score was a 74 with an average of 48. Majority of the tests had averages under 60. No one is passing and she does not curve. What does this say about the teacher? If the whole class is scoring poorly?
If I could have her license as a teacher removed I would. She's a poor teacher during lectures, just reads off slides which the slides are just the text book readings she has you do before class so she's not teaching anything. Doesn't offer good help outside of class/office hours. Your tests = stuff she didn't teach. Tests are poorly written.
This course is extremely frustrating. Instructions are very unclear, deadlines are ridiculous. Only given 48 hours to turn in lab workbook despite it taking over a month for it to get graded. Received 0% for an assignment that I spent hours on because of a technicality that was not clear in her horrible directions.
tests have nothing to do with what you learn/read. she doesn't teach, she just reads the slides to you and yaps about it. for what sounds like it should be slight work, this prof. is just not it.
just horrible no standards unclear instructions and cares more about technicalities then learning. makes me want to kms and drop out
The entire course is very confusing, with guidelines that are extremely vague. The grading is very tough, and simple mistakes in formatting is harshly punished, regardless of the actual quality of work. She seems like a person who wants to see you fail, and who will make things difficult for no reason in order to ensure that you fail.
Most annoying class I have taken at ucsb. MCDB 1LL is an introductory lab course that is structured like a weeder class. Lots of mindless work. Grading is unnecessarily tough for a class that is so easy. Infuriating to get a 0 on assignments that you put time into because of a technicality. Put due dates in google calendar and you will do well.
Horrible. Expectations for research project in this lab were super unclear. TAs were clearly not communicated to well as they seemed confused too. Missed deadline by 10 min and was counted as a 0 docking a whole letter grade.
My grandma died right before MCDB 1A midterm, i had to fly across the country for the funeral. Alice needed proof she actually died to not get a zero with no leniency. No obituary cause she was buried 24 hrs after death (jewish) & death cert would take weeks to get. I sent a picture of me at her grave, my family was in on it and we had a laugh.
Started online but in person after a month. Slides posted, but she gave additional info in the lecture. Section attendance is mandatory but the lecture is not. Lowkey hard. Take the other nutrition class through the health department. Like no assignments, so both midterms and finals are ur grade. Weekly quiz in section. Didn't expect it to be hard.
Human physiology is challenging, despite Dr. Low knowing the materials very well. As a sophomore at UCSB, it's the most difficult course I've taken. I often considered dropping it, but I'm glad I didn't. The final curve was a lifesaver, helping me secure an A+ with 86%. It turned out well despite the difficulties.
Unpopular opinion, Alice is an incredible professor. I just finished the entire intro biology series + labs and honestly, I think she did everything that she could to be helpful throughout the series. Yeah there were a few errors on her end- but cut her some slack, the woman manages the ENTIRE intro bio department. IDK why she gets so much hate.
ive never had a prof who made me hate school before. until Low. she was so hard to understand (and not necessarily bc of her accent) and did not allow for questions. she was not particularly nice either. lectures were confusing and tests were hard.
literally hands down the worst professor I've ever had for a class I didn't even need to take. she knows her stuff but makes you memorize so much it's impossible to retain every little detail. failing grades for both midterm averages (and probably final) and yet only curved the final grade by one letter. avoid at all costs and take with thrower
