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MCDB 1BZ
SMITH I
William Smith
3.3
28 reviews
LOW S H
Seng Low
2.4
241 reviews
NGUYEN A T
Alice Nguyen
1.2
83 reviews

353
2.3
MCDB1B . Low S H 6 Years Ago

Her lecture is very very funny. She speak slowly, if you go over the lectures recordings (2x speed)before exam you will be fine. Her exam is easy. Since herself is not native English speaker, she will not trick you on language which means the wrong choices will be very obvious if you know you know.

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MCDB20 . Low S H 6 Years Ago

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.

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MCDB111 . Low S H 6 Years Ago

The exams were rough.

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MCDB6 . Low S H 6 Years Ago

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.

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MCDB111 . Low S H 6 Years Ago

Exams are definitely challenging. Must memorize and understand all the concepts to do well. Curve is decent though.

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MCDB6 . Low S H 6 Years Ago

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.

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MCDB111 . Low S H 6 Years Ago

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.

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MCDB6 . Low S H 6 Years Ago

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

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MCDB6 . Low S H 6 Years Ago

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

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MCDB1A . Low S H 6 Years Ago

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

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MCDB6 . Low S H 6 Years Ago

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

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MCDB1B . Low S H 6 Years Ago

Took over the summer, so yes, I was expecting a more-than-average course load but Dear Lord. Holy. Mackerel. This lady surpassed all bounds of making this a weeder class. Unless you absolutely must, I would not recommend taking this course with Low because of how dull her lectures are and how unwilling she is to interact with her audience.

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MCDB1LL . Nguyen A T 6 Years Ago

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.

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EEMB3L . Nguyen A T 6 Years Ago

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

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EEMB3L . Nguyen A T 6 Years Ago

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.

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EEMB3L . Nguyen A T 6 Years Ago

If I could rate her a zero I would

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MCDB1B . Low S H 7 Years Ago

Lows tests are really hard. Nearly every question is which is false and it really tests you on details because one word can make a whole statement false. Definitely stay on top of studying, go to clas and the review sessions. Try to study the material before you go to clas so everythings review. Rewatch lectures. Iclickers graded for accuracy

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EEMB2L . Nguyen A T 7 Years Ago

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.

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MCDB20 . Low S H 7 Years Ago

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

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MCDB6 . Low S H 7 Years Ago

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

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MCDB1B . Low S H 7 Years Ago

Dr. Low is a great lecturer. The information in this class can be boring at times since it is so general, but Low really knows how to keep her students interested. Her test is very hard, the midterm average was a 64% but she curves. Book is not necessary, just really focus on the information given in class and write down everything she says.

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MCDB1B . Low S H 7 Years Ago

Super entertaining teacher, love her lectures, but holy moly she crams in a lot of information in her lectures and her test is HARD. Semi impossible, even with tutoring... But the curve will save you. Pretty good professor if you ask me!

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MCDB111 . Low S H 7 Years Ago

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.

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MCDB6 . Low S H 7 Years Ago

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.

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