CHEM 2311

The class itself is not bad at all. We only met every other week and the experiments were pretty straightforward. But the grading sucked. Postlabs were a majority of the grade but I got off so many points for really simple things like sigfigs. The postlabs also asked about things we had never learned about, so they were sometimes hard. Quizzes, prelabs, notebooks, and participation were easy 100s. There was a final at the end of the class which my TA said would be almost exactly like the practice exam provided. It was not. The final was pretty hard and it was what tanked my grade at the end of the semester. I still cannot believe we had a final for a one-credit lab. One thing that was nice was that an 88% was an A-. Overall, the experiments were fun and self-explanatory, but the grading scale was not it and the class was a bit more work outside of class than a one-credit class should be. Most of you are probably taking the class because it is required for a major or pre-med track. You'll be fine, but maybe make sure to have friends in the class to ask questions.

#tCFF23

It is relatively easy to do well in this course, however it requires a decent amount of prep work. There are only 5 total labs throughout the semester, so there is a rotating schedule. One week you will have your recorded lecture, prelab assignment, quiz, and written lab book due along with your actual lab. The next week you will not have lab, but will have the postlab due. Prelab assignments are much easier than the postlabs. Unlike general chemistry lab you are given a detailed procedure to follow during lab! There are also no papers or lab reports in this course! You do not have a lab group, all work is individual but I highly recommend you get your hood mate's phone number to work on the postlab assignments together. Postlabs are much more challenging and fairly long, this is where I lost most of my points. Overall the lab was very fun and interesting. Throughout the semester we synthesized acetaminophen (tylenol).

Your experience in the class will largely depend on your TA. However, this biggest piece of advice I can give is to go to office hours!! Lucy is the literal best she will go through every question with you on the postlab/prelab for the week and it keeps you from making silly mistakes. My TA was pretty harsh with grading and was so nitpicky but I was still able to pull off an A by going to office hours and getting all my work checked. Make sure you give yourself enough time for the postlabs because they are LONG. Prelabs will have a long lecture for you to watch but to be honest I never did and I was fine. Overall this class is pretty easy especially if you have an easy TA but I promise you for one hour a week at OH you will get an A.