Everything you NEED TO KNOW to do well in bioL 101

So you probably think you’re a pretty big deal— and seeing as how you’re here at Williams, you probably are. However, everyone has a moment in their first semester when they realize they’re not in Kansas anymore. For me and many other science geeks and pre-med overachievers, this moment was the first exam in Bio 101. This guide aims to give new first-year bio students a heads-up, to be prepared for the rigor of Bio 101 so that they can get excited about the study of biology. It includes studying tips from past students and comments about what they wish they knew before that first bio exam. Enjoy, and good luck!

Good Habits: Learning throughout the semester

Preparing for tests and actually learning the material in Bio 101—and every other class you’ll take, for that matter—is made infinitely easier and more enjoyable if you establish an organized system for approaching the lecture and reading material early on in the semester. Here are some tips from past Bio 101 students about what helped them stay on top of things and stress free throughout their first semester.

1. Take good lecture notes.

In Bio 101, all the important topics are covered in lecture. Basically, if you know the lecture material cold, you’ll be certain to do well in the class. This means that one of the most useful habits you can cultivate is taking detailed, organized notes in class.

• Mark unclear concepts in the margin
• Review previous lecture’s notes 5 minutes before the next class and skim over all the past week’s notes over the weekend
• Color code
• Write on only one side of a page
• Number and title pages
• Leave lots of room—don’t crunch all your notes into a tiny space
• Have a system for marking important ideas over smaller details
• Don’t get caught up in the details! If you try to write everything down, you might miss something important. This takes getting used to, but eventually you’ll learn to identify the key themes; comparing notes with friends after class can help. (Note: some tech-savvy people like to use their mp3 players to record lectures so they can focus on listening rather than writing in class.)

2. Use the textbook to supplement lecture material.

The textbook for Bio 101 is, unfortunately, unnecessarily complicated. For that reason, many students don’t do the reading when assigned but wait till just before an exam to skim through five chapters. While this approach may work for you if you understand all the material in lecture, if you’re confused or never had bio in high school, reading the textbook can be great for clarifying concepts. Some pointers for using the book:

• Skimming the assigned reading before class can be very helpful, since it gives you some idea of what the prof is talking about in lecture, particularly if (like me) you never took AP.
• Taking detailed notes on the reading is probably a waste of time. I did it the first half of the semester and though it helped me out when studying for the midterm, it took far too long. Jotting notes in the margin, underlining, or highlighting is much more time efficient.
• Don’t get hung up on insignificant details (i.e. the name of each intermediate in the Krebs cycle). Pay attention to the diagrams instead—most students have found them to be the most useful part of the textbook.

3. Get help early!

One of the most common and avoidable mistakes first-years make is failing to get help until they’re hopelessly overwhelmed. One of the best things about Williams is the amount of cooperation and interaction among students and faculty, so take advantage of it: as soon as you get into trouble, get help!

• Talk to your prof. Profs here may be wicked smart and all professional-like in class, but they’re super-friendly and helpful when you seek them out outside of lecture. Don’t feel like you have to exhaust all your other resources before coming to them, or like you need to have a list of very specific questions (although thinking about what you need help with first is always a good idea). And don’t just nod and smile when they’re explaining things to you—they won’t think you’re stupid if you ask for clarification. If you’re nervous to go by yourself, bring a friend. Also, if you can’t make office hours, email your prof to set up another time.
• Visit the math/science resource center. If you can’t meet with your professor, many other resources are available. The math/science resource center is open Sunday-Friday from 8PM-midnight and has student tutors who have already taken 101. Just make sure to check the schedule before you go to make sure a bio tutor is on that night.
• Email your Bio Mentor. If you’re a first-year enrolled in Bio 101, you’ll be assigned to an upperclass bio major to answer questions about all things bio-related or otherwise. They’ll be able to give advice and answer all your questions, or at least point you to someone who can.
• Get help from other students. Your fellow students can often be your best resource. Use them!

Studying: Gearing up for an exam

Developing good study strategies early on will save you lots of time and frustration over the next four years and beyond. You may find that the way you studied in high school doesn’t work as well in college, where exams test whether you can apply and extend what you’ve learned rather than regurgitate minute details. Here are some suggestions for approaching an exam:

1. Form a study group.

Study groups, if well structured, can be the most effective and time efficient way to review. Some tips on how to make a great study group:

• Size: Study groups that are too big tend to get disorganized, and if some students are more comfortable with the material than others some may not get all their questions answered. Most students find groups of 2 to 5 friends works best.
• Prepare: It’s important to review the material before coming to a study group. This could merely be skimming your notes to identify confusing areas, but you should make a list of questions to bring to the group.
• Organize: Assign each person a specific section (topic, lecture, etc.) to study and explain to the group.
• Group dynamic: Don’t let one person dominate the conversation or get sidetracked by other distractions.

2. Start studying early.

Review notes and make a study guide. Have an organized system for reviewing your notes. Here’s my own personal strategy:

• Outline lecture notes: Read through your class notes and write down main ideas in outline form, including some specific details that you think you’ll forget. I like to put these study guides together at the end of the semester to make studying for the final easier. Color-coding (by topic or importance) is also useful.
• Skim textbook/reading notes: If you see anything surprising or particularly relevant to lecture material, or find a useful diagram, reference it in the margin of your lecture notes outline.
• Draw your own diagrams: After studying your lecture notes, try to tie the material together by putting it in picture form (without looking at your notes.)

3. AFTER studying:

Do practice problems and textbook questions.

4. AFTER studying:

Go to review sessions. Bring questions when you go to a review session; otherwise, it will be a waste of time.

5. Other strategies:

Explaining the material to friends is one of the best ways to study and identify the things you don’t know (or call your mom and impress her with what her $40k a year is getting her.)

After the test:

It’s not over yet! Some things you should do after an exam:

• Review questions you got wrong.
• Talk to professor if you’re unhappy with your grade.
• Save study guide to build on all semester.

About Bio 101 exams:

• Format: Tests are usually composed of short answer questions in which you have to apply your knowledge of how things in the cell work to new situations in a paragraph or less.
• Grading: Partial credit is given out generously and tests are usually curved a point or two. Don’t depend on that to get a good grade, though! Most likely you’ll still need to study to do well. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t do well on your first test or quiz. Many instructors will reward you in your final grade if they see improvement throughout the semester.

Other odds and ends:

It’s never too early to start thinking about the summer. Williams has an amazing undergraduate research program; if you’re at all interested in research, start thinking about which professor you might like to work with.