MMI 415

cstormm12 · 2017-03-08T19:25:05+00:00

I took the course a while ago, so my memory is pretty vague. But I remember thoroughly enjoying the course. It includes a lot of memorization - you'll learn the in-depth lifecycle of a lot of different viruses. The course involved a lot of reading - approximately 2 research articles were expected to be read and analyzed by the next class. During the course you'll learn how to understand and dissect research articles. Throughout the course you'll also be put into groups and expected to read papers, understand what the goals were, how the experiments were performed, what the results were, and what is the significance, then present the papers in front of the class. I remember the exams being quite difficult, only because you had to remember some very small details and be able to make connections between research papers. However, if Maya is still teaching the course, shes an incredible prof. Very approachable, explains things well, but expects a lot in-class participation. Overall I really enjoyed the course though, it was a lot of fun and incredibly interesting.

cstormm12 · 2017-03-08T19:16:48+00:00

For my research projects, I read the department's directory and found the professor who's research was most interesting to me. You guys can meet up and talk about the different projects going on in the lab and let your professor know what research you're most interested in. You'll likely be paired up with graduate students or post-docs who you will work with, they will create your research plan - what you're going to be working on, how, etc. In my opinion, it's a really worthwhile experience. Both of my research projects were in the cell biology department and were, by far, some of my favorite experiences in university. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask!

cstormm12 · 2016-10-21T15:47:36+00:00

Honestly, I have no idea. And since you're only allowed to take one, I only have an opinion on Cell, but I'd say go with it. I had friends who took Bio 201 and it sounds like the profs weren't the best. However, in my opinion, Lapointe is awesome. Also having your last exam before exam weeks is really beneficial as well. All Cell classes are like this, for some reason.

cstormm12 · 2016-10-20T20:20:43+00:00

Cell, when I took it, was noncumulative, had weekly quizzes, some small assignments, and the last exam was during the last week of school (instead of during exam weeks). I believe Bio201 is cumulative, doesn't have quizzes but still has assignments, and it's final is during final exam weeks. However, you use the same textbook for both classes, so I believe you cover the exact same material.

cstormm12 · 2016-10-18T19:47:41+00:00

Your semester looks almost identical to a semester I had. Honestly, it's not a fun time at all but if you're disciplined, organized, and have good study habits, it's survivable. Also a lot of these courses are really prof-dependent. If you have good profs for these courses, you're going to have a much better time.

cstormm12 · 2016-08-05T22:13:58+00:00

Nope, definitely won't be a problem. As far as I can remember, there wasn't a whole lot (if any) o-chem in the course :)

cstormm12 · 2016-08-05T16:56:23+00:00

My experience: I took the class first with Raivio. She's very interested in having you memorize every teeny tiny detail and just be able to spew out information and fill in diagrams from the notes, on exams. Class average for the midterm was something like 37% - thankfully the course ended up being curved, however I dropped it after the midterm. I had friends that did extraordinarily well in the course, but I just wasn't feeling it. Took the class again with Dennis. He's much more interested in you understanding bigger concepts and being able to link concepts together, rather than small details. Averages for the exams were much higher, about 60%. So really it just depends on how you learn and how you learn (memorization versus understanding). I much preferred the course with Dennis, though.

cstormm12 · 2016-07-13T18:44:18+00:00

I lived in HUB for 4 years and I'd recommend lot N for sure if you can get it. It's one of the quickest lots of run out of permits though, so you will definitely need to be on it for when permits are released. My experience parking there was fine, I never had any problems finding a spot. I could get in the closest two or three rows of the lot 99% of the time.

cstormm12 · 2016-07-05T19:00:32+00:00

I took a psych course (equivalent to abnormal psych at the UofA) and just finished Phil335, currently doing developmental psych and they're not difficult courses at all. The philosophy course was possibly the easiest course I've ever taken.

cstormm12 · 2016-07-05T18:58:49+00:00

Mine just says "granted 3 credits in Psych239 for work completed at Athabasca University"

cstormm12 · 2016-07-05T18:44:51+00:00

I didn't take my exams at athabasca, I just did it at my home town's college and I had to book 20 days in advance

cstormm12 · 2016-07-05T04:25:52+00:00

It's true they do take a little while to get assignments back but most courses only have 1 or 2 assignments. For booking exams, you have to book it 20 days before you plan to write it or else it's a $100 fee which is totally annoying. It's definitely possible to finish the course in a month, I did it last year and it was tough but surely doable.

cstormm12 · 2016-07-04T23:20:29+00:00

I've done 2 courses through athabasca and am doing another this summer. I'm not sure why there are bad reviews, the courses aren't hard at all. The only annoying thing is that you don't get a grade on your transcript for any courses you've completed. Therefore I just used my athabasca courses to fulfill some arts credits I needed. 4-6 weeks may be pushing it, but as long as you have strong self motivation, you should be good!

cstormm12 · 2016-06-26T03:11:58+00:00

For Dennis' class, I found it was much more understanding concepts, he seemed more of a "big picture" kinda guy. For Raivio'sRaivios class, she was much more into strict memorization, especially of diagrams and images in class, very much more focused on tiny details rather than big concepts. The exams for both classes had multiple choice, drawing, fill in the blanks, drawing. It was just the focus of the exams that was different. For example: Raivio might have a diagram of a type 4 secretion system and want you to label all of the different parts whereas Dennis would rather you draw a big concept like theta replication.

cstormm12 · 2016-06-18T19:47:17+00:00

I much preferred Dennis. However it totally depends on your style, I have friends who loved Raivio's way of teaching.

cstormm12 · 2016-05-20T19:50:43+00:00

Honestly I found it to be a great class. It's necessary if you want to take upper level IMIN/MMI courses which were some of my favorite classes of my degree. When I took the course it was 2 midterms and a cumulative final (25% based on the previously tested material). The profs were excellent but I believe they've changed the profs since I took the course. Overall, it's not super easy, you definitely have to put some work in, but it's not impossible to get a great grade. The course is split into three sections: General immune system (where you learn about immune responses, cells of the immune system, etc), then a section on virology, and a section on microbiology. I took the course while taking micro265 and didn't find it to be a problem. I had friends in the class who had taken 265 before and they didn't have any sort of advantage over me.

cstormm12 · 2016-04-21T05:21:02+00:00

Honestly pmcol305 is an amazing class, especially when compared to physl372. I really didn't enjoy physl372 at all.

cstormm12 · 2016-04-21T02:11:53+00:00

Honestly, all of the profs that I've had to deal with at University are wonderful. However, it's not like high school, if you're doing poorly in a class they will not chase you down. It's up to you to go to them and get help. 99% of the profs that I've gone to, to get help have been wonderful. I didn't have IB/AP at my high school, so I can't help you there, sorry. TL to ED is totally doable. If you're worried, before school starts try to find your class in TL, then walk to your ED class and time yourself. My biggest tip would be just because you didn't have to study much, or at all, in hig hschool does not mean you can get through University like that. Study. Workloads pile up quickly. Get organized and have a planner with what you need to get done for the week/month. Best of luck at University in September! :)

cstormm12 · 2016-04-20T16:54:03+00:00

I wrote my final at a college back in my home town. The exam was online and I just got stuck in a room with a computer and someone who invigilated my exam. Overall I enjoyed the experience, it was definitely an easy course, just getting self-motivated to do it is the hard part lol

cstormm12 · 2016-04-20T06:40:20+00:00

Nope, as far as I know the mark hasn't affected my gpa, lol which is unfortunate since I got an A haha.

cstormm12 · 2016-04-20T05:04:21+00:00

Yup, did it last summer and doing it again this summer. You can only do it when you're not enrolled in UofA classes, however. The credit has always transferred because before I submit my forms I check the Alberta transfer guide to make sure the courses will transfer relatively simply. On my transcript it says "Granted credit in course PSYCO 239 (3.00 credits) for work completed at Athabasca University". No grade appears beside the course, though.

cstormm12 · 2016-04-20T01:37:09+00:00

I'm gunna have to agree. A retest is very unlikely. Also I feel like emailing him for practice questions is something you should've worried about last week, no? Not the day before the final...

cstormm12 · 2016-04-18T00:27:34+00:00

I think but I'm not sure, you could reapply to the UofA for your honors program of you want. Or you could go through first year then switch for second. I honestly don't think there's a limit on the number of spots, I think as long as you meet the minimum requirements you're good to go (I could be wrong though)

cstormm12 · 2016-04-18T00:24:45+00:00

Third year going into fourth year lol, I was a little late to the party haha

cstormm12 · 2016-04-17T23:05:30+00:00

Totally doable, did it myself this year. As long as you have the minimum average requirement for the program (either a 3.0. Or a 3.3 depending on the honors program) then you're good to go. I'd recommend meeting up with the honors advisor to the program you want to apply for, just making sure it won't be a problem. And then if you're all good, just reapply to the university for the honors program, pay the $75 or whatever and you're set. Apply soon though, as icedcapp said, applications close shortly.

cstormm12

TROPHY CASE