This class is more work than you can fathom. Think of the class you've had with the most work and multiply it by ten, that is probably half of what this class's workload is. You will spend hours on this class every day and be behind. You're in class so many hours already and sometimes will have to come in for extra lab hours, on top of all the assignments. Also the grading for everything is so, so picky. Instructions were often unclear. We would be told one thing, do it that way, and then a bunch of points would be taken off for some random thing never mentioned. You're probably reading this review thinking that it can't be that bad, I thought that too (despite what I had heard) I was so so wrong. You're probably reading this freaking out because you basically have to take this class to graduate so here are a few tips if you unfortunately have to take this course. 1. As much as this class made me hate my life, Dr. Freise is a great professor. She's very encouraging and if I had to take this class again, I would take it with her. I don't really think the workload is her fault as this class seems regulated by the department. 2. Try to get a good group, your group is your new family, you'll see them more than many of your friends. 3. Don't worry about the crappy grades you get on things, if you do everything and show up to everything, I think you're more or less guaranteed an A. 4. Take an easy schedule. This class should count for like 15 units. Adjust your other courses accordingly. Everyone else I knew in this class barely had time for anything else, do not take other hard science courses or you will suffer. 5. As stressful as this class is, know that others before you have survived it and although it feels like it'll never end, you'll make it through.

The course is a ton of work and will most likely consume the majority of your study time. Dr. Freise and Dr. Garcia laid a lot of the assignments out on a spreadsheet, but you still had to pick through Bruin Learn to make sure you got everything. This class is not difficult content-wise relative to other MIMG upper divs, but the high workload means you really have to stay on top of your assignments because you'll be royally screwed if you fall behind. Dr. Freise did a good job at listening to our input and adjusting accordingly, especially given the Omicron surge that put everything online initially. The experiments were honestly a lot of fun to perform and while they could be tedious, I definitely learned a lot of useful wet-lab skills from them. The presentations and lab reports aren't too bad as long as you have group members who don't suck. Grading of the literature reviews was weirdly harsh at times; it felt like they were doing that just to make sure that not everyone got an A. Still a super cool course overall, definitely gets you invested into the research experience and a taste of what your post-grad career might look like.

This class is too much work. If you know people in the class that are responsible students, request to be paired with them. You don't want to be stuck with a team that you need to carry to an A. I pulled some 2016 Lebron-esque stuff in this class to get an A despite my assigned team.

She's your best friend and she's your professor. The TA'S are your side best friends.

Dr. Friese is super sweet and very helpful. The workload for 103 is inherently massive, but you should expect that. You'll find yourself disoriented with the long list of assignments due every week. But if you tough it out, get your assignments in on time and put in the effort, you're golden. She's very helpful in office hours and will take the time to listen to you and make sure you're on track. Make sure you participate in class and go to office hours if you need any help. And choose your groups wisely at the beginning of class!