“How To Survive Professor Crista’s Micro Class”

according to former microbiology students…

 

 For Lecture:

  1. Pay attention and take good notes.  When it's time to study for the exams, know EVERYTHING that Crista discussed in lecture

  2. If you can, record the lectures and listen to them again when you don't understand something and before lecture exams. 

 

For Lab:

  1. Get a big notebook and keep it organized and neat.

  2. Read and understand the labs before you get to class.  Know what you are going to be doing and what supplies you will need and prepare your labels to save time.

  3. Transfer as much info as you can into your lab notebook, especially all graphs, figures, charts, pictures, etc. The lab quizzes are easy points if you keep your notebook organized with all the important information.

  4. Wear a shirt that you don't mind getting dirty and dyed.

 

For Both:

  1. This class can seem overwhelming at times, but try to focus on one thing at a time and it's not so bad.

  2. A study group will definitely help you get through it.  You guys can lean on each other for help.

  3. Don't be afraid to ask questions!

My advice, print out the slides as close to class time as possible as she has a tendency to change them up last minute, also LISTEN to the lectures and take copious notes - while the book itself is good to have, her lectures are much more important, and easier to study from.

Lab quizzes add up so the more you write from the LE protocols, the better you will do.

Definitely find a good study group as well.

Take pictures of your lab results, they're good to have. And don't drop your slides in your staining tray!

Crista is awesome, ask questions if you have them :)

This class might be the hardest class you ever take.  The only way I survived Microbiology class was that I had a solid study group.  Make sure you find a dedicated group that is willing to study hard and help each other out with some of the difficult material.  Out of our group of 6 people our lowest grade was a B and we had 2 out of the 3 A's in the class.  I received a B in the class and only did that well because our group met frequently and was very organized and dedicated to studying.  We also went as far as starting a Facebook group page to help communicate to each other with Microbiology questions and group meeting times, I highly recommend doing the same"