u/Sensitive-Bit-8407

Like I'm a junior and I've tried to get involved but all clubs I've tried just feel awkward or like giant cliques.

What the FUCK was that??? Did everyone else find it really hard or was I underprepared?

Man even thinking about this class puts me in a bad moon. I feel like I'm being set up for failure in this class, and I hate saying that an instructional team "can't teach", but the physics department and their instructors feel messy at best. Coming from the chemistry department, whose classes are, yes, very challenging, but also have amazing professors and numerous help resources and overall I feel like they care about our learning. Then there's the physics department. Yes, the PLC is great! But that's about it. My professor, Abdollah Mohammadi, speaks so fast during lecture, skips many steps in the math calculations, and doesn't seem to realize that for many this is their first time taking physics. The TAs are a joke too. Office hours only on Mondays and Fridays...for the whole team??? Oh, but you can pay certain TAs are 1-1 tutoring, like that doesn't discriminate students with limited financial resources, which doesn't help when GUTS resources for this course are almost nonexistent too. Worst part? The labs are useless, and the discussions are close to it since the TAs are unhelpful and usually just seem like they don't want to be here. I'm struggling, not doing that well on homeworks and quizes, and we are covering kinematics and dynamics, the "easy" part of physics according to many. I've never had a class that has made me feel more stupid. Even Math 222 feels like a cakewalk compared to this, and we barely touch calculus in this course.

So this coming semester I am currently enrolled in Chem 103 since I recently switched from a Spanish/Psychology major to a Neurobiology major. I'm on BANNER since I have only four years to complete a degree, so taking Chem 109 will mean I will have more time for research to go to graduate school for my masters. However it would be a while since I've taken high school chemistry and I took honors chem not AP chem. I have reviewed basic chemistry (stoichiometry, significant figures, acid-base, equilibrium), and I have already completed Math 221. I have a strong worth ethic and study skills. However, I emailed the chemistry advisor and they said it would be better to stick to the Chem 103/104 sequence, which is frustrating since getting general chemistry done sooner could free up my schedule more (like then moving onto ochem sooner). I'm wondering much chemistry background did students really have before Chem 109 (and like if they were good at chemistry and liked it, I, myself, enjoyed high school chemistry and find physical sciences interesting). Just want some input into this since my situation feels frustrating and I honestly feel like advisors here doubt students' abilities to succeed.

I'm a 20 university student, and since July 3rd, I have been experiencing gastrointestinal issue that started with a mid-grade fever, dry heaving, constipation, and cramping. I seemed to recover about 3 days afterwards. Then, I had an episode of loose diarrhea, cramping, and jitteriness/pacing/unable to sit still. Now, about once every week I either have diarrhea or nausea that is accompanied by these panic-like symptoms of pounding heart (including feeling a pulsing in lower abdomen), lightness in my legs and groin area, pacing and jitteriness, and nausea. While I have a history of anxiety, these panic-like episodes feel different and scary. Back in July I used to have a lot more cramping and bloating, but this seems to have gone away. I can also tolerate most foods now.

I saw my PCP for this concern. I was referred to a gastroenterologist. The PCP did not order a stool test since I'm not having liquid diarrhea. I'm waiting for the nurses to look at my chart and then schedule an appointment.

I have a family history of Crohn's disease.

I don't know if this post will convey this feeling, but I've never felt so worried about my body. I take my academics seriously, and I fear having an episode during a lab section of a class.

I did likely have iceberg lettuce 3 weeks before infection, so cyclosporiasis cannot be completely ruled out. I have not been exposed to any other known recalls.

I originally started as a Psychology and Spanish major for my first 4 semesters here and I've come to realize after taking Psych 454 (for those who don't know, this class is an introduction to behavioral neuroscience), ATM OCN 100 (which I know is a really basic, "easy" STEM course) and some really horrendously boring Spanish 400 levels (the upper level in the department) for the major that I would rather do neurobiology and STEM classes, especially because the Spanish major was not what I thought it was.

I thought the Spanish major would prepare me to use the language in my professional career, not have me studying literature and listening to professor yap sessions (in a SEMINAR-STYLE CLASS) for 75 minutes twice a week for 3 credits while writing some bullshit essay that I'll probably get a free A for no matter what I argue in it even if it makes no sense. It seems like the Spanish major was designed more to prepare students for graduate students in Spanish literature, linguistics, and Spanish-speaker regions' culture than providing the cultural and language proficiency to work with Spanish speakers in a diverse array of careers.

However, switch majors as an upcoming junior isn't so simple. This summer I took Math 221. Next semester I'm taking Bio 152 and Chem 103, which I feel ready for. I did really well in Math 221 and honestly I really loved calculus and higher level math and would even consider a certificate in it. I am also trying to get back into research, but it seems that a major red flag for lab managers trying to interview me is that I'm taking two lab courses in one semester. Please keep in mind that for the neurobiology major, research credit is required, and I am also looking into graduate school, so research is highly important for me. At the same time, it seems like it is going to be harder for me to get into a lab if lab managers and PIs will think I won't commit due to being overcommitted in two lab courses.

It all leaves me feeling trapped like I was supposed to make this decision a year ago, like I should've been told to take the Chem 103/4 sequence freshmen year to be ahead on requirements. I remember even expressing interest in taking chemistry since even though I was considering psychology at the time, I still had an interest in STEM. However, I was told not to take chemistry unless I really needed to, that chemistry was too hard. That is what a lot of people tell me honestly. I also feel alone in this too. Yes, of course I know most undergraduates end up changing their major, but it seems that a lot of times it is a change from STEM --> Humanities/Social Sciences, not the other way around. I wish I could turn back time to fix this especially since I'm on BANNER and therefore I'm locked into graduating in 4 years.

Thanks for taking the time to read this rant. I hope to hear from what others have to say about this.