Previous threads have indicated some student preferences of Phoenix College over Rio Salado for online Bio 201...I need to make a final decision on which college to take the class at and would appreciate some more indepth reason for one over the over.
I took Bio156 at Rio and did very well. But, I have to admit I felt the course materials very disorganized.
I originally thought all the weekly assignments at Rio (AS You Learn essays, Application paragraphs, lab essays, quizes, etc.) were a pain and a huge waste of time ... but at the end of the day, I have to admit that the assignments did have me focus on the issues that were on the test. (I still think the Application paragraphs are unnecessary.) But, overall I felt the weekly assignments prepared me, and were'nt such a waste of time.
For me, the materials at Rio are my reason for considering PC. But, I don't know if PC's materials are similarly disorganized. I wish I could take a class where I did not have to flip from a book, to online materials, to assignments emailed on a weekly basis, to endless internet searches on my own, etc. Having to go back and forth from all these sources was a huge waste of time. I have such a small window of time each week to study..so the waste of time of flipping back and forth between materials is a big negative for Rio.
What are PC's materials like? Also, how are PC's testing centers? (Labs are 100% online right? -- only in person activity is a midterm and final for PC, right? (that is how Rio is)).
Finally, if I do choose PC...any suggestions on the professors? Rate my professor rates some fairly equally. Feel free and PM if you prefer, regarding specifics on Profs.
Piggybacking on this because I’m just about to start my prereqs at Maricopa. Can we pick and choose courses from any college in the system, rather than taking them all at one college? That would be soooo much easier.
Yes, absolutely. The only disadvantage is that you'd potentially have a bunch of transcripts, but other than that it's no big deal. Take some online, some in person,...whatever suits you personally.
I have been following this thread as I decided where to do my prereqs, so just wanted to share my experience. I am just finishing BIO201 online at Phoenix College and am registered for BIO202 and CHM130 in summer/fall. The class has been hard, but I am going into the last few weeks with a strong A. I have averaged about 12 hours per week watching lectures, watching other related videos on youtube and doing assignments and tests. The advisor I emailed at PC was also super helpful to make sure my prereq plan would let me apply to maricopa, ASU and UofA programs.
On 4/17/2019 at 11:09 AM, rhubarbstrawberry said:
This is great to hear! Were you able to do your labs online also?
I'm not sure you were asking me, but I'll respond anyway =0)
Yes - labs are done at home (you purchase a small lab kit for some classes and have to use things you can either find in the home or easily purchase at a grocery store). You do the experiment as you would in a lab, but obviously they are designed to be safe and easily done in the home. You then write a report, just as you would in a science lab at school.
Some of my labs were purely online using pictures and so forth with questions and so on.
Some classes were 100% online, the others were almost all online apart from midterms and finals, which you take in-person at a proctored facility under timed conditions. It depends on the class.
This is great to hear! Were you able to do your labs online also?
At Phoenix College, at least for BIO201 and 202 all labs and exams are online (exams require their software with webcam). The chem class says you order a lab kit to do at home as well.
In person classes are the way to go!! Especially those with labs. I know it’s hard when working full time but if you truly want to do the best I think In person classes is the way to go. I also took BIO 156 at Rio and it was really hard. I passed with a B. I , too felt like it was disorganized and it was hard to know exactly what to study for tests! I’m taking BIO 201 at MCC in person now ? Online classes with labs do not work out for me lol
rhubarbstrawberry
23 Posts
That is great news! Thank you for answering my question (and so quickly, too).