NTU YEAR 1 SEM 2

Nanyang Technological University 2016. 

Biological Sciences Year 1, Semester 2. 

Hi guys, last semester was like shit. LOL. Sem 2 was so much better for me.. maybe I gave myself lesser stress. I was finding it hard to cope for sem 1. It was maybe due to the subjects (I find the subjects much harder for sem 1 as compared to sem 2) and the new environment too (the change from polytechnic to university). Despite all these.. I've managed to pull through year 1 safe and sound (: So here it goes..  

1.) BS1007 Molecular & Cell Biology I  (exempted) 

2.) BS1100 Molecular and Cell Biology Techniques Level 1 (exempted) 

Modules that I took for Semester 2:

3.) BS1006 Principles of Genetics (core)

I would say that it was manageable? I don't really remember the content for this already HAHAHA

4.) BS1008 Biostatistics  (core) 

There're lectures and labs for this module. For the lectures.. I don't see a lot of people going for it as compared to other modules. For the labs it's basically just computer labs, do finish the given assignment then hand in about a week or two after that lab. The prof will demonstrate how to do the assignment in the software once (and he will do it damn fast idk why). I had difficulty following his pace but there are teaching assistants in the labs, you can just ask them for help after that. For the exam, I didn't really have enough time, so I was like chionging all the way. Formulas will be provided in the final exam (but it's safer to double check whether ALL of the formulas will be given or not). 

5.) HP8006 Psychology of Crisis Stress Management (GER-PE LA)

There're only lectures for this elective but it is not recorded. The prof damn cool. HAHAHA. He's some police psychologist and I would recommend you guys to attend his lectures diligently if  you want to score well because he will explain and give examples. There's also one final lecture (critical to attend) because he will go through all the important slides that will come out for the final exam. However, I'm not sure whether this elective will still be available for next semester because I think he wanted to give up this job because of his hectic schedule. It will be such a pity though, his lectures were interesting because he shared all his past experiences and it made learning much more enjoyable. There're true/false questions, open ended and essay for the final exam but I personally feel that prof will give quite obvious hints and guide you (somehow) for the essay so it's not that intimidating. 

6.) ES8007 Climate and Climate Change (GER-PE STS)

This is a bloody 3 hour hardcore lecture (damn dry). I watched the recorded lectures but never did I manage to finish one whole lecture at one go. I personally feel that this elective is interesting if you're interesting in the atmosphere, the sun, stars, ice age.. I'm interested in this global kind of stuff so it was kind of an eye opener for me. I really did learnt something from this although it was kind of content heavy for some of the topics. The mid and final exam were ALL MCQ but don't be fooled thinking that it will be easy. Some answers were not found in the lecture notes at all (kind of like general knowledge), but I think the prof like to test about those minor details (those that you think won't come out one).

7.) BU8501 Marketing for the 21st Century (UE)

This is a business elective, it involves 2 group presentations (with Q&A afterwards) and a marketing activity around half way through the semester. It is also involves an 25 mcq test( around mid sem, if I'm not wrong) and a final open book exam (essay kind). The prof will recommend you to buy the marketing book from the bookshop, but my tutor said any marketing book will be fine (since somehow it's all about the same content). You can bring marketing book and try asking your tutor whether that book is suitable for this elective or not (so you don't need to waste money to buy a new one to use for just one semester). I feel that the textbook will be helpful for the presentations but not much for the final exam. I brought the textbook inside the exam hall for the final exam but did not use it at all. There's NO TIME to flip the textbook at all. For me, I only had time to flip my lecture notes for guidance to phrase my answers. 
Advice: You can use the textbook to make your own notes then compile it together with your lecture notes, it's better in this way. 

Basically, the marketing activity requires you and your group to go to Jurong Point during your respective tutorial slot and pick two shops to observe (their products, customer profile, their shop atmosphere all..) then basically these will be the two brands that you will be using for your presentations and have to apply all the marketing concept to your presentations. Advice: use marketing keywords if you want to score for the presentations. 

GER-PE: General Education Requirements - Prescribed Elective
UE: Unrestricted Elective