Question for the modern student...

[SATX Horn]

I'm 42 years old, I got a BA from UT in 87 and a law degree in 91. Its been 13 years since I've been inside a classroom. I find myself going back to school next week at UTSA (or UT-lite, as I call it) to take an upper division biology course. I need a few undergraduate courses in the sciences to sit for the US Patent Bar.

Here's my question, what's changed since I was an undergrad? I know that email is used for a lot of stuff, but what else? Do students bring laptops to class to take notes? Do they let your record classes? Is buying textbooks at the student bookstore the best way or can you get them cheaper online? Any advice would be appreciated.

Damn, I'll bet I'm old enough to be the father of some of the young ladies in my class. I'll bet I'm older than the professor.

 

[Agent007]

Even though you already have a law degree and sound like you're doing really well- props to you for being open minded about going back and taking some more undergrad classes.

Here are my thoughts on things that have changed -

1) some people do bring laptops, but rarely. I'm in the business school and I would say only 1-2 people in a 30-40 person class will bring their laptop even though most have them. If it makes you more productive, then bring it, but don't just bring it for show. Sometimes wireless internet can be a bit more amusing than a bio lecture, but that is up to you....

2) I rarely see people recording classes. Lecture halls, especially for bio classes, are probably pretty large and so i'm guessing you'd get a lot of echo on the recorder.

3) Email is used all the time - i typically get one email/week from my professors, but again the business school is a bit different. I've had numerous assignments due via email.

4) I buy my textbooks from the UT Co-op since it is the only bookstore, but books are available a bit cheaper online. I have a few friends at UTSA and they all buy at half.com or amazon.com



Things that have not changed

1) The hottie freshmen co-eds are still the same age

 

[highbury]

since you're taking an upper divison biology course, just take notes with pen and paper. better yet, use a pencil. the amount of information you need to jot down with diagrams/illustrations/etc. will render a laptop more trouble than necessary. if you don't really take notes as complete as possible, then it's not an issue to use a laptop.

if your professor decides to teach more from personal knowledge than textbook, that text might not even be needed. i haven't purchased more than 5 textbooks the past two years. only 1 of these was biology.

 

[Agent007]

highbury knows his biology - so take it from him

 

[TenaciousTgarden]

a lot of people in my classes tape record - so, it's an option if you feel like you can't write fast enough and there's a lot of info you need...