Advice

This lab class is not designed to be any harder than a regular GEO 1015 or PHYS 1015 lab class, but it is not designed to be any easier either.  We do expect Honors students to be motivated learners and to come prepared to lab.  We expect you to ask questions and try to make connections with the corresponding lecture classes and with other classes.  We expect you to write well on the lab reports.  You are encouraged to work in groups, not only during the lab period, but afterwards during the write-up as well; and seek help during office hours.

Here are some words of advice from students who took this class previously.

"Read the lab ahead of time and the assigned reading along with it so you can understand what is going on when you get to the lab." A.F.

"Work on lab reports immediately; try to finish that day.  Do discussions immediately--they're easy, even if it doesn't feel like it.  Have fun exploring! Learn intrinsically." S.E.

"Print everything ahead of time and read the material.  Finish the labs ASAP before you forget, along with the discussions." A.S.

"Take notes.  Work accurately but quickly. Don't be afraid to get in the middle of things and test your ideas too." C.C.

"While doing the labs, rather than doing things to check off a list of procedures, pay attention to the why and how of all the things you're doing."  G.S. 

"Be prepared to learn a ton." W.B.

"Try to decipher the math before class so that it won't be a problem during lab."  L.S.

"Make sure to work hard.  If you just sit back and to to float through the lab you won't do well."  L.A. 

"Use office hours when [you] don't understand something.  Spend a lot of time on the lab reports and start on them on the day of the lab instead of waiting two or three days after."  K.B.

"Don't just have fun in the labs without thinking and remembering what procedures you're doing." R.P.