Overall, was a good class. The lectures are important, but the most helpful things are the discussion sections, you should go!!! The tests are hard, often way harder than the reading guides, make sure you do the extra credit and you should be ok!

If this class isn't a requirement for you, don't take it. That being said, the entire LS7A series has the same content/assignment/tests, so in the long run it doesn't really matter who you get as a professor. However, I felt like Pires didn't really do a good job explaining the content. She went over information really quickly and assumed we all knew what she was talking about since the course is structured as a reversed classroom. The two midterms and final (called AoLs) are online and are a little tricky bc of the wording and stuff but if you do practice questions (the weekly PAL assignments) you'll be ok. Also, make sure to do all the extra credit assignment, they can really help your grade. If you're struggling, watch crash course vids and go to the problem solving sessions, the TAs are really good at explaining content.

This class wasn't too difficult aside from the tests as they are very specific and needing to do a lot of work outside of class in order to grasp everything. I found the lectures to not be helpful in regards to the material on the tests. There is a lot of extra credit and if you do really bad on one of the midterms you can recover. Read the textbook and go to office hours.

i loved pires, she’s engaging and funny and clearly loves what she does. the tests are pretty laid back, all online on your own time. you take it once on your own and once with a group and that score is averaged , so not bad

Professor doesnt matter because they dont really teach, they just review iclicker in class. If I wasn't interested in biology I probably would have hated this class the tests are unnecessarily hard.

READ THE TEXTBOOK!!!! my biggest mistake tbh, the slides are just application n extra stuff. still recovering from that final lol 🙃 very good weeder class 👍

LS7A has a pretty streamlined curriculum across professors, so it does not matter which professor you have. Pires's explanations in class can be a little confusing at times, but that's just because there is a lot of information to cover in such a short time. This class does have a lot of busywork attached to it, but overall it is not too bad.

I didn’t take AP bio in HS so for me this class was a bit hazy. Like many science classes, stuff is just taught from the board and we have engaging tactics to answer questions like clicker. Though as a life science major I wouldn’t say I enjoyed this class during lecture most times. I also did not enjoy the tests.

I wouldn't recommend having Pires for 7A. She explains bio concepts in a weird way that makes everyone more confused.

Due to the flipped classroom curriculum, your professor may not make a huge difference. Class consists of lecture and clicker questions to mark attendance and there are often pod assignments each lecture. I would recommend doing staying a little after in the lecture hall because you can ask the TA's or the professor for guidance and clarification. For exams, make use of resources like CLC sessions and TA office hours! They often went over what would be on exams and I felt much more prepared that way. My TA was Shania and she was super fun and great at explaining concepts. The class is challenging but by the second midterm you'll have a good grasp on what to expect from future exams since the questions are worded a bit strangely at times but it's meant to mimic the MCAT from what other TAs have told me. Best of luck!