Hey there everyone,
So I’m going to be a freshman at chapel hill this fall, and I just finalized all my classes but I have this one worry and its about whether or not I should keep my Th 5-7pm chem lab. I’ve heard that the lab instructor in charge of all the chem labs is terrible and I’m in the lecture for chem, and I’ve heard that you can take the lecture and lab separately but I don’t know if that’s better than taking the lecture and the lab together.
All other sections of the lab are also closed, and were wait-listed prior to my enrollment period anyway because many of the older students needed the lab too; the chemistry department literally opened up this evening section today because there was a high demand for the lab and I managed to grab a seat in it before it closed as well.
Also as a reference: I’m taking calc2 this semester as well, so I’m pretty sure chem and calc will be my hardest classes and I don’t know how I’d fair while taking an evening lab as well.
Any advice on this would be helpful to me, as this is obviously my first year in college 
I took evening labs my freshman year, and actually enjoyed it. It was a nice way to slow down at the end of the day. Less lecture, more hands-on. It felt like coasting gently to a stop
I can’t speak for Chapel Hill specifically, but generally at most schools the lab follows the sequence of the related lecture, so taking them in the same semester will often improve your performance in both courses, as work in one reinforces what you are learning in the other.
My first semester I had an Intro Engineering class from 505-620 on TTh. An evening class isn’t that bad. It sounds harder because, since high school was only until 2-3 in the afternoon, but in reality, it is not. You realistically only have two or three classes the rest of the day, so having it expanded is not a problem. What do you mean that you have the lab and lecture together? As in back to back? It might be a little harder then, but definitely manageable IMO. If you can’t get out of this lab, I don’t think it will be a problem.
College academics expands a lot more than in high school. Sure, you studied maybe 4-5 hours after school (depending on your experience) but in college classes will meet all day, and studying will take more time. Though it may seem like it will consume your day, it really doesn’t. Having the classes further between and fewer per day was a nice change, and it actually made me feel like I had MORE time, not less. And as long as you understand what to do in a lab, it really isn’t a difficult way to finish a Thursday
My kids did, too. It won’t meet and have lab daily, right? So you pay attention to pacing yourself and the workload for the other classes. Get to office hours or extra study support, when needed (before a crisis.)
@feartheENGR , enrolling for labs and lectures happens separately at chapel hill, I just managed to get the lab and lecture in the same semester is all; I can see how it would make it seem like more time though, definitely a plus! Thanks!
@lookingforward , yeah it only meets once a week, and thanks for the extra tips!
Personally, my own chem lab was pretty exhausting. I had it Tuesday from 6-9, and so many things came up that made that time difficult for me. But mostly it was the professor that had an impact on me–he was really hands-off, but one day he was out sick and another one of the chem lab professors subbed for him. She was really hands-on and I realized that I probably would have been better off in one of her labs. But unfortunately that’s not something you can know in advance.
@tangerinedreams That’s interesting. Thanks for the clarification!
I had a night lab for physics freshman year (7:30 to 9:30 PM). It was pretty chill. There were about 15 people in the lab and the TA supervising the lab had time to help everyone.
And labs at that time are like “I want to hurry and finish so I can finally go.” But it gets pretty standard in engineering (my major) when the lab instructors are working professionals during the day or for the students who work during the day having no excuse not to miss it.
@tangentline Ugghh yes, wanting to get everything done quickly is what killed my lab grade. That’s why I wish I’d had a more hands-on professor/TA who wouldn’t have let me get away with that. 