Tips for Success in CBE 101

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.

—Winston Churchill


Chemical and Biological Engineering is a difficult major.

It is not for everyone.

It requires the correct mindset and aptitude and a lot of consistent, hard work.

Make sure that you are in the major for the right reasons.

This is your education. Make the most of it.

Some tips

Attend class and the labs and actively participate.

Be proactive. Read and review the course documents on a regular basis and make sure that you have a good understanding of the materials.

If you don’t understand something, ask questions.

Attend office hours if you have questions or concerns.

Stop by my office to introduce yourself and chat. ☺

Act early if you are not doing as well as you expected. I can’t do anything to help if you wait until late in the semester to try to boost your grade.

Over the years, I’ve found a number of predictors related to poor performance in the course. Students who do poorly often …

  • miss classes

  • don’t get help when they need it

  • are confused, but don’t ask questions

  • sit in the back rows of the lecture hall

  • are interested only in getting through the class, not learning the material

  • lose focus and don’t pay attention

  • consult their cellphones throughout class and lab

  • wait until the last minute to complete assignments

  • don’t engage in class or in the labs

  • take advantage of their lab and/or homework group and don’t do their fair share