Many students at Stony Brook University are science-based majors, after all, that's what the school is known for. It isn't easy to be a science major at any school, but Stony Brook takes it to a new level. Our labs are long, classes are packed, and assignments never end. So without further ado, here are some of the struggles science majors at Stony Brook face.
1. Every other person you meet is Pre-Med
Seriously, though, almost everyone wants to be a doctor.
2. Lab hours make scheduling tough
They're either at 8 AM or in the middle of the day or late at night. And if they aren't, they're in the middle of when all your other classes are.
3. Chemistry is unavoidable
It follows you around and never leaves the back of your mind.
4. ALEKS
One of the many reasons why Chemistry haunts you. Seriously, if you don't know what ALEKS is, consider yourself a VERY LUCKY PERSON.
5. Math classes with early morning recitations
No one wants to do calculus at 8 AM. Except maybe math majors...
6. There are no curves
Unlike other schools, we don't curve grades. And if a particular test is curved, it's only by a point or so. So when your friends at Yale or someplace tell you they have an A while their average is waaaay lower than yours, you get really annoyed.
7. Night Exams
Especially on days, you have an 8 AM class, it's terrible. These exams don't start until 8:45 pm - that's over 12 hours of being awake and studying.
8. Sleep deprivation
Whether it's because ALEKS or WebAssign are due the next day, or you just have a paper to write, or you're studying for Biology - you lose track of how late it is, and when you finally look at a clock it's 3 AM.
9. Hearing non-science majors complain
It's aggravating but also really funny at the same time when they say they went to bed "really late" and got up "really early" because they mean they went to bed at midnight and got up at 10 whereas you still haven't slept.
10. Your finals and midterms are always withing a day or two of each other
It's like they plan this on purpose to give you not enough time to study for everything.