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What are classes like? Are professors accessible? Are classes challenging?

As one of the top public universities in the country, the classes tend to be challenging. With an undergrad enrollment of 26,083, lectures tend to be a bit larger, reaching up to about 500 students. However, the student to faculty ratio is 15:1, and class sizes are usually between ten and 19 students. Professors hold office hours every week, and GSI's (graduate student instructors) hold weekly office hours as well. Classes usually follow a lecture-and- discussion format. Thus, while lectures are large and classes are challenging, help is always available.

In addition, professors usually are reachable, mostly through e-mail. The same holds true with the GSI's. Classes can be challenging, but the most important thing is to pace the work that you have to do for that class. Some classes, like Chem 210, do not have any kind of homework that is checked by anyone. There are practice problems of many kinds, in your books, online, and in the course pack for the class, but no one checks to make sure you are doing some of them every day. The best way to succeed in a class like that is to do a little bit every single day, and by the end, you will have mastered all of the material.