Feel like I need to disclose some of the details of the PhD program here to potential students, (or you can treat this as a vent). These details are not usually told to the potential students before they take offers so I may end up in trouble.

For starters, how much your research interest fits in a group is definitely the priority. However, other than this, several factors that are unique in this program should also be taken into consideration, because it will for real affect your mental health and graduation progress.

UMN Chem has a notoriously heavy TA workload for PhD students. The majority of them will be GenChem TAs for at least 2 years (originally depends on your advisor's funding). This is a class universally hated by TAs and undergrads because of its structure and unforgiving grading system. Usually, as a GChem TA, you are supposed to teach 2 labs (24 students, 2h 50 mins each). After the class, you will be grading various lab assignments (normally (2 or 3)*48=96 or 144 of them each week). I spent about 2 hours each week to do that at first but now I'm faster. At the same time, you are supposed to hold 1 office hour and 4 tutoring hours each week. In the middle and at the end of the semester, you will be grading lab reports (another thing universally hated by TAs and undergrads). For the first submission, you probably need to spend more than 10 hours on grading them. Considering things like responding to emails, sending out emails, changing slides, attending TA meetings, I would say you probably need to spend around 14 hours each week solely on TA stuff (Lab reports not included). This may be tangible, but this fall they are going to make TAs teach 3 labs each week (note that in most universities chem TAs only teach 1 or 2 labs), so you might want to multiply 1.5 to time consumption of all the grading stuff as well. I know a lot of 3rd-year students who should have been supported by RA stipend are dragged back to be TAs by the department this fall and several of them are already very stressed out about their research progress. Now this happens, imagine the pressure they will have as well as the influence on the graduation progress.

Now, about why I don't think GChem is a good class for undergrads. For the lab, students are required to come up with a lab plan on their own and in the end write one or two lab reports in the form of a research paper. Maybe some students can learn something from this, but I have seen a lot of students who still don't really understand what they are doing after the project is over if the TA does not give them more information (which basically falls back to the traditional recipe-based lab classes). On the other hand, I just don't really think it is a good idea for students who just graduated from high school to handle things like spectroscopy, considering the paired lecture class in which they just do exercise sheets and get feedbacks from AI bots. I doubt they will ever change this cuz they have been doing this for years.

Hey everyone!

A couple of students and I in CSE built this website that is intended to help underclassmen find study groups for hard classes

Basically, we kept running into the problem where we'd be struggling in a class and know there had to be other people struggling too, but there's no way to actually find them unless you already know people in the class or wait until exam week, when everyone's freaking out.

So we made this website where you can add your classes and find other people who are studying. It's kind of like asking in a GroupMe, but designed specifically for this. We started with CSE since that's what we're in, but it works for any major.
To clarify, this platform is not intended to be a replacement for social media, but rather to get connected with other students in the first place since it can be difficult to always find other students outside of your specific section/lecture in the same class.

It's only for umn.edu emails, and meant for UMN Twin Cities students

Insta for more updates! StudyBuddiesMN

We're launching on September 3rd! But if you want to check it out before then: https://studybuddiesmn.com/

If you have any questions/concerns you can email: [studybuddiesminnesota@gmail.com](mailto:studybuddiesminnesota@gmail.com)

So a couple of weeks ago I waived the Student Health Benefit plan because I’m still on the insurance from my parents, and I put in all of the insurance info in the waiver for the Student Plan. Yesterday I come to find they charged me for it anyways! I emailed the health office but I haven’t had any response and I can’t afford to just lose $1700 out of the blue… any insight? (I’m a first year)

I have an earlier move in time selected, but due to certain circumstances I’m no longer able to make the selected time. My move in day is tomorrow and there won’t be anyone to contact. Is there a way I can show up late, or at a different time? Will they allow this or will I now be allowed to move in?

I have a spot at Stadium Village Flats to sublease for the year. It’s a 2x2, you share a room and a bathroom. All male roommates. Rent is 440 dollars + Utilities.
Reach out if interested!

I'm a UW-Madison student and I have a friend at the U who's trying to tell me Dinkytown is better than State Street. I've never been so I can't comment on that but I figured I'd ask to see what other UMN students think about it

So I know I’m not allowed to have a candle burning, but would I be able to bring a candle warmer with an unlit candle (or wax warmer) into the dorms?