Week 1 of 6-week Microbiology class...

kimtab · Jan 9, 2004

You don't have DAY OFF! That is your problem in a nutshell. Micro or no, I'd be going crazy if I had to go in to work every stinkin day! If you can't rearrange things then just grit your teeth and keep telling yourself it's only for 6 weeks.

Kim

LauraLou · Jan 9, 2004

Originally posted by FutureArmyNurse
I have it very easy...Class from 8-1:10 M-F and work from 1:30-6 M-F and 7-3 Sat & Sun.

You do not have it easy! You are sitting through 5 hours of Micro and then, with no break, working for 4 1/2 hours. You also work all day on Saturday and Sunday. I am exhausted just thinking about your schedule.

My only suggestion is to try to get up early and study before you go to class. If you try to study at night when you are so tired, you won't retain anything. As awful as it is to get up early, at least you will have had some sleep. Even if you only get an hour's worth of studying in each day, it will help.

Good luck!

lehua · Jan 9, 2004

A six week killer schedule is still better than a sixteen week killer schedule in micro. Leave early if you finish your lab early and let the instructor know you may be overwhelmed at times. The teacher may work with you and direct your studies on specific topics. When lecture is boring, prepare and read the lab to be done that day. Make a chart with all your different stains, procedures, etc for studying too. Record lecture and listen to it in the car. If your in la theres tons of traffic jams for that.

Know that you can do it and theres only five weeks left! I did micro in five weeks and just inched my way to get the lowest B possible and nothing more. Do well in the class but dont get to the point of falling asleep behind the wheel!!!!!

gwiazdaus · Jan 9, 2004

I also felt exhausted just be reading your schedule. It's not easy to follow it, even if it is only for 6 wks.

I took micro along with statistics during one summer semester (6 weeks) and had to withdraw from statistics in order to keep myself from getting insane.

It was a lot of studying for micro, a lot of things to memorize. Reading only was not helping me at all. I literally had to sit down every night and repeat, repeat, and once again repeat the new things we were learning. I did very well in micro but only because I did not have to work at that time. However, I had two small children to take care of and my hubby on an Army assignment overseas. I sometimes think you have to be young in order to survive this.

I wish you the best. It just worries me you do not have a day off from work.

Good luck!

LilRedRN1973 · Jan 9, 2004

That sounds very similar to what I will be taking in the summer. Our college is offering a 3 week Microbiology course and I love the professor that is going to be teaching it. This is the ONLY reason I would ever consider taking a class like this in such a short period of time. Luckily, I've had this professor for Nutrition 223 and both A&P I and II. I believe it's Monday through Thursday for approx 5 hours at a time, with an exam each Thursday.

cheripa · Jan 9, 2004

I feel for ya! Last summer I took Chem, A&P2, and advanced algebra in 6 weeks, while working full time! Good luck and stay focused! You'll get there! Make sure you go in a mini vacation...

Also, if you have a few vacation days, use them for test days, or the day before... this will help you out a lot.

Take care and God bless!

morr4336 · Jan 9, 2004

Wow what a schedule! Last summer I took Chemisrty, and Biology. Worked all day (7-3:30), with an1:20 min commute, then went to class in the evening (5:30-9:00). Did for 2 1/2 months, but passed both classes! I know it may seem hard but you can do it!!!!

bigmona · Jan 9, 2004

only you know what you're capable of. you know your limits. if you feel you can't do it, then wait to take the course over a normal semester.

if it were me, i would stick it out. it's only six weeks and those six weeks will be over in NO time. last semester i worked full time and took both anatomy and micro at the same time - some of my days went 7 am to 10 pm at night with no breaks. i know how you feel and wish you luck.

FutureArmyNurse · Jan 10, 2004

THanks everyone for your support.

I only meant I have it easy as far as driving times go. Other than that, well...

one good thing is work is so calm on Saturdays and Sundays that I can study.

loriann, BSN, RN · Jan 10, 2004

I know how you feel. I took A&P II as a 6-week summer course and worked full-time. Classes were right after work, running from 5:30 till 8:30 Monday thru Thursday. It was hard, but I usually reviewed my notes from class on the train home and then did most of my heavy studying for the weekends. We had tests every week, so I used some personal days for a few of those, like someone else suggested. I just spent a 16 week semester taking Organic Chemistry and Developmental Psychology, so it was right back to 4 nights of classes and work, just a longer time.

It will be over soon, just hang in there and try to find as many moments as you can to study and review.

Altra, BSN, RN · Jan 10, 2004

Originally posted by RNnTraining1973
That sounds very similar to what I will be taking in the summer. Our college is offering a 3 week Microbiology course and I love the professor that is going to be teaching it. This is the ONLY reason I would ever consider taking a class like this in such a short period of time. Luckily, I've had this professor for Nutrition 223 and both A&P I and II. I believe it's Monday through Thursday for approx 5 hours at a time, with an exam each Thursday.

I'm curious about an instructor that would teach all 3 of those classes?? I'm not knocking it - if effective, sounds like like that person would be a wonderful educator. But just very different from my experience - I had A&P taught by a PhD, Nutrition with a practicing R.D., and Micro-from-Hell with a sadistic PhD candidate Nobel Prize winning-wanna be. :rolleyes:

To the OP -- I hope you can pull this off this semester, but, as my grandmother would say, you're burning the candle at 3 ends ... and there's only 2 ends...

Leigh