Already struggling in first Bio Class

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I have just started my pre-nursing classes. Before I take Anatomy and Physiology I must take Biology Concept 1000 series. I am taking Molecular and Cellular Bio and am struggling very much and it is just the 2nd week of class. I am very determined to stick with it because I so dearly want to be a nurse someday. Medicine has always been a field that I could see myself enjoying and succeeding in. I am a little fearful that this class is so challenging that my upper division A&P will be even harder and I will struggle even more. In addition, my 4 month old son keeps me very busy. It seems as though I study every minute he is sleeping and I even head to the library and have my mom watch him a few hours a week. I just can't seem to grasp the concepts right now. My professor is going over a lot of chemistry which I haven't taken in about 4 years. Anyone have any words of advice, I'm feeling really down :crying2:.

Thanks a bunch,

Ashmak26

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Ashma, that is a lot to take on while you have a new baby. I waited until my kids were old enough to occupy themselves before I took classes. I'll tell you one thing though, I was so overwhelmed in the beginning of Chemistry and Microbiology I almost dropped out of both of those classes the first few weeks. I stayed and was one of few people to earn an A in each of those classes. Me and a few other grown women did some crying over Microbiology, no kidding!

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Anne36,

I'm glad I'm not the only one then! I've already had my share of tears, life seems very overwhelming with school and my son. Did you happen to get tutor help or self teach the concepts to yourself. I would love to hire a tutor but we are so financially snug and I am already well into student loan debt. I'm hoping it will get easier after I take this series of Bio classes.

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No, I didnt really get much help from the tutor at my school. I probably sat down with her 1 hour a week to ask a few questions, but I studied more with classmates. A good circle of friends really helped me in the end. We were all regularly emailing during the last 2 weeks of school.

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ashmak26,

This was the same way that I felt last semester. Biology was not mandatory, however, it was strongly advised. So there I was having been out of school for 13 years and jumped into Biology with having 4 little ones at home (oldest is 10). I left that class on the first day in tears, but in the end I pulled an A! Does your school offer any type of free tutoring? You may want to check that out.

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Anne36,

I'm glad I'm not the only one then! I've already had my share of tears, life seems very overwhelming with school and my son. Did you happen to get tutor help or self teach the concepts to yourself. I would love to hire a tutor but we are so financially snug and I am already well into student loan debt. I'm hoping it will get easier after I take this series of Bio classes.

Have you checked with your school about a tutor. Some schools offer a free tutoring service.

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Hi all,

I have checked with DU, where I'm completing my pre-reqs and I haven't heard back from any of my professors about tutors, they have suggested study groups but the few groups I know meet late and I need to take care of my son. I'm looking though for free tutors though. I've also looked at some tutor websites but I am such a visual learner, I need that hands on experience with someone who really knows this stuff that can simplify it for me. I'm definitely not going to give up though :up:

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Ashmak. I'm about to start my 1st pre-req and I have a 7 mo and 2.5 yr old. Hang in there...you're definitely inspiring me.

I found some videos on YouTube that have helped simplify some of the concepts that I've started to review while waiting for my course to begin. Here's one I like alot:

http://www.youtube.com/user/khanacademy#g/c/166048DD75B05C0D

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Fleajones

Thank you so much for the link and encouragement :) it was great. I was really needing a good tutorial on the electron configuration section! What a great link. Hope your studies are going well

-Ashmak

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PLEASE for the love god make sure your school is not a for profit school whose credits don't transfer. Do you really ever want to take these classes again?

I specifically mention this because typically you don't need many low end biology classes, I know that in Idaho you don't need any prereqs for A&P, they recomend them, but really not needed.

Anywho if you have to you have to, if not skip it now because cellular biology will only help you with a whopping 1 chapter of A&P (you guessed it cells).

A little more advice go to rateaprof website, typically peopl rip bad profs there. If it says they are bad they are usually really bad if some1 took the time to type it.

Good Luck

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Hi! Don't worry about it, it is only the second week and if you keep trying hard and studying I'm sure you will get the hang of things. I would recommend that you do flashcards a lot that is what helps me. And if your worried about A&P, maybe take chem and nutrition first. These classes are of moderate difficulty, and when you get to A&P you will be way ahead of everyone else. Thats what I did, and it helped a lot. Good luck!!

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