Published Sep 2, 2015
gracecngham
17 Posts
Did any of you RN's take AP Chemistry in high school and did it help? I'm in it right now but my teacher is bad and I can't seem to get the hang of it. I know I take it my first semester in college with a lab, but should I tough it out even if I get a C in high school or would it be okay to drop it and just start in college? I like chemistry but I don't understand why I can't do well on tests and quizzes when I study and understand it at home.
cracklingkraken, ASN, RN
1,855 Posts
I did take it. It was different from college level CHEM in my opinion, but having AP Chemistry gives you a better understanding. It is not necessarily require before college, though.
Is the chemistry and lab more difficult than your AP chem in high school was?
Yes, it was much more in depth. I also didn't have the best teacher so I ended up just taking CHEM in college.
So you would highly recommend just staying in it and trying my best because it will really help me out in college?
That decision is yours. I personally could have done without it. My AP Chem class consisted of a little Organic Chem and Biochem.
Once you take chemistry that first semester you're done with it though right?
I think many BSN programs require at least 8 credits of CHEM with lab, if I'm not mistaken. That would be 2 semesters.
TheCommuter, BSN, RN
102 Articles; 27,612 Posts
I took a standard chemistry course in high school, but dropped it after several weeks. I was not ready for the challenge.
I've been a nurse for 10 years. I've never taken a college-level chemistry course with an accompanying lab. Chemistry wasn't a requirement for the LVN and ASN programs I attended.
I did complete an online biochemistry course last year while earning an online BSN degree, but the class required no lab and consisted of a series of cheesy projects.
nurseprnRN, BSN, RN
1 Article; 5,116 Posts
I took two semesters of college chem plus one semester of organic chem, all required. Had great profs all around.
Riawahine, BSN, MSN
62 Posts
I took Inorganic and Organic Chemistry as pre-requisites for nursing school. High school
Chemistry was different. The college I took the 2 classes had free tutoring. Hang in they and much luck!
Julius Seizure
1 Article; 2,282 Posts
I took AP bio. It didnt save me from having to take any of the required pre-nursing courses in college. AP chem wouldnt have saved me from anything either, so Im glad that I didnt bother with it. I did take AP calc....and that saved me from a basic math class that honestly would have been easier but at least I got it out of the way.