Chemisty Prerequisites

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Are the Chemistry Classes that are required as a prerequisite hard? I am not good at math and I have a phobia of chemicals...only certain ones not medication but moving on...is the class challenging? Will a student who is not strong in the sciences be able to finish the required classes with good grades?

Specializes in Pediatrics, Neurology, Public Health Education.

I've taken an Intro to Chem class and did pretty well surprisingly. I'm going to stay confident that I will do well, probably find a study group or partner and work very hard. I figure if I can stay focused on my goal of getting to nursing school I can get through the necessary science and math courses.

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LoriS gave a great response. Also, if you are struggling, get a tutor, start a study group, get to know the other students in class. Check out other resourses - study guides, DVD or video aids (I love the silly Standard Deviants videos for reinforcement) and don't be afraid to talk with your instructor or ask for help. Sit in front, if possible. Also, other brainiac students can be a wonderful resource - sometimes they can explain things better than your professor and most are happy to help, so engage them. I had an infinitely patient lab partner who saved my life.

I hadn't been in high school alg or chem for over 25 years and was scared to death of the math. So I hear ya there! Make friends with your calculator - learn about its functions. If need be, go to the math lab or even get a tutor for help with math or calculator use. The math itself is easy, remembering the formulas can be hard.

Just go for it! Much of it is so interesting and mind blowing that we ... that all of the universe are so wonderously made and connected, that you might find you are too busy being in awe to be distressed. Good luck.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.
So relax, and if you get behind in class make sure you get a tutor.

As a highly experienced chem tutor I would like to comment on this statement.

The time to get a tutor is NOT when "...you get behind in class..." but rather BEFORE you get behind.

I've had so many students come to me AFTER they've fallen behind and it's so hard to get them caught up because the class keeps moving along and the topics build upon one another. With many students, we spend the whole semester playing catch-up.

The best "clients" I ever had were two BSN candidates who came to me the first week of class and returned each and every week. It's not that they were good at chemistry; they really weren't. It's that we worked together all the way through.

Get to a tutor during the first week. Trust me on this one.

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Specializes in ICU.

You've gotten a lot of great responses above. Just one more suggestion--if you are able to, take a class that is a full-semester long (rather than a short summer session class) and meets several times a week (instead of once a week for 5 hours). You'll have less thrown at you at once, and will have the time to take in the material.

CHM was also my first class coming back to school--I hadn't seen any CHM since I had it in HS 20 years ago! As PPs have said, cross-multiplying, solving for X, unit conversions and fractions are the biggest math concepts you'll need to review.

Good Luck!!

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I took intro to chemistry last semester, I think it depends a lot on who your professor is, I've learned (the hard way) to look at Ratemyprofessor.com before signing up for classes. Mine did a really good job of explaining things, BUT the test were really hard! Don't be afraid of the equations/math problems, they look harder than they really are. Just do the practice ones in the book, and that should help. The lessons build on each other, so what looks really difficult to understand right now, isn't so bad once you start learning it.

I thought some of it was pretty interesting, but I'm not going to say it's easy. Just study, study, study. :)

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.
Also, do every single homework problem you are assigned. There's usually a problem (or 2, or 3...) that is weird or has a twist to it. Solving all the problems will prepare you for any "surprises" on your tests.

This is so important as to deserve repeating and emphasizing. In fact, do as many other problems that you can squeeze in, as well.

Get with your instructor or tutor to go over anything that you're struggling with.

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