College Algebra as an extra class or take a long drive...

[WCSU1987]

I am in a conundrum. There are 4 programs I want to apply to. None of the program's require college algebra, but they do require stats. They also require Chem 1 and 2. There lies the conudrum. The community college 5 minutes down the road requires College Algebra to take Chem 1.

The 2 programs wanting to apply to are 40 minutes away don't require College Algebra for the Chem classes. The two other community colleges that are about 30 mins away for both don't require it as well.

Should I suck it up take the college algebra class or make a long drive to another College?

I think more math is a good thing. Comparing gas/car mileage to the cost of the class it's more expensive.

Any feedback on what to do?

[ItsThatJenGirl, CNA]

I feel like a good Algebra foundation helped me in Chem (and Micro, A&P I/II, too).

[verene, MSN]

Does the community college allow placement testing for math courses? Many do, and it may be possible to test out of college algebra allowing you to take chemistry and stats with out taking algebra first. Taking the placement test for math saved me a lot of time and money ($18 and immediate entry into chem & stats, vs full-quarter of algebra and paying tuition for that class).

[Neats, BSN]

I will tell you this ...

being in the medial field over 30 years I

1. Continue to use Algebra on a daily basis for pharmacy calculations.

2. I use my math skills i.e. algebra and stats for managerial needs to review/develop needed reports

You may try to avoid math but I encourage you to get focused on algebra so you can be successful in your medical career.

As a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator I once asked a Certified Nurses Aid who was on light duties for assistance, although I had to instruct this person for over an hour with what I wanted from this huge pile of papers this nurses aid learned in a very fast way stats with specific formulas, afterward she thanked me and is in nursing school getting ready to graduate this fall.

Lastly any college program that does not require math I would seriously consider avoiding. Make sure they are not just accredited national and more important regionally accredited, make sure the credits transfer to a state university otherwise you will have to do this all over again.

If you want to get into the medical arena being good at math is a very good idea for anyone.