Freaking out about BIO201...Please Help!

foxfire73 · Mar 23, 2009

Did you take 201 over 5 weeks or 8 weeks? Both seem like they'd be really tough.

amers_here · Mar 24, 2009

Bio 201 I took during a traditional semester. But Bio 202 I took over 5 weeks.

foxfire73 · Mar 24, 2009

I'm thinking about signing up for both 201 and 202 this summer, but I'm not sure since I have to average a B to get into nursing school. That might be tough over a 10 week period. I'm taking Bio 160 right now, so maybe that will help. Thanks!

AZ_LPN_8_26_13 · Mar 25, 2009

BIO201 is the last class I need to take in order to apply to the nursing program. I want to take it ASAP, which means a Summer 1 Class in June. I went to a nursing seminar last night and it was stressed that BIO201 is a tough class. So now I am nervous about taking it during summer. I will be working 20-30 hours a week while attending this summer class. The class is 4 days a week, 5 hours a day (lecture and lab) and runs for the month of June.
Please give me some insight on how tough the class is/isn't. Should I take BIO156 first sincs it's been over 10 years since I had Biology in high school? Or can I get thru 201 without it?

My advice would be to take some biology first or at least concurrently in addition to BIO 201. I took BIO 201 & 202, passed both with a B grade, but I took BIO 181 before that. I started back to school after about twenty years and had not taken a biology class since high school. Also had never before my A&P taken any sort of medical class of any kind. All of this while working full-time at a job and being married with home life and concerns. Yes, like the others here say, it's doable, but expect to work and study hard. A&P for a while was all I seemed to be thinking about - eat, sleep, and dream A&P My wife was probably about ready to shoot me LOL But I made it through OK with decent grades (B or above I consider decent). But it really did help to take biology first since both A&P, and BIO 205 (microbiology, which I'm taking right now) both assume that you already know a lot of basic biology stuff. It helped me to have a tough instructor for BIO 181 (ended up getting an A, but was a lot of work). Same with chemistry - it helps to know a little organic chemistry (chemistry of carbon compounds, sugars and lipids) and ended up taking CHM 130 - same story, lots of hard work & studying, but ended up getting an A in chemistry, and I have a better understanding of things like cell metabolism etc.

Marlene39 · May 28, 2009

I'm taking BIO 201 at Gateway for the summer session as well. I'm in the section #10767 lecture and #10771 Lab with T. Cejka. I took biology about 24 years ago, so it will probably be difficult for me since DNA wasn't even taught then . I'm looking over the BIO 156 text for kicks and giggles and just hoping for a "C" or better in the class so I can turn in my nursing application at the end of the summer.

Good luck with your class. If you need a study buddy, let me know.

AZ_LPN_8_26_13 · May 28, 2009

BIO201 is the last class I need to take in order to apply to the nursing program. I want to take it ASAP, which means a Summer 1 Class in June. I went to a nursing seminar last night and it was stressed that BIO201 is a tough class. So now I am nervous about taking it during summer. I will be working 20-30 hours a week while attending this summer class. The class is 4 days a week, 5 hours a day (lecture and lab) and runs for the month of June.
Please give me some insight on how tough the class is/isn't. Should I take BIO156 first sincs it's been over 10 years since I had Biology in high school? Or can I get thru 201 without it?

This may mess up your timetable a bit, but I would honestly suggest that you take your basic biology first. I've taken both BIO 201 and BIO 202, and did well on both (B in both - 201 I missed an A by one percent:eek:) but I took BIO 181 first before either one. BIO 181 was a very hard course, but like you I had not taken a biology course since high school (I'm 56 y.o. BTW) and taking the biology really helped me. There is so much basic biology that it will just be assumed that you already know. Most of the basic biology stuff like cell chemistry, cell nutrition and energy synthesis, RNA, DNA, mitosis, meiosis, etc. it will be assumed that you already know this stuff and will be only briefly reviewed in many 201 classes. I've never taken a summer class before, and don't think I would want to try it - I like having my summers off to sort of recoup a bit - but I have an idea that with the compressed time frame the classes are held in, they likely aren't going to spend too much time covering stuff that they feel you should already know.

P.S.: To answer your question specifically about 201 - I'd say BIO 201 & 202 were probably some of the hardest college classes I've ever taken. I consider myself to be a good and hardworking student who studied a lot and worked hard, and got B's in them, which is considered to be a good grade for A&P. My BIO 181 instructor, who I still keep in touch with, said that getting a B in BIO 201 is like getting an A in most other classes, and will probably be the hardest class you will take in pre-nursing.

MTTMPE · May 30, 2009

I was told that the summer class for BIO are for student who didn't suceed well in the spring or fall. They have some concept of material but, didn't do well. My professor said the most people rob their self from information that is vital to the nursing program. Even thought i'm compress with time, i only take my bio classes durning regular semesters. I know that all of this ties into my BSN. Everything else, i take online or accelerated. The choice is yours. I would hate to see someone who get A's and don't know the A&P of a connective tissue or simple columnar. But to each it's own. If you look through the thread, there are A's nursing student's who couldn't even past the Nclex because they memorized everything and rush everything. You have to learn and apply this material. GOOD LUCK

kss0740 · May 31, 2009

BIO201 and 202 are tough courses. I took them after being out of bio for a few years and I was ok. I had the same fears you did, and a similar schedule and situation. I considered taking 156 first, but just didn't have time. Seems like you are in the same boat. Based on your situation, I'd jump in and take bio201. Worst situation is that you have to drop it or you don't pass, then you try again. I was working 40 hours per week when I took mine. You find ways to make it work and create your own study & homework time. If you are dedicated to making it work, you will. You might not get the same grade in the situation you are in right now vs. taking it when you have less on your plate, but nonetheless, it is completely do-able. Not fun, but do-able.

Just make sure you study hard and really learn the material b/c it will be important later on. It just isn't a class you need to get through, but really grasp the information as it will be used throughout your whole school program & healthcare career. Good luck my friend! You can do it :)

dcriddle · Mar 8, 2010

By any chance did you go to the Gateway Summer Session? and did you still have the summer session syllabus? I am taking it in June and I want to get a head start on reading and flashcards?

dcriddle · Mar 8, 2010

Hello By any chance did you still have your syllabus from Gateways BIO 201 course? and if so do you do you mind sending it to me -- I am enroll for the Summer session and would like to get a head start on my reading and studies- Any help would be greatly appreciated :)

kf_az82 · Mar 17, 2010

BIO 201 was a hard class, only because there is a lot to learn and a lot of memorization. I took 201 over a semester but I was also working 40 hours a week and had 2 other classes I was taking. I managed to pass with a B. If you were to take the summer class, you are going to need to obviously put your time in each night to study the material. See if you can get a study group together. It had been years since I took BIO in high school, but I didn't find that it set me back in any way. As long as you have a good teacher, ask questions if you need help, and set enough time aside to study, you will do fine. Good luck!

HJS27 · Mar 17, 2010

Just FYI...accelerated bio courses are commensurate with nursing courses...they are a good measure of how much material you must be able to handle in a similar time frame.