Earning a B in Chemistry really has me in a funk!

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I just found out my grade in Chemistry tonight. I earned a B. It sort of felt like a kick in the stomach. I tried so hard for an A. What bothers me is that I have several friends in nursing school, who all used to make A's in their undergraduate work and prereqs, and now even they are having a difficult time. At least two of my peers from my prereq classes, who are in nursing school, will be retaking some of their fundamental classes with me when I begin this fall. I am terrified! I have been spoiled by getting A's in the past after busting my butt. But I have been told that hard work isn't enough, often times. The sheer magnitude of all we have to learn in nursing school, coupled with the squirrelly exams (critical thinking aspect) have me feeling unsteady. I don't think I'm ready to bust my butt to only barely scratch by! I feel like CHE 111 required WAY more work than any other 100 level course. It seems a nightmare to me compared to A&P, Nutrition, Psychology, Biology, etc... Anyone else feeling this way? How do you cope and keep your eyes on the goal....(Nursing degree, with honors)?! :o

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I was once a stickler for A's like you, then I had the pleasure of taking sociology. It was there that my professor said to me "It's ok to get a B" the letter grades represent the following:

A-superior

B-above average

C-average

D-below average

F-fail

Therefore if you are an A student with one or two measely B's you are still doing mostly superior work. If you kill yourself over a B, you are just nuts, because even straight B's are not bad. Let the little things go. It's ok, there is life after a B.

Take a deep breath its ok, now that your 4.0 is cracked the stress of keeping it will forever be gone. Don't worry you can still graduate with honors, it will take a few more B's to take that from you.

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Congratulations on earning a B!

And I mean that with the utmost sincerity. Chemistry is hard. I totally get how you are feeling---the same thing happened to me---I have As in all my prereqs except a B in Chem. But I try to remember something I learned a looooong time ago and I have to keep telling myself this: "I did my personal best."

So, ask yourself: Did I do my personal best??? If you answered yes, then give yourself a break. It sounds simple yet hard to do. Also, if you really feel the need to reevaluate how you approached the material, you can take a metacognitive approach to how you gained/missed information in your Chemistry class. Basically it's self-questioning that helps you understand how you process information and what works for you in order to gain and retain information and being able to adjust accordingly. We generally practice metacognition all the time while studying but some of us do it better than others. Understanding how you learn and keying in on your deficiencies in a particular area can really help make the difference if you are ever faced with the material again. Here's some brief info on applying metacognition skills: http://education.calumet.purdue.edu/vockell/edPsybook/Edpsy7/edpsy7_meta.htm

Last but certainly not least, we don't always give ourselves enough credit for all the hard work we put into something. In your case, you still have a good grade so move forward. It sounds to me like you are a diligent student and therefore, you need to cut yourself a little slack. As for RN school, I also stress about the amount of work and type of work I'm going to get hammered with in the Fall. So, I've already ordered my books to get a jumpstart on the semester and have begun doing light (I stress light) reading of the material that we'll be covering starting in August.

Good Luck! I hope this helps a little.

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Chemistry is hard for many many people. I read a pre-pharmacy forum b/c I am also applying to a Pharm D program next year (Nursing is one of my alternates) and many of the pre-pharmers (and you know pharmacy relies on chem and biochem a lot) are getting Bs, and some even C+s in General Chem and Organic Chem....and still getting in to Pharmacy school.

I am currently re-taking the first semester of the two-semester Organic Chem (I WPed out of lecture the first time) and I get discouraged at times. I could really use an A in the class but I think I am looking at a B. When I get discouraged, I think of a question asked on that Pharm forum - someone comes on and says - I got a B in General Chem...Do you think I am going to be able to get into Pharmacy school? Someone replied "Better start looking at truck-driving schools" - (its a joke - b/c getting that B is no where near the end of the world).

I have worked with Chem majors at school that would show up to work (I worked at the library) just frazzled and looking like they had smoke coming out of their ears b/c they were taking Physical Chemistry that term. So, even the Chem majors have a rough go at it sometimes.

Finally, General Chemistry is not easy b/c it is a huge survey of Chemistry. I am prepping to take the PCAT next month and I did a practice test. I bombed the general chemistry section of the Chem block of the exam. I have to re-learn everything to do with moles and molarity, pKa, etc...I have to re-learn logarithms so I know wtheck is going on in those kinds of questions. Its really daunting to consider.

You got a B - you passed...well! Enjoy your summer and be happy you don't have to take it again!

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Specializes in IMCU.

Getting a B in chemistry doesn't mean you won't get an A in your nursing classes. Also, it is OK to want to get As.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

Stop. Take a step back. Now breathe. You are getting waaaaaay too worked up over a great grade that you even said yourself that you EARNED. Most people cant even say that alone.

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Specializes in NICU.

I just finished taking Chemistry too and was severely disappointed that I did not receive an A. I worked SO hard, but I failed one quiz and it destroyed my average. I barely earned a B in the class (80% exactly!), but my teacher added a curve at the end which brought me up to a B+. After a day or two I realized that I had nothing to complain about, but I know how you feel. I struggled through Chemistry and it also made me worry about the future and how I'd do, but I also think the struggle made me a better student. I hate that Chemistry is considered such a low level course, because most people find it more difficult than the higher level sciences. I guess now we can just be happy that it's over!

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Congratulations on earning a B!

And I mean that with the utmost sincerity. Chemistry is hard. I totally get how you are feeling---the same thing happened to me---I have As in all my prereqs except a B in Chem. But I try to remember something I learned a looooong time ago and I have to keep telling myself this: "I did my personal best."

So, ask yourself: Did I do my personal best??? If you answered yes, then give yourself a break. It sounds simple yet hard to do. Also, if you really feel the need to reevaluate how you approached the material, you can take a metacognitive approach to how you gained/missed information in your Chemistry class. Basically it's self-questioning that helps you understand how you process information and what works for you in order to gain and retain information and being able to adjust accordingly. We generally practice metacognition all the time while studying but some of us do it better than others. Understanding how you learn and keying in on your deficiencies in a particular area can really help make the difference if you are ever faced with the material again. Here's some brief info on applying metacognition skills: http://education.calumet.purdue.edu/vockell/edPsybook/Edpsy7/edpsy7_meta.htm

Last but certainly not least, we don't always give ourselves enough credit for all the hard work we put into something. In your case, you still have a good grade so move forward. It sounds to me like you are a diligent student and therefore, you need to cut yourself a little slack. As for RN school, I also stress about the amount of work and type of work I'm going to get hammered with in the Fall. So, I've already ordered my books to get a jumpstart on the semester and have begun doing light (I stress light) reading of the material that we'll be covering starting in August.

Good Luck! I hope this helps a little.

Ha ha, DCGrrl! The light reading is an EXCELLENT idea. I have been thinking about doing this as well. Today is the first day I haven't had class in over a year....(1.5 yrs, to be exact) since working on prerequisites. So I'm thinking this will be an excellent time to get the books as well. Thanks for that link! I'm definitely going to check it out, here in the next few minutes! I appreciate your pep talk. Thanks a gazillion!;)

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Thanks, rpred! Perspective is everything. :rolleyes:

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Thanks mmt4! Yeah, my big brother was a Chemistry major. I am wondering how he did on his General Chem class. Was he frazzled? I'll have to get him on the phone and find out. Right now it's hard getting him to sit still for a moment. He's a dentist and is always busy with work and with family. It's not very nice, but I'll say it: I'm happy that there are others who find it as challenging as I do, and yet, go on to do fine in their other endeavors. That's what I was was worrying about the most ("Does this mean my brain isn't cut out .....blah blah blah.") I want a genius brain! WHERE'S MY GENIUS BRAIN! I DIDN'T GET A GENIUS BRAIN! I WANT A GENIUS BRAIN! :bugeyes:

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Specializes in NeuroICU/SICU/MICU.

Well, if your goal is graduating nursing school with honors, take heart :heartbeat I got a C in my prereq chemistry class and I was accepted to nursing school the first time I applied. I graduated May 7 of this year cum laude, with a cumulative GPA of 3.88. It can be done! :D

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Getting a B in chemistry doesn't mean you won't get an A in your nursing classes. Also, it is OK to want to get As.

:specs: THIS is the key. I really DO want to be a smashing student nurse. Thanks, DolceVita! :grad:

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