First week of Chemistry

1. I am taking Chemistry over the summer and it's kicking my butt. The professor talks so much he goes off of the subject. When he does calculations I don't understand a thing. Once I read, I understand things but when I hear him talk I get confused. Any advice? Please I need it.

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2. 

   About GraceyB

   Joined: Mar '03; Posts: 208
   unemployed

   14 Comments

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3. 
   Jun 6, '03

   I feel for you. I've been there. My tutor saved my butt. Honestly, it is very difficult, but if you find a good tutor that can explain it to you, it becomes understandable and almost kind of cool. My school had free tutoring avail. to students, and my tutor was a chemical engineer major. She was great. Also practice, practice, practice.
4. 
   Jun 6, '03

   We also had free tutoring at our school, it really helped. There are also some online websites that are helpful. Chemtutor.com, I think I used a few times. I know there are more. Good Luck. the labs were fun
5. 
   Jun 6, '03

   thanks for the tips. I'll make sure and go to tutoring as well as check out the website. Thanks again.
6. 
   Jun 7, '03

   Definitely agree with the advice above. Also ask your teacher for extra practice problems, my past instructor would always emphasize that. Good luck!
7. 
   Jun 7, '03

   GraceyB, I am in my final week of a full year of Chem, and my heart goes out to you!! Although I'm doing fine in chem, I can't say that I've enjoyed it very much along the way! Don't get discouraged. My advice would be to utilize the web as much as possible. I found it to be an invaluable resource that always gave me just a little deeper understanding of the material. Also try to find something in each unit that interests you, or try to find a real world application to keep things in perspective. I wish you the best of luck in your studies.
8. 
   Jun 7, '03

   I just took organic chem and it was HARD for me! The teacher was no help. Thank God for us we had tutors. I was always in tutoring sessions. And I was always going to her office even if I really didn't understand what she was saying.
   But I got a "B" which I am very proud of in that class. Alot of people failed...mainly because of the teacher. I was just like you the minute I started to read the chapters I understood certains aspects and with the help of the tutor I managed. Our tutor (which was free) had to literally teach every session all over again from what the instructor did.
   Don't despair every semester there is a class that you have to really really sweat for, chemistry was mine.
   Ask if there is any free tutoring at your school and try to attend each session, most of all let the teacher KNOW that you are putting in the effort... That always helps!
9. 
   Jun 7, '03

   Hi, Gracey!
   
   Definitely go the tutoring route if your school offers it.
   
   In addition, from what you say it sounds as if pre-reading the chapters before a lecture would be a good idea. If you at least halfway sort through the concepts in your own way before you have to deal with his lecture, I bet the lecture will make more sense to you.
   
   Best of luck. Chem was not one of my favs.
10. 
    Jun 7, '03

    Hi! I also just started my first week of chemistry and have an insane prof. She talks about everything BUT chemistry, then gives us these tests and assignments from hell. Its basically like I am teaching myself!! Sooooooo.....hi ho, hi ho, its off to tutoring I go.....:P
11. 
    Jun 7, '03

    I swear, some of these instructors sound like they should be fired. What are they good for, if not to teach thoroughly the subject and help students understand what is important to learn not just to pass the class but to make you understand it as it relates to the field you go into, - ie-nursing....
12. 
    Jun 7, '03

    One more peice of advice. This is a class you want perfect attendance in. Missing only 1 lecture can put you way behind, and make sure you do all the practice problems in the book.
13. 
    Jun 7, '03

    Gracey:
    I've found that the ability to understand chemistry and the ability to teach chemistry can be mutually exclusive. For me, the basic material had to be self-taught and classtime almost used as review. I need to hear it (or put it into) "English" to understand it, if ya know what I mean. I found it helpful to "ground" myself when beginning a new chapter by setting a timer for 5-10 minutes, then flipping the pages of the chapter and reading ONLY the paragraph headings. Then I would close the book and identify to myself in like about three sentences what this chapter covers on the most basic level (ie- oxidation level or calculation of molarity). Gave me a basic framework/ structure for the material. Then I would read the chapter through, highlighting or taking notes, of the KEY phrases/ info in each paragraph. I left a marker at each table or chart frequently used. Ideally you should do this BEFORE you get the material in class; then it should make a little more sense. Good luck.
14. 
    Jun 7, '03

    I took chemistry 12 years ago. I made sure I had all the study guides and I tried to read assignments before class, then ask the instructor to clarify any problem places in class. I will soon be in your shoes again though. I'm going back for my RN and have to retake my chemistry since it so old. Good luck, maybe a study partner will help.

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