Help!! - I need your advice

js408 · May 6, 2009

I hear this thing about math a lot: I can't do math, I'm just no good at math, my brain doesn't do math, I'll never be able to do math.

I don't believe it, no matter who says it or why. There are a lot of things I never thought I could do but I was proven wrong after I did them and it wasn't so bad. The question is, how bad do you want it? If you want it very bad then you will find a way to MAKE IT HAPPEN. Get extra help, get a math tutor, form a study group, take basic math skills classes to work your way up to college level, study study study.

I would like for everyone to suggest to me what they would do in my situation...
I am currently taking my pre-reqs at a city college in nyc. It offers a nursing program but with all of the competition and ridiculous "mandatory 4.0" you must get in order to maybe get into the program, I just figured I'd take my pre-reqs there and once it's time to take actual nursing courses to apply to a private college.
However, I'm now having 2nd thoughts and thinking about how the city college would be way cheaper and much more manageable financially. I'm wondering "what if I can actually get in to the city college (which is WAY cheaper) nursing program. - Unfortunately they require a math course which I'm absolutely horrible at:down:.
I don't think I've ever got over a 65 or C in any Math course in my life.
Keep in mind if I take math and fail or just barely pass this ruins my gpa and possibly chances for me to apply to private schools - which I know for a fact in my area don't even require math. Also, we all know about ridiculous waitlists and sometimes the students with 4.0's don't get in because of so many applicants.
Should I take their requirement in Math and see if my grade in it is good enough to apply to their program? Should I wait to see with my gpa for the pre-reqs look like before I even take "their required math"?
What would you do?
-Your suggestions and comments are appreciated.

mom35 · May 7, 2009

In high school I was not interested in math, in college I applied myself and practiced, practiced, practiced-got an A. Never made lower than a 90 on any of the math tests. I amazed myself! Just practice math like mad. Writing out the problems over and over really runs the neuronal pathways and believe me, you can do it!!! If you need to, get tutoring but don't stop there. After a tutor confirms how to work the problem and why-practice the problem over and over and over if you have to.

k_r_ah · May 7, 2009

I always hated math in high school but did well in college, first semester of my nursing classes I was one of a handful that passed dosage calculation test the first time with 100% , you can get a good grade in math courses if you apply yourself and maybe get a tutor if needed

Future-nurse · May 7, 2009

If you absolutely needed an A I would scout out a easy math professor beforehand.

I have had it where I took Micro and failed it so I absolutely needed an A (otherwise my ADN programs wouldn't let me in if I had more than 1 repeat of a science course).

I would look up all the math professors teaching that course at your college on ratemyprofessor and if they didn't have outstanding ratings I would look for another college you can commute to. Once you have a few professors that you think have potential based on their ratemyprofessor ratings I would go to their class RIGHT NOW (the semester before you take them) and ask the students currently taking their class how easy they are to understand, grading, etc just to be sure.

I personally commuted a far distance in order to secure my easy micro professor but it was totally worth it in order to secure my future.

Good luck on whatever path you decide.