How difficult are Intro to Bio and Intermediate Algebra?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I am starting my prerequisites this fall. I am very nervous, because I did mediocre to average in math/ science throughout high school (then again, i didn't really try at all) but any way, would you say those classes are very difficult at CC.What are some of your study tips? thanks.

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Difficulty depends mainly on your academic abilities and previous preparation, as well as the approach of individual instructors. No one here can address those issues. You can find numerous study tips by using the search function at the top of the page or by scrolling through threads on the student forums rather than the general nursing forums.

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I think the quality of the professor is the biggest external factor influencing success. I enjoy math but had a crappy professor that put me off math for my first college go around many years ago. Just took math again for my current program and had a wonderful professor that I really learned from. I also had a lousy chem professor that made that class really challenging. The website ratemyprofessors.com is great for seeing what the overall opinion is of a professor if more than one is teaching that specific class you need. Go with the general feel of comments not a single poster's comments about a teacher.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Moved to the Pre-Nursing Student forum

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Specializes in Critical Care, Trauma.

I loved algebra! I had a great teacher who encouraged us to use color pencils on our homework. Each step we would make would be written in a different color that way we could trace our steps and could look back easily to see where we went wrong (if needed). Statistics was where I had real trouble, but I made it through that!

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Take what I am saying with a grain of salt, but I was awful in high school. I have always been strong in math, but being in class bored me so I avoided it as much as possible and put effort only into classes that I did like. Needless to say, I was nervous when I decided to pursue higher education and took the time leading up to school starting to motivate myself. I watched some videos on YouTube and took a couple of guidance classes as well. I tested into Trig/Pre-Calc so I avoided Intermediate Algebra. I literally aced my math classes. I put time into understanding the formulas. did the homework, and practice problems closer to the exams. If you need to, rent or purchase the "For Dummies" book on Algebra and just start reviewing.

For Biology, I took an honors section of it despite many students telling me to avoid falling into the trap. While they did not do as well as they wanted to, my lowest test grade was a 99%. I talked to past students who had done well and they gave me some tips about how to approach the class. My professor also gave us a list on how to succeed in his class. His list is pure gold. My lowest test grade was a 99%, I had the highest exam scores throughout the semester, improved on each exam. It was not difficult for me because I put in the time.

Some of my study tips:

1. Get help early on if you're struggling and visit the professor's office hours even if you do not actually need help to build rapport. If he or she knows you want to do well in their class, they tend to help you get to where you want to be.

2. Do practice problems for math and try to understand why you're using a certain formula (if there are any). You may find that all you need is to do is simply have the formula in mind and known when to use it/how to use it, or you may need to have a particular problem in mind. I hope that makes sense.

3. Do NOT cram!!! In regards specifically to Biology, I would read over the notes before coming to class to get an idea of what we would be talking about that day. I would take my own notes on his PowerPoint slides I printed out and review the notes within 24 hours. I paid attention during lecture, made connections between the material, asked questions when I had them (or wrote them down later if I had a feeling the answer was long or may be boring to other students), and answered his questions. Come test time, the first exam I actually did not have a chance to study for (emergency popped up), but my constant review saved me. The one question I did miss was simply because I assumed that the professor was asking a certain question and he was asking another. If you're final will cover all the information over the semester, I would encourage you to review your the lectures from your previous tests throughout the semester. I was the only person I knew who was not stressed out about finals or needing to study because I needed 50% or higher on the final to still have an A.

4. Plan ahead. Seriously, do not put off studying. Life happens.

5. Do your homework in general and any extra assignments.

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I did mediocre in biology during high school as well. During Bio 1 I carried those same poor study habits to college that I had in high school and received a C in the class. I later took Bio 2 and received an A, with one of the top grades in the class. My study habits and time put in the second time around was reflective in the grade I received in the course.

I got an A by reading the chapters before class and taking two column notes for the whole chapter. During class I would add to these notes on what the professor discussed during lecture. To prepare for exams I treated each cue question or word in the left hand column like a flashcard and actively recalled the notes on the right-hand side without looking. I also used a white board to recall information on topics from memory and to connect concepts. Finally I used my textbook and textbook companion site in addition to free online exams and Quizlets to answer as many questions as I possibly could before the exam. After all, you should study the way you will be tested on the exam. I did these questions without notes as well and without referencing them in between. If I got something wrong, I made a mental note or jotted it down for further review.

I've been accepted into a nursing program and I plan on continuing this method of studying as it has been successful for many courses in the past in which I've received an A. Research about active learning, active studying and active recall. Know how to learn and study best will be beneficial to you in the long run.

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I tutor Algebra 2 and I can say with certainty that I have never met a single person who wasn't capable of passing the class with a good grade. Most of the people who come to me for help are terrified of math and that is their greatest problem when it comes to doing well in the class. I make sure to work on their fear of mathematics as much as actually how to solve each problem because once that fear is overcome the mathematics ability comes far easier and quicker. Don't be afraid!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Take what I am saying with a grain of salt, but I was awful in high school. I have always been strong in math, but being in class bored me so I avoided it as much as possible and put effort only into classes that I did like. Needless to say, I was nervous when I decided to pursue higher education and took the time leading up to school starting to motivate myself. I watched some videos on YouTube and took a couple of guidance classes as well. I tested into Trig/Pre-Calc so I avoided Intermediate Algebra. I literally aced my math classes. I put time into understanding the formulas. did the homework, and practice problems closer to the exams. If you need to, rent or purchase the "For Dummies" book on Algebra and just start reviewing.

For Biology, I took an honors section of it despite many students telling me to avoid falling into the trap. While they did not do as well as they wanted to, my lowest test grade was a 99%. I talked to past students who had done well and they gave me some tips about how to approach the class. My professor also gave us a list on how to succeed in his class. His list is pure gold. My lowest test grade was a 99%, I had the highest exam scores throughout the semester, improved on each exam. It was not difficult for me because I put in the time.

Some of my study tips:

1. Get help early on if you're struggling and visit the professor's office hours even if you do not actually need help to build rapport. If he or she knows you want to do well in their class, they tend to help you get to where you want to be.

2. Do practice problems for math and try to understand why you're using a certain formula (if there are any). You may find that all you need is to do is simply have the formula in mind and known when to use it/how to use it, or you may need to have a particular problem in mind. I hope that makes sense.

3. Do NOT cram!!! In regards specifically to Biology, I would read over the notes before coming to class to get an idea of what we would be talking about that day. I would take my own notes on his PowerPoint slides I printed out and review the notes within 24 hours. I paid attention during lecture, made connections between the material, asked questions when I had them (or wrote them down later if I had a feeling the answer was long or may be boring to other students), and answered his questions. Come test time, the first exam I actually did not have a chance to study for (emergency popped up), but my constant review saved me. The one question I did miss was simply because I assumed that the professor was asking a certain question and he was asking another. If you're final will cover all the information over the semester, I would encourage you to review your the lectures from your previous tests throughout the semester. I was the only person I knew who was not stressed out about finals or needing to study because I needed 50% or higher on the final to still have an A.

4. Plan ahead. Seriously, do not put off studying. Life happens.

5. Do your homework in general and any extra assignments.

I too am very nervous to start i am worried i won't know how to study so I've been searching youtube as well for tips from previous students, I am okay at math if i try and put effort i do really well, i only tested into intermediate but thats all i need for the program so I'm just happy i avoided remedial classes! thats sounds amazing! Im really willing and determined to put as much effort as possible (not like HS) this is actually important to me... and absolutely worth my time LOL...thank you so much for the advice! I really appreciate your insight! xx

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I did mediocre in biology during high school as well. During Bio 1 I carried those same poor study habits to college that I had in high school and received a C in the class. I later took Bio 2 and received an A, with one of the top grades in the class. My study habits and time put in the second time around was reflective in the grade I received in the course.

I got an A by reading the chapters before class and taking two column notes for the whole chapter. During class I would add to these notes on what the professor discussed during lecture. To prepare for exams I treated each cue question or word in the left hand column like a flashcard and actively recalled the notes on the right-hand side without looking. I also used a white board to recall information on topics from memory and to connect concepts. Finally I used my textbook and textbook companion site in addition to free online exams and Quizlets to answer as many questions as I possibly could before the exam. After all, you should study the way you will be tested on the exam. I did these questions without notes as well and without referencing them in between. If I got something wrong, I made a mental note or jotted it down for further review.

I've been accepted into a nursing program and I plan on continuing this method of studying as it has been successful for many courses in the past in which I've received an A. Research about active learning, active studying and active recall. Know how to learn and study best will be beneficial to you in the long run.

great i will use your tips absolutely why do you think you achieved a C in Bio 1 do you think it will take time for me to develop study habits as well? and is Bio 2 in your school A&P? thank you for your tips xx

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I tutor Algebra 2 and I can say with certainty that I have never met a single person who wasn't capable of passing the class with a good grade. Most of the people who come to me for help are terrified of math and that is their greatest problem when it comes to doing well in the class. I make sure to work on their fear of mathematics as much as actually how to solve each problem because once that fear is overcome the mathematics ability comes far easier and quicker. Don't be afraid!

yeah to be honest, I am fairly good at math IF I TRY and understand the formulas and all, al of HS I achieved late Cs without trying and when i did try and understood i actually loved math and got an A...I think I am capable with effort, are you a tutor in CC? I was thinking of stopping by the tutoring office a couple times a week throughout the school year do you think it helps? thank you xx

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Use khan academy videos as a reference for these classes. Really, really good explanations! They also have a section on their website with practice problems, which is super helpful.

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