How get past dept chair for BIO 226 at Truman?

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Hi everyone,

Truman won't sign me up for BIO 226 until I talk to the department chair. Does anyone have any tips on how to approach him/what might get him to give me the okay?

I haven't taken Biology since high school, where I aced it. I'm brushing up on a biology text now, and I'm an EMT. I'm not worried about my ability to handle the course.

Any tips on jumping this hurdle??

Thanks!

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I don't quite understand what the hurdle is.

Do you need to convince the dept. chair to allow you to register for a full class? Is there a pre-req. for this class that you would like to have waived?

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Yes, there's a prereq for the class that I'd like to get waived. I have some convincing arguments planned :), but I was curious if anyone had spoken to him before and had any suggestions.

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I took a look at the Truman website and it seems as though it is just recommended that you take an intro biology class prior to A&P.

If you feel strongly that you will be able to excel at this class without taking college biology first, then I would try to present a strong case to the department head as to why you feel you could be successful.

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Sorry...I forgot to add that I would not exactly know what to say to him because my argument would be different :)

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Dare I ask what your argument would be? Curious...

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I would argue that my four year undergraduate degree in biology has sufficiently prepared me for the rigors of anatomy and physiology :)

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It would seem to me that you having an undergrad in Biology you wouldn't have to take Bio 120 or 121..whichever it is..I forgot..lol Good luck! I woudn't think that you should have a problem..just this past spring semester.. a girl I worked with had already taken AP I and II but it was more than 5 years ago..so they let her take them at the same time... so I don't think there should be problem! What teacher did you pick?

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My advice is to go back with your undergrad transcript with any Bio class on it and keep going back to the advising office until someone registers you. It's ridiculous, but that's Truman for you. I had a three credit hour general Bio class years ago in undergrad and three separate advisors told me that wasn't good enough...go talk to the dept. head. Well, the dept head was never available and didn't respond to my calls or emails. The fourth time I went into the advising office I got an advisor who registered me for 226 with no questions asked. I had my transcript there. Asked him if he needed to see it. He said no...it's fine. If I had gotten him the first time, I wouldn't have even known there could be such a problem. Instead I ran around like a crazy person for days trying to find a time to find the dept. head. Their "rules" are insanely stupid and not consistent. Plenty of people will tell you they had no problem registering in your situation. Others have wasted an entire semester in 121. OR, what they LOVE to do is get you to register for both 121 and 226 concurrently. They get your money and your time. Don't fall for it. Or, register for them both and then drop 121. They will NEVER know. Never. You can drop 121 yourself online. Even if you had a transcript that fulfilled the prereq to their liking, they do not enter anything about it in the computer. They just key in a code and register you. They keep very poor records.

Or, if it works for you, try another city college. I have been taking my prereqs at Truman, but I just finished Chem 201 at Harold Washington last semester because Truman wouldn't let me in without taking Chem 121 or a placement test. I didn't have time to study for a placement test, and Harold Washington let me in without any problems.

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Just curious...what programs are you guys applying to? Since we are all in the Chicago area..I was wondering what programs you guys were looking into applying and when?

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I am in the process of applying to the College of Dupage ADN program (fall 2011 start). I have all of my pre-and co-requisite classes completed, with the exception of A&P II, which begins in a few weeks (and speech, which I do not intend on taking).

I am hoping to meet with an adviser soon, to ensure that my application actually is complete. Notification will be sent out 6-8 weeks after the application deadline of Feb. 1.

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I forgot hon..do you live in Chicago or in the burbs? So for COD you can finish up the prereqs in the spring semester? Do you think you will have a problem with the speech thing? I've never taken it either..lol

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