How hard is college level Chemistry?

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Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

All I hear is how killer hard it is. Is it mostly math and what level is your math in college (college level algebra, intermediate, etc??)

I am thinking of taking an Intro to Chem class before College Chemistry but wanted to hear what you all had to say about it from your experiences.

Marilyn

I'm getting ready to take Intro to Chem this quarter (first class is tomorrow night! Eep! :eek: ) This is all that is required for our ADN program.

I've looked through the books & I don't see that it will be too difficult. I took Chem in high school, but that was 17 years or so ago. I'm hoping that I'll remember a little of it, which might help.

For the intro class I'm taking all you needed to have math-wise was basic math (known at our school as DEV math). On my placement test I placed higher than that (to algebra), so I don't have to take the DEV math course before I take chem. That alone tells me that it shouldn't be too difficult math-wise. (Hopefully I'm right in that assumption!)

Ask me later this week & I'll let you know if I was right! :chuckle

I'd probably start with the Intro to Chem anyway if I had to take a regular college chem class. If for nothing else but to refresh my brain.

Good luck!

Specializes in Med-Surg.

Having Chemistry in high school helps a lot. The difficulty of the course varies from place to place--and teacher to teacher. I took it back in 1988 from a monster of a teacher...the class was HARD. I had to retake it for nursing school at a different college, and it was pretty easy.

I agree having it in high school helps. I took two years of chem in high school (cause I liked it...shh, don't tell anyone), and when I got to college, I didn't learn a thing new in Chem. In other words, if a high school kid can do it, so can you! It's not mostly math, but of course being comfortable with math/equations helps. I took Calculas in high school and college.

You'll be fine. :)

I never had a day of chem in high school, and I took college chem when I was 33! I got a C, almost had a B by a few points, so I thought that was pretty good. Take really good notes, read the book, and you should be fine. If I can do it, anyone can, I have always been really bad at things like that!!

I never had Chem. in high school. Took an intro course last semester (and I'm 48). It was fascinating, but a lot to remember. I don't know if I would call it 'difficult' it was more a matter of taking up a lot of time. Good luck!

Specializes in Trauma and Pediatrics.

Taking Chemistry now! It's a 50/50! The actual labs have been easy, I have received 100 on each of them so far! It's the actual test that I have found to be tricky! What I have learned is that chemistry is practice, practice, practice!!! To me it's Algebra just in a science format! I happen to stink at math, so the actual course has been a lot more challenging, and I have had to devote more study time to the class! However, I received an 80 on my last test, and plan on at least getting a 70 on my next one! LOL

Good Luck and feel free to ask me any other questions!

Brenda

Every mathematical problems are hard if you do not know the formulas. Chemistry has a lot of formulas to remember. But the math involve are mostly division and multiplication. So it's not that hard.

Specializes in critical care, med/surg.

I never took chem in HS, and took it my 1st semester of college(and got an A), after not being a student for 5 years. If you are willing to take the time to study, you'll do great!

Specializes in Operating Room,, Plastic Surgery.

I had chemistry in highschool ( did poorly) and when I went to nursing school at age 30, I got an A. I had taked an intermediate algebra course the semester before. it helped since I had been out of school so long. I also liked chem... 'course I had a great Prof, and better study habits

You'll do fine

Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

Thanks everyone I feel more confident about taking it now!

Marilyn

Originally posted by marilynmom

Thanks everyone I feel more confident about taking it now!

Marilyn

Great thread Marilyn! I was getting kinda scared thinking about chemistry. I definetly feel more confident now!

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