I feel like giving up.

whattodo4 · Jun 20, 2013

hmm I feel your pain chemistry is generally a tough class and is heavily curved that goes whether you are taking the real "chem class" or the nursing version of chem. If the average final grade is a 58 I have to assume there must be a massive curve that should push you to a C. Now this obviously depends on the nursing program you are applying but at least in my area, one C is does not tank the nursing school application. If anatomy and physiology, micro etc... are good that can cover one C.

meagenreason · Jun 20, 2013

At the BSN program I went to, they looked more at your A&P and micro grades rather than chem, also chem is a tough course to shove into 6 weeks. My college allowed you to retake a class that you feel poorly about or failed and replace the grade completely. Not sure about your school. Also, it sounds like a ****** professor if his average for the final is failing. See if you can retake it with a different professor or even go to his office hours and ask for help. Thats what those hours are for. That all being said, DON'T GIVE UP!! I have friends who failed classes when they got into the nursing program and pushed on through to achieve their goal. Nursing school is even tougher than your pre reqs, so don't be discouraged easily. Anything tough is worth doing and coming from a new grad when you finally get pinned its one of the best feelings in the world!

Jannie92 · Jun 21, 2013

Also, it sounds like a ****** professor if his average for the final is failing.

See, my professor doesn't prepare us for the exams at all. He'll go over SO much material in class, but only focus on a few of the concepts on the exams. He doesn't tell us what to really expect or focus on, so I'll try to cram and retain all the material, but then I completely blank out when I'm taking the exams. It's horrible, and I really shouldn't have chosen chemistry as a class to take over the summer!

Oh, and in addition, he penalized me for one of the homework problems even though I KNEW my answer was correct. It was like asking for the mass of something, and my answer came out to be 27.17 g. It was supposed to be in 2 significant figures, so I rounded to 27. But the online lab kept saying I was "very close" but wrong. So I emailed the professor and he told me it should be rounded to 30g. HOW DOES THAT EVEN MAKE SENSE? How on earth do you round from 27 to 30? So I wrote back to him explaining my answer and asking him to reevaluate my score. He never replied back to my email since.

But anyway, thank you for your encouraging words you guys lol.

LifeIsGood76 · Jun 21, 2013

Don't give up! I am also taking a 6 week Chemistry course and it is greuling. Significant numbers are the devil, lol!! And yes, I would have said 27 for that answer too! Don't stress out, I think most schools look at your A & P and Micro grades more than Chem. At my school Chemistry isn't even a prerequisite to the nursing program, but it is a prerequisite for Physiology so I have to take it. Good luck!

Mandy0728 · Jun 21, 2013

Don't let one class change your choice in career! Yes chemistry is part of it but most people (including me) despise chem! That's my least fav science class & I still have to take it in the fall yet be proud if yourself, anyone willing to take a 6 week chemistry course has drive & motivation! Good luck & keep studying!

Idiosyncratic, BSN, RN · Jun 21, 2013

So I'm not the only one shoving chem in the summer semesters. Ugh! I took my first exam today and did poorly(for my standards), and am just generally frustrated.

I, like you, studied like crazy but got a veeeeerry low B.

Jannie92 · Jun 21, 2013

So I'm not the only one shoving chem in the summer semesters. Ugh! I took my first exam today and did poorly(for my standards), and am just generally frustrated.
I, like you, studied like crazy but got a veeeeerry low B.

Nope, you're not alone! How long is your class? And at least you got a B! But I understand...the thing is, I was NOT expecting to get a C on my first exam because I actually studied and thought I had it in the bag. I actually walked out thinking I did fairly well on it. But nope, I know it's better now to have lower expectations haha.

So yeah, I definitely beat myself up over that, and told myself to study harder for the next two midterms, which I did, but unfortunately I still got a C in the second one and I'm not sure how I did on the last one

And I really don't want to just pass this class with a C. I came into in with the ambition to earn an A, but now that that's out of reach, I'm just hoping for a B. Sigh.

rubato, ASN, RN · Jun 21, 2013

I did an 8 week chem class and thought that was a killer. Of course, I was taking 2 other classes that summer as well, but man. I can't imagine 6 weeks. Can you retake the class? It sounds like you're going to have to because it's too late to drop it and a C won't cut it.

DisneyNurseGal, BSN, RN · Jun 21, 2013

There are two lessons I learned while doing my pre-reqs. I realized I could not get freaked out about a class' reputation for being hard. I know you said that the class average on the final is 58%, that means that half your class will pass! You need to remember the slackers who dropped out (but did not drop the class) will get a zero and that drags the average down. Also there are those who never go to class and and then try to take the final and pass. Unless you are graded on a curve.. only worry about you.

The other lesson that I learned, is that it is not always the teacher's fault if you received a low score on a test, and it might not be yours either. If you have received two grades on exams that you are not happy with, YOU need to change how you are studying, because obviously your method is not working. Each class is different, and you need to adapt your study style each and every class. This happened to me when I took pathophys. I did HORRIBLY on the first two tests, and I had to completely change my methods. For, example, I realized patho was not going to be learned by memorizing facts off flashcards, I had to UNDERSTAND. I aced the next text (and the rest after) and ended up with an A. Google study methods, and look to see if there is something new you can try. IF STATUS QUO IS NOT WORKING YOU HAVE TO CHANGE IT UP!!

These lessons will help you especially in Nursing School. You control your own fate... do not accept defeat!!

babygyrl9706 · Jun 22, 2013

I agree, I took Chem in a three week course, and it was very stressful. I've never studied it since high school, which was about 13 years ago. I barely passed my first exam, so I started using other resources, which included YouTube. This was a tremendous help for me because I struggled with the formulas and my instructor didn't have time to slow down. If you'll a visual person, go to YouTube to watch different videos on the topics you're struggling with, and find which concept works best for you. Oh, and if it wasn't for YouTube, I would not have made a B.:)

Idiosyncratic, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2013

Nope, you're not alone! How long is your class? And at least you got a B! But I understand...the thing is, I was NOT expecting to get a C on my first exam because I actually studied and thought I had it in the bag. I actually walked out thinking I did fairly well on it. But nope, I know it's better now to have lower expectations haha.
So yeah, I definitely beat myself up over that, and told myself to study harder for the next two midterms, which I did, but unfortunately I still got a C in the second one and I'm not sure how I did on the last one
And I really don't want to just pass this class with a C. I came into in with the ambition to earn an A, but now that that's out of reach, I'm just hoping for a B. Sigh.

My class is 8 weeks long. We are 3 weeks into it, and I'm just so disappointed. I spent SO much time, effort, and study groups on this class! Got A's on EVERYTHING else - but the test. :/ It's so frustrating. Maybe we can help each other?

Are you in gen chem?