I'm currently an undergrad healthcare risk management major who's in the process of taking prereqs for nursing after graduation. I'm taking chemistry right now in a 6 week summer course and it's literally making me re-evaluate my goal to become a nurse.
So far, I got C's on both exams and I am pretty sure I did worse on my 3rd midterm this morning. The only redeeming grade I have left is the final that's next week, and the professor said the average on the final is about 58% every year. THATS AN F.
If I somehow miraculously pass with a C in this class, I still won't have a chance to get into nursing. Let's face it, the chances of being accepted into an ABSN program with a C in your prereqs is pretty low. I feel so discouraged reading through some of these threads and seeing SO many people with 3.9s and 4.0s in their prereq GPA. I keep thinking to myself, how on earth do you manage to do that?!
And the thing that makes it more frustratiing is that I study MY BUTT OFF. I've pulled so many all nighters studying for these exams and preparing myself and going over the material. And all that studying for what? Nothing.
The bright side is that I'm doing well in the labs, but other than that, I feel hopeless..
Wow! Where do you guys go to school! I was an LPN for many years, RN for the past 3 years, and now in an online RN-BSN program and have NEVER been required to spend one minute in a chemistry class. I guess God's mercy is really shielding me!!!! But then again, I do check for the math and science requirements before I decide on a school. I do that before I check for accreditation.
To the OP, good luck and keep moving forward. There are options for your ultimate goal.....with or without chemistry.
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.
Oh wow, you just said word for word what I told my husband after an exam this am. I know exactly where you are coming from last week I think I slept two nights and stayed up three nights studying all night three chapters of anatomy and physiology. I'm taking a crash course that is hybrid, lecture is online and labs are in class. I score 100+ on labs and 80s on lecture. Why? Simply because despite the fact that I study my tail off, we never know exactly what to focus on!! Argghh
I wish you the best and hope that it comforts you to know you aren't alone!
I pray success to you on getting into your BSN program. Also, 6 weeks is a really short period to try to take chemistry, all sciences require time and effort. If the 'C' is not the grade you want, I suggest you try to take it again during a traditional semester. Never give up on your goals. That should never be an option. God speed to you.
IF you have a town nearby that has a large library, go online and browse if they have chem textbooks. If so, go to the library and spend a few minutes. Look up something you just don't understand and see if one of those texts has "a way" of explaining that you "get" quickly. If so sign up and check that sucker out. NOW!
Required college textbooks are often terrible. Go find your own way to learn. Chemistry is chemistry. Doesn't matter how/where you get what you need to pass the test.
*this will be advice you must use in ALL your other college courses. Especially nursing. Don't hesitate to read non nursing text to get what you need.
Chemistry is probably the least fun pre-req and the hardest, but dont give up, and re-take it if you have to, you may do so much better the 2nd time around because you already learned the material, and sometimes things dont click in your mind when you want them to, especially when it's crammed into 6 weeks. I was taking it with people who were taking it for the 3rd time to get into nursing school. I swear the nursing school material is not that hard it will be worth it one day, just get through this. Maybe go for tutoring or study with a group if you haven't been, or study alone if you were studying with a group...sometimes people can get off track and socialize instead. I always read the text and took notes from it, and rewrote the lecture notes as I was studying for exams. For some reason, writing it a few times helped me to remember it better.
Thanks guys, its nice to know that I'm not the only one in this situation! I found out that I got a 75 on my third midterm last week, which believe it or not, is actually better than I expected The average was a 76, so I know I'm not the only one in the class having trouble with this class. But of course, I'm still disappointed that I didn't score higher. The final is in one week, and I'm going to studying my tail off for that.
Hopefully with the curve and my grades from the homework and quizzes, I'll get atleast a B- in the course! Fingers crossed!
if it's any consolation I had C's in my prereqs, Statistics and Child Psych. But I had A's in A&P 1 & 2 and a B in Micro and Chem. I had taken A&P II and Chem in the summer, so I know what the 6 weeks feels like. I had no prior experience in nursing. I was not a 4.0 student. My undergrad gpa was 3.1. That didn't mean I didn't work hard for my grade. I applied to 3 schools in my area and was accepted by all of them. I just started in May. I think my essay and recommendation letters did it. I surprise myself every day because I am getting through classes that are 5x's harder than any course I did in reg undergrad. I think it's because I'm finally where I want to be! Show your determination and please don't stop! Going for your BSN is an excellent career choice don't let this one class deter you.
GUYS! So I thought I'd give you a little update :) Grades came back a few days ago, and I miraculously passed the class with a B+!!!!!!! Thats right...B PLUS!! The amount of exclamation marks could not possibly describe how excited I was when I found out hehe.
I studied my butt off for the final exam, which I'll admit, I didn't do terrific on..BUT I still a lot better than compared to my classmates lol. That really helped...plus the curve my professor applied also helped LOTS. I was really surprised at my grade. I was seriously anticipating a C+ or a B- at best. I remember I began this class thinking I could pull off an A, but now I'm so grateful for my B+ haha. Especially in a time span of 6 weeks!
And so I just wanna thank you everyone who offered words of encouragement! It was really helpful and uplifting :) I'm just glad I'm done with this class now and can move onto focusing on my other prereqs that are left!
Specializes in Maternal Child, Home Health, Med/Surg.
GUYS! So I thought I'd give you a little update :) Grades came back a few days ago, and I miraculously passed the class with a B+!!!!!!! Thats right...B PLUS!! The amount of exclamation marks could not possibly describe how excited I was when I found out hehe.
I studied my butt off for the final exam, which I'll admit, I didn't do terrific on..BUT I still a lot better than compared to my classmates lol. That really helped...plus the curve my professor applied also helped LOTS. I was really surprised at my grade. I was seriously anticipating a C+ or a B- at best. I remember I began this class thinking I could pull off an A, but now I'm so grateful for my B+ haha. Especially in a time span of 6 weeks!
And so I just wanna thank you everyone who offered words of encouragement! It was really helpful and uplifting :) I'm just glad I'm done with this class now and can move onto focusing on my other prereqs that are left!
The average was a 76, so I know I'm not the only one in the class having trouble with this class. But of course, I'm still disappointed that I didn't score higher. The final is in one week, and I'm going to studying my tail off for that.
NCmcMan
123 Posts
My goodness. Chemistry in 6 weeks? What type of college would be that cruel?