Microbiology Hell...what would you do?

GoldenFire5 · Mar 30, 2006

You're in San Diego... can you drop your current class and take it at National University? National classes are 8 weeks long... I bet a Micro class will start soon with enough time to be done by July. A friend of mine took Micro there and said it's theory one night per week and then lab on weekends. Classes at National are transferable to CA community colleges... so my guess is they would transfer to your program.

(Call to verify all this yourself, of course, esp that the program you're applying to will accept the class.)

Micro should be fun and fascinating!

Get out, get out, get out. :)

LoriAlabamaRN · Mar 30, 2006

I'm sorry you're going through that. I had A&P class with a professor who was very much as you described- 28 students started in the class, FOUR took the final. The rest either dropped the class or failed by midterm. It was a nightmare- I barely passed.

I would gather together some other students and go speak to the dean of your school. I had to take this teacher again for A&P II since she was the only one, and when she started pulling the same mess with us, that's what I did, and my teacher was forced to give us study guides, quit tricking us (one time she told us the exam would be open book, then when we showed up to take it she said "just kidding!" and wouldn't let us use the book), and offer extra credit that would be worth 20% of our grade.

moonischasingme1 · Mar 30, 2006

(one time she told us the exam would be open book, then when we showed up to take it she said "just kidding!" and wouldn't let us use the book), and offer extra credit that would be worth 20% of our grade.

omg that is horrible!

allthingsbright · Mar 30, 2006

Well, that stinks...my Micro class has been a killer but I have a good prof who gives us some extra credit, tells us exactly what to study, etc. That said, I have had to study harder in this class than in any other! I have used someutside resource texts like the Microbiology Coloring Book, Microbiology Demystified and Microbiology Made Ridiculously Simple.

If I were you, I would drop and retake over the summer if I was failing. But if this is your chance to get into the fall program then I would hang on, drop everything else, look at some outside sources of info and study your butt off.

If there is any way you can pull a low B then do it. AND, go talk to your professor-make a stink if you have to! Find the person with the highest grade in the class and find out what they are doing. Form a study group. Gang up with your fellow suffering classmates and find a way to pass this class.

The reality is that you are a consumer--you are paying for this class. Make that a point with your prof. Go to the head of the science department and make your case. Be proactive. Oh, and give an very hard-a@# evaluation for this prof--they need to know that they are really inadequate!

Thoc_123 · Mar 30, 2006

I am in the same position with my Micro class.

My professor is extremely knowledgable in her field and has written many articles and studies. She has said that she is "of a higher intelligence than most" and she is hard hard hard.

There are 4 of us that have gone thru classes together and the lowest GPA between us is 3.18. (2 of them have a 4.0) ALL of us have a low B or high C average in her class. The class averages on her tests are in the low to mid 70's each time. The problem is that in order to get into our ADN program, it's on a point system and this Micro class could be the determining factor for acceptance. C=3 pts, B=9pts A=12pts.

You arent teaching anything if your students arent learning! This isnt a day class with a bunch of high school grads either. We are all over the age of 30!. She doesnt go over the exams even though our final is cumulative. We have quizzes each week and she is on a very strict schedule and if our questions during class begin to affect her schedule, she wont answer them.

She has said that her classes have been compared to Graduate level Micro classes. Like I said, she's very knowlegeable, but I think she has forgotten that she was a student once also.

The entire class can not wait for the instructor review sheets to come out..

atrice, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2006

There isn't much time until the end of the semester and once you get down to the last few tests it is so hard to bring your average up. If you hang in there and pull a C your gpa will be greatly affected by a 4 credit class. My sister had this happen and ended up having to retake a Bio. for majors class bc her gpa dropped so badly... You may want to consider dropping and retaking the class with another instructor.

I can relate with your teacher. Mine was also on a strict schedule and don't dare interupt her lecture to ask a question or for clarification. I have finished all my prereq's and had a 4.0 overall gpa until i got my first B from my "wonderful" micro teacher. Good luck on your decision!

RNin2007 · Mar 30, 2006

I went throught the EXACT same thing last summer (shudders). I had to pass the class in order to start NS in June. I didn't even have time to retake it somewhere else, b/c I was taking it Spring term. My instructor was horrible...tests were ridiculous, average was 67%. I amazingly pulled a B (88%) out of the class....thank goodness at least the lab portion was easy. That is what saved me. I basically had to KNOW the book inside and out and her lectures were worthless. She would present the material on a 3rd grade level and test us on a completely different level. If there is any way you can retake the class elsewhere between now and July, that's what I would do.

~J

allthingsbright · Mar 30, 2006

I am in the same position with my Micro class.
My professor is extremely knowledgable in her field and has written many articles and studies. She has said that she is "of a higher intelligence than most" and she is hard hard hard.
There are 4 of us that have gone thru classes together and the lowest GPA between us is 3.18. (2 of them have a 4.0) ALL of us have a low B or high C average in her class. The class averages on her tests are in the low to mid 70's each time. The problem is that in order to get into our ADN program, it's on a point system and this Micro class could be the determining factor for acceptance. C=3 pts, B=9pts A=12pts.
You arent teaching anything if your students arent learning! This isnt a day class with a bunch of high school grads either. We are all over the age of 30!. She doesnt go over the exams even though our final is cumulative. We have quizzes each week and she is on a very strict schedule and if our questions during class begin to affect her schedule, she wont answer them.
She has said that her classes have been compared to Graduate level Micro classes. Like I said, she's very knowlegeable, but I think she has forgotten that she was a student once also.
The entire class can not wait for the instructor review sheets to come out..

Anyone who tells their class that she is "of a higher intelligence than most" is an egomaniac! :nono: I would have no respect for someone who said that--not to mention I would suspect that that person's intellect is pretty average! All the truly intellegent people I have know are smart enough to keep their mouths shut about it! Man, what a jerk! :devil:

Best wishes in your class!

stpauligirl · Mar 30, 2006

Anyone who tells their class that she is "of a higher intelligence than most" is an egomaniac! I would have no respect for someone who said that--not to mention I would suspect that that person's intellect is pretty average! All the truly intellegent people I have know are smart enough to keep their mouths shut about it! Man, what a jerk!
Best wishes in your class!

It's definitely gotten to the teacher's head

DrugReptoNurse · Apr 14, 2006

I want to thank all of you for your advice. I can not tell you how happy I am that I dropped my old professor from hell and picked up a new one. In my last class the average was 64. Im a 4.0 student and was keeping a low C. It was hell.

In my new class the professor is fantastic!! I am actually learning something and am maintaining an A. It really amazes me how having the right professor can make or break a grade in a class when they are teaching the same course.

Thanks again for all of your kind advice!

RedhairedNurse, BSN, RN · Apr 14, 2006

Im halfway through a microbiology class that can be classified as a class from hell. I have a new PhD teaching the class for the first time. We started off with 38 students and how have 11. The average in the class is 59/100. I am at the top with a 73. The teacher does not curve and has told us our next two tests will be even harder than the prior 3.
I have a 4.0 in all of my science prereqs and am thinking this one may bring me down. We are having our next test on cellular metabolism and the final one on immunology. My class reminds me more of an organic chemistry class than a biology class. She is not planning to teach us about protozoas, fungi, yeasts etc as it must be too easy to learn.
If I drop the class I won't be able to start nursing school in July like I had planned. If I get anything below a C I can't start nursing school anyways.
What would you do? My friends who are NPs and RNs have told me they have never seen a curriculum such as mine for a micro class. I hate to postpone nursing school for one class but I'd also hate to have a graduate school look at my science prereqs and see a low grade made in an important class.

That's why it's so important to check out your teachers before you register for the class. Ask others about the teacher you're going to take. Bad teachers can make or break you.