Microbiology-Pre-nursing student HELP

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Hello I am a pre-nursing student and I am becoming very discouraged. In the past my grades have all been A's and B's and now I am having a hard time with Micro 20 I do not know what I am doing wrong. Please is there any advice that can be given, study strategies, anything that will help me raise my poor grade. I only have a few weeks left and I need to do well on the last test, final, and disease summaries... Please HELP :)

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Have you tried recording lectures? Try talking with your instructor during office hours.

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.

Good day, Brenda Roman:

When you got your first grade that was bad, did you go see the professor? The learning / tutoring center? If not, then please consider down the road for other classes that the very first time you get a bad grade, then schedule time to see the professor, make time to go to the school's learning / tutoring center, and ask for help. When you choose to wait until the last few weeks (and I've known fellow students who wait until day before the last final), there's so much pressure and stress... well, it just makes life all that much harder for you.

For now, schedule time to talk with your professor to go over "all" of your past exams to see what you got wrong, and ask how you can prepare for the upcoming exam(s). Find out what the professor expects in order to get a 100% on the disease summaries, and so on.

I do agree with SpsSpss in terms of recording lectures; then listen to them every chance you get. I also make and use flashcards for each chapter, as well as for the lab exams in general. BIO221 Lab Exam 2 flashcards | Quizlet is an example of the flashcards for our upcoming final lab exam. BIO221 Chapter 14 Principles of Disease and Epidemiology flashcards | Quizlet is an example of flashcards for a chapter.

When I read the book, I first go through and highlight. I use one color for references to figures, tables, and other chapters. Another color is used for any words in parenthesis that are not related to figures, tables, or other chapters. Then another color for all bold words or any word in italics that is a term with a definition. I will then make sure (this is also part of making flashcards) that I understand the terms and definitions of those words. Then as I read the chapter, I use another highlight color to highlight key areas; and anything that appears to be critical (or if the professor indicated it is important in anyway), I also underline the words involved as well.

When preparing for a lecture test, I re-listen to lectures, go over all figures, and tables, and make sure I understand the material. For the book we are using, I've found the microbe review, chapter quizzes, and practice tests on Innate Immunity: Nonspecific Defenses of the Host to be helpful in terms of checking if I understand the material.

For lab, I stay the entire lab time; I'm typically among the last to leave with the professor. I make sure I read the lab manual before lab (just as I try to read the chapter material before lecture as well as after the lecture); and the do my best to pay attention during lab. I do tape record any lab recitations, and then listen to them prior to the lab exam. I also look up youtube videos as well for both lab and lecture.

Thank you.

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I struggled too but I went for tutoring after the first test. Turns out it was my note taking that was messing me up.

For me personally highlighting doesn't make the info stick. I hand write a chapter outline and then highlight that instead of the text.

I talked to my instructor about the text. She suggested thy I read the chapter review first, then read chapter, re-read review.

I use a recorder in class. And pre-read the text. I make note of any videos used and watch them again at home. I use the cd's that came with my book to do practice questions.

Waiting until the last week was a bad idea. Is your heed tethering enough that this last test is going to make or break you?

In the future it's much better to ask for help right off than to wait until the end and try to cram in info. That will jut stress you out.

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

As stated before, please don't wait to ask for help at the end of the semester. In the future, seek help when you get your first low score.

Does you school offer supplemental instruction or tutoring? If so, make an appointment as soon as possible.

There are also great online resources, such as Khan Academy and Interactive Biology (and they're free!)

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Wow! All this information has been great, I struggle in micro too, but my issue is not that I don't understand but that I am in the LPN program and my classes are such a heavy load... Study time for all of my classes is almost impossible. In addition to work and caring for my son.

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I have recorded lectures and listen while I drive I have talked to her once but her office hours do not agree with my scheldule

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Thank you everyone for the information I really like the highlighting suggestions... I do not read the book because everything is based on her lecture notes, I think maybe I should try to read the book ahead of time. I am realizing the science classes are a whole nother ball park. I just do not want my GPA to go down. I really appreciate the time everyone is taking out of their busy lives to leave me advice, I will utilize all the information I receive. I tend to be hard on myself but seeking C's tests my limits I do not want C's and never have had them. I am realizing I need to find my study niche and stick with it. Just seems like the techniques I am using are not working. Possibly if I try the YouTube videos seeing it will put it into perspective. Once again THANK YOU so much! ☺️

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Specializes in Psych, Case Management, Care Coordination.

By the time you get into the nursing courses, you're probably going to be a lot less concerned with your GPA, and a lot more concerned about just passing! My friends and I were A/B students in the terms before we started nursing courses, now we hope to make it above the passing mark. Nobody likes a C, but it only gets more intense from here on out. You'll look back and laugh at how difficult you thought Micro was!

Anyway...even if your tests are based off the instructor's lecture, read the chapters. It helps to solidify the material. Try the Cornell method with notes, and make flash cards, as others have suggested. The Quizlet app is also useful.

Finally, I want to say...make sure you really grasp Anatomy & Physiology...EVERYTHING builds off AP.

Thank you everyone for the information I really like the highlighting suggestions... I do not read the book because everything is based on her lecture notes, I think maybe I should try to read the book ahead of time. I am realizing the science classes are a whole nother ball park. I just do not want my GPA to go down. I really appreciate the time everyone is taking out of their busy lives to leave me advice, I will utilize all the information I receive. I tend to be hard on myself but seeking C's tests my limits I do not want C's and never have had them. I am realizing I need to find my study niche and stick with it. Just seems like the techniques I am using are not working. Possibly if I try the YouTube videos seeing it will put it into perspective. Once again THANK YOU so much! ☺️
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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.

Good day, Brenda Roman:

Have you asked your professor if you can meet outside of office hours due to your schedule?

"I do not read the book because everything is based on her lecture notes"

When you meet with her, ask her for where she gets her material. If it is out of the book, then reading the book before and after classes might help. If the source is elsewhere, then ask to see the source to browse through it to see if getting your own copy might help. Do show her your notes as it has been pointed out sometimes a person's way of taking notes or what notes they take create the problem.

Thank you.

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Good day, Brenda Roman:

Have you asked your professor if you can meet outside of office hours due to your schedule?

"I do not read the book because everything is based on her lecture notes"

When you meet with her, ask her for where she gets her material. If it is out of the book, then reading the book before and after classes might help. If the source is elsewhere, then ask to see the source to browse through it to see if getting your own copy might help. Do show her your notes as it has been pointed out sometimes a person's way of taking notes or what notes they take create the problem.

Thank you.

I have not schelduled an appointmet outside her office hours I will definitely try that. Also her lecture notes are pretty cut and dry they are printed to her liking and you pretty much fill in the blank. I will e mail her my concerns and try to meet with her. Thank You

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So I just got an email from my professor explaining how difficult the second test is and not to worry there is still time. The class average dropped from 80 to 70 and with my extra credit I got 79, I am just not satisfied with C's and I want to do better. However the email was a bit comforting to know that I am not alone. I am also still trying to make a decision about taking Anatomy in a 5 week shy time frame in the Summer??? So confused:confused:

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