Microbiology-Spring 2008

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I was hoping to start a "sticky" for those of us facing micro this spring. I've done (and kind of enjoyed) A&P I and II but am nervous about this course. If anyone finds any good links, has Q&As or hints to share, etc., could we add them here? I have seen other posts about micro, but only by doing a search and couldn't find a dedicated thread. If there is one, point me in the right direction and I'll shut up. LOL!

Happy New Year everyone!

Was wondering, what textbook are you all using??

Mine is Microbiology: An Introduction (9th Edition) (Hardcover) by Gerard J. Tortora.

Also, where are you buying your text? College bookstore? Online? Other??

We'll be using Microbiology--Principles and Explorations (6th Edition) by Jacquelyn G. Black, and for lab we have Microbiology in Practice (6th Edition) by Lois Beishir. Big bucks! I got the main book used but had to buy a new lab book. I was impatient and got them both at the college bookstore but maybe could have done better at B&N.

Pins and needles here too! Along with micro I'll be taking English Comp (the 2nd English course) and Human Growth & Development (2nd psych course). Both of these are accelerated and are squeezed into the first half of the semester. Arrrgg! Currently I'm doing an intersession course--Personal Health and Wellness--which means long days at school but pretty easy work, and it will be all over by the end of this week. Which reminds me--time to hit the books again!:specs:

I'm another hopeful for the fall 2008 admissions (ADN). All my pre-reqs and all but one of my "general ed" will be done by the end of this semester. Phew!

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I'd like to be in on this one too. I'm taking Chem 151, Nutrition, Micro, and my CNA class this semester!

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Was wondering, what textbook are you all using??

Mine is Microbiology: An Introduction (9th Edition) (Hardcover) by Gerard J. Tortora.

Also, where are you buying your text? College bookstore? Online? Other??

Thanks! :)

This is the book we are using along with the lab book.

I got mine on Amazon for 35. At school it was 285!

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Micro and Chem starts next week. I hope I made the right decision doing both this semester. I will be taking A/PI & II over both summer sessions. I am fininshing fall mini-mester for english - final tomorrow!!

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Specializes in ICU.
This is the book we are using along with the lab book.

I got mine on Amazon for 35. At school it was 285!

Wow!! That's a great deal!! When I just looked there, the cheapest used were going for $110. Only thing I could find for $35 is the study guide... it has the same cover as the textbook--just want to make sure you got the right one?

I did end up buying the text new from Amazon--had free shipping, and was about $20 cheaper than the school bookstore (which only had new texts). Thankfully no lab book required (that would have been another $85!!). There is an illustrated atlas that was $30, though. $175 for books for the class--uuugh!! :icon_roll

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I completed my second day of Micro, it is an accelerated 4 week class. We go 6 hours a day, five days a week. WHEW! Is all I can say. We have had labs both days as well. We ran around the school yesterday swabbing things to grow cultures. The cultures have to grow for 24 hours so today we took a sample, did a simple stain on them and looked at them under the microscope, tomorrow we will run Gram stain to check for positive or negative Gram. WHEW! Oh, and we have covered 8 chapters as of today. WHEW! Did I mention this is A LOT to do in 4 weeks? HOLY MOLY! For those of you who have not started Micro my best advice is to brush up on cells, basic physiology and anatomy of one. A and P is REALLY coming through these first few chapters, as far as cells go. Our first test is on Monday and it will be 200 questions covering 10 chapters. WHEW! Did I mention WHEW? LOL. If I survive this the nursing part should be a breeze, LOL. JK. It is a fun class though. We have a great instructor who is basically an over grown hippie from the 60's with a PhD. LOL. Enjoy Micro, don't be too scared of it. My next best advice is to study everyday a little bit, don't put it off because each day and each lab builds on itself. So, if you don't get a grasp on day 1 you will struggle day 2. Find a good lab group, study group, and really get group input. It REALLY REALLY REALLY helps to have a groups mind in this one. Did I mention WHEW? LOL

GOOD LUCK... See you in a few weeks!

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I can't even imagine how you are doing Micro in 4 weeks. All I have to say is cheers to you! :cheers: I took Micro last semester and ended with a high B almost an A. My suggestion to all (even though it's probably to late since we are getting ready to start) is to look through your profs and find out everything about them before you start. I was lucky and had a GREAT instructor at my school in Dallas TX. She offered a lot of extra credit which helped bring many peoples grades up. Take really good notes and make sure you attend all of your classes. Do your reading and keep up with studies on your own. The class is NOT that hard if you follow those rules! Good luck to you all! I can't wait to hear how everyone did at the end of the semester.

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i'm starting my spring semester on monday and i am getting SO nervous!!! along with taking micro i'm in organic chem, dev. psych, intro to philosophy, AND advanced first aid...i mean really what was i thinkin?? good luck to everyone this semester!! i'm starting nursing school in may and i couldn't be more excited!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I am ready for school to start too....but my house is NOT clean!!! I want to say I am bored...but with four kids that isn't exactly true either....but looking forward to doing something that won't be "undone" minutes after I finish it. ;)

I know what you mean. I have four kids too. I clean and then walk back into the room a half hour later and it is all messed up again. I am going to have to learn to just not let that bother me.

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I start Microbiology next week. It is an on-line class. The book we are using is Microbiology: An Introduction w/ CD, 9th Edition by Tortora. I also am going to be self studying for Algebra this semester. When I think I am ready I will take the CLEP test for Algebra. I figure I will need a month or so to study for the Algebra test because I am sure it will be a hard one.

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I just took Microbiology last Fall 2007, and it was a very interesting class. I learned fascinating stuff, and I became a bit "germophobe."

I received a "B" in the class, but it was a very difficult class. There were 25 students in the beginning of the class, and we ended up having only 15 people stay in the class.

Good luck to all of you taking the class this semester.

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Just received my book--ordered an international version (softcover) thru abebooks.com. It is exactly the same inside with high quality paper and all color illustrations, photos, etc. I love it! the regular version would have cost $160 new and $95 used. I got this one for $39. It will be alot lighter to carry around too! We are using Nester's Microbiology: A human perspective. I couldn't find a deal on the lab book so I paid $60 at the book store(same as online price). This is my very last class before nursing starts in the fall. I had to take what was open and fit into my schedule-so I ended up with a prof that everyone hates. I hope I can tolerate her-they say she doesn't know anything and tests are vague. Oh well, it'll be good practice for nursing exams-haha. Good Luck to all!

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