Need advice for college albegra...

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Specializes in EMS.

I need advice from anyone who has completed College Algebra in the last few years. Here's my situation...

I finished all the required prerequisite classes for my local college's paramedic / RN bridge program and did it with an 4.0 average. Unfortunately my college adviser neglected to tell me of the 3+ year waiting list (regardless of grades). That said, I've now opted to try Excelsior since it is online and I can start immediately. However, for Excelsior's program I need to take College Algebra.

I was a good student in high school and took Trigonometry and Analytical Geometry in the 11th grade (no math as a senior). I graduated 20 years ago in 1995. I honestly haven't looked at a math book beyond my son's current 6th grade math book and I know I have forgotten just about everything. I'm not sure how to approach this.

My current plan is to get some sort of study guide, hit the books hard this summer, and try to CLEP the class before the fall semester begins. If I can't pass the CLEP test I'm hoping that studying during the summer will refresh my memory enough to pass an online college algebra class.

If anyone has a better idea of how to approach this I am all ears. I need advice on which study guide, website, materials, or whatever that would be sufficient to pass a current college algebra class. I've considered Khan Academy, a "College Algebra for Dummies" type of guide, YouTube, paying for "The College Network's" college algebra materials, or purchasing from eBay a recent college algebra text book. There are so many choices I don't know which is best.

Please let me know what you think and where to go. Thanks!

Wade

[email protected]

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Khan and get the book. When you are able to pass the chapter review tests because Khan taught you in a way you can retain, you know you've got it well enough to CLEP. Good luck!

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Specializes in ICU.

I took College Algebra last summer online. I hated it. Probably because taking it in the summer, it was compressed into 8 weeks instead of 16 and it was a lot of work. I had to take Algebra I and Algebra II before taking College Algebra so that helped a little. I don't know how your school will do it, but we had a program called My Math Lab. Everything we did came from that. So, I would use that resource on how to do things. I've heard Khan Academy is great. I ended up with a B in the class. I probably spent about 8 hours a week on it. It's all about reading graphs and making up equations for them.

Good Luck!! Like I said, I used my math lab which seemed to help me. But if you don't have that, try Khan.

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Specializes in EMS.

Thanks for the replies! Has anyone had any experience with this series of college algebra lecture videos from University of Missouri Kansas?

College Algebra video lectures, Richard Delaware of University of Missouri Kansas City

I've watched the first few of them and the instructor is very clear in his teaching method. I'll most likely be purchasing a college algebra book in the next week or so. Any suggestions as to which one? Will an older book from a few years ago (2012+) be sufficient or do you think I need a brand new edition?

Thanks again...Wade

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If you gave a target school in mind, get the one they use.

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I went back to school after 20 years. I also had to fulfill a college algebra requirement. I bought a clep algebra test prep book, studied for three weeks, and passed the clep exam. It saved me time and hundreds of dollars. It can be done, even if you haven't looked at the material in a long time. Good luck.

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Khan Academy is awesome, I recommend it to all my Algebra students.

I went back to school after 12 years. I knew I needed to test into my school's equivalent of second year high school algebra in order for my plan to work. In high school, I failed it due to senioritits. I went from couldn't remember a thing to just points of getting into college algebra in about two weeks. I think it's the best resource ever.

Went from not caring about math to now I tutor algebra and statistics.

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