Nova Bio 141-142,Chem,Teachers and advice

Cilantrophobe · Apr 1, 2009

Are you trying to register for any of these classes for summer? Because if that was your objective, you asked these questions too late. All the good teachers go fast. I am talking Midnight on registration day! Dr **** for the BIO 141-142, or NAS 161-162, and Dr ******** for Chemistry. Look them both up on ratemyprofessor and you will see why. I have had both of these teachers and love them both. If you care I have straight As.

sunray12 · Apr 1, 2009

I take a lot of classes at Nova. It's not too late to get the classes you want. If the section you want is full now simply keep it on watch. A few slots always open up just before class start date because some people drop at that time. I've never failed to get a seat when I needed one this way.

Cilantrophobe · Apr 2, 2009

I take a lot of classes at Nova. It's not too late to get the classes you want. If the section you want is full now simply keep it on watch. A few slots always open up just before class start date because some people drop at that time. I've never failed to get a seat when I needed one this way.

I hate to sound like a downer but, it might be too late to get into the classes he wants. Summer is known for the competitive registration. There isn't priority registration so the classes fill up faster than normal. Plus we community college students are competing with all of the university students who are home on break finishing up some classes the cheaper route through NOVA.

On a lighter note, sunray is right. There is a possibility that you may still get into the classes you want. The only problem is that it will require a near obsession with logging on to see if there is an opening. Or you can try logging on on May 1st at 12am. May 1st is the drop date for anybody who hasn't paid their tuition and there is a definate possibility that some people will get kicked out of their class, and you can step right in. But you are going to have to be serious about it. I don;t take registration lightly. It takes planning and researching.

sunray12 · Apr 2, 2009

No need to be obsessive. If I'm looking for an opening I check manually coz I’m online anyway but if you don’t tend to login to vccs regularly then you can simply go through the enroll process and check waitlist and you’ll get a computer notification if a slot opens up. Right now there are hundreds of seats still available for bio 141 and all of the sections of the chem courses that OP is interested in are still green (i.e. available). This is the good thing about Nova – big school, many campuses which allows for plenty of sections of the most popular courses. (If you want frustration try a small town cc where there is only one campus and just one or two sections of each prereq).

Now if you only want to take bio 141 from a particular teacher then I can see where your choices are more limited. I work ft and have to schedule my classes around my work schedule so the important things for me are class times and dates – I don’t have preferences about the teachers.

Cilantrophobe · Apr 2, 2009

But what if there isn't a waitlist availability? Can you still check wait list? If so, that is awesome. I have friends trying to get into certain classes that will love to hear that news.

I have major preferences about teachers. Seems like NOVA fired a ton of NAS teachers last summer and hired a bunch of newbies that were terrible. Thankfully I didn't get stuck in one of those classes because I have heard the horror stories. I don't work so I plan my schedule around my teachers and classes that are during the day so that I have time for my hubby in the evening. My CHM teacher is awesome and Dr **** is the best teacher ever for NAS, and anything else she teaches. I wish I had taken her for NAS 161.

NParker · Apr 4, 2009

Sorry I didnt get back sooner but I wanted to wait until I had everything resolved. First of all, let me say thanks again for replying to my posts. I dont have any other peer support so it really helps. I tend to stress myself being a returning *cough-old-cough* student and for the first time feeling the need/pressure to do well. looming over me is that if I slip up, it is another YEAR to try again, not including the program. I will be collecting Social Security by then... Enough of that and on with the story...

Contrary to my general way of handling things, I did research all the profs even before I went on here and then double noted the suggestions made by FutureNOVARN and everyone else. My plan was to take Micro w Dr.V summer and then A&P Fall/Spring, I wasnt sure NAS or BIO but from teacher selection leaning NAS. What FUBARED my plan was having to add Chem and go with BIO, not NAS and in a specific order. I hadnt looked at Chem and while some of the recommended NAS teachers also do BIO,none this summer. So I had to scramble to get things together.

I did in fact login right after Midnight to get class but it was moving kinda slow and I was really nervous about getting a problem teacher so I put it off. When I had decieded what to do, I tried and I couldnt because there was a computer block for a pre-req !! I had never had an issue before just signing up pre-reqs be damned but that was pre-computer. I had the class at another school so I just needed to bring in the transcript, get it waived and sign up. I tried to look up the prof on RMP but it was down and somehow I skipped a lookup before..Could the Gods have cursed me more ???

Went in before class,got it waived,signed up for Chem...

Get on RMP and he is loved by all,they all rave...So by chance it seems I got the IO guy I wanted and a good chem..

We will see how it goes !!!

Cilantrophobe · Apr 4, 2009

Congratulations about getting it all straightened out. My friend had a similar problem on registration day. She went to register for HLT 250 and couldn't because there was a hold on her account for overpayment of financial aid and guess how much money she owed the school? $0.00! I swear, some people are so stupid. There should have never been a hold put on her account in the first place.

Flames9_RN, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Apr 4, 2009

It is a very good idea to check that place on Blackboard (VCCS SIS89: Student information--under STUDENT CENTER) to see if ya have ANY holds on your account, it should say No holds!! I wasn't checking mine, and it caused me some havoc truing to register for Fall 2008 classes and clinicals, as they didn't have my updated 10 yr greencard on file (2 yr one had expired) so it would not allow me to register!! And you will find out the good clinical spots go in SECONDS of registering opening up!! And I mean seconds, as their is only 8 students per clinical. So you needa plan b, c, and d when registering for your nursing program classes, just a headfs up!! Even an over due library book wil lput a hold on ur account

xyzzy703 · Jun 22, 2009

To pick this thread back up, planning to take ******** ***** in the fall for 142 - has anyone taken his class? I know he is an adjunct and fairly new, but as the other posters have mentioned, there is no feedback for him on RMP. I'd reluctant to take a professor for which there is little to no information, but might have to because of scheduling. Anyone have any information on his teaching and testing formats? Powerpoint/multiple choice, etc...

Flames9_RN, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Jun 22, 2009

They don tallow you to post names of profs on here--even if its all good stuff about them,lol!

RMP is only so-so when it comes to ratings. I have had great profs, yet on RMP, they stated they were terrible! I think many people just want a free ride and want everything given to them on a golden plate! Sorry, I'm not much help

xyzzy703 · Jun 22, 2009

I apologize for posting the professor's name - I won't do that again in the future. I figured since his name was already mentioned in the post, it was permissible.

I agree with you about RMP. Given the choice, however, between little information and no information, I'd still choose a little. That said, I still completely agree with you about the students looking for free rides. The ones who seem to gripe the loudest are the ones most disappointed by the professors who don't clearly say "this question is going to be in this specific form on the next test." I have been somewhat successful in finding some little nuggets of wisdom from the ratings, though. I've found that those with complaints other than "stay away from this professor" are generally consistent in their their issues with specific professors and they are generally fair when identifying the characteristics that hindered their ability to learn. While there are some great professors out there who get horrible ratings, there are also bad professors who deserve the ratings they receive.

I guess I'll just have to try out the professor's class and see how it goes. I just hope I'm not making a mistake like I did this summer with my chemistry class. It all comes down to luck.