BusyMomof5

Lisa, Thank you for your breakdown of the Teas test. I am also a 4.0 student in Chem and A & P ( have yet to take Micro). This test concerns me because I have heard that they ask quite a few questions that are on the life sciences...good grief, I took that in 7th grade! How would you recommend getting the refresher on the sciences? I was going to buy the ATI study guide but if you didn't find it helpful maybe I won't waste my money. Also, it has been many years since I took Math. I recently took Statistics, but that's different. I am worried that I will have some problems in the Math area..was the study guide focused on that, or not really? Thanks for your help!

You guys are killing me! I thought I was really getting ahead around here until I read your posts. My kids are small and I can barely keep up- wish I had the time to get that 'ready' for school ... I am just trying to keep my two toddlers from ripping more keys off the laptop or my 4 year old from using Sharpies to color her books (they always bleed through onto my desk). Right now she is riding her new Razor scooter in the house. (Our weather has kept the kids inside for WEEKS) I wish I had your energy! You will do great!

Hi Sand Dollar, I have noticed from reading different posts here that there is a lot of variation in the Chemistry classes. But, having said that, here's what we covered in my class (we are on the quarter system). Significant Figures, Solving Multi Step Conversions, Properties of Protons / Neutrons / Electrons, Ions, Isotopes, Atomic Mass, Chemical Formulas, Nomenclature (naming compounds), Balancing Equations, Naming Acids, Polyatomic Ions, Conversions between Grams and Moles, Grams and Atoms, Mass Percent of Compounds, Electron Configurations (Periodic Trends - Atomic Size, Ionization Energy, Metallic Character), Chemical Bonding, Lewis Structures, Electronegativity and Polarity, Gases, Properties of Liquids and Solids, Intermolecular Forces, Surface tension, Boiling Point, Viscosity, Melting Point, Radioactivity, Nuclear Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry. I know this might be a confusing or daunting list, but hopefully it helps more than scares you :-). I didn't list every single topic, but these were the main ones. Also, there is a book that I found helpful upon the recommendation of the Chemistry Fall Thread called CliffsStudySolver Chemistry. I think it does a great job of giving exercises and breaks the concepts down well. Also, Mr. Guch has tons of practice sheets which will help you out in electron configurations, naming compounds, polyatomic ions, lewis structures, etc. Here is the link to that forum... https://allnurses.com/forums/f198/chemistry-fall-2008-a-318782.html Oh, and Atomic Woman seems to be a Chem Guru so she's a good one to ask questions..I believe she's taken quite a few Chem classes ! Good Luck to you!

Seaspray, Hi! I would agree that much of it might has to do with your nerves / confidence. Personally, I really struggle with that... I am 35, have given birth to 5 children (3 of them c-section) and have lived through "bigger" things in life...but, when I get into the classroom and have to take a test...I lose it. My heart races, my hands sweat, I can't calm down. I honestly have so much anxiety that I waste A LOT of my energy worrying. (After the exam I feel like I just ran a marathon- I am exhausted). I know this is a set-back for me. I try to do some self-talk to stay calm, breathing exercises, and remind myself that this is school for pete's sake! I guess when we have so much riding on these classes we put a ton of pressure on ourselves. When our teachers require 95 + to get an A it's a constant reminder of the fact that you can't make any mistakes or you drop to a B. When I look around the classroom at the younger students in their twenties they seem so calm and relaxed. I am seriously envious! They are texting and waiting to get their test passed out and I'm ready to have an anxiety attack. The last think I can think about is texting my friends - LOL! This is only my 3rd quarter back in college after staying home for 10 years. It was first quarter I've taken that I had really tough classes (Chemistry and Statistics). Next quarter I'm taking A & PI. I am hoping to figure out a way to have more confidence. I study hard but I am always second-guessing myself (maybe I don't know it well enough, maybe I should study more, etc). If anyone has some good advice, let me know...and maybe it will help the both of us! Just wanted you to know you aren't alone!

Great job! My school is on the quarter system, and we don't get a separate grade for Lecture and labs. I ended up with an A for Chemistry &121. I'm so happy! Tough class but after all that studying I honestly really understood it. On to A & P I next quarter...now I am worried about that one. Good luck to all of you waiting for grades still!

Sand Dollar, Thank you for your insight. Like you, I really want to know this stuff! I have my book so I'll start there..thank you for posting the links above. I had some of them bookmarked, but not all. You are very organized, you will do great! BTW: I just finished Chemistry &121 and got an A! If you have any questions, I will do my best to help you. good luck!

Hi ! I'm taking A & P I Winter quarter so count me in! I'm already wondering how to prepare - any suggestions are welcomed!

I'm with you, time to celebrate tonight! Congrats!:yelclap::monkeydance::clpty::dncgbby:

I finished my Stats final tonight and have to say it's a great relief to say goodbye to this quarter. I have been counting the weeks to the end since about the 3rd week. :chuckleMy chemistry professor posted my A today so I'm thrilled! I actually danced around my house and squeezed my kids singing "mommy got a 4.0!" LOL! Lots of hard work to get that one. I look around as I sit here at my laptop and my house tells me I've been distracted. Time to do some serious cleaning and organizing before A & P I next quarter! I'm so excited about it!! Finally I'm getting to the fun pre-reqs!

I think Stats is a class MOST people would agree is a HARD class. I guess you just need to make sure you can dedicate a lot of time to school. One homework assignment can take hours. You mentioned something about homelife. If you have a family and you are taking A&P, English, and Med Term, I would say that's a TON to bite off if you've never taken college classes. Just my opinion - trying to give you a realistic idea of how to gage it.. good luck!

I have to chime in and give my about this one. I am taking Statistics online this quarter. I have taken other classes online BUT....I would Not recommend taking several other classes w/ Stats. I don't think Statistics is so much of "Math" in the way most people think of math. It's so much more than solving equations. You must understand the concepts which are pretty foreign to most people. Also, you may have never used your TI for Stats, so there's a big learning curve there as well. There are so many concepts that the book does an OK job explaining, but when you are online, you don't have the advantage of raising your hand and saying "I'm not getting it, can you explain it a different way?". I would make sure you have plenty of resources to go to if you are getting confused or do not understand something. I would check to see if your instructor has office hours, and HOW many office hours. My instructor is only avail 2 X per week for 30 minutes which isn't a whole lot. Also, see if your tutoring center has a Stats tutor. We have one at my CC but, he is dealing with several classes and he's only 1 person - and only offers it twice a week - during the day. I have a family and 5 small kids so getting a babysitter to go to the Stats tutor in the middle of the day...tough..Also, I would try to get a study group going right away. For whatever reason I the people in my class aren't interested in studying together, so I'm on my own :-(. For what it's worth, Math moves VERY fast, we cover about 3.5 chapters per week. So, you really have to stay on top of things. I think the class is doable but you MUST commit a ton of time into it...and go into it with eyes wide open. Good luck!

Just remember this phrase from a good friend of mine who is in nursing school with 4 little ones: Short term pain for long term gain! Think of all the wonderful things you can do to your house when you are done: Organizing Shelves! Alphabetizing Spices! Color Coding your Sock Drawer, Clean Expired Drugs from Your Medicine Cabinets! It will all be waiting for you!!! I'm kidding but seriously, it's all so small in the big picture! Give yourself a break! School is HARD. You are doing the most important thing for yourself and your family and it will end in two short years and you will have accomplished something to be proud of. Everyone says that they can't believe I can go to school and have 5 kids. You can never imagine if you don't have the desire. You have the right attitude, stick to your dream !!! If I can do it, you can too!

I've lived in the greater Seattle area my entire life and now I have children of my own. I think there are a great many relocated people in certain areas who I have met that sort of 'band together'. I live in an area w/ a ton of Stay at Home Moms and all the non-natives seem to spend a lot of time together....I guess that's because it's the only "family" they have ? ..that being said, I guess one could gather that the reason that happens is that they all need to bond together because those of us who have lived here all of our lives have a big circle of friends who have known eachother forever. I would say that no matter which 'group' you fall into, that generally people are very friendly so you won't have a hard time making friends. I think it's funny that people have said it's hard to get to know people out here. I think anytime you can find something in common w/ another person it is enough reason to get to know them. It made me laugh out loud that no one responded to your post in the first few days. In general this is a lame forum for some reason which stinks. I have been looking to find others on here that attend my same CC which is a huge one. No one ever responds. I can't figure it out. I do notice though, that at school, the pre med students are pretty competitive and don't seem interested in helping eachother out too much. I'm an "older" student so I'm past all that crap but the younger students tend to be more self-serving. I guess I have the bigger picture in mind and realize that in life you reap what you sow. Good luck to you and your adventures! Oh, and I'm only taking pre reqs to apply to the nursing programs so I have no clue about the cost of living / salary except that I have read it's bad here.

Hi Phoenix, Ughhh~! It's just plain hard. I have to admit, a lot of the "housewife" duties are not getting done. If you can deal with looking at laundry that hasn't been folded, a floor that needs to be sweeped, dishes that are still on the table from breakfast..then by all means, you can do it. ;-) You know what I mean? All I DO IS STUDY. That means my 10 year old reads flashcards to me while I drive carpool. I really try to do a lot of studying while my 15 mo old and 2 1/2 yr old are napping. Also, I study at night after school. Statistics is the hardest for me because I have been out of school for 14 years and forgot how Math moves so fast and requires so much repetition. Also, it's online and no one is interested in studying together. I get that attitude a lot from all the pre med students. I guess everyone (in their own mind) is in competition with eachother. It kindof makes me laugh. I feel like I learn a lot when I teach someone else but I guess maybe they don't want to "take their precious time". Anyway, I don't have a ton of study tips other than I realized that 'explaining' some of the chemistry to my 10 and 7 yr olds helped me learn it. Oh, I guess I do have one tip: buy a white board. I found it invaluable to practice vocab, memorizing polyatomic ions and balancing equations. I use it a ton for Chemistry. Not really for Statistics, but I will use it again for other classes. If anyone has any Statistics tips, please share with me. I feel like that class is sucking the life out of me!

I'm w/ you Atomic Woman! My Chem class is going pretty well so far. We have 3 tests worth 100 pts each and a cum final. We don't get to drop any tests. We also have 8 labs worth 10 pts each..that's all for the quarter. Takes a 95% to get an A..no real room for mistakes or you drop to an A-. I guess it wouldn't be SO bad if I wasn't taking Statistics online as well...the two of them together (with 5 little ones) is just brutal!