coolinbysound

Maybe it has something to do with your body language or tone of voice? Or you aren't looking like you are interested during clinical or maybe you don't look very approachable. Possibly your voice tone when you talk doesn't have much emotion or it's really low. These could be factors as to why your nursing instructor is getting on your case.

Review your algebra first. Most nursing schools require a chemistry class and most students fail because they can't do the math. Before you start your bio classes, try to watch videos or read the concepts that are covered before hand. It also helps to stay a chapter ahead and ask a tutor/professor to help you out when you are struggling early on.

Dang, a year of analytical chemistry for med school?!??!! I could probably do a semester but a year?Sounds intense and tedious!

Go for nursing first. That way you can gain some health experience for 1-2 years and save up some money for med school so you won't be a slave to loans. I assume you have most of your premed requirements done since you have an AS? Then apply for med school. You could probably work part time as a nurse during school if you have time. If you want to be a doctor, just do it. Nursing can just be your stepping stone. Alot of people do it here anyways.

Talk to the nursing schools you are going to apply for to see if they accept those certain classes. You don't want to take something and then get notified later after taking the class that they aren't accepted. Usually schools also have transfer guides that show which classes from the other univerisities or CCs that are similar to the classes they require.

I agree with those above. It depends on the class - for biology the best way to study is to use the powerpoints in class and find outlines covering the main material that is going to be tested. For chemistry and the like, it helps to do lots of practice problems. Never read the book front to back, it is a waste of valuable study time. Skim the important information and highlight relevant facts.

If you school replaces your bad grade with a CR (course repeat) and doesn't factor in the bad grade into your GPA, then I would stick through the whole class, see what you get and if you don't like it repeat it. This way you can cover your bad grade instead of having a W on your transcript forever. My school allowed me to do this. Most schools only allow 1 retake. So if you do retake that class, make sure you do super well.

Even if they changed it to a doctorate, you would think it would be maybe 1 or 2 years more. Still less time than the med school route.

Yeah, you should just go to CRNA school, become a nurse anesthetist and rake in all that $$$$ after only 2 years of your master's degree. Med school route = 2 years of prereqs (unless you did them already), 4 years of med school, 3-4 years of residency in the field of anesthesia. Unless you want to be in school all your life haha. But then again the med school route would give you double the pay of a CRNA!

I did apply for more than 2 schools. I got into 2 of the 3, but both were private schools and expensive. I picked SU because it was two years instead of 3. I agree I should have applied to more schools, but I changed my major last minute so I didn't have a chance to apply to all the schools in WA before deadlines. I think I'll just go to SU this year. My parents agreed to pay the rest of costs and I'll be taking out 11,500 in federal loans this year. No private loans. It'll be the same for next year. I start this Wed. So total 23,000$ in loans for the entire program. Thank you everyone for all your kind responses. I appreciate them in making my decision.

if you've never had chemistry in high school before or if you did and vaguely remember anything and if you have weak algebra skills then take chemistry on a lighter load

I don't have a previous degree. I checked in with the financial aid office and they adjusted my award a bit so instead of taking out 50K for the whole program it will be about 32-35K after some help from my parents. Still very expensive but seems around the amount lots of people going for BSNs are taking out in this forum. Yeah, my original plan was to re-apply to UW. I haven't been able to improve my application from last year since I was set on going to SU until this September. But what if I don't get in again? I really don't want to take out all those loans. The other option would be to try to apply again to some programs at the CCs. It kind of sucks when there's only 2 public universities in WA that offer nursing BSNs in two years. My family can only afford public schools. I'll think of something.

I've taken upper level gen chem and organic chem and I was a chem tutor for almost two years here are my Pro tips for doing EXCELLENT in chemistry: 1. Review college algebra immediately! Preferably 2 weeks before class begins. Make sure know how to cross out units and convert. This is crucial to passing. If you go in without the basic math skills you WILL do bad. 2. Always stay 1 chapter ahead of the class. This way you can ask specific questions for your prof during lecture, office hours, etc. To do this read the chapter, underline important concepts and any math problems that are relevant to proving the concepts. (ex. like Boyle's law equation to prove the inverse relationship of pressure + volume). Go on youtube and watch videos with people showing how to solve problems from that chapter/unit. 3. See a tutor from class day 3. Even if you are doing exceptionally well, still go see a tutor. They are there to help you get ahead! If you don't get something when you are trying to study ahead have a tutor explain and show it to you. They are basically your "pre-professor" in a way before your actual instructor goes over the lesson. Don't make the mistake of under utilizing this valuable resource. 4. Do NOT memorize concepts or the math involved. Truly understand what is happening, why it's happening, what causes said reaction/effect and how does the math fit with what we are trying to prove/understand. If you do this you will find that chemistry has a lot of underlying patterns and you will be able to predict reactions/products right off the bat. This especially valuable if you are taking organic chemistry. Those patterns are important and those who see it early on in the class do very well. 5. Go to instructor office hours if you have a difficult question that you can't get an answer for right away. Never fall behind. 6. Realize that alot of the first part of gen chem is conversions. If you can cross units out quickly and know how to manipulate stoichiometry problems you will do well. 7. Do EVERY practice problem in the book. Stuck? Go see your instructor or tutor right away. Having a model kit also helps for visualizing shapes of molecules if you're not really good at visualizing in 3D. With that being said: study, study, study! A lot of the chemistry ways of thinking comes with practice. Pretty soon you'll be an expert, look back and say "that wasn't hard at all!".

I feel you. I'm sort of the same way, I'm not particularly shy, I just am not interested in talking with people most of the time so I never really like to talk and people always assume because I'm shy. I'm very introverted. But sometimes I do have social anxiety disorder when I'm in new situations/places so to counteract this I usually experiment with different personalities that help me get accustomed to the new change. It's kind of like wearing a mask so people don't really know the true me. I don't know if that really makes sense but it has helped with my nervousness with new people. You just have to find different things that work for you. Don't be afraid to try anything.

I hear you, these money issues are very stressful. It's a risk I'm prepared to take and I'll have to make 100% sure that I will graduate in 2 years. Hopefully from grants, scholarships and work I can take out significantly less loans my final year.

The RA idea is really good. I never knew about that until now (I've always lived off campus). I shall look into that this coming year, thanks for the tip!

What keeps me motivated to study and get good grades is I reward myself for every accomplishment I get. For instance, if I got a 90% or better on a chem test I would go out and get that music record I've been dying to have or something else I really wanted. If I reached my quarter goal of getting a 95% or better I would take myself out to an awesome buffet. Needless to say, these types of things have made me want to keep studying and do well in my studies! It also helps to study in different areas. I would study at beaches, coffee shops, different libraries, parks and have a picnic or my backyard. Change of scenery does wonders for the mind.

I've decided to go to Seattle U after all. Thanks for all the replies and advice guys!

If your parents weren't helping pay for your college, why didn't you change your major to something you liked? Since you're almost done and took out loans you might as well finish nursing school. Look on the bright side, you'll graduate and be able to get a good paying job in which you can save up money to do/become whatever you want in life and get out of the nursing field in the future. Patience is a virtue.

Imagine taking 21 credits a quarter with A&P II, 200 level O-chem, 2 English classes with reading 100+ pages a day while working 25 hours a week and taking care of 4 younger siblings and a tired, sick mother! That was the hardest quarter ever for me! But I strived to make it through and I did, so I agree that those who really want to go into nursing will pursue it hardcore.

Definitely go on the Asia trip. You can start nursing school anytime. You don't want to spend life regretting not going if nursing school or the nursing field when you start working is not to your taste 100%. Enjoy life when you're still young!!

I don't think it really matters. Just go with the professor that knows you well and can write the best about your talents/abilities. But if you must decide, probably go with the science/math since that is what nursing is about and nursing schools want to know if you can handle those subjects well.

Go volunteer at a hospital or shadow a nurse or physician. See what suits you best and note pros and cons for each one. Get opinions from healthcare professionals. That's probably the best way to decide.

Maybe picking up a second major or minor might make school more challenging?

If you must form a study group, always pick smarter people who understands the material way better than you do. Any other people is a waste of time. I learned this from experience. If you get stuck with something, go to a tutor or instructor for clarification immediately!