Question Re: Starting Chemistry

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Hi! I am starting a Chemistry class for Heath Occupations this Jan and was wondering what you would suggest studying ahead of time to possibly prepare. I was not great in math in HS but that was over 10 years ago and I'm hoping that I'm a little better now! All I've take so far for pre-reqs is Speech and Psycology and Chem is the only class I'm taking for Spring. Thanks for any advice!

Make sure you can do simple algebra. The math in Chem I isn't any harder than that.

A good website for clear explanations of Chem concepts is http://www.sparknotes.com/testprep/books/sat2/chemistry, which is actually a test prep for the SAT Chemistry subject test. Beyond that, look through the Fall 2007 Chem. sticky on the student nurses' forum, and note any recommended/helpful websites. Keep shortcuts to those websites in a folder on your computer desktop, and visit a couple of them to get the "lay of the land". You'll see which ones seem to be written clearly and in a way that appeals to you. Then when you have a particular problem in Chem you need help with, you can go to one of those sites for help or practice.

As another poster said, do ALL of the assigned problems. Ask your prof. or t/a or tutor about any problem you don't know how to solve. Also, if your textbook has online resources, do all the practice problems and tests that are online. Doing that made my life easier, because my teacher used a lot of questions that were similar to those online.

I hadn't had Chem in over 30 years, and I'm going into my final with a 98 average. So you can do it! Good luck!

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.
Hi! I am starting a Chemistry class for Heath Occupations this Jan and was wondering what you would suggest studying ahead of time to possibly prepare. I was not great in math in HS but that was over 10 years ago and I'm hoping that I'm a little better now! All I've take so far for pre-reqs is Speech and Psycology and Chem is the only class I'm taking for Spring. Thanks for any advice!

Try not to worry about how you did in high school v. now. Learning as an adult is just different. I'm sure if you put in the study time, you'll be fine.

FYI, I had to take high school chemistry three times in order to receive a mercy 'D-' grade to pass. Then, over ten years later in college, I just finished two semesters of chemistry, general chem and organic chem, both with 'A's.

I bet you'll do great!

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Thanks again - I just went thru the sticky and saved everything into my favorites as well as all the sites listed in this thread. I think everyone's suggestions are soo good I'm going to print out this thread and use it as a sort of check list! I'm sure I'll be back for support once the class starts because I'm just going to have to keep at it. At least I am able just to take this one class and try and focus on it. You all are great! :wink2:

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