Rio Salado--biology recommendations for distance learning

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i will be taking my final for bio 156 this thursday...aghh!! anyway i really need some recommendations. this school is incredibly hard! i have a student loan with this school and need to take one more class to fulfill my units needed for my loan. i only need a&p 1 and 2 and micro biology before i can apply for the nursing program closer to my home.

there are only a few ap 1 and micro biology classes open at the point for me to enroll in which are schedule to start next week. i need to make a decision asap so i can get my books shipped to me before then. this is where i need help....

i do not know anything about any of the professors and would like input as to which professors are good and which are bad. i really hate that this school is so standardized...their program is hard. please pm me if you can give any advice!!

also, i would like any suggestions on other colleges that offer distance learning for these courses and are easy to get into...please pm me with any suggestions.

thank you!!

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Goodness I still need 7 more posts before anyone can PM me....

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Clovis Community College offers AP1 and 2 and I find the workload incredibly reasonable. I would not say its easy, but if you read the chapter, answer the review questions in the chapter, and read the online materials the professor provides, you will do just fine. He seems very reasonable and approachable (I have never had to ask him anything so I am just going on what little I have seen). There is a quiz for each chapter (or half-chapter, depending on subject) and an exam every two chapters or so. Lab is a weekly assignment that involves a case study and a little bit of critical thinking. Its actually quite fun when so much of A&P is memorization to have a chance to take what you know and solve a problem instead of just regurgitating it.

The cost is quite reasonable.

Easy to apply.

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Is this an online class with an online lab? The class I am in requires so many essays it is crazy! There are 5-7 essay questions per Ch. and you will be given 2 random questions per Ch...but you have to know how to answer ALL the questions because they will show up on the midterm and final.

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Is this an online class with an online lab? The class I am in requires so many essays it is crazy! There are 5-7 essay questions per Ch. and you will be given 2 random questions per Ch...but you have to know how to answer ALL the questions because they will show up on the midterm and final.

Yes - it is completely online.

The required work is: one quiz per week, a test every couple of weeks covering an average of 2 chapters, and a lab each week which is about 6 pages to read that elaborate on the chapter material, plus a case study at the end with 10 questions. I have never written more than 1 1/2 pages to answer the 10 questions, and get 10/10 each time, so I would assume the amount I write is correct.

The chapter tests are online, asynchronous, and take me about 10-15 minutes on average to run through the first time (double checking my answers can add another 10 min b/c you have to go one question at a time). It is 50 multiple choice questions, and you do get an hour.

No essays!

I took A&P back in 93-94 (so of course it is very old now) and it seemed more difficult then - not sure if its this course or some material I have retained. We had cadaver lab. I will admit - the cadaver lab and the other lab work did help with understanding the material more than this lab does, but I think this is adequate.

Hope this helps. I am considering taking Bio 156 through Rio Salado this fall (again, my Bio is really old) and it sounds intense!

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Thanks...I would seriuosly rethink taking bio 156 at Rio. Check this board out for other comments pretty much every person says the samething! I wish I had done my homework first before enrolling...

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Hmm - I think I need to take it online somewhere so I can take Micro in the Spring. I will read back through the thread. So you have a lot of essays to write?

I am moving to Las Vegas this summer and will miss the cutoff date to qualify for in-state tuition (have to have paperwork in before I will have an address there) so I have to keep my credits to 6 or less or pay a huge out-of-state tuition fee (something like an additional $3000 or so). I am taking a Chemistry that I have to take this fall, and the Bio would just push me over. Gosh I wish there were an exam I could take to opt out since I have taken freshman Bio already - its just old.

I was thinking Rio Salado b/c of the multiple start dates.

Maybe I should check to see what Clovis is offering for the Fall and if I can do it from a distance.

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The multiple start dates is a definte plus! Yes, out-of- state fees stink!!! Keep in mind if you do "distance learning" (online only) the fees may be a LITTLE lower.

The essays are insane! I do not recommend chem and bio at the same time. Not saying it can not be done; just hard. Best of luck to you!

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