Is this it for me?

[BrumleyVet]

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I need some advise. I have been doing pretty good until this quarter. But I'm in Microbiology and can't seem to follow what the prof is doing. I ace one test, then completely blow the next one! I spend more time studying this subject than all my other classes combined but just can't seem to get on top of it. Has anyone else been in this boat? I'm seriously starting to think that I may be at the end of my treck to vet school if I can't get through this. The prof is no help, his reply was that I should ask some of the other students, but can't seem to find someone getting the good grades.

 

[Pandacinny]

Don't give up! Everyone has a class or two like this, whether it be micro, orgo, or what. Mine was physics. I could NOT get some of that into my head, but I eventually got through it, and you will, too.

If I were you, I'd try to set up a study group. I think you're a non-trad, right? It might be a little more difficult to schedule, if you are, but I'd try to find some students and meet every day to explain things. Just because nobody else understands everything doesn't mean that other students can't help fill the gaps in *your* knowledge or that you can't help fill the gaps in theirs. Also, if there's another section of the class taught by a different professor, try sitting in on that if you can. Their teaching style might work better for you.

Good luck!

 

[catlover]

I would try to find someone to tutor you - it won't be free, but in the grand scheme of things it won't be that much money. The department office might be able to refer you to more advanced students that might be able to tutor.

 

[lailanni]

Most of us have had a diffucult time with a pre-req course! Do not worry! There's a thread somewhere about lowest grade gotten in a pre-req -- not surprisingly many of us have gotten the occasional B-,C, or lower. And many have still gotten into vet school.

I myself sucked at physics, and biochem was hard to sink into my brain. But I'm in vet school now and surviving just fine.

I would recommend a tutor, they can make a world of difference!

 

[sumstorm]

Ask the prof to point out a few students who are doing well. approach the prof with specific questions. form a study group (ask the prof if you can post something at the beginning of a class), communicate with TA's if you have them. is there a prevet/med club that could point you to someone who was successful in the class?

 

[pressmom]

I had to get a tutor for physics 2. It wasn't cheap, but it was all that got me through that course, since there wasn't a help center for it. I think it ran $30 a session and I went once a week for an hour. Since it started about a month in, I think it ended up being about $200 for the semester. When you're looking at the vet school numbers, like an above poster said, it isn't a whole lot.

I found the tutor through the departmental office. I just went into the department of physics and asked the receptionist if she knew of any grad students or professors who did tutoring in their spare time and mentioned I'd be willing to pay for it. She gave me a card and I called him.

 

[BrumleyVet]

Thanks for the posts!

I was assigned a tutor, then found out that she has never taken Micro, and when I asked about some of the reactions, said she wasn't very good in chemistry - ugh! There's no one else available now, so I'm trying to find "a friend of a friend" that might be available!

Lailanni, thanks for the reality check - with all the pre-med students fighting over the 4.0, I get lost in the fact that I have a better "package" to offer with my app! GO COUGS!!!!

 

[Ben and Me]

Are you sure that there is no one else available? Maybe you just need to get more creative. Don't go through the "traditional" outlets--instead, post notices on bulletin boards, ask the pre-vet club, etc.

It seems very strange that they would recommend someone that has never taken the course before. If you are at a smaller school, I'd recommend going to the professor and using them as your tutor. I spent tons of hours with my professors when I was at my small, liberal arts undergrad college. Now I'm at a huge school finishing up pre-reqs and have had to hire a tutor, just because my professor has 400 other students and doesn't have the time that I need.

 

[BrumleyVet]

Our pre-vet "club" is non-existant here.

I have always wondered, just what do you ask a prof or tudor? The one I had before just went over my homework.

On this same note, does anyone have any great study plans or ideas? I'm rethinking how I do things and was wondering how everyone else with these heavy class loads manages quality study time in each subject.

Thanks.

 

[littlecaitling]

Okay, as a tutor, i always tell my tutees (is that even a word? haha) to do the homework, go through the lecture notes, do the study guide, etc. on their own first and then come to me with and questions they might have. I also email the professors of the class(es) I'm tutoring to let them know that I'm tutoring and ask for a syllabus. It's worked out well; currently I'm tutoring genbio students and, as an example, one is having problems understanding meiosis, so I'm going to give her an old copy of a meiosis worksheet we got in genetics that i think does a better job explaining things than her notes/textbook.

You might want to contact your tutor before the actual time you meet and give them a sort of head's up on exactly what you're struggling with, so that s/he can prepare information and the tutoring session will be more productive. Even when someone has taken a class (i know in our school student tutors must have taken the class and gotten a B or better before they can tutor/ta/be a study group leader), when they're put on the spot with a vague or weird question they might not be able to help you as well as they could if they had a chance to do a quick review themselves beforehand. Same goes with professors; you might want to email them saying "I'm having problems understanding concepts X, Y, and Z, so I would like to arrange a mutually convenient time where we can go over these concepts." I don't know how that works in bigger schools, but I go to a small libarts school and the professors are generally very accessible and are happy to help students that ask.

That's really weird that your school sent you to a tutor that never even took the course though. I would definitely try looking elsewhere for a tutor, or try to contact your professor.

 

[168135]

I'm in the same boat right now with organic chemistry (I did awesome on all of the assignments, yet blew the midterm because his midterm was unpredictable and had not much to do with the assignments and what we went over in review!). I think I'm going to get a tutor too. I'm doing awesome in all of my other courses (80s and 90s... w00t!)

My room mate is in a few of the same classes as me. When it comes time for tests, we get together and take turns reading the notes and explaining concepts to each other. If I don't understand something, she can usually explain it in a way that makes me understand it, and vice-versa. If we both don't understand it, we'll go to the books and notes for help, and then if we still don't understand it, one of us will email the prof or we'll both go to the prof for help. I go to a pretty small university though. All of the profs encourage you to come talk to them if you need help (one of our profs even MAKES us ask him at least one question for each assignment for a point)

 

[twelvetigers]

Even professors larger universities like mine (one of the big 12) encourage you to come in and ask questions. I think it's always a good idea, even just so they know your face and name. If there were one thing I wish I'd done in my first 3 years of college, it's actually talk to the professors.