Just started first pre-recs today...ugh...

[Olddodger]

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Hi all,

Just to share a bit...did my first pre-rec class today...a retake of Chemistry 1.

I felt like a withered old tree...meh... 🙄

Small class, though...only about 20 or so (versus 150+ last time). Maybe I can learn something this time around.

Well, Biology is at 6p...can't wait...

Best,
Oldie

 

[Spooner]

why do you have to re-take Chem1?

 

[blee]

Keep your head up! This is only the first of many, many hours of classes you will be taking in the next several years, so get used to it. 🙂

 

[Olddodger]

why do you have to re-take Chem1?

Hrmmm, whats the best way to explain it? Something about being an intoxicated 18 year old the last time I took it 20 years ago ....

Problem was that my grade reflected this...drat!

Sometimes I wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then...

Best,
Oldie

 

[unfrozencaveman]

Ahhhh memories....

The first class I took, someone out of the blue turns to me and goes "um, what year are you??". She was a freshman. I was 25. It was great.

 

[pingouin]

Ahhhh memories....

The first class I took, someone out of the blue turns to me and goes "um, what year are you??". She was a freshman. I was 25. It was great.

Or when the 18 year-olds in my chem lab group were complaining "I don't remember this stuff! It's been 2 years since I took it!!!"

They quieted down when I said "Try 13 years."

Unfortunately my lab partner from last semester is transferring schools. We had some good times. Has anyone had problems with lab partners? I've been lucky.

 

[blee]

Or when the 18 year-olds in my chem lab group were complaining "I don't remember this stuff! It's been 2 years since I took it!!!"

They quieted down when I said "Try 13 years."

Unfortunately my lab partner from last semester is transferring schools. We had some good times. Has anyone had problems with lab partners? I've been lucky.

There were several post-baccs in each of my classes, so finding lab partners with compatible schedules wasn't difficult. As it turned out, though, I found it easiest to pair up with an undergrad in a couple of my classes, and it worked out perfectly well. I encountered surprisingly little surprise when I told them how old I was.

 

[remo]

Ahhhh memories....

The first class I took, someone out of the blue turns to me and goes "um, what year are you??". She was a freshman. I was 25. It was great.

I'm 35 and have been asked "what's my major?" a few times. Always makes my day!

To the OP - I would recommend that you go to the office hours of every prof you have. You need to see which ones are cool and which aren't so you can get awesome LOR's. It's never too early to find people to write good LOR's. I found all mine in the 1st half of my post-bacc so now I don't need to bother going to office hours any more.

 

[ShyRem]

Ah, yes. I remember my first semester back in physics lab... the team across the table asked me how old I was. I answered. My lab partner dropped what he had in his hand, looked at me with mouth agape for about 5 seconds. Then he said "my MOTHER just turned that old!" I smiled. Priceless. I kicked his a$$ in that class. 😀

 

[r_salis]

Hi all,

Just to share a bit...did my first pre-rec class today...a retake of Chemistry 1.

I remember my first day back to take my pre-recs -- the first class on my schedule was Bio I. I went to the same undergrad where I had gotten my degree 12 years before, which felt a little creepy at first. Same humongolous lecture hall where I had taken so many other classes, but for the first time I sat in the front row instead of all the way in the back. 😀

The question I got asked which totally made my day was, "Do you live on campus?"

 

[DocIn2012]

you're so lucky. My chem 1 class was 800 students. try standing out there.

 

[pingouin]

I remember my first day back to take my pre-recs -- the first class on my schedule was Bio I. I went to the same undergrad where I had gotten my degree 12 years before, which felt a little creepy at first. Same humongolous lecture hall where I had taken so many other classes, but for the first time I sat in the front row instead of all the way in the back. 😀

Oh wow. I considered returning to my alma mater, but it would be much more expensive than the state school. And, so many years later, it would have been the exact same chem professor . Didn't like him much the first time, wasn't going down that road again!

 

[pingouin]

you're so lucky. My chem 1 class was 800 students. try standing out there.

mine was 120 students on test days, 40-50 on any other given day.

 

[JamieMac]

I remember my first day back to take my pre-recs -- the first class on my schedule was Bio I. I went to the same undergrad where I had gotten my degree 12 years before, which felt a little creepy at first. Same humongolous lecture hall where I had taken so many other classes, but for the first time I sat in the front row instead of all the way in the back. 😀

I began my pursuit last fall, and found myself in the same situation. Same university, same lecture halls...It was a bit strange for me also, but within a short time it was all good. Although I have had next to no science background, I had a pretty good term. Unfortunately, my work load has increased, and I can only attend one class and lab this term, so I'm on to Chem II starting this Monday.

Good luck all!

 

[Olddodger]

mine was 120 students on test days, 40-50 on any other given day.

Hi all,

The U where I'm going has fairly small classes...20 or so in Chem and about 30 in Bio. I'm told that the Chem class will drop to around 10 by the drop deadline.

No TA's either. All classes are taught by the profs.

The Chem professor seems like a nice guy, but a "hoop master", meaning that he lays down the rules the first day, and if you jump the hoops, you win. No problem. Personally, I like it when they tell you the rules ahead of time instead of keeping you guessing.

A couple of the kids from my Chem class were also in my Bio class. One asked me what I thought of the Chem professor. I simply told her "seems fair enough, he gave you the rules up front...all you have to do is follow them". Probably not the answer she was looking for.

Best,
Oldie

 

[LADoc00]

Hi all,

Just to share a bit...did my first pre-rec class today...a retake of Chemistry 1.

I felt like a withered old tree...meh... 🙄

Small class, though...only about 20 or so (versus 150+ last time). Maybe I can learn something this time around.

Well, Biology is at 6p...can't wait...

Best,
Oldie

Hello Billy Madison.
How can you get anything done with all the 18 year old girls around...the ultimate distraction!!

 

[LADoc00]

Hi all,

One asked me what I thought of the Chem professor. I simply told her "seems fair enough, he gave you the rules up front...all you have to do is follow them". Probably not the answer she was looking for.
Best,
Oldie

Dude, I think she was hitting on you! Sweetness. Keep the updates comin.

 

[DocteurMarion]

a retake of Chemistry 1.

Wait till you get to O-chem 😱

Great stuff 😴

 

[Gatewayhoward]

It's gonna be interesting for me when I start my last two years of undergrad. When I was eighteen I was all timid and I was a slacker, now I'm a 23 year old paramedic with a stable salary and on my way to medical school, surrounded by young 18,19 year olds. How am I gonna concentrate? ha

 

[scpod]

Ah, yes. I remember my first semester back in physics lab... the team across the table asked me how old I was. I answered. My lab partner dropped what he had in his hand, looked at me with mouth agape for about 5 seconds. Then he said "my MOTHER just turned that old!" I smiled. Priceless. I kicked his a$$ in that class. 😀

I started Chem I in the summer and by the second session in Chem II was feeling like a young man again. All the kids wanted me to go to their study sessions and a few were even asking me to go out for pizza and beers later (the few that were actually old enough to drink). Reality hit me when a few of us were studying together an hour before the Chem II final and one student's phone rang. I could hear the voice on the other end say, "Is the old man who sits in the back row there yet?"

 

[Doctor Bagel]

good luck! i remember how weird it was for me my first day in physics. i didn't expect to feel quite as old as i did -- everyone looked like they were 18. the more i talked to people and did stuff in lab, the more i realized that i wasn't the only non-trad out there. my lab partners were about 50/50 trad/nontrad. it was funny to realize that some of them couldn't drink. so weird.

the group where i felt really like the lone old person was with my kaplan class. it seemed like everyone was traditional, and they were all in that "whoo, i went and drank a beer while studying" mode because it was all so new to them.

 

[JamieMac]

I started Chem I in the summer and by the second session in Chem II was feeling like a young man again. All the kids wanted me to go to their study sessions and a few were even asking me to go out for pizza and beers later (the few that were actually old enough to drink). Reality hit me when a few of us were studying together an hour before the Chem II final and one student's phone rang. I could hear the voice on the other end say, "Is the old man who sits in the back row there yet?"

Ouch! Oh well...sounds like most of them are accepting. Thankfully, I seem to be judged about 8+ years younger. Last term, one of lab partners asked me how old I was...15 minutes later he was still talking about it. Funny. Bottom line...you're only old if YOU think you are. I hope to remain young at heart till the day I die.

 

[DarkWingDuck]

I started Chem I in the summer and by the second session in Chem II was feeling like a young man again. All the kids wanted me to go to their study sessions and a few were even asking me to go out for pizza and beers later (the few that were actually old enough to drink). Reality hit me when a few of us were studying together an hour before the Chem II final and one student's phone rang. I could hear the voice on the other end say, "Is the old man who sits in the back row there yet?"

What an ass!

 

[SheLioness]

I'm 35 and have been asked "what's my major?" a few times. Always makes my day!

I was 34 when I started my pre-reqs. Gen Chem I. I had never taken a chemistry course EVER before that. Once when I was waiting in the room for the class to start, a student came up and asked if I was the TA. Eeeek. Oh well. It got better and better with each class I finished. So, hang in there!

 

[PineappleGirl]

Hi all,

Just to share a bit...did my first pre-rec class today...a retake of Chemistry 1.

I felt like a withered old tree...meh... 🙄

Small class, though...only about 20 or so (versus 150+ last time). Maybe I can learn something this time around.

Well, Biology is at 6p...can't wait...

Best,
Oldie

If it makes you feel better, I think that sometimes it is better to take some classes with a lot of freshman and sophomores, especially if the course is graded on a curve. I took physiology with a bunch of post-bacc people, and while the atmosphere was very cool since most of the people were my age or older, the competition was brutal because everyone was trying to get into med school. Then I took anatomy with a bunch of freshman and sophomores and while I did feel kind of old, the curve was a lot more in my favor as most of the little ones were more concerned with partying and drinking than studying for the exams. The other post-baccer that took anatomy with me always used to joke that we should go out and buy a couple kegs right before the exam and leave them at the ugrads' study session.

 

[Olddodger]

The other post-baccer that took anatomy with me always used to joke that we should go out and buy a couple kegs right before the exam and leave them at the ugrads' study session.

Heh, Age and guile beats youth and engergy every time!

Still finding my footing in class.

At my last job, the academic experience had a different time line, so the pacing here is throwing me off somewhat. When you go to school for a specific aircraft, you have 4-6 weeks of intensive academics. 2 weeks of systems ground school, which is 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. During this time, you ALSO have to be studying for the next phase, which is procedures training, as well as memorizing aircraft limitations (which is usally 15-20 pages of arcane and seemingly random numbers). Then it's 1 week of proceedures training, then on to 2 weeks in the simulator. The system's ground school is at least a semester's worth of information by itself.

Problem is with the Chem and Bio, I'm working at my airline pacing, which is basically jamming on everything every waking moment. I don't think I can keep this pace for 4 months, but I find it's difficult for me to dial back my "enthusiasm"...I'm always saying to myself "sheesh...bring it on already".

Best,
Oldie