Soliciting Moral Support from my Non-Trad Camrades

[flyingbridge]

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Ever read the paper placemat in a Chinese restaurant, the one with the Chinese Zodiac descriptions? Well, I am a "Monkey". It has me to a T. The relevant part of the description is: "An entusiastic achiever, you are easily discouraged and confused".

That's how I am feeling right now. After relocating from the DC area to upstate NY (entailing selling and buying a house at pretty much the same time) to attend classes at my old alma mater, after this, my first Chem test, I got a 75/140 on it, or a C. Now never mind the lowest score in class was in the double digits but started with a "1" (Can you imagine how bad that person must be feeling?). The prof drops the lowest of three test grades so it's not that bad. But still, it is very disappointing.

I am not married and don't have a job so have been free to study the material all day, and have been dilligent in studying and have otherwise been behaving myself. I am in my late 30s now, have a BA in History and a MS degree in IT (and after 10+ years programming computers I decided I wanted to become a dr.), living a largely square lifestyle since even before I went to grad school in 1995. I have no bad habits to speak of and can focus and concentrate well, and have a good solid measure of IQ points if I do say so myself -- so I am asking myself, good God, what the hell is wrong with me??

What I simply want is some encouraging remarks, in particular, please share stories (truthful ones, please!) of similar let-downs others in the non-trad path have had. I just need some bucking up from others here in the fox-holes with me.

Thanks!

 

[efex101]

This is your first exam so relax! now you know what type of questions and how the professors will be asking so learn from this. Chemistry is not easy and it may take a TON of work to get through this but it can be done. The golden rule is that for every hour spent in class (class plus lab) you need to put in a MINIMUM of three hours at home. So for some classes meeting three times per week for one hour for lecture and then let's say once a week for a three hour lab...for a total of 6 contact hours (I think it may be more than this for 3cr hr lecture plus 1cr hr lab) you need a minimum of 18 hours spent at home. Again, this is a minimum guideline so if you are not spending this much time then there could lie your problem. Now, this mileage may vary depending on how fast you pick things up some folks will need double this time others less. This is just hours not counting hours to study for exams...fyi. I tutored chem/bio/physics and often times among the tutees there was a sense that "just" doing homework was enough and this is a big misconception. You not only need to do homework but also read the corresponding chapter in your text book to solidify concepts covered in lecture and lab. Many times their books were new! not one marking! mine was doggone nappy by the time I was done with the course! So make sure that you are covering ALL the bases by doing homework (sometimes multiple times to get the speed down because we know that doing it is one thing but doing problems on a time crunch is another), reading the chapter until you GET the concepts again this may need a twice over, using the lecture notes to hone in on concepts the professors thinks are super important, going to tutors, etc.

 

[QofQuimica]

On top of efex's excellent advice, I would also like to make you aware that we have on SDN an MCAT Study Questions subforum (located inside the main MCAT forum). It isn't only for people studying for the MCAT; you can ask chemistry class questions there also, and some topics may even already be answered if you read the Explanations thread.

 

[kimt2234]

I feel you over here. I have 8 prereq's to take, all science, and am taking gen chem 1 right now. I have a BS in Psych and and MS in Marriage and Family Therapy and I can honestly say that I have not studied for as long or as hard or gone to tutoring sessions as much as I have for this one class. My first exam is on October 11th and I am petrified of failing it. Even though I go threw all of the example probs and exercise in the chapter, plus probs on a study sheet from my tutor, I still don't feel like I am going to do well once I get to the exam. I have 5 years of previous Exam 1's with keys and am looking at them like "OH #@!$."

I am freaking because it is only going to get harder. What about organic chem and biochem and physics?!?! Gen chem is supposed to be the easiest of them all and I am having a heartattack over hear. Plus, it's like med school classes are not like these classes I have heard. You only use a smidge of the crap you learn in prereq's in med school. Of course let's not forget the good ol' MCAT's.

Oy, I feel faint, I need to eat something. I FEEL YOUR PAIN. COngrats on the C, I hope I am as lucky!

 

[QofQuimica]

kim, check your PM box.

 

[blee]

Hey there flyingbridge! 🙂 I'm a central (or upstate? hard to tell, I'm not a NY native) New York alumnus myself, although my school was not conducive to me returning and just taking random classes, so perhaps we're not talking about the same school. I do, however, live in the D.C. area. Anyway...

I've run into a number of speed bumps along the way, but that's all they were -- speed bumps. For example, I almost wasn't able to even enter my postbac program, because my undergrad GPA was so poor. The director begrudgingly told me that I would be allowed into the program if I got As in general chemistry; problem solved, I thought, until I then realized that I wouldn't qualify for financial aid for those classes since I wasn't yet in a formal program. That almost torpedoed my pre-med track before I even started it. I eventually found a way to pay for the summer, though, and now I'm in great shape for this application cycle.

At the risk of making this post unreadably long, I'll give you a more relevant example. I got the mean grade -- a 74%, or a nice solid C -- in my first bio exam. My bio professor hands out the first exam to every student individually, so I had to sit there while we figured out what went wrong. I hated starting out of the blocks on such a bad note, but I didn't have a choice. I ended up bearing down and studying my butt off for the rest of the semester. I didn't have the luxury of dropping my lowest score, but I ended up with an A- in the class; in fact, I missed an A by eight lousy points over the entire semester.

One marginal grade in an exam isn't going to stop your progress, but it should definitely make you take a minute to sort things out. Figure out why you didn't do as well as you'd hoped and work towards fixing those problems. You will most likely do very well for the rest of the semester. Then again, you might not; you'll never know, though, unless you keep going. Good luck.

On an orgo-specific note, I will tell you that the best way to learn organic chemistry is through practice. I spent hours upon hours doing and re-doing the problems in my textbook; the solutions manual might as well have been kept under my pillow all year long. After a couple of weeks, I finally "got it" and the rest of the semester went much easier.

 

[flyingbridge]

Thanks to those who have replied thus far, and I hope others will feel free to continue to do so, as I am now quite sure I am not alone and certain what people have to say here on this thread will be of value. 👍 This site, it's great, isn't it? Oh and Kim, check your PM mailbox for a note from me. -- flyingbridge

 

[adventurer]

Just the 2 cents of a fellow returning student...

Chemistry is HARD. It is not like biology, not like math, not like anything else out there. There are so many new things to think about, all at one time that its like learning a new language and there never seems to be enough help or explanations for some things. I actually thought Organic Chem to be MUCH easier than Gen Chem, because you got to focus on one specific thing.

Hang in there! You are not alone!

 

[momgracea]

Hey... not to worry...

I went back two years ago at 36, almost 37 and I thought I was going to DIE that first semester. I decided (unwisely - since never had taken a stitch of chemistry in my life) not to take the Introductory Chem first, but to dive right into General Chem. I also though that I could manage a 16 hour course load.... oh and work PT ...and take care of my teenagers (worse than little kids - trust me) and volunteer/sing at church... AND find time for my husband. hahahahahahahaha

I made it less than two weeks and dropped before the official census date. The next semester, they didn't offer the Intro course, so I thought (again - unwisely) "Well.... it shouldn't be so hard this time around!" WRONG. I made it to my first test, got a "C" by the skin of my teeth, and said FORGET IT. I took that Intro course, got an A and then got an A in General Chem.

Don't panic...but if you have options, and take the non-major or an Intro class on those you feel weak in. My school has what they call SI (or Supplemental Instruction) and I'd highly recommend something like that.

I'm now in my final year of prerequisites and in a lot of ways it’s gotten much easier, even though the coursework is harder. I envy you - in that you don't have to work. I've got to work at least through January ’06 to pay off some bills. After that, hopefully my employer will let me take a LOA to finish my final semester and MCAT, and then let me work out my last year so I can save some money. (I work as a Network Project Manager - so it's not quite as easy to get time off.) If not, well, I guess my family will be getting to enjoy ramen noodles for that next year!

Take care and good luck! You'll make it!

 

[momgracea]

Ever read the paper placemat in a Chinese restaurant, the one with the Chinese Zodiac descriptions? Well, I am a "Monkey". It has me to a T. The relevant part of the description is: "An entusiastic achiever, you are easily discouraged and confused".

As a little side note.... I am the year of the horse, which supposedly makes me impatient, independent, cheerful, and quick-witted; having a great capacity to excel but also having a tendency toward a big ego!

I was also told a long time back that being a woman and a horse was BAD... seems that female horses make lousy wives. Interesting that my husband and I have been together almost 19 years, while most of our friends are on spouse #2!

 

[atrovariousg]

My only opinion is that what ever you are doing is not working.
Change it allllllllll!
Record your lectures and listen to them as you go through your notes the day of the lecture (twice if nec until it becomes soooooooo clear you could teach it to your neighbor). Confidence is a big part of learning sciences so get comfortable with everything covered to date before going back into class.
I think that you will find that eventually it just makes sense and you'll predict what the prof is going to say before they say it.
Let me know how it goes.

 

[QofQuimica]

As a little side note.... I am the year of the horse, which supposedly makes me impatient, independent, cheerful, and quick-witted; having a great capacity to excel but also having a tendency toward a big ego!

I was also told a long time back that being a woman and a horse was BAD... seems that female horses make lousy wives. Interesting that my husband and I have been together almost 19 years, while most of our friends are on spouse #2!

Hee hee, I don't put one whit of stock into Chinese placemats, but they're fun to read. I'm a rabbit, supposedly the luckiest of all the signs. Oh yeah? So why can't I win the FL lotto???

 

[Beau Geste]

I'm supposed to be a Dragon, AND I'm a Scorpio. And I'm a redhead. LOL.