student mamas in math/sciences/medical- help!

[singin'intherain]

This is my fourth quarter at community college, and I've been rolling along just fine, pulling in all A's. Now all of a sudden I'm into some higher level classes and it is totally kicking my butt! In math I just started the pre-calculus series, and in chemistry I'm taking the first of a series for students who are transferring in the sciences. I'm good at this stuff- last quarter I had the highest grade of both of my professor's sections of the math class I was taking. It's like the expectations are different- not just higher- but different. Whereas before, the goal was to practice practice practice and then perform on the test, now it seems like they're testing for mastery of the ideas behind the problems. Is that your experience too? I feel like I need to change my whole approach here if I'm going to survive this. I'm feeling especially anxious about it because this is just the beginning- it's not like I just have to struggle through a few quarters of maths and sciences- I'm going into dentistry. Any suggestions? Does anyone know of any web sites that might help me with higher level algebra and chemistry? TIA!

[pinksprklybarefoot]

Are you in General (inorganic) Chem or Organic Chem? I could totally see someone doing great in Gen Chem but having trouble in O Chem as O Chem is more looking at how the reactions take place than doing calculations - especially in the second semester. I remember making a ton of flashcards with reaction mechanisms on them.

I don't know of any websites, but I would love to hear of some (have to review for the PCAT).

I just finished pre-calc last semester. It seemed that the class was split into two different sections - algebra for the first 2/3, then trigonometry for the last third. For me, it was just practice, practice, practice. I bought the solutions manual for the first time in my life, and it was a big help. Sometimes I would just get stuck on one little piece of the problem, so being able to look at the solution was very helpful to see what mistake I had made (vs staring at it for twenty minutes and getting frustrated).

One last thing that I have found helpful is to do some every day if possible. I seem to retain it better.

Is any of this helpful?

[Carita]

some of it depends on the teacher, but yes in general - low level gen ed math courses are to gain a fundamental skill set. as you get higher, you have to learn mastery of concepts and then you use your fundamental skill set to demonstrate that mastery. the first step to success is recognizing this difference. You could pass without concept mastery, but you wouldn't get As.

[singin'intherain]

Pinksparkly, I think I will check into getting the solution manual for my math book. My chemistry class is General Chem.- It's just that it's not an introductory course, just the lowest level transfer course. She's assuming that we all remember our chemistry classes from high school (twenty years ago for me). I think you're right about the practicing, and doing it every day. The Chem is starting to make sense after several hours of study- so I guess there's hope!

[Peony]

So I'm reading through your post so happy that I didn't have to take that chemistry class back when I was in college for nursing, big hugs in that area BTW, and then I get to your siggie. I'm thinking that you used to live in Mancos years ago.


Amy, Madeline, and two others now!

[kdtmom2be]

Can you afford to get a tutor? There are lots of options for that running you anywhere from $10-40/hr+. I'd be happy to help you if you lived close to me but chances are slim

As both a tutor and someone who went back to school as an adult, I can tell you that the very best thing you can do for yourself is to go to class EVERY day and do the homework as soon as possible after it is assigned. You will retain more and it will make more sense and you will be less stressed. I used to do my homework before leaving campus to ensure that I had a quiet place to work and that my work was done for the day.

[pinksprklybarefoot]

Originally Posted by singin'intherain

Pinksparkly, I think I will check into getting the solution manual for my math book. My chemistry class is General Chem.- It's just that it's not an introductory course, just the lowest level transfer course. She's assuming that we all remember our chemistry classes from high school (twenty years ago for me).

There is a possibility that your Gen Chem book has a solutions manual, too. Check Amazon (or the publisher's website) if your bookstore doesn't have it.

Another thing that I thought of - to help review for the PCAT, I bought Chemistry for Dummies. They also have a workbook. Something like that might be helpful for bridging the gap between the lectures and the problems.

[AndrewsMother]

Chemistry required (for me) a lot of rote memorization. The concepts that were taught in the first 4 chapters set the foundation for the remainder of the course. Without the ability to recall the initial information it is almost impossible to understand and master Chemistry.

It helps to memorize formulas, even before they are introduced, so that you can spend class time learning how and why the formula is used instead of tring to put it all together at one time.

[singin'intherain]

Great tips, thanks everyone!

Amy, I did live in Mancos- I'm sure I remember you as the woman who watched my kids one day while my husband and I tried to work things out between us. Is that right?

I am definitely checking on solutions manuals and chemistry for Dummies. I'm so wishing I'd taken the "introductory" introductory chemistry class. The one where naming formulas came in the sixth week, not the second!

I can't afford tutoring, but now that you mention it, I think there might be science tutoring available at my college. There is a math tutoring center, which I didn't need at all up until now, and have been using several times a week this quarter.

It really helps to know that what got you all through was memorizing and practice- that takes work, but I can do that! The scary part was thinking, maybe I'm not smart enough for this after all!

[notneb]

For higher level math classes, http://www.wolframalpha.com/ is a great resource. It's a computational search engine. You can input a problem that you are having trouble with and it will show you, step by step, how to get the answer. It's also great for quickly finding forgotten formulas/facts/graphs. If you study near a computer, it's a lot easier to search that website than to search through your book, or look for a book from a previous class if you forget how to graph sin x or can't remember the quadratic equation, etc.

[pinksprklybarefoot]

Originally Posted by notneb

For higher level math classes, http://www.wolframalpha.com/ is a great resource. It's a computational search engine. You can input a problem that you are having trouble with and it will show you, step by step, how to get the answer.

I can't wait to try this out! Wish I would have known about it last semester during pre-calc!

[singin'intherain]

Originally Posted by pinksprklybarefoot

I can't wait to try this out! Wish I would have known about it last semester during pre-calc!

Yeah, thanks, Notneb!

[notneb]

That website was my best friend last semester when I was taking Calc I. Hope it is helpful for you all!

I thought of another resource: MIT Open Courseware. MIT puts lots of course material on the web for free, including video lectures. You can watch the lectures on youtube. They're sorted by class and pretty well identified as far as what material is covered. This was really nice for me when the way an instructor explained a concept didn't quite click with me. I could watch the video in which the concept was explained, and often times between having it explained in a different way and just seeing it again, I'd get it.

[pinksprklybarefoot]

I stumbled across another resource today. It is a series of video lectures that you can download (free) on general chemistry. It is about 12 hours' worth and is intended as a review for people planning to take the MCAT or DAT, but what I have watched of it has been great - the guy is a really good instructor. I think he does an organic one, too.

[singin'intherain]

Thanks for all the resources!

When I was doing algebra (well I still am, I guess- pre-calculus), I found several websites that do lessons based on a subtopic. Purplemath.com is one that I used a lot. They are geared towards high school studies, though- does anyone know of something like that for more complex math? Either a written walk through or video lesson would be great.

[AndrewsMother]

Originally Posted by singin'intherain

Thanks for all the resources!

When I was doing algebra (well I still am, I guess- pre-calculus), I found several websites that do lessons based on a subtopic. Purplemath.com is one that I used a lot. They are geared towards high school studies, though- does anyone know of something like that for more complex math? Either a written walk through or video lesson would be great.

The best $40 that I ever spent.

[singin'intherain]

Originally Posted by AndrewsMother

The best $40 that I ever spent.

Oooh, this looks good! Thanks!