Unbiased advice about school?

Question

Hello, I am looking for some advice from whoever has something valid to say. I need an unbiased opinion since my wife, who will encourage me no matter what, always tells me I am doing fine however I don't have time to waste. I am 29, father of two, married 7 years. I have been in school for at least two solid years. I have spent the past 15 years of my working life in manufacturing of some sort (yes I started young) and I have decided that Mfg is not for me any longer. I sold my house, paid off my debt and now we are living on campus going to school. My goal in school for the moment is pharmacy school. I am taking calculus and gen chem 1 and it is kicking my butt. I don't want to keep bashing my head against a wall for med school when I am having a hell of a time keeping up at these beginning level classes. I put in tons of time studying but yet I am still average or below. I am not fond of giving up but I don't have time/money to waste. How long should I stick it out? Thoughts??

Answer 1

Perhaps you should change your major to a related field, one that doesn't require heavy math/science ability.

Talk to a school advisor. That's what they are there for.

Answer 2

First off, it's not always an issue of how much time you're putting in. As my pathology professor put it "I could read a French novel over and over again for the next two years and not understand it because I don't speak French". Try using pneumonic devices and mental hooks to remember things. Take a study skills seminar, most schools offer them periodically, or will put them together for you. Most schools offer free tutoring, also, so try that as well. Remember also that calculus and gen chem are two big "Weed out" classes. I'm wrapping up my first full year (no summer off) of Chiropractic school and my gen chem class in undergrad is still top 5 hardest yet. I'm not saying medical school isn't for you, but if you are legitimately having a difficult time with gen chem and calculus you may want to rethink it if you end up failing either class, because once you get into med school, or chiropractic school, or pharmacy school, it's not 12-15 hours of class a week, its 20-30, more when you factor in clinic rotations of any sort. If you're in your 2nd or 3rd full time year of school, you should be taking the MCAT soon, which will be a good indicator of where you stand, but if you have yet to pass gen chem and calculus taking the MCAT now is money down the drain. If you want to get into the realm of helping people, try looking into biology and possibly becoming a lab tech. My fiancee's mother graduated with her degree in biology around your age and has been a lab tech since and enjoys it. Another possibility may be athletic training...not just water bottles and taping ankles, it is a fairly rigorous course at most schools, but is enjoyable and still in the realm of medicine, which you can then continue on if you make it through that coursework in undergrad. Find your skills, maybe you speak well with people, and look into communications, or business. Although I don't agree with it, you could possibly be a pharmaceutical rep if you still want to work with the medical field without having the intensive training and knowledge in drug interactions chemistry and calculus. Best of luck to you whatever you decide.

Answer 3

If you are really having trouble with your classes, then I would suggest changing your major. In my humble opinion, I think that it is a little late for you to get into pharmacy school because you have a family to take care of at the same time. Unless you've got plenty of money to spare, then you can keep on trying, otherwise I would say try something else. I would recommend that you go and try something that you are comfortable in doing well, perhaps something that is related to your mechanic job. Physics/science or a computer related field might be more suited for you. However, if you really want to be a pharmacist, then I suppose you could continue to try for the meantime, give it a little more time before deciding to quit.

Answer 4

I can say from experience if you are having problems with gen Chem 1, you will probably have problems with Gen Chem 2, and later the Organic series. When I see Gen Chem 1 material, I'm surprised by how basic it all is. Problems in Calculus might lead to problems with Physics.
Pharmacy schools want to see close to a 3.5 GPA and they are not flexible about this any more.
If you're in Gen Chem 1 this semester, you still will have another full academic year to go, at least.
You might want to explore a non science based major.

Answer 5

Are you saying a 5 year old, or a kid that's in grade 5? Naturally a 5 year old wouldn't know how to misbehave this badly. Bad behaviour is taught, it's not inborn. You do understand this don't you? It will only take one person to dislike this child and yell at him on a daily basis before he will be able to learn how to do it himself.... Do you know another adult that is yelling at this poor child? Anyone that yells at you? Can you think of a name? Like I said there must be some sort of influence, because it is learnt behaviour. Telling lies is another learnt behaviour. What kind of play school are you sending this child too? I would investigate where he is learning how to be so abusive for his very young age. You better find some help before social workers come in and start a "play therapy session" which is an investigation on where children have learnt the abuse and from whom.

Answer 6

Don't get discouraged. More education leads to job stability and better income. Long term goals, but somethings that everyone who goes to school strives for. If you are not donig well right now, ask yourself if it is because you need to use the resources available to you better (tutoring, study groups, study skills classes, talking to professors) or is it because you don't like sciences. If it is the latter, figure out what classes you do like and gear your major towards that. You may feel that since you are going back to school that you need to have your major geared towards a particular job but some industries just requires college degrees as requirements. Talk to a counselor see if you can take self-quizzes that some career counselors have avaialble to see what you are gearded towards, they do work for some people. good luck!

Answer 7

Get a tutor! Sometimes all you need is someone to sit down and explain it one on one or a different way for it to click. But finish the semester. Review the classes you will have to take, sit down with your advisor and talk about it. Keep that stupid joke in mind; what do you call the guy who graduated last in his class at med school? Doctor.

Answer 8

I think you just have to much going on if you really want to do this stick out as long as possible but if your not having fun and you dont believe you will enjoy pharmacy work then why are you doing this to your self find something you really enjoy and stick with it wether its pharmacy, manufacturing or whatever just enjoy life and life includes your job.

Answer 9

if u can pass it once, u can do it