<p>D is headed off to college in the fall. She has spent the last two years of high school at the community college. Despite trying for 3 semesters she has never been able to get off the waitlist and a spot in Chemistry. She left HS prior to taking HS Chem. Her college major will require min of 3 quarters of Chem. They have a Chem placement test and obviously she will do terrible on it and be placed in the class for those with weak Chem knowledge.
Someone suggested she try to get a tutor of the summer to get some introduction to the subject. Not sure if we can find one but someone else suggested she watch some of the Khan Academy tutorials.
Any suggestions- The community college is out since she will never be able to get a place in the class.</p>
<p>I think starting with the Khan Academy isn’t a bad idea. Being placed in a lower chemistry class will require that she spend more time in school, or have to take more credits later, but she could have a much better foundation than if she came in after taking it in high school and had no exposure since that time. I think the money on a tutor would be best spent once she is on campus and has a firm foundation. Do you know what book will be used at the school? Maybe purchasing it now would make her feel more confident and give her time to self-study the material.</p>
<p>How about summer sessions at a local college?</p>
<p>[Chemistry</a> Virtual Textbook](<a href=“http://www.chem1.com/acad/webtext/virtualtextbook.html]Chemistry”>Chem1 Online Textbook Main Menu)
[Chemistry</a> First Version](<a href=“http://preparatorychemistry.com/Bishop_Chemistry_First.htm]Chemistry”>Chemistry First)
[CHEMystery:</a> An Interactive Guide to Chemistry](<a href=“http://library.thinkquest.org/3659/]CHEMystery:”>http://library.thinkquest.org/3659/)</p>
<p>Strange to have a student get out of HS without any chemistry but apparently, it has happened. A tutor is probably the best idea since she will be at a significant disadvantage in college even in an introductory chemistry class. One other suggestion (I think in addition to, not instead of,) a number of colleges have on line courses (MIT, Berkeley, Yale) that will give your daughter a taste of a college-level chemistry class. It will help her to know how behind she is.</p>
<p>ucbalumnus- thanks for the links/ they look like they will be a help
To graduate HS in our district you just need two years of science. It can be as basic as one year of life science and one year of physical science. She took Bio, Physics and Geology at the CC. She got into all but 2 schools so it was a risk but turned out okay.
She is already talking about getting a tutor immediately in the fall.
Great suggestion to see about finding out what textbook they use.
Mizzbee- her program starts them off the first quarter with a light load and she will need it. Science and Math are not her strengths. She should be find unit wise to grad in 4 yrs since she will come in as a freshman with over 20 college credits that will cover a number of the general ed requirements.</p>
<p>Be careful with into chem if she will need the GPA in that class for acceptance into a later program. I would say err on the side of listening to the placement test. Many if not most kids in the intro chem class will have had one year if not 2 in high school. I learned this the hard way back in the day. I subsequently “made” my D double up in science this year and take AP chem in addition to HL physics “for the experience”. She had the basic chem in 9th grade. One of my neighbors recommended the Khan Academy for math, I haven’t tried it yet, though.</p>
<p>If science and math are not her strengths, what is her major that requires a year of Chemistry?
Both my kids had a year of chem in high school, oldest majored in biology & her school required a year of chemistry & a year of organic chemistry to graduate.
I believe younger D’s school requires the same.
Did she take calc based physics?</p>
<p>Besides khan academy, on the NOVA elements site, a lot of fun chem related stuff.
[NOVA</a> | It’s Elemental](<a href=“http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/periodic-table.html]NOVA”>NOVA - Official Website | It's Elemental)</p>
<p>It doesn’t surprise me that she got out without Chem. I know our high school requires 3 sciences, 1 life, 1 physical, 1 of your choice. It’s easy for a kid to take Bio, Physics, AP Physics and Environmental for example and end up graduating.</p>
<p>Our high school offers AP classes on line. Could she take AP chem that way over the summer? If you google online AP classes you should be able to find some.</p>
<p>Saint fan- she is not looking for knowledge to test her into the Intro Chem course but for some basic knowledge so that she doesn’t enter the pre chem class clueless.
Emeraldkity she is majoring in equine nutrition with NO plan for vet school.</p>
<p>Many college entry level chem courses do not assume a previous exposure to chemistry. A Dummies guide and some Khan Academy time might be all it takes to get her ready for Freshman Chem 101.</p>
<p>Be wary of a fall schedule that is too lab heavy. One or two lab courses is plenty for a freshman. Try for something like 15 hours the first term (not 18).</p>
<p>I had to take “remedial chemistry” in college. It really wasn’t bad. I would see if she could get the text and self-study some in advance. Our course didn’t have a lab.</p>
<p>Well that’s not bad, she could probably get away with a year of chem then.
I think even if college classes don’t assume prior knowledge, if you aren’t strong in science & math, preparation could help a great deal as the classes often start out slow but then move pretty fast.</p>
<p>One of my kids used this book.
[Browse</a> Inside The Cartoon Guide to Chemistry by Larry Gonick, Craig Criddle](<a href=“http://www.harpercollins.com/browseinside/index.aspx?isbn13=9780060936778]Browse”>http://www.harpercollins.com/browseinside/index.aspx?isbn13=9780060936778)</p>