Re-learning the basics of sciences on your own

[RyanJohnston]

It's been a few years since I graduated from high school and I took my last science course back in tenth grade. I'm kicking myself for that seeing as how the Excercise science program I want to take requires the sciences (I apparently have to be able to explain why squatting is good for you other than pointing at pictures and videos of Ed Coan).

I've picked up some basic stuff to re-acquaint myself and was wondering if anyone else has been in this boat and has advice. I'm gonna be taking a pre-health program before the Eshp program so I know I have time to get better at it, but I want a level of comfort with the fundamentals so I don't get dragged behind the bus (I need a 70% average to even be considered to get into the program I want....doesn't seem like much, but I've never been especially good with science).

Gracias.

[Tom Yannuzzi]

i would suggest anatomy and physiology, chemistry, and physics. basic levels. those are the sciences im taking for my exercise science program

[RyanJohnston]

i would suggest anatomy and physiology, chemistry, and physics. basic levels. those are the sciences im taking for my exercise science program

I'm working on basic chemistry right now and will be working on biology and anatomy next followed by physics. It's not the biology and anatomy I'm worried about, it's the physics aspect as I suck royally at math. I don't want to let that stop me from my goal of a degree in the feild, though.

One thing I'd like to know, how much about chemistry, biology and physics do you need to know? Would you need to know as much about physics as say a Quantum Mechanics specialist? Would you need to know as much chemistry as a biochemist etc?

[Alex Klotz]

If you know calculus, any physics problem can be solved with the Euler-Lagrange equation.

[RyanJohnston]

If you know calculus, any physics problem can be solved with the Euler-Lagrange equation.

I don't know calculus lol. I could probably learn the theory if it's relevant, though. Algebra and trig were about as much as I understood/took back in high school.

[Alex Klotz]

In your case I wouldn't recommend the Euler-Lagrange equation. I'd go to your old highschool and ask for a few old copies of various exams, then practice on them, researching questions you dont' know or understand, until you can do them easily.

[Brandon Campbell]

honestly, if you are going to be taking the classes in the program they will require you to take lower levels first anyway. So you will be taking chem 101, anatomy 201 202 type stuff and so forth and its pretty basic stuff and they will teach you very well. So no worries. All you need to know is the basics you already know. The rest you dont know will be taught or expected to be found in the book somewhere easily

[RyanJohnston]

honestly, if you are going to be taking the classes in the program they will require you to take lower levels first anyway. So you will be taking chem 101, anatomy 201 202 type stuff and so forth and its pretty basic stuff and they will teach you very well. So no worries. All you need to know is the basics you already know. The rest you dont know will be taught or expected to be found in the book somewhere easily

Will they make me sing that song, you know about how the body is connected, in anatomy? The Ankle bone is connected to the....shin bone....

Seriously, it's something of a relief to know that. I'd still like to know some basics....bonding, cell structure and so on, I will continue with my own self-enlightenment.

[Brandon Campbell]

Will they make me sing that song, you know about how the body is connected, in anatomy? The Ankle bone is connected to the....shin bone....

Seriously, it's something of a relief to know that. I'd still like to know some basics....bonding, cell structure and so on, I will continue with my own self-enlightenment.

Lol no but you will sing it to yourself in anatomy I know i did!

Yea just brush up on some stuff on your own from putting things in google. I got my Kines degree already going in for dietetics and a masters in nutrition now. I use google for just bout everything i need info on. LOL

dont worry though. I found that the higher up classes even have a break in 1-2week period of review of common knowledge stuff.

[Anthony LaMarca]

I am with Brandon on this. I also have a kines. degree. You will get more than enough in basic sciences in your first couple years. It definitely wouldn't hurt to brush up on a few things, but I am sure you will be fine if you don't.

[RyanJohnston]

Honest question: am I overreacting at all? I just want to do well and I'm paranoid because sciences have always been a weak point and I want to change that. I don't expect to be Hawking-level of course.

[Todd Malone]

The only advice I can offer is, if you are unsure of a subject, you probably shouldn't take it as an online course.

I took freshman physics online and had to drop it because I was struggling to learn it on "on my own." It was the only course I ever really struggled with and had to drop.

Good luck to you.

[Brandon Campbell]

Honest question: am I overreacting at all? I just want to do well and I'm paranoid because sciences have always been a weak point and I want to change that. I don't expect to be Hawking-level of course.

lol maybe just a little bit, but when does it ever hurt to study a little extra and want to do the best you can?

College is setup to allow people to succed, its how you take it that is what determines if you make it or not. Its not till the higher levels like grad school where its setup to ween people out of the heard.

so your good unless your a complete dunce and cant tell me the basic structure of like H20 and CH4 lol. Also i sure you remember what a cell wall, Rhibosome, RNA, DNA, mitochondria is and all that. Once its attached to something your learning it flys back into your brain quickly. Everything is will be taught to you.

You will learn where the bones are, how they move what classification are the joints what levers are used in the body, how do muscle works and all that in class so no worries. I be more worried bout the sexy ladies walking around in college:N:


if your still scared, NSCA has a great book essentials of weight training and conditioning, first half is all quick catch up on how the body works and then goes into the good stuff that you will learn in school in later chapters. It will brush you up on everything bout the body, other sciences will have to be different books but here ya go Just in case

http://www.nsca-cc.org/online_store/detail.html?pi=142&ci=1

[Benjamin Kieren]

Im in Kinesiology-Exercise and Fitness. The only thing you really have to worry about in this field is the physics, exercise physiology, and biomechanics. IMO, physics was the hardest class in the major, because with most classes you can just memorize information, but with physics, you have to solve problems that are abstract and you have to use applied knowledge. Chemistry may be a little rough too, but since you have a little backround in it, you should be alright.

And everything they teach you about nutrition and exercise is geared towards weight loss and obesity and poor nutrition. I hate that. Like they'll cover everything dealing with anorexia and bulimia. But they won't even touch on the subject of bigorexia or trying to become super strong. They taught me all about performing exercises and the mechanics behind them, but they don't cover the topics im really interested in, like gaining massive amounts of weight, powerlifting techniques, and things dealing with strongman or any strength sport for that matter. They teach us weight loss programs and healthy nutrition, but they never taught me about deadlifting with no shoes, low bar squats, or using chalk or ammonia caps. I learned that if you wanna learn about hardcore training, you gotta learn from lifters and not professors. Its like they are trying to reprogram my mind so I can become one of those skinney, healthy personal trainers who never squat and live for the bicep pump LOL.

[RyanJohnston]

Im in Kinesiology-Exercise and Fitness. The only thing you really have to worry about in this field is the physics, exercise physiology, and biomechanics. IMO, physics was the hardest class in the major, because with most classes you can just memorize information, but with physics, you have to solve problems that are abstract and you have to use applied knowledge. Chemistry may be a little rough too, but since you have a little backround in it, you should be alright.

And everything they teach you about nutrition and exercise is geared towards weight loss and obesity and poor nutrition. I hate that. Like they'll cover everything dealing with anorexia and bulimia. But they won't even touch on the subject of bigorexia or trying to become super strong. They taught me all about performing exercises and the mechanics behind them, but they don't cover the topics im really interested in, like gaining massive amounts of weight, powerlifting techniques, and things dealing with strongman or any strength sport for that matter. They teach us weight loss programs and healthy nutrition, but they never taught me about deadlifting with no shoes, low bar squats, or using chalk or ammonia caps. I learned that if you wanna learn about hardcore training, you gotta learn from lifters and not professors. Its like they are trying to reprogram my mind so I can become one of those skinney, healthy personal trainers who never squat and live for the bicep pump LOL.

I'm at an advantage then, it seems. The school I'm going into is Sheridan College and the program director has a competitive powerlifting background. The facility they use for a lab is magnificent. 5 or 6 racks, bumpers up the wazoo, platforms, a GHR apparatus, chalk is allowed as is dropped weights. They teach you about the olympic lifts and actual stuff you can use instead of the damn precor curl machines. I think I cried a little with the joy when I walked in there.

[Brandon Campbell]

I'm at an advantage then, it seems. The school I'm going into is Sheridan College and the program director has a competitive powerlifting background. The facility they use for a lab is magnificent. 5 or 6 racks, bumpers up the wazoo, platforms, a GHR apparatus, chalk is allowed as is dropped weights. They teach you about the olympic lifts and actual stuff you can use instead of the damn precor curl machines. I think I cried a little with the joy when I walked in there.

Not every kines program is the same, I took alot essentials of strength and conditioning classes at asu along with sport psychology, biomechanics up the wazoo, and lots of exercise phys.

I was taught how to perform the oly movements, squats, and all that fancy stuf fin 3 classes and the next 10-13 were the other stuff. But ASU has a great kines program, some schools kines programs are generic type stuff. So yea...

[RyanJohnston]

Not every kines program is the same, I took alot essentials of strength and conditioning classes at asu along with sport psychology, biomechanics up the wazoo, and lots of exercise phys.

I was taught how to perform the oly movements, squats, and all that fancy stuf fin 3 classes and the next 10-13 were the other stuff. But ASU has a great kines program, some schools kines programs are generic type stuff. So yea...

Sounds like ASU is the place to be lol. Nice weather, hotties (not you, damnit) and a great school.

[Brandon Campbell]

Sounds like ASU is the place to be lol. Nice weather, hotties (not you, damnit) and a great school.

you have no idea how sweet it is. its so sweet I dont wanna leave, After my masters I might just get a PhD:EL:

[RyanJohnston]

you have no idea how sweet it is. its so sweet I dont wanna leave, After my masters I might just get a PhD:EL:

I mean, there's plenty of Canadian hotties here (lots of variety too) but some of the girls I remember seeing even in Kentucky....oh man...I gotta go back to the States.

[rob meulenberg]

Honest question: am I overreacting at all? I just want to do well and I'm paranoid because sciences have always been a weak point and I want to change that. I don't expect to be Hawking-level of course.

You are probably overreacting a bit.

Remember, every class you take in college will have a set of prerequisites.

For general chemistry, it is algebra. For organic, it is general chemistry.

For general physics, it is calculus for science/engineering majors, algebra for non-science majors.

Usually it is expected you know the prerequisite material without any review by the current instructor. Otherwise, you will learn what you need to know as the class goes on.

For a physics class like Alex is talking about (Advanced Mechanics), two things to remember:

(1) As a non-physics major, you will not have to take that class

(2) You typically need differential equations (and gen. physics I and II, and modern physics) as a prerequisite to take it, so you would not be able to do it anyway.

[Benjamin Kieren]

I'm at an advantage then, it seems. The school I'm going into is Sheridan College and the program director has a competitive powerlifting background. The facility they use for a lab is magnificent. 5 or 6 racks, bumpers up the wazoo, platforms, a GHR apparatus, chalk is allowed as is dropped weights. They teach you about the olympic lifts and actual stuff you can use instead of the damn precor curl machines. I think I cried a little with the joy when I walked in there.


Yes, you are at an advantage. But I don't think the director has anything to do with the program. Its really up to the professors to teach the class the way they feel is best.