In the upcoming spring of 2024, I'll be starting my first college chemistry course, Chemistry I. As a software engineer aspiring to transition to a career in medicine, I'm diligently working on meeting the prerequisites for medical school. In my preparation, I've researched the instructors using platforms like RateMyProfessor and sought advice from a family friend who tutors college and high school students.
Interestingly, it seems that many college chemistry professors opt not to use textbooks, which was not my experience in computer science. The absence of a textbook in the chemistry course is causing some apprehension, a factor I haven't encountered in my computer science background. Considering this, I'm contemplating the idea of acquiring a small camera to record lectures while taking notes. The inability to refer to a textbook, coupled with my 40-hour workweek, is heightening my nerves about effective studying.
With this context, my main query is: How can I excel in a Chemistry class where the use of a textbook appears to be nonexistent?
(I plan on going back full time, as a student, in the Fall of 2024 but I am trying to save up as much as possible before doing so.)