In an effort to minimize the anxiety of starting college as a science major, an optional pre-college camp was developed to review topics in chemistry, biology, and mathematics. Named “Prime the Pump”, the five-day camp took place two weeks before the start of the Fall semester from 2019-2022. The reviews covered a wide array of concepts that students see during their first year. Chemistry topics supported both the General Chemistry and Biology curriculum, and Mathematics concepts were taught from a chemistry perspective. Additionally, a significant amount of time was dedicated to developing study strategies and problem-solving skills. Students were given the same assessment at the beginning and end of the camp to assess progress, and a survey was provided to assess participant perception of the camp. Data has also been collected regarding student retention and DFW rates in the first year chemistry courses. Initial data suggests that camp participants have a higher retention rate and a lower DFW rate when compared to other incoming freshmen from the colleges of pharmacy and sciences, who would be taking introductory chemistry courses.

Prime the pump: Can a pre-college preparatory camp help with student success?

Fall 2022 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch in mid-September.

ACS Fall 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.