[SMK1]

my a&p required either biol 160 with lab or bio 104 with lab as a prereq and chem required an intro chem course prior to entry as well.

[BoonersmomRN]

I;m interested in knowing why chem is recommended before A+P? I am about to go into A+P 2...but I finished A+P last semester I with a 100%+ and I have never had an actual chemistry CLASS. Is/Was it more helpful to A+P 2?

My Molec/Cell Bio started out with Chemistry and I actually found it ( as someone else said) to be a harder class than A+P. In fact, I struggled to get an A in this class where I found A+P I to be alot easier...not study-time wise but just actual "this makes sense" easier.

[Student Kelly]

Originally Posted by 2ndcareerRNmaybe

Brief background: I graduated in 1991 with a BA in music education. I haven't taken biology (or chemistry) since high school way back in the mid-80s. I applied to the accelerated program online and sent my college transcripts a couple weeks ago, the program coordinator reviewed them and sent me the list of prereq's I have to take:

A&P 1, 2 and 3
micro
pathophysiology
nutrition
pharmacology

and suggested I take something called "Chemistry and Life" which, in the course catalog, is described as chemistry for pre-veterinarian majors. I'm thinking that would be a good thing for me, not having had a chem class in so long.

But I'm also wondering about biology?? Haven't had that in eons also and isn't that as important? A&P and micro are all bio classes, right? Should I take some sort of biology review class before tackling the others? I don't *have* to take it to get into my program but I'm wondering if it would be a good idea?

Thoughts?

Where are you attending school? I am going to Lorain County Community College in Ohio. I didn't take any college prep courses in high school and had to take a chemistry class in college as a prereq. for applying to the nursing program at LCCC. I ended up taking Biochemistry at CCC & it transferred over to LCCC as the chemistry credit that was needed. All I needed to apply to the nursing program was Chemistry & Math;however, since the waiting list was so long -you could forget about getting into the program until you had all your college level English done, and A&P I and II done & Microbiology. Got in 1 semester after I completed Microbiology. Are you going for an Associate Degree or a Bachelor's degree of Nursing?
I was out of high school for 6 years before I took any college classes (with nothing to prep me)& I suffer from test anxiety & I would say that I am more of a straight "C" or "B" student that struggles to earn every passing grade. From my experience, I didn't need any other "refresher" courses before tackling A&P I & II & actually got B's in 2 of the 3 classes. If I can do it, ANYONE can!! Good luck to you!!

[smile123]

Originally Posted by 2ndcareerRNmaybe

I applied to the accelerated program online and sent my college transcripts a couple weeks ago, the program coordinator reviewed them and sent me the list of prereq's I have to take:

A&P 1, 2 and 3
micro
pathophysiology
nutrition
pharmacology

and suggested I take something called "Chemistry and Life" which, in the course catalog, is described as chemistry for pre-veterinarian majors. I'm thinking that would be a good thing for me, not having had a chem class in so long.

But I'm also wondering about biology?? Haven't had that in eons also and isn't that as important? A&P and micro are all bio classes, right? Should I take some sort of biology review class before tackling the others? I don't *have* to take it to get into my program but I'm wondering if it would be a good idea?

Thoughts?

You don't need biology. A&P will give you the background you need. The main reason to take chem is because they cover stoichemistry (how to do conversions from mL to L, g to mg, and balancing equations). You will find that useful for your nursing program (you have to be able to convert between different units (tsp to ml, etc.). I took A&P first and then took Chem because some of the schools required it. But they don't require Biology. Best of luck to you!

Smile123

[2ndcareerRNmaybe]

Originally Posted by Student Kelly

Where are you attending school? I am going to Lorain County Community College in Ohio. I didn't take any college prep courses in high school and had to take a chemistry class in college as a prereq. for applying to the nursing program at LCCC. I ended up taking Biochemistry at CCC & it transferred over to LCCC as the chemistry credit that was needed. All I needed to apply to the nursing program was Chemistry & Math;however, since the waiting list was so long -you could forget about getting into the program until you had all your college level English done, and A&P I and II done & Microbiology. Got in 1 semester after I completed Microbiology. Are you going for an Associate Degree or a Bachelor's degree of Nursing?

I will be doing the accelerated program at the University of Cincinnati which would get me a BSN in 14 months. The program dovetails into an MSN if/when I choose to do that.

[Student Kelly]

Originally Posted by 2ndcareerRNmaybe

I will be doing the accelerated program at the University of Cincinnati which would get me a BSN in 14 months. The program dovetails into an MSN if/when I choose to do that.

Good for you. I am sure you will do great! We have an RN to MSN program as well. I may start on that after working as an RN. My hope is that I will get in somewhere that will pay for me to go back to school. The Community College I attend seems to have a lot of great programs that can be taken on campus while earning a degree from University of Akron, CSU, & others. Good Luck!

[2ndcareerRNmaybe]

So I called the program coordinator just now. Basically he said I only have to do the prereqs on the list as long as the school I am taking them at allows me to skip the prerequisites to the courses. He seemed to think this wasn't a big deal and said that if it becomes an issue to just go to the instructor and get a signed approval and that people do this all the time.

I also asked him about the order to take the classes in and he said whatever works in my schedule LOL! He also said A&P are "standalone" clases so no need to take anything to prepare for that.

So I'm off to the websites of the 2 schools to find the classes I need to take and see when I can start and how all this is going to fit in my schedule. Realistically I won't be able to take any classes til the fall term but I like to plan ahead.

[carolinapooh]

Originally Posted by 2ndcareerRNmaybe

At my school A&P 1 has no prerequisites. However for micro it says they requires General Biology 1 and 2. Hmmm...

There is another CC here I can take some of my prereqs at and they require A&P1 before you can take micro. And A&P requires high school biology within the last 7 years.

Guess I'll be calling the program coordinator tomorrow to try to clear this up.

Thanks all!

I had the same problem when I took A&P 1. I took Gen Bio in 1992. At the time I was considering PA school so I needed Chemistry 1&2 (I had taken Chem 1 in 1992 but only got a C so I figured I needed to retake that one). I called the department head of the CC I was taking the classes at and pled my case. (They were also requiring college algebra for chemistry - I don't know why - and I hadn't taken that either. Somehow I have a BS with only Statistics, which is a lovely thing.) I told him I felt very confident of my abilities and that if I screwed up, I'd go back to his office, eat crow, and take any prereq he wanted me to. I took my transcript from my BS, which I finally finished while in the military in 1999, and showed him I'd graduated with honors through several Excelsior exams. He told me he was impressed with my self-presentation and signed the necessary forms.

I got high B's in both sections of Chemistry and an A in A&P 1. I'm taking A&P II in the fall. I got a biology textbook at a thrift store that was only a couple of years old for $2 and had it in reserve as well as a "Human Biology" course book I got off of either amazon.com's used books or eBay - I can't remember which - for nine bucks (the cover was destroyed but the book was fine). For A&P II I'm going to get the "Ridiculously Simple" book - but I survived Organic Chem (also a PA req) so I'm hoping I'll be OK!

I would do the same thing again, too. Just call the Dept. head and state your case in a clear but respectful manner. The worst they can say is "no" and then what have you lost aside from 15 minutes of time? My dad always said you never know unless you ask, and in most cases asking is the one thing that won't cost you a dime.

Good luck!

[carolinapooh]

Originally Posted by Student Kelly

I was out of high school for 6 years before I took any college classes (with nothing to prep me)& I suffer from test anxiety & I would say that I am more of a straight "C" or "B" student that struggles to earn every passing grade. From my experience, I didn't need any other "refresher" courses before tackling A&P I & II & actually got B's in 2 of the 3 classes. If I can do it, ANYONE can!! Good luck to you!!

Oh Lord - I did well in HS and college but it seems I have more test anxiety now than ever...I drive my husband NUTS when it's time for an exam...he works in the Middle East and I have actually CALLED HIM at o-dark-thirty in the morning our time in tears because I know I'm going to blow it...I never really do, but I am a MESS in the meantime.

HANG IN THERE!!