[meagain716]

Hi. I'm looking at applying to direct entry MSN programs. I have a BA in psych and neuroscience, but I managed to not take any chemistry in college (I took it in HS), and I only have one semester in Anat/Phys. I'm wondering if anyone knows how strict nursing schools are on prerequisites? I'm an excellent student and scored extremely well on my GREs. I have all the other prerequisites. Do I have a chance?
Thanks,
~MC

[puresass]

i'm going to guess that you'll really need all the chemistry & a&p that you can get to #1. get into a program since they're SO competitive & #2. survive a direct entry program. it'd probably be best for you to call the school(s) you want to go to & see what they think about it.

good luck!

[Karotte]

Based on my research, every direct entry MSN program seems to have a different list of prerequisites (which can be frustrating)...check out the schools you are interested in and CALL THEM to ask your question.

My grad program required proof of prerequisite completion prior to starting the program. Plus, some of the prerequisites have to do with the state's Board of Nursing, and their requirements in bestowing an RN liscense to direct entry students. For instance, the state of CA requires Anatomy, Physiology, Stats, Psychology and a number of other courses...thus even if my grad program had accepted me without the prereqs, I wouldn't be able to get an RN liscense from the state....

[arciedee]

If the school has courses that are "highly recommended" rather than required, then you may have some leeway, though that will probably depend on the competition for the program and the other factors in your application. However, that may not be to your advantage. I am applying to a program which lists its pre-reqs as "highly recommended" and at their information session they stated that a woman in her 50s was admitted without having had A&P since high school, but also noted that she bought a book on A&P and was constantly referring to that as she went through the program. She did fine, but might not have had to do quite as much catch-up work on her own time if she had taken the courses previously.

On the other hand, if courses are listed as "required" then they are just that. If you haven't taken them yet the school will want to see that you are scheduled to take them before the nursing program starts.

Good luck to you.

[BAtoCNM]

I'm looking into grad entry programs too and it DEFINITELY depends on the program. Also, what's your timetable? At UPenn, for instance, there are 2 entry to practice tracks. One takes a little longer, but allows you to be admitted w/o all the pre-reqs and you take them at Penn. The other requires ALL of the pre-reqs to be completed before you enter, but takes a little less time in exchange.
At least at UPenn, they just want to make sure you're prepared to embark on several years of very science-heavy coursework. You actually don't send them any of your pre-req information until AFTER you're admitted. Then they determine how many credits you're going to get towards your BS/MSN.

[NHavenRN]

When I was applying to these programs, it drove me CRAZY how different each school's list of prereqs was. I ended up taking only Stats and Intro Psych (already had A&P with a physiology & neuroscience BS) and inserting a nice letter with all my apps saying, basically, "I haven't yet been able to complete (a, b, c) but can assure you I will have these courses complete by the start of classes in the fall". Or something to that effect. It might have been a problem with a few of the schools I applied to - who knows - but I'm now one year away from graduation, so at least it worked somewhere! Good luck!