How tough is it to take 2 science classes together?

[rn2be2006]

I am attending school in the evening, work full time, and have a 2 year old. Whew! My life is busy! I am trying to get my prereq's done in order to apply to the August 2004 nursing class and have 4 science classes that I still need to take - Chem, A&PI & II, and Microbiology.

With permission from the Science dept, I can take Chem and A&PI at the same time (chem is a prereq for a&pI while a&PI is a prereq for Micro) but that would mean I would be in class four nights a week - Mon through Thurs - for lecture and lab. I would take these 2 in the Fall and then go on to take A&PII and Micro together - again 4 days a week.

I know these science classes are alot of memorization, which I think I can retain and do while raising a family and working full time but I guess I just needed to hear from some others that have done it to find out how tough it is and did you also need permission from your school if one was a prereq for another?

I really want to get into the nursing program next year and not have to put it off another year (new classes only start once a year in August). I guess I could look into another program but this one has an evening/weekend program which is really what I need.

If there are any Philly area nursing students out there, do you know of any part time evening/weekend nursing programs other than Abington?

Thanks guys for your help!

Shahana

[hobbes]

I took Chem 1 and A&P 1 last semester and am taking Chem 2 and A&P 2 this semester. I also work full time and have a wife and 2 kids under 4. The key is to prioritize and have good study habits. I happen to 35 and this is the second time around for me in terms of college, so I'm pretty focused on what I want. Chem 1 wasn't too bad because it was more math oriented and once you understood the concepts and how to solve the problems you were set. A&P1 is much memorization - concepts aren't difficult but you will have to remember a lot. This semester is a bit tougher because although there is no math in the organic/biochem part of chemistry there is a lot to memorize. Also, we get more into physiology in A&P which requires a higher level of critical thinking. However, if you put your mind to it it's not that bad.

[MelRN13]

I took A&PII, Micro, Adv. Algebra, and Medical Terminology all in the same semester.....if you are focused on studying, you should do fine.

[Frankie Lynn]

well, look at this way...it's better to get them out of the way before you start nursing school. I had all of my sciences out of the way before i started, many people fell out of nursing school because they waited to take A&PII and microbiology when they were taking nursing classes. I dont know if you are required to take them before you go into the program, all we had to take was A&P 1 and Chemistry. The best advice is to get all of the non-nursing classes out of the way, before entering the program. Nursing School is stressful enough! But it is achievable- I graduate in May.

[KC CHICK]

Can you take one of them during the summer semester?

That's how I got Microbiology out of the way.

I had only taken Psychology and Chem 105 before starting my nursing program. (ADN) I took 18cr hrs of classes my first semester of nursing...don't know how I did it. Was single and didn't have any kids, which probly helped. Micro was taken the summer in between my two years of nursing. I liked the summer semester...it was shorter and sometimes you don't have as much busy work assigned due to having less time to complete the class. I also took Speech that semester.

Anne;)

[ASU_Sdvls]

I took A&P I and Chemistry at the same time. It was doable. I took A&P II on the Web and it was fairly easy. Also I took Micro during the summer. Another easy class, the labs were everyday but they were not that hard. If possible, try to take your classes online, provided that they transfer into your nursing program. That way you can still find time to be with your family.

[SingingNurse2]

Ive got to say, I am so impressed at the amount of people that have replied to this post that took A&P & Chem at the same time and made A's! I thought about doing it this fall, but when I talked to the head of the Science department he said he would never do it himself. So I will take the A & P in fall and spring, Chem next summer and start nursing classes next fall. Good luck to you!

[fnimat4]

And for me it was very hard. With a dh and 3 children...I had to squeeze in time to studay. I had class 4 out of 5 nights per week from 6:40 - 9:20. I think the main thing to do is to study, study, study. Both of these classes have lots of information. I passed both of the classes. I recieved a C+ in Chem. 101. And an A in A & P 1 (as you can tell, I liked this class much more...lol.) But only you know how far you can push yourself.

Fatima (formerly known as fnimat1 on this forum)

"Future R.N."