I'm Totally Regretting Taking 3 Science w/Labs :( HELP!

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I have a major dilemma. I've honestly put myself in deep. I really didn't think 3 science classes would be that bad since the past two semesters I've had VERY heavy loads and did awesome... but now I'm really struggling. I can NOT get into Chemistry and as a result it is not clicking at all. My Microbiology and A/P are on the same testing schedule (major exams are all in the same week!)

I really wish I hadn't got ahead of myself wanting to finish all my prereqs this semester. I wish I'd have saved Chem for the summer and now I'm afraid all 3 grades may suffer. So far, I'm doing awesome in Microbiology and if I keep on the same track I'll likely only get a B in A/P 2 and I'll honestly be lucky to get a C in Chemistry which I'm afraid simply won't be competitive.

I feel like if I dropped Chem my chances of pulling up to an A in A/P 2 will be good and I'll could get As in both classes. The problem is, dropping Chem will hurt me because I already have several drops (not nursing prereqs but gen eds in the past) and I know that will work against me too.

I'm trying to get into a university BSN program and they look at Ws... but also look at science GPAs and so I'm not sure which would be worse, lower science grades or a higher ones with a W repeated.

The CC programs don't require Chem so they may be more forgiving of seeing this class dropped so now I'm seriously considering going the ADN route and bridging later.

And finally, and this is probably my BIGGEST concern... if I'm having trouble taking these three classes, will I be able to hack nursing school?

Actually I think you are doing well. Chem is a darn hard course and few students get A's or B's in Chem. I have read alot of your posts on here since I joined months ago and I recommend holding your course. Chem is just repetition so do all the practice problems. Dropping Chem isn't going to make your AP/micro test schedule any easier. Tough it out, you can do it.

Is there anyway to get a W removed? I know at my University, if you had a legitimate explanation, the W would be removed as long as you requested it before the final? W's don't look good, but a C certainly doesn't help! How's your overall GPA? A high GPA will counterbalance the C, but if it's low I'd drop.

I have seen many students in your postion. They usually end up having to take the classes over again for a better grade. I guess it just depends on how competitive your program is to get into. If you dont drop and just follow through, can you take the class again for a better grade?

I have had the same worry too about being able to handle the nursing program because I have always been a part time student. I am starting Fundamentals in March and will find out soon enough.

If you're on the same schedule as me, you've already made it 1/3 of the way through. I say stick with it if you can.

Specializes in School Nursing.

Thanks for the support guys.. I need to buckle down. =)

I would drop the Chem to focus on getting As in the other classes. At this point, I think you just have to weigh the risks vs the benefits. OK, Ws may work against you, but so does having a C in the course as well as risking a B in A&P. Not sure how your institution deals with that, but some will not let you repeat a course you passed with a C. So you might be stuck with the C as opposed to withdrawing and doing it later for a higher grade. Plus a lowered GPA with that C. Sure you have another W but if you can ace it the next time around, I think thats better than keeping that C.

I'm only in my first semester of nursing school so take that for what its worth. I'm sure as we progress, the material will be more progressively difficult. But so far I'm not finding nursing school to be difficult in terms of understanding the material. Its the amount of work that has to be done in so little time that is the hard part. Learning to juggle all the different components, lab,lecture,checkoffs,clinicals and all the work that has to be done for everything, but they all tie in and build off each other so its not like I'm doing separate things. Its just takes an incredible amount of discipline and time management to get everything done. For instance, I have an exam tomorrow. We have one every other week. It covers 12 chapters. I also have my care plan and clinical packet due tomorrow along with dosage calc problems. Had clinicals last week. Term Math exam next week. Checkoff on PO meds next week. But all those things tie together. I was very calculating with doing my pre-reqs making sure I didn't try to rush through them and risk mediocre grades. Well so far I'm hacking it in nursing school. Its the time management more than anything so far that is a killer. The amount of work to be done in so little time is incredible, but like I said its not like they are separate things. I mean that in comparison to doing 3 different science and labs. With nursing it all ties in and what you do in lab and lecture, you are practicing in clinicals.

Good luck!

I remember those semesters, having nutrition, microbiology, and chemistry drove me nuts, plus the fact it was a 15 hour course load made things harder than it appeared. Time management was crucial though but it's possible. I would attempt to stick it out if you can ended up with A's in nutrition & microbiology and a B in chemistry. After so many other withdrawls from other classes, if I withdrew any of these courses then it would have been my second withdrawl for them and it would look even worse than a C or D.

Here's my two cents- drop the Chemistry. Some nursing programs judge you based on how many times you retake a course, particularly A&P and Micro. Meaning, an A on the 1st attempt of a class counts for more than an A on the 2nd attempt. If I were you, I'd focus all my energy on getting A's in A&P and Micro.

You can't do anything about your past W's now, and I don't think adding one more is going to be a deal-breaker, but a B in A&P or Micro could be.

Best of luck to you!

Specializes in Med-Surg/DOU/Ortho/Onc/Rehab/ER/.

Chemistry is all basically math. doing word problems and such.

you can do it

i started A & P 1 twice....i withdrew because i didnt have the time to put into it that it required....my husband was in politics at the time and i needed to be on the campaign trail with him...it was a summer class then again in the fall online thru another school...both times i withdrew i was passing.....i am taking A & P now and have a 98 average so far.....will they look at the withdraws?...:eek:

i started A & P 1 twice....i withdrew because i didnt have the time to put into it that it required....my husband was in politics at the time and i needed to be on the campaign trail with him...it was a summer class then again in the fall online thru another school...both times i withdrew i was passing.....i am taking A & P now and have a 98 average so far.....will they look at the withdraws?...:eek:

It depends on the program. My program does. Doesn't mean you can't get in though. Say for instance they have limited slots left and they are looking at student A and student B with similar GPAs. Student A withdrew twice and then got an A but student B got the A the first time around. Then the slot might go to Student B that got the A in the first shot vs student B that took 3 tries to get the A. I know that life gets in the way sometimes that might force you to withdraw and not necessarily difficulty with the class, however when you are applying to programs that make selections based strictly on GPA and test scores they don't get to hear your explanations. On the other hand, some schools just pay attention to the new grade , so your Ws would not count against you.

Again not saying you cannot get in, there is one person in my class that withdrew and repeated A&P and got an A but had an amazing score on the TEAS V so that probably helped to make up for the Ws.

Like with so many other things, it totally depends on the program though. Some will, some won't.

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