It's been 5 yrs since I've taken pre-requisite courses, should I retake them?

readyforachangenow · Jul 20, 2013

If you retake a class the newest grade would be the one that counts.

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 21, 2013

If you retake a class the newest grade would be the one that counts.

Not necessarily. It depends on that particular school's admissions requirements. Our school counts the highest of the two grades. However, they won't take any courses older than 5 years and Pharmacology has to be within the past 2 years.

Every school is different, so you'll need to check their admissions requirements.

sjalv · Jul 21, 2013

My particular school requires that the SCIENCE pre-requisites having been taken within the past 5 years. Honestly, I would retake the science prereqs (actually, have you even had A&P and such as an English major?) but don't retake the humanities, English, etc prereqs. It always depends on the school though, so just get with a counselor and ask them.

DadStudentPerhaps · Jul 21, 2013

My school has a 5 year limit on Science classes. I think if you did poorly in the past, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by retaking your Science classes.

StudentOfHealing · Jul 21, 2013

Its also a matter of your own foundation in anatomy and physiology. Nursing concepts will be a lot easier if you have a good A&P base.

Contrary to popular belief .... the sciences aren't just another set of classes you'll need to get in to the program, rather you'll need them to succeed in the program.

claritasd · Jul 21, 2013

Definitely contact the program(s) you're interested in to check whether they average the grades. But in reality if you're unhappy with your previous grades and get a better grade the second time around, the average will still be higher than the first grade.

queserasera, RN · Jul 21, 2013

I'd imagine it'd help you greatly to retake at least your science courses. I know my BSN program averages the 2 grades if you retake.

Alicia.Cheyanne · Jul 21, 2013

I would definitely retake the classes if the school has a competitive nursing program. At my school for the BSN program you must have taken your pre reqs within the last 7 years. Also, you can only retake the class once. They will count the most recent grade, but they won't count the grade if you are taking the class for the third or fourth time.

green34 · Jul 22, 2013

I would consider talking to the school first and figure it out from there. You will probably need to retake the unsatisfactory grades as some schools do not transfer credit lower than a C.

NorCalKid · Jul 22, 2013

My school requires taking prereqs with in 5 years. But that's 5 years of applying (first app). Some people in my class were close to 5 years and had to wait 6 semesters to get in. They are well over 5 years and are doing fine. I wouldn't worry about it.

Streamline2010 · Jul 23, 2013

I would definitely retake the classes if the school has a competitive nursing program. At my school for the BSN program you must have taken your pre reqs within the last 7 years. Also, you can only retake the class once. They will count the most recent grade, but they won't count the grade if you are taking the class for the third or fourth time.

How will they handle a student who took, say, A&P I, then took it again, but those credits are all over 5 years old now? There has to be a third time to get fresh credits, if they are standing by their 5-year rule. People enter and leave schools and the workforce for various reasons. It's soon going to get to the point where all students are "nontraditional," due to lack of funding for fulltime school, and/or career changes and job losses.