Online course...Yay or Nay?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Good morning!

I am having a difficult time making up my mind on this one. I need sociology, math and micro to finish up my pre-req's this summer. Math and micro, no problem, they fit into my schedule with good professors and run all summer.

My problem is sociology. The college offers only one course, it's everyday for 3 hours, summer session I...which is only 5 weeks long. I've had several students tell me the professor is horrible and I am worried about too much info being thrown at me in those short 5 weeks and not being able to keep up.

I do have the option of taking this course online, spread out over the whole summer (11 weeks). However, I have never done an online course, at the advice of my college advisor. I have a 4.0 so far and I don't want anything to screw that up. So this is my predicament: bad proffessor, short session with lots of info versus: online class which I have never done before and I know nothing about. Help!!

I would take Soc online in a second! I ended up taking both English Comp I & II, and Developmental Psych I & II online and I LOVED it! Got A's in all of them. You need to be self motivated, but as far as I am concerned, anyone that is applying to a nursing program has the motivation!

The only class that I would not personally take online is a math class. I love math, but need actual instruction.

I say do it!

I was thinking of taking a Math for Meds class this summer. Do you think that would be okay online? Ty

Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.

Basically, I agree with what's posted above...I took an 8-week summer chemistry course online and also a traditional 16-week Human Growth and Development course online and did fine with both....actually enjoyed the format quite a bit...

I have also taken an in-class Elementary Algebra course in the 5-week format and did well in that...my instructor was excellent, but I enjoyed the intense, one-class-at-a-time concept....

I am a good student, somewhat disciplined, and even my worst instructor was only ever able to drag my grade down to a "B" (with my help, lol)....

So you need to decide -- do you want to get that class over and done with regardless of what it takes? Or do you want to add it to your workload over the summer....it looks like you'll have plenty going on and may need or want to devote a lot of time to the math and micro courses!!

Best wishes!!

Ok, you all have talked me into it. However, if I screw up my GPA I am hunting ALL of you down!:rotfl:

I am very good at time mangement, have to be, we have 6 kids. I am confident I can put forth the effort to study and do whats required. What bothers me is that I seem to learn best in a traditional classroom.

Thanks for all your advice!

One piece of caution, it still matters what teacher you have. I have three online right now because it's all that was offered. I'm doing great, but I don't feel like I'm learning much. However, as I said, my grades are great. However, some girls I know took another teacher for a same class and they are miserable.

Can you look elsewhere too for a class that would transfer, maybe some community college? Read ratemyprofessor.com....I have shopped professors that way, and when I follow it I have been thoroughly pleased. I even went to a community college for 1 semester just for a A & P professor (the one offered at my school had a super bad rating), it was well worth it. I learned tons and got my 4.0:)

One word of advice...be sure your school will accept online courses. I don't think you will have any problem with a Sociology class, but one of my schools will not take API, etc. if it is done online. I will be following up with another school about science w/ labs tomorrow.

I LOVE online classes and would do all of them that way if I could.

Specializes in LTC, Psych.

My school IS the one offering the online course. I can't take it elsewhere and transfer it in because our clinical selection process is based purely on a point system. For sociology, if taken at the school and you pass, you get 4 points. If it's transferred in and you pass, you only get 3 points.

My school IS the one offering the online course. I can't take it elsewhere and transfer it in because our clinical selection process is based purely on a point system. For sociology, if taken at the school and you pass, you get 4 points. If it's transferred in and you pass, you only get 3 points.

Well, you know what? You will definitely be ok. As I have said I have three online classes now, Patho, Nutrition, and Pharm....and I am acing them all. But I don't feel as if I am retaining the info, and every single classmate I have spoken with agrees. I miss that lecture because I feel I learn so much better when I have an instructor teaching me as opposed to reading a book. However...for Sociology who cares how much you retain, right? I'm glad you have decided to take the online class...your grades already show that you're a good student. I bet the class will be a breeze for you. Good luck, I truly wish you the best:specs: .

I took Sociology online and finished with a 100 average! You just need to outline a time everyday to read and make some flashcards with terms. Good Luck!

I love online classes! That was until I started my phys ed class last week (wellness-focus lifestyle choices). I ended up with an awful professor that wasn't even around, he was using another horrible instructor's syllabus (or coursework). It was a totally ridiculous amount of assignments for a 2 credit class. Then there was the fun fact that I was in the class with a bunch of young students who didn't even know what they were doing and weren't submitting their assignments to the discussion board so I could earn the points I needed by responding to them. After I opened the second week's packet on day 6 I almost fell off my chair when I saw what was expected of us for the week. So I dropped it. Now I'm going to take a different phys ed class on campus (I was hoping to get my phys ed out of the way online because I have four small kids and childcare can be a nightmare for on campus classes). It sure does matter what professor you get! The one I have had bad reviews, but they weren't as bad as the professor's reviews who actually came up with the classwork (she wasn't supposed to be my professor, that part really sucks!). So, yes online classes are great, just get a great professor to go with it :)! Good luck!!

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