Advice on class overload or just right 4 Fall 2010

JROregon, ASN, BSN, RN · May 13, 2010

I must agree with Jupiter that having some prior college science, like biology, can make a huge difference. I have a business background and got As in all the science pre-reqs but I can say it's because I has to start off with a cell biology class. From my experience, taking the micro and A&P classes at the same time was easier than taking 2 writing classes at the same time. If you do the 2 science classes together, pick a class that doesn't require a ton of reading or writing like the speech class.

Mintyfreshness23 · May 13, 2010

I took AP2, Micro and Psych together during a summer semester and I got A's, my classes however were online. I haven't taken more than 2 sciences at once but it's doable. I just finished stats this semester, and it takes a lot of time of you're not great with math, so don't mix that one with your sciences.
Good luck!

Wow!! Good for you on getting A's with those courses during the summer:up:...I am considering just taking either just anatomy or just micro (statistics, speech, and english)...not micro and anatomy together.

So, anatomy, speech, english, and stats for fall 2010.

Or would it be better to go with micro instead of anatomy with the other classes? (FYI..I need to have at least 12 units per semester in order for me to get my classes paid for)

Mintyfreshness23 · May 13, 2010

I must agree with Jupiter that having some prior college science, like biology, can make a huge difference. I have a business background and got As in all the science pre-reqs but I can say it's because I has to start off with a cell biology class. From my experience, taking the micro and A&P classes at the same time was easier than taking 2 writing classes at the same time. If you do the 2 science classes together, pick a class that doesn't require a ton of reading or writing like the speech class.

Thanks for your suggestion! I think what I need is someone who has done most or all of the pre-reqs and give me the best schedule of the courses as possible and keeping in mind I have to have at least 12 units per semester or 9 units during the summer... I went to a counselor and they had me doing 3 sciences and a human development class...after reading some of the post on here and hearing some advice from students who have taken those science courses...they were strongly against it.

So, I am here asking for everyone's advice on the courses to take...lol...:)...and I am very thankful for everyone's replies.

Mintyfreshness23 · May 13, 2010

Maybe I am the minority, but I have always taken at least 2 sciences (w/labs) per semester. This semester I am taking 3 science (w/labs). I just find that each labs is an extra 3 hours per class that I have to be in school and that is what consumes my time. I did do A&P II (the physiology portion), Micro, PSY (lifespan and development) and Statistics last semester and got straight A's. Have you ever taken college science courses before? I found that alot of people that came from business and teaching backgrounds had so much trouble with just 1 science course compared to their own previous coursework experience. Other's adjusted fine. If you are going to be a full time student, and not working (which I was) it is definitely doable. If it is your first semester you may want to take a lighter load and see how it goes, and adjust accordingly for the following semester. Good Luck!!!
Me

Thank you for the motivation! Knowing that it is doable sure is a relief... A little about myself...I have been the working parent for the entire family since the wife is going through Pharmacy school. We are young parents and we are doing fairly well with my income alone as a systems engineer...however, my job requires me to travel extensively overseas and around the states so, it is very difficult since I have a 9yr old and a 3yr old...plus the Mrs needs me while she's tackling to get her doctorate. I have always wanted to go to the healthcare field and become a nurse...so, here I am starting over. I won't be working and will be focusing on school entirely...so, I think I'll take it lightly and just work on 1 science course at a time...I haven't done any science courses but I am taking my Chem class this summer.

Every semester I need at least 12 units and 6 during the summer...to take advantage of some of the benefits I earned while in the miltary back in 2007. I have taken some college courses since 2007 but it was geared toward the Infomation Technology field.

I'll start with Micro or Anatomy (speech, English, and stats)..what do you think...

Mintyfreshness23 · May 13, 2010

I took anatomy & microbiology during the same semester last year. It was pretty hectic because each class had lecture & lab exams. So I felt like I was constantly preparing for exams every single week. But it was relatively manageable and I barely got an A in both classes. If I were to add stats, psychology, and speech into the same semester, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have gotten A's. I took all five of those classes already and I think if you're aiming for an A in anatomy, you'll need to allocate lots of study time for it. But it you're purely aiming for community college ADN programs that are lottery based, I guess you won't necessarily need to get an A in all those classes.

Thank you for the reply!

I definitely want an A in my classes...so a lighter course load during anatomy and any science course for that matter it will be . The ADN nursing program I am applying for is competitive, but my goal is to get through the pre-reqs as soon as possible, but at the same time not overload myself. So, it is why I am glad I found this forum and ask from students like yourself who has done it before. Thank you!:)

eruhkah · May 13, 2010

I would STRONGLY suggest not taking Anatomy w/ Microbiology...

I wanted to die when I was doing A&P 2 along with Microbiology, plus Psychology and another class + working parttime. I have no idea what I was thinkign that semester. Needless to say, I only had a C in Micro but got a B in anatomy. Statistics =ewww

Mintyfreshness23 · May 17, 2010

I would STRONGLY suggest not taking Anatomy w/ Microbiology...
I wanted to die when I was doing A&P 2 along with Microbiology, plus Psychology and another class + working parttime. I have no idea what I was thinkign that semester. Needless to say, I only had a C in Micro but got a B in anatomy. Statistics =ewww

I think I'll take micro with stat, speech, and english... what's your opinion on those classes for the fall?

Strwbrywne · May 17, 2010

I took A&P II and Micro together and survived! My thoughts are, if you want it bad enough you can do it. I'm not going to lie, it took LOTS of study time and I was completely stressed out, but I managed to pull an A in Micro and a high B in A&P II. This coming from someone who studied Finance in college and was in Bank Management. I attempted science classes during my first go round in college and couldn't handle it . This time I wanted it bad enough! :yeah:

I think your schedule all comes down to how much time and effort you give.

Mintyfreshness23 · May 17, 2010

I took A&P II and Micro together and survived! My thoughts are, if you want it bad enough you can do it. I'm not going to lie, it took LOTS of study time and I was completely stressed out, but I managed to pull an A in Micro and a high B in A&P II. This coming from someone who studied Finance in college and was in Bank Management. I attempted science classes during my first go round in college and couldn't handle it . This time I wanted it bad enough!
I think your schedule all comes down to how much time and effort you give.

Very true! Thank you for your advice! I do want it bad enough it's why my main focus is on school. I have worked hard for the past 7 years after high school and with three years overseas so my family are well taken care of while I pursue my goals of becoming a nurse. My wife is going through Pharmacy school and she has 3 more years to go with that...so, now I have help with the kids and push my work aside so I can go to school and have that as my priority, but at the same time since it's my first time back in school I certainly don't want to overlad myself and end up taking longer because I didn't do so well on my required courses...It is why I am thankful for your advice since you've taken the courses before and I can certainly make my decisions from you went through. Thanks again!

mangopeach · May 18, 2010

Given your situation, family, job. I would really just focus on 1 science class at a time. I know others have done it and done well and we all have different strategies, 1 science class per semester is my strategy and its working great and my GPA shows it. Yeah you can really want it but when you have kids,family,job commitments, I think its better that you pace yourself.

Mintyfreshness23 · May 18, 2010

Given your situation, family, job. I would really just focus on 1 science class at a time. I know others have done it and done well and we all have different strategies, 1 science class per semester is my strategy and its working great and my GPA shows it. Yeah you can really want it but when you have kids,family,job commitments, I think its better that you pace yourself.

Thank you for the reply. I think the majority of the replies I have received has been just like your advice with just 1 scince course per semester. Even though I won't be working and I will have help with my kids this upcoming semester I think I will stick with (micro, stats, speech, and english) What do you think?

guiltysins · May 18, 2010

I took Anatomy, Micro, Develop Psych and Statistics in the same semester and honestly I didn't think it was that bad, I had the best professors for all four and I got an A in all four (my first and only 4.0 semester). I had Micro, Psych and Stats on Tue and Thurs and I had Anatomy once a week for 6 hours on Friday's. However, I've always had an interest in psych so that class wasn't like work for me and we only had two tests which were based on notes so there wasn't much studying. I'm good at math so stats was a breeze for me and a lot of people in my course got D's so I would suggest that if you aren't good in Math, take it with fairly easy classes that won't be too stressful.