Advice for maintaining a 4.0 taking an 18 credit course load while working?

cally527, RN · May 19, 2012

That is a pretty tough course load. You are going to need to set up a very strict study schedule and you are probably not going to have much time for a personal life. But.... if you go to nursing school or med school, that would be the case as well so it will be good practice.

Just keep in mind, that a perfect 4.0 GPA is the ideal that everyone strives for, but don't beat yourself up is it slips a little bit. You are taking a full load of classes. Some of those classes are very hard and very time consuming to study for. On top of this you are going to be throwing a new job into the mix. Do your best, but do not let the stress overwhelm you.

Good Luck!!!!

maddiem · May 20, 2012

Wow your are very ambitious! Its great that you are so motivated. I'm getting my CNA license this summer too to start getting experience. I have completed A&P 1 and 2 and I have taken Bio. I would recommend not taking A&P and Bio at the same time. They are both difficult courses and they require a very intense study schedule. I got an A in both sections of A&P and Bio. But I would have never been able to do them both at the same time. A&P is a whole other world when it comes to science courses. I would STRONGLY recommend taking that separate from Bio. Biomedical Terminology is just mostly memorization, not too bad, but you just need to study the terms a lot. If you're good at math, algebra shouldn't be so hard. And sociology is just an easy gen ed. But if you plan on working as a CNA this fall, you won't have as much time on your hands to study for both A&P and Bio. I studied for 3 hours a day about 5-6 days a week for A&P. And I was working 5 days a week at this time. It was hard! A&P is no joke. Its much more than knowing bones, muscles, and organs.

Good luck!

lucyc66 · May 20, 2012

Wow, kudos to you for even considering this schedule. I will say though, physiology is a tough course...it changes you...

haha, really though, I would step it down a little. You don't want to screw up your chances of getting into your choice school by getting a B in any of those prereqs. Depending on how lenient your instructors are for alg. soc. and medical terminology, this might be doable, even while working.

Boxer Mama · May 20, 2012

I agree you might want to maybe rethink taking all the classes at once. Bio was a prereq for the A&P since the A&P class was taught under the assumption you already understood the biology principles presented. I spent a great deal of time studying for both bio and A&P, and since most schools look at science grades, you want those to be a strong as possible. The gen. ed. courses should not be a big deal with one science class and working. I know it is tempting to want to get those classes done, but school for a healthcare career should be a marathon and not a sprint so you finish the race strong and on your feet! Good luck!

Stephalump · May 20, 2012

Plus side of your schedule...it'll be difficult. NS will be more difficult than that, and MS will be MORE difficult than both. When I first was in college, I majored in Biology, and our semesters looked a lot worse than that. At least they're all entry level classes.

Negative...if it's too much, no matter what the reason, you'll have permanent undesirable grades on your transcript.

When students are working or raising a family and trying to get into a program that focuses on gpa, getting done as quickly as possible shouldn't be the goal. Taking time to focus on the grades should be the goal. So, if were you, I'd get a calendar. When you get your work schedule, block out those hours. Block out the hours you'll be in class. Then start blocking out study time. Reevaluate after your first tests. Don't get behind, or you'll pay for it. And don't forget to block out fun time!

caliotter3 · May 20, 2012

You have been given good advice in the previous posts. I would strongly recommend that you step it down. I would leave the A&P for the next term, with a lighter load. You will be surprised how the job will impact school. I worked full time with part time jobs during school and found it very debilitating. Get good and sick, at the wrong time of the semester, and you might as well hang it up. Consider leaving yourself some built-in breathing room. Good luck.

xInspiredx · May 21, 2012

I think that it will be challenging to ace all of those classes with a job on top of it all. Perhaps you should wait until taking A&P, since biology will help you with that class. I personally wouldn't take that load with a job, but anything's possible if you're committed to something. Good luck! :)