Advice on Pre-Req sequence for applying to Acc Bacc Nursing Programs

[btaveras]

Hello Everyone,

I could really use some advice from folks who have gone through the process. I am currently taking my nursing pre-reqs in hopes of applying to accelerated post-bacc programs in December 2010. I am finishing up Anatomy and Physiology II of a 3-term sequence. I work full-time so my year has been crazy and am obviously tempted to take Nutrition over the summer and then A and P III in the fall. However, I feel that if I take A and P III this summer then I can take Microbiology in the fall and have a more competitive application. Is this true? I will not have all my classes done before December, either way I will be taking my pre-reqs until net Spring , in hopes of beginning school in Fall 2011. But, my question is, if I take Nutrition or Statistics this summer, will it make me not as competitive in my application? Just some background, I have a mediocre undergrad GPA, am a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer and AmeriCorps alum and currently work at Planned Parenthood.

Cheers!

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

You should contact the school or schools you're interested in and ask them directly. Each school has different criteria and a different applicant base. An admissions counselor should be able to answer your questions.

[juliaann]

You should defintely contact the program advisor, as suggested above.

Is there any reason you couldn't take A&P III & Micro at the same time? I'm all for an "easy" summer of nutrition to relax, then hit the books hard in the fall.

If you can't/don't want to take two sciences in the fall, personally I would take the A&P course this summer and micro in the fall. Depending on your program, *some* programs weigh science grades (and number of science pre-reqs completed at time of application) higher than overall GPA and overall pre-req completion percent. That's not to say your program will - but many do. It's worth looking into before you make your decision.

I'm in a similar boat, I'm applying this fall for an accelerated BSN program that starts in the summer of 2011, and just having as many pre-reqs done with A's that I can is what I'm counting on to make my application stand out. Luckily I'm done with my required sciences, I only have statistics and 2 optional sciences left: organic chem and physics. O chem and statistics this summer, then physics in the fall. My physics grade won't be in by the time I apply to the aBSN program, but I'll get points for being enrolled.

All that to say, call your school's nursing program office and ask how they score applicants, and if having more science done matters at all. Good luck!