Am I crazy? Hard summer course load.

justme1972 · Apr 18, 2007

Personally, I wouldn't take the Ethics along with the AP b/c the AP covers a tons of material in the regular semester, much less during the summer.

Heloisea3 · Apr 18, 2007

I took A&P I and II last summer. I had signed up for an additional class to take with A&P I and ended up dropping it. It seemed like that A&P class took every minute of my time. I couldn't do it, but that doesn't mean you can't. I think a lot of it depends on your professors and how demanding they are. I think your plan sounds fine, but I would be concerned about taking any class along with A&P during a summer session. I think you just have to weigh out the time between the classes and any outside obligations you have and see if you think you will have time for it. I do know that during the summer, I spent an ENORMOUS amount of time memorizing bones, muscles, blood vessels, etc. for lab in addition to all that we were doing in class. It seemed like all I had time to do was work on A&P. However, that was a really hard class for me, and I really had to kill myself to pull an A. The class may come a lot easier for you. Good luck with whatever you choose. I'm sure you can do it if you are determined.

merrick · Apr 18, 2007

Initially I had reservtions about taking the Ethics and AP together in the Summer semester, but my advisor recommend I go ahead and finish up my pre reqs. I guess I'll give it a go and see how things work out. I can always drop and wait until Spring to start Nursing classes. I may look into hiring someone to come and clean my house for me, at least during june though. I know that if it was just me, I could handle the coursework. I'm just worried about having enough time for my kids. Then again, it's only for a month. Also, since we get our letters at the beginning of June, the only grades that count for admission are the ones through May Semester, so really I only have to pull a C in those last three classes. Of course I want to do better than that though if I can.

Wsmith16, ADN, BSN · Apr 19, 2007

I took AP 2 and Microbiology during the summer. At times it was crazy but do-able.It all depends on your professor. If you are lucky enough to get two great professors and study you will do fine. Good Luck!

RNMom2010 · Apr 19, 2007

WOW! I am taking A&P II online with labs at school and Human Growth & Development online in the summer and I thought that I had a lot of work ahead of me!! I think you will be fine as long as you keep your head in the books and are willing to forget about any type of life outside of school for the summer. Just remember that it is only for a few months and there is a huge reward in the end! Best of luck to you!!

justme1972 · Apr 19, 2007

Initially I had reservtions about taking the Ethics and AP together in the Summer semester, but my advisor recommend I go ahead and finish up my pre reqs. I guess I'll give it a go and see how things work out. I can always drop and wait until Spring to start Nursing classes. I may look into hiring someone to come and clean my house for me, at least during june though. I know that if it was just me, I could handle the coursework. I'm just worried about having enough time for my kids. Then again, it's only for a month. Also, since we get our letters at the beginning of June, the only grades that count for admission are the ones through May Semester, so really I only have to pull a C in those last three classes. Of course I want to do better than that though if I can.

Just remeber in the Summer, you usually have to drop the course in the first week for it to not affect your grade...that is usually before you know of whether or not it will work or not....just something to keep in mind.

catzy5 · Apr 19, 2007

I'm trying to get my pre reqs finished up so I can start the nursing program in the fall. I have Statistics, Ethics, and both A & P's left to do all this summer. I'm taking Stats in the May semester, A & P I and Ethics in June and A & P II in July. I also have two small children. Has anybody ever done something like this? I know Anatomy & Physiology is a rough class and especially taking it all in one month much less with another class added on to it. But if I don't do it like that I'll have to wait until Spring which I don't want to do. I'm nervous it'll be too much though.

will you beable to get in for the fall after taking those classes? most schools around here have already picked their fall canadates I will be done my pre regs in a couple of weeks the earliest I can get in is spring 08.

that said I wouldn't do it, you kids will suffer, I am taking two difficult classes now on the 16 week semester and my family is suffering I feel guilt ridden and I miss spending that quality time with them. I know its only temporary but now getting to the end I really am starting to feel it, they are only this small once I'll never have it back.

Also how will you find the time to study AP is a full time course on its own if your taking other classes and trying to be a mom you will just really burn yourself out IMO.

good luck.

MikeyJ, RN · Apr 19, 2007

Last summer I had taken a very heavy course load (not as heavy as your though -- phew!), and I did very very well (A's across the board). HOWEVER, I found that as soon as summer semester ended, I had one week to recover and I was thrown into Fall semester with a fairly light load of classes. I was so burnt out from summer that I wasn't even able to focus on any of my Fall classes until over a month into the semester. I wasn't even able to open my microbiology book or even look at my notes. I finally kicked it into the gear the night before my first microbiology exam (I totally bombed that exam -- however did well after that and came out of the class doing well).

My point is that you will most likely be able to do well in your summer classes because you don't really have time to slack off. However, if I were you I would stretch it out and start the program in the Spring because you will most likely be so burnt out from your summer classes that pushing yourself even harder a few weeks later when nursing school starts will be extremely difficult.

merrick · Apr 21, 2007

Thanks everyone for your advice and input.

will you beable to get in for the fall after taking those classes? most schools around here have already picked their fall canadates I will be done my pre regs in a couple of weeks the earliest I can get in is spring 08.
good luck.

At my school, they don't pick candidates until the end of May. You don't have to have all of your pre reqs finished at that time though. You just have to have them finished by the time you start your nursing classes. My advisor is very confident that I'll get in for Fall, as I have an excellent GPA and that's all they go by here. So basically my grades in A &P and Ethics won't matter much as I'll already have been accepted, I just have to have a C.

I am worried about not having enough time for my kids and other responsibilities. I hear you guys on the burn out too. I am going to try though. Hopefully I'll know soon enough if it's too much. I know I'll be working my butt off though! Luckily, my mother in law will be staying with us during the week so that will help greatly. And I'll probably be able to hire someone to clean my house for me at least for June and July. I have already told dh that he's going to have to pick up the slack. He graduates this month with his master's, so he should have a bit more time to help out than in the past. If I'm not worried about the housework and things like that hopefully I can get in some quality time with my kids between class and studying.

Luckily both my kids are still nursing and we co sleep, so that should help a bit with the transition.

catzy5 · Apr 21, 2007

Thanks everyone for your advice and input.
At my school, they don't pick candidates until the end of May. You don't have to have all of your pre reqs finished at that time though. You just have to have them finished by the time you start your nursing classes. My advisor is very confident that I'll get in for Fall, as I have an excellent GPA and that's all they go by here. So basically my grades in A &P and Ethics won't matter much as I'll already have been accepted, I just have to have a C.
I am worried about not having enough time for my kids and other responsibilities. I hear you guys on the burn out too. I am going to try though. Hopefully I'll know soon enough if it's too much. I know I'll be working my butt off though! Luckily, my mother in law will be staying with us during the week so that will help greatly. And I'll probably be able to hire someone to clean my house for me at least for June and July. I have already told dh that he's going to have to pick up the slack. He graduates this month with his master's, so he should have a bit more time to help out than in the past. If I'm not worried about the housework and things like that hopefully I can get in some quality time with my kids between class and studying.
Luckily both my kids are still nursing and we co sleep, so that should help a bit with the transition.

Thats great you are one lucky camper, they take highest GPA here too however only 12 spots in the fall and 24 in the spring, I can't apply until the fall for spring so atleast my chances increased, I have a 4.0 gpa right now but I still have 4 weeks of school. also they have implemented a new assesment test in Ca so I have to pass that as well and I am a bit leary of that, I am not really that good in English.

Heloisea3 · Apr 21, 2007

I misunderstood you. For some reason, I was thinking that you had to have the classes to apply for the program, but now I see that you just have to have them before starting. If that is the case, and you can get accepted without them, then you should at least try to take them. It sounds like you have a great support system and a lot of determination. Even though it is great to always strive for A's, I think it also lessens the stress to know that you will still be able to be in the program if you make a B or C. I think you can do it, but I also think that it will be incredibly hard, and you will probably experience a lot of burn out before the end of the summer. You at least owe it to yourself to try, though.

Think of it this way? What is the worst that can happen? You find out that it is too much, and you drop one of the classes or have to repeat one later. You're also out the money you spent on the class, and you wait one more semester to start the program. What is the best that can happen? You successfully struggle and suffer through, and you start in the fall. To me, it would be worth the struggle. Good luck!!!