I have been out of high school for over 16 years now and have a few college credits but mostly in the humanities. The last science class I took was my sophomore year in highschool, way back when parachute pants were the rage! ROFL! Anyway, I would like to go to nursing school and the semester of prereq's at my school are as follows:
Microbiology
A&P
Computers for Nurses
General Psychology
Pharmacology
But to be accepted to the nursing program I have to have Intro to Chemistry as well. Is it insane to try to do all of these classes plus chem in one semester? I think it is a total of 18 credit hours.
The thing is, I know it will take awhile to get accepted with the waiting lists and all, but it appears I can't even get put on the waiting list until I take all of these courses, right? So if I do it in 2 semesters instead of 1 that makes the waiting even longer. And what if I finish these and then it's still awhile before I get accepted? What does one do in the meantime?
Specializes in Critical care, Pediatris & Geriatrics.
i've considered this, but i am a much better hands on learner than i am distance learner. especially with classes that include labs... but thanks for the suggestion!
i agree online classes are not for me either. i need the hands on. i know alot of people whos' taken online classes and they just didnt' get 1/2 of what they needed out of it. i know a woman who took medical terminology online, and she said, she knew nothing. wow. that sucks. good luck
Thanks so much! I am definitely starting to see this is not such a good idea! And will be talking to a degree counselor before I sign up! Thanks!
Just like you I started pre-nursing classes later in life. I had a large time span in between previous college classes. Initially I was quite "shocked" by the difficulty and workload in those science classes, particularly in the first A&P class. I am "broken in" now and things are going very well for me so far.
I'm sorry. I signed out before you had a chance to ask a question. As far as taking pre-requisites before applying, each school is different. At my school, we have to take Microbiology, but not before we get in. It is strongly advised to take it before though, because Microbiology is not something you want to take with the nursing classes. My advice would be this. Go to the nursing advisor and get advising from them. That is what I did, and I am soooo glad I did. That way, you wont be given bad advise from someone who thinks they know what they are talking about. You will get different answeres from different people, and of course, when you get advise from us, we are just saying what our school requires. It is probably a little different at yours.
Thanks for the quick response! So are you saying I can still apply even though I haven't taken all of the prereqs? I know this probably varies from school to school, but I assumed I had to finish all of the classes before I could even turn in my application.
You need to talk to an adviser at the school, sooner rather than later. At my school they hold an information session on getting into nursing school once a week. Requirements vary SO much from school to school that it's useless to ask us what you have to do to get in. See if they award points, if it's a lottery/waitlist system, if it's strictly GPA based...and at some schools you can apply while finishing your last semester of prereqs. It just depends on where you are. That's too bad there aren't any schools near where you live right now...I couldn't imagine just seeing my husband on holidays! Good luck to you!
I did find out that I do not have to have ALL my pre-reqs finished to apply. I need at least 9 credits, not including the Chemistry class. So I can apply after that first semester even without taking all 18 credits!
This is such a relief! Thanks so much for your patience with me! :)
I too, can't wait to get started with my nurses classes....after a 2.5 years studying education at a private school (without a nursing program) I figured out what I wanted to do and transferred to a prenursing program in January. I am finishing up my last quarter of prereqs (Micro is a prereq at my school) but nursing school only admits fall and spring classes. So, I'm taking winter quarter off, I can use the break to relax, work, and brush up on some physiology (A & P are separate classes...you take 2 anatomies and 2 physiologies) before i start Physio I in the spring...
Best wishes on your classes. And I agree that talking to a nursing advisor can be a huge help. Mine sat down and went through my whole transfer transcript to help me figure out what I needed to take and when. Maybe your school has a "sample plan" for class scheduling...I modified the plan they gave us to fit what I needed to do, and that's been a big help.
I have been out of high school for over 16 years now and have a few college credits but mostly in the humanities. The last science class I took was my sophomore year in highschool, way back when parachute pants were the rage! ROFL! Anyway, I would like to go to nursing school and the semester of prereq's at my school are as follows:
Microbiology
A&P
Computers for Nurses
General Psychology
Pharmacology
But to be accepted to the nursing program I have to have Intro to Chemistry as well. Is it insane to try to do all of these classes plus chem in one semester? I think it is a total of 18 credit hours.
The thing is, I know it will take awhile to get accepted with the waiting lists and all, but it appears I can't even get put on the waiting list until I take all of these courses, right? So if I do it in 2 semesters instead of 1 that makes the waiting even longer. And what if I finish these and then it's still awhile before I get accepted? What does one do in the meantime?
Thanks in advance!
Summer
I know it seems like it would be a good way to bang them all out but I tell ya speaking from experience it would be extremely difficult and you would have to have absolutely no life out side of school and no sleep.
I take chem and ap101 right now I had no science back ground but needed to take math in order to get into chem. I took a year off from school too because I was frustrated withou how long it was going to take. My suggestion is especially the first semester take it slow see what you can handle and get your feet wet. The year will go by weather you do this or not so just keep plugging away taking it a few at a time.
Thanks for the quick response! So are you saying I can still apply even though I haven't taken all of the prereqs? I know this probably varies from school to school, but I assumed I had to finish all of the classes before I could even turn in my application.
It varies from school to school. Are you doing BSN or ADN?
My school not only do you have to have all pre reqs finished you have to wait a semester. I will finish in the spring but can't apply until the fall for the follwoing spring. However another CC near me has a wait you can get on the list while doing your pre reqs. So talk to an advisor at your school and also look at others you might still be able to get on a wait at one school while doing pre reqs at another.
A suggestion: Be sure to take chemistry before A&P. You'll find it quite helpful. I mention it because not all chemistry classes require a lab, which means taking it alongside A&P is possible (though not adviseable, in my opinion).
I am finishing all of my pre-reqs this semester. Because I have a prior degree, I cannot apply for admission until they are complete. If you have no prior college experience, however, you can apply to my school at any time. People who prior degrees are considered transfer students and have to compete for a small number of seats.
A suggestion: Be sure to take chemistry before A&P. You'll find it quite helpful. I mention it because not all chemistry classes require a lab, which means taking it alongside A&P is possible (though not adviseable, in my opinion).
I am finishing all of my pre-reqs this semester. Because I have a prior degree, I cannot apply for admission until they are complete. If you have no prior college experience, however, you can apply to my school at any time. People who prior degrees are considered transfer students and have to compete for a small number of seats.
I am taking chem and ap101 together I am glad I am taking them together they both have labs and keep me hopping but, the chemistry chapter in AP followed what we did in Chem so it was fresh and current in my mind.
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ChargeNurseAmy74
363 Posts
i agree online classes are not for me either. i need the hands on. i know alot of people whos' taken online classes and they just didnt' get 1/2 of what they needed out of it. i know a woman who took medical terminology online, and she said, she knew nothing. wow. that sucks. good luck
nurse2bamy