Anybody else feel pre-reqs are easy?

sunray12 · Sep 19, 2008

Nope. And I have a graduate degree. I'm taking two classes at community college - they're not easy but they're thorough and I'm doing okay. My future plans are based on having a good grounding in the fundamentals so I don't mind the challenge.

txnursingqt · Sep 19, 2008

You are not alone. I feel the same way that you do. Sometimes I get overwhelmed because there is so much to memorize but other than that I think it is easy too. I don't like to say that often because I don't want anyone to think that I am bragging either or that I think to highly of myself because I'm not that type of person.

I went to the University of Texas in Austin which is a very tough school to get into (especially to transfer into) so I guess maybe I am used to having it tough. But then again I thought the classes there were easy too! I was in all honor classes in high school and had Biology and Chemistry then so maybe that helps. Who knows...maybe school just comes easier to us.

It can definitely be a problem, though most people don't see it that way. Because I too find myself getting bored and then I lose focus and just don't seem to care. I have struggled with that problem all my life. For a while I thought maybe I have ADHD or something but I have been tested and seen many a doctor and that isn't my problem.

What I have found helpful is pushing myself further than the class pushes me. I do this by doing research online above and beyond what is required. I read ahead on nursing material for NS and try to stay focused on my goal of completing NS!!!!

All I can say is that you are not in this boat alone. And you don't know how much better I feel knowing that there is someone else out there who feels the same way that I do.

Good Luck!!!

AvaLace · Sep 19, 2008

Hi there :) Ya I felt the same way as you about most of my pre-req's that was until I took Anatomy. I loved it but man it was so much info that I really got overwhelmed and then there was the lab class with real cadavers(not that a dead body bothered me) The formaldehyde was terrible! I nearly passed out every time they brought the bodies out to study and started spraying them with that gross chemical. You're probably smarter than the average I would think if you're feeling under challenged and there's nothing wrong with that. You should be proud of yourself! Maybe you'll find some other classes to bring the challenge back into your mind. Anyway that's just my thoughts. Keep up the good work :)

xenonaut · Sep 19, 2008

Yeah, I'm with you guys. So far, it's all pretty easy and I'm taking Micro, A&P and Molecular Cell all at the same time this semester. I do see people failing around me and I just have to think they aren't studying or maybe they just aren't confident -- being an older student with a degree also gives me a mature perspective that I wish I could convey to the young partiers. Unfortunately many will regret it later when they decide to go on with advanced degrees and find that their grades aren't competitive.

Anyway, I also agree that going more in depth on my own helps make it more challenging and will be good prep work for grad school (CRNA school for me). Plus, I find that loading up on the courses also provides the challenge of keeping the plates spinning in the air.

Anyway, just wanted to let you know you're definitely not alone.

Amanda1985 · Sep 19, 2008

I thought they were pretty easy. Especially the psych, nutrition, english, etc.

When I got to anatomy and physio I thought it was going to be hard, but it wasn't. You just have to have the time and study skills to do well. The information is all in front of you. I would study everyday after class just going over everything we had learned from that and previously and that helped me a lot.

jjjoy, LPN · Sep 19, 2008

I found in school that I tended to dislike many of the intro level courses that were minimum nursing school requirements. I found the same course for majors much more stimulating and interesting (eg intro to o chem vs o chem for chem majors). I hated the cursory overviews and memorizing in some courses versus more in depth coverage of the concepts. I think I also got lucky in getting good instructors for the more intense courses and not so good instructors for the more basic courses. Regardless, the intro level courses took a lot less time and effort to finish and pull off good grades in, boring as they were.

I found the cursory level of nursing school instruction frustrating as well, at least when it came to topics like pathophysiology and pharmacology. And I hated the tests because they used NCLEX style questions which don't directly reflect the content covered in lecture and the texts. But I worked out study and test taking strategies and kept my grades up. Nursing school was tough because of the sheer amount of content covered, as opposed to the level of difficulty of that content. And instructors could be awfully vague on what exactly they were looking for on tests and assignments.

I usually didn't need to spend nearly as long studying as many classmates did to do well on tests. That by no means reflects their ability as nurses, however! Many of them were much better than me at pulling things together on the floor.

ladypat · Sep 19, 2008

I consider myself to be a better than average student but I have to say I do not think all my classes are easy . I go to newly accredited 4 year college which when I applied was a comm coll. I am full time and do not work, but have four kids. I am taking chem1032 and a&p 1 lab on campus. I take a&p 1, psch, eng comp online. My 1st exam was on 5 chapters. :major themes of anat and phys,;gen orientation of human anat; chem of life; cellular form and function; genetics and cellular function. I didn't do as well as I hoped on the exam, but going on to the next chapter histology, it all seems to make more sense.

Adams_Mommy_07 · Sep 20, 2008

Well I am a grad student taking my pre-reqs at a CC right now. I think they are easy as well.

disquietingmuses · Sep 20, 2008

I feel the same way.

I have not struggled with any of my prereqs (or any college class for that matter). It is not uncommon for me to wait until the day of the test to even start studying, yet I still end up making an A. It makes me feel bad because so many of my classmates struggle to earn passing grades, and I'm breezing by with easy As.

Maybe it will be different when I start my nursing courses in January. In the meantime, I intend to enjoy it while I can.

itsinthegenes · Sep 21, 2008

I too am finding the pre-reqs easy. I too have a degree, in genetics, and a masters in genetics. I just look at this stage as a means to an end, I study for all the topics and figure if nothing else I am making sure I have the groundwork in place, study skills polished before starting nursing school.

I asked if I could try and test out of psych and sociology, but they said no I find those two courses so tedious, plus they seem to be filled with a bunch of losers who just finished high school and have nothing better to do (there were six girls sat behind me in psych discussing how stoned they were). My sociology test on Thurs - half the class left after 15 minutes - it takes longer than that to read 50 multiple choice questions let alone answe the eassy questions! The more nurse oriented courses like A&P1 and microbiology I am enjoying more, mainly because the other students are interested, and I like the teachers. So far I have 100% in each and am now tutoring some of the other students which makes the classes more interesting as I am listening and working out how to explain it to people who don't understand it easily (lysogeny was the last tutoring session!).

Otherwise, I do enjoy college, if just because I had a baby in the USA after moving here from England, and college is giving me an opportunity to get out of the house and make my own friends (not just having my partners friends!)

msdeannah · Sep 21, 2008

nope, not me. I'm doing well but having to work my behind off. i am taking a&p and chemistry. There are some in my anatomy class that seem to be having an easy time. One student has a ba in biology the other is a emt. Congrats to you guys. Gotta go pull more hair out.