Anybody else tired of taking pre-reqs?

nguyency77, CNA · Nov 13, 2012

I spent 7 years at a private school that emphasized classical/liberal arts education. I don't like taking certain classes, like philosophy and other humanities simply because I spent too many of my high school days trying to read The Republic and other boring books.

I know what you mean about wanting to start nursing school. Definitely cannot wait to be done with my Drawing I class. Yes, drawing is lovely and artsy-fartsy; fun to do when I have free time, not so fun when the teacher insists that everything is drawn in black, and gray and nearly every day we're drawing the same ugly still-life! She puts a cooking pot, a cowboy boot, and a couple of vases on the table and we have to draw it for 3 hours. I've been in class since AUGUST. LOL

I do think having a rounded education is important, though. There is a world beyond science pre-requisites, and it's very important (even if you don't think the course has any practical value) to learn about a variety of topics. You never know when it comes in handy. When I was working as a CNA, I sometimes provided care for veterans of war. My fixation with history came in handy, as I was able to break the ice with these residents. They seemed impressed when I actually knew the places they said they fought at, and what those battles were for. :)

RunnerRN2015, ASN, RN · Nov 13, 2012

My school doesn't require any pre-reqs (you can take everything WITH the NUR classes) but I started in their pre-nursing program January of this year to get the rest of the non-nursing classes out the way (A&P 1 and 2, micro, math/dosage calculations, and med term--I already had SOC, ENG, PSY, etc completed from a previous major) and I'm beyond ready for micro to be over! It's my last non-nursing class. Starting in January, it's NUR only!

CDEWannaBe · Nov 13, 2012

Welcome to higher education. The faculty sets the degree plans, which are all the classes you have to take to graduate. But the catch is they all want THEIR classes listed as requirements so they have job security. And the college is complicit because students (or the Federal Government if you get federal financial aid) is obligated to pay the tuition for these requirements.

Because of this silliness it now takes most student 3 years to get an ADN/ASN and 5 years to get a Bachelors degree.

I've received a BA and am a reasonably intelligent person who now works at a college. Most classes outside of your major are a waste of time. They are not life changing and rarely make you a better person. You might be able to answer a few more questions on Jeopardy, but that's about it.

FaithGurl93 · Nov 13, 2012

What school do you go to?

x_factor · Nov 13, 2012

While it is tiresome, I also understand it. I started pre-reqs thinking it was useless to take an art elective, and in the beginning even wondered if I'd use much of the psychology I was learning. And I was already an A+ student in english, and I'm holding that same english grade now that I'm in college, however I have learned a lot in the different writing styles we've been taught. My art elective has opened my eyes to all types of artists, styles of art, and historic art pieces. I find myself willingly watching documentaries on different artists now. Same with psychology, it started with me being so bored, but now I am fascinated with the topics at hand and some of the theorists we've learned about as well. I've really enjoyed getting the well-rounded education that my pre-reqs have provided me with this semester. Not enjoying math quite as much as my other classes, but it's a necessary evil, lol.

giarose2007 · Nov 14, 2012

YES I know how you are feeling!!!! I just want to be done with my pre-reqs!

SaraMC · Nov 14, 2012

I HATE sociology. I feel it's pointless and does not pertain to what I really need to know and takes time away from my important subjects(A&P , etc) but its required. I'm about to take humanities and dev. Psych in spring. Hopefully I won't feel that way about them. It just sucks going from full on science study mode to learning why society governs criminal actions. Lol

laylayluv90 · Nov 14, 2012

I don't like the pre reqs I would like to skip through it :-) I want to go straight to the nursing part!!!

oceanise · Nov 14, 2012

I go to school in Texas, and you're required to take 2 semesters of government, 2 of history, 2 of English comp, an art class, etc. to get any bachelors degree in this state... so yeah I can understand your sentiment. :) I didn't mind psych, sociology, or human growth/development though. After 3 years of taking pre-reqs I'm just so ready to actually start the nursing program.

perioddrama · Nov 14, 2012

Pre-reqs can be tedious, but they help us all to become well-rounded individuals, and eventually, nurses.

To make it less tedious, do not think the whole class as "useless," but try to find a little nugget within that class that makes it interesting and fun. At least, that was what I did to make taking the pre-reqs more enjoyable.

Keep your goal in sight: all the pre-reqs leads to nursing school.

Good luck!

calinursestudent818 · Nov 14, 2012

I feel your pain and I haven't even started taking my prereqs yet! But for both the schools I am considering, they both have about 8 prereqs that I have to take....it will probably take about a year-year and a half to get through them all with my budget limitations right now. If I had the money and time now, I would just do all the prereqs in a few months. The sciences, math, english & Pysch I get for Nursing but everything else seems not related. I think it makes sense to have prereqs that are related to what you are studying, does that make sense? Everything else just seems like useless time wasting filler.