best way to schedule classes to maximize degree progression

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Hi! I am a new potential nursing student @ DCC in Nola. As I began to schedule my prereqs for the Fall '12 semester, I realized that I will only be allowed to take about 2 possibly 3 classes a semester due to prerequesites (or it seems that way!). At that rate, it will take 4 or 5 years for an ASN...is that correct?

I figured the allnurses site is the best platform to get advice from people who have been there and done that ;)

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Hi! I am a new potential nursing student @ DCC in Nola. As I began to schedule my prereqs for the Fall '12 semester, I realized that I will only be allowed to take about 2 possibly 3 classes a semester due to prerequesites (or it seems that way!). At that rate, it will take 4 or 5 years for an ASN...is that correct?

I figured the allnurses site is the best platform to get advice from people who have been there and done that ;)

An example of what I am dealing with is this: I'm scheduling Algebra 101& Biol 141 (intro biology) because I cannot get into A&P I without entry level bio. That is only 2 classes for the entire semester! I have already taken Eng. 101, 102 and Psych, when I first graduated highschool and was not so serious about my studies.So now, I just am trying to make the most of each semester.

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It depends on what your prereqs are and if your prereqs have prereqs. My school doesn't have prereqs but I took all my non nursing classes in a year, and some of those had there own prereqs like bio and math.

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Yep, that is what it is. My prereqs have prereqs; I guess I'm just going to have to take it REAL slow.

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I think a good chunk of us had to go through the real slow route. My pre-reqs and their pre-reqs took me about 2 years to complete. Nursing school will be another 2 years. So there goes 4 years on an associate's degree. I think that's pretty typical nowadays.

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

My school is like that. Each prerequisite has a pre-req. The fastest you can finish them all is 2 years, so it takes 4 years for an ADN. Pretty silly huh? That's why I decided to just get my BSN. I figure if I am going to spend 4+ years in school, I want a 4 year degree, haha.

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Specializes in ICU RN, current SRNA.

I feel you there. I said screw it to the ADN for the same thing. So now I'm going for my BSN then hopefully CRNA

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No. Most college-ready students will find the prereqs very doable in two terms. Even those who didn't take a high school biology class will need only one extra semester.

1st semester: A&P I, English 101, Algebra, the Fine Art Class, Microbiology - 16 credits

2nd semester: A&P II, English 102, Math 130, General Psychology, humanities - 16 credits

Many people take longer than that but not because of prereq traffic jams.... they are also working or raising children or some such thing or just want a lighter load.

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

If you're able to take a schedule like that, you are lucky. A&P II is a pre-req for micro at my school sadly :( Makes the prereq process a long one.

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I took 3 classes a semester. I think less classes is better, because your grades will be better. It took me a little under 2 years to finish my pre regs. I'm starting my nursing classes next month and will graduate in late 2014. However long it takes, just hang in there! Time will go by.

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Specializes in public health, women's health, reproductive health.

I had a BA when I started pre-reqs so I already had taken most of the necessary courses, but not A&P I or II, which meant two semesters since you can't take those in the same term. So it was an academic year in my case. That makes the ADN program at my school 7 semesters long for me when all is counted, or about 3 1/2 years, not including any wait time....even with a previous degree.

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