Classes and Part-Time employment

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I'm in the process of applying to a number of schools for their accelerated BSN program. Before I can begin any of these programs, there are certain prerequisites that must be satisifed. Fortunately, I only have 4 science courses that are remaining: A&P I, A&P II, Microbiology, and Organic BioChem.

I know there's going to be a good amount of studying involved. For now, I'm considering taking A&P I and Microbiology during the fall semster AND working PT. If all goes as planned, the remaining classes (A&P II and Organic would be satisifed in the Spring).

For those of you who've already been in this situation, did you think it was too much to take 2 classes and work PT? Did you feel you were better off taking 1 class and devoting all of your focus onto that?

Any feedback is appreciated.

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Specializes in Orthopedics/Med-Surg, LDRP.

Taking 2 science classes with a lecture day and a lab day each which will probably suck up 2 whole days or 4 part time days of your week - I think it might be biting a little too much off. Perhaps take one science this fall, take an abbreviated class during the winter, take one in the spring and one in the summer so that you're still done with all 4 by next fall. Sciences are a lot of memorization. I very foolishly took A & P II with Microbiology and Chemistry all in the same semester and I wasn't working. I was so overloaded by the 8th week to where I wasn't putting as much effort into one class or the other by trying to overcompensate for how poorly I was doing in another. Needless to say I ended up with a C in Chemistry and B's in the other 2.

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and one should do well in their science classes. It's competitive.......take one and do well in it.

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Specializes in start in NICU 7/14/08.

i think it all depends on how organized you are, how well you can prioritize and follow through with things and the type of studier you are...i was able to very successfully take two lab courses (micro & ap2), work full-time, attend to family / home commitments and have personal time...was it stressful, yah, but not overwhelmingly so.

i think it actually prepared me really well for nursing school...it was about the same level of intensity - i was forced to really organize, prioritize and stick with it.

good luck with whatever you decide.

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It's doable....just may not be the most popular route taken by those with extra responsibilities. Go to RateMyProfessor.com and choose the right professor if you decide to go this route.

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Thanks for the input everyone!

DaddyO - I used ratemyprofessor.com all the time when I was in college (for a non-nursing degree). Most of the time it was pretty accurate. Other times, I thought "are you kidding me?". For the most part, it was right on point.

Jenn - I'm sending you a PM.

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I took two science pre-reqs and worked the equivalent of three days a week (and actually planned a wedding at the same time!). It was busy, but I got "A"s ... like the others said, you have no know how much you can prioritize and how many other commitments you have. If you feel like your grades are slipping because of work, don't do it, since your prereq grades are pretty important.

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