Community Colleges/vanderbilt/nashville?

I would suggest Nashville State Community College on Whitebridge Rd. http://www.nscc.edu/

They also offer some classes on line. Further I know that some of their classess transfer directly to Vanderbilt, lots of students do pre-reqs. there. Other options would be TSU or Columbia State Franklin Campus (close to the Cool Springs area). I know there are some others if you are not in the Nashville metro area, but these are the first that come to mind. Hope this helps!

There is also Vol State in Gallatin. It is a wonderful school. I am attending Vol State for my pre-reqs. The instructors are helpful and in my opinion, easy. Hope that helps!

I have never heard of SUNY. What is that?

SUNY is the State University of New York. They have a web of community colleges throughout the state that offer online courses. I just enrolled in A&PI and Microbiology. Then I received an email from the admissions counselor at Vanderbilt saying that online is ok but I should take those two particular courses at a 4-year rather than a community college. That's going to set me back a whole year so I'm kind of freaking out right now...

I don't understand why that should matter. I was under the impression from their website that as long as you have the credits, then they transfer. It never stated that they had to be from a 4 year college. Is it mandatory or is it preferred?

Also, we have something like SUNY here. It is RODP. It is thru the tennessee board of regents.

Well, from my experience sometimes schools will accept on-line credits for non-science (psychology of human growth & development, nutrition) however for the hard science courses (A&P, Microbiology, Chemistry...) what I've heard is that taking a class in a classroom setting with an instructor is much better. Especially for a degree like nursing, the courses are the building blocks of everything else we do, so if you miss a concept or don't fully understand the difference between gram negative & gram positive bacteria, etc...the rest of your schooling you'll be playing catch-up.

I know for a fact that Vanderbilt accepts classess from Nashville State Community (a TN board of regents school in a classroom setting), Columbia State, Vol State, as well as classess from TSU, MTSU, etc...some of which are not 4 year schools. I would clarify with the admissions instructor and ask her for some suggestions of schools that offer courses in flexible styles (again some of the schools listed above will offer accelerated courses during the summer...they are dealing with LOTS of pre-nursing students).

ROPD is a TN Board of Regents program, but again, I've heard administration at my school say that they don't want you taking microbioligy online, even if it's offered through this program.

A last note, remember that also, when you are looking at possibly going to grad school (Vanderbilt is a bridge program where you will be expected to think and produce at a masters level) being in a classroom that is guided more by evidence based practice, the more up & coming theories, etc...you will only benefit!!

OH, and the lab portion....how will you ever complete a lab if your school is several states away on-line. Maybe that is a good distinguisher...if the class has a lab component, you better take it at a 2 or maybe 4yr college with a live class room setting!!

Thank you so much. The only courses available online we're A&PI and Micro. The two he said I should make sure to take at a 4 year. Then I told him that I had already enrolled and that it would set me back a year since it's so late in the game and he said he would continue then, but "it's totally up to you (me)" Ugh! So difficult!! I have faith in myself to actually study and do well but i'm just scared it's not going to be good enough and then i've lost money, time, and energy for nothing. I'm taking the courses through Cayuga Community College. (online)

When I spoke with someone at Vanderbilt, he only said that the pre-reqs had to be from an accredited institution. If the online course is offered at such an institution, you should be fine. Send me a PM, if you like. I'm curious who you talked to at Vanderbilt.

Personally I've taken many online courses and benefitted from them greatly...but NOT the "hard" sciences. For those I needed (either because I missed them the first time around or because they were very, very old!) such as A&P, Microbiology, and the Chem courses I attended a local community college in order to get the "live" labs. I found that to be a good combo and was able to work while juggling online and live courses.

I will be at Vandy this Fall.

I took ALL my nursing pre-reqs at a community college, a lot online. Then got my BSN at a university. I start at Vandy in the fall. As long as your GPA/GRE are competitive they dont care where/how u took it.