Could someone pls. help me with my pre-req schedule??

Jilaweez, BSN, MSN, RN · Jun 12, 2007

I think that sounds alright. I took Anat and physio in the fall and spring. I am glad I took them back to back and I agree, I don't think I'd want to take either of those over the summer. During summers I took soc,psy and chem. I would've done the sciences over the summer if that was my only option (anything to get through them, right?). My counselors always gave good advice so I usually took it, but if you don't feel comfortable then you should see someone else.

BTW, my school only offered Anatomy in the fall and Physiology in the spring so I had to take them that way. If I wouldn't have listened to my counselor I may have tried to take it in the summer only to find out they didn't offer it. Maybe your counselor has a very good reason for suggesting the sequence of courses he did for you, you might want to ask him.

caliotter3 · Jun 12, 2007

Physiology is too intense of a course for summer school. Summer school courses are done in a shorter period of time. There's no time to catch up if you fall behind. Physiology should not be taken in the summer. And when anatomy and physiology are provided in separate courses at a school, they are normally a handful by themselves and anatomy is almost always required to be taken before physiology. If I were you, I would take one prerequisite science course per term, so that you can concentrate on getting the best grade you can. Some schools look at your science GPA or prereq GPA separately from your overall GPA, so it is to your advantage not to take all the hard, important classes together. Good luck.

mudget · Jun 12, 2007

Taking Anatomy first and then Physiology is best (as opposed to at the same time). I think that if you only take physiology in the summer, the abridged session will be fine. You should be able to immerse yourself in the course content. Otherwise it sounds as if the counselor is steering you right. It is your responsibility though to always second guess them as sometimes they do not know what is best for each student based on thier particualr dicipline.

justme1972 · Jun 12, 2007

It seems like at your school, Anatomy and Physiology are TWO separate classes instead of ONE class. In most schools, it's one class.

The rule of thumb in scheduling sciences that require a lab (that means you are attending classes either MWF with an additional lab, or a longer class session Tues/Thurs with an additional lab, never, ever, schedule two sciences in one semester.

Also, and I am speaking from personal experience, never let anyone tell you that just because something is a 100- or 200- level course (100 is traditionally Freshman level courses, 200 sophomore, etc), that it is an easy course, or if you are not scheduled for 16 hours, then you need to add on more....NOT true!

Talk to other students, not the advisors (you'll discover they rarely know what classes are difficult vs easy), and find out what the courseload is, and you'll need to know who the instructor is.

For example, I took a computer class this past spring and my friend did as well. My professor gave everything open book, assignments, exams, everything. I never had to study, never had to really read. Easy, easy, easy. My friend, took the SAME class, different professor, everything was closed book, and these tests were extremely difficult on an insane level, if you could not reference the material. The class almost took over her life because that small detail, made it hard.

If you have not been in school for awhile, I personally, would not schedule yourself more than 12 semester hours, and no more than one science. It can be a bit of a culture shock, and a reminder of just how hard you have to work, and you'll need to keep your GPA up to apply for the Nursing program.

Go with your gut, your advisor can't make you take anything. If you think you need to go during the summer to spread things out then do it, go back to him and tell him you changed your mind, if that is really what you want to do.

justme1972 · Jun 12, 2007

Physiology is too intense of a course for summer school. Summer school courses are done in a shorter period of time. There's no time to catch up if you fall behind. Physiology should not be taken in the summer. And when anatomy and physiology are provided in separate courses at a school, they are normally a handful by themselves and anatomy is almost always required to be taken before physiology. If I were you, I would take one prerequisite science course per term, so that you can concentrate on getting the best grade you can. Some schools look at your science GPA or prereq GPA separately from your overall GPA, so it is to your advantage not to take all the hard, important classes together. Good luck.

Sorry for the double post, but she is right. My school has A&P in one class and I'm taking it this summer. If I knew what I knew right now, there is no way I would elect to do this again, and I'm seriously considering taking AP II next spring instead of the second half of this summer.

The class moves at a lightening pace, I am functioning on 5 hours of sleep a night. I am struggling so hard to maintain my A, but if I was working, no how, no way. I study 6 to 8 hours per day, even on the weekends, and I am in no way exaggerating.

Sammygrll · Jun 12, 2007

Thanks guys...ok...so how's this...

No 2 sciences together, and no sciences in the summer...that makes sense.

But since I have 3 sciences...it seems it would take me forever, since I'm not starting any in the fall.

So should I DEFF. not take anatomy and physiology together...maybe with one other class, like reading or english?

Then I could focus on micro alone for my last semester??

I'll also ask around other nursing students that I know and get their opinions!

catzy5 · Jun 12, 2007

Hi everyone! I'm hoping some of you can review this a little bit and give me some pointers on my pre-req schedule for the upcoming semesters....
I'm a new student and will be starting this fall. I saw a counselor today, and I don't believe he was very clear with me. I might request someone else next time.
Ok...so I basically need suggestions on scheduling my sciences. The counselor wrote down for my spring semester, Anatomy (with other core classes, like english and reading). Then in the summer, physiology. I told him I wouldn't mind taking summer classes, but after reading a lot of the posts on here, it seems that Anatomy and Physiology should be taken together. Plus I don't want a crash course in something that I truely need. Then for my last semester, right before I apply for RN program, he listed micro, psychology...and told me that was too little. But I said...no, I think micro will kick my butt, therefore I'd like to take that alone or with something easy.
My first semester coming up in the fall, I'm trying to knock out 5 classes! So wish me luck on that....not too bad though...mainly core classes.
Any opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot!
Any suggestions? I'd rather take a reading or maybe pshychology during the summer instead of sciences?

I think that sounds like a good schedule, except if you feel taking physiology in the summer is too much then take it in the fall. Some schools do break up Anatomy and Physiology into seperate courses I don't think there is a right or wrong you just have to do it the way your school offers it.

I would recomend taking both A and P before micro for sure, and the lighter the load with the sciences the better IMO they require alot of work!

catzy5 · Jun 12, 2007

Thanks guys...ok...so how's this...
No 2 sciences together, and no sciences in the summer...that makes sense.
But since I have 3 sciences...it seems it would take me forever, since I'm not starting any in the fall.
So should I DEFF. not take anatomy and physiology together...maybe with one other class, like reading or english?
Then I could focus on micro alone for my last semester??
I'll also ask around other nursing students that I know and get their opinions!

It really will depend on you, what you have going on in life, how well you can buckle down and study. However I would first get your feet wet get used to the routine and slowly add on more of what you can handle. I started taking my pre reqs as an older adult returning to school, I only needed math and sciences. I took Math one at a time until I got used to what I was doing then I started adding the sciences and I was able to do 2 at a time, however; I didn't have any other classes with them it was do able but it was alot of work with a lot of sacrafice to study. So in the end it will all depend on what you can put into it and how disciplined you are but all in all I would start off slow and get used to things first.

good luck.

nursingbyf8th · Nov 13, 2007

ok I too have been a little doubtful regarding my class schedule. I guess what I get out of this is not to take two sciences at the same time. I have enrolled for the spring term-AP I and MCBI-both have labs and I am also taking Dev Psych (pre-req for BSN). I am a mother of 3 children (12, 11,8 and the 8 yr old is dev delayed w/Aspergers). I am currently not working but as I have been laid off but I am looking for a job. My husband is not the main bread winner so the load is very heavy for me but it is my desire to complete my nursing degree. I also have the issue that my grades for the pre-reqs that I took in my early college days gives me an "C" average!ugh! So I really need A's to even be noticed when applying to the nursing prg.

Sorry if this is too much..got a lot on my mind and I know all of you understand.

Thanks

foreverLaur · Nov 13, 2007

It is doable. I took Anatomy (5 hours a week of lecture and 6 hours a week of human cadaver lab), Chemistry (3 hours a week of lecture, 1 hour a week of recitation, and 3 hours of lab a week) and Biology (3 hours a week of lecture, 4 hours a week of recitation/lab) and I did fine.

Also, not all schools have accelerated summer courses. At my school, we have 4 quarters, all the same length. Summer classes are the same length as they are any other time.