CSN pre-req. question

massagechick · Jul 15, 2009

I went back at 29 after 12 years of no school, its not as bad as it seems!! They are partially right about the biology, you do want to get started on that... but you might want to take bio 95 first. i am a biology tutor at csn and although it seems like a waste of a semester, if there is chance that 189 will be too hard and you will drop or get a bad grade, taking 95 will set you up for success in your future science classes and end up saving you time in the long run.

tmgsn · Jul 26, 2009

If you are a good student Bio 189 should not be a problem. you must study 2 hours for every hour of instruction.

You will prob not get in fall 09 unless you get really lucky on August 10 when others have been purged from the system for non-payment.

Also, you must register for your lab prior to registering for your lecture. The system will not allow you to register the other way around. It is that way for ALL biology classes!

As for taking the classes at the same time, of course you can! After Bio 189; you take A & P 223 lab and lecture; then by all means you should take a&p 224 and micro 251 at the same time. Many students just take those two classes.

Do you have kids? How much are you going to work? How many commitments do you have? You can do ANYTHING you set your mind to do! This is what I did:

Summer 08-- Hist 101, Bio 189, Math 100B

Fall 08-- Hist 102, A&P 223, Soc 101, Psy 101, and FF101

Spring 09-- A&P 224, Micro 251, Eng 100, ACLS Instructor

Everyone has their own thing going on, their own time line. It is VIP to stick with your own ability and need to grow.

Just remember to take the TEAS test early, so as not to be under pressure. It is good for 5 years but can only be repeated every 6 months. so if you plan to apply to nursing school in the fall 2010-- the dead line for it is generally around March 1st of that year; so take the teas test at least one year before the deadline in case you need a 2nd try.

I hope this is enough info for you.

HeidiLover · Jul 27, 2009

^That was really helpful.. Thank you!! :bow:

I do have a few more questions though if you'd be so kind to oblige..

I thought the purge was Aug. 6th? I keep hearing different dates. I wonder if I should try to take bio 189 at another school and then transfer it over? I'd really like to get it done my 1st semester as I am not getting any younger. lol

I don't think I'll be able to make it in time to apply for Fall 2010 track since I'll still only be in my 2nd semester.

Do you think I can make it in time for spring 2011? Here's my plan for my first 3 semesters.

Fall '09-- eng 98, bio 189, soc 101

Spring '10-- bio 223, eng 101, psy 101, psc 101 (US & NV constitution)

Summer '10-- math 100B, com 101, bio 224, bio 251

Then I could make it to apply by sep. 1st, 2010 for the Spring '11 track, correct? Am I missing anything?

HeidiLover · Jul 27, 2009

Oh, forgot to add, no kids! I have a lot of free time and I only work about 12 hours a week.

Regarding the TEAS, is it possible to get a book like this (http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Academic-Skills-Study-Manual/dp/1933107006) and start studying now? I am sooo bored with no work to do.

tmgsn · Jul 27, 2009

I sent you a really long private msg. Check your inbox.

HeidiLover · Jul 31, 2009

Awesome! I can't reply to you in a pm though..

Your layout made much more sense. I wasn't able to get the two classes you mentioned because they were booked, but I did get bio 189 at csn, someone dropped it.

Anyway, thanks for your advice. I really appreciate it.

tmgsn · Aug 1, 2009

Any time. When are you taking the TEAS test? You probably will not be able to book until October-- because everyone else testing for spring semester cut off-- but you should go ahead and do it now. Take a practice run at it. Without all the pressure of HAVING to pass, you will probably pass just fine. Look into the rocks from earth science, Igneous, Sedimentary, Volcanic-- there are a couple of those questions on it too. Basic High School equiv exam really. What other two classes were full? Psy and Soc? You can get either of those teachers to sign you in easily. They are super cool. Math 100B? Some of the math teachers are awesome. Just remember to apply every semester after you have all the required classes done no matter how many points you have, do not listen to what other people say and you will go far.

tmgsn · Aug 1, 2009

Bio 189 was the hardest one to get into!! Congratulations!! Who did you get for an instructor? That does matter according to your learning style. Let me know. Also you should add the soc and psy 101 classes to your eng and math 100B if you can. All of those classes are easy, if you get the right instructors. Some of them are slave drivers and assign massive amounts of work which then makes them-- not so easy of classes!! Bio 189 you must pay attention to and spend as much time as you can studying. At least 2 hours for every hour of lab AND lecture so plan accordingly. Yes, a B is good enough but you use it continually through A & P 223, 224, and even Micro 251; so the better you know it now the better grades you will get without stress the rest of the year. I will try to add you as a friend so you will get a friend request soon if I know what I am doing. If not, maybe tomorrow. lol!

bluebirdlx · Aug 2, 2009

I am 27 and just going back to school also. I have already taken SOC during summer and this fall I will take ENG 101, PSY 101, Math 100b, and BIOL 095. I have zero biology or science background as anything I learned in high school is now a distant blur, so I decided to take the basic biology class. I was planning on trying to take some of the Bio classes at NSC, to get them done sooner, has anyone else looked into that? I'm not too sure how it works. I always thought 224 was a pre-req for 251.

rwbglock23 · Aug 2, 2009

bluebirdlv- you are off to a good start because you have already taken your first class, which is the hardest thing to do when you start back to school after a number of years. Trust me I know...I started back when I was 26 and just got accepted into the nursing program starting this Fall. Granted I had already completed over 2 years of college, I had a period of about 5 years with no school because I was in the Marine Corps. Also, most of my credits that transferred were either too old, or didn't count towards nursing, so I had to take all my science classes over again.

Fortunately, and unfortunately Biol 251 (Micro) doesn't require Biol 223 (A&P I) like I (and I am sure most of the staff) believe it should! Having taken Biol 223 prior to Biol 251 was a huge advantage for me, although Biol 251 isn't all that difficult. The advantage was that I hardly had to study as much of the information because it was like review to me, and lab was really easy and enjoyable.

Sounds like you are able to take classes full time, which should be a great advantage, as I have been taking them one or two classes per semester the past 3 years. I can't say which route is more difficult but I can tell you both are challenging. The information listed above this post can be used wisely, as mia70 I believe stated, take your TEAS test early. I would suggest taking your math and biology (even if it is basic biol) first because that information will help greatly. However, as she suggested, there will be much less stress knowing you don't HAVE to do well that first time. Plus you will get experience knowing what it feels like preparing for that type of test and it will help you relax knowing it really isn't that difficult.

If you do get to come to the NSNA meeting on the 14th, hopefully you will meet one or all of us. I know that one of the others that posted a response to this thread said that she is a Biol tutor, and I took 196 at CSN and almost got 100 percent for my final grade, so I would be happy to help out if possible with understanding more difficult concepts. Though, I am sure the starter class will do the same for you.

As previously stated, stay motivated because the time will fly by (whether you do it now or not). Good luck!

tmgsn · Aug 3, 2009

Oh. The only pre-req for Micro 251 is Bio 189. I am not sure as I took HHP 123 (summer 2005) which is a basic a&p class- required for paramedic medicine--- prior to Bio 189 (summer 2009). I also retained -0- of my high school biology and I never took chemistry! (I am 10 years older than you) Bio 95 description says it prepares you for freshman bio but I never took it. I have heard that many people repeat bio 189; I can only imagine it is because they do not study. If you feel insecure with biology then I am sure you made the right choice.

Buy a digital micro recorder- listen to the lecture again that evening and review your notes- you will be surprized at how much info you missed during class! Take notes in multiple colors- this works with both sides of your brain; the left and the right will be engaged causing you to remember more information. Do the CD actiivities pertaining to the chapter you are learning about-- you know, the CD that comes in the back of the book that most people never even look at?! Then make flash cards. Carry them in your back pocket, purse, car, checkbook, etc.... memorize them 5-10 at a time in line at the bank, store, school, everywhere. You will have a 4.0 GPA!

Unfortunately, you will be set back a whole semester for not taking Biol 189 right now. Have you taken speech? Are you taking History 101 & 102 or PSC 101? You can take those with Bio 189. Take all the required classes and the TEAS test- allowed only every 6 months. If you end up in 223 in the summer, do not take anything else with it. That will be really hard. Then you can take 224 and 251 in the fall and be all set. APPLY early and often once you are done with the required classes. Good luck.