Full time job and prerequisites

[jy1103]

Hi all! 
I’m a non-nursing student with a BA degree and am planning on going back to school for certified nurse midwifery. I’m aiming for direct entry masters programs (ie. UCSF MEPN) and I have 3-4 prerequisites to go: microbio, anatomy, and stats (and maybe development over life span). However, I’m currently working and I’m wondering if I should switch and focus on school for the Summer/fall and apply this application cycle, OR if I should continue working full time and slowly take the prerequisites and apply next year. 

I’m worried that taking prerequisites while working full time will lead to lower grades and thus make me a less competitive applicant. However, if I quit and focus on grades and don’t get in this cycle, then I’m left in an awkward spot and will have to scramble to find a job. I’m wondering if anyone has experience with a similar situation/timeline? I really love this field and want to start learning and working as soon as possible, but there are financial and time constraints and I have to find a way to balance everything. 
 

Any input and advice is appreciated! 

[ashost52]

Hi there! I'm in the same situation + I have a foreign BA, so English is not my first language. My advice is to start taking your prerequisites as soon as you can. I'm not super strong at math, but even for me, stats was a piece of cake. Take one difficult class + one easy class per semester, it is very much doable even with a full-time job. 

[KPcv]

Hi, 

I know I'm late to replying, but have been in a similar boat for the last two semesters (I started a Summer A&P 1 class exactly a year ago). That class was the first of 9 prereqs I needed to complete for the RN program I applied for in the fall.

Then emerged from quarantine and returned to full time work shortly before fall semester. My bachelors (2005) is an unrelated degree. My job is an unrelated (mostly) industry. If you are not as strong in science/math, I don't recommend you follow this. But also remember to check what the enrollment requirements are in your state, because you could get a tax credit for being a student (full time vs part time).

So for fall (with a full time job), all classes were all remote -- I took evening lecture/lab for A&P 2, evening lecture/lab for statistics, Saturday morning english lit, and asynchronous intro to psych. 

This Spring, I'm still working full time, with all remote classes -- evening lecture/lab Microbiology and asynchronous developmental psych.

I was able to waive algebra and english 101. but I had to complete A&P1, A&P2, micro in that sequence. 

My advice is to strive for balance now, make sure you do well in your prereqs and entrance exam. This way you'll have a solid application. Good luck!