GCU Pre-req policy

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Hey everyone, I'm hoping to apply for the summer of 2015. I was just wondering if anyone had any experience with the leniency of the prereqs? For example, has anyone taken a course that wasn't exactly the same as the prereqs and have it count instead? Or have prereqs waived? I have courses that very similar to some of the prereqs, but not exactly the same. Some are more advanced or specific rather than general. I already have a bachelors degree in a science field. Right now, I'm waiting on my evaluation. But with the fall semester starting soon, I just want some idea and possible insight on others' experiences with this. Thanks!

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Specializes in Neuro, Telemetry.

No experience with GCU, but what other colleges usually do is base if the classes are acceptable by how comparable they are to the required pre reqs. Also, many will allow classes in the same subject that are more advanced than the required. For example, they school may require MAT 120 (don't even know if GCU has a MAT 120 lol) but you can really take any class above Mat 120 as well, such as MAT 140 or MAT 260 or whatever. Because it is a more advanced math class, it is assumed you already know the math from the math that was listed as a pre req. The sciences get a little trickier, but say you took organic chem, but the pre req only requires intro chem, there is a good possibility that it will be ok in place of intro chem because it is more advanced and would take the intro chem knowledge to be able to pass the more advanced chem classes. 2 classes that I don't think any program will substitute are the 2 anatomy classes. Hopefully your advisor gets back to you soon on what classes will be acceptable.

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Specializes in NICU.

I'm starting GCU this fall. It just depends on. The school you went to. I went to pima in Tucson .. If you google AZ transfer equivalence it should pull up a web page and you can type in your classes and it will show you what will count.

So you need :

English 101/102

math 122 or higher

a&p 201/202

nutrition

microbiology

chemisrty (basic)

psy101

psy240( psy development) something like that

stats ( I took a psy stats)

pathophysiology

Soc 101

what at school did you attended I can try and help you figure it out. If you have any questions just ask :-) it's a hard process and it's all there to see how bad you want it. Always another hoop to jump through.

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Specializes in NICU.

Sorry for all the typeOs

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@ScrubGirl88, Congrats on starting nursing school so soon! I went to college out of state so the equivalencies are different. But they counted your psych stats? I was concerned about my sociology and psych courses. I took an advanced level medical sociology class and upper level psych courses because I had taken psych and soc in high school and was approved to take those courses. Obviously you needed extensive background knowledge to succeed in those courses. I really don't want to have to go back to take those courses, but I really want to go to GCU so I will if needed. I'm just hoping they are lenient. Also, did you complete all the prereqs before applying?

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Hi. I will be starting GCU here in a few days and I just wanted to let you know that I had a similar situation as you where I took college level chemistry in HS, so in college I ended up taking organic chemistry instead of the Chemistry requirement GCU has listed. GCU accepted that as my Chem requirement with no issue. There was another course they required that I was in the middle of taking, and while I have since finished that course, when they did a transcript review, they weren't going to require it because of another similar course I had taken already. It was one of the writing courses. What I was told is there are some courses that they won't take any substitutes for such as A&P, while others they can depending on the credits and the content of the course. Send them your transcripts for a review and your advisor will let you know which ones you will still need to take to get into the program based off of your individual transcripts. As far as applying before finishing all your pre-reqs, that seems to be pretty standard from what I have read here on the boards. As long as the course is finished before you start the program, they are usually ok with receiving your application with a few courses still in progress. Good luck!!

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Specializes in NICU.
@ScrubGirl88, Congrats on starting nursing school so soon! I went to college out of state so the equivalencies are different. But they counted your psych stats? I was concerned about my sociology and psych courses. I took an advanced level medical sociology class and upper level psych courses because I had taken psych and soc in high school and was approved to take those courses. Obviously you needed extensive background knowledge to succeed in those courses. I really don't want to have to go back to take those courses, but I really want to go to GCU so I will if needed. I'm just hoping they are lenient. Also, did you complete all the prereqs before applying?

I applied for this Fall back in May and all my courses were completed by the application deadline May 15. They say it is okay to apply with some courses in progress I believe no more than 2 but I'm not 100% sure about that. I had a couple friends get excepted while still completing a class over the summer.

Have you gone to a information session? I would go to one ASAP, thats how I got all the information I needed to get started. There is not a lot of info about it online other than AllNurses. What campus will you apply to? I know here in Tucson GCU is almost unknown compared to phoenix. Ive lived here 6 years and found out about the school last december. LOL

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Specializes in NICU.

Here is the link for the info sessions.

BSN Seminars | Event RSVPs | BSN Info Sessions | Grand Canyon University

I wouldn't waste your time with the online evaluation...I never got mine back.

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@desertlady, thanks so much for your response and congrats on starting nursing school! I'm glad to know that they accepted those courses because your situation is very similar to mine! Did they end up counting those in your GPA for scholarship too? I heard only the pre-reqs count for scholarship GPA. Not sure if that's true?

@ScrubGirl88 Thank you for the info session recommendation. I will definitely be attending now. I'm planning on applying to either the main campus or SHC. I'm not sure which is best in terms of the program/application competitiveness. But I'd be happy attending either. Also, I asked @desertlady above about the scholarship and if its only based on prereq GPA? Do you have any insight on that? Thanks again.

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I am not sure if those alternate courses to the pre-req were included in the scholarship GPA... I would guess that if they accept a course in place of another listed, they would include the grade in the GPA too, but that is just a guess. Sorry I couldn't be more help with this question.

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Specializes in NICU.

I would agree with desert lady. If they are using an alternate course for the same pre-req it should count for the scholarship. But they will tell you at the info session.

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Thanks everyone for your helpfulness!

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