General pre-nursing school advice?

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Hello! I will be starting my pre-reqs for nursing school in the fall. Any advice on what to do and what not to do prior to pre-reqs and or nursing program?

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Specializes in CVICU.

Take your prereqs seriously, especially the science classes. Find out the requirements for applying to the nursing program now and work on your application. For example, my school goes off of a points system and you can earn points for doing certain things, like getting your CNA, scoring a certain score on the reading entrance exam, taking certain electives, etc. There've been many topics over this so if you just search I am sure you'll find many more answers.

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I agree, research the entrance requirements for your school. Work on knocking those out. Focus on your science classes. Read the chapters before your class each weekn that way you go in with a basic understanding. That made note taking so much easier for me. After class within a day or two (as soon as you have time) rewrite your notes from lecture (essential to me because my notes from lecture are always a mess) I also like to take notes over what I read in the book so I try to combine those with my lecture notes when I rewrite them.

For chem lab the thing that helped me the most was not rushing out as soon as I could. I took my time and finished my lab questions and went over anything I didn't understand. I start a&p in the fall and plan to pretty much do the same I did in chem last semester. The biggest advice....dont stress....the more I stressed the more i struggled

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Specializes in CNA so far!.

I am starting my journey through college towards entering the nursing program too! Good luck to both of us!!

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Take all your pre-reqs seriously, expecially the sciences in particluar A&P. Just remember to not overwhelm yourself and to try and have a little fun too. You will be competing against many other students for a spot so stay focused and do your best. Also try to meet people that are currently in a program to get some advice they can be truly helpful.

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Specializes in Hospice.

Get good grades in your sciences, especially A & P, and volunteer now if you aren't already. In your application cover letter you can mention your volunteer service, it looks very nice to the nursing admission committee. You can do something as simple as Meals on Wheels, just as long as it's something to help your community.:)

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Get all As in your prereqs, especially the science classes. It's pretty much required to get into most nursing programs these days.

The Dummies books (Chemistry for Dummies, Molecular Biology for Dummies) were helpful to me. I just borrowed them from the local public library and read them before starting my class. It helped give me a reference for some of the more difficult concepts.

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Hi. I wanted to start my pre-reqs this fall for nursing. Do you always have to start with intro chemistry first? I didn't have chemistry in high school also. I am unsure of how to start with the pre-reqs,any advice?

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I agree, learn your schools requirements inside and out! Know exactly what you need to do to be the top contender. So many pre-nursing students have no idea what their college requires and then they do not understand why they can't get into a program.

Also, stay out of trouble. Don't get a DUI. Don't get a speeding ticket. Be an ANGEL. lol :cat:

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Specializes in CVICU.
Hi. I wanted to start my pre-reqs this fall for nursing. Do you always have to start with intro chemistry first? I didn't have chemistry in high school also. I am unsure of how to start with the pre-reqs,any advice?

Obtain a list of the requirements for the nursing program and graduation from your college. Note that these requirements aren't often the exact same. For example, Speech might not be required for the nursing program but it IS required for graduation, so you would have to take it anyway to graduate from the college. Consolidate these requirements into one list and just check them off as you go. I would recommend spacing out sciences. So take A&P1 one semester, then A&P2 the next. If I were you, I would take classes at every opportunity. Fall, winter intersession, spring, summer classes, etc. 1-week courses are your best friend if any of your requirements are offered as one.

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Specializes in Hospice.
Hi. I wanted to start my pre-reqs this fall for nursing. Do you always have to start with intro chemistry first? I didn't have chemistry in high school also. I am unsure of how to start with the pre-reqs,any advice?

I didn't take Chem in high school either so I had to take the developmental chem course (where you get a "S" grade for passing.) It's not too bad. I'd see your adviser about which courses to take. They will lay out a plan for you. I certainly wouldn't just randomly start taking classes unless you know you need them as pre reqs.

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Thank you! I have a list of pre-reqs needed but I thought that chemistry was the first you needed to take in order to start others

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