How do you decide which pre-reqs to take first?

Ted D · Jul 20, 2009

Your best bet would probably be to contact an advisor at the college you want/are looking at going to, or check their website - you'll probably find some information there.

See, that's the problem... I have no idea where I might apply. I could end up anywhere.

I guess the smartest/safest bet is taking Chem/Bio/Stats?

Ted D · Jul 20, 2009

I would take the science classes last. I just graduated from Nursing and if you take the science too early, you will not remember what you learned by the time you go into nursing. Start out with the common classes first, the ones you know will transfer to any schools and delay some such as spanish or whatever else there is. This way, when you know what school you will attend, you will know which classes to take that may not transfer as easily as math etc etc.

Since I already have a degree, I am assuming that most of the non-science classes will transfer.

Is stats required pretty much everywhere? Would that and nutrition be good to start with you think?

SusanneCollins13 · Jul 20, 2009

As far as I know Stats is something that is required in most BSN programs. Nutrition we had in Nursing, but I think I recall that I had a class as a prereq on that as well ( cant remember for sure). Maybe, whatever school you go now too, you could talk to a councelor there. I had a councelor specific for the Nursing in another school and he gave me great advice in what I need to take. Let me ask you that. when do you think you might apply for nursing program?

Ted D · Jul 20, 2009

As far as I know Stats is something that is required in most BSN programs. Nutrition we had in Nursing, but I think I recall that I had a class as a prereq on that as well ( cant remember for sure). Maybe, whatever school you go now too, you could talk to a councelor there. I had a councelor specific for the Nursing in another school and he gave me great advice in what I need to take. Let me ask you that. when do you think you might apply for nursing program?

I'm going to sign up for community college here for the fall semester, hopefully. I was guessing I have about 3 semesters worth of pre-reqs to take, so I was going to apply after the 2nd semester.

It' just tough figuring out the safest classes to start out with without knowing where I will be applying a year from now.

SusanneCollins13 · Jul 20, 2009

Maybe you can do a search in general like for chem and see if they are pretty much the same in the bigger universities. Just pick ten and look if they are....I think it might give you a good indication if they might transfer you see....you are close enough to actually take your science courses since you only need about three semester. I am pretty sure that you need Stats though, they were big on that one in our program and they say its a requirement to take research, though honestly it made no sense to me because it differs in terms of stats in research nursing and stats as we learned in that course. Microbiology and AP1 and 2 should be pretty much the same I think....just look some universities up and see if they are in general the same to transfer...ask your adviser as well. Maybe that college has a nursing adviser who has more knowledge of this subject.

CuriousMe · Jul 20, 2009

See, that's the problem... I have no idea where I might apply. I could end up anywhere.
I guess the smartest/safest bet is taking Chem/Bio/Stats?

I think taking some of your sciences without knowing where you might apply will be fine, but going much father than this term without having an idea of who you're shooting for risks delaying your entrance in a program because you spent time taking classes you don't need instead of the classes you need.

If I were in your shoes, I would start figuring out where I want to go so I could narrow down what prereqs I need!

Best of luck!

MammaNurse2Be · Jul 20, 2009

I am shocked to hear that Chem would not be a requirement. There is so much chemistry is Physio. Understanding the flow in and out of the cell with all those action potentials is nothing but chemistry. I can't imagine doing well in that class without a background in Chem. As a matter of fact I may take more chem just to really understand it even better.

MammaNurse2Be · Jul 20, 2009

Reading back I can't find the post I was replying to but I thought it said something about not taking chem. so ignore the post above i must have misread!

runtagua · Jul 20, 2009

I, too, am a little miffed that Chem isn't a requirement in more places. People may "hate" it, but there is so much Chemistry in Phys and Micro, that taking a course will actually HELP in those classes. (Chem was a requirement for Micro at CCSF, and is also now a requirement for Phys.) It makes complete sense to take Chemistry while you can.

I also think the OP should figure out his/her top 3 colleges and start taking the pre-reqs from there. You're not wasting your time, and it will give you more options in the long run, to take classes you [now] think you don't need.