How old were you when starting prereqs and did it discourage you?

[princesax11]

I just turned 22 and a lot of people I went to high school with are graduating with a bachelor's degree this spring. So I am feeling a little discouraged and sad.

I started community college right out of high school. I was a little lazy and didn't want hard classes so I went with elementary education even though I wasn't too sure about it. Well a year and a half into it I discovered nursing was where I really wanted to be so I changed majors and took classes for the local ADN program at my community college. I went to a information session and got misleading information that I could apply then with just a few prereqs done so I applied. I got a letter telling me I needed to finish all my prereqs before I could apply and the admissions advisor changed.

So feeling defeated I took a semester off which turned into two when my part time job's company declared bankruptcy and I had to work full time to help. This summer I moved from NJ to FL and have to wait until Fall 2013 to get instate tuition to finish my last 4 prereqs here. I wanted to take maybe a class or two until I was instate then I saw the price was almost 400 per credit! Yikes, I can't afford 1,200-1,600$ a class!

I have 5 prereqs done that apply to the program down here and my gpa is a 3.6. If I get in when I plan to I will be 26 when I graduate with a ADN. I can't get into a BSN program because my overall gpa in the classes I don't need anymore is still calculated into a lot of admissions which is only a 3.1.

I guess I am just looking for words of encouragement and your stories to help. I look forward to hearing some uplifting answers! :)

[stephanie.]

29 and was preggo with #2. I'm now 32 and will start a BSN program in the fall.

[BrooklynNurse590]

I'm 22 and starting my pre reqs in the fall. Attended college when I was 18 but wasn't really focused and I got pregnant with my son my second semester and haven't been back to school until now. Now its a whole new ball game for me.!

[HeatherMax]

I started getting my pre-requisites in 1995.... I am 36 now and determined to finish schooling with my BSN. I do get discouraged sometimes when I add up all the semesters it will take me to get all of the requirements done so I can apply, I would love to re-join the Navy in the Nurse Corps program, but I will have to pass every class, AND get into the BSN program the first time I apply. Even then I am pushing it.

[StrawberryEssence81]

I will be 32 when I finish all my pre-reqs. I'm taking Microbiology and a computer class in summer school. I will be starting a LPN program in the fall and will apply for LPN-RN transition programs after I finish since I've finished my pre-reqs for RN also.

[GoodnessFlows]

I had several pre-reqs under my belt from years ago. I worked in the corporate world for years, got married, and then had my 2 babies. I have been a stay at home mama for 12 years, and returned to school this past fall at the age of 42. I felt a tad intimidated, but I've met so many great students and some have become friends. Everyone has been so kind. The teachers respond to me in a very positive way because they appreciate drive, at any age. I met with an academic counselor the other day, and I am on track to complete my pre-reqs in 1 year!

You are doing great. Keep it up!

[princesax11]

I am happy this thread picked up so much. Hopefully other people that have felt this way will at some point read this and see going back to school at any age is ok . Now here is an update on me incase anyone is wondering. I talked to an adviser and found out my ADN program has 9 pre/coreqs and I already have 5 completed because of when I went to college before with a 3.6 gpa in those classes :). In the fall I will take a&p 1, statistics and the hesi. Then I can apply to the summer program. In the spring I will take a&p 2 and micro. As long as I maintain my gpa and score good on the hesi (above 90) I have a really good chance of getting in for the summer . I am so excited to start school again the end of August!

[lauraline]

I was 28 when I started prerequisites. I am 29 now. However, I had completed my English, Math, Psych, and Statistics previously.

I just wanted to say how much I admire the people who have babies/children and are working hard to go back to school again. I'm sure it's not an easy task. And despite the odds you somehow are making it happen! It must be like having at least 2 full-time jobs 24/7. How on Earth do you do it? I imagine a lot of efficient time management and courage? This is very inspiring and amazing to me. :)

And gratz Princesax11! Good luck.

[RuNs_4_her_life, ADN, BSN, RN]

43 and just finishing my first part time semester of pre-reqs here. This is so encouraging! Good luck to you!

[Stella_Blue]

Started prereqs right out of high school. Messed up a year at the wrong college for me, so that set me back a bit. I didn't make it into the ASN program the first time I applied but I did get into the LPN program at 21. Im 24 now and starting my bridge next month.

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

I was 42 when I started my pre-reqs. Just got my acceptance letter yesterday in the mail. I am now 43. Looking forward to finally pursuing the career I've wanted :)

I finished my pre-reqs by taking 4 classes in the summer (Anatomy, Psychology, Phlebotomy and Healthy Lifestyles) and then 6 classes (17 credits) in the Fall (Physiology, Pharmacology, Microbiology, Microbiology Lab, Human Growth & Development and Intro to Health Professions)

It was TOUGH. I had absolutely no life while I was taking so many classes. But I made it through with a 4.0 pre-req GPA. You can do anything, no matter what your age. Don't ever let anyone discourage you from pursuing your dreams!!!

[lauren_elizabeth]

Started prerequisites when I was 25, and will be 27 in October. Starting Nursing program in the Fall. I needed about 2 semesters worth of classes, and had to take additional classes because other ones expired from my previous degree.

[kelzfuturenurse]

I've been doing pre reqs since high school but had no intentions of nursing. Took some more college took a few years off, got a diff degree, got married and here I am finally finishing up my last semester of pre reqs at 24. I wouldn't have been ready a minute sooner. It's all perfect timing.[/quote']

This is very similar to my story except I'm 26 and we can replace being married with I having a child. I did, however, consider nursing for one semester (freshman year, so it was technically pre-nursing) but a bulk of my pre-reqs I took while under another major. I definitely agree with it being perfect timing! Sometimes I tell myself that I should have entered a nursing program a while ago but it just wasn't my time.