I am screaming here! I am so mad!

Nursing Students General Students

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I just met with advising and counseling today at my school to double check that I had all my prereqs done and that I had nothing left to take except for nursing courses come fall. One of the prereqs for this nursing program is HIGH SCHOOL Algebra. Ok, well I was sure no problem I had that because I was an honors student in high school and knew I took high school algebra. Well, low and behold looking at my high school transcripts there is NO high school algebra on there! It has been over ten years since I was in high school, I forgot I was advanced and took algebra in 8th grade! I have half a credit of algebra II on my transcript so you'd think that it would show I had to have taken high school algebra. (I didn't complete a full year of Alg II so it won't count.) and the half credit of alg II you'd think would prove I took alg I. Well, WRONG! Teach me to be an honors student! This is such crap! I am so steaming mad! I was in tears, pregnant and hormonal. I can't believe this. I have CLEPed out of College Mathematics you'd think that would count for high school algebra? NOPE! I have 10 credits of math from different colleges that all seemed to transfer in as math 999 which means absolutely nothing according to the school. How could a class that I took in 8th grade be holding me up??? I could retake the class, but that would set my eligibility date off the program. As it is I have a December 01 eligibility date (They have a waiting list.) So the girl at the nursing office said with that date I am definitely in the nursing program for the fall term, BUT if I havae to take this course now then I will have to wait a year from finishing the course to get in the program.

Now, the girl at the nursing office was more helpful that the advisor who is a complete idiot. (I knew I should have rescheduled because my hubby had just seen her last week for something and he was totally stupid and useless with him as well, but I had hoped it was because he doesn't know how to speak up for himself.) Anyhow, here is what the girl at the nursing program said I should do.

1. Track down my 8th grade transcripts, which I am not sure if this is possible, but am going to try.

2. one of my classes that I had taken at a previous school they may be able to change to a required math school, but I need to track down the syllabus for this class and get the math department to approve it.

This class that they want me to get a syllabus from is from a previous nursing program. Last time I asked them to track down a syllabus they refused. So I am not sure how difficult this will be. I am not sure how difficult it will be to track down my 8th grade transcripts either or if they will even count it since it was taken in 8th grade and not high school.

I am sooooo mad!!! I cried all the way home! This is so not fair! Why should I be punished because I was in honors classes in high school! AAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Teresa

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

do what you have to do and if it doesn't work, challenge it. Take it all the way to the dean if you have to. That is so stupid. I feel your pain. But don't give up. you've come way to far. good luck

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Hi Teresa I feel for you.

I only have one more class next semester that has to be completed before I start clinicals in Fall'03. But, I keep waiting for someone to tell me that I will have to retake Chem or Algebra. I wouldn't doubt it if when I officially apply to the nursing program they tell me there is some sort of problem and that I have to take it again.

I would challenge it to the very end. At least in my school it seems that things really aren't up to the advisors. Here it's really up to the Dean of the Nursing Dept. so, don't get too stressed yet.

Also, I had to get a course syllabus from my first college so that I wouldn't have to retake chem, algebra, and comuter science again. I had to call each individual department, ie. the chem. department, the math department, the comp sci. department to get them. And they told me just to do a search on the colleges website and download the online syllabus for each course.

I don't know what your last school was like but that might work for you. I'ts really surprising to see what schools have online now-a-days.

Take care and let us know how it goes,

Col

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I took algebra in 8th grade, too, and that would really piss me off if I was held up for something so trivial. Luckily I went on to more advanced math in both high school and college, but I'm just at the 10-year point for my microbiology credits being valid. If I had to re-take a pre-req now, I'd have to take micro all over again to get into the BSN program.

I feel for you. I'm sure there's a way around this, though. Can you speak with someone in Admissions?

Good luck.

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Ugh! Strike one! I can't get my 8th grade transcripts! I called and went to a small private school for 8th grade. They don't have records back that far for the 8th grade. They said once they transfer them on to the high school they send the whole folder to the new school. The county that I went to for high school said that they don't keep records of it UNLESS I went to 8th grade in their district then they'd have it. So, I am screwed there. I will be taking this all the way to the director of nursing, but I am sure I got a bit of a fight ahead of me.

Teresa

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Go ahead and take it to the nursing director and DON'T take no for an answer. good luck

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I had a similar problem only with English. Talk to the Math department and see if THEY will agree you don't have to have it (they are the math experts, after all). My advisor and my nursing program wouldn't waive my English requirement until the English department did.

(I had CLEPed out of both undergrad English courses more than 20 years ago, which means the records are gone...but I'd had graduate English classes...but the nursing program STILL required me to go back and take those beginning English classes).

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From the "I Hear Ya" Dept:

I couldn't believe it, but after 2 years of an English/Anthro BA program at a large state university, when I was about to go into nursing school, I was told I had to take Comp I & II!

I CLEP'd out==which for some strange reason, lowered my GPA. Seems you only get partial credit for what you already know.

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I say it's all a money thing. The college wants money from the courses you "have" to take...you go girl! Fight it!;)

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Specializes in Float Pool, ICU/CCU, Med/Surg, Onc, Tele.

As a last resort, see if you can "challenge" the test for an Algebra college level class. If it costs you a few bucks and you can in ANY WAY afford it, fine.

Just approach a college math prof and ask about it. Explain the situation and offer to pay a full semester's tuition for the course if that's what it takes, but GET IT DONE and pronto!

Of course it totally sucks that this is a holiday week and most profs will be out of the office. Ack.

Go try it, you never know. What's the worst they can do? Say no? They already have.

In my experience if you can find a human who will listen to you and explain the situation and ask for options, they'll do their best to work with you.

I had to do this for a microbiology lab credit. Cost me some money but who cares, I got the credit and proved I know my stuff.

Good luck!

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I know I can test out of the class if I need to. That's not the problem. The problem is the eligibility date for the nursing program goes by the date of the last prereq completed. I had all my prereqs completed as of December 2001. There is a waiting list. With me testing out it will change my eligibility date moving me back to the beginning of the waiting list. I have NO classes left to take except for nursing classes. I don't want to have to wait another year from now to even start nursing school.

Teresa

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Specializes in MS Home Health.

Don't give up even though they are making it tough......

renerian

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