Is this a crazy plan? Re: pre-req's

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I live in Seattle, and am a current student at a community college here. They accept LPN students in January and September---32 out of approximately 150 applicants are accepted.

I am a single mother and my daughter's dad is being sent to Japan in early April for 2 years, so I am 100% on my own with her (although I have friends who help me out.) I also have a dog that I have to take care of...to give you an idea of my responsibilities.

I don't have a strong math or science background...I've taken 2 college level 'Liberal Arts Math' courses and no college level science. In high school, I just took Physical Science and Biology and Algebra I & II...no chemistry or higher math classes. However, if I have a good teacher, I know I can do well. The past classes I've taken in college have been a breeze, and I've maintained a 3.9 with hardly any studying or effort (though, again, no hardcore math & science classes). I do not have to work...just need to take care of myself, my toddler (she will be 2 in June), my dog, and keep up with my small condo.

I want to take Biology & Pysch in Spring quarter, then take A & P I & II in Summer, in order to apply to nursing school in September and start in January. If I don't do it this way, I would not be able to apply again until April for the following September class. However, if I don't get in, I've killed myself to get through these pre-requisites for no reason, AND have to wait almost a year again. And if I don't get into the September class, I'll have to wait until the NEXT January to start. I know GPA is the only thing that matters in these pre-requisites, and I want to do well...but I really *need* a reliable, steady income as soon as possible, and I could have that in less than 2 years, potentially! I'm also really excited to just get started!

So, is it crazy to think of cramming in all of the pre-requisites before September? My other thought was that I could study now, CLEP out of Biology, and take A & P I in the Spring and A & P II in the Summer...the Spring quarter doesn't start for 7 more weeks, so I *might* be able to CLEP out in time to get into A & P.

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My suggestion would be to take your time. It sounds as if you are in a rush to complete your pre-req's, which we all may be. But trust me when I say that once you get into A&P, all of your time will be dedicated to that class. It's a lot more time consuming than you might think. Now, you stated that you wanted to take Biology and Psych during the spring and A&P during the summer. I would high suggest doing the opposite, meaning taking A&P during the spring and the other 2 during the summer. You do not want to try and cram A&P lab and lecture during the summer. You will most likely become very overwhelmed and your grades will reflect that. Just remember that it will pay off to be patient and take things slow. Best of luck to you!

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Well, I have to take Biology before I can take A & P, or else I'd take A & P in Spring.

I also wanted to mention that I am not working *or* going to school at the moment (for the next 7 weeks) and could also potentially begin memorizing the bones, muscles etc, order the textbook I'm going to need and start working on it, get the A&P for dummies book, etc...though not sure if I can do that if I haven't even started Biology yet.

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How can you take both A&P I & II in the summer session? Are you allowed to take them both at the same time?

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If it's something you're really determined to do, you'll do it no matter what. Once I set my mind on doing nursing, I just dove in to it...took as many classes I could to get all pre req's done ASAP. I accomplished this in 1 yr (10 classes)..while working full time and taking care of my son. Finished up with a 4.0 GPA. If you really want it, you'll make it work, no matter you circumstances. good luck to you

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I kind of like the CLEP plan just so you have one less class to worry about it. I've only taken the Spanish and Sociology CLEPs, which were easy, but they are a fantastic way to knock out some credits. And there's really no downside, right? If you didn't pass it, you could still go with your original plan and if you do, that's one pre-req out of the way! The only catch I can see is that, around here at least, A&P classes fill up very fast so if you have to wait for the CLEP score to show up on your transcript before you can register for A&P, it might be full by then.

I took both semesters of A&P over the summer - each session was 5 weeks long. I don't work but I do have two little boys (now 5 & 3). It took up a fair amount of time, like most summer classes, but I didn't find it particularly difficult. I was worried about whether I would retain the information but I'm taking patho now and I've had no problem recalling the relevant A&P info.

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How can you take both A&P I & II in the summer session? Are you allowed to take them both at the same time?

Probably in miniterms.

It's doable if you are focused and willing to work your butt off. I have a hubby who works long hours and 4 kids. If you want it bad enough you find a way to make it work. You really need to be organized. Just try to balance out between easy and hard classes. Don't take all the hard ones at once, take a couple hard and a couple of easy ones. I took AP I & II over the summer in miniterms (with a notoriously hard teacher) and it just about killed me (and my hubby and kids wanted to kill me since I was a perpetual grouch). Never gonna do that again!!!

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My suggestion would be to take your time. It sounds as if you are in a rush to complete your pre-req's, which we all may be. But trust me when I say that once you get into A&P, all of your time will be dedicated to that class. It's a lot more time consuming than you might think. Now, you stated that you wanted to take Biology and Psych during the spring and A&P during the summer. I would high suggest doing the opposite, meaning taking A&P during the spring and the other 2 during the summer. You do not want to try and cram A&P lab and lecture during the summer. You will most likely become very overwhelmed and your grades will reflect that. Just remember that it will pay off to be patient and take things slow. Best of luck to you!

Everything I would of said would of been the above. I am in my first semester of pre-req's and I was trying to rush it too, but A&P is VERY time consuming. Especially if you are the sole caretaker of your child. Don't rush, just do your best or you may burn out. BTW, I didn't have to have Algebra to graduate high school or Chemistry and I really regret it. I am starting from scratch on all this stuff.

Good luck to you.

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Wow! Thats alot I have two kiddo's and a husband!!! Being a homeroom mom seem like a lot while in school. Congrats to you!!!

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hey if you can do it then there is no harm in trying! I have just finished up all my pre-req's and now into pharmacology, and the farther you get into this program the more they expect you to know!!! I feel that in the summer they take have to eliminate a good amount of things. Let me ask you if you do you think that taking all the summer biology classes are benefiting you? The way I look at it is I would want someone working on my children that did not take short cuts and knew all that there is to know. I have had classmates that has looked for the easiest professor possible! What I have said to them is, if a professor is good then they are good, but if they give you the grade then be careful patients lifes are going to be in your hands!!!

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