Is it hard to succeed in ILC science and math courses?

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This post is going to be half rant, half question so if you don't want to listen to me blather on, you can just skip to the last paragraph :) Long story short, I'm considering becoming a nurse but the problem is, I didn't take math or science in grade 12, so my plan was to take ILC courses to fill in the gaps.

So basically I go back to my old high school to pick up my transcript and date of leaving letter, and afterwards I started chatting with this teacher I was really close with in school. She asked what my plan was and I told her I was considering becoming an RN but I was missing courses, so she gets all excited and says I should come back to day school next semester to fill them in. She brings me into the guidance office and tells the counsellor what I said to her, so he sits me down and starts going through my grade records. Next thing I know, this guy is looking at my grade 11 science and math marks and he just starts RIPPING on me for like 45 minutes, saying "nursing is competitive and there's no way you'll get in with these grades, you'll probably have to redo grade 11" and he starts saying that I can try doing ILC courses, but I probably won't succeed because I need someone to teach me, especially in math because I'm an idiot, apparently. So he starts blathering on about how unconfident (is that a word?) he is in me and basically what my options are, but that it's going to take a lot of luck to get me to where I want to be. Like what the hell I just went in for my transcript, I didn't ask for this. I'm not a student there, I don't really need your opinion. I mean, he is right I suppose, but he's not telling me anything I don't already know. I've done my research, I know nursing is competitive and I know the program is hard. But all he really did was make me feel even worse. My grades weren't even that terrible either, they're like low 70's. Every other grade 12 mark I had was between 85-90. I did get 90's in grade 9 and 10 math and science (I know the learning curve is a lot different in grade 11 and 12, but still), so I think if I really set my mind to it and focused, I could get really good grades in the 4U courses.

Anyway, rant over. That councillor didn't do much for my confidence, so I'm doubting myself a little at this point. I mean, I struggled in math and science in grade 11 (math has always been a sore spot with me) but like I said, I didn't do THAT badly. I'm not completely illiterate in math, I just need to put in a little extra work. So my question is this: is it really unreasonable to think that I can get good marks going through ILC, if I struggled in the past? If you've done it, did you find it very difficult? I mean, I know it's not going to be easy, but is it doable for someone like me?

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Yes definitely. Don't listen to him. You will do fine.The math takes a little practice but it's not impossible. Go for it. You can do it.

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You will know if ILC is for you once you start. It doesn't cost much so enroll tomorrow, next week or next year or whenever you want!

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Specializes in geriatrics.

I took my Math through ILC for entry into nursing school. You will require above 80 percent, but that's feasible if you make a schedule for the lessons and stick to it.

Good luck!

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Did you take advanced functions or data management? See I wanted to take data because it's easier apparently but you need a graphing calculator and those are sooo expensive, so I don't know which one to do now.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

I took advanced functions for which I had a very expensive scientific calculator that I was using for chemistry.

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Specializes in Public Health.

I apologize in advance for this rant and I know it's been a couple of months but I just wanted to say how horrified I am at that guidance counsellor's remarks. It is disgusting that those with so much responsibility in shaping the futures of young people can have such little faith in others' capabilities and potential.

I firmly believe that high school grades can be a really inaccurate indicator of a person's intelligence levels and I attribute part of that to the lack of engagement that many experience when they are in high school.

I consider myself fairly intelligent. I skipped a grade in elementary school yet barely scraped by in high school with all of my grades in the 50/60 range. I was your typical "wild child" and it was absolutely shocking I even graduated at all, let alone on time. I had no plans for my future and I was a write off in the eyes of my teachers and guidance counsellors. How sad.

Fast forward a few years and I graduated my RPN program with a 90% average. I am now pulling all A's in my RPN-BScN bridging program. Who would have guessed? Certainly not my guidance counsellor. She was far too busy encouraging and supporting the honour roll students as they prepared to head off to top-notch universities.

Again, how sad.

Don't ever let anyone's negative vibes discourage you from doing something you want to. You know what you are capable of!

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xokw: school hasn't changed in decades. Back when I was in HS (the 1970s), it was the same. Kids heading off to uni got all the advice and encouragement. The rest of us just had to figure it out for themselves. If anything it was slightly worse for us. Go find your own trade school, vocational school, nursing programme (hospital based still existed then).

No real guidance from the guidance office.

My kids had the same when they graduated in the last ten yeaers.

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Specializes in Public Health.
xokw: school hasn't changed in decades. Back when I was in HS (the 1970s), it was the same. Kids heading off to uni got all the advice and encouragement. The rest of us just had to figure it out for themselves. If anything it was slightly worse for us. Go find your own trade school, vocational school, nursing programme (hospital based still existed then).

No real guidance from the guidance office.

My kids had the same when they graduated in the last ten yeaers.

Such an awful system. It sets so many up for failure!

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In the 10 years that I've been teaching students who go on to nursing programs, I've seen the marks for admissions continue to increase so it is true that Nursing is difficult to get into. However, also know that some schools will look first at students who have no upgrades, then in their second round of offers they look at students with only one upgrade, and then in the third round at students with two upgrades. So if you have upgrades you may want to consider applying to other schools who don't do that.

Another option is to take a pre-health program to gain entry into a collaborative nursing program. Pre-health is just like taking 4U courses. You must do well in the pre-health to gain entry but if you've done all your 4U but the marks weren't great, this is like a second chance without it being considered a retake.

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What's the update with you these many years later? I'm now in the same predicament.

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