how long did it take you, to finish up all pre-req?

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Specializes in No exp. yet but I wanna be a L & D nurse.

Hi, I'm fresh new and will be taking two online courses of pre-req this fall. I was just wondering how long it took some people, and if anyone finish all their gen eds also. I'm considering doing both pre-req and gen eds. At least doing more than half of the gen eds. I plan on entering the nursing program in 2013. That's a long time away, but It doesn't matter to me. I want to take my time and make sure all my grades are good! I also have a 19 month old son and a 3 month old daughter, so it will be easier once their in school. I figure by time im done with my nursing degree, they will be in school and I can work! Also, are online courses easy? Im in chicago and will be taking classes from triton college. I don't know what to except from online classes. I'm just also scared of alegbra, I need to take the placement test to see if I am in college math. I'm horrible at it!

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Taking your time is a great idea. Since you have 2 small children you first need to adjust to the schedule of taking classes and taking care of your family. Time management is key - commiting a specific time for school. Taking your time and slowing increasing more difficult classes will prepare you for the high demands of the nursing program. Depending on how many classes you take at a time and what pre-req's are required for your school you could have them done in a year. Some schools require many more pre-req's before starting the program and could take you 2 years. Either way try to complete every class that you are able to so that only the program classes remain, to have a lighter load.

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Specializes in SDU, Tele.

I am taking online classes now for Gen eds. I can say that in some ways it is easier-- not having to face traffic, creating your own schedule... but sometimes it can be tough. Sometimes you can't reach your professor as you want because they don't check their emails or something. I think that it is easier for me. Take your time. I think online classes are a good start.

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It took me 3 years. It could have been two if I would have done summer. Though I did transfer schools so that set me back about 3 classes. Plus my school requires all college requirements, not just nursing requirements, to be done before you can do nursing courses. So I have to do 24 classes before I can start my nursing courses. Down to the last 8

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It has taken me 2 years. I will be finished in spring 2010. I still have Micro and patho. This fall is A&P II, spring Patho, and i'm going to take Micro in the summer. All the nonscience course i did online.

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It took me 5 semesters (2.5 years) to finish all my general education courses. I would choose to get all your prereqs AND general education requirements done before you start the nursing program because the course load is going to be a lot even without general ed courses in your schedule. Not to mention many programs require that you have half of your GEs done or even all of them before you can apply. I don't know if you're looking into getting your associates or your bachelors but I will be starting a bachelor program this fall and I will be taking 12-15 units each semester of just nursing courses. I couldn't imagine having to finish my general ed on top of that.

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It took me 5 semesters (2.5 years) to finish all my general education courses. I would choose to get all your prereqs AND general education requirements done before you start the nursing program because the course load is going to be a lot even without general ed courses in your schedule. Not to mention many programs require that you have half of your GEs done or even all of them before you can apply. I don't know if you're looking into getting your associates or your bachelors but I will be starting a bachelor program this fall and I will be taking 12-15 units each semester of just nursing courses. I couldn't imagine having to finish my general ed on top of that.

I agree, our school requires all general ed to be done anyway but my first nursing semester is 5 classes and 15 credits, I couldn't imagine taking something like an english class or whatever with all the heavy coursework when I could just bump it out the way.

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Specializes in Alzheimers and geriatric patients.

1 1/2 years (3 semesters) taking 12-14 credit hours a semester. I also pulled out my gen eds because i have a 3 year old and a one year old, and I figured I'd do better in the program if I could focus soley on nursing courses. Good Luck to to you!!

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It took me three and a half years. The major reasons were because I changed my major numerous times and went half time for about two years. I was also finishing pre reqs for a university nursing program but decided last minute to apply to my school (ADN) program. I'm now waiting to see if I'll get in won't know til the end of this month.

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It took me exactly two years to do all of my pre-reqs as well as supporting courses. I have a 21 month old and did as few classes on campus as possible. I am not hardcore enough to do CHM, and the other sciences online. Anyways, I took things the slow and steady route for several reasons, one being that I started while I was pregnant and did the SAHM thing for most of the time and two, because we moved a year after I started so I had to go back to the drawing board for pre-reqs and supporting courses for my new (current) school, and finally I also wanted to really focus on my classes and I knew that if I took more than 2 classes per semester, something would suffer (family, grades, etc).

I start the program in the Fall and my son will also start going to saycare full time as well. I am very excited and blessed to not have to work (or have had to work) throughout this entire process.

Some might argue that taking 2 classes at a time doesn't prepare you as well because once you are in the program you are taking double (or more) the amount of credits. I do not agree with that for a few reasons. For one thing, the more time you have to devote to each class the more you learn and absorb, and for another thing you either do or don't have time managment skills. If you do, you can handle anything. And most people with kids who go to school have great time managment skills, or they learn how to have great time managment skills. Your pre-reqs and supporting courses are the foundation for your NUR classes and if you do terribly at your supporting courses-the odds are against you. So, take your time, put your heart into everything you do (unless you have to take bio ethics-LOL!) and totally finish as many non-NUR classes as possible, because it will make getting into the program easier, and it will make your time in the program easier.

Sorry this was so long-winded. I know nobody on this particular thread said anything about 'not being prepared' but you may hear it along the way-people around here have said it. I just think it is BS, not to mention rude, and an uneducated opinion. People always say they hear it from the admin or instructors at the schools they applied to and I think it is crap. I haven't heard it from one single nursing student!

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I'm going to a 1+2+1 ASN/BSN program. My prereqs will take a year, I'll have my ASN and RN license after my 3rd year and BSN at the end of the 4th.

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