Is it OK to be frustrated that it will take me 4 semesters just to work through pre-requisites?
I finally signed up to community college this fall. I'm a foreign student so I've never taken ACT's or SAT's, I've just taken the Compass test. My scores on Reading and Writing were 99, Math was a mortifying 29. I have to take an Algebra Foundations course before I can take College Algebra. I have to take General Biology 1 and 2 before I can take A&P. So I'm up to 30 credits before I can even apply to nursing school. My class schedule did not include a biology for fall semester either so I can't start working away on that until next year. I'm pretty sure I can't take more than one biology class a semester, so by my third semester all other courses will be done except biology.
The whole concept of pre-requisites is alien to me, so I guess that isn't helping. It's just seeming like a huge mountain to climb.
I started in fall 14 and I'm finishing all my prerequisites and general ed/transfer requirements by fall 16 and that's as a full time student taking classes every semester (spring-winter). It takes what seems like forever but it's worth it OP. Keep in mind this is with my passing my psychology AP exam in high school so I don't need to waste a semester with Psych 1, I can go straight to Psych 41. Also, I was placed in to the perfect math and english classes after taking my placement tests so that helped lessen the amount of classes I need to take. Imagine if I was placed in lower division math and english classes? It would take me forever lol.
God tell me about it. Excuse me being frank nursing program options suck here. Across the state line you have six to eight part time day/evening weekend nursing program's. Where our state only has two evening program's and a four year waiting list to get in.
I rather do part time to continue working at least somewhat than giving my soul up to school. Don't get me wrong I want to be a nurse, but I need to continue to be alive.
Then perquisites thankfully most nursing schools with ADN program's here take the same requirement Bio 1, Anatomy 1/2 then can apply. However, one ADN program requires 5 or 6 prerequisites all have to be taken at their college and none can be taken elsewhere.
Then the BSN programs in the state. Some require 4, some 6, and some want 8. It's anatomy 1/2, bio 1, chem 1, intro to algebra, natural math/nursing math...then gets tricky. Some want it some don't Chemistry 2. Then other programs want you to do Physics. Take Micro before. Take a Life Span Development and a Psychology class.
I mean doing 8 to 10 takes at least 1 1/2 school year. Then apply to programs with a maybe.
God tell me about it. Excuse me being frank nursing program options suck here. Across the state line you have six to eight part time day/evening weekend nursing program's. Where our state only has two evening program's and a four year waiting list to get in.
I rather do part time to continue working at least somewhat than giving my soul up to school. Don't get me wrong I want to be a nurse, but I need to continue to be alive.
Only one program in the state offer's rolling admission for Accelerated BSN. If you finish your pre requisites have to wait at least 8 to 12 month's before you can start your program. Thankfully you can do LPN in the Spring or Fall here.
Let's talk cost Oh My... $10-$15 grand for an LPN course that doesn't cover uniform or book's. $30 grand for a private LPN program. $20-$30 grand for an ADN program. Private ADN program is about $40 grand. Then the BSN program's ranging from $40-$80 grand.
Then perquisites thankfully most nursing schools with ADN program's here take the same requirement Bio 1, Anatomy 1/2 then can apply. However, one ADN program requires 5 or 6 prerequisites all have to be taken at their college and none can be taken elsewhere.
Then the BSN programs in the state. Some require 4, some 6, and some want 8. It's anatomy 1/2, bio 1, chem 1, intro to algebra, natural math/nursing math...then gets tricky. Some want it some don't Chemistry 2. Then other programs want you to do Physics. Take Micro before. Take a Life Span Development and a Psychology class.
I mean doing 8 to 10 takes at least 1 1/2 school year. Then apply to programs with a maybe.
Then when you are done you pass the boards if you have an ADN don't worry about working acute care unless you have a degree. Be prepared to move can be up to almost 3 hour's away to find work.
OK, thank you. It's good to know this is pretty much normal. My ignorance is showing in that I heard 2 years of nursing school, and thought 2 years. Then I found out about pre-requisites, which the school said would take a semester to complete.
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Yes, a lot of people think and say it will take 2 years for nursing school, when in reality it is four years of education.
Honestly, it's not that big of a deal; these course will help with the nursing concepts once you start your nursing courses; they will refer back to math, your science courses as well as the many of your pre-req's that you will take; I honestly can say each of my required courses were touched on when I went through my nursing program.
This thread really resonated with a lot of folks and I am no exception... It is frustrating when you feel like you are finally on the right path, moving toward what you feel you should be doing with your life, and all you want to do is start the darn program. Maintain a job that helps support your family, work diligently to complete your classes, take care of yourself, be proud of every accomplishment, and keep listening to that voice inside you that says I can do this. You will get there!
I think what bothers me the most is what if I work hard for two years, and don't even get into the nursing program? It's a new nursing program at the college, just starting its second year. I have no clue how many apply, and how many get accepted.
We will have to work hard to juggle the kids, my husbands schedule, and my school schedule. I would hate for it to be a waste of time. (I need to work on my self-doubt too).
I'm in my second semester in college and have three more semesters to go until I've done all of my pre-requisites. When all is said and done, I will have completed 59 credits by the time I'm ready to apply for nursing school. Part of that is that I changed my mind on what I want to do last semester, and part of it is that I decided to take more courses than are needed in order to fluff up my gpa. I have heard of it taking a year to complete the pre-req's because a lot of them can't be completed concurrently.
estoque
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I started in fall 14 and I'm finishing all my prerequisites and general ed/transfer requirements by fall 16 and that's as a full time student taking classes every semester (spring-winter). It takes what seems like forever but it's worth it OP. Keep in mind this is with my passing my psychology AP exam in high school so I don't need to waste a semester with Psych 1, I can go straight to Psych 41. Also, I was placed in to the perfect math and english classes after taking my placement tests so that helped lessen the amount of classes I need to take. Imagine if I was placed in lower division math and english classes? It would take me forever lol.