Need advice about taking anatomy before applying to school

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At my colllege people are encouraged (by fellow students, and I guess counselors too) to not take micro and A&P before applying to the nursing program. The thought behind that is if you don't do well in those two classes it can hurt your GPA and acceptance into the program is based half on your GPA and half on your HESI score. The school looks at your most previous 12 credits and it doesn't matter if you took fingerpainting or underwater basket weaving to get those 12 credits (doesn't seem right, but that's how it is). It's a very competitive nursing program, last year over 500 people applied for 125 slots. Right now I have a GPA of 3.91 and after I finish my current class (comparative religions) it should only go up (easy class). I was planning on taking anatomy this fall because one of the professors who is known to be good (I actually had her for nutrition and liked her) has an evening class that would work for me. I am just not sure if I should leave my GPA alone and focus my studying on the HESI and just concentrate on getting in the program, or if I should bite the bullet, take anatomy and hope for the best. If I don't take anatomy this fall I would take it next January, and would find out if I got in the program in late March. It may be a crunch to try and squeeze micro in if I actually get accepted. If I actually got in, I know I can opt to join the last of four nursing student groups that they stagger between August and March, giving me time to do the micro. If I take the HESI and bomb it, then I would know there's no hurry to get micro and anatomy done. I am just soooooooooooooooooo stinking confused!! It seems cheesy to hold off on the science classes to get in, but that it how many people get in. I'd love to know what the failure rate or drop out rate is with people that do that. You only need a C or better in micro and anatomy after you've been accepted. What do I do???? Help!

Oh, even having a GPA of 3.8 isn't good enough to get in if your HESI score isn't over 90.

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Specializes in Maternity, quality.

Well, I would assume that with a 3.91 GPA you're a pretty good student. Do you have any real reason to assume that you would do poorly in A&P? Personally I would just take the class to get it out of the way and do whatever I needed to to get the A. It's a challenging class, but if you study and do the work it shouldn't be a problem. Especially if you've already had that prof, are familiar with her teaching/testing style, and like her.

Good luck!

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Well, I would assume that with a 3.91 GPA you're a pretty good student. Do you have any real reason to assume that you would do poorly in A&P? Personally I would just take the class to get it out of the way and do whatever I needed to to get the A. It's a challenging class, but if you study and do the work it shouldn't be a problem. Especially if you've already had that prof, are familiar with her teaching/testing style, and like her.

Good luck!

The only reason I'm "afraid" of anatomy is that all you hear about is how difficult it is :eek: ! At my school they combine A&P 1&2 into one semester, so it may be more difficult than at other schools. I do think I could get at least a B, maybe an A. I guess it's just one of those "unknowns" that you won't know if it's hard or not for YOU until you actually take it. That's why I'm torn. I could find it easy, or I might find it the hardest thing ever!

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It seems cheesy to hold off on the science classes to get in, but that it how many people get in.

Not cheesy at all. You have to do what you have to do in order to get in or progress. If you are able to put this off, and it will not harm your chances of acceptance, then I would put it off. Particulary if they are lumping both sides into one class. It is all about what you need when you need it.

Another side of this is: The closer you take A/P to your matriculation into nursing school, you will likely retain more of the course content than if you took it a year or more prior to your first nursing school semester.

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Specializes in Maternity, quality.
The only reason I'm "afraid" of anatomy is that all you hear about is how difficult it is :eek: ! At my school they combine A&P 1&2 into one semester, so it may be more difficult than at other schools. I do think I could get at least a B, maybe an A. I guess it's just one of those "unknowns" that you won't know if it's hard or not for YOU until you actually take it. That's why I'm torn. I could find it easy, or I might find it the hardest thing ever!

Ah, taking the two semesters in one.. I can see why you have some trepidation about taking that. What is your school's policy on withdrawing from a course? Could you start the course, see how it goes, and then drop if you decide that it's too much?

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Personally I would think you would be more at an advantage if you took them prior to your nursing classes. From what I hear it would be pretty tough to take them alongside nursing courses. A & P is alot of information, as I'm sure nursing is too. I think it would be easier for you to get A & P out of the way first all by itself. I don't know though. At my school they require A & P 1 first and highly reccommend (which is code for required! LOL!) that you also complete your A & P 2 and microbiology before even getting into the program. Our schools competition is about 1600 people for 130 slots....(according to the counselors)

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I wouldn't be taking the anatomy alongside nursing courses. You have to finish anatomy before you can start any nursing classes. I would postpone anatomy till January, after I have already applied to the program. I am not sure if I can take micro with nursing classes but I wouldn't attempt that either. I would have both courses done one way or another before starting the nursing stuff. If I actually get in, anyway!

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