need some help!

[jellybean321]

hey ya'll,

i am just looking for some support/advice about my education at this point. i've been at a community college since summer of 2009 doing pre-reqs. let me paint a picture of where i stand and have stood within these past years in college. when i initially got accepted into college and took the accuplacer test (to see where you stand academically), i did not do so well because i'm not good with tests and had to take a few basic courses before even starting my pre-reqs for nursing. so..since 2009 i've been doing pre-reqs, as many as i can each semester. unfortunately, i have only been able to take 2 max each semester because of working full-time. i also had a semester where i got screwed because of financial aid and could not take any classes. anywho...i am still not done my pre-reqs. i am currently taking a&p 2 and general psyc. i still have to take eng composition, tech writing, human development, applied clinical math and microbiology. i'm planning on taking micro and composition next semester, but i'm just feeling very discouraged lately.

i can't go to school full-time because i have to work full-time. i attempted to take a&p 2, psyc and composition in one semester (the current semester) but dropped composition because i did not want to jeapordize my grades by taking too much at once. i tried it and it was a bit much for me (esp with taking anatomy at the same time). my issue is i'm just feeling like its taking me years to get my associates degree. i'm applying for the nursing program in jan-feb 2012 for a clinical seat in jan or aug 2013. when i apply to the program, i'm sure i will not get in because i do not have enough pre-reqs done. my school works on a points system, so you accumulate so many points for classes youve taken. social science classes, such a&p and micro are awarded points based on your grades (so if you get an a, you get 4 points, b, 3 points, etc).

i just calculated (if i did get accepted into the 2013 program) how long it would take me to graduate......2009-2015.....this is 7 years!!!!!!!!!!! 7 years to get my adn?!?!?!?! i'm just really baffled by this. bsn is not an option right now because it is way too expensive for me.

is anyone else running into this problem or had this problem? i feel like its only me and i feel like an idiot because it will take me 7 years to get an associates degree. this just seems absurd to me. i'm feeling very discouraged, like graduation and me being a nurse is so far out of reach. i'm ready to be a nurse! it doesn't take anyone else this long...why me! help! :\

[SentimentalGeek, ADN, RN]

Hey, the best advice I can give you is to just keep truckin'! :) This is the best option for you right now financially since you are working and don't want to pay for a BSN program. I'm in the same boat. I'm choosing to do the ADN first even though I eventually need my Master's because it's SO much more affordable. I understand how you feel with the prereqs taking so long though, I really do. I started back part time to do prereqs in Spring '09 and have been slowly making progress ever since. I finally found myself in a position this semester where I could quit my full time job and work limited part time hours which enabled me to take more classes, but will be going back to work full time after this semester while finishing up my last two classes for (hopeful) entry to the Fall 2012 program. I know it can feel like a waste of time (it will have taken me 5 years by the time I graduate!) but just think how good it feels at the end of each semester to get one step closer to your goal. And once we make it into the program it will all be so worth it! Keep your chin up. :)

[jellybean321]

thank you so much for the encouragement :) it really does help....its just ridiculous to be into it for this long but you are right...im gonna give it my all and hang in there. good luck to you as well! thanks again for the kind words of support..i needed it! we'll slowly but surely get there! :)

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Those seven years would have passed by whether or not you were actively engaged in accomplishing your education goals, wouldn't they? Actually, since you are only able to take 2 classes at a time, you're only attending on a 1/3 basis - so if you divide those 7 years by 3 you can see that it's not taking you any longer in real terms.

I don't know of anyone who has expiration dates on their birth certificate.... there's no deadline for getting your degree. You are very smart to limit your course load so that you can maximize your GPA results in the long run.