Online pre-reqs for NURSING?

Cyn2school · Oct 17, 2009

Yes, I took patho-phys and am currently taking pharm thru Santa Barbara City College. I start Ventura College RN program January 2010!!! I have been able to work 3 part time jobs and still get through the last 2 prereq's. Highly recommend the school.

Sand_Dollar, BSN · Oct 17, 2009

I am taking all of my pre-reqs through ccconline. I was worried they would be looked down at my University of choice, but they said that they welcome online classes and even offer 1/3 of their own nursing classes online (for flexibility, so they can get those choice clinical sites). The online classes don't even show up as online on my transcript, so that is nice.

I have had a great experience with my online classes. I have finished 8 classes already (all the sciences), doing 5 more this semester, and finishing my last 5 in the spring. They are more expensive than taking a class on campus, but I have easily saved the difference in gas. You have to purchase a lab kit for those that require it (AP 1&2, Micro, chem) and those again cost extra.

I have two kids (15 & 11) who do their normal school online. My daughter will be starting her pre-reqs in the spring, and she will be doing them online through ccconline as well (she doesn't drive yet). It allows for more home time for me, I can take exams when they are still sleeping and nothing beats working on an assignment and submitting it 5 minutes later (especially in your PJ's!). I even had a lab report back in an hour, that teacher was on the ball!

Some things to consider: do you have the self-discipline to keep up on the work? You have everything at your fingertips (email, facebook, etc), if you get distracted by these easily, classroom may suit you better.

If you need someone to walk you through a lesson, it may not work for you. I am struggling in Algebra because when it comes to math, I need to see and hear someone working it out and be able to ask a question if I need to. I have found lots of video sites that help with that.

You need to be organized above all else. With taking 5 classes I have lots due at different times. To stay up on all my assignments I made a spreadsheet and sorted by due date and it has worked great. I just work my way down the list, giving extra time for assignments and papers.

If you have any questions Daisy1990, feel free to drop me a PM or ask away here, I am always glad to help another student!

PS. I forgot to mention, I have a 4.0 (may drop to 3.94 because of algebra..grrr)

anon321d · Oct 17, 2009

Sand Dollar!You're AWESOME!!!Thanks so much for all of your input!

Cyn2school · Oct 18, 2009

where is "ccconline?" Is this for a RN or an LVN? How do you take labs on line?

Sand_Dollar, BSN · Oct 19, 2009

ccconline.org stands for Colorado Community Colleges online. It is for pre-reqs only, I will be getting my Associates in Science and then transferring to a University to get my BSN. The labs are all done at home, just like you would do them in a class. For AP2 we got a fetal pig in our lab kit and did dissections as anyone else would, we just do them alone. There is a lab report due (I had a 25 page lab report for the cardiac unit!!) and a lab exam to do with each lab assignment. Some places have virtual labs, but I don't have any experience with those.

anon321d · Oct 19, 2009

Sand_Dollar,can I ask you which of the pre-reqs have been the hardest?Also does this program include microbiology?I have heard that most universities prefer that you take in classroom courses for microbiology.Please let me know!Any input is always appreciated!=)

Sand_Dollar, BSN · Oct 20, 2009

Hi Daisy1990!

Honestly, the hardest subject for me is algebra. It's kicking my ... well, you know. Chem was the second most challenging class. AP 1&2 were hard, but my prof for AP1 was very demanding and I took AP 2 during the summer. Got A's in both but it took a lot of work. I have heard some Universities prefer micro in person, but UCHSC doesn't mind it. With ccconline, your transcripts come from your home college, so none of my classes even show up as being done online.

BTW - Micro was my favorite class!

anon321d · Oct 20, 2009

Awesome!Thank you so much!Algebra will probably be one of the toughies for me(hehe),and I also need to brush up on chemistry!Like I always say though,if you want something bad enough you have to work extra hard to get it!I'm extremely determined!Thank you again!

Spalding75 · Nov 5, 2009

Thanks again Sand_Dollar. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. :yeah: How difficult were your exams in AP2? Did they coincinde with what you studied in the chapters? I continue to wish you the best.....