Pharm before Micro?

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I'm a part time student at the moment and trying to work out my schedule for fall '18 and spring '19... I'll be applying to the RN program during spring semester (yay!).

I'm knocking out my pre-reqs. Done with A&P1, taking A&P2 this summer (all by itself).

So after summer, I'll have 2 semesters left to take 3 classes: Intro to Pharm, Microbiology, and Statistics.

Do any of you feel like Micro should come before Pharm or vise versa? I'm not taking them together because being this close to applying, I want the strongest GPA possible. Stat will go with either one, so between Micro and Pharm, which one should I take alone and which one could go with Stat?

I just really want to retain this stuff AND apply with a strong GPA.

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Take microbiology first. It is more interesting. You get to learn about different cell parts, elements that make a pathogen, and gram staining. This knowledge sets a good foundation for you to know about drugs. I am not sure if your pharmacy course goes into deep detail but a major part of how drugs work is that it effects pathogens' cell membrane.

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I was thinking in that direction, too. Learn the pathogens, then learn the drugs and their effects. So, if you've taken them both already, which do you think was more intense? I'm trying to decide which class to pair with Stat.

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Specializes in Emergency / Disaster.

It depends on if you like math or not. Stats is NOT math. Stats is some English majors joke on math. The first 2/3 of stats is understandable from a math mind, however the last portion of the class is..... well let me start over. I have been a programmer for almost 30 years now. For me I like concrete things. I like math problems that can be answered. When the answer to a question is: I fail to reject the hypothesis that .... keep in mind that it doesn't mean you accept it either. This garbage just does not make logical sense. So even though statistics is not difficult - it isn't math. Unless you have had it before, or your brain is wired to understand this weird way of thinking - choose carefully. The instructor matters also. I've always gotten an A in stats (I've had it 3 times now) but this time I don't know. It was an online course with zero interaction from the instructor. I'd take it in person.

I'd probably also take it with Pharm because I'm weak in biology. I don't specifically need pharm to apply but my Micro grade counts more for my application - so I'd take micro alone to ensure that I get an A.

Either way - good luck. I'd rather take calculus 1, 2 & 3 than Stats ever again!!

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Whoa! I've never taken Stat so I'm nervous! I think I'll take it with Pharm. I was a Pharmacy Tech for years so I at least have the advantage that I remember the top 200 drugs and I can do calculations easily. I'm hoping that benefits me at least in the beginning of the class. I'll probably take Micro alone, then! Thanks :)

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