Possibilities for a Minor?

Minors are COMPLETELY unnecessary. Dont worry about them.

I am now in my freshman year of college and i only need a couple more pre reqs until i can apply to nursing school. One thing that has been on my mind is my choice for a minor. So I was just wondering what minors everyone has chosen and/or how it has helped/hurt? Any response and I will be grateful

Thanks

Chris

I'm minoring in chemistry and obviously don't think they are a waste.....how could showing proficiency in a different topic be a waste? My program requires me to complete 13-15 credits of upper level electives, my upper level chemistry classes satisfy that requirement and will get me a minor.

If you need to complete upper level electives, find out if whatever you choose can be a minor as well.

Peace,

CuriousMe

I am in a 4 year BSN program and our school does not allow (or strongly suggests against it) nursing students to have minors. There is just no time if you are at a liberal arts school, which i thought was the only place to get a four-year degree. I would figure this to be true for most BSN programs, but maybe I am wrong?

Anyways, about what minor to take - have you thought of maybe a foreign language. I don't know what area you live in or what programs your school offers, but I have heard that being bilingual (or at least knowing some of another language) can really be an advantage in nursing. Other possibilities could be any science, or maybe something a little easier if you think you would like to have the not so hard classes during NS.

But I sort of agree with Bicster that unless your school requires it, minors are not all that important. You will be plenty busy just with nursing classes to not need anything else adding to your stress.

I'm minoring in chemistry and obviously don't think they are a waste.....how could showing proficiency in a different topic be a waste? My program requires me to complete 13-15 credits of upper level electives, my upper level chemistry classes satisfy that requirement and will get me a minor.

If you need to complete upper level electives, find out if whatever you choose can be a minor as well.

Peace,

CuriousMe

No prospective employer or graduate school cares about a minor. 5 extra classes in a subject do not give you any type of mastery over that subject. It provides no assistance professionally or acadmically. They are a waste.

Well, I took four years of spanish in high school and I was near the top of the class so I believe that I am doing very well in it but unfortunately my university (for some reason) has the spanish classes the same time as nursing classes so a Spanish minor would be impossible. My high school didn't offer any other foreign language (small school and town) and I don't think I would be comfortable with taking up a new language in mid-NS. Chemistry I have thought about but it's not exactly my 'favorite' subject. :). I was thinking of going into pediatric nursing so would a child care minor be a good thing or just a waste of money and time?

Thank you very much for all replies!

Chris

No prospective employer or graduate school cares about a minor. 5 extra classes in a subject do not give you any type of mastery over that subject. It provides no assistance professionally or acadmically. They are a waste.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. I don't think that learning more is a waste. I think my extra organic and biochemistry coursework will prove helpful in my understanding of both my undergrad and graduate level pathophysiology and pharmacology. I know that my year of General Chemistry helped me to understand many useful concepts already, how gasses work (gas laws and such), acid-base balances, and other concepts. This coursework will also allow me to take an upper level molecular biology class that I'm really looking forward to.

I think if you can swing a minor and think the coursework will be helpful.....go for it!

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. I don't think that learning more is a waste. I think my extra organic and biochemistry coursework will prove helpful in my understanding of both my undergrad and graduate level pathophysiology and pharmacology. I know that my year of General Chemistry helped me to understand many useful concepts already, how gasses work (gas laws and such), acid-base balances, and other concepts. This coursework will also allow me to take an upper level molecular biology class that I'm really looking forward to.

I think if you can swing a minor and think the coursework will be helpful.....go for it!

If I implied that learning is a waste then I apologize, that was not my intention. I merely contend that minors are a waste.

I'm minoring in chemistry and obviously don't think they are a waste.....how could showing proficiency in a different topic be a waste? My program requires me to complete 13-15 credits of upper level electives, my upper level chemistry classes satisfy that requirement and will get me a minor.

If you need to complete upper level electives, find out if whatever you choose can be a minor as well.

Peace,

CuriousMe

I agree with this. If you have other general education or unit requirements beyond the nursing program to complete, and a minor will fulfill these requirements, then you may as well get the minor instead of taking random classes.

But if you have to take more than a class or two extra to get the minor, it probably isn't worth it.

If I implied that learning is a waste then I apologize, that was not my intention. I merely contend that minors are a waste.

So the learning is only a waste if it happens to coincide with a minor?

All a minor is, is a succession of classes in one topic outside of your major. I'm pursuing a minor because I had to take the upper electives anyway, it just so happens the upper level electives I chose required their own prerequistes (I figured organic and biochem would be more useful to me than analysing a sonnet...sonnets are great and all, but I think the chem will prove more useful). The combination of the prereqs and the upper level electives fulfill the minor requirements.

My advice to the OP stands, if you can find a topic that you think will enhance your learning, or your performance as a nurse (such as a second language)....then go for it. The piece of paper that says minor may or may not help you out in the future (there's really no way to say that...just because many employers or admissions personel to a grad school don't count it, doesn't mean none will)..do it for what the content of the minor will add to your education.

Peace,

CuriousMe

Talk with the advisor for the nursing program and see what they suggest, or even if they recommend taking one at all.

i agree. if you really really REALLY have the time and energy into fitting in those extra minor classes, than go for it and i think that a language minor would be probably the best (unless your ABSOLUTELY postive on what type of nursing your going to like doing). because if you want to minor in chemistry but you end up doing some part of nursing that doesnt require alot of chemistry (besides basics and stuff) then thats a waste .

language would probably be the best minor especially if you live where i live in SO CAL. spanish or maybe chinese would be best to get and it would make your resume look good by being bilingual.

again all depending on your time management, stress, patience and need/liking for that minor to make your decision on whether to get a minor or not. '

hope this helps