Pre-nursing school course confusion. Help?

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I'm having a mild panic attack. I took a look at my dream nursing school's list of pre-reqs. They are as follows :

English Composition I & II - 6

  • Human Anatomy & Physiology I & II - 8-10
  • Microbiology - 3
  • General Chemistry - 4-5
  • Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry - 4-5
  • Nutrition 2-3
  • Life Span Human Growth and Development 3-6
  • Understanding the Individual and Society (Introduction to Psychology recommended) * 3
  • Understanding US Society (Introduction to Sociology recommended) * 3
  • Understanding the Creative Arts * 3
  • Understanding the Past * 3
  • Exploring World Cultures* 3
  • Upper Division Elective**

I then took a look at the course catalog of my local community college. I'll be going there to fulfill my pre-reqs. However, when searching for some of the courses, I found that they had their own pre-reqs. For instance, before I can take Microbiology, I must take Bio 121, a general Bio course. Before I can take Intro to Sociology, they require that I take Social Science 101. Before I take General Chemistry, I must take Chem 101. Before Organic Chemistry, I must take General Chemistry II. It goes on and on and all told, adds about 22 credit hours to what I'd need before entering nursing school.

I have my GED and have been out of school for a few years. I have no college credit currently. I'm just worried that given I am already 22, this is going to push me back another year and a few thousand dollars more. I really wanted to be get my schooling done in 4 years, but it now feels like that is a pipe dream.

Also -- is it unusual that no math courses are required? I am going to take College Algebra just in case (I sure need a refresher in Algebra), but it seems odd to me that none are listed as requirements.

I would appreciate any help or insight to the situation!

If it matters, the schools in question are Wilbur Wright Community College and UIC Nursing. Here is the course catalog for Wright and here is the list of pre-reqs for UIC.

If you're really concerned about time, maybe the cost (which could be balanced out by financial aid and scholarships) is worth it. At 22, you are considered dependent by FAFSA's standards though, so you might run in to problems with that.

This has not been the case with me. Until you are 25, the government will still look at your parents income and refuse aid if they make too much. At least, this was the case with me. I was not able to get a single sent until I turned 25. Maybe it is different in other states though?

Definitely brush up on math because you will need it to do dosage calculations. Our nursing school gives a test in the first semester that you must pass with an 80%. You're given three chances and if you don't pass, you can't go on in the program. Then we have to take a test in the last semester which we have to pass with a 90%. Same thing, we have 3 tries and if we dont' pass, we can't graduate.

In my program it is 90% or fail and you only get 3 chances TOTAL in your first year. In your second year, you don't get even a second chance... fail once and you are gone. This worried me until I saw the math, it's incredibly easy if you read the book and study it for a little bit.

Hi everyone,

I did find out about the Chemistry issue I was having at my community college (they don't include it as a pre-req for the nursing program) another student told me that it's pretty much a setup for failure, and advised me to take it on my own. I can't believe the school is doing this to students, do they think we won't find out what's all on the TEAS test. I just can't believe that if they know chemistry is a big part of the test why they are not requiring students to take it. I tell you, if you want something bad enough you better stay a step ahead of the game. Thats all I got to say.

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