How Much is Too Much?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I get to register next Wed Jun 3 for the fall semester at Austin Community College.

I'm seriously considering taking Microbiology, Pharmacology, and Physiology during that 16 week semester. Is that too much? I realize I wouldn't have a life for 16 weeks but I'd get into nursing school a semester sooner.

Opinions please.

Thanks,

Bo Shoi Ming

Specializes in Alzheimers and geriatric patients.

I can't really tell you not to do it! I'm taking 3 killer classes together this fall. I've already been doing pre-reqs and gen eds for a year (and i'm full time!)and i'm just ready to start nursing. I pulled all my gen-eds out of nursing so it's taking quite awhile. You seem to understand how much work you'll have to put into this so if you think you can devote that much time i say go for it.

Good luck!

Oh WOW! If you have enough determination & self-discipline for that course load I'd say go for it. But I must tell you that my eyes are big and I'm taking deep breaths for you. I only took A&P II and Micro last semester and it took everything I had to get through it. I haven't taken Pharmacology yet, so I can't tell you how much that is going to be. Good luck and keep us posted.

Specializes in acute care.

It's only too much if you say it's too much. If you think that you will be determined enough to get through and pass these classes with flying colors, go ahead. I've taken 3 science classes at a time. It was time consuming, but I passed.

Of all three classes, the one that seemed to take up most of my study time was Micro. Pharmacology wasn't bad at all, it was really interesting actually. Physiology wasn't really hard for me. Once I had the Anatomy down, the physiology wasn't too bad.

Specializes in Radiation Oncology.

I am at ACC also and I have had classmates that are doing that. Some professors call it academic suicide. I think it all depends on your personal life. Will you be working full-time while doing this? If not, then I say try it out. If so, I say it will extremely difficult. I took Pharmacology and Intro to Microbiology together this past spring semester and I did well while working full-time. Alot depends on the professors also. I got lucky and had 2 awesome professors!! Intro to Micro took me the most studying while Pharmacology consisted mainly of intense studying a couple days before the test. The dose exams are very time consuming, but once you get the hang of them, they are no problem. I am doing my last pre-req, Physiology, this fall. Looks like we will be applying together for the Fall 2010 class! Any idea which professors you are trying for? I can make great recommendations for you.

It's only too much if you say it's too much. If you think that you will be determined enough to get through and pass these classes with flying colors, go ahead. I've taken 3 science classes at a time. It was time consuming, but I passed.

Of all three classes, the one that seemed to take up most of my study time was Micro. Pharmacology wasn't bad at all, it was really interesting actually. Physiology wasn't really hard for me. Once I had the Anatomy down, the physiology wasn't too bad.

That little bug on your screen is driving my Siamese cat Leilani crazy. She hates bugs.

Bo

Best of luck to you. You will probably do fine. I had to take Micro by itself b/c it was extremely involved. I found it more difficult than both Anat & Psy 1 & 2. I had to go and and buy a digital voice recorder for my Micro class b/c we moved through the material so fast. I would play it back and listen to anything that I needed further clarification on. I would then make flash cards of all the various terms. In the end, I came out with A's in Anat & Psy and a B in Micro. I studied like crazy and ended up with a 88 in Micro. I was crushed, I should have even put in more effort, but I was working p/t and raising 3 kids.

I am at ACC also and I have had classmates that are doing that. Some professors call it academic suicide. I think it all depends on your personal life. Will you be working full-time while doing this? If not, then I say try it out. If so, I say it will extremely difficult. I took Pharmacology and Intro to Microbiology together this past spring semester and I did well while working full-time. Alot depends on the professors also. I got lucky and had 2 awesome professors!! Intro to Micro took me the most studying while Pharmacology consisted mainly of intense studying a couple days before the test. The dose exams are very time consuming, but once you get the hang of them, they are no problem. I am doing my last pre-req, Physiology, this fall. Looks like we will be applying together for the Fall 2010 class! Any idea which professors you are trying for? I can make great recommendations for you.

Micro--Mathis first choice, Mohanty second choice

Pharmacology--Santana

Physiology--first choice Samuel (don't know a thing about him) second choice Greene--bad reviews on rate a prof. but my experiences with him in the lab this spring were excellent.

This summer I have 6 wks anatomy by Dr Juarez (tops) and Statistics by Joanne Hwang.

I'm not working.

Specializes in Radiation Oncology.

I was so close to taking that Statistics class with Hwang also this summer, but I opted for Algebra instead.

Mathis is AWESOME!!! I hope you can get her, she has been my favorite professor at ACC so far! If you do get her, let me know if you need any tips. Mathis told us about that new professor Thomas Samuel, she said he came highly recommended from some college in Houston. Both him and his wife have been hired on as professors here. She said the biology hiring committee @ ACC were really impressed by him, they hired him on the spot.

If you can devote all your time to it, I say go for it. But remember A's count towards getting in. There were a lot of people I know for the Fall 09 class that didn't get in and they had a B or 2.

Thanks for the splash of reality. Gives me something to chew on.

I had a five week class in Human Development and simultaneously an 8 week class in Human Communication this spring. I'll never do that again--Human Development book is 700+ pages or 140 pages a week of the most incredibly boring trivia I've ever tried to get through. ie Statistical studies indicate the babies do better when held, rocked, talked to and sung to. Wow--I guess it takes a PhD in psyc to figure that out.:jester:

At least the fall semester is a full 16 weeks.

Are there any "negatives" to dropping a class in case the class load is too heavy?

Thanks, Bo

No, just as long as your completion rate/gpa is okay. The goal should be to get A's in all your classes. Fall 09 was competitive since there were people on the list from last time who didn't get in and you get 6 pts added each time you wait.

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