Pre Req Curriculum Vs NS

goodstudentnowRN · May 6, 2008

We just have to do our best. Sometimes we will get C's but it is okay. I know for myself when I am used to getting A's then start getting C's is going to be very devastating but I will have to accept it and move on with the hope that I pass all my classes. I am going to try my best to get a high grade but I do not want to be obssessed with A's, this will make me feel very depress.

NightOwl0624 · May 6, 2008

NS is harder.. no hesitation, no doubt! It's extremely hard. I really honestly don't remember studying for a pre-req class, except human anatomy, and I had a 3.87 when I transferred. However, I did go to a community college and there IS a difference in pre-reqs there vs. a university!
NS is THE hardest thing I've ever endured. This last semester I had 2 C's and 3 B's... I have yet to make an A! And the sad part is - I don't care! I use to get this horrible feeling in my stomach if I made a B (in pre-reqs) - now I pray for C's! :)
You can do it! Just be prepared! Stay ahead and try your hardest to STAY MOTIVATED!!!

I have to disagree with that statement. I went to a very well respected big-ten university and took Chemistry, Physics and Biology there (a few years ago). I had to retake Chemistry (same class, but I didn't have the lab)and all the A & P classes, and took them at a Community College. The quality was the same, if not better, the content was every bit as challenging, and I struggled just as much to get the A.

Sorry, I know not all community colleges are the same (maybe yours really wasn't that good of a school, or maybe my University was not that good of a school)), but I just hate those generalizations...

Agrippa · May 6, 2008

I have to disagree with that statement. I went to a very well respected big-ten university and took Chemistry, Physics and Biology there (a few years ago). I had to retake Chemistry (same class, but I didn't have the lab)and all the A & P classes, and took them at a Community College. The quality was the same, if not better, the content was every bit as challenging, and I struggled just as much to get the A.
Sorry, I know not all community colleges are the same (maybe yours really wasn't that good of a school, or maybe my University was not that good of a school)), but I just hate those generalizations...

In general I agree. I got my first BA from a tier 1 university and am currently completing my remaining pre-reqs at the local CC which itself has about 50,000 students. The material is pretty much the same but I would have to say that my instructors thus far, and definitely my peers, are of a lower academic caliber. My prof only has a master's degree and the students for the most part are just continuing on as if they're in the 13th grade. Now let me qualify this by saying that I have yet to take my science courses which I plan on doing next semester (only taken psyc and some other fluffier courses at the CC). Hopefully I will see some better instructors/student then.

Natingale, EdD, RN · May 6, 2008

can someone pass me the grey poupon?

Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN · May 6, 2008

another one for ns hand down!

The prereqs that I did take before nursing I had a 4.0 My thing is having to take the "co-reqs" as they call them at my school, instead of having them totally out of the way. (a and P...micro etc...)Even with the juggling co-reqs and nursing, I'm third semester, I'm getting A's in the co-reqs and B's in nursing. Once you get into acute or med surg II (whatever your school calls the critical care rotation) it's amped up more so it's even a tougher challenge. Plus my school you can take either acute or chronic your choice (one before the other)...I see some schools don't have that rotation till last, even after maternity, so I think it depends on how the school sets up the rotation, to how the difficulty is perceived....most of us taking acute right now, think it's way more intense, but the rotations are great so it's a good intense if that makes sense! :lol2:

Stay focused and remember do the best YOU can do...don't get hung up if it's no longer a 4.0....though the C=RN is bandied about, I'm not fond of it...if that's YOUR best, then great, you passed and that IS all that matters in the end...but some have that "slacker" attitude that bugs me, of course those are the ones that have mostly been weeded out so goes to show ya :rolleyes: GOOD LUCK!!!! You'll do great, b/c you're already thinking about it btw it's really true when they say the time flies...this semester is already nearly 3 weeks in and it's flown.

futurecnm · May 6, 2008

I can't even compare the 2. Nursing school has been the most challenging thing I've ever done. I can't say the same about the pre-reqs. They were a piece of cake compared to NS. nursing school is difficult in so many ways, and definately the harder of the 2.

heavenly14313 · May 6, 2008

I have to disagree with that statement. I went to a very well respected big-ten university and took Chemistry, Physics and Biology there (a few years ago). I had to retake Chemistry (same class, but I didn't have the lab)and all the A & P classes, and took them at a Community College. The quality was the same, if not better, the content was every bit as challenging, and I struggled just as much to get the A.
Sorry, I know not all community colleges are the same (maybe yours really wasn't that good of a school, or maybe my University was not that good of a school)), but I just hate those generalizations...

You're right - shouldn't have generalized. However, in your situation it seems like that was that case. I cannot even begin to care enough about this to argue - but it is kinda funny the way your comment reads.... that you took them at a well respected university then had to retake them at a community college and struggled - but got A's.

BUT, you are right. It's not good to generalize. I went to both a 4 year and 2 year school for my pre-reqs and I was speaking from my personal experience.

Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN · May 6, 2008

You're right - shouldn't have generalized. However, in your situation it seems like that was that case. I cannot even begin to care enough about this to argue - but it is kinda funny the way your comment reads.... that you took them at a well respected university then had to retake them at a community college and struggled - but got A's.
BUT, you are right. It's not good to generalize. I went to both a 4 year and 2 year school for my pre-reqs and I was speaking from my personal experience.

I gotta agree w/you heavenly, I know too, not good to generalize, but I also took some pre req's at a CC and my co-reqs are done concurrently with the RN diploma program form a univeristy and the classes, namely A and P were WAY harder in comparison to what we were told from some that took it at CC and some even tried to jump back to CC to retake, but were refused (school wouldn't accept it at that point) so they could realistically compare the two. Our A and P teacher also taught graduate level students and would often say..."oh I keep forgetting you aren't my grad students :eek: Um, WHAT???? Yeah it was tough for that grade that semester...but good to know not all CC's are like that they should all be equal.

Oh and another thing that's interesting is another CC from a smaller county, 2 of the girls that went there bragged that even though they got D's...they "begged" the instructor to pass them b/c they "had" to get into nursng school! :angryfire I'm sorry but that's not right...one is still with us, the other failed out....but still....that upset a good many of us that had to work our collective butts off to juggle the co-reqs and ns.

NightOwl0624 · May 7, 2008

You're right - shouldn't have generalized. However, in your situation it seems like that was that case. I cannot even begin to care enough about this to argue - but it is kinda funny the way your comment reads.... that you took them at a well respected university then had to retake them at a community college and struggled - but got A's.
BUT, you are right. It's not good to generalize. I went to both a 4 year and 2 year school for my pre-reqs and I was speaking from my personal experience.

Sorry, I tend to get defensive and I know I should just let those comments go...

And I certainly know that everyone's experience is different! Just hate those generalizations!!

Anyway, I had to retake Chemistry because I did not have the lab (Unfortunately, I took it for 3 credits w/out the lab the first time). I was required to have labs with all of my sciences with nursing school. I didn't retake it because I failed or got a low grade. Believe me, I was not all that happy about repeating the class for a one credit lab! I struggled both times - I am not very good in Chemistry, nor do I like it very much! Sorry I wasn't very clear on that.

I just feel like I took enough science classes at both the university and the community college to compare. I know I was very lucky to have a good experience at the community college.

Sorry to interrupt this thread. I knew I should have ignored that comment!

vashtee, RN · May 7, 2008

In California, all of the prerequisite classes are transferable to the UC system, meaning they are considered equivelent. The quality of teaching may (or may not) differ, but it's the same curriculum. I'm not sure the same is true of community colleges in other states.

I thought chemistry, physiology, and microbiology were fairly difficult classes, on par with nursing school. However, they are all do-able.

catzy5 · May 7, 2008

Well my class mates and I (first semester) say at least once a day we wish we were taking Micro or AP heck even Chemistry LOL.

I think there are so many variables though, the school the semester you are in etc...

Pre reqs for me were by far a cake walk in comparison but I will admit after the first 8 weeks things did smooth out a bit. But for us we had pharm and fundamentals two tests every week pass fail and it was just so much work and so much stress. Once we got passed that we were shell shocked and moved on to med surg. Now we are wrapping that up and can't believe I made it that far.

good luck to you, you can do it!