Pre-reqs completely online

[iShaybie, ADN]

My husband is in the military and we are currently out of the country for the next three years. I have my basic college courses done, but need to finish the nursing prerequisites like A&P, microbiology and psychology. Since there isn't any other choice for me but to do the classes online, I'm wondering if anyone has any advice for completing all the classes online or if I should just wait until I get back to the states (not preferred). My goal is to be eligible to apply for an ADN program wherever we live next. I'd love to have any advice from nurses who have been in similar predicaments. Thanks!

I started school right after having my baby and took allllllll of my pre-reqs online! Two years worth. It was really simple. I wish I took courses online from the beginning...would've avoided having to withdraw from so many. But I didn't know it was an option til a couple years ago!

[LotusPetals82, ADN, CNA, RN]

I completed almost all of my college classes online and did great. It was almost too easy for A&P and Micro. Made straight A's. Afterwards, I had to go back and actually study the material in order to pass the TEAS test.

[ChangingPaths]

That seems crazy to me that an advisor told you they would not accept online course credit. I am taking my prerequisites, mixture of online and live, at my local community college and I am applying to the college's ASN program and the accelerated BSN program at UF. Both of those programs accept and offer online courses. Definitely don't take online course at any sketchy for profit schools, but I think that the community college in your hometown or elsewhere should be a safe bet and less expensive than university classes. I would aim for a community college that has a certified and reputable nursing program because that will ensure that the prerequisites are better targeted for students going into health professions. This is just my opinion. Good luck!

[crazydoglady89]

That seems crazy to me that an advisor told you they would not accept online course credit. I am taking my prerequisites, mixture of online and live, at my local community college and I am applying to the college's ASN program and the accelerated BSN program at UF. Both of those programs accept and offer online courses. Definitely don't take online course at any sketchy for profit schools, but I think that the community college in your hometown or elsewhere should be a safe bet and less expensive than university classes. I would aim for a community college that has a certified and reputable nursing program because that will ensure that the prerequisites are better targeted for students going into health professions. This is just my opinion. Good luck!

I agree, I think it's also crazy.

HOWEVER, some online courses I have taken in the past were far too easy to cheat in. I took these courses at a very good public university.

I personally believe you get out of a class what you put in, so I feel as if my A's were warranted. I did have some classmates who likely cheated their faces off for the A's though. We got the same grade in the end. Did it get me ahead in life? Who knows, but it exists. These schools might be trying to avoid those kinds of students. However, I would think that your GPA overall would reflect what kind of worker you are. I have A's in my pre reqs, however I also made Dean's list most semesters of my first degree program. That's not to say that people who got a 2.8 can't turn it around and get A's, though.

I get why schools do it, but not saying it's necessarily fair.

Thankfully there are plenty of schools that will take online credit. For me, I would have had to quit my well paying job (which I would rather keep until nursing school when I have to quit) that is helping me save for nursing school and pay for those classes if I wanted to take them in person. My job doesn't really lend itself to part time at all, and the schools around me (including community colleges) didn't really have the pre reqs at times that were convenient for full time (8am-6pm) workers.

I love online classes!

[ChangingPaths]

I agree, I think it's also crazy.

HOWEVER, some online courses I have taken in the past were far too easy to cheat in. I took these courses at a very good public university.

I personally believe you get out of a class what you put in, so I feel as if my A's were warranted. I did have some classmates who likely cheated their faces off for the A's though. We got the same grade in the end. Did it get me ahead in life? Who knows, but it exists. These schools might be trying to avoid those kinds of students. However, I would think that your GPA overall would reflect what kind of worker you are. I have A's in my pre reqs, however I also made Dean's list most semesters of my first degree program. That's not to say that people who got a 2.8 can't turn it around and get A's, though....

I Absolutely agree with you on your points and online classes aren't very beneficial for everyone. I prefer live classes, but I am in a similar situation with a full-time job that I hope to keep until I start a nursing program and that would not have been possible without online classes.

Good luck with your applications and your pursuit of a career in nursing. :)

[Icy Willow]

Yes I was in a State a university for two years when I had to quit because it was time to move. I decided to transfer to Pikes Peak CC in Colorado. They accepted all of my credits except the sciences. I figured I would CLEP the ones I had taken and keep on track. I went to see a general advisor on the local military base and she flat out denied I was able to take A&P and such online for the nursing program. I asked her what the online classes were there for then and she replied for general science degree seekers. If I had known about this board then or even had courage to just go to the nurse information meeting and ask for myself and get an answer from the actaul program coordinator, maybe I would have my license by now. It's done with now so I try not to dwell on how much time I've already wasted. I've done online classes before and and usually self-study and self-teach in my other classes (if the class isn't going at my pace I got bored and start to forget things) so I'm up for online courses. I'm just afraid to waste more time and money to repeat all of my hard work. I'm from NC so I have a lot of options for colleges. I'm happy to see that online courses worked out for many of you all.

[hopefulhdr]

Johns Hopkins offers all the pre reqs online

[NewNurs2020]

My school UAA told me to take my intro to bio chem online since they only offer it certain semesters.

Maybe do everything except the sciences and then just plan on taking 2 semesters of pre req sciences after you know your next duty station? I think more schools than not will take the online credits though so you would probably be fine.

[Icy Willow]

Thank you all for your replies! Well good news is we have decided to move to Florida after being here in Europe. Does anyone have any tips for Floridian colleges? I don't know which one I will be attending but I don't want to attend the private colleges. I've searched the forum and can't find anyone who has discussed their experience with taking online science courses and have had them accepted at the colleges in this state. If anyone has any info or tips please let me know! Thank you all so much for all your info and insight I really appreciate it and honestly it keeps me motivated to. It give up on getting my nursing degree.

[crazydoglady89]

Icy Willow, check out USF Tampa. They offer all the science pre reqs online, and are an in state school. I also know their ABSN accepts online pre reqs.

I'm not sure about UNF, UCF, and UF but they are all in state schools. You will need to check if any of them offer pre reqs online. I DO know all of these schools accept pre reqs taken online, however. I would always advise double checking in case things change.

I'm a Floridian too. It's a great place to live!

[Icy Willow]

Thank you for the info! We have family living in trinity ( they said that's around Tampa) so I'm pretty sure we'll be in that area. I've been looking online and it looks like for out of state tuition Broward College is the cheapest. Do you know if this school has a good reputation? The classes are all proctored through my web cam so I'm hoping other colleges will accept. I'll definitely look into those school's nursing programs!

[WheatGerm]

You might see if you can qualify for in state tuition since your husband is in the military. I have no idea if that works at that school/in that state, but I know people who have gotten in state tuition due military relocations.

Also, I think you should call potential schools in the area that you would transfer to and see what credits they accept. For example, one school I wanted to go to only accepted one specific nutrition (not Nutrition 101 like I assumed) so it is really important to check so you don't do extra work!