Pre-Reqs; Deciding when to Transfer

[Autymnfyres]

Hi all -

I am a non-traditional student finally focusing on becoming a Nurse, to do what I have wanted to for a long time ;o). I'm in my second year of 3/4ths-time pre-reqs; have been taking 12-15 credits at a community college for three semesters now. I'm at 22 credits total. My goal is transferring to complete a BSN at a local four year university. After shadowing this year and talking with an advisor, it looks like it is more optimal to do my transfer for this fall. I've only taken one of the science courses - Chemistry, and got an A in it.

If I stay at the community college, (work about 20 hours a week and plan to continue into NS but be flexible with cutting back hours) - I still face two semesters more. It costs less, but for some of the courses I would have to drive 30 miles twice a day/60 miles rt as they are only offered at another campus.

I am not going to take A & P I at the same time as II of course; and there is still Micro. Additionally, the health courses which are required for the NS program at that uni are not available at the CC anyhow, and there are two I'd have to have before applying for the NS.

If I transfer and do the rest of my gen ed stuff at the uni its going to be $2500 more over the length of two semesters. Time-wise though it makes sense as staying at the CC doesn't trump this plan in any other way I can think of. I guess I just needed to write this out, bounce it off of others working on their pre-reqs.

BUT...if I transfer and do these final pre-reqs in the fall and spring, apply for NS in the spring - what will I do if not accepted the first time?? I will have almost all of my pre-reqs done. If I completely stop for a year, that means the federal student loan portions of my tuition will kick in also. Bleh, as I'm currently an LNA and its great experience but as everyone knows, definitely not great pay.

My gpa went down a bit this third semester from 3.73 to 3.53, but I'm fairly confident I will do well in the other pre-reqs ahead. I love science and I'm good at being regimented when I need to be in relation to studying etc. I still have the TEAS V to take in the next year as well; hopefully doing well on that.

It seems like decisions have to be made before you really have finished the things you need in order to make the best "informed decisions" lol!

So: another year at the CC for the science pre-reqs and the lower tuition, transfer and spend an extra year at the uni so I can take those Health courses that are part of their pre-reqs (two), and just continue working, applying for the NS the following year ;o( OR: transfer now, take all the three science pre-reqs along with the two Health courses, and the TEAS V, then apply this next spring for the NS.

o-0 I'm going round and round about it all; I'll be glad when I have my final incoming advisory with the university I'm wanting to transfer to as I guess that may answer a few questions I have also. Thanks for letting me ramble. I've been coming to the AN forums for the last two years and always learn something new or get interested in another 'bunny trail' from an article I read here. Its a great community.

[RubySlippers06]

Hello!

That was kind of a lot to read, so I skimmed a lot. It seems as though you are trying to decide between spreading the science courses out at the CC with a cheaper tuition, or taking them all at once with two other classes at the university. Personally, I would not do that. Biology is my best subject and I would not want to take A&P II with micro. Also, you may want to check the university pre-reqs for the bio courses. Usually, you have to take A&P I before A&P II and you will need some understanding of bio before taking micro. My micro class was intense! There was about 5-7 hrs of online HW per week, plus studying, plus lab. Lab took about 10hrs per week.

Do you have anything to do besides school? If so, I really would not commit to that. You want to keep your GPA as high as possible and that could really hurt it. Some BSN programs require you to have around 60 credits before even starting. I would check that out and try to take ALL non-nursing classes before starting the program. For example, my program requires ALL non-nursing classes to be completed first. However, my old program (husband military and we had to move states) required everything except statistics and one science class. You could take those during the program.

From my experience, and I have two kids, three dogs, and a husband who deploys frequently, I would space the science classes out a little and then transfer. Also, some universities will favor existing students. With that being said, you could take A&P I/II at the CC with whatever other classes you need. Then, transfer to the university to take micro and remaining classes the semester you are applying. This way, you get familiar with the school and you have that slight advantage.

Good luck to you!!

[Autymnfyres]

Thanks so much RubySlipper06 for taking a minute to answer. Yep, I've got a majority of all the other pre-reqs done except A&P I, A & P II, Stats and Micro. The 'preference' shown to pre-nursing students at the university is one of the reasons I was considering going ahead with the transfer this upcoming year. I'd take A & P I, one of the Health courses they require, one of a foreign language in the fall. And then in the spring take A & P II, Stats and the other Health course. The only thing left then is a providers CPR/First Aid and one more humanities/integrative course, which I'd do over the summer, in that way being able to put in my application pkg for NS for the next year.

I guess like many others, its the time period that gets me crazy. Although I know all these specifics, I still find it difficult to get that I have to spend either four years to get an AN (3 - 4 semesters pt time for pre-reqs and then four semesters for the AN program itself), or here I've taken 22+ credits, all of which directly transfer to my state university, yet still I'm looking at another full year and maybe summer courses and then plus the final two years/really two-and-a-half for the BSN program.

I am committed to this path to Nursing, I have wanted to work as a Nurse since my grandmother's lung cancer diagnosis. The nurses who our family had the privilege of having work with her were not only sharp, professional individuals, but two especially were the kind of person anyone would want to work with or for. They gave of themselves while under the pressure of having other assigned patients, they spent extra moments here and there cheering her, bringing a favorite flower in -- what some would consider small things but they meant sooo much to her and the rest of us!

I've so much interest in being able enjoy learning and using science interwoven with helping people - I just need to be reasonable about how long its taking. I think possibly I need to find a different health-care related job to do also. Maybe that is what is contributing to my glum outlook on the length of time this is taking. I can see working as an LNA for 18 months to a couple of years, but absolutely not for three or four more years. Thanks very much for your tips!

[RubySlippers06]

I wish you luck along your journey! When everything is said and done, it will have taken me 6 years to earn my BSN. Partially because I switched majors and partially because the military keeps changing where we are living/when we are moving, etc. That time frame used to drive me insane! Just hang in there and take one semester at a time.

I really suggest taking all your A&P at the same school. I did not do that and it really messed me up. Now that I am about to start a program, (knocking on wood bc haven't gotten the letter yet), it feels almost sweeter bc I have had to wait so long.