Pre-Reqs; Deciding when to Transfer

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!!

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!

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.