Pre-Reqs. How hard was it for you?

JWG223 · Feb 15, 2015

I hardly ever studied and managed a 3.4gpa over 2.5 years getting my previous req. Done. I took 2.5 instead of 2 years because I had a 4 year scholarship and chose to use more of it by taking minimum hours to remain full time.

Nursing school was a total system shock in difficulty and the need to study!

happyinmyheart · Feb 15, 2015

I took 16 credit hours of pre-reqs last semester and 16 credit hours of pre-reqs this semester. I've managed to hold a 4.0, but I study a tonnnn. How hard the class is depends on the subject, the school, length of the semester, and the professor. I find it challenging to maintain a 4.0, but I know that it will be a piece of cake compared to nursing school. After this semester I only have 16 credits worth of pre-reqs left to go. Then I start nursing school!!!

waiting4ivpush · Feb 16, 2015

I took 16 credit hours of pre-reqs last semester and 16 credit hours of pre-reqs this semester. I've managed to hold a 4.0, but I study a tonnnn. How hard the class is depends on the subject, the school, length of the semester, and the professor. I find it challenging to maintain a 4.0, but I know that it will be a piece of cake compared to nursing school. After this semester I only have 16 credits worth of pre-reqs left to go. Then I start nursing school!!!

Nice, I still have a ways to go with pre reqs. I'm just curious how do you manage your studying? I'm trying to learn how to study smart, and not hard.

happyinmyheart · Feb 16, 2015

Nice, I still have a ways to go with pre reqs. I'm just curious how do you manage your studying? I'm trying to learn how to study smart, and not hard.

My number one piece of advice is to figure out your teacher's "style". This is hard to do until after the first test. But after the first test you should know how future tests will be given. I study according to the class. Some classes I only study the book, some classes I study everything, some classes I look up flashcards online. Studying smart is easier when you know how the teacher tests :)

waiting4ivpush · Feb 16, 2015

My number one piece of advice is to figure out your teacher's "style". This is hard to do until after the first test. But after the first test you should know how future tests will be given. I study according to the class. Some classes I only study the book, some classes I study everything, some classes I look up flashcards online. Studying smart is easier when you know how the teacher tests :)

I'm taking A&P 1 this semester. I think this falls under a class to study everything. Any tips?

HopefulRN22 · Feb 16, 2015

They weren't too bad, If you really focus and study! And please if available go to tutoring. It took me a good 5 semesters (including summer) to finish them. Microbiology to me was the hardest class I took, no matter how much I studied I still did bad on the lecture exams, however the lab was easy and so were assignments.

happyinmyheart · Feb 16, 2015

I'm taking A&P 1 this semester. I think this falls under a class to study everything. Any tips?

That definitely falls under a "study everything" category :) My first tip would be to get organized. Write all homework, quizzes, exams, and due dates in your planner. Analyze the syllabus to figure out how well you'll have to do to get an A. I recommend getting an Anatomy coloring book (you can find them on Amazon). Ask your teacher if there is a study book that they would recommend. Make good use of notecards. Make that you study in advance and don't cram. This is something you'll for sure want to retain, not just cram and forget! If your campus offers tutoring, it can be good to take advantage because sometimes they will provide real skeletal models with bones, which are awesome to study!! I also would say, if you review flashcards right before bed, you'll be surprised at how much you retain! Anatomy is a tough class at some colleges, and not that bad at others. So I can't tell you for sure. But make sure to kick butt in the beginning, that way you don't have to dig yourself out of the hole in the end :)

Cruz.Cookie, BSN, RN · Feb 16, 2015

Per reqs was a breeze for me. Now the nursing school type of tests are another dimension...it only took me two years to finish my prereqs and transfer to a nursing program. The hardest prereq I would say was Statistics. That class was the STRUGGLE for me and I'm a wiz at math. I managed to get an A in all my science classes but B's in my arts, social classes go figure lol. Anatomy and microbiology were my favorite prereq classes. They just require a ton of reading and really dependent on the type of teacher you have. Try "rate my professors" online to check out what teacher you might have. Best of luck in your ventures!!

mirandaaa · Feb 16, 2015

Pre-requisites for me so far have been very easy. I'm in my second and final semester of pre-reqs and last semester I had a 3.6 GPA (BARELY got a B in one of my classes and the other class would have been an A but they had a higher grading scale so my 90% was considered a B). I also work full time 40 hours a week.

What really works for me, and this does not work for everyone, is online classes. I like being able to manage my time and do my work and studying on my own time. I also like it because we have an assignment calendar which goes over everything that's due and when. I prefer to work as far ahead as I can and spend my spare time (that I'd normally be doing homework or attending class) studying. This works well especially for mid-terms and finals. If I have all my assignments complete and turned in a month before mid-terms (like I am now), then I can spend that entire month studying and focusing on the material.

mirandaaa · Feb 16, 2015

@happyinmyheart

I definitely agree with your statement about classes (anatomy) being tough at some colleges and not at others. My A&PI class last semester was a breeze and I managed a 99.8% at the end of the semester. One of my friends who was in that class with me also ended with about a 95%, but this semester she has a new teacher whom is much harder and she's unsure if she'll even pass this time. I had decided to take my A&PII online this year because I did so well last year, and so far I'm glad I have.

AnchoredRN · Feb 16, 2015

I already have a BA in English so I had most the pre-reqs already done. I did take A&P I and II and they were tough. I got a 98 in both while being a SAHM to a very active toddler. You just have to have time management!