Prerequisite courses

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

Published

I recently graduated high school this year and I start college this fall and I need help on grouping my prerequisite classes. I'm starting at one college then I'm transferring to another for the BSN program and I want my prerequisite classes done in 1 year. I don't want to take multiple hard classes at once so if anyone could tell me their opinion on which classes to start out with , I'd appreciate it (: these are the 8 classes I was told I needed

English Composition I ENG 1100

Introductory Psychology PSY 1010

Organic Chemistry CHM 1020

General Biology BIOL 1050 or 1070 or 1120 or 1150

Lifespan Development Psychology PSY 3410

Anatomy and Physiology I ANT 2100 (Anatomies must be taken together at the same College or University)

Anatomy and Physiology II ANT 2120

Statistics STT 1600

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I would take general biology, statistics, english and introductory psychology.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you (:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I would take general biology, statistics, english and introductory psychology.

I agree. Then for your second semester you should take A&P 1, lifespan development, and general chemistry w/ lab to prepare you for Organic Chemistry.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Okay thank you !

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Is your school on a quarter or semester system? Realistically speaking, it does not appear that you will finish in one year if you are on a semester system unless your school or another offers some of these courses during a winter or summer session. For example, in order to take A&P II, most schools I know require you to take A&P I first. Some schools require you to take Biology before A&P I. If A&P I is delayed to your second semester, you run the risk of A&P II not being offered during the summer which automatically pushing you back into your second year. If you are already going to be forced to stay an additional year, then you can honestly spread out your courses over 3-4 semesters instead. I say 3-4 because I am not sure whether the school you are transferring to starts their cohort in the Fall only or if there is an option to start in the Spring.

I think that this may be the best option so you do not take too many hard classes as you say. I would recommend asking yourself what kind of student you are, how many hours of studying you are willing/able to put towards each class, and what areas you are weak in from your past experiences in high school. For me personally, I think Stats is a form of cruel and unusual punishment and I do not enjoy writing essays. Those two classes would be the hardest for me. Science, Pysch, History, and Algebra-based math are fun to me and those are the classes I do well in without having to put in excessive amounts of work.

So, I guess I am trying to ask:

1) Are there any courses that are required to take another course (e.g. Bio to take A&P I)?

2) Are there any areas that you do not enjoy or struggled with in high school (e.g. English-essay writing)?

3)Will you be working or volunteering? If so, will you still have time/the discipline to devout to studying at least 2-3 hours for each class?

Once you are able to figure those out then, I think it can truly help to guide what courses you should take and when.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Is your school on a quarter or semester system? Realistically speaking, it does not appear that you will finish in one year if you are on a semester system unless your school or another offers some of these courses during a winter or summer session. For example, in order to take A&P II, most schools I know require you to take A&P I first. Some schools require you to take Biology before A&P I. If A&P I is delayed to your second semester, you run the risk of A&P II not being offered during the summer which automatically pushing you back into your second year. If you are already going to be forced to stay an additional year, then you can honestly spread out your courses over 3-4 semesters instead. I say 3-4 because I am not sure whether the school you are transferring to starts their cohort in the Fall only or if there is an option to start in the Spring.

I think that this may be the best option so you do not take too many hard classes as you say. I would recommend asking yourself what kind of student you are, how many hours of studying you are willing/able to put towards each class, and what areas you are weak in from your past experiences in high school. For me personally, I think Stats is a form of cruel and unusual punishment and I do not enjoy writing essays. Those two classes would be the hardest for me. Science, Pysch, History, and Algebra-based math are fun to me and those are the classes I do well in without having to put in excessive amounts of work.

So, I guess I am trying to ask:

1) Are there any courses that are required to take another course (e.g. Bio to take A&P I)?

2) Are there any areas that you do not enjoy or struggled with in high school (e.g. English-essay writing)?

3)Will you be working or volunteering? If so, will you still have time/the discipline to devout to studying at least 2-3 hours for each class?

Once you are able to figure those out then, I think it can truly help to guide what courses you should take and when.

Majority of the classes are a full semester but some like Intro to PSY, ENG , and STT are shorter classes. There are some classes that I'll have to take before I can take certain classes. I know none of the classes will be easy but the one I'm mostly scared about is chemistry. The college I'm transferring to has a spring and fall start. Do you think I should spend more than a year getting all the prerequisite classes done ? I also have to take an STNA course and have a CPR certification. I don't plan on working or volunteering at the moment so school will be my only focus. Thank you so much for your help ! I'm just trying to plan it all out beforehand.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Actually Statistics is the only shorter class which is from August - October. The other two classes I mentioned can be less than a semester or it can be a full semester and that I don't really get.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Majority of the classes are a full semester but some like Intro to PSY, ENG , and STT are shorter classes. There are some classes that I'll have to take before I can take certain classes. I know none of the classes will be easy but the one I'm mostly scared about is chemistry. The college I'm transferring to has a spring and fall start. Do you think I should spend more than a year getting all the prerequisite classes done ? I also have to take an STNA course and have a CPR certification. I don't plan on working or volunteering at the moment so school will be my only focus. Thank you so much for your help ! I'm just trying to plan it all out beforehand.

Yikes, you may be looking at finishing all your prerequisites (including your STNA course) in about 2-2.5 years. But that's okay since it's not very common for people to finish all their classes in a year anyway unless they had a previous degree or took courses in high school with the majority of credits done. Are you a freshman? You shouldn't push yourself too hard and should just take it 1 step at a time.

Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Take as long as you need to to get EXCELLENT grades.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuro.

An academic advisor at your school gets paid to help you with this kind of stuff, utilize them if you haven't already.

Second, I totally understand you wanting to get this done asap, but, don't rush it, concentrate on getting outstanding grades, even if that means taking longer.

You are very, very young & have time. Do well at a steady pace & all will fall into place. Wish you the best!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you , I appreciate everyone's advice ! Yes I am a freshman. I'll definitely stop pushing myself and take my time.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment