Prerequisites - How long do they take?

mkk99 · Apr 9, 2016

Depends on how many classes you need to take, how often your school offers them, what your school's schedule is like (semester/trimester/quarter), what sequence you need to take them in, if there's waiting lists for classes, etc...

goddess9 · Apr 9, 2016

As above, it depends on how many classes you need to fulfill your school's requirements. I went part time with one class at a time and it's been two years. Your mileage will vary.

Quota, BSN, RN · Apr 10, 2016

Like said above totally depends on your situation. What classes you need to take, how many classes you can handle at a time, when your school offers the classes. Personally I only need 5 classes for my pre-reqs with the possibility of a 6th class if I want to go to my back up school that I'll take in the spring if needed. It will take me just under a year while working full time and taking the classes online. Just a bit before January applications are due. Leaves enough time for HESI prep and getting my essay and video ready.

RubyC · Apr 10, 2016

For my college it usually takes 1 and half to two years because of the sequence in classes. For example for us, you can't take anatomy 1 until you finish chemistry or you cant take anatomy 2 until you finished anatomy 1.

verene, MSN · Apr 10, 2016

It depends on how many course you need to take, how many you can take at once, and if the courses are sequenced or not and how frequently they are offered. I could have easily done my pre-reqs in 3 quarters (10 months) full-time, but going part-time it took me 9 quarters (just over 2 years) to get through everything.

Tprofitt, BSN · Apr 10, 2016

It took me 2 years and that was including my transfer credits from my previous degree. Just my advice to you, don't rush.

RaggedyAm · Apr 11, 2016

For me, it'll be 1 year almost exactly if I work nonstop. I can take 15 credits per quarter. It really also depends what you test into. I was lucky and tested into the highest english class and into the math class I needed in order to take science. (Intermediate algebra is required to take during or before Into to Chem) and I can't take any other Chem until I do that one. You'll find a lot of your prereqs have prereqs.

If you take the placement test your school offers and see an advisor they will probably be able to tell you exactly :)

Kitty333 · Apr 11, 2016

I'm taking my prerequisites and they're so hard and extra! For example, in order to take anatomy and physiology, I have got aka biology. In order to take mat algebra, I have take college math. I honestly don't know why they extend it to the fact that you get fed up but it's mostly so you can build up your GPA I'm far away to applying for the nursing program my college offers but don't give up! No matter how long it takes, you can do it.

JDC3 · Apr 11, 2016

It does take a long time to finish your prerequisites. Two pieces of advice:

1.

JDC3 · Apr 11, 2016

Sorry. Hit enter for some reason

1. If you can, take summer classes. Many schools do not require the prereq for a summer class. I was able to take A&P without the Chem but eventually needed to take it. They just didn't offer the chem in the summer. You really have to juggle ideas around and make your schedule work for you.

2. Try online courses. A lot of nursing programs require developmental psych. I took this online. What's really cool about online classes is they're much more flexible. And by that I mean start and stop times. For instance, my psch class started July 9th and ended August 12th. And there are a lot of classes offered that way. A big BUT - watch out for labs. For most nursing schools, they need to be taken in school and cannot be taken on-line.

In short, spend some time figuring out a schedule that works well for you. Really tough to do it in a year, but I did. Good Luck!

caliotter3 · Apr 11, 2016

When I registered by phone back in the days before the internet, I remember one time being unable to get a needed class six minutes after priority registration started on the first day. The class was already full. You have to remember that you are not the only person who wants these high traffic courses. There are students who take one prerequisite at a time. They get straight A's while being slow and methodical. Then there are students who pile it on, still manage to get straight A's. Both types of students have the same chance at admission. But all students are controlled by the restraints of course availability when they try to get a dwindling number of needed courses. One way to get around this is to look at different schools within the same district, such as the nine campuses of the Los Angeles Community College district. A person I met one time told me that she traveled between five different schools in the LA area to get her prerequisites for nursing school.