2ndLife

My undergrad GPA was about a 3.3. I got my B.A. in 1995. Most of my science courses are 20 years old but my science GPA was about a 3.8. I did well on the TEAS test and I've been taking other, non-related classes at this school for the last 3 semesters (paralegal) and have a 4.0 in those classes.

I just got my acceptance letter for nursing school. The next day I got my acceptance letter for a Master's teacher certification program to teach Biology. Now I'm not sure what to do. I'm starting to do a "Pros and Cons" list for each and hoping that will help. One of the biggest factors to consider is my age. I'm currently 54 years old. I already have about a year of education classes that I will receive credit for. Therefore, the certification program will take me just a bit over a year. It will take me 2 years to complete the ADN program. Both professions can be physically and emotionally demanding. I'm too old to make the wrong choice and start over again with something else so I have to make the correct decision. Any thoughts?

I went to the information session at Frederick and was told that there was nearly zero possibility of someone from another county gaining admission to their program. They do everything on a point system, giving points for GPA, grades in pre-requisites, test scores, etc. One of the things they give points for is being a Frederick County Resident. And they said they have enough competition for the spots in their own county that even if you receive top points for everything, you won't get the points for being a county resident and therefore will fall short of acceptance. Shrug.

Your post is dated September 2009 and you said you wanted to apply for Fall 2009. I'm thinking you meant Fall 2010. But anyway, I just learned that I was accepted without having completed A&P. I have previously taken Micro, Chem and many other science classes because my undergrad major was biology. However, my classes are too old and have to be repeated. I had previously applied for Fall admission and was not accepted. I understand that there is less competition for Spring. Also, when I applied for Spring I included a letter, sort of in the form of an application essay. I don't know if that had an impact or if it was because there was less competition for Spring. I've also been taking some other (non-prereq) classes at MC and have a 4.0, so maybe that was factored in. I don't know. But I can tell you that it's possible to be accepted without having taken A&P. Good luck!!!

Can you tell me how your schedule works out with NU 105 and 110? The schedules don't specify how much time you're spending for the NU 110 lab. I'm just trying to get an idea of what my schedule is going to look like in the Spring. Thanks!

I just got my certified packet in the mail today. I'm slightly freaking because I didn't think it was going to happen. Now I'm looking at everything I have to do, wondering how I'm going to support myself, can I handle puke and pooh, can I physically handle the rigors of NS (I'm older), will my friends and family think I'm nuts for doing this at this stage of my life, how am I going to support myself, what do I need to do to get in better shape before classes start, what's my schedule going to be...did I mention wondering how I'm going to support myself. So excited, nervous, anxious. Would love to talk to others as they receive their acceptances. Perhaps we can share some emails & phone calls before the info and registration sessions. Yikes. Okay, no longer slightly freaking, I'm totally freaking!

I haven't been on here for a while because things got all messed up with my prerequisites and I wasn't sure if nursing was ever going to happen for me. Basically, my employer refused to let me adjust my hours to arrive 30 minutes early and leave 30 minutes early in order to get to my A&P class, so I had to drop it. BUT, I was admitted anyway!! I had applied when I thought I'd be taking A&P and although the application didn't require an admissions essay, I wrote one anyway. I'm not sure what worked because I was told that you DO NOT get admitted without finishing A&P. But I was!! Spring 2010. I'm freaking!! I thought it wasn't going to happen and now it's just 3 months away! Shazam!

I worry about this, too. Provided I'm accepted into a program next year, I will be 57 by the time I graduate.

I guess it would depend on the school. I originally registered for A&P 1 and 2 for this semester but decided it would be too much to take both plus two online courses and work full-time (I don't know why I thought that, but I did). I didn't have any trouble registering for both. I do have a bachelor's degree in biology but I doubt that there's any kind of special coding in my online profile because of that which would allow me to register for both. Sometimes, even if it's normally prohibited, if you are a really good student and have a compelling reason to take both at the same time, you can get permission from the instructors.

I'll second that! I haven't read all the posts but I'm guessing I may win the prize: 54 and re-taking my pre-reqs. Heck, I figure I've still got another 10 good years in the work force and I'm going to do it as a nurse.

I don't have a fear of getting a needle or watching someone else get one. It's poking someone (and hurting them) that gives me the shakes. As an undergrad I did a fellowship in cancer research and had to give shots to mice. I didn't even like doing it to them and they bite! I don't want to hurt someone during a procedure. And I'm another one who can handle the sights and sounds of ucky stuff, but not the smell.

M-F: Work 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. M & W: A&P 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Sat: Chem 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Two online classes: Nutrition and Growth & Development Me, about November 1st:

Already had Stat so I don't need to take that. But I definitely want one that will do scientific notation and metric conversions. Staples had one on sale this week that I thought would do the trick but no metric conversions. Beh.

Will I need a calculator for General Chem? If so, any recommendations? I have a couple of basic ones at home but none that will do scientific notation.

I'm retaking A&P and it's been a while since I took it but this explanation is very close to what I recall. We used cat and fetal pig cadavers. When we were studying the histology portion of A&P, we'd have to identify different cell types on microscope slides at different stations. The same sort of system was used for bones, muscles, circulatory system, etc. I was in a study group and luckily we were able to take our cats and pigs home (much to the delight of our families, esp. at dinner time). So we would quiz one another. We'd also spend free time (hahaha) in the lab with the skeleton and quiz one another on bones. There are so many good books out there with realistic depictions of everything, that you can get a good review from those, too. As far as flash cards go, I'm going to make some of my own but I may buy a set to supplement. I find that I learn better if I do the work myself. Good luck everyone! Gonna be a great semester!