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!

I wouldn't wait. I'd call HR and explain the situation, making clear that you understand that situations arise and appointments can't always be kept. Let HR know that you are still extremely interested in the position and ask whether there is someone else who will be doing interviews or if you should connect with the recruiter on his return. At least you'll get some resolution and not be sitting and wondering. Plus it puts your name back on their radar and shows initiative.

Looking at my study guide now and from what I recall of my test, there were questions on the food web, symbiotic relationships, maybe one about taxonomy and maybe one or two about plate tetonics. If I had to guess, I'd say maybe a total of 5-6 questions about earth science. It was the physical science questions that killed me. Maybe it seemed like there were more of those because they made me anxious.

Has anyone used or is planning to use Vango Notes? I ran across them tonight on http://www.audible.com. I listened to the samples for A&P and Micro. It also looks like they have a lot of Nursing programs (med-surg, neonatal, mental health). You can pay per download or buy a subscription. My commute to and from work is about 30-45 min. one way in regular traffic. That's an additional 60-90 minutes of studying every day that would otherwise be lost time. I'd love to hear from someone who has used it and whether they thought it was worth the money/effort.

A question for those of you who applied: I know the WHC scholarship covers 80% of the tuition, but what are your plans to pay the remaining balance and costs of living? It appears that the remaining 20% would be about $8,000 then there's rent, food, transportation, etc. That's a lot of money to finish coming up with. And DC is not an inexpensive place to live. I'm still considering it - just wondering how I would be able to afford it.

I'm not Summermeadow but I hope you don't mind my answering. :) I was going to start reading and outlining the chapters in my text based on the order of the labs I see in my lab notebook (cellular first). But I'm thinking I'll leave my text in the shrink wrap in case the prof says an older version will do just as well. I'm going to get a textbook from the library and start reading that. At least the information won't be entirely new that way. I mean stratified, squamous, cuboidal and columnar are still stratified, squamous, cuboidal and columnar, right?

Here's a question for everyone. Should I curb my enthusiasm and NOT remove the shrink wrap from the books until class begins? I so very much want to open the books and start reading and doing my chapter outlines. Yes, I'm a geek and proud of it. But if there's a possibility that the prof says we will not be using the book much, then I'd want to return it and get an older edition. I can't return it if I remove the shrink wrap. Maybe I should just get some A&P, Nutrition and G&D texts from the library and study with the those before class begins.

Since I have to support myself while attending nursing school, can anyone tell me if they have a PT evening/weekend program in their area? We don't have one here and I'm willing to move. I'd be interested in ADN, BSN, Accelerated BSN or MSN for people with a bachelor's in another field. I want to be open to all options and if that means moving, then so be it. Thanks!!

Up until now I've never paid so much for textbooks. The A&P book I don't mind spending the money on because I'll use it for 2 semesters. It's the other pre-req books that caused me to gasp. One for Nutrition and the other for Growth and Devel. I'm taking both classes online and was specifically told that I MUST have the CDs and access codes. There wasn't much of a price difference between the uni's books and Amazon. I've been burned with sellers telling me that all the supplements, etc. are included. I emailed a few. A couple never responded, one said there was no guarantee and the other said they were included. Not good odds. This is my future I'm talking about. I hate the textbook racket, but what's a person to do when the instructors utilize the CDs and access codes?

Listen, I was a sucky student in high school (family issues, no focus) and bombed out my first time in college (again, no focus). When I finally went back to school, I finally felt focused and even though I thought I was not very intelligent, I did really well. My first biology teacher pulled me aside and said, "I have two words for you: medical school." Well, that didn't happen. Marriage happened, kids happened, divorce happened, life just happened. Now here I am. I've spent 20 years doing something I really don't like. I'm good at it, but I don't like it. I'm still working on pre-reqs because I took mine like 25 years ago (yeah, I'm ancient). I picked up my books today and I'm scared. I'll be working full-time and taking 14 credits. I'm scared that I'll get behind. How am I going to find the time to do this? Will I be able to get the grades I need to get? Will I be miserable every minute? And if I do well enough and actually get accepted into an accelerated BSN program or graduate program, will I make it through? Will I faint at the sight or smell of any bodily fluid? Will my body and brain hold up? I'm ******* OLD ya'll. I could have a heart attack the first day of clinicals! I haven't told many of my friends what I'm doing because I'm afraid they'll think I'm "tetched." Did I mention I'm scared? But I have wanted to be in the health profession since I was a wee one. I'm finally going to do it if it kills me. I think that a healthy dose of fear, a bit of reality, pure crazy desire and common sense that comes with a bit of life experience will show you that you have a lot more capability than you think you have. Try it. Conquer your fears an believe in yourself. And remember, we only go around once. :)

I did okay on the TEAS even though it had been a while since I had taken any math, science or english classes. Oddly enough, even though I have a B.S. in biology, the science was the hardest part for me because it was so long ago. When I studied, I just skimmed the physical science stuff and that's what hurt me most. I'm sorry, but I never was too excited about velocity, amps, ohms and electrical currents. I bought one study guide and got others from the library to get more practice.