tanelson

love this! haha

Are you currently enrolled in classes somewhere? Most colleges have tutoring available to students, some even have online tutoring. I don't know if you have to be currently enrolled in a math class to utilize the services, but it may be a resource you would benefit from if it's available to you. I know it's helped me through a couple of things that I just didn't get in the algebra class I'm currently taking (7 years after my last math class, which was calculus). Have you googled "free online algebra help" or something to that effect? There are lots of sites out there that have free tutoring and lesson plans, worksheets, etc. I know purplemath.com, algebrahelp.com, and algebra.com are some that have been recommended to me. I know how you feel about "knowing it" but just not remembering it! It's pretty frustrating to me that I got an A in college calculus so long ago and I know I am smart enough to get it, but I have trouble with some of the most basic things in this class! I am probably going to freak out when I get time to take my stat pre-req! I also know what you're saying about your husband - my Dad is a freakin' math whiz, and I cannot ask him for help with any of my problems because the way he explains things (quickly and simplified versions of methods) confuses me even more! I need it to be broken down, step by step until I am comfortable with it! Basically, all I can say is just practice, practice, practice to get the methods down, memorize your equations, and it will all start coming back to you! Is there anything specific you are having trouble with? I may be able to give you info from my text book if it's something we've gone over..... I wish you the best of luck!

I agree. It depends on your school. The community college that I'm applying to for next fall has a point system for acceptance to the ADN program that includes points for all of the pre-reqs and co-reqs that a student has completed, as well as the student's ACT score, GPA, and letters of recommendation. The student gets 4 points for an A in each science or math based class, and 3 points per A for each other class. So in my case, yes, it makes a huge difference in how competitive your application is, but not all schools judge eligibility and decide acceptances the same way. I would check with the schools you're interested in attending.

Nursesoon - I am the same way! I ultimately want my BSN, and probably a Master's degree, too. My plan keeps getting set back over and over again and I am just trying to find the quickest way there. Thanks for your input! Asianone - That is my EXACT situation! My Nursing Advisor (also the Coordinator of the Allied Health programs at the CC) is basically telling me no, over and over again. What I don't understand is that there is a specific section outlined in the College Handbook that describes the nursing application process and what happens in the cases of "special circumstances." I feel this falls into that category, but she is unwilling to talk to me about it. I am afraid to go over her head because she is not just an advisor, she is the only advisor, and she is also one of the nurses that teaches clinicals. Plus, I've looked on the faculty list and the only other people listed for the program are the program's DON and her administrative assistant. I don't want to anger anyone and hurt my chances of getting in all. Basically she keeps telling me that I can do LPN and then the LPN to RN, or wait and apply for ADN next year - and that those are my only options. What I don't understand is how she can be so quick to judge me when she hasn't even so much as looked at my transcript! None of the failed classes are nursing-related, my institution GPA is high, I just got a 30 on the ACT. Thanks so much for sharing, its so encouraging to hear that someone in my situation has moved on from it! 3rdGenRN2Be - I could retake the classes, but they are not nursing-related, so my best option in that case would be to go back to my university and apply for academic renewal and enroll there full-time. The only thing is that I was told that IF the academic renewal was accepted that my GPA would still not be good enough for their BSN program (it's in the top 20 in the nation). So that leaves my only option at the university to be this: completing a different bachelor's program, and then applying for the accelerated BSN. This would take me between 3 and 4 years. I would love to do this, but I would have to move an hour and a half from home and my husband (can't leave his job, works with family) for a long time - plus it's extremely expensive. We are pretty low-income as it is, not to mention I just got laid off on Friday from the only decent paying job I have ever had. I would love to do this because I would end up with two bachelor's degrees in four years or less, but I just don't know that it is feasible for us. Thanks so much for your ideas! Saaysfaa - thanks so much for your input - I have looked into that, and there's nothing that I can take and complete before the application deadline. I so wish there was, because that would really be the best option! Thanks again, everyone for your comments! I really appreciate them, and any further advice you may have. I am not trying to be depressing or anything, but I keep trying different pathways and all I have gotten are discouraging answers. I am having a really hard time with this, I know what I want, and I know I can do it, but I keep getting held back. It's hurting my confidence to know that I was stupid enough to do this to myself.

Anyone? I am so confused right now. I know it's ultimately my decision, but I will be the first person in my family to have a college degree and I have no one with experience to give me advice.

This is just my two cents, because I haven't taken an online Chem class, though I have taken 30+ hours online. Online courses are harder in my opinion, because there is a lot more responsibility on the student. They are more time-intensive, and there are limited hours in which you can seek help if you don't understand something - especially if you are studying from a distance, like I am (I live over an hour away from my nearest campus). Does this class have a lab? If so, I would say take it on-campus, in-person, if possible. I have saved all of my science classes (that require labs) till the end so I can attend class instead of taking them online. I am of the belief that there are valuable things that can be learned in an actual lab than can be learned in a simulated lab environment. Plus, I am one of those people that learns much more quickly doing things hands-on. This is just my opinion, of course. I think that it's definitely do-able if you're only taking one class that term, but if it were me, I would wait and take a class on-campus. Also - what was your advisor's reasoning for not taking it during the summer? I have a great advisor who has told me what classes to avoid and what to take when because of kinks in the programs they use and the like. For example - she told me not to take a public speaking course online because they have all sorts of problems with it. I was also advised not to take algebra online, though I did it anyway because I have always been pretty strong in math. It has been a lot harder than I expected it to be, but I am still getting an A. I really think you would be fine, but those are just a few things to think about. :)

Okay, everyone, just a warning.... this might be long! I have finally decided after almost nine years out of high school that nursing is what I want to do. Background: I attended college for a year and a half at one of the best schools in our state, and due to some personal issues - mostly immaturity and naivete - I failed the last semester that I attended. I was in a really bad place and literally packed up and moved home without withdrawing from my courses (I know. So dumb.). I left with a cGPA of 1.27. My major was Pre-Med, Bio. A few years ago, I decided that I still wanted to pursue a career in one of the health professions, and so I began to take classes part time at a local CC to raise my GPA. I have gotten a 4.0 in 18 credit hours, and this semester I am attending full-time and plan to keep that 4.0 going. So, now we're back in present-time: I have done pretty much everything to get into my local CC's ADN program for 2011. I met with my advisor again, and as she was looking through my checklist, she decided to calculate my GPA. Well, as it turns out.... I have a 2.4477 cGPA, just short of the 2.5 minimum required for admission to the ADN program. From previous meetings, I was under the impression that my GPA was in good shape, but all of a sudden found out that it's not good enough. This is partly my fault because I didn't ask enough questions and I assumed that the CC did GPA's the same way my University did - only counting credits taken at their institution in the cGPA. Obviously, I was wrong. The worst part of it is that I would have at least a 2.75 if I could apply after this semester is finished, but the deadline is before grades are posted. I just re-took the ACT and got a 30, I have only 3 hours left for an AA, I have nearly all of my optional pre-reqs done (with A's in all except for 2 classes). In our application packet, we are given a score sheet for the application process, with all students above a score of 26 automatically enrolled and students with scores below are admitted with highest scores first and so on. Without the GPA requirement I have a score of 23, which would get me in, easy-peasy. This all just sucks so badly because it's all due to something that happened over seven years ago, and is obviously not a characteristic of who I am as a student. I am taking accountability for this, but I am so discouraged and I don't know what to do! I am eligible for the LPN program, beginning this fall, and would be a shoo-in for the ADN program beginning in 2012. Here is my question - should I wait to apply for the ADN program and finish up my pre-reqs? Should I apply to LPN school? Should I go ahead and apply to the ADN program for this fall and see what happens? I would appreciate any advice!

You can do it! I started taking classes after a 6 year break. Since I was also working full-time, I started out kind of small and took two classes (6 hours) my first semester and then added a class every semester once I was comfortable enough to do so. Right now I am enrolled in 15 hours and working 30 hours a week, though I wouldn't recommend that because I am one giant ball of stress and I'm barely halfway through the term. I have a very flexible work schedule, though, so it does help a little. Also, I don't think that you should worry about the length of time since you were last enrolled. Just be honest with yourself and be able to recognize if and when you need help - all colleges have tutoring, and even my tiny little rural Community College has online tutoring available on their student website. Something that may help is to take something that you feel you have the most aptitude in your first semester (or something you're most interested in) because that will help you gain confidence in your abilities as a student as well as keep you motivated. :) Also, make sure to utilize your academic advisor - I found out that I would actually have less money and time invested by going through LPN, then the Accelerated ADN, and then the RN to BSN than if I tried going straight for my BSN because my college GPA (when I dropped out 7 years ago) was MUCH less than desirable (flunked out, too immature for college) and nursing is a very competitive program. I don't know your situation as far as that goes, but there are so many options and paths to a BSN that are worth considering. I just wanted to mention that since it was something that didn't really occur to me when I first started, and I think I have run into every roadblock imaginable, so just remember your options if you hit any bumps in the road! :) I am finishing up my testing (TEAS and COMPASS) and getting ready to apply to the LPN program for this fall, so I don't know a lot about nursing specifically, but I thought I'd share my two cents anyway. I wish you luck!

I LOVE that idea!!!!