Pipestone

Bachelor of Science in Biology... couple classes short of a double major in chemistry, I followed the pre-med program for Troy University, Troy, Alabama. Currently doing just fine in my first year of the After Degree BSc Nursing at the University of Alberta in Camrose.

I have 6 kids (6-15) and commute 65 minutes each way to an after degree program. Its tough, but it can be done.

I'm 41.5, was a stay at home mom for 15 years, my pre-reqs are 17+ years old, have 6 kids (ages 6-15), commute 65 min each way to school, found out my husband of 19 years was a lying, cheating dirtbag and so kicked him out one week before classes started last September. I'm now almost finished my second semester of the accelerated After Degree program (we already have a B.Sc. in something and are now getting a B.Sc. in Nursing to be an RN in 6 semesters/two years) while earning at least half of the top marks on assignments and exams in my classes. If you want to, you can do it. But it might mean no time for friends, self, TV, haircuts, etc. Every singe choice for me always involves: spend time with my kids, sleep or study. Nothing else exists!

Started in September at 40, will turn 41 on Sunday. Definitely the oldest, have the most kids (6), been out of school the longest (15 years), commute the furthest (65 min each way)... we shall see how this goes!

I noticed that too in my Medical Microbiology class: a whole bunch of students around me were wondering just how far up the professor was going to bump their mark, none of them had more than 55% in the class. One of them had a 46 and was wondering if he was going to give her a 50 for a pass or the 55 she needed for a nursing prereq pass. Meanwhile, she'd spent the previous 4 classes googling camping and white water rafting in B.C. and leaving half way thru class with the rest of her compadres saying that she'd "wasted enough time here". Hmmm, maybe instead of hoping you get bumped up 9% (never heard of that happening anyway), you should just show up, listen, stay for the whole class and earn your lousy 55% so you don't have to take the class again! Should have seen her face when he clarified what he meant by 'bumping up': 1 percent for the next letter grade, 2 percent for the nursing pass of 55% and 4% to a 50% pass!! LOL I know I'm 'old', but I never saw students regularly showing up late or leaving early or only showing up for tests when I did my B.Sc. and of course, no one had laptops or smart phones so there was no surfing the web or texting: if you were in class, probably the most interesting thing going on was the professor talking.

I so encourage you to go for it. My mom went back to school for Early childhood education at 53 and I'm going back to school this fall (After Degree Nursing) at age 40 (41 in October). I'm a bit nervous too, but I took 2 classes in spring and did well so I'm feeling better than I was!

Thanks ebailey1218: very helpful info. I don't currently have a smart phone (just the free 'dumb phone' that came free from Rogers when they switched to digital from analog) so I am a dinosaur, but a new iPhone is in the plans for fall since I want to make sure that my home computer (Mac) can work with my future phone and laptop.

Thanks CalRNtoBe2013. I love the idea of quality downloads from textbook companies too! Thanks for all the great info!

A bit off topic, but I loved flashcard exchange.com to make flash cards for all those bugs in Medical Microbiology and I plan to use it again for nursing classes. I'm Pipestone on there with my big one set of cards. I personally found the larger cards to be easier to study... most of the time I didn't bother to cut them apart, they make great study tools just left online where they have memorization activities and online quizes or printed out with the papers just folded in half to hide the answers.

I'm not looking for ideas on how to not get caught read while driving (lol), just wondering if anyone records lectures or is it possible to record lectures to listen to while driving. I will be commuting about an hour each way to nursing school this fall and I'm trying to figure out how to make that productive time. And its a rural commute so taking a bus is not an option nor is car pooling. I'm probably the only person to not own a smart phone or a laptop (hear I'll be needing both for nursing school though so that will soon change) so here is one idea I had: can I record lectures on a smart phone or a laptop so I can listen to them while I drive? Anyone out there do that?

A pair of siblings at my kid's elementary school named Dragon and Diamond. Not sure what was up with that family, but poor Dragon looked like he had some rare genetic thing wrong with him (his eyes didn't open properly so he was always peering up at you weirdly). As if the kid didn't have enough going wrong, they just had to stick him with a 'pick on me' name. And my best friend from childhood named her kids D'Artagnon and Jocelyn, yup, guess which movie was their fave?

We might not like what you have to say Isthisforreal? , but I think its true. My husband was told by someone that they like to hire older women because we won't be going on mat leave and needing to be replaced!

I am currently taking 2 prerequisite courses for the After Degree RN program thru the U of A and I will turn 41 the month after I start this fall! I'm very excited and don't think age is going to be much of a factor. I may have to study harder, but I'm also not going to be learning how to focus/study, partying, trying to find a husband, getting pregnant, etc like my classmates!

Hi, I'm new here (first post although I've been lurking for a week or so!) and I've just received conditional admission to this fall's after degree in nursing at the Augustana campus. I'm wondering if there is anyone else out there who will be joining me or has taken/is taking this program at or through the U of Alberta and therefore has some advice. thanks.