Questions and concerns going to school at 36

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Granted, not old by any means (well, perhaps a few might say I am), but as the Fall semester gets closer to starting, I'm becoming more aware of this growing anxiety in me.

A few details: I'm 36 years old and have never attended college in my life. I've had, for years and years, a strong desire to be a nurse, and now that I've been unemployed (9 years in management for Herman Miller) for a bit I've decided to 'go for it'.

You see, my concerns aren't that I'll be too old in my classes (though I was the oldest person taking entrance exams), or that I won't take school 'seriously': I know what I want to do, and what I need to do to get it done. My concerns, funny enough, are over the math. :)

I scored perfectly on my entrance exams (literally- didn't miss a question, essay was top score), except in my math sections, and now am taking a semester of developmental math. Is this bad? Will this look bad when applying to a nursing school? I have no worries that I will learn, and study, and master everything which is taught to me, but still I worry and have doubts at times.

I have horrible memories of empirical formulas from chemistry in High School 20 years ago. Microbiology sounds extremely fun...except for the possibility of math.

Does anyone else have, or have had, this anxiety? Did you finally get over it? Will a nursing school look down upon me for taking a developmental math course, even if I maintain a high GPA?

I'm not really sure what is involved in Statistics (or why I can take Sociology instead), and what I looked up for Microbiology courses seems great, but again- not really sure what's involved.

Given that I have to take a developmental math course this semester should I avoid certain courses without a math prerequisite that may have math involved?

Any advice in general is welcome. I'm not going to a community college, but a full 4-year university, and it's all so...new and different to me.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

They will not look down on you taking developmental math. It's just a refresher course so that you will be successful in college level math. Don't stress about that at all.. a HUGE number of students have to take developmental math.. it's really nothing to worry about.

College science classes are fun but challenging. I learned one class in never to say, "It's biology, how hard can it be?" lol It's not simple but really interesting and fun. You'll do fine!

I'm really looking forward to Micro- looks like a lot of fun. :)

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Specializes in none as of to date.

I would have to agree, taking dev. math isnt going to be held against you at all. And once you are involved with classes, you are no loner scared or nervous. I believe school has been much easier because of my age (42)..I have a better outlook, study habits, respect for school, apreciation for clubs and acedemic achievments, and I strive for the best I can possibly do. Had I done this when I was younger, I doubt I would have been as serious about my studies as I have been as of late. I'm loving school, and its the best thing I could have ever done at my age! You can do it, so dont let the butterflies scare you, let them help you rise above and achieve your dreams! You can do this!:yeah:

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I'm entering my senior year this fall and am 37. I have a class of 78 and there are maybe 8-10 of us over 30. I find the younger students are very open, friendly an helpful. In fact I often forget my age at school and think I'm a "school girl" lol. For me Statistics was my worst class and I got a mercy pass! But micro, a&p an all the other pre-req's, while demanding are fun and interesting. You probably can take sociology as well. I took 3 soc classes. Some 4 year colleges want a soc and a psy pre-req, plus psy lifespan I think is always required. And NEVER NEVER NEVER will anyone look down on you for taking a math course to freshen you up. That's actually great your aware of your weak areas and will make you a better student. Best of luck to you, it's a long ride but it is alot of fun =)

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I just turned 39 myself, and I am due to start the nursing program at the end of this fall. There is no problem with taking the developmental math, it can only help prepare you for when you take statistics and algebra!:clown: What does count is your GPA, so take this oppty to keep your math grade high. You might be surprised to find that statistics is more basic math than algebra, in my opinion. There is almost no math in anatomy, physiology, or micro. There is math in general or intro chem, but really basic. You will need to learn fractions and what not when it comes to pharmacology.

Don't sweat it at all. Think of your developmental math as is a building block in a series of courses, starting from the easiest block. For me, A&P was much more intense than any math class. With math, you start at your own level and build from there with subsequent. But with A&P, everyone starts at the same level, ready or not.

And by the way, my husband took algegra in high school 3X, and today he is an algegra teacher! Trust me, if he can do it, then anyone can.:)

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Specializes in Private Practice- wellness center.

Hello. My name is Kristey and I was a Math phobic. I had to take high school Algebra three times to pass it. I got a mercy pass in college Algebra and Trigenometry. Fast forward 20 years.... I wanted to go back to college and actually finish a degree this time. I had to take a Math placement exam. Well, there was NO WAY I was going to end up taking remedial Math when I knew if I studied a little I could place higher. I went and bought a book and BAM! It clicked. I don't if it was 20 years of doing my own finances and the basic Algebra I had to do for my job, but I COULD DO MATH!!! YAY!!! I actually placed back into College Algebra. I know I would not have done so if I hadn't taken several weeks to get reaquainted with my old nemesis.

So, long story short- you may find now that you're a little odler and a little wiser, the Math will start to click for you. NO ONE is going to knock you for taking a remedial class. I think it is a smart decision on your part, and as long as you study and get good grades, neither will a nursing program.

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Thanks for all the replies and encouragement :)

My other concern, I think, seems a bit petty- Not having been in academia for 18 years I'm worried that taking 15 hours a semester will be a problem, that is, that working full-time will be a huge distraction on my education, at least until I get 'used' to it.

Is it wrong to think this? I suppose it's fairly normal to work ones freshmen year in college? I know I'm an adult, but I really don't feel like it going into school at such an age. :)

Anyway, thank you again for so many replies- I've been lurking these forums for a long, long, long time now, and since I've finally gotten up the courage to go to school I feel I have the right to be here- more so since these forums helped convince me it was completely possible to go to school for a nursing degree at my age.

Question: I've noted that many nursing schools have the same pre-reqs (and a few have even more than 60 hours required). What would be a good course load to take my first semester (noting that I won't be able to take anything with a math pre-req, such as chemistry)?

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Wow, I could have written this post myself a few years ago. I was 36 too when I first started college and that was my main issue as well. I am going to community college and the first class i took was basic math. I was so scared that I could never do that math. I did so well in my math class that my teacher asked me to be a student leader!(paid) I took pre-algebra after that and then Algebra and got A in all. The last week I have started to brush up on my basic math again because you forget if you dont use it.

After I took Algebra, I took Chemistry and had no problem with it. I would recommend that you take a basic Chem course as well even if you had it in high school. It will help make certain courses more clear for you , like Nutrition, Micro, and even A&P. Im in A&P 2 now and we are going over Boyles law, Daltons law and all those things that I learned in Chem.

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Well having been unemployed for so long as left me with the ability to go back to school full time- no reason to take 1-2 courses this semester (to respond to something sent in a PM- sorry, can't respond to PM's yet :( ).

Yeah, I have to take a chemistry course, but do you mean some sort of intro to chem? Science courses in themselves have never, ever, been a problem for me...till the math begins. Then I would lock up. Still, I don't feel bad, really, having to take developmental math. It just means I'll need to make up something next summer.

As is I'm thinking of taking 12 credit hours + my math course (which I don't get credit for), then making up the course next summer which should leave me at 30+ hours. I'm wondering, however, in that I won't be taking chemistry till 3rd semester, that I'll be having to cram all science courses into my last 2 semesters, and how is that going to affect my application for a BSN program (presuming I can apply at 40 hours/after 3 semesters).

AAAAHHH

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You should get your sciences out of the way first, because you can't apply for nursing programs till then. Depends on if the school you plan to transfer to, there could be a wait list or a point system. Anatomy Phys part I does not have prereqs, but is hard to get, so try adding it if you can.

As far as chem, all the schools have different requirements. But a safe bet is Organic chem, which usually requires intro chem first. So develop math, then intro chem, then organic. But try to get into AP part one ASAP so you can continue on to part II. Micro usually requires AP partI. Maybe try to take that 2nd semester with intro chem instead of 3rd semester with organic(harder I think, but no math!)

I quit my job to go back to school fulltime. 12 units is definitely doable, but more importantly, no more than 2 science classes. At an additional 3 hours a week per lab, you just won't be able to fit it in your schedule.

You'll be fine...My grades are much better than my undergrad grades back in my 20's.

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I'm so exicited for you! I'm 44 and have been math-phobic since I was in middle school; I'm here to tell you, you can do this.

Taking a developmental math course is a great way to build your confidence for more math to come. I can't imagine why anyone would hold that against you - part of being an adult learner is recognizing weak areas and then doing something about it. Good for you, I say!

Chemistry will put your math skills to the test, but you'll be ready by then. The formulas are really very basic so don't let them throw you. The good news is, there aren't too many of them. No math in microbiology. Statistics...oh my! I won't lie, this was the hardest class for me - much harder than any of the nursing stuff. I cried on at least a weekly basis and just held on for the ride! My husband counted down for me and would remind me, "Only 4 weeks left!" when I was ready to give up. As he often told me, "You don't have to like it, you just have to get through it."

Best of luck to you in your education and career!

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You should get your sciences out of the way first, because you can't apply for nursing programs till then. Depends on if the school you plan to transfer to, there could be a wait list or a point system. Anatomy Phys part I does not have prereqs, but is hard to get, so try adding it if you can.

As far as chem, all the schools have different requirements. But a safe bet is Organic chem, which usually requires intro chem first. So develop math, then intro chem, then organic. But try to get into AP part one ASAP so you can continue on to part II. Micro usually requires AP partI. Maybe try to take that 2nd semester with intro chem instead of 3rd semester with organic(harder I think, but no math!)

I quit my job to go back to school fulltime. 12 units is definitely doable, but more importantly, no more than 2 science classes. At an additional 3 hours a week per lab, you just won't be able to fit it in your schedule.

You'll be fine...My grades are much better than my undergrad grades back in my 20's.

Funny enough, and as I'm asking in another post, UT School of Nursing in Houston only seems to require Intro to Chemistry from UofH Downtown. Currently I am unable to take Nutrion and Development and Growth due to pre-reqs.

This means the only science courses I can take this semester are Microbiology and A&P 1 (+lab). Technically I could enroll in Intro to Chemistry, but until I get clarification on the Intro/General chem deal (I only just realized this: UofH Downtown's course catalog online leaves much to be desired), I'm going to presume "algebra ahead".

I'm thinking this semester will look like this: Composition 1, Intro to Philosophy (or Ethics), Cultural Anthropology (instead of Sociology), A&P (+Lab), and my developmental math.

That's 13 credit hours, not including my math course which garners no credit.

I'm thinking that I could take the Intro to Chem during the next summer along with another of these never-ending history courses I'm required to take (though I might test out of 2 courses- waiting to hear from UTHSC if they accept CLEP exams, and how many hours worth.) 3rd Semester I can get into MicroBio and Nutrition, meaning I'll be done with the science courses by the end of the 3rd semester.

On a side note- I'm curious why so many people on All Nurses seem to sweat A&P. Is there something just terribly awful about it?

I appreciate all the advice everyone is giving me- sometimes I get anxious simply waiting for things to start as I don't know what's going to happen, and I feel alone in this. So again- much thanks guys for your tips and advice :)

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