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.
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.
I'm hoping to get into UTHSC BSN program- they have a list of pre-requisite courses from other Texas colleges, including the one I'm enrolled in now.
Sadly we don't have an option for Organic Chem as transferable to UT. The options are either Intro to Chem OR (and this seems odd to me- the either/or bit) General Chem.
Yeah I'm not working now so it seems ideal to take this many courses, but my friends (whom all have degrees in non-science/medical related fields, like hospitality) think I should be able to work 40 hours a week and take 15 hours a semester.
All I know is that I want to ensure I have the best chance to ace these courses, which means a lot of study time. Hmmmm
Yeah, I'm enrolling in A&P 1 this fall, and A&P 2 in the spring. Chemistry in the summer. Microbio and Nutrition next Fall. Then I can work on finishing history courses (12 hours required in pre-reqs for history), electives, and art.
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.
You'll do fine. I am also an older student. But because I am still employed I have been taking it slow and steady. You may find that you will have an edge over younger students. Your employment history will have taught you about time and priority management which will be very important. I know that this is your first time in college but it will be great. If you need help ask. Don't ever feel embarrassed to ask for help. Hopefully at the college you will be attending there is a group/club for non traditional(anyone over 25) students. If not, usually that means that most of the students are over 25. You can do it. My own mom graduated from college at age ....64. That is what keeps me going when I feel like I just can't do it. Good luck
So I'm reading more horror stories about A&P, which I'm going to take A&P 1 my freshman fall semester. Is this wise? No other science course, just a cultural anthro course, english, my developmental math class...and 1 other course to make 12 hours (I don't get credit for the math).
Should I take an elective course to fill out the 12, and keep it simple, or take my original plan of Intro to Philosophy?
Also- did anyone use, and could recommend, this A&P Coloring Workbook I see on Amazon and at B&N? A lot of folks at other places recommend it, but would be more trusting of the Allnurses crowd :)
Hi, I'm 34 and I'm taking my final prereqs before I apply to nursing school.
I'm getting laid off at the end of July and I have to say I'm almost relieved - I'm currently taking 14 credit hours, working full time, and I have two children. Working full time and taking a full course load can be done, but it isn't easy. I'm very stressed out - I'm taking A&P II, Microbiology, Statistics, and Earth Science (a makeup from my early days to pull up my GPA).
As for A&P, the big deal is the huge amount of info you need to memorize. My course doesn't have a great deal of wet labs; most of the labs are online simulations, so most of the focus is on memorization. Not only the names of the muscle/bone/tissue, but their location, the cells they are composed of, their function, the hormones that affect them or that they produce, some of the possible diseases that can affect the tissue, how they develop in utero, etc.
I haven't gotten the coloring book, but my professor and some of my classmates have praised it pretty highly.
You really have nothing to worry about!! I just finished my pre-reqs in the spring and there were so many older students (30+) in my classes. If you are worried about 15 hours being too much, are you able to start the first semester part-time just to get your feet wet? That's what I did...It took me a little longer to get my associate's degree but I think it helped me to get myself together and focus more for when I went full-time.
As far as math...don't worry about it! Like other posters said, most people take remedial math courses (at my school it was a requirement if you didn't do good on the placement test). I actually had to take two remedial math classes because I am awful at math!!
If you can (depending on what school you want to transfer to and what classes you have to have to apply) try to take one science per semester along with your other basic classes...it may make things a little easier and that way you can really focus on the science.
The sciences are fun. You will adjust to A+P very quickly and realize a lot of it is memorization and most likely the stuff with stick with you because you go over it so many times!!
Try not to worry too much. You will do fine and you have nothing to worry about. If you give 100% you will do great! Good luck!!!!
the develpmental math courses will only build and help u understand math better. dont look at it as a bad thing. I had to take 2 developmental math courses before i could take regular math for the prerequiste for nursing, and still i had to take the regular math course twice because first time i got a B and I wanted an A so the second time i got the grade i wanted. I also am not a good math student, but hard work and dedication will get u where u want to go...by the way I am 38 yrs old and just finished my practical nursing program, just took my boards this weekend waitg for my results....I am a single mother, and been unemployed for the past year and a half......
put your mind to it and go...even if u must start with the developmental courses..it will make u better a math...good luck to you!!!!
You don't have to take 12 units, 3 classes is fine to get you back into school. Just always keep the science classes going, so you are track. You have plenty of time to finish your general ed because either you will end up on a wait list or you will transfer to a 4 year. Either of which, they expect you to do some general ed while you are in school. The way it usually works, you cannot apply for a nursing program till all your sciences are done. Then you wait at LEAST another semester or even 2.5 years at some community colleges. PLENTY of time to do your general. No need to rush any classes unless it's a prereq for nursing program. And the smaller the load, the better GPA you should have.
You don't have to take 12 units, 3 classes is fine to get you back into school. Just always keep the science classes going, so you are track. You have plenty of time to finish your general ed because either you will end up on a wait list or you will transfer to a 4 year. Either of which, they expect you to do some general ed while you are in school. The way it usually works, you cannot apply for a nursing program till all your sciences are done. Then you wait at LEAST another semester or even 2.5 years at some community colleges. PLENTY of time to do your general. No need to rush any classes unless it's a prereq for nursing program. And the smaller the load, the better GPA you should have.
Good luck!
Except that to qualify for full-time status, for aid and such, I have to be enrolled in 12 credit hours of class.
So yeah, I do have to take 4 courses + developmental math it seems.
Also- I'm going to a 4 year school now.
And yes, that's why I'm taking A&P my first semester, and getting developmental math out of the way- so I can take algebra, then chem. A&P 1 and 2 the first year, Algebra/Chem over summer, Nutrition and Microbio fall of 2nd year, or worse case, push one of those into the spring semester. It would allow me to apply to UT at 40 hours- having my sciences completed.
Just wanted to add my .02 cents...I'm 45, I went back to school at 43, any math I had was a very long time ago and even then I hated it and did as little as possible. I took a into to algebra course and scored a 99 for my final grade. If you are committed to do the work and use the resources available and don't have an inherent disability you can succeed. Believe me when I say if I can most anyone can...LOL I just was accepted into the Fall 2010 semester RN program and the "remedial" math didn't hold that up either. Good luck and best wishes...
Just wanted to add my .02 cents...I'm 45, I went back to school at 43, any math I had was a very long time ago and even then I hated it and did as little as possible. I took a into to algebra course and scored a 99 for my final grade. If you are committed to do the work and use the resources available and don't have an inherent disability you can succeed. Believe me when I say if I can most anyone can...LOL I just was accepted into the Fall 2010 semester RN program and the "remedial" math didn't hold that up either. Good luck and best wishes...
Kim
Right on!
I just, literally, got home from my final day of orientation, and registering for my fall classes.
Anatomy & Physiology I + Lab, English I, Intro to Psych, Developmental Math...and here's the crappy part: they're making anyone who has to take the dev. math enroll in a 1 semester 1 credit hour elective course for study skills in math- taught by the Assistant Dean of that school.
Frustrating isn't it. Rules from one school to another. I've had a harder algebra (the A grade) and I've had chemistry and both involved conversions and math but I still have to take a dinky one credit math that is basically converting...I'm getting it out of the way in a 6 week summer course..but give me a break. Hopefully it won't be as boring as it was last night, every week.
Good for you getting all registered...I'm so excited I can't stand it...Good luck
Meesterjojo
82 Posts
I'm hoping to get into UTHSC BSN program- they have a list of pre-requisite courses from other Texas colleges, including the one I'm enrolled in now.
Sadly we don't have an option for Organic Chem as transferable to UT. The options are either Intro to Chem OR (and this seems odd to me- the either/or bit) General Chem.
Yeah I'm not working now so it seems ideal to take this many courses, but my friends (whom all have degrees in non-science/medical related fields, like hospitality) think I should be able to work 40 hours a week and take 15 hours a semester.
All I know is that I want to ensure I have the best chance to ace these courses, which means a lot of study time. Hmmmm
Yeah, I'm enrolling in A&P 1 this fall, and A&P 2 in the spring. Chemistry in the summer. Microbio and Nutrition next Fall. Then I can work on finishing history courses (12 hours required in pre-reqs for history), electives, and art.