Questions about pre-reqs

[luciawoo09]

Hey everyone!

I'm new to this forum so I haven't gone through all the pages of this thread yet so sorry if these questions were already answered! Please feel free to send me direct links to some of these questions, if available:] Thanks a bunch!

I'm almost done with my pre-reqs for nursing. I just need to take 2 more classes which are a&p2 and microbiology. My plan was to finish up my requirements and start applying to nursing schools in the spring. I already registered to take those classes for the upcoming fall semester but due to some financial aid issues, my classes ended up getting cancelled. Thankfully I was able to re-register for a&p2 but not microbiology because it conflicted with my work schedule. It's definitely still possible for me to take in microbio this fall but the available professors didn't have good ratings on ratemyprofessor.com (*embarrassed) So now, I will be taking a&p2 in the fall and microbio in the spring while applying to schools.

Now the question is, is it wise to hold off on microbiology until spring while applying to nursing schools or should I just suck it up and take a difficult professor and sacrifice more hours of work?

Another thing is about my grades. All I could say is that I'm such a 'B' student that it's almost ridiculous.

A&p1- B

College Chem- B+

Dev. Psyc- B+

Nutrition- B+

Medical terminology- B+

Stats- C :[

That's all I could think of right now. These grades are so discouraging that I don't know what to do. Did anyone get grades similar to mine and get accepted to a program? Please encourage me :[

Thanks in advance!

[Devon Rex, ADN, BSN]

Hello Lucia,

With regard to your grades... you are doing just fine. As long as you keep your GPA above 2.5, most schools will take you. Make an appointment with your student advisor to go over your grades and get some advice from them. That's what they are there for!

When it comes to the Microbiology question... it is really up to you. Microbiology is a tough subject, but then... some people love it and do well right away. That could be you! In life, you will have to deal with unpleasant professors. When you do, try to fly below the radar, do your work, study, and get through it. Remember, it is only temporary. Stay focus on your goal and brush off what bothers you about him/her.

Another suggestion may be to check the class schedule everyday. There might be a student that has needs to drop out for some reason. If you find this before classes start, your professor worries would be over.

Good luck to you !! :)

[zoe92]

I too am a ratemyprofessor user! Honestly, if there is not an available teacher I do not take the class. Both micro and a & p 2 are hard classes and I would rather wait to get good professors. I agree with Devon Rex and say for now put yourself on the waitlist for a good professor. Start attending that professors class because usually a good number drop the class ad the numbers go down.

[Saysfaa]

It depends. Do the schools you are applying to prefer the prereqs finished as opposed to in progress. If not, then I don't see much reason to wait until spring.

If they do prefer prereqs to be done than it depends on why the available professor don't have very good ratings. I know what I need, prefer, and can tolerate in a professor.

Sometimes people give low ratings for things that don't bother me at all - like expects students to be on time, expects students to read the book, treat students like high schoolers. I also know what I strongly dislike...I would go far out of my way to avoid professors that are totally disorganized, incomprehensible, unpredictable or use their class for political soapboxing (yes, microbiology class not a poli sci class) or often tell off-color stories.

[HoneyBug0112]

I would suggest taking A&P 2 with the professor you took A&P 1 with since you have an idea of how the tests/labs will be. I would suggest ratemyprofessor.com for good professors but I've found asking students in your school within the same major who they took for A&P and Medical Micro and the grade (if their willing to tell) that they received. That would be my advice to you... may I ask where you are planning on applying 2? Are you going for an ADN or BSN?

[i♥words]

I like using ratemyprofessor.com too, but my A&P teacher had bad reviews (students saying she was so incredibly hard) and I loved her. I don't often have a choice between professors, so even if they have less than positive reviews I hope for the best and take the class anyway.

I'm not sure how your school works or what kind of fin aid you get, but at my school each semester I have to pay a ridiculous sum of money for "student fees" and "technology fees" and other stuff like that. This is several hundred dollars on its own, not including the amount for classes. So it is smarter for me to spend as few semesters as possible taking my prereqs. For me, then, I would rather get both classes done in one semester so I don't have to pay two semesters worth of extra fees. That said, if money isn't an issue, then this paragraph is of no consequence.

I guess in my world I'd rather get in nursing school in the shortest time possible, but if your job is a huge factor or you feel it is better to take on one class at a time so that you can better focus than separating the two isn't a bad idea. It really depends on what you think you can handle and what your financial situation is.

[willowita, ADN, RN]

The real issue here is whether you can apply to your nursing program with 1 pre-req pending or not. If you can, then hold off on taking micro until the spring and apply with micro in progress.

If they want all the classes done before applying, then I'd take micro now, no matter how "tough" a professor might be. You can always adapt to their style of teaching and figure out a way to do well. I've had "unfair", "mean", and "tough" professors (according to ppl on ratemyprof) and I learned a lot and got A's in those classes.