I am just starting my prereq's...and was wondering if I am totally insane to try to take Chem, Micro and API in the same semester..why would I consider something this crazy?..because If I complete all of my pre classes before Sept.09 I would be entered into a PRIORITY admission to my community colleges "ACCLERATED 13 month RN program." The only way I can make that deadline is to take CHEM, MICRO and API together in Spring and then take APII, STATS and SOCI I in SUMMER
I am 42 years old, my kids are at the end of HS and are very independant and supportive. I am not working and don't have to work for two years, my husband is great...so, I don't have pressures that most people have....HOWEVER, I have not been in school for 20 years. I do have a BS in Public Policy and my GPA was always around a 3.5....BUT I never took MATH classes beyond a C in Algebra, and I only took BIOL 101....I do love human body stuff and nutrition and am excited about A&P and MICRO...but I am dreading CHEM and STATs because it is not my strong suit...math is scary for me.
SO, should I just relax take the classes and go for good solid A's in my classes or try to cram these classes in as short a period as possible to get the GPA EDGE for getting a seat in this competitive program? Any thoughts are greatly appreciated
none of my friends have any clue what I am talking about. Most think I am out of my mind to be going back to school..
Stormy... just think if you were trying to do this a decade from now! My friends stare at me like deer caught in the head-lights when they learn what I'm doing at 52. A lot of them are counting the days to retirement, while I'm registering for classes 33 years after graduating HS.
I too am stressing a bit; just like the OP, I'm also putting my 4.0 at risk by taking physiology and micro together in three weeks... but I have a seat in NS come August if I can complete these classes this semester with good grades.
Part of why I hated school so much is that I didn't get a chance to ENJOY the experience, to soak in all of this interesting information and apply it properly. I felt rushed, pressured and anxious the entire time. I spent more time memorizing to pass the test rather than to comprehend the processes, which lead to a disadvantage for me. With the brutal, competitiveness involved, I found that I purposely segregated myself from the crowd because we all looked at each other as potential enemies, and for me, it was a bit safer and brought me more peace of mind to remain in solitude.
Pagandeva---You are soooooo right. I loved college the first time around, and I am really looking forward to the whole process, I think Im going to "not try to kill myself" and enjoy it a bit too.
I really don't have the time urgency that most people have, because I am fortunate enough to be in a stable situation. I have really enjoyed my life up to this point, ups and downs and all. And I don't want to go on this journey in a rushed and stressed manner, Ive worked hard to stay centered and peaceful the last 5 years and it has paid off in my health and my family. I have to keep reminding myself to keep going despite competitiveness (which usually gets me down) Im not an outwardly competitive person (inwardly is another story, since I always want that A+++) and would rather help everyone get to the finish line, but there is a lot of brutal competitiveness out there, and like you said I am better with the solitude rather than battling it out with someone who perceives me as an enemy.
Thanx for your thoughts it helps me navigate my own.
Stormy... just think if you were trying to do this a decade from now! My friends stare at me like deer caught in the head-lights when they learn what I'm doing at 52. A lot of them are counting the days to retirement, while I'm registering for classes 33 years after graduating HS.
I too am stressing a bit; just like the OP, I'm also putting my 4.0 at risk by taking physiology and micro together in three weeks... but I have a seat in NS come August if I can complete these classes this semester with good grades.
I have been so encouraged by all the crazy older students...I don't feel like Im at a disadvantage, I think maturity weighs in my favor (of course having no desire to party anymore helps too!). I doubt you are putting your 4.0 at risk, you will do amazing, those two classes cross-over each other so you should be good to go.
Thanx for your thoughts, it really is so helpful to have other crazy people walking your path that are willing to listen and help sort out the details.
you must have a death wish !! lol !! i'm just kiddin.. i couldn't do it .. i would be insane ( more than i am already) ... are those your classes that they figure the GPA to get into your RN program? if they are i would be careful about your GPA... good luck and keep us posted
There nothing wrong with trying. If you feel that you are drowning do not wait late in the semester, just drop a class.
Personally, I wouldn't do it but you are trying to meet a deadline. If I were not on a deadline, I would choose A&P1 and microbiology together and then take chem by itself.
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Part of why I hated school so much is that I didn't get a chance to ENJOY the experience, to soak in all of this interesting information and apply it properly. I felt rushed, pressured and anxious the entire time. I spent more time memorizing to pass the test rather than to comprehend the processes, which lead to a disadvantage for me. With the brutal, competitiveness involved, I found that I purposely segregated myself from the crowd because we all looked at each other as potential enemies, and for me, it was a bit safer and brought me more peace of mind to remain in solitude.
Pagandeva---You are soooooo right. I loved college the first time around, and I am really looking forward to the whole process, I think Im going to "not try to kill myself" and enjoy it a bit too.
I really don't have the time urgency that most people have, because I am fortunate enough to be in a stable situation. I have really enjoyed my life up to this point, ups and downs and all. And I don't want to go on this journey in a rushed and stressed manner, Ive worked hard to stay centered and peaceful the last 5 years and it has paid off in my health and my family. I have to keep reminding myself to keep going despite competitiveness (which usually gets me down) Im not an outwardly competitive person (inwardly is another story, since I always want that A+++) and would rather help everyone get to the finish line, but there is a lot of brutal competitiveness out there, and like you said I am better with the solitude rather than battling it out with someone who perceives me as an enemy.
Thanx for your thoughts it helps me navigate my own.
What I do believe, is that an older, more seasoned person has the appreciation of valuable education and the management of study time. Also, I believe that most of the older students WANT to soak it in, enjoy the process and apply it to their daily lives in some way, or to be able to recognize it when it appears again, somehow. I read more often now, and understand it better because I don't have the pressure. Also, I am a more 'to the point' sort of person...I hated the fact that I would see that most textbooks were too darned wordy...taking 30 pages to explain something that can be articulated in a few paragraphs (that is just me). I needed a tutor to really interpet to me as though it was a different language to break down the main point. I did well in my classes, mind you, but, I could have read more to enjoy rather than to spend every moment dissecting each word and concept while getting lost in the confusion.
I think that if there is no real rush or dead line, take the time to enjoy it the best way that you can. You can still retain some quality of life, obtain rest and in between take a few breaks to let it soak in. I had to do that often...sometimes, when I had too much anatomy on the brain, I would study something lighter like English and then, somehow, it sort of came together, at least enough to pass the freaking test with a decent mark.
Oh...NO...you didn't bring up the Kreb's Cycle...that one alone literally destroyed me. I am still trying to understand it, just because it gets to me that I never really got it in school. I just remember memorizing the words, and was fortunate enough to only get three questions on it for my final in Anatomy 2. When I got it again in Micro, I was fortunate again...the professor threw away one exam-the lowest score and guess what... to the circular file it went.
Well, color me stupid!! I had to click on the link - did not recognize the name, when I saw the dreaded Kreb's I thought OMG!!! That was a nightmare!! Makes my head hurt just looking at it!! Our instructor did the same thing, so my exam with Kreb's went in "File 13" - the trash!! Thank goodness, because that grade would have hurt me for sure!
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Well, color me stupid!! I had to click on the link - did not recognize the name, when I saw the dreaded Kreb's I thought OMG!!! That was a nightmare!! Makes my head hurt just looking at it!! Our instructor did the same thing, so my exam with Kreb's went in "File 13" - the trash!! Thank goodness, because that grade would have hurt me for sure!
Anne, RNC:banghead::banghead:
I am glad to know that I am not alone in my horror of the Kreb/Citric Acid/ cycle. It was horrible. I got lost after 6 molecules of glucose turns into pyruvic acid because when the other enzyme comes in throws me off!! And, then when it goes through the electronic chain (or something like that) and the last acceptor is oxygen...with all of that crap in between...yeah, that test needed to go in the garbage because it would have hurt me.
I took Micro and AP2 at the same time and I liked it. A lot of what we covered in AP overlapped with Micro. It helped me put everything together and I got a lot out of it. All three classes are going to overlap with some of the same information, which can be a positive thing.
Honestly, I barely remember the Krebs cycle and I got an 'A' in physiology. It's enough to understand that there are very complex chemical reactions within the body at the cellular level in order for the cells to metabolise nutrients and continue to stay alive and reproduce.
Wow and I thought my schedule of taking Micro, Music, and Psych was crazy. I had a co-worker tell me I was crazy! But my work schedule has changed from full-time nights to part-time so I think I will be able to handle it easier. I know if I am too busy I would start slacking somewhere and delay my coursework. Only you know if you can handle something and you seem very determined. I say go for it and I will be praying you meet your goal.
to the circular file it went.
:banghead:
bluemalibu
114 Posts
Stormy... just think if you were trying to do this a decade from now! My friends stare at me like deer caught in the head-lights when they learn what I'm doing at 52. A lot of them are counting the days to retirement, while I'm registering for classes 33 years after graduating HS.
I too am stressing a bit; just like the OP, I'm also putting my 4.0 at risk by taking physiology and micro together in three weeks... but I have a seat in NS come August if I can complete these classes this semester with good grades.