Should I take all my core classes now or just try to get in??

If you earn points for taking the classes before applying that means you most likely will need to take them ahead to be competitive. Most people need as many points as they can get to get accepted. I personally took all the pre-reqs/co-reqs first because my school required it and because I figured it would be easier to get through the nursing program and raise kids that way.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

If you don't have a job, are strong willed, don't procrastinate and have great time management skills and study habits then apply now and get on with it. It's doable, otherwise they wouldn't offer it. Still, take as many classes as you can reasonable handle prior to getting in.

Otherwise, I advise taking as many courses ahead of time prior to starting nursing. This is what I did, but I have to work full time and I needed the easier softer way.

I am kind of in the same situation. Due to recent changes in the pre-requisites I can apply about a semester sooner to the nursing program. However, most of the pre-requisites have been changed to co-requisites. I figured since the average waiting time is 2 semesters, I'd just finish the pre-requisites and apply as soon as possible. I am planning on taking Micro (co-req) starting in April and A&PII (co-req) during the summer. That way if I start the nursing program in July, I should be able to manage.

Anyway, I would suggest taking all the pre-requisites and then apply. You will most likely have to wait a semester anyways, during that semester you can continue to take co-req's. I think it's the most time efficient way to do it.

Hope it all works out for you! Good luck!

thanks for all your advice!

but what do you mean by admission status?

I applied while still taking my "core" (known as co-requisites to pre-nursing students) courses and finished up ALL of them before I began the program. You sound like you do not know anything about the admissions process. I highly suggest you sit down with a counselor before signing up or applying to any school. Every school's requirements are different and so is the competition. GL.

in the nursing program that i am going into, you have to have all 64 hrs of the pre reqs done before they will even consider your application for admission. i am in my last semester of pre reqs. i have to have my nursing application in the mail by feb 1 (i've already done that) and after they receive all the applications they will put them in order according to GPA only then send out the acceptance letters. I should know if i'm in my mid march. I will then start the nursing program at the end of may. after the spring semester is over. i will be attending the university of arkansas for medical sciences. and apparently the summer program is hell...so hopefull i will make it. but i think your pre-reqs depends on the school you are going to attend.

If you're planning to get financial aid, another thing to consider is that you may need full-time status in order to get full payment, and many nursing programs fall short of full-time status.

This is the situation I'm in, so I'm purposefully waiting on a few of the co-requisite classes, as I'll need to take extra classes beyond the nursing program, anyways.

I also agree with the viewpoint that you can go ahead and get the prerequisites done first, apply for the program, and then move on to the co-requisites if you don't get in first try.

I do think that it's a good idea to get as much out of the way as is reasonable before entering the nursing program. Don't put yourself in a position where you have to take 16 units per semester when you could be getting by with 12 or less. But the same goes for doing prerequisites - it's generally better to get As in a few classes than lower grades in a whole bunch of classes if you're applying to a competitive program where grades matter.

I applied while still taking my "core" (known as co-requisites to pre-nursing students) courses and finished up ALL of them before I began the program. You sound like you do not know anything about the admissions process. I highly suggest you sit down with a counselor before signing up or applying to any school. Every school's requirements are different and so is the competition. GL.

I may not know a whole lot yet seeing as I am just starting out, but I do know some! I'm already enrolled in a school, thank-you-very-much, I thought I wanted to be an english major, but realized how little you can do with that, so I recently started seeing where my love of sciences could get me. I have already been to their information session and know that there are only a few required courses, most of which I've taken -before you can even apply to the program which happens twice a year. I was just talking about the additional core classes that happen while you're in nursing school. I asked a counselor if I've already taken them i don't need to take them again, so I just wondered if I should go on to taking the non-nursing core classes just to maybe make my life a little easier. So I aksed here and am seeing what everyone else did too, and so far input has been very enlightening! I just didn't really appreciate that comment about me not knowing anything.

I do appreciate everyone's advice!