Starting pre-reqs at JCC in a few days...nervous

jabraham99 · May 14, 2009

Its hard to go back, but never too late! I am in the nursing program at Baker and I am 42. Study habits are hard to form with little ones but it can be done! Just work hard and balance your family life with study time and you will be fine!

mrsrlg · May 15, 2009

I've never taken a college course, I'm 34 yrs old with two young kids (3 & 6), and I'm nervous as can be about starting college on Monday!
This semester I'm taking medical terminology, humanities (cultural connections), intro to psychology, and pre-algebra.
Are these classes difficult? Any advice? I wonder if I've taken on too heavy of a class load. Help!
(BTW, JCC in Jackson, Michigan)

Congrats to you for returning to school! I've gone to school on and off for most of my life, lol, but just started finishing up my pre-reqs for nursing on-campus at Baker in January. It is the first time I've gone to school on-campus in the past about 20 years; I've always gone to school online. I wasn't sure how I would feel about it, but it has been fine, and I've enjoyed the classroom interaction. If accepted, I'll be starting a practical nursing program in September at 41.

Med term might be a bit difficult if you've never had any exposure to medical language, but it shouldn't be too bad. Flashcards may help you with the root words, suffixes, and prefixes. Once you know those, putting them together is much easier. I have taken many psych classes and love them. Psych and pre-algebra shouldn't be too bad, either. I'm not sure about cultural connections, but it sounds interesting. Four classes will certainly test you with little ones, but as long as you are organized about it all, you should do fine. I've always used an organizer or daytimer to keep up with when things are do and such. Make sure you schedule quiet time to get your homework/reading/papers done, etc. Utilize your hubby's at-home and parenting skills :) and remember, the housework/laundry will still be there tomorrow...LOL. Best of luck and enjoy. :)

Do-over, ASN, RN · May 15, 2009

Sounds like great classes to start with to me.

Remember that there is usually a TON of help available to you at school - tutors to help with studying, librarians to help with research, etc. Take advantage of all the resources the school will have in place for you.

Congratulations on getting started!

msnice1 · May 15, 2009

Who are your instructors for your classes? JCC has a very high rated nursing programs. Be ready to work very hard in the program.

Are you going for the RN or LPN?

Med terminology is not to bad but it is a lot of work.

Austrya · May 18, 2009

Hi! I'm also starting at JCC for the Spring/Summer semester. I'm also 34, have 4 kids (2,3,7,11) and I'm taking Medical Terminology (online), Nutrition (online), and Body Structure and Function. I've taken some college classes in the past but nothing science related and nothing since taking two business courses in 2003.

I'm very nervous too!

Are you taking Medical Terminology online or on campus? I'll be taking most of my pre-reqs in Adrian. Oh, and I'm going for the RN.