Summer classes at GCC

I've taken Chm130 and got 1/3 way through Bio201. In a more regular setting (14-18wk courses). I would NOT suggest taking those in a 5-week summer format unless you aren't working, have no life, and can devote your all to those courses. They're all tough -- not unbearably tough just a LOT of work, lots of studying.

IIRC, there are some colleges in the MCCCD which offer some of those courses over a larger stretch of the summer......eight to twelve weeks perhaps. If you're bound and determined to take a summer class, try that first. Or start studying NOW for your 5 wk course. Really studying.

Thank you, AZmom. I am a new student, just starting my pre-reqs in the summer, and I'm not sure where to start. Since all these are tough classes, perhaps I should start with english or BIO 156. I work full time and have two kids and I know it will be tough )

First of all, all of those classes have pre-req's, have you taken the pre-req's for them? Bio 201 and Bio 205 have a pre-req bio class, so that may not be an option for you anyway. I would NOT take any of the bio classes during the summer. I have several friends who did, and weren't working or anything, and were unable to pass. It's just a LOT of information in a very short time. I did take Chem during the summer, but it was an 8wk program and was doable, but still a LOT of work. If I were to do it over again I would've started with a bio class, it would've cut a semester off of my pre-req's (because you have to do bio180 then bio201 THEN bio202, so three semesters). Have you looked into Rio's bio classes online? You can start them basically anytime and they run a full semester. I took Bio201 and 202 online and they were tough, I felt I learned a lot though. Good thing about Rio is you could probably start next week, take 180, then right after go into 201 then 202 and get it done by December possibly. I'd take 205 in a classroom setting though, you get more out of it that way JMO.

Good luck, it's a long road but well worth it! :monkeydance:

Keli

RN class of December 2007!!

Ouch )) you guys really scared me off. So, no science classes during summer! Somehow, I thought I could be done by next spring semester. Yeah right )) And yes, I have to take BIO 156 as pre-req's to BIO 201. Are online classes harder?

Online classes are different, I'm not sure if I'd say harder though. You have to be extremely self-motivated. It's really hard to study at home when you have so many distractions. Luckily before I went back to school I was a transcriptionist from home for 4.5 years. I was used to having a deadline and working from home. If you can be consistent, then online classes are awesome. I would put my kids to bed and then hit the computer, you just have to dedicate a couple hours a night to it and then maybe during naptimes as well. You're working full-time though, so it may be difficult for you to come home from work, feed, bathe and put the kids to bed and THEN study, you need your downtime too. Some other options are hybrid classes. I took my pathophysiology class as a hybrid. I went to school Thurs. nights and the rest was online. I got the best of both worlds that way, but that was at Chandler Gilbert. I'm sure GCC offers something like that, especially since they now have the hybrid nursing program there. It may take you longer than most because of having to work full-time and having kids, but that's the situation for most of us. I quit work when I went back to school, but I also have six kids who I was driving to three different schools all day long (from pre-school to high school), so I might as well have worked full-time. The secret is just keep chugging along, take at least one class a semester and before you know it you'll be applying for nursing school. While you're waiting to get in, take your pre-req's for your BSN, just to keep you in 'school mode', you'll need it once you get into nursing school.

Keli 8 Mo to go until I graduate!!! :monkeydance:

I took both Bio 202 and Bio 205 last summer and they overlapped for a few weeks!!! ahh nightmare.. Bio 205 was really not that bad, but Bio 202 was really hard... If your not used to going to school I do not recommend it.I think bio 201 is harder than 202. But for me I am glad I just dealed with it in the summer. I made me finish all my preq's faster.. and now that I finally got accepted into nursing school... The summer was way worth it.

Thank you, guys, so much . I will work something out. Will probably take BIO 156 during summer since there is a lot of BIO classes. I know there is a lot of work ahead of me, but I also know that the beginning is always hard. I decided to go back to school, I just can not imagine myself sitting in front of the computer until I turn 65:uhoh3:

CHM 130 is usually a pre-req for BIO 156. CHM 130 usually has an elementary algebra pre-req, too. A pre-req for the pre-req for the pre-req...I know...

Ouch )) you guys really scared me off. So, no science classes during summer! Somehow, I thought I could be done by next spring semester. Yeah right )) And yes, I have to take BIO 156 as pre-req's to BIO 201. Are online classes harder?

I agree with the rest of the Gals/guys? Although I dont see any reason NOT to do english or critical reading/thinking online through RIO. I did and did fine. Im in the same situation as you with kids and whatnot. I started BIO156 at GCC and it seemed pretty easy although I had to drop and now doing my LPN first through a vocational program. I do plan on going back to my pre-req's but one class a semester. I don't see how I could handle Chem or A&P with any other classes. Good luck in whatever way you decide to go!!

I agree with the rest of the Gals/guys? Although I dont see any reason NOT to do english or critical reading/thinking online through RIO. I did and did fine. Im in the same situation as you with kids and whatnot. I started BIO156 at GCC and it seemed pretty easy although I had to drop and now doing my LPN first through a vocational program. I do plan on going back to my pre-req's but one class a semester. I don't see how I could handle Chem or A&P with any other classes. Good luck in whatever way you decide to go!!

Just FYI.......most nursing students are able to test out of Critical Reading. Try to test out before you take the class.

Sassiebaz, I approached my degree much the same way as you. I did block 1 and block 2 at Maricopa Skill Center. I did prereqs for a year during the wait for the Skill Center and was finishing up BIO205 and BIO202 during block 1. Not easy, but doable.

That enabled me to easily jump into block 3 at Glendale with no wait. Some of you might want to try this strategy instead of waiting 2 or 3 semesters to get into block 1!

Just FYI.......most nursing students are able to test out of Critical Reading. Try to test out before you take the class.

Sassiebaz, I approached my degree much the same way as you. I did block 1 and block 2 at Maricopa Skill Center. I did prereqs for a year during the wait for the Skill Center and was finishing up BIO205 and BIO202 during block 1. Not easy, but doable.

That enabled me to easily jump into block 3 at Glendale with no wait. Some of you might want to try this strategy instead of waiting 2 or 3 semesters to get into block 1!

I would love to do that and start working as LPN, but it's not an option for me because I have to work full time. Do they have afternoon classes?

Check into Gateway's LPN FastTrack. They *DO* offer a nighttime/weekend option with that program.

Warning: in order to start Spring 2008 (which is their next start date), you need to have your CNA license before the application date -- either June 30th or July 1st (something like that). You'd also need to take two classes totalling 4 credits, which you could take now through Rio. I understand the 3 credit one is incredibly easy, if not almost pointless.