Summer Classes a Good Idea?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I'm in my first semester of pre-reqs, and with transfers, testing out, and what I'm taking this semester I'll have what I need to apply to the ASN program at my school. I hopefully will start next January. I've heard that you shouldn't try to take gen ed classes with nursing classes, but my gen ed advisor kinda made it sound almost necessary to keep up credit hours. All the nursing credit hours equal at least half time, so it's not necessary for financial aid? Right? If I can get gen ed out of the way and focus on just the nursing classes, I think that would be the best route. I've heard its hard to do anything and go through those classes. But I'll still be missing some gen eds, micro, physiology, philosophy, psychology, and socio. Some of my classmates are taking physio this summer and it got me thinking... is it a good idea? I hadn't planned on taking summer classes, but I can't possibly take all those in one semester... Ideas? Good idea and if so, which ones would you recommend? I've heard Physiology is hard already, but in a condensed form??? *shudder* Thanks!

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For any of the schools I've seen, they require all of the non-nursing classes to be taken prior to entering the program. Especially physio and micro. I'd personally say try to knock those classes at least out because they can be time intensive due to the labs. If you need to take classes to keep up financial aid, you could always take a fun class.

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I just started on pre-reqs last spring and after this summer I will have completed all my gen ed courses and non nursing courses so I would say summer sessions are a good idea

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Im in the same predictiment, Im nervous to take Bio 202 during the summer because it is such a hard course!

But i have to take it in order to stay on track and be able to apply for spring coming up!

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Summer sessions in my opinion, are always good. They are a little fast paced, being as you fit 16 weeks into 10 weeks(or 5 weeks if it is split into summers I&II), but you can get your prereqs done faster when you utilize summer terms. The school I attend has a summer pell grant available that doesn't mess with your pell grant availability of funds during fall and spring.

If the school you plan on going to has the general education courses for nursing, A&P I&II, Micro, etc. integrated in the program, you might need to sit down and figure out how you can work it out to get your prereqs done and still have 12 credit hours to go full time. For me, I have all my prereqs done so I can focus on my nursing courses. Yes, I still have to take 1-2 classes a semester to make 12 hours but for me that is what is best.

You need to figure out what is best for you, taking all the general ed courses first or sticking to the recommended senquence of courses. Good luck!

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It sounds like you need to check with the nursing program to find out exactly how they deal with the fact that the program doesn't put you at full time units...at my school the nursing program was considered full time despite having less credits every semester, so it wasn't an issue with financial aid. Nursing school is tough, so I wouldn't take gen eds at the same time unless you really have to.

Also, I personally would not recommend going into nursing school without having physiology completed, unless it is integrated into the program or you have a medical background. You really need the A&P background to really understand a lot of what they are teaching you, even in the first couple of semesters. You have to think abut what works for you...I took a year's worth of A&P in two 4-week summer sessions and did fine. It was very intense, but doable. So do whatever will keep you the most sane and let you keep your financial aid!

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I think it's fine to take summer classes. I took an A&P class last semester as an 8 week class and while it was pretty intense, it knocked it out quickly and in some ways I think it was better because I was able to really focus on it and learned a lot.

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I think it's fine to take summer classes. I took an A&P class last semester as an 8 week class and while it was pretty intense, it knocked it out quickly and in some ways I think it was better because I was able to really focus on it and learned a lot.

I plan to take my A&P class this summer as well, Im sure its a shorter class too, do you think that it was harder taking it in the summer than in the fall or spring? I am also pairing it with Microbiology if that available this summer

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I would definitely take a class in the summer. I'd rather have A&P (or physiology) by itself in a condensed form than to take it with a full load of classes.

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I plan to take my A&P class this summer as well, Im sure its a shorter class too, do you think that it was harder taking it in the summer than in the fall or spring? I am also pairing it with Microbiology if that available this summer

I found Mirco to be easier in the summer than fall or spring semesters. I got a B for a 10 week course. The labs were easier too. It was still not an easy course but for the most part it was less intense than taking it during the regular semester. This is just from my experience.

I am not sure if pairing A&P with micro will be a good idea for the summer. That is going to be 2 fast paced, intensive classes at the same time.

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I found Mirco to be easier in the summer than fall or spring semesters. I got a B for a 10 week course. The labs were easier too. It was still not an easy course but for the most part it was less intense than taking it during the regular semester. This is just from my experience.

I am not sure if pairing A&P with micro will be a good idea for the summer. That is going to be 2 fast paced, intensive classes at the same time.

I agree that they are both fast paced courses, but my school accepts nursing students the first week of September and while Microbiology is not a pre req, we still get extra points for already taking it and passing it to get in the program so I am taking the chance

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Pretty sure you have to be full time to be eligible for financial aid. For undergrad, that's a minimum of 12 credits. Check with your school.

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