Taking 1 Class At A Time

blueyesue · Nov 6, 2006

I am on the waiting list out to '09, and am hoping I will move up to '08. I have been taking 1 pre-req per semester since I signed up 1 year ago. I will begin taking 2 per semester next fall when my daughter goes into 1st grade. I will be finished with all of them by the end of summer '08. So far it has been working great for me. Continue to do whatever is right for you at the time.

lisabeth · Nov 6, 2006

I think if I were taking any more than two classes, none of it would be sticking in my brain anyway, or at least with A&P and of course, Pharmacology was taken all by itself. I just seem to have better luck taking things like this. I know in nursing school, it wont be like this, but more like a full load, but I think the clinicals (hands on) will help that some. I think everyone does better with different circumstances.

The only problem I've seen with students that take only 1 or 2 classes per semester is that by the time they've finished all their pre-reqs, they've forgotten everything from the classes that they took earlier in their career. If you have a good memory, go for it, but if you want to have everything fresh in your mind, it may not be a good idea.

stpauligirl · Nov 7, 2006

I think if I were taking any more than two classes, none of it would be sticking in my brain anyway, or at least with A&P and of course, Pharmacology was taken all by itself. I just seem to have better luck taking things like this. I know in nursing school, it wont be like this, but more like a full load, but I think the clinicals (hands on) will help that some. I think everyone does better with different circumstances.

I am not saying it's everybody but MOST people that take too many of these classes at once don't get the competitive grades that they need in order to make it into nursing school. Most people that I know "just want to get things over with" and 'get out ' of there....a lot of what people may retain for years to come has to do with attitude. Most only remember enough to make it through the next test. Attitude is half the battle here in my opinion. If you stay connected and have an interest in the subject you won't forget, and I believe that on this level it is sort of expected of you to take responsibility for your own upkeep?!?! But then again...I may just be a STUPID nerd?!?!

WannaBTraveling · Nov 8, 2006

Where there is a will, there is a way. I have been taking 2 classes a semester since 2003- some online, some in person. I have a 3.8 GPA. I took summer's off to spend time with my family and feel "normal" for a while. You have to do what's right for you. It sounds like you have it figured out. People approach the pre-req's in different ways. I work with someone who took 4 classes while working full-time as an LVN. Of course, she wasn't married and had no children. She did it but her GPA slipped. Sometimes, I feel like I have been in school forever and I really get sick of hearing, "Are you still in school? When are you going to be done?" However, with each class completed I gain a little more satisfaction knowing that I am one step closer to my goal. Good luck!
P.S. Remember the tortoise and the hare?

I am doing the exact same thing, and people just don't get it...I'll be done when I am done. I work full time, have four kids, a husband and a 4.0 GPA because I won't let my impatient self get too overwhelmed. When I take Chemistry that will be my only class for the term because I want to make sure I am doing my best. Like kriso said - the tortoise and the hare - longevity always wins!

Good luck to us all!

catzy5 · Nov 8, 2006

Five years is not that long. Maybe the quality of your prerequisite classes wasn't that good and you didn't learn what you need to suceed in nursing school. There is a very self-defeating trend in our college district to hunt for easy A's since the only thing that matters to get into nursing school is GPA. Many of those students end up struggling in nursing school.

in our school the only thing that matters is in fact GPA but GPA of only the pre requisites which are quite hard.

catzy5 · Nov 8, 2006

I think if I were taking any more than two classes, none of it would be sticking in my brain anyway, or at least with A&P and of course, Pharmacology was taken all by itself. I just seem to have better luck taking things like this. I know in nursing school, it wont be like this, but more like a full load, but I think the clinicals (hands on) will help that some. I think everyone does better with different circumstances.

well this semester and next I am only taking 2 courses but they are 2 sciences with lab worth 5 credits each so technically thats a full load 10 credits. Our nusring courses per semester are only 10 credits/ plus .5 credit for a skills lab.

stpauligirl · Nov 8, 2006

in our school the only thing that matters is in fact GPA but GPA of only the pre requisites which are quite hard.

We have teachers of different degrees of quality and difficulty. For example one A&P teacher only teaches A&P1 but not part 2....he makes you remember crazy things, long passages which he calls "essays" just for the sake of remembering and doesn't even want you to understand what it is that you are remembering. We have some students of his in our current A&P2 class and they have little or no clue. One entry at Rate my professor says "I made an A but wished I learned more"!!!!!

We have a few high quality A&P teachers and some in between....all of them are hard in their own way but the school doesn't seem to have a very balanced standard. Other colleges in the same district have yet different standards than our school etc.....it's kind of hard to figure out where and who to take the classes with and get a quality education. So far I think I am doing well because I did some serious research before signing up for anybody but I still find things that I wished I had known beforehand.....my current A&P2 teacher is very popular and may be one of the "better" teachers. I am confident that I am learning all the right things, and he has kept things fair on tests etc. But I sure could do without all the hanky panky that seems to be happening particularly between him and one of the students in my class.....and I am not saying this because I am jealous, and an old and cranky menopausal bat....of course I try to ignore all this. Their initial encounter at the beginning of the class filled with their silly flirting back and forth, googling and giggling and inside jokes only lasts about a minute or so. (The goodling NEVER stops with her however) She left him some candy on his desk the other day. She is also in his Genetics class and bluntly put me in my place at the beginning of the semester by telling me that my biochem class wasn't a biochem class, mind yu she is a premed student and he is the "Health profession advisor" she also claims that the class and his test questions are easy (trust me they are anything BUT and I have to work my butt of to get and A on each).....Luckily I only have to survive it 5 more weeks, I am making an A without having to flirt with him or having to resort to other shananigans. He has this policy in his syllabus....nothing is supposed to interfere with the ability for a student to learn in his class...well what they are demonstrating could easily be the cause for someone not to be able to learn since their behavior each time is quite distracting. .....anyone out there have experiences like that?

kimmierue · Nov 8, 2006

Gosh, after reading all of this I am starting to wonder!

I orginally planned on going part-time for two years for my pre-nursing while my husband got his two year degree for computers. However, I got into school and decided to bump up to full-time so I could get the maximun financial aide. My financial aide literally doubled when I added two more classes to a total of fourteen credit hours. It looks like I am going to be going full time both years, since I am also trying to minor in Spanish.

So, basically I was going to work and go to school part time before...but now my family is kinda of living off all of the financial aide and I am going full-time with my husband. Of course we are going to have to pay some of it back, but it's making things so much easier now.

I'm taking engl 101, bio101, biolab, psyh101, and a nursing success class and I'm pretty confident that I have mostly A's and maybe a high B or too. Since my college strictly goes by GPA, it makes it kinda tough. But, I could not imagine going somewhere that had a lottery, that would be terrible! At least I know that with the GPA if I work hard I have nothing to worry about. They take everyone with a 3.0 and up, no exceptions.

I thought five years total before becoming a nurse was a long time! But, taking one class at a time?!? I admire anyone that could stay that focused! I'm still coping with taking two years for a one year pre-nursing program.

Good luck everybody!

catzy5 · Nov 8, 2006

Gosh, after reading all of this I am starting to wonder!
I orginally planned on going part-time for two years for my pre-nursing while my husband got his two year degree for computers. However, I got into school and decided to bump up to full-time so I could get the maximun financial aide. My financial aide literally doubled when I added two more classes to a total of fourteen credit hours. It looks like I am going to be going full time both years, since I am also trying to minor in Spanish.
So, basically I was going to work and go to school part time before...but now my family is kinda of living off all of the financial aide and I am going full-time with my husband. Of course we are going to have to pay some of it back, but it's making things so much easier now.
I'm taking engl 101, bio101, biolab, psyh101, and a nursing success class and I'm pretty confident that I have mostly A's and maybe a high B or too. Since my college strictly goes by GPA, it makes it kinda tough. But, I could not imagine going somewhere that had a lottery, that would be terrible! At least I know that with the GPA if I work hard I have nothing to worry about. They take everyone with a 3.0 and up, no exceptions.
How can they do this? we have a 2.5 pre req at our school however its about a 3.8 right now as we have 12 spots and about 250 canidates every semester. Most schools have way more canidates then spots how can they make a 3.0 cut off no exceptions you would have every person from every school around applying there to get in.

maverickemt · Nov 16, 2006

Want some advice that I got from a University of Arizona admissions counselor (the number 17 school)...She told me to take my time with the pre-reqs and really concentrate and get a good background because sometimes those pre-req grades are the only thing they look at!

maverickemt

I started my pre-reqs in August & plan on taking one class at a time, and as much on-line as possible.
My "goal" is to have all pre-reqs done so I can apply for Nursing School as early as Fall 09, but no later than Fall '10.
I have two kids (6 & 2), have an in-home daycare where I have kids 50 hours a week, plus my husband works crazy hours/days...
Anyone else taken this approach? If so, did you feel as if it was taking forever? Or did you savor having the time & opportunity to get the best possible grade you could for that One class each semester? I know it is very competitive to get in to the program here locally....I'm thinking that even if it takes me 3 or 4 years to finish pre-reqs, it will be worth it.
I'm taking Algerbra right now & currently have a 98 in it with about 6 weeks left...Next semester I will be taking Int. Algebra....Not sure what I'll take over the summer....

stpauligirl · Nov 16, 2006

Want some advice that I got from a University of Arizona admissions counselor (the number 17 school)...She told me to take my time with the pre-reqs and really concentrate and get a good background because sometimes those pre-req grades are the only thing they look at!
maverickemt

You are so right, at our school they pay particular attention to your grades in both A&P 1 and 2 and Microbiology and Pathology....You have to have A's in those or you won't stand a chance to get into our ADN program.

The classes are so tough and I was one of two students left at the end of the semester to take the final in my A&P1 class.....it's like they make these 3 classes almost impossible to get A's in. The teachers are mean and they say that the instructors in nursing schooll will be meaner. It's always only a handful of students at the end of the semester who walk away with competible grades and the withdrawl rate is very high each semester.

catzy5 · Nov 16, 2006

You are so right, at our school they pay particular attention to your grades in both A&P 1 and 2 and Microbiology and Pathology....You have to have A's in those or you won't stand a chance to get into our ADN program.
The classes are so tough and I was one of two students left at the end of the semester to take the final in my A&P1 class.....it's like they make these 3 classes almost impossible to get A's in. The teachers are mean and they say that the instructors in nursing schooll will be meaner. It's always only a handful of students at the end of the semester who walk away with competible grades and the withdrawl rate is very high each semester.

Our instructors for the pre reqs haven't been mean but they have been tough, I think for these subjects at my school they are the best group of science teachers I have seen they really know their stuff they work together as a team and I feel I will be leaving atleast AP101 knowing a boat load of material! I feel very prepared to move on, but the work load is tremendous!