To take Micro or not??...

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I have been finishing up prereqs the last year while I work full time - meaning I can only take one or two classes max per semester. In the fall, I am planning to take an accelerated math class that I NEED in order to apply for several community colleges in the area. I will have everything else done except Micro -I'm taking next spring but too late to get on my application. While I would LOVE to have Micro on my application for the next Feb., it is not required to apply, and I do not think I could handle a 5 credit Micro and accelerated math while working full time.

Looking for some comfort I guess, I feel like I will not be as competative without Micro done!!! :( Or should I suck it up, cut back on my work hours, and just do both??

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I can't tell you about what every micro class will be like, but I'm taking A&P and Micro at the same time. I find A&P is interesting and challenging. I find Micro dreadfully boring and extremely difficult. No one is getting above a C. Then again, I think some of it depends on your professor. I just can't get into a 2 hour droning lecture about electron transfer and arginine operons. I have to come home and watch YouTube and read online tutorials in order to understand anything from the lecture. Perhaps when we move into viruses it may become more interesting.

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It does definitely depend. I loved Micro and thought it was a fairly easy class. I'm in Anatomy right now and it is fairly boring. Mostly the labs, I find unexciting. Sure it is interesting to know about the various components but I can't wait to the Physiology portion where you start putting things together. In Micro, I found that you got to learn components and how it all fit together so I liked it a lot better.

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Specializes in Long Term Care,Cardiac Care,Pediatric..

I'm taking a math class and micro together right now and working full-time and its ok. I think my micro class is hard. It's a lot of information being thrown at you and I'm the type of person who really needs to study a lot when it comes to science classes. Are you comfortable with math? How many credits is it? I think it would be doable if you cut down your hours from work. But, only you would know if it is a good idea or not. Good luck with your decision!

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I was comfortable with math, 10 years ago!! It's a 4 credit class but supposed to cover topics from two algebra classes, hence the "accelerated". My micro is a 5 credit (instead of the typical 3). I've been taking 8 credits a semester, so 9 shouldn't be a problem, but I really am worried about how rusty I might be with math.

The professor that teaches the 5 cr. class in the fall I've already had for Bio and loved him. I've heard the professor that teaches the spring class is good also, but would be going into it not knowing what to expect as much.

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Sounds like you'd really rather wait to take Micro. As long as it's not a required pre-req then wait until spring to take it. You can mention in your application that you will be taking it and maybe even update the nursing program when you have an A in micro at mid-terms.

For the math class get a copy of Algebra for Dummies from your library. It brushed up my math skills enough to CLEP out.

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I know the feeling stigirl. I was sort of comfortable with math 30 years ago!! Talk about rusty. Again, I really think it comes down the professor. If you know who it is and you know his level of homework requirements, that helps. If you are comfortable, ask this professor what he suggests? And look at ratemyprofessors.com to get an idea of what the math professors are like and the level of homework and studying required. Good luck!!

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I think if you were good with math 10 years ago, it will "click" with you again fairly quickly. However, it sounds like it will still be a pretty heavy workload regardless. If waiting to take micro won't affect your chances of getting into nursing school that much, then I would definitely wait to take it. I am in micro now (4 credits), and I think it is really fascinating! Still, it requires a decent amount of work, and I can only imagine 5 credits would be even more. Hope it all works out for you!

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Can you take micro in the summer?

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If you plan to take the class get Microbiology Super Review by Lauren Gross.. I purchased this book for my sister, who failed her first micro class and re-took it and got a B. She said it was because of this book! Good Luck

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Take micro!! It's better to take micro now with math, than taking micro with a nursing class.. That's just my opinion though.. It's still up to you.. :)

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Will you have a wait after being accepted? If so I would not take Micro now. My school didn't really care who took what..it was a waitlist; if you completed pre-reqs you were considered for " the list" and eventually they switched to GPA system...Get your app in.

That said, I find Micro one of the most useful prereqs I had to take. It helps me understand results of labs

at work.

Good Luck to you!

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