I've been doing research on the different nursing programs and their prerequisites, and they all seem to be different.
They all require anatomy, physio, micro, general chem, statistics, psych 101, and beginning child development. However then the schools all start to differ from each other.
Some schools require nutrition, others require intro to organic chem, others require more child development, etc.
So I'm trying to get an idea of what most other prenursing students are taking. Are you just taking the common prerequisites and applying to schools that only require those? Are you taking all of the secondary prerequisites so you have more options?
Yeah I'm in California and assist.org is very helpful.
So far I've taken Statistics, General Chem, Anatomy, Physio, Psych 101, Philosophy, finished my required English and math classes, as well as all of the random general ED classes.
Still need to take Micro, Organic Chemistry, Nutrition, Sociology, and Public speaking before applying, which will be done in the spring and summer.
These should open up 7 CSU BSN programs that I can apply to.
For my ADN at a college they require A&P I & II, microbiology, human development, nutrition, psychology, English comp I, any humanities class & college algebra or statistics.
I would want to start any of them with a public, accredited college or technical school whose credits transfer easily to other colleges. In Minnesota and Wisconsin, most credits transfer well even between both the state's colleges. The biggest problems are little things....
....like your psych class was a 3 credit, the nursing program you're now in requires a 4 credit. A good advisor in a program will know how to help with this little stuff.
Credits from many private, for profit schools, do not transfer well. Plus they are much more expensive than public college credits. It is better to have to wait your turn for a public, accredit college than risk a private one that takes everybody, charges 2 to 3x per credit, and then you are stuck with them. So look at many programs, find similar requirements, and start with generals that seem transferable to all the schools you are considering.
And, you want to have those base science classes at a good school with good teachers.
If I were you I would make a list of all the prereq's needed for all the schools you plan on applying to. Then the classes that overlap, make a plan to take them first. So say if School# 1, School# 2, and School# 4 you need to take your A&P's, Chemistry, Nutrition, and etc, then I would make a plan to take those classes first. All other classes you should add to your schedule based on which schools are your 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. choice.
I will be starting my Accelerated BSN program in May and it took my 2 years to take my prereq's (I took about two classes a semester- counting labs). I started off with A&P I w/ lab and then the following semester I took A&P II w/ lab. I also went to school during 1 summer session. I would have done more, but I was working full-time also.
Oh, I just saw the last few comments, definitely make sure that all your prereq classes will be accepted by the schools you plan on applying to- this is VERY important. You definitely don't want to waste your time or money!!! Good luck!
coleyoley
37 Posts
So far I've taken:
General Chemistry
Intro to Molecular and Cellular Biology (not a pre-req for nursing school but for the other bio classes)
Lifespan Development
Nutrition
Core Math
Anatomy & Physiology I
Communications
A Behavioral Science Elective (Sociology for me)
I still have to take:
Anatomy & Physiology II
Organic Chemistry
Microbiology
There are also a few more requirements that don't count towards my nursing GPA but I have to have completed by the time that I apply.