40 year old starting NS and taking the ACT

Nurses General Nursing

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I am starting my pre-req in Jan. I will be taking mus., psy and alg. going part -time . I have to take the ACT test to get into NS !! That is going to be very hard for a 40yr old ,I have to make a 19 to be accepted . Can anyone help me ,How hard is the test ,what so I need to study the most???:banghead:

I have a hard time with math!!! I have already taken psy 1,2,3 bio1,2,3 and english 1,2,3 among other things,a I have a 3.3gpa . I do know that everyone is not cut out to be and RN and maybe I am not either, time will tell. I have not been to college in 20 yrs ,therfore taking the ACT test now will be a hard for me, and I was asking for help from older people that have done so!!

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I borrowed an ACT book from the library and studied from that. Math was also my weak point. I knew some of the algebra from just having completed Precalculus (I had to retake my ACT before nsg school because it had been >5 yrs since I last took it), but the geometry and MANY of the math concepts were lost on me. I just did the best I could and pretty much guessed on all of the math part (literally, I attempted to see if I could answer the question, and just picked a bubble to fill in if it was hopeless). I still made a 26 on the ACT.

My mom went back to school in her 40's to be a teacher and knew NONE of the math, though English is a strong point for both of us. She made a 28. :)

Good luck to you. My advice would be try to brush up on your strong points as much as possible and do lots of practice questions. The ACT book I borrowed had a lot of strategies and tips that helped as well.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

good luck to you with the act and nursing school.

you will be just fine!

praiser :heartbeat

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I have been attending JSCC since Fall 2007. I applied to the nursing program twice and finally got in on the second try. I will be starting my nursing classes in Jan 2009. I can relate to the fear you feel about the ACT. That was my biggest problem. I was a nervous wreck taking the ACT. The first time I took it I did not score high enough to get into the program even though I had a GPA 4.0. However, this fall the nursing program changed there points system so it is a little bit easier to get in. The ACT did count as 80% of your points but now it only counts as 75%. They count your cumlative score, reading score, and science score as 25% each. This past spring the cumlative score counted as 60%, the reading and science score as 20%, and your GPA as 20%. I attended the nursing orientation a couple of weeks ago and they are now excepting 105 students. My advice for the ACT is if you have time study the Barron's ACT guide. It comes with a great CD that scores your tests and evaluates where you need help. If the ACT is right around the corner I would recommend buying Crash Course for the ACT. This book is an easy read and has alot of useful information. Try to focus on the reading a science sections because the math only counts into your cumlative score, 50% of your points for the ACT depend on your reading and science scores. I have completed all of my nursing pre-reqs so if you need any help just let me know. Good Luck ;)

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Thank you so much for the help, I did not know that they had changed the point system. I wish you the best of luck !!!! I am going to register this week. What wa you hardest pre-req A&P?

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Specializes in ICU.
I have a hard time with math!!! I have already taken psy 1,2,3 bio1,2,3 and english 1,2,3 among other things,a I have a 3.3gpa . I do know that everyone is not cut out to be and RN and maybe I am not either, time will tell. I have not been to college in 20 yrs ,therfore taking the ACT test now will be a hard for me, and I was asking for help from older people that have done so!!

I'm curious; why nursing? I mean why not business managment or accounting or law? What made you want to be a nurse? 3.3 sounds pretty good. You could probably go just about any direction you want. So why nursing?

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Specializes in Med Surg, Ortho.
I'm curious; why nursing? I mean why not business managment or accounting or law? What made you want to be a nurse? 3.3 sounds pretty good. You could probably go just about any direction you want. So why nursing?

Why not nursing? It's recession proof.

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The hardest pre-reqs for me was A&P, but I decided to take them both over the summer. I took A&P1 in the first 5 weeks and A&P2 in the second 5 weeks. It was alot of work but I did get through it. If it makes you feel better my mother-in-law decided to go back to school for nursing when she was 43. She has been a nurse for 15 years and loves it. She tells me all the time that it was the best thing she ever did. Depending on your situation, I believe nursing has the best stability over any other job. You will always be able to find a job. If you have any questions or want recommendations on teachers at JSCC just let me know.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Ortho.
Thank you so much for the help, I did not know that they had changed the point system. I wish you the best of luck !!!! I am going to register this week. What wa you hardest pre-req A&P?

Chemistry, A&P and Microbiology were all hard subjects for me. I tried taking A&P in the summer but had to drop. It went way to fast for me, as I couldn't study that fast with children. It's all hard but very doable, just have to study very hard to make it.

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Chemistry, A&P and Microbiology were all hard subjects for me. I tried taking A&P in the summer but had to drop. It went way to fast for me, as I couldn't study that fast with children. It's all hard but very doable, just have to study very hard to make it.

A&P over the summer is very difficult. It is one of those classes that I had to dedicate alot of time to. I do not have kids so it was a bit easier for me to study, but I can completely understand why you dropped. I have not taken microbiology, but I think I am going to take this one over the summer too. I would rather get it over with in 5 weeks than in 15 weeks. Regardless I am with you britney_RN, I would not recommend these classes over the summer unless you have plenty of time to study.;)

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I am 43 years old and just going to start with a computer class chemistry and medical terminology. I am new to this site and am looking for anyone who can tell me how school will be for me being as old as I am and was it hard to get through any answers would be greatly appreciated

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Specializes in ICU.
Why not nursing? It's recession proof.

Until everyone who rushes into it because it's recession proof.

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