10 yrs. since science classes - Any advice?

EyesForward · Dec 26, 2003

I was a lousy high school student, who performed especially poorly in math and science, but 20 years later things are a horse of a different color. You will have no trouble at all if your priorities are in the right place. I made straight A's picking up my nursing prerequisites, and enjoyed every minute of it. What a difference a decade (or two) makes. My advice is have fun learning and it will come easy.

FutureNurse2005 · Dec 26, 2003

Just retake them. I goofed off in high school, barely passing, and now I am doing extremely well because I am focused!

Good luck!

Altra, BSN, RN · Dec 26, 2003

I agree with EyesForward & FutureNurse - take those courses again if your old credits aren't accepted. Plus, I don't know about others, but many of my textbooks are new editions, which cite very current research published in the last 2-3 years. In scientific fields, a decade can be like a lifetime - your knowledge may be out of date.

Leigh

LeesieBug · Dec 26, 2003

Make sure you ask the University before you decide. Some of my science credits were 10 years old, and I did NOT have to retake them! (BSN program).

I reviewed what I needed to review...and things have been working out fine.

If they won't accept them, I would consider testing out of them, after some review. If you did that well the first time around, why put all that time and money into taking them again if you just need refresh your memory?

In regard to outdated research or not being up to date in sciences, I have not found this to be a problem. Our nursing courses focus on most of the perinent issues related to the sciences. We basically get a review of all the things we've had in sciences during course of our nursing classes.

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Dec 26, 2003

Originally posted by LeesieBug
Make sure you ask the University before you decide. Some of my science credits were 10 years old, and I did NOT have to retake them!

If they won't accept them, I would consider testing out of them, after some review. If you did that well the first time around, why put all that time and money into taking them again if you just need refresh your memory?

Totally agree!

My experience has been the same.

nurse2be in ny · Dec 26, 2003

First, check with you school to find out exactly what you need to retake to get into your program. Then, depending on how much you remember and how motivated you are working independently, consider picking up a used textbook or two and reviewing on your own, then testing out of the classes. I know, for myself, I'm more motivated when I'm in a classroom situation, so I would re-take the classes. Good luck!

Carolanne · Dec 26, 2003

I returned to school when I was 40, thus 20+ years out from school. My first semester was the summer session which offers limited courses and since I wanted to get started and not wait till fall, I took chemistry. Yikes!! It was challenging at first to say the least, but I applied myself and did my best and got through it. I think as with anything, it's the effort that you make that makes the difference and not so much the age or length of time you have been away from something.