math courses out of sync? post-bacc linkage programs with algebra and trig offered?

[tahitian3]

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Okay, I would like to take 3 math classes before I apply to post-bacc programs: intermediate algebra (almost the most basic algebra in my school), college algebra (a bridge between int. algebra and calculus, kind of like precalc minus the trig, and a prerequisite for calculus), and trigonometry (prerequisite for calculus taught separately from college algebra)- I don't want to take calculus at this school... perhaps I will in a post-bacc program.
My dilemma is the scheduling of these 3 classes. I'm doing a 16 month nursing program (hopefully) which includes fall 2004, spring 2005, summer 2005 and fall 2005. I would like to take intermediate algebra this summer coming up (summer of 2004), college algebra in 4 week winter program (in between the first and second semesters of my nursing program) and trig the spring of 2006 (after I graduate from the nursing program in Dec. 2005).
However, college algebra is not offered during the 4 week winter session, but trig is. My questions are:
A) To excel trig, must one already know college algebra (our school's college algebra includes: roots of polynomials, exponential and log functions, math induction and linear equations and matrices) ???????
B) Does trig include these 4 algebraic fundamentals?
C) Has anyone else taken math courses out of the "sync" that their schools suggest? If so, did it work out for you
😕
I really need advice. I'm trying to do these math courses dispersed around my nursing program, because once the program is in regular session, we are not allowed to take outside courses. PLUS I don't want to have to take all 3 of these courses AFTER I graduate from nursing school because that will be like a year's delay in being enrolled in a post-bacc program. Besides, I only want to go to post-bacc programs that offer linkages and all of the linkage ones I've researched will not allow you to take algebra and trig while doing pre-medical prerequisites only calculus... does anyone know of any that do?
Thanks for any and all advice
🙂

 

[ussdfiant]

This has nothing to do with your question, but I am confused. I thought I read somewhere that you already had a B.A. and now you are in nursing school with the hope of getting into a post bac program to get into medical school? Don't take this the wrong way, but, is there some reason why you didn't go from undergrad to post bac? Nursing school seems like an odd step (unless you want to be a nurse, which I assume you don't since you're asking about postbacs before you finish nursing school). The only reason I mention it is you will probably have to explain why you went to nursing school and immediately wanted to start a postbac program. You may be asked this when interviewing for postbac programs and you will DEFINITELY be asked this in a med school interview!

 

[tahitian3]

I already have a BA, which is in psychology. I later found out the a BA in psych provides few job opportunities. So I was in graduate school for psych and later decided I did not want to be a psychologist. After that I really wanted to be a psychiatric nursing, thus I signed up for pre-nursing courses at my current school. The doctor thing kind of intrigued me during the beginning of my pre-nursing courses and I became torn between which I wanted to do. Now, I've already sent in my nursing application and after May I will have completed all of the prerequisites for nursing (except for one class which I will take in the summer). So I basically feel that I have to complete SOMETHING since I broke from psych after a year of psych grad school.... you know what I mean..... like, after 2 years removed from undergrad (I graduated in May 2002) with no job, I feel I must have something else under my belt besides the psych Bachelor's. Also, I'm the kind of person who likes to have options.... I'm always thinking "what if xyz happens... then what ?" so I see nursing as a back up if I'm not med school material. Some doctors, including my own family physician, and many nurses do not agree with my reasoning for this, but they are not in my shoes, perhaps they don't know how seeing one's parents struggle with job security and having regrets of "I should have gone into xyz field, like I originally planned but now I'm 50 years old and can't do anything about it," perhaps they don't know it feels to have lived your entire life just above the poverty line....... thus having "back ups" in place while I pursue a dream has been my mode of survival and it has always come in handy....
The post-bacc adcoms are just going to have to know my situation, and if they don't like it God will just provide me with another path🙂
Thanks for asking ussdfiant, I never really thought about my rational...
Any advice about the original post is still welcome...