Hi! I recently found this site when looking up info about being an RN and it is absolutely amazing sooo I wanted to ask a question for my own. I hope it helps others like me. I'm in high school, my grades are good, 4.28 W GPA. At the end of my senior year I will be CNA certified w/ 100 hours of Nursing home experience. I receive a lot of "oh you're fine don't worry about it" but what can I do/except/want in the future as I pursue to become an RN? Length of school? Costs? Pay starting off(California). Habits. Strategies. Anything that falls under title. I know I may have relatively good grades, it doesn't really benefit me or anyone who does until we know what actual opportunities there are and how to achieve them.

Just a heads up: CA, especially SoCal, has a tough job market for new grads. You may have to consider looking elsewhere for employment after graduation.

Start investigating nursing programs in which you're interested. They will provide you with information about curriculum requirements & the admission process. That's a great place to begin. The educational pathway is not quick or easy. In many parts of the country, there are far more people applying for nursing programs than ever before. Some schools receive >100 applications for every available slot.

PP was correct. Evidence here on AN indicates that SoCal is a very challenging area; both for admission to a nursing program and for getting employment as a new grad. You may discover that relocation is the only way to achieve your goal.

Wishing you the best of luck on your nursing education journey