i am 23 years old with a BA in Legal Studies. looking at some accelerated BSN programs across the country. what should i be looking out for in terms of good programs? is it better to do accelerated or less intensive 2 year programs?

Depends on your situation. I'm just beginning an accelerated, and I've been told you cannot work while in the program. It also goes very quickly, and I'm told many drop out. OTOH, you'll graduate a year earlier. Your decision.

Actually...I thought the 2 year program WAS the intensive RN program. That's why I'm taking it in three years! Of course, if you already have a college degree, you probably already finished your pre-reqs.

I'd think it depends - what other outside-of-school obligations do you have? Do you have a family?

From what I've heard of the accelerated programs, I'd be SURE that I was ready to commit to that amount of workload before I tried to enroll.

Personally, I would very much like to get into an accelerated program only so I can be through more quickly - several problems with that on my part though - I don't live anywhere near a school that offers an accelerated program, and the ones that I could apply to (since I don't already have a bachelors in something else) are horribly expensive.

Good luck.