What do I do? CC -> University

Nursing Students General Students

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Hi! I just graduated from HS, and I was on my way to college for nursing, but I had panic attack and I realized I wasn't ready to go off to college yet. I decided to take a gap year to get a job, do things that I wanted to do but didn't have time for, and most importantly take online courses. The online courses I would take are GEN ED such as Psychology, English, Chemistry, ETC for the PREREQS of the nursing major. I'll be considered a transfer student for the Fall of 2014, and I was going to apply to Seton Hall, Richard Stockton, Rutgers (for nursing and nutrition), and SUNY Stony Brook. People have told me that I made an extremely stupid decision, and it's going to be even harder to become a nurse. What do you guys think? Is my plan a good idea, or am I missing something? Also, what are some other colleges with a good nursing program in NJ, NYC, or PA that I could apply to? Anymore tips or recommendations? Thank you!

My high schools stats were (IDK if I have to provide that when I apply this fall):

3.68 Cumulative GPA

490 Critical Reading, 520 Math, 520 Writing

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I never took a general biology class. Started with A&P1 after being out of school for over 20 years...got an A. Same for A&P2. Intro to bio is not required to pass A&P.

I would set up your classes where you don't have more than one class that requires tons of memorization. One writing intensive. One of whatever is easiest for you...math, psych, etc. Maybe a music or speech. Have a little of everything for your first semester, then you can set up the next semester according to how you felt about the first. Better to start out slower and not get yourself into a bad situation.

Specializes in Public Health.

My point about bio before AP pertains to the fact that at my school, most people fail biology for science majors the first time, as well as AP1. I took all AP sciences in high school but that doesn't mean bio was easy for me. If I had tried harder I could've gotten an A though. However I DO think those AP bio courses in high school did help with all the other classes that I got As in.

I digress, as a previous poster mentioned, check the requirements and degree plans of every school you are thinking of applying to.

Done beating the dead horse lol :)

Thank you all for giving me great advice! It gave me food for thought, but I have another dilemma.

Here's an update:

I've decided to apply to Rutgers for Spring 2014, but I won't be able to apply for nursing or nutritional sciences at this time. This decision was based on the fact that I could get my foot into a proper college system, and I feel very comfortable with this school since it's very close to my family. My first question is, what should I apply for instead? Note: I am able to apply to three majors at three different schools. The majors I was thinking for Arts and Science at both the New Brunswick and Newark campuses are Cell Bio/Neuroscience, Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, and Psychology. I can apply to one more available school and that's business which should be disregarded. Hopefully, I'll be able to switch majors for Nursing or Nutritional Sciences for Fall 2014. (I've looked at being Registered Dietician, and this also interests me.)

My second question is, if I'm unable to get into the nursing program during the course of my four years at Rutgers, is there no chance of me ever becoming a nurse? I mean there is A chance, but will I have to go back to school again for another four years wasting the time and money I spent for my first degree?

I really want to work in the healthcare field so this leads to my third question. If all fails, what other clinical jobs are out there that are similar to nursing? Would I have to go to med school?

Should I create a new post?

I really think you should call the schools nursing program and try to talk to an adviser. These are all very specific questions. It will be hard for all of us to guide you properly since we are online. Good luck!

I thought these questions were all general or vague especially the second and third one.

The first question I can elaborate more on. I am able to transfer into Rutgers nursing after I have completed 24 credit hours. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to provide links, but here are the courses that are suggested I take for semester one and two:

http://nursing.rutgers.edu/academics/about-undergraduate-study-nursing/bs-nursing-transfer-students

I guess then I could transfer into the program as long as I'm accepted with a maintained GPA.

I'm also starting to think if I should just major in Nutritional Sciences for the four years, but do an Accelerated 2nd Degree BS in Nursing later on.

Yes rutgers allows you to apply to their nursing program once you complete 24 credits, those credits can be in anything though I highly recommend taking the low level nursing courses, hip, cultural dimensions, biochemistry, stats, research in nursing etc....once you have 24 credits you can apply, rutgers admits once a year and you would have to have your app in by June 1, acceptance or rejection would come in late June.

If you don't get in you can certainly try again, I know many students who transferred from bio, chemistry usually some sort of science major to nursing. As for the accelrated just be sure you have all the prerqs done by the time you apply to the accelrated - no in progress nonsense, rutgers wants the classes done.

Whattodo4 - How difficult is it to transfer into the nursing program? Am I able to take the low level nursing courses even though I'm not yet majoring in it?

Right now, I'll be taking some courses to finish up GEN EDS like English, Biology, Sociology, and Psychology at a community college online and in class. I'm finishing up my application to Rutgers Spring 2014, should I apply for Biological Sciences or go undeclared so that I can take some of these nursing courses for the spring semester to hopefully transfer into nursing for the next fall?

I definitely rather go straight into Nursing, so hopefully I can transfer in! Do you know how many times I can apply to get in? Sorry, I'm asking so many questions I'm REALLY interested and dedicated to nursing but the process to be one is complicated.

You can apply as many times as you want to the program, agsin rutgers only admits for the fall semster . As for how competitive tis hard to say , I know people who did not have most of the lower level nursing courses done but still got in, at the same time I know people who had many of the lower level nursing classes done but did not get in. However I do believe rutgers factors in more than just gpa and lower level nursing classes so if you have any volunteering, excellent essay etc... That may help. You can take the lower level nursing courses even though you are not a nursing major, however you will have to gain permission from the nursing department to do so.

As for declaring a major prior to nursing that really is up to you . I know people who transferred in who where undeclared, other science majors and heck even some liberal arts majors transferred into the nursing program. However if you have a back up major in case you don't get into nursing , then you should major in that. As for the nursing courses as long as you get a permission number it doesn't matter what you are studying, ie the bio major has the same chance of getting into the lower level nursing classes as the history major

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