Cleveland State University or Cuyahoga Community College

U.S.A. Ohio

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Hi Everyone! I am a mother of three...have a three year old and a set of newborn twins. I have my BA in anthropology and sociology and am debating on either the ADN program at Tri-C or the accelerated BSN program at CSU. Any thoughts? I know money is an issue...always is, but it seems like the pre reqs for both programs are almost identical. I am taking my pre reqs slowly (since I have little ones at home) so I do not plan to attend until 2012. Any advice would be great! Thank you!!![/b]

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Wouldn't Tri-C be cheaper? Look into their accelerated ADN program at Tri-C. I think they had one and it only took 1 year to do. A group of students that were in this program were at Marymount when we had clinicals there. Good luck.:D

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Specializes in Cardiology and ER Nursing.

Well with the kids and all I would advise against the accelerated BSN program at CSU. That program is fine if you don't have a job or any other responsibilities other than yourself. It's basically a 24/7 program for 4 straight semesters. You could do the ADN either accelerated or Nights/Weekends if it's more convenient. Then if you wanted to go on to an RN to BSN program most of it is online at Ohio State or Cleveland state or any number of colleges. That's what I'm doing. I got my BSEd back in 2001 and decided I needed a career change. So I'm taking classes at Tri-C for my ADN then after that getting in to an RN to BSN program.

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thank you for the advice notthereyet0 and ScottE! I have a sister-in-law who is just finishing her ADN at Tri-C and although it has been a tough road, she was able to do it. I agree, the ADN track at Tri-C (modified nights and weekends) probably makes the most sense. I am also making a career change...used to be in HR. I am starting my pre-reqs now and instead of taking biochem, I am going to take chem 1010 and 1020...just so that when I am a nurse, I can go right into the RN-BSN program...and have the hospital pay for it.

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Hey all --

just my 2 cents....i just got a job at a hospital and had a lovely/long chat/interview with the nurse manager on the unit....she basically took the same road we are all doing...had a bachelors in another field, got an ADN, but then instead of going BSN, she went straight to an MSN via a bridge program -- she said it only takes a semester longer than doing a BSN.

also, i have a couple of friends who did CSU's second degree BSN and they all had to hire full-time nannies to care for their kids so they could make it through. they each told me NOT to proceed in this manner -- they regret losing the time with their families and their young children, when they could have gone about getting an RN in a cheaper and more manageable way. Whatever you decide, good luck! It seems so many of us have kids...maybe we start a tri-c babysitting co-op, since tri-c so rudely took away their childcare....

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Specializes in Cardiology and ER Nursing.

The RN-MSN bridge might not be that bad if they offer it on a part time basis. I haven't really looked into it that much. I'm trying to avoid over extending myself academically. I did that a lot at Ohio State taking the Maximum 21 hours a quarter several times and it wasn't fun. Turns out I learn and retain more if I take 1 or 2 related classes at a time.

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Hey ScottE -

Go Bucks! I am an OSU grad myself and know all too well what maxing out each quarter is like...took 21 credits each quarter from the moment I entered in order to graduate in three years and not have to take out student loans (long story short -- my dad was very ill at the time and hospitalized) My mom did what she could on a teacher's salary to pay for two colleges and one private boarding school at the time. The good news is I am far more successful when I am super busy (still made nightly appearances at Papa Joes, never missed a football game etc) so it all worked out in the end. I also love going to school --which is why I can't seem to give it up, so I know I'll want to go for that masters when it is time...taking just a couple classes at a time is almost too easy for me -- don't get that adrenaline rush from being overloaded (I must be crazy). The good thing is that just a couple nursing classes at a time will be a lot of work and I am looking forward to focusing on the core nursing classes having all the other classes behind me.

Also, I cannot seem to pull up my background check -- just a blank screen...is there some computer setting I am missing?

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Specializes in Cardiology and ER Nursing.

The good thing about OSU was that anything over 12 credit hours cost the same. You could take 12 hours and pay x amount or take 21 hours and pay the exact same thing.

As for the report it seems it's either a problem with their system, or the report is only online for x number of days. I'm guessing the former and not the latter. I get a blank page now looking at my report too.

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Thanks for the great ideas ScottE and rrmitch2000. Are both of you already accepted into Tri-C's program? Did either one of you go the Chem 1010 and 1020 route or the Biochem route? Right now I am trying to get into the Chem 1010 class this fall, BUT Tri-C states that they have not yet received my transcripts yet...which is stupid since I have had my undergrad send the transcripts twice...ugh...I have no idea what is going on in the admissions department. Anyway, I have to wait until then in order to get approval to take Chem 1010 without taking the pre req. Honestly, I feel it is dumb that I had to submit my high school transcripts as well, oh well.

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Specializes in Cardiology and ER Nursing.

I'm in the program and start Spring of 2011. I took Chem 1010 and 1020. To be honest with you that's the way to go. Chem 1020 in particular makes the Biology classes easier to understand since you'll have some idea what's going on at a chemical level. I don't remember Chem 1010 having any prereqs other than having an acceptable score on some math placement test. I agree that if you have a bachelors degree it doesn't make any sense for them to have you send over a high school transcript but... Which campus did you enroll at? I enrolled at Western Campus and everything was squared away in about a week or so after I requested a transcript be forwarded to them from Ohio State.

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I am starting Fall of 2011. I went the biochem route bio 1100 since it seemed to be the easier approach, fewer credit hours etc. The professor was awesome -- I also took anatomy and phys 1 at the same time and it worked out nicely for me, but it was a little busy. If you are committed to going for a BSN or MSN, you may want to go the CHEM route since you have some time on your hands while you are waiting for the clinicals. Had I known that it would be such a wait, I'd have done the same thing.

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Yeah, I think I am going to go the Chem route. My original thought was to try to get all of my pre-reqs done so that I could start in 2011 (wishful thinking), but I know that the 2011 class (nights and weekends) will be full by this summer. In any event, I hope to get into the 2012 fall sequence. Good luck to you guys this next year as you start your nursing program!!!

rrmitch2000 - I agree, there should be some type of daycare option for nursing school students...that does not cost an arm and a leg! Especially with so many second degree students who already have kids :)

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