Should I apply to state colleges in California (for BSN Program)

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I live in the Bay Area in California, and I prefer to go to school in the area rather than moving far from home. If I had to, I would move, but I'm just wondering what opinions you guys have on applying to state colleges such as San Francisco or San Jose.

Several people I know did not apply to CSUs, but rather, private schools. Both are impacted for the BSN program, but I did hear that there is a better chance you can get accepted in private school program vs. CSUs because it is not as crowded.

San Jose State and San Francisco State are my two options for state colleges (they're also closest to home), but I keep hearing how impacted it is. Would the impacted status really impact my chances that severely that I cannot get into the program, or take a long period of time until I do get accepted?

Should I just focus on applying to private schools rather than CSUs?

Opinions, please!

Thank You

Specializes in Informatics / Trauma / Hospice / Immunology.

Consider also costs and connections. Hospitals seem to prefer new grads from local schools or that at least have ties to the community. If you find an area with only one nursing program all the better.

San Fran is very expensive to live in so that plays into debt. Don't get so in debt for your RN that it takes you the rest of your life to pay.

Ask about how the programs can help with job placement, leads, and just good clinical placements during school.

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Since you don't seem eager to move I think you should apply and see what happens. If you don't get in, then you need to consider relocating. I'm from the North Bay but I moved to SoCal for nursing school because this is where I got in. I don't love SoCal, but I don't regret moving at all! Schools are getting more and more competitive, and if you don't have an outstanding GPA you could be in trouble. I know my CSU just told all the prenursing students if their GPA was less than a 3.5 overall they would need a new major because they were not getting into the nursing program (period) and they highly advised anyone with less than a 3.75 overall to do the same. The lowest GPA in the new class that started this fall was 3.89.

Of course things differ CSU to CSU but this area is similarly impacted to SF so I imagine the situation there isn't too far off.

I highly advise you get a student nurse, or nursing assistant job once in nursing school. Most hospitals around here do hire new grads but they are all from within. No outsiders. Its a great "in". Its hard unflattering work, but its a good learning experience, I guarantee it will make you a better nurse (you'll appreciate those under you and your patient's experiences).

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Let's just say you don't get in. That's a potential year or cycle length of loss work. Potential. That said sjsu son lost my application and I wasn't gonna wait around. Accepted another CSU in the central valley and secured a position before walking. Who knows what I'd be doing then if I sat around applying for the same schools .

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Being a bay area native myself, I would say apply everywhere. :yes:

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I agree with a lot of the people above...apply everywhere! I'm in SoCal and the programs (CSU and UC) are impacted and difficult to get into. A lot of people that I am taking pre-reqs with are considering/applying to private schools in addition to CSU/UC.

Another option to consider, which I am learning that a lot of people are doing because of the impacted programs is to apply to the ADN programs through community college and bridge RN-BSN. There are a couple of benefits...1) It opens up more schools to apply to 2) Some of the programs down here are partnered with local universities (CSUF and a couple of private schools) for the RN-BSN bridge and allow you to begin working on the BSN classes while you are working on ADN 3) Allows you to start networking with hospitals in your area

This route might take a year longer than going straight into BSN program at CSU, but you might have to wait a year just to get into those programs anyway.

Good luck!

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I'm based in Southern California and have a classmate going the private school route -UC option. The school is not accredited with WASC but is accredited with California Board of Nursing. The private school credits can only be transferred to University of Phoenix. I have thought about this route but only if I was working at a place that offered tuition reimbursement.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.
I'm based in Southern California and have a classmate going the private school route -UC option. The school is not accredited with WASC but is accredited with California Board of Nursing. The private school credits can only be transferred to University of Phoenix. I have thought about this route but only if I was working at a place that offered tuition reimbursement.

Your friend should be leery of this school. The CA BRN is not an accrediting body. It is also probably very expensive, and any schools whose credits do not transfer should trigger a BIG red flag.

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I'm based in Southern California and have a classmate going the private school route -UC option. The school is not accredited with WASC but is accredited with California Board of Nursing. The private school credits can only be transferred to University of Phoenix. I have thought about this route but only if I was working at a place that offered tuition reimbursement.

I agree with Run, I would not go to that school and the BRN is fickled! I wouldn't trust them, nor would I want to put myself in a corner by only being able to go to UOP.

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Yes, I hope it works out for her. I just had to follow my gut and pursue the lvn program that I got accepted in. I was thinking has anyone done the lvn-rn 30 unit option and then apply to Cal state fullerton or Dominguez rn-bsn program? I never heard of this route and seems tempting only because I will be saving a lot of money and become a rn faster while still pursing a bsn in California. any thoughts?

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.
Yes, I hope it works out for her. I just had to follow my gut and pursue the lvn program that I got accepted in. I was thinking has anyone done the lvn-rn 30 unit option and then apply to Cal state fullerton or Dominguez rn-bsn program? I never heard of this route and seems tempting only because I will be saving a lot of money and become a rn faster while still pursing a bsn in California. any thoughts?

Going through a CSU is a great way to go. The programs are accredited, they're inexpensive (relatively), reputable, usually have a good "in" with the local hospitals... Just make sure your LVN-RN bridge program is reputable as well. I know many community colleges offer them. There are LVN-BSN programs out there, too.

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Going through a CSU is a great way to go. The programs are accredited, they're inexpensive (relatively), reputable, usually have a good "in" with the local hospitals... Just make sure your LVN-RN bridge program is reputable as well. I know many community colleges offer them. There are LVN-BSN programs out there, too.

Going through a CSU is a great way to go. The programs are accredited, they're inexpensive (relatively), reputable, usually have a good "in" with the local hospitals... Just make sure your LVN-RN bridge program is reputable as well. I know many community colleges offer them. There are LVN-BSN programs out there, too.

Yes, I am researching now CA lvn-rn 30 unit option programs and also will contact some CSU's this week to verify. I totally agree with the school being reputable and having an "in" with the local hospitals. I have an aunt who works at Kaiser in LA and told me that hirers look at school's accreditation and if its reputable as well as who you know. she even told me to go loma linda university because of the reputation it has in the community. so what you are saying RunBabyRN makes a lot of sense :)

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I would encourage you to apply anywhere and everywhere you'd even MAYBE consider attending, and see what happens. I applied to 10 schools when I first applied and got into 2. Those were all CSUs.

There are a lot of factors at play here, like GPA, TEAS score, prereq GPA, and course recency. One nice thing if you go to SFSU is that you do your clinicals in SF, which gives you the opportunity to build connections for when you start looking for work. It's ALWAYS worth applying. If you don't apply, the answer is always no.

The market is definitely TOUGH. I am an hour north of SF. I graduated from SSU, and I have been trying to get into an acute care position since May. I am fortunate, in that I have prior healthcare experience, which helped me land my home infusion job, but there is very little work for new grads out here. I'm applying everywhere within 2 hours of home. I was working in retail until August, and since then, some of my regular infusion work has dried up.

That 1-2 years of acute care experience is EVERYTHING.

Do you mind sharing which ones you applied to and the schools that accepted you? 2 CSUs are great! Congrats!

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