i graduated may 15th with an associate degree in medical assisting from bryant & stratton college. i spent a lot of money on this associate degree but at the time it was my only feasible option. i work full time days (monday - friday) and was looking to go back to school. at the time my husband and i were not in a position where i could quit my job in order to attend college. i have always thought about going into nursing but wasn't sure if it was really for me. so i checked out b&s in 2008 and was told about their ma program, i wasn't sold on it until they told me that they were setting up an rn program that should start in the fall of 2009. i decided to go ahead and start in may of 2008 in the ma program, then when the rn program started i would transfer in. long story short...the rn program never started and now there are no plans to start one. i realize that i overpaid for an ad ($30,000) but i am by no means done with school! i am determined to become an rn!!!!
now here is my dilemma (just wanted to give you guys some background first lol)...i still work full time at the same job i had (because taking a position as an ma would be a drastic pay cut for me) but i am actively searching for an rn program to enroll in. i have been dealing with tcc since march trying to get enrolled into ap i & ii, micro, and hs chemistry (since i graduated hs in 2002 i have to re-take it) but every time i try to register for one of those classes they are full already. the admissions person told me that it was because "current" students have a week to register before "new" students. this being said, she also told me that if i got into the rn program i would probably be looking at graduating in 2016. that is 6 years away! i do not want to wait so long, so i have pretty much tossed tcc out.
my husband and i have decided that we are at a place now where i will be able to quit my full time job and attend an rn program. i know that mci and hu (virginia beach campus) are extremely expensive but they are looking to be my only two options. i know that i want to do an accelerated bsn program and this is available at both schools. the reason for not working while in school is because i do plan on doing an accelerated program and intend to sleep, eat and breath nursing!!! both programs are nln accredited so that covers that. both programs include the pre-reqs, so that is a plus too. i guess i just wanted to tell my story and hopefully get some insight about these two schools (other than cost - i have read all the topics on here about these schools). are there any other options that i haven't considered? i would love to attend a typical 4-year school (like odu or uva) but just do not want to take 4 years to finish, i feel like i have already wasted two years at b&s.
