A backup plan

CallieNM, ASN, RN · Aug 4, 2012

You never know unless you try! 3.0 is not low, what is the minimum for your school? My school's minimum is a 3.25. If you meet that and you have a good TEAS V score you should be golden. You don't know what the other students have that you are applying with. I have a friend who got into her program that usually accepts 24, but they could only take 16 because out of ALL the students that applied, only 16 actually met the minimum requirements.

Don't give up :lol2:

Madison1379 · Aug 4, 2012

My school( Unversity of West Georgia) minimum is 2.97, however, the lowest score they accepted was a 3. 4 last term. Also, my school does not accept the TEAS exam.

Thank you for your advice!!!! :up: :)

Saysfaa · Aug 4, 2012

I wouldn't do psychology as the backup plan - too many people in my physiology and psychology classes were doing the prereqs for nursing because they researched the job market for psychology grads by getting the degree, then looking for a job.

zoe92 · Aug 4, 2012

Never doubt yourself. Try your hardest in classes to try to raise your GPA as well as improve your resume (volunteer, work in health care, etc.). I know so many people who do psychology and then go back to school for nursing or something else related to medical care because it is hard to get a job in psych unless you do the graduate or doctorate programs. If you want to be a nurse, try to get into nursing scool!

tigerlogic · Aug 4, 2012

Some schools only look at prerequisites or only at the last 60 credits. Or maybe a bridge program?What do people really do with an undergrad in psych these days?

NightNerd, MSN, RN · Aug 4, 2012

I got my B.A. in Psychology and now, barely a year later, I am finishing my pre-reqs to go to nursing school. Your circumstances are totally unique to you, but let me share what led me to my decision:

1) After spending two years studying psych, I didn't feel like I could actually do anything with the degree. I could fill in bubbles on a scantron and write a mean paper, but I hadn't learned anything that would help me help anyone else through a meaningful career.

2) For me to actually develop those helping skills, I would have needed to go to grad school, spending more money and time studying something that I had only somewhat enjoyed. For you, it may be totally worth it; for me, it was not.

3) In psych, I feel the risk of getting pigeonholed into a specialty or role, or becoming burnt out, is pretty great. These things can happen in nursing too, but the variety seems so great to me that I would feel comfortable transferring my skills from one environment to next, with the right support.

4) In nursing, you can see the results of what you're doing to help someone. It is a little more tangible than becoming a counselor or doing psychological research, which I would not have found as satisfying.

5) There is so much flexibility in nursing jobs with your role, your schedule, how much education you need, etc. It seems like it can be a job and/or a career, and will allow equal focus on professional development, a paycheck, your family, your hobbies, etc.

6) The money is quite a bit nicer than most jobs for psych graduates, even those with Masters or PhDs.

Like I said, you may find that you really love psych, and as long as you've got passion for it, any major or career path is worth it. But I wouldn't use psych as a back-up plan, unless you want to go to grad school as a part of it. Just my two pence.

Stephalump · Aug 4, 2012

I am second guessing if I can make it into the nursing program because of my low GPA(3.0) and if I should persue my back up plan of psychology. I really want to be a nurse but I dont know if I will get in anywhere in georgia. Any advice?

I'm not sure a degree in psychology counts as a backup plan unless it leads to a job...which it doesn't, unless you include grad school in your plans. But grad school is also competitive!

Anelite2014 · Aug 9, 2012

You never know unless you try! 3.0 is not low, what is the minimum for your school? My school's minimum is a 3.25. If you meet that and you have a good TEAS V score you should be golden. You don't know what the other students have that you are applying with. I have a friend who got into her program that usually accepts 24, but they could only take 16 because out of ALL the students that applied, only 16 actually met the minimum requirements.
Don't give up

Wow, what school was that?

Madison1379 · Aug 19, 2012

Thank you all for your advice! I choose Psych because I really loved it, but I didnt know what kind of job I could get with it but I have done some reading and I could work at a Veterans hospital or something similar to that because they are always hiring professionals. I do plan on taking the GRE for my school because it doesnt seems as bad as trying to get into a nursing program.

Thanks again! :cool:

SlaveHeart · Aug 19, 2012

I would have a more career oriented back up plan. Perhaps become a CNA or EMT and work part time while re doing pre reqs. Also work on building applicable but not academic skills like learning phlebotomy, ekg interpretation, ACLS, etc...

I am living out my back up plan right now because I can not afford either of the schools I was accepted into, one the tuition was too much, the other the commute would kill my now dying car...

Also keep in mind there is more than one nursing school out there! I know of several on the west coast that admit based on completed pre reqs and a waitlist with no competition. If there is a school like that in your area you could apply and be guaranteed a spot in a few years from now while working on your bedside manner and patient interactions as a CNA or EMT.

So yeah you could get a BA in psych and then try for a second degree BSN program in the future if psych is your main interest or you could take a slower less direct route.

Stephalump · Aug 19, 2012

Thank you all for your advice! I choose Psych because I really loved it, but I didnt know what kind of job I could get with it but I have done some reading and I could work at a Veterans hospital or something similar to that because they are always hiring professionals. I do plan on taking the GRE for my school because it doesnt seems as bad as trying to get into a nursing program.
Thanks again!

Well, yes, there are job prospects after you ARE a professional - meaning you've graduated from undergrad, been accepted to grad school, and graduated. I guess to me theres a bigger gamble involved there so it's not what I think of as a backup plan. Since I majored in psychology, I know a ton of psychology degree holders. Like...a ton. Maybe 3 actually went to grad school. Only 1 who went to grad school actually works in the field due to a lack of jobs.