A question about college and RNs who got their GED.

lili718 · Oct 12, 2010

I'm not sure about the GED portion, but for most school you have to take either ACT, SAT and for some schools both. You may also have to take the school's placement exams. Generally BSN programs are 4 years ( a year of prerequisite classes, then 3 years of actual nursing course. Most schools have a website where you can see their requirements/ costs/ etc. If you take longer to complete pre- requisites it will take longer to complete your degree. Most nursing schools you have to apply to the actual nursing program after finishing pre- req's, if the school has a long waiting list, that could affect the time it tkes as well. Also, going to school out of state can be extremely expensive with the non- resident surcharges. Some schools will waive that fee if you go to a surrounding state. For example an Ohio resident can go to Michigan State and request for a fee waiver. You will have to see if that will apply in your case. Sorry I can't help with the GED portion, but I hope this helps some.

opensesame · Oct 12, 2010

God bless you, Leeyuh. You sound like you have been through a lot in your young life.

The bare-bones basics -- a BSN is a 4-year college degree. Most if not all BSN programs require you to do one to two years of general college courses and prerequisites and keep your grades up, and at that point there is another application to get into nursing school.

I cannot speak to how a GED plays into getting into nursing school specifically. It may impact your ability to get into college in general. I would recommend calling schools that you intend on applying to and finding out what their requirements are and what their admission statistics are for GED applicants. If you don't know this already, you will likely need to take the ACT or SAT to get into a 4-year college. If 4-year colleges won't take a GED, community colleges will, and there really is no issue with taking two years of prerequisites at a CC and then transferring to a 4-year school.

Choosing a college is another complex decision and without knowing more specifics, I don't feel like I can give you advice. I would definitely look at cost and in-state/out-of-state tuition when weighing your options, however.

caliotter3 · Oct 12, 2010

I knew somebody who didn't go to high school and subsequently got a GED. She had a problem getting considered for two or three nursing schools although she graduated from a two year college cum laude and completed nursing prerequisite courses with a very high average. You may have a problem like she did. In that case, move around until you find a school that doesn't give you grief over your GED. Concentrate on completing nursing prerequisite courses at your nearest community college with the highest grades you can. Then apply to all of the nearby nursing programs and go with the one that accepts you, or accepts you first, or that offers you the best program for your needs. Good luck.

guiltysins · Oct 12, 2010

It depends on how much work you got done with your GED. For me it wasn't a difference at all but that is because I had three years of english, three years of math, two years of science and history from HS. I pretty much had most of my classes for my HS diploma. I also took the SAT so I had no problem getting accepted. For the schools in my area only accepted GED applicants that got over a 3100 which is considered to be like getting a 85 in high school.

headinsandRN · Oct 12, 2010

Your questions really need to be answered by the nursing schools at the colleges you are interested in.

Grab a pen and paper and start calling each school as you will find different

schools may have different requirements.

Best wishes! For what its worth, the person with the highest GPA in my graduating nursing class was barely 20, a single mom and had a GED.

Little Panda RN, ASN, RN · Oct 12, 2010

I recieved my GED way back in 1979 (I am showing my age here:) and I am now a RN. I attended a community college for my AS degree and they did not have a problem with me having a GED and not a HS diploma. I am transferring to a 4 year college for my BSN with no problems.

You will just have to apply and find out. Good luck to you!!!

phoenixrn · Oct 12, 2010

I never graduated from high school, don't have a GED, and have earned two college degrees, a BA and a BSN. In California (where most public schools are a joke) we have a high school equivalency exam that I took when I was fifteen. I started at a junior college when I was sixteen.

I would recommend getting started at a 2 year community college, then transferring to a 4 year school as a junior. It is way less competitive to get into a 4 year college as a transferring junior, especially if you do really well those first two years in CC. Plus, you will save a lot of money and have opportunities to experiment with different classes and fields. Once you have a college transcript, universities will not even look at your high school transcript.

I have my two college degrees framed next to my framed High School Proficiency Certificate. High school was a complete waste of time for me. Every class you take in high school can be taken at a junior college.

Best of luck to you!!

MySonIsAdorable · Oct 12, 2010

First of all you are not stupid, hardly any person at age 17 REALLY knew what they were doing (even if you think/thought you did)

I got my GED, and actually was in the same boat as you, I moved around all the time (not military btw) and I just hated high school because it was either too easy or too hard, or whatever the reason. You should be able to say "I moved around a lot and because of the constant harsh change in ciricullum (Sp?) I preformed badly" or something of that nature. SINCE you passed your GED recently it would be a great time to take your entrance exams (SAT, ACT, whatever the college requires) because the info is fresh in your mind, but should still get a study guide and work through it because there is a difference in the exams.

You should, find out exactly what classes you have to have for the RN program you wish to attend (or find a list of the common basics you need nursing school) and then sign up for those classes, you can do this on campus, online, or both. Most likely you will not be able to get into an RN program for at least a year (maybe a year and a half) most programs start taking apps months ahead of time (most that I know of start in August some start mid year) Then you must find out what nursing entrance test required for entry, then get a guide and study for that test or study for several because they are not the same at each school. Try to get the best grades possible because most schools go by your gpa and your test results for entry. You will also need to get your CPR from the AHA (heath care professionals I believe is the kind of AHA crt) and provide your shot records and there should be a list of which ones are required these make you look better if you have the prior to application, but some schools do not require them until clinicals.

Hope this helps, Good luck. Believe in yourself and you will go father, work hard and BTW most people that get drunk or party a lot in nursing school, fail and don't even make it past the first semester so don't worry about being around bad influences just don't let them influence you! And if you can stay at home and just focus on your studies and not work, that would probably be better because RN school requires a lot of studying on top of common sense.

czyja, MSN, RN · Oct 12, 2010

I've tried to understand the whole process of college and medical school, but nobody in my family and none of my friends have gone to college so I really don't have anybody to advise me. Honestly all I know are the basics, so I really don't know HOW to get into a college that's right for me and my plans. I know it sounds stupid for me not to know, but I don't and that's why I'm here.

It not stupid at all. We are glad to here. In fact, the very fact that you are here, asking these questions suggests that you are going to make one amazing nurse!

I very much reccomend that you talk to your local community college or 4 year nursing schoo. Schools in California actively try to recruit people who have overcome difficult backgrounds.

Believe, and you will make it.

MySonIsAdorable · Oct 12, 2010

http://adulted.about.com/b/2010/01/17/successful-people-who-hold-a-ged-credential.htm

Here is a small list of a few successful people that have their GED. A previous poster said that some colleges may not take your GED (in so many words lol) they may be right, BUT you can always find a stepping stone. FIRST find out what classes you must take, then find a college that will take your GED for sure, and then before you apply find out if the college of your choice (maybe a state college) will transfer credits from that college.

Seriously though, don't ever a day in your life think you are any less of a person for getting your GED. I am sure there are a lot people with their HSDs that could not pass the GED. It's not an easy test and as you said you did well, so that also counts for something. So even if the state school you'd like to go to doesn't take your GED originally I bet you they will after you have shown the how smart you are in your college classes.

sistasoul · Oct 12, 2010

I graduated from the eight grade and never made it past the ninth. I got my GED at 17. I went to a community college at 22 and graduated with mostly A's. A community college does not require SAT's and is the cheapest way to get a degree and build up good grades to get into a 4 year college. I went straight to a four year college and received a BAchelors degree in business. That was in 1993. I earned an associates degree in nursing from a community college in 2008. A GED never hindered me in any way. If I had applied to 4 year schools with a GED I believe I would have a hard time getting in.

I would apply to community colleges and take nursing prerequisites and do really well on those. Nursing school looks to see how many pre reqs you have done and what greades you received in them to see if you will be able to handle the nursing classes. Working as an aide will also help you get into school and let you experience first had the flow of a hospital. The key to nursing school is perserverance and dedication.

Go for it. You can do this.