ABSN or RN??

[ncbuckeyecb]

Some background about myself and my education...

I'm finishing up my junior year at Ohio State and as of now I have a 3.075 GPA. I'm a human nutrition major and I have always been interested in healthcare but after a rough start my freshman year, there was no chance of me getting accepted into OSU's extremely competitive nursing school.

So here I am, wanting to go to an ABSN program. I will only be applying to schools in NC (my hometown where I can get in-state tuition!) and perhaps UW-Osh's online ABSN program. My number one choice is Duke.

As the date draws nearer and nearer to start buckling down and getting my applications all together, I am getting worried. I don't think that I will get accepted into any of the ABSN schools. I'm starting to consider becoming an RN instead. Which leads me to another issue: will I be able to complete an RN to BSN program even faster since I will already have a BS?

Just looking for some insight...if you went to a NC ABSN program, I would love to hear your "stats" (GPA, test scores, etc). And if you went to an RN program despite already having a BS, I would like to know why you chose that route instead of doing an ABSN or 2nd degree nursing program.

Thanks in advance :)

[ncbuckeyecb]

Forgot to mention that my pre-req GPA is a 3.05. But I plan on retaking Anatomy which, assuming I get at least an A-, will bring my GPA up to a 3.30 or better. I also have done really well on my practice GRE and TEAS (I have always been good at standardized testing lol...what a useful skill).

Also, since OSU is on quarters does anyone have experience with how those courses transfer over to semester schools?

And another question! Does anyone recommending taking a year off after I graduate from OSU and getting my CNA (which is a requirement for most of the schools anyway) and working as a CNA for about 6 months before applying to ABSN programs to help my application?

[UVA Grad Nursing]

NC:

The formula for transferring quarter credits to semester credits is 3:2. Three quarter credits = two semester credits.

Taking a year off may not be a bad thing. My university has offered a second degree nursing program since 1988. It once was an ABSN program, and now we offer a Direct Entry MSN (for CNL). Nearly all of the enrolling class has taken some time off and worked in healthcare. The mean age of the entering class this year is 29. Most of those who have come from the Bachelors directly into the program have expressed openly to the faculty that they experience academic burnout, and wish they had taken some time off between degrees.