Accelerated BSN program

Tactickz · Aug 7, 2011

Just to give a little background about myself, I am in my last week of my accelerated program, my last final is Thursday and then I graduate=) I started May 2010 and I'm finishing August 2011. Your story is very similar to many of us who take the accelerated route.

Since you already have your bachelor's degree already, Accelerated BSN is the best route for you. Like you, I didn't have the best GPA coming out of undergrad (3.1) but I aced all my prereqs, got recommendations, wrote a meaningful personal statement and I was accepted. Now, 15 months later, I'm holding a 3.8 cumulative GPA and loving my experience thus far.

As for getting into an accelerated program, it wasn't too difficult here in NJ, as long as you met the requirements you had a chance of being accepted because they look at the whole package, not just the GPA. Furthermore, there were rolling admissions 3x a year so if you did not get accepted into the spring semester, you had a chance of getting accepted into the following summer or fall semester (although different accelerated programs vary, I know it is a bit more competitive in Cali).

To sum it up, go for the accelerated route. Ace those prereqs and keep applying. You can't beat getting a 4 year degree in 12-15 months time. It's intense, but if you stay focused and remind yourself why you want to become a nurse, it should be no problem.

Good luck!

jlpsu · Aug 7, 2011

Sure, there are other routes you can take...but you are probably going to have a lot more people tell you to do the accelerated BSN programs vs. the 'other option'. But for what it's worth, I'm doing the 'other option'....which is getting my ADN first (Associates in nursing) and then I will get my BSN after I am employed and my employer can help pay for the BSN program.

I also have another degree (two, in fact...but that's a whole other story) and I looked into the Accelerated BSN programs where I live. They were competitive, but since my GPA is high I could have gotten in. But there were two main reasons I decided to go the route I'm going...

(1) Cost: The accelerated BSN programs were anywhere from $40,000-$50,000 for the total cost of the program. The ADN program is about $20,000 (or $25,000 for the diploma program - which is actually what I am hoping to do...but again, another story!).

(2) Time: Yes, the accelerated BSN program is much quicker. It will take me 3 years with pre-req's to finish the ADN program and it would only take me 2 years with pre-req's to finish the Accelerated BSN program. This is discouraging to me, but unavoidable, because after talking to the accelerated BSN program directors, I found that the 13 month program is incredibly intensive. 5-6 days a week, 8-10+ hours a day, every day, for 13 months. So someone would have to have absolutely nothing else in the way for those 13 months. No work, no family, etc... I am married with 4 kids and just could not commit to that kind of schedule. So even though my end goal is a BSN or MSN, I could not commit to the accelerated BSN programs because of the time commitment and because I could not justify the cost after having already spent so much money on my other degrees.

So, I am currently taking my pre-req's at the community college (where I paid $100 a credit vs. $700 a credit at the university!) and will either continue on with their nursing program or if I am lucky enough to get accepted into one of the diploma programs (which are sporifice in other parts of the country, but still thriving here and very very well respected) then I will go there. Once I'm finished, I will get my BSN or MSN through an RN-BSN or RN-MSN completion program. There are many that are completely online. And since I already have so many transferrable credits, the BSN would not take me very long at all. And the hospitals here offer tuition reimbursement so I can work and finish it up.

All in all, I wish I could do it quicker, but because of my family committments, I cannot. So I am doing the best thing FOR ME. You may find that you have no other committments and don't care about the cost (especially if you were willing to take on med school costs) and the accelerated BSN might be perfect for you.

Some may point out that there are direct entry MSN programs as well for those with bachelors degrees in fields other than nursing. I would discourage this because after extensive research into this (because I considered this as well) I have found that it will pretty much be considered useless with no clinical nursing experience. Meaning - you will have a MSN but come out of school only qualified to do bedside nursing to start - just like everyone else. I don't mean to muddy the waters...there are just several options for those of us with other bachelors degrees and I researched them all...and these are my thoughts based on that research. In the end, you have to chose what works best for your life and finances.

Good Luck!

CVORscrubRN, BSN, RN · Aug 7, 2011

You definitely should ask advisors at the colleges you are hoping to apply to about GPAs. I would think it would vary widely depending on the area you are in. I'm in Indiana, started my ABSN program in May 2010 to graduate this December, and the GPA cutoff for our cohort was a 3.83. The competition to get in has risen every semester with so many people wanting to change careers with the bad economy, and I think our program is harder to get into than IU's med school right now. Don't let things discourage you ... just go straight to the source for the most accurate info!

susanlee · Jan 4, 2012

Hi! I have recently decided on a change in my future career. I originally was a pre-med student hoping on med school but long story short that plan changed after I got involved in my research and now I am at a standstill! I have earned a bachelors degree in BIOLOGY from University of California, Irvine and graduated in 2009. I am not liking the job market for an entry level researcher in the biology field and I have gotten a huge passion to pursue my new hope in ultimately becoming a nurse practitioner. First thing is first though, I am writing to get information on completing step one of the process..obtaining a bachelor of science in NURSING.
I have read that there are options such as the Accelerated BSN program for someone in my position who has already earned a 4 year degree in something other than nursing .
I have a few questions for those that are familiar with this...is the Accelerated BSN program extremely competitive? I have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 which is not bad for a biology major from UCI..but I hear a lot of others in my position getting accepted into ABSN programs having near med school high GPA's (3.5 and >) so I am a bit discouraged..It surprises me that it seems from my research these Accel. BSN programs are harder to get into than Med School?! Is this true? Waiting lists for up to a few years??!
I know after having looked into the requirements for this program at Cal State University San Marcos I would still need to go get a few of the pre-req classes done at a community college before applying. I know I can ace all of these classes coming from UC curriculum that I am used to but will that really impact much of my possibility for acceptance?
Please somebody give me whatever advice they have of whether or not I have a chance to really do this?? I have a passion for the medical field and helping people and I am willing to do whatever it takes, I just wish I would have realized this and gotten my original bachelor's in Nursing!! But I have read I am not alone with this problem so please let me know how you did/plan on doing it or if you know anything about the ABSN programs and if that really is the best option for me if feasible given my situation..any other routes one can take??
THank you in Advance!!!
Take Care Everyone![/QUOT
you should attend a csusm ABSN info session. you might have unexpected ideas

susanlee · Jan 4, 2012

attend an info session

hayythurr · Feb 2, 2012

Hi Tactickz,

I'm just wondering what you ended up doing, and if you are having luck getting into programs. I have a very similar story to yours-- I graduated from Boston University with a degree from Sargent College majoring in Health Science and Public Health with a gpa of 3.0. This gpa was a great accomplishment as Sargent has notoriously difficult classes and all my Public Health classes were taken at the grad (700/800) level. I was also planning on taking the MCAT and applying to med school. I have worked at MGH as an intern and other hospitals throughout Boston. I was a medical assistant for a summer and became close with the doctors I worked under and one advised me to look into nursing and becoming a nurse practitioner-- I did and I fell in love with the idea.

I moved home to complete some of the prereqs that I didn't get a chance to take at BU and applied to 5 schools so far...so far I have received 3 rejections. It is so frustrating and discouraging that we are competing against people with better gpas who majored in something fruity. I don't mean to be boastful or arrogant, but shouldn't a science curriculum and resume be weighted more? I am on a research team at BU School of Public Health and am getting published, I have been working in hospitals since I was 14, and am an anatomy TA. None of this seems to matter to admissions committees. It is so discouraging.

Sorry to rant. I just received another rejection notice yesterday and it really got to me. I hope you are having better luck than I am. I'm sorry this response was a little late. Take care, good luck, and I'd love to hear about your progress!!

hayythurr · Feb 2, 2012

*sorry I meant to reply to the op, mmerro86