acceptance to nursing school out of state - help!

[pepto88]

I currently live in Florida and am taking the pre-requisite courses now. (A&P I and II, Micro, Psych. . .) Anyway, I'm planning on moving back home soon, which is the Chicago area of Illinois. I'm finding out that most community colleges, and universities for that matter, accept residents first and THEN out of state or transfer students. Given the HUGE number of applicants, it seems impossible that I'll be accepted! Especially since my GPA isn't that great, 3.3. Hopefully by the time I'm done with A&P II and Micro, it'll be up to a 3.5 but I still have to deal with the whole not being a resident thing. And also, 3.5 isn't that great either even though I feel pretty good about my 3.3. Has anyone else had to deal with this? Am I making it more of a big deal than it is? What should I do? Should I wait to take the rest of my pre-reqs at the community college I ultimately want to get my nursing associate's from? That way I'm a resident, and have already taken coursework there? HELP!! I'm getting very discouraged.

I've also just found out that they look at if you've dropped and retaken any courses. I never really had an academic advisor and before I knew I wanted to be a nurse I wasn't really that great of a student. Just last semester I dropped microbiology and I'm going to retake it next semester. This is bad too! Apparently I need lots of help here! And I really want to be a nurse, even though I just figured it out, I really do! So finding another field really isn't an option. I know I've asked a lot of questions, but any input would really help me out.

RECAP:

I'm mostly concerned with:

- getting into a school as a transfer or non-resident

- how they're going to view my dropped and retaken classes

- my low 3.3 (hopefully soon to be 3.5 GPA)

Thank you so much!

Amber

[RNin2007]

Not really sure how the review panel chooses applicants...but I would imagine that you will have higher tuition being an out of state student (you wouldn't be considered a resident for 6 mo. to 1 year depending on your state's rules)...so keep that in mind. If you have the option, I would do your pre-reqs where you plan to apply. I would think that would better your chances, but like I said, I don't know how they choose.

I understand your dilemma. I was only able to apply to ONE campus, because I can't relocate (kids...boyfriend, etc.)...so I was nervous I wouldn't get in because I only applied to one campus.

Good luck!!

~J