ADN-BSN or CC-Transfer to BSN

  Hi everyone! I'm new to this website so sorry if this is in the wrong sections. I'm currently a junior in high school and my dream job is to be a nurse. I didn't do that great in the first two years of high school because of anxiety, depression, and all that "fun" stuff. I'm starting to get my education back in order and I got a 4.0 this semester and but that's not going to fix my horrible GPA (It was 2.1 but now I'm at 2.6), so the best choice for me would be to go to a community college, since I wouldn't be eligible for any big scholarships but the pell grant should cover the tuition and fees. 

  The only thing is that I don't know if I should get an ADN then do an RN-BSN program or if I should do the gen ed courses and prereqs and get into my local university (UTA). One major factor for me is that I want zero debt and if I go the ADN route then I wouldn't have to worry about it. The reason I'm not so sure if that's the best choice is that I'm in DFW and I hear that it can be hard for new grads to get jobs here, especially ADN. I'm also interested in pediatrics and that could always change over time, but children's hospitals in the area only accept nurses with BSNs and their residency programs are really competitive. If I go the ADN route then I would be able to start working and getting experience quicker and there is also a chance that the hospital will help pay for the tuition for an RN-BSN program. Then after I get my BSN I'll have enough experience to try to apply for children's hospitals. 

  I don't know what to do! What do y'all think? 

Take a look to see what GPA requirements the schools around you have. You may not get in with a GPA that low. Therefore, I would recommend applying to both BSN and ADN programs and see if you get in anywhere. 

You could start off as a liberal arts major at a community college and focus on the pre-reqs you'd need for nursing, with the goal of switching majors. If you do well there, your high school GPA won't matter as much. Also, you won't be extending yourself nearly as much financially.

Meet with a counselor at both university and community college to see your options.  You can probably do all pre-reqs at community college, then enter the BSN program at the university.  Live at home and debt will be minimal.  Go full time, do not take semesters off, get a very high GPA.  Your high school GPA doesn't matter if you take pre-reqs at community college.

Also look into training for nursing assistant (community college might have the class), and look into getting a part time hospital job, preferably one that provides some tuition assistance.

It seems that your concern is marketability upon graduation with an ADN. If that's the only issue, i would suggest going the ADN route. Having an ADN doesn't mean you won't get employed, it just means you may have fewer opportunities. Mental health and nursing homes will hire anybody. I don't think you should spend more than you're comfortable with just to get a BSN. You can get your BSN completely online while you work and in some programs you can earn your BSN in as little as 6 months so not only do you have a BSN, you also have some experience. 

1 hour ago, Neo Soldier said:

It seems that your concern is marketability upon graduation with an ADN. If that's the only issue, i would suggest going the ADN route. Having an ADN doesn't mean you won't get employed, it just means you may have fewer opportunities. Mental health and nursing homes will hire anybody. I don't think you should spend more than you're comfortable with just to get a BSN. You can get your BSN completely online while you work and in some programs you can earn your BSN in as little as 6 months so not only do you have a BSN, you also have some experience. 

Yep, that's the only reason why I'm scared to get a ADN, kind of silly actually! Thank you!

23 hours ago, ItsKatato said:

Yep, that's the only reason why I'm scared to get a ADN, kind of silly actually! Thank you!

No it's valid...haha... I'm surprised you're a junior in high school and you have a plan already. That's amazing! I wasn't close to having a plan at your age.