ADN or BSN? What would you do if you were me?

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I went back to school this past spring semester after taking a 4 year hiatus . I am currently attending a community college that is an hour away in pursuit of an associates degree in nursing. The program accepts 40 people every two years, has a minimum requirement of 2.5 GPA, and heavily weighs the HESI (I take this on June 18). I only have two more classes until I am done with the pre-nursing requirements and if I am accepted I will start this fall.

Another option is a BSN from the local university (Georgia Southern) that is only five minutes away from my house. I believe that they accept twice a year. I have ten more classes until I am done with pre-reqs for this program. The average GPA of getting into this BSN program is 3.7. They also have to take the NET. I have been told that out of 3-400 applicants only 70 get in.

My problem is my GPA. It is really low from when I first went to college 4 years ago and screwed up. It is currently only a 2.9 overall, 3.8 for the semester, and 3.3 for the ADN program.

So, what would you do if you were me? Would you go ahead and get the ADN? Or would you go to school for two more semesters to get the core done for the BSN and bring up your GPA?

I can't decide! Thanks in advance everyone!

P.S. It might also be noted that I am 24 and am a mother of two (a 2 year old and a 1 year old).

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I am sure you have heard that getting into nursing school is highly competitive. I would talk to an advisor at both schools. Find out where you fall in the competition of the class most recently accepted. If out of 400 applicants, you are below the top 100, then it is unlikely you would get accepted and you would be wasting your time.

For my CC, they only looked at the pre-reqs for the nursing program. All other grades were moot....which was a good thing for me. (My GPA from my EE degree 25 yrs prior was nothing to sing about!) Max out on the HESI test and you may be competitive. My school accepts students 3X/year but EVE/WE only 2X/year and only 24 slots. We had nearly 400 applicants for the 100+ slots for my first term. I was accepted into the EVE/WE group.

Knowledge is power, so I would ask the advisors. Also, look in the region tab on this site and see if anyone in your state is posting information about acceptances at your school of choice.

Good Luck!

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Thanks for the advice! I have tried talking to both advisors from both schools and they both said that I should try..which was not helpful! I may try asking them about where I fall...maybe they can give more clairity then:)

I am also wondering if I should do a LPN program. From what I can tell, I would have a higher GPA score in the pre-reqs of a LPN program. Maybe I should do a LPN program first and then bridge over? I'm confused! I wish that I wouldn't have messed up so badly when I first started school!

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If I'm reading your post correctly, the ADN only admits a class every 2 years? I would apply to the ADN and if not accepted, then take the remaining prerequisites necessary to try for the BSN while you are waiting to apply to the ADN again and then try for both and see which one you can get accepted into.

I wouldn't assume you won't get accepted, you never know who you will be competing with and it's probably the reason the advisors aren't giving you specifics about where you stand. The average GPA for this year may have been 3.5, but your competing group may have an average of 3.0. You will never know unless you try, so just go for it.

LPN is a good option as well. Good luck!

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Specializes in everything except "birth and babies".

My pick would be to do the BSN, it will save you a lot of time in the long run.

If you decide to get your BSN after you do the ADN, then you will have to take those same 10 classes,

and another years worth of classes in an RN-BSN program. It will be a waste of your time, even if you

think that you will never get your BSN, eventually to do something, someone will require it. Save the

head ache and just do it, plus look at your time, wear and tear on vehicle, etc.

The other thing is that most college's will overlook your past if you are currently doing better.

I would talk with the department head at the university and see what can be done to increase your

chances. It never hurts to ask, sometimes all they want is a letter stating why you did so poorly before.

I know that when I applied to an ADN program, my friend who had been attending a university, applied

at the CC and her university, she got in the university, but not the CC. A lot of times, it is more competitive

at the CC level, for a multitude of reasons. Most people think that it is easier at a CC, and it is really not.

Good Luck!

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On second thought, I'm rethinking about the LPN option if you aren't accepted into the ADN program. You have to think about what your goals are and whether doing an LPN would be worth the time at this point. If you plan to pursue a BSN after the ADN, then it may make more sense to spend the time on the additional classes for the BSN instead of focusing on the LPN courses because eventually you will need those additional general ed courses for the BSN.

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My long term goal is to have a BSN at the university. My GPA just makes me a nervous wreck!

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The harder path is usually the best. Getting the BSN may take more work now but it will be worth it!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Flight.

i would take the prerequisite classes to raise my gpa and then get a BSN. :)

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