Advice for where to apply for nursing school

[rainamelon]

Hello everyone! I have a few concerns as I am going forward with my nursing career. I am currently enrolled in California State University, Sacramento as a pre-nursing student. I am currently a sophomore and am close to finishing all the prereqs for the program. The thing is, is that my university's nursing program is HIGHLY competitive and I am sitting at a 3.8 gpa which is really bad my school goes by a point system so with my gpa I have 37/50 points, I still have to take my teas and my extra points for doing community service but I have a strong feeling it wont be enough. I really want to go my university's nursing program, its considered one of the best in the state but I know i'll be placed on a waitlist and I don't really want to wait around to get into it. I am considering transferring to a different csu because all the prereqs match up at other csus but the problem is I will be applying as a transfer student and I can only apply for fall, that means 400+ applicants will also be applying making my chances of getting in very small.I am even considering out of state (to texas because I have family there) but transferring out of state is a lot of work especially since some prereqs do not match up. Should I just get on my school's waitlist for 1-3 years and stay or transfer out? I am also considering private school such as usf, biola, st marys but it is way too expensive! I could really use advice, my chances into getting into nursing school are very discouraging and it is making me want to change my major

[dorkypanda]

Have you also considered other csu schools that you could apply to?

the other option you do have could be apply to the cc's adn program just as a backup.

[akg713, CNA]

I would try and transfer to other CSU's once you complete the pre requesites but first you have to check with your counselor or you can always use ASSIST.ORG it's a super helpful website and it tells you if your courses are transferable between CC CSU/UC ... you can always try to apply for a ADN program they are easier to get in and you can always bridge in from ADN to BSN at a CSU ... just to let you know all CSU are impacted and super competitive .. i know we have yo work our butt off to get into a nursing program .. don't get discourage it may be tough but you can do it!! (=

[ThatBigGuy]

If you get placed on your current school's wait list, do you gain extra points just by waiting? I know some schools elsewhere provide points for being on the wait list, so eventually people are accepted after some time.

If this is true, I'd just wait it out. Transferring never goes as smoothly as you'd like, no matter how closely the two schools are affiliated. Moving states means out of state tuition, unless you are willing to move 6 months early and get a new drivers license in order to establish residency. Also, Texas schools in the larger cities have wait lists as well, although not as long as California.

While you're waiting for acceptance into CSU Sacramento's program, go ahead and get your CNA. Then you can work in the medical field. While this won't likely help with your acceptance into programs any quicker, it will help your future as you'll be networking before and during school. If you think the wait to get into a program is frustrating, then wait until you're a new grad nurse whose student loans are about to start needing payments, and you can't find a job.

Working as a CNA while waiting for your Sacramento acceptance would help your networking after school, look great on resumes, and provide an income that will help reduce your student loans. It's a good way to go.