Advice: BSN University Recommendations

petali · May 29, 2014

bump^

SoniaReb · May 29, 2014

Looking at your stats and all the AP classes you have done or doing, have you considered medical school?

I do not live in California, but I notice that california schools (especially community colleges) have the lowest tuition rates I have seen anywhere. I think at the Community College level, the Tuition is somewhere in the $40-$50 per credit range. I'm I correct? This is the incredibly low tuition rate. Is the State University Tuition rates low also? If so, why would you want to go to school outside of California?

Also, does California have Dual Enrollment Program, where high school students can take college level classes at local community colleges?

petali · May 30, 2014

Thank you for your response!

I've debated whether to pursue the medical or nursing path, and I've decided that I will obtain my BSN while completing the med school pre-requisties, in the case that I choose to become an MD.

Yes, the schools in California are relatively inexpensive. We do have concurrent enrollment at our local community college (I am planning to take some classes there next year). The CSUs are also fairly inexpensive, but I wasn't sure if they had good BSN programs or not. After doing more research, I did realize that California is a good state to pursue nursing (high salary, high demand...).

I was thinking of going to a private school with a good nursing program that would offer me merit-based aid.

For a career in nursing, is there any point in going to prestigious universities such as Johns Hopkins or NYU? Or is it just a waste of money?

SoniaReb · May 31, 2014

Thank you for your response!
I've debated whether to pursue the medical or nursing path, and I've decided that I will obtain my BSN while completing the med school pre-requisties, in the case that I choose to become an MD.
Yes, the schools in California are relatively inexpensive. We do have concurrent enrollment at our local community college (I am planning to take some classes there next year). The CSUs are also fairly inexpensive, but I wasn't sure if they had good BSN programs or not. After doing more research, I did realize that California is a good state to pursue nursing (high salary, high demand...).
I was thinking of going to a private school with a good nursing program that would offer me merit-based aid.
For a career in nursing, is there any point in going to prestigious universities such as Johns Hopkins or NYU? Or is it just a waste of money?

Your idea of doing Nursing as your major while completing your Pre-Med Prerequisites is an excellent course of action. It like killing two birds with one stone...way to go!!

IMHO, doing a BSN at "prestigious" universities does not nevesarily buy you anything. However, some medical schools do take that into consideration. My suggestion to you will be irrespective of the school you attend, get the best grades possible. The higher your GPA, the more options you will have in the future.

Have you considered the CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists) option if you go the Nursing route

HarryTheCat, MSN, RN · May 31, 2014

I know two MDs who started out as nurses. One went to med school after working for several years as an RN, and she is now a neonatal intensivist. The other was accepted directly to med school from her BSN program, and she is now an internist. I have heard from several people that it's easier for a BSN-prepared RN to get into med school than it is for a traditional Pre-Med major. I don't know what the actual med school admission success rate is for RNs vs. Pre-Meds, but it would be interesting to dig into a bit.

petali · Jun 2, 2014

Your idea of doing Nursing as your major while completing your Pre-Med Prerequisites is an excellent course of action. It like killing two birds with one stone...way to go!!
IMHO, doing a BSN at "prestigious" universities does not nevesarily buy you anything. However, some medical schools do take that into consideration. My suggestion to you will be irrespective of the school you attend, get the best grades possible. The higher your GPA, the more options you will have in the future.
Have you considered the CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists) option if you go the Nursing route

OK, that makes sense! Then I think I will apply to the more inexpensive schools. I have considered being a CRNA, but it doesn't seem like something I would enjoy, unfortunately. Thank you so much, I feel much more confident now!

petali · Jun 2, 2014

I know two MDs who started out as nurses. One went to med school after working for several years as an RN, and she is now a neonatal intensivist. The other was accepted directly to med school from her BSN program, and she is now an internist. I have heard from several people that it's easier for a BSN-prepared RN to get into med school than it is for a traditional Pre-Med major. I don't know what the actual med school admission success rate is for RNs vs. Pre-Meds, but it would be interesting to dig into a bit.

It's nice to see that this pathway has worked for people. I think I would do what the first MD did: become an RN and nurse for a while so that if I go into med school I will have some savings. Thank you for the advice!

SquishyRN, BSN, RN · Jun 4, 2014

I would assume it would be very difficult to be in nursing classes at the same time as taking pre-med pre-reqs just due to scheduling alone, let alone studying as well. I was a biochemistry major at UCR, and for each section of Gen Chem, Bio, Physics, and O Chem you have 3-4 hour labs once a week, 1 hr discussions once a week, and 1 hr lectures twice a week. Nursing clinicals are usually all day twice a week with nursing lectures being 1-2 hrs twice a week or 3 hrs once a week.

Also keep in mind that for a lot of schools, especially public ones like the UCs and Cal States, you still have to apply to their nursing programs after completing the pre-reqs even though you were a pre-nursing major at that school.

If I were in your position right now, I would take anatomy, physiology, micro, and english during your concurrent enrollment at the CC as these are the core nursing school pre-reqs. You'll avoid having to take them as a pre-nursing major at the university, where it might be harder for you to register for the classes you want because you'll only be a freshman and won't have priority. As a high school junior and senior in the local CC's "early starter" program, which was also concurrent enrollment, I was allowed to take 2 classes per semester and had priority registration. I ended up taking GE's like English, Psych, Soc, Statistics, Geography and Calculus. If only I thought about nursing then...

petali · Jun 5, 2014

Yes, it seems to me like I will have to take extra classes, depending on which college I go to. For example I believe that in UCLA the prerequisites for med school are included when trying to get a BSN. I think I will take those classes at my CC, since it's almost free for high schoolers, and as you said, there is more priority for high schoolers. Thank you for the advice!