Afraid of applying to Nursing Schools

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I am 21 yrs old and a junior in my university (CSUB), a California resident. I have been jumping around back and forth in applying to nursing schools. I truly want to get into nursing but I feel so discouraged about applying anywhere. I just want to get accepted into a nursing program but I always doubt myself. I am getting so tired of my anxiety.

I have an overall gpa of 3.6, my science gpa (Micro, Physio and Anatomy) 3.3 , have an A in Chem but I had my first attempt on the TEAS a couple days ago and got a 79.3%.I know how impacted nursing programs in California and how competitive it is. So, I feel like I am not a very competitive applicant with these scores.

I applied to the ADN program in MSMU-LA (Spring 2020). However, the program is so expensive and my family has been telling me to just keep trying for my local program. I talked to a nursing counselor around March and she told me to get a 90% for me to be seen as competitive. I plan to take the TEAS again but I feel so conflicted about everything.

I honestly don’t know what to do right now and feel so depressed because of it. I just want to be accepted into a nursing program.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, Home Health, Corrections, School Nurse.

I'm sorry that you are feeling so anxious and depressed. I know that making life decisions is hard. However, I do think that your problem is your anxiety and depression, and not necessarily nursing school issues. If you really want to go to nursing school, buckle down, study, get your test grades up and apply. But, truly, if you are this anxious about the choice of nursing schools, how are you going to deal with the stress that comes with juggling life during nursing school, dealing with clinicals, and later picking what kind of nursing you want to do, and where you want to work after you get your license, and then dealing with the stress of being a newbie, and the feeling that you have no idea what you're doing for the first year out of nursing school. Unless you have your anxieties under control, you are going to be in a world of hurt. Please talk to someone (therapist, guidance counselor, etc) that can help you deal with your feelings. Nursing school will be a whole lot easier if you are in a better frame of mind. Good luck.

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Thanks for the reply. I see where you are getting at. I tend to beat myself up about everything. I know it’s not an issue with nursing schools but I just feel so trapped with all the pressure of just getting in a nursing school and how time passes by so quickly. I’ll try to see a mental health professional to cope with this.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

The only way through this anxiety is to channel it into doing what it takes to make the mark you are set on getting. You are cutting off your legs before you even get to run by worrying whether you will reach the target. If you get that TEAS grade up you absolutely WILL get in - so do what you need to do. You can definitely DO this. Square your shoulders and face it head on.

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Hey there! I came across your profile and this post as I was anxiously searching up CSUB related posts. I just applied to CSUB Nursing as a Transfer student for this upcoming Fall, and am waiting to hear back.

Don't despair just yet about the TEAS! I have similar stats to yours (GPA 3.6 and sci GPA 3.3)

I took the TEAS practice exam online for the first time and scored in the 70's range. After a month of intense studying, I took the actual TEAS exam and boosted my score to 92.7. It is possible! The TEAS is much like the SAT in that if you study hard, learn tricks, and practice multiple times... you can score a 90+!

Good luck to you on your journey!

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