Afraid to put all my eggs in one basket

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Hello,

I have completed all my pre-reqs to apply for my dream program, physical therapist assistant. It has become clear to me over the last few months that there will be many more applicants than available spots. I started trying to cover the pre-reqs for a second and third choice program. The second choice program is Invasive Cardiovascular Tech and the third choice is Nursing. I'll be taking some difficult classes this upcoming term like Micro and Chem for the Nursing pre-req and putting my 3.88 GPA at risk if I don't do well. I love the PTA program, but I just can't wait another year or two to get this done.

Did anyone else do this? Were those extra classes worth it, or did you go into your second or third choice program? I am thinking of doing the CNA as a challenge so that I can maybe work part time during school and get more patient care experience. Who knows, maybe that will be just as enjoyable to me, I'm kind of intimidated by nursing though. Would love to hear anyone's experiences that relate. :)

Thanks, LB

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Well, I have a feeling that if you go for your 3rd choice, you will regret it.

You seriously can't wait a year or two to get into your dream program?

My dream program is nursing and I am waiting 2 years. My mom waited 24 years to be able to go to nursing school.

Dreams are worth waiting for. 3rd choices are not worth the time or effort.

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First off, thank you for your response:).

I am applying to one program in September. I probably won't find out if I was accepted until mid November. My second choice program has an application deadline of November 1. I would probably find out be the end of November if I made that program. I would then have the option of applying to nursing school in May of 2011.

I am an older student who has already waited 13 years to return to college. I do want to pursue my dream, but I also have to be practical. Finances also enter into this as well, I am using loans to pay. I hope I didn't give the impression that the 2nd and 3rd choices were objectionable in some way. I guess what I am wondering is did folks have a back-up plan? I stress about this every night when I go to bed.

I'm doing volunteer hours at the local hospital, and will get to observe a cardiac catherization as a preview for that program. I guess I have career ADHD lol:lol2:.

Sincerely, LB

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LOL. I think I had career ADHD at one point in time.

I don't have a back up plan. I don't want to do anything else really. I'll wait as long as need be to get into my program of choice. I don't want to go for what I can get into quickest and then look back 20 years and wished I had waited for the program I wanted.

I'm using loans to pay as well.

My point is, you really need to go for the program you truly want, even if it means you have to wait an extra year. An extra year of waiting is nothing compared to 20 years in a career that was not what you really wanted.

I actually started off in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program. I was also considering Dental Hygiene and Radiation Therapy. But after a while I realized nursing was the best option for me for many different reasons. I think I would be happy in all of the above careers, but I know I will be happiest in nursing.

Only you can decide what career is best for you and will make you the happiest, and that should be your ultimate deciding factor. Don't let a wait period influence such a huge decision.

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

Justbee- I completely understand, did you read the thread I wrote yesterday? I feel the same way, I applied to start January 2011 and if I don't get in I am going to apply for Spring but if I don't get in the second time I am going to have to change my major. I don't want to do that and am terribly scared if I have to but I am a family and limited resources so I have to be realistic for my situation, I have 84 credits as of right now and almost straight A's if I don't get in I can't wait anymore :crying2: My back up plan is a biology major to apply to a physician's assistant program or enviromental biology? Not sure, nursing has been my only major and the only thing I've wanted to do, but....what will be will be

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Specializes in Private Practice- wellness center.

Are there other programs in your area you could apply to? If so, that would be the route I'd go. My back-up plan was going to be radiology, but I got into the RN program on my first try, so I didn't have to consider it for more than a week or two. (No throwing stones from the gallery! lol. It's a merit based program- score well on the tests, interview and have a good GPA, you get in.)

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

lol okay Kristie.... Just kidding though congratulations thats great! I was going to say that too-look into other schools that you can apply to thats what I would do if I could. Where I live I don't have that option but if you do I would do that before anything else :D

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There are only four schools in a 150 mile radius that offer the program. The one closest to me is the waiting list one thats already full for at least the next two years. The merit based one that I am applying to is 70 miles away from my house, one way. The other two schools are nearly 100 miles away, just too far to travel.

I don't know why there aren't a lot of these programs, radiology and respiratory therapy and nursing are way more popular and are offered by most of the state schools. I can't afford the private option either, I'm not sure I would want to do it that way even if I could afford it.

Whats funny to me are schools that have application periods that are off sequence with their terms. You have to have pre-reqs done so far in advance:cool:.

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