Applying to Nursing Programs

[JLA]

Hello Everybody,

This is my first year applying to schools...I've applied to 5 and heard back so far on three that I didn't get in. I'm still waiting to hear back from Los Medanos and Modesto. Keeping my fingers crossed! :)

My question is how many schools have you applied to? How many times did you apply? I hear so many people trying for years and then there are the lucky students that get in their first year trying. I've applied only at the Junior College Level but have taken calsses to be able to apply at Samuel Merritt. I need one last class (Statistics) to be able to apply there. What are your thoughts on ADN vs. BSN. Samuel Merritt is so expensive!! Do I really want to be in debt that much after college...? In your oprion is that school easier or hrader to get into?

Thanks everybody!!

[BurlHarley]

San Bernardino valley college is a lottery with a wait list so you should get on the list now just in case you don't get into the merit based ones because the wait is pretty long

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

I was one of those that applied to 2 colleges for a LONG time. Why? The other colleges were quite literally too far for me to go OR they weren't accepting 2nd Bachelor's students. I applied for 8 consecutive Semesters... and finally was accepted. The more you apply both in numbers of schools and consecutive semesters (think persistency points) the more likely you are to be picked sooner.

As to ADN vs BSN, if you can get into a BSN program, apply there too. Given a choice, I'd choose the BSN over an ADN because of the broader education they get outside of the classwork. Then again, so much depends upon your local situation that advice might just not matter much. I would think that the most important thing is to get the RN behind your name and if you want/need a BSN, then take the upgrade coursework as going that route should be a whole lot easier to do as you're not taking up clinical slots, just a classroom seat, but it'll take longer than a straight BSN course.

[JLA]

Thank you both for your responses. :)