Applying to SCF/USF nursing and so discouraged

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I'm so ready to give up. I have been working on pre-req classes for over a year now. Now that I will be finishing ALL of them (including the BSN pre-reqs!) with a good GPA (only 1 B/all A's in nursing pre-reqs, I think I will finish up with an overall of 3.7 or possibly 3.8) I was feeling really good about applying in February.

Then I read about SCF requiring not only a CNA license, but it has to be from a 120 hour program. Well, they are all at least $1,000 in my area, plus the costs of getting TB test/flu shot/titers for chicken pox/physical/background check. So, more like $1200. Okay, I thought no biggie, if I get in, I'll do the CNA program. Well, now I hear that they want it BEFORE YOU APPLY!! This gives me very little time to get it done in time to apply for fall. Not to mention, what if I don't get in the nursing program? I just paid a thousand dollar application fee. A lot of people at SCF are talking about how they started out pre-nursing, but changed their major because of all these hoops we have to jump through, or going to Galen College of Nursing in St. Pete. (Is that a good school? Should I consider it?)

So I thought whatever, I want a BSN from USF anyway (I already have a bachelor's from USF, so I'd go the ABSN route). Since I already graduated from there, and have great grades I thought I'd be a shoe-in. So I googled USF on this board and found a thread saying applicants have a 10% chance of getting in.:no:

I am depressed and discouraged. I guess I have to apply to RRT and radiography tech for a back-up plan, but I read there isn't much demand in those fields. Not that there's a great demand for nurses, but they are getting jobs in my area.

Please tell me everything will be okay, and I haven't wasted the last year of my life busting my butt on these classes for nothing. :blackeye: Thanks for reading.

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Well that's why some of us are going the "for profit" route...if the school is accredited and you may have to pay more who cares?

Trust me I was down that road-I wanted to attend USF-I have a 3.5 GPA and was pretty much laughed at. Plus I needed 4 more pre-requs. I was told that if I didn't have a 3.9-4.0 GPA I wasn't getting in.

I wish you luck but you may need to expand your schools.

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Beagle: Did you try applying to USF or just gave up when you saw a post on this site? If yo truly have an GPA that high you should be competitive. There is nothing like a shoe-in in real life, you have to try! My mother always said the onlyy way not to get something is not to try!

I'm so ready to give up. I have been working on pre-req classes for over a year now. Now that I will be finishing ALL of them (including the BSN pre-reqs!) with a good GPA (only 1 B/all A's in nursing pre-reqs, I think I will finish up with an overall of 3.7 or possibly 3.8) I was feeling really good about applying in February.

Then I read about SCF requiring not only a CNA license, but it has to be from a 120 hour program. Well, they are all at least $1,000 in my area, plus the costs of getting TB test/flu shot/titers for chicken pox/physical/background check. So, more like $1200. Okay, I thought no biggie, if I get in, I'll do the CNA program. Well, now I hear that they want it BEFORE YOU APPLY!! This gives me very little time to get it done in time to apply for fall. Not to mention, what if I don't get in the nursing program? I just paid a thousand dollar application fee. A lot of people at SCF are talking about how they started out pre-nursing, but changed their major because of all these hoops we have to jump through, or going to Galen College of Nursing in St. Pete. (Is that a good school? Should I consider it?)

So I thought whatever, I want a BSN from USF anyway (I already have a bachelor's from USF, so I'd go the ABSN route). Since I already graduated from there, and have great grades I thought I'd be a shoe-in. So I googled USF on this board and found a thread saying applicants have a 10% chance of getting in.:no:

I am depressed and discouraged. I guess I have to apply to RRT and radiography tech for a back-up plan, but I read there isn't much demand in those fields. Not that there's a great demand for nurses, but they are getting jobs in my area.

Please tell me everything will be okay, and I haven't wasted the last year of my life busting my butt on these classes for nothing. :blackeye: Thanks for reading.

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[COLOR=#003366]Gengelha- I'm still going to apply to USF, I just never expected it to be so hyper-competitive. And I'm not wasting $1,000 on a CNA I'll never use, so I can't apply to SCF now. There's a Kieser nearby, but they charge $35,000 for an ASN, so that's out. USF is my olny hope. I could also apply at FGCU, but that would be 1 and a 1/2 hour commute one way.

I need to call Galen and look into that. A lot of my classmates are going there since SCF slammed the door in our faces with their ridiculous requirements.

Ugh. Why does it have to be so hard?

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Careful with schools like Galen. You only get an AS degree with them and most hospitals in our area are only hiring BS grads now because of new standard. Also Galen is not regionally accredited by the Southern association of colleges and schools so you would not be able to transfer those credits into a state university or college if you want to get your RN to bs degree. Also Galen is not accredited by one of the two national nursing organizations, NLN or CCNE. If you have to go private keep those items in mind. I know it is hard to get into a good nursing program, but keep trying. It will be worth it in the end.

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I agree with Gengelha-however, you can obtain your AS degree and immediately start a bridge program (Tampa General wants people to graduate a BSN program no later than 2017. So this gives you a little wiggle room.

Also, as Genelha stated if your school does not have NLN or CCNE accrediation you are wasting your time and money.

Good luck!

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Do not let the posts about it being hard to get into USF stop you from applying. I am a 1st semester Upper Division BSN student at USF. There are 2 different programs, one for those without a bachelor's degree and one for those that have a bachelor's degree (other than nursing). This semester we had a total of 120 students beginning the nursing program between Upper Division and the Second Degree sequence. You do need a good GPA AND you need to write a really GOOD essay. You are awarded points for your overall GPA (30%), your pre-req GPA (30%) and your essay (40%). I would also recommend that you get admitted to USF, once admitted you can talk to a nursing advisor. They are really helpful.

I was admitted the first time that I applied. My GPA is 3.9 and I took the initiative to take Pathophysiology before I entered the program. I also applied to St Petersburg College (an ADN program) just in case and was fortunate enough to be accepted to both.

Don't be discouraged! Write an outstanding essay and have it reviewed by someone at USF if you can. The library's writing center is great at helping out with admissions essays.

Good luck!

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SCF no longer required a CNA. it's still the best nursing program. High expectations, but almost everyone passes the NCLEX the first time.

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