Best way to get a BSN after graduating high school

[49nurses]

I'm a senior in high school and I want to get a BSN. I have a 3.88U/W GPA and a 30 on the ACT but I'm retaking it in October and hope to get a 32+. I'm also a CNA and pretty involved in extracurriculars.

The schools I'm thinking of:

1. University of Kentucky (2+2 program)
   
2. Saint Louis University (Direct-entry)
   
3. Indiana University at Bloomington (2+2)
   
4. Purdue (direct-entry)
   
5. Emory (direct-entry)
   
6. Clemson (direct-entry)
   
7. Northeastern (direct-entry)
   
8. George Washington (direct-entry)
   
9. Upenn (direct-entry)
   

Which way do you all think would be the most efficient way to get a BSN, and do you have any opinions on any of these programs?

[night_owls]

I would try for a direct-entry school if you're 100% sure you want to do nursing. With a 2+2 program (if we're talking about the same thing) you have to apply to the nursing program after doing your prereqs with no guarantee that you'll get in. My only advice is to keep doing CNA work throughout school if you can handle it on top of your course load. It will look good on your resume when you graduate and you have a higher chance of being hired as an RN as the hospital you worked at as a CNA.

[Julius Seizure]

Agree about the direct entry. I did a direct entry program, and didn't even know there was another type, but then later heard about students at other schools who did their first two years, then would apply to the nursing program and be put on a wait list because of limited seats being available...and then you are just stuck in a holding pattern hoping to get in the next time around.

I don't have insight into any specific programs that you listed, but I do want to mention that in nursing, going to an expensive name-brand school does not give you a big leg up like it might for other majors. Don't feel like you need to go to a school with a shiny impressive name to succeed - save your money! Good luck finding the right spot for you!

[49nurses]

Yeah, that is what I meant by 2+2 program. I would say I'm about 90% sure I want to do something in the medical field either nursing or medicine. I've not gotten a job as a CNA. I just have my license. I think in college, I may work as a CNA, but I don't think I can during nursing school because I heard it's basically like a full time job. I spoke to one CNA and she said that whenever she worked at a hospital as a CNA, they offered to pay for her to get her RN.

[49nurses]

Yeah I feel like 2+2 programs are dumb, but I guess they want you to prove yourself because a lot of the 2+2 programs are colleges that are easy to get into.

Yeah that's what I've heard. I will probably pick the one that's cheapest/close ish to home. The top schools give really good financial aid. The people who are middle class get screwed in college because they can't get enough financial aid or they don't qualify at all for it but they can't afford to pay full price for college. The upper class can afford full price. And the poor people get FA.