California Nursing Advice

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Hey all,

So I've decided to switch my major from Biology to Nursing! It's a big step, and I'm glad to finally have some clarity with a specific profession in mind for where I want to go. I am currently about to enter my 3rd (and hopefully last) year at my community college. I wanted to get some community perspective for where I could go, and my chances at ending up at the colleges of my choice.

Right now, I am really considering :

CSU Long Beach

San Diego State University

CSU Los Angeles

San Francisco State University

I have taken 51.5 CSU transferable units at my community college, with a cumulative GPA of 3.592... I have taken Statistics and got a B, Critical Thinking Philosophy and got an A, Math 27 (Precalc and Trig) and got an A, and Chemistry 1A and got a B. I still need to take Microbiology, Sociology, Psychology, Anatomy, Physiology, Speech, and Food/Nutrition.

I am wondering on recommendations people have for nursing schools in California, and how realistic my odds are of getting into my picks of schools at a 3.6 GPA basically. I have done lots of googling, but it's hard to find articles specific to schools when it comes to nursing as a major. I also don't really know where to look to find the best schools for nursing... though from what I have seen online, all that seems to really matter is that you get your BSN in the end.

Could anyone give me some tips and advice on schools? I really want to see my odds of getting in to the listed schools. I've done some reading on their averages for the nursing students accepted but can only find these averages listed for some of the schools. Is there any school that seems perhaps more realistic for a 3.6 GPA student if these aren't?

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Have you considered CSU Stanislaus?

Their average GPA of admitted students ranges from 3.7-3.8; and average TEAS scores of admitted students seems to be in the low 80's.

Are you able to retake classes? Aim for high grades and do well on your TEAS. California is a very competitive state for nursing.

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You are in good shape. Even the top nursing schools only require a 3.0 GPA in order to apply. Other factors are also important, such as any relevant volunteer or healthcare experience, your application essay or interview, diversity, etc.

U.S. News and World Report publishes rankings of nursing schools - you can google this. Other schools to consider are UCLA, University of San Diego, and Loma Linda.

Good luck!

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So I managed to find this list:

http://ccctransfer.org/sites/default/files/documents/toolboxes/CCC%20Toolbox/Nursing-Grid-Updated%20June-11-2014.pdf

But I was wondering if anyone has a more extended list than this? Of nursing schools that include the average GPAs and TEAs scores?

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Your GPA is good, but BSN programs are really competitive. Get A's in those pre reqs anatomy, physio, etc. and score really well on the TEAS. The prereq and TEAS score is what is really going to matter. Don't forget to apply to some ADN programs as well. You want to have a back up, even if it's not what you have in mind. My first round of applications were BSN only and didn't get in anywhere. My second time applying I applied to ADNs and my only regret was not applying sooner.

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I'm going to try for all A's in my future classes. I have 51.5 units on file and still have another 33 to take - trying to transfer out of my community college within a year by taking 20 units next semester.

I really do not want to pursue my ADN because of the amount of time I've already amassed at my community college. I know for a fact that I do want to pursue my BSN eventually no matter what, so I want to examine my options.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a Private College that I would have a very strong chance of getting into? I hate to call a school my fall back school, but I do want to see the options I have before me. I've been working on a long list of colleges thus far.

CSU Stanislaus

Science GPA = 3.78

Non-Science GPA = 3.75

Overall GPA = 3.72

ATI Score = 80.48

Acceptance Rates Range ~17%

Positions/semester = 30

Total Enrollment: 9,282

Campus Thoughts: Small (228 acres). Located in Turlock (72,000 population).

CSU Bakersfield

Overall GPA = 3.64

TEAs score: 83.8% minimum

Acceptance Rates ~17%. 55 admitted/semester.

Positions/semester = 55

Total Enrollment: 8,002

Campus Thoughts: Very urban. 375 acres. Located in Bakersfield (376,000 population. 1.5 hours from Los Angeles)

CSU Chico

Average GPA on 8 PREREQs: 3.0

TEAs score = 80% minimum

No average GPA - focus on points... average 84/100.

Acceptance Rates: ~21%... 40 admitted/semester.

Total Enrollment: 17,287

Campus Thoughts: Very beautiful. Lovely architecture. Green campus. Only 119 acres. North of Santa Rosa though. Town of Chico population 86,000.

CSU East Bay

Average GPA = 3.80

TEAS score = 82%

Acceptance Rates = ~14%... 126 admitted

Total Enrollment: 14,823

Campus Thoughts: Located in Haywayd. Southeast of San Francisco. Population 159,000. 200 acre campus. Urban campus.

CSU Fresno

Average GPA: 3.70

TEAs Score: 75% minimum

Acceptance Rate= ~22%... 60 admitted

Total Enrollment: 363 acres

Campus Thoughts: Urban & green. City of Fresno, 500,000+.... 1/2 way between SF and Los Angeles.. ~3 hours from each. 363 acre campus.

CSU Fullerton

Average GPA = 3.60

Acceptance Rate = ~40%... 40 admitted

Total Enrollment: 40,235

Campus Thoguhts: Urban & good architecture. 236 acre campus.

CSU Long Beach

Average GPA = 3.89

TEAs score average: 86.5%

Acceptance Rate: ~18%.... 82 admitted

Total Enrollment: 37,446

Campus Thoughts: 323 acres. Very beautiful. Plenty of trees. 30 minutes from Los Angeles.

CSU Sacramento

Average GPA : 3.93

TEAs Score: 89.5% average

Acceptance Rate: ~19%... 80 admitted

Total Enrollment: 30,284

Campus Thoughts: Urban and green. 300 acres. Pretty.

CSU San Bernardino

Average GPA: 3.83

Average TEAs score: 86%

TEAs score minimum: 70%

Acceptance Rate: ~14%... 44 admitted

Total Enrollment: 20,767

Campus Thoughts: Urban. Rather open. Decent architecture. 430 acres. City of 216,000. 1 hour from Los Angeles. Very close to national forest.

CSU San Marcos

Average GPA: 3.83

Average TEAs composite score: 84.3%

Acceptance Rate: ~7%... 42 admitted

Total enrollment: 14,179

Campus Thoughts: 340 acres. City of 84,000. 35 minutes from San Diego. 1hr40 min from Los Angeles. Pretty campus. Urban with some green.

CSU San Diego

Average GPA: 3.75

Acceptance Rate: ~10%, 80 admitted

Total Enrollment: 33,800

Campus Thoughts: Very pretty. Good location.

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I'm going to try for all A's in my future classes. I have 51.5 units on file and still have another 33 to take - trying to transfer out of my community college within a year by taking 20 units next semester.

I really do not want to pursue my ADN because of the amount of time I've already amassed at my community college. I know for a fact that I do want to pursue my BSN eventually no matter what, so I want to examine my options.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a Private College that I would have a very strong chance of getting into? I hate to call a school my fall back school, but I do want to see the options I have before me. I've been working on a long list of colleges thus far.

CSU Stanislaus

Science GPA = 3.78

Non-Science GPA = 3.75

Overall GPA = 3.72

ATI Score = 80.48

Acceptance Rates Range ~17%

Positions/semester = 30

Total Enrollment: 9,282

Campus Thoughts: Small (228 acres). Located in Turlock (72,000 population).

CSU Bakersfield

Overall GPA = 3.64

TEAs score: 83.8% minimum

Acceptance Rates ~17%. 55 admitted/semester.

Positions/semester = 55

Total Enrollment: 8,002

Campus Thoughts: Very urban. 375 acres. Located in Bakersfield (376,000 population. 1.5 hours from Los Angeles)

CSU Chico

Average GPA on 8 PREREQs: 3.0

TEAs score = 80% minimum

No average GPA - focus on points... average 84/100.

Acceptance Rates: ~21%... 40 admitted/semester.

Total Enrollment: 17,287

Campus Thoughts: Very beautiful. Lovely architecture. Green campus. Only 119 acres. North of Santa Rosa though. Town of Chico population 86,000.

CSU East Bay

Average GPA = 3.80

TEAS score = 82%

Acceptance Rates = ~14%... 126 admitted

Total Enrollment: 14,823

Campus Thoughts: Located in Haywayd. Southeast of San Francisco. Population 159,000. 200 acre campus. Urban campus.

CSU Fresno

Average GPA: 3.70

TEAs Score: 75% minimum

Acceptance Rate= ~22%... 60 admitted

Total Enrollment: 363 acres

Campus Thoughts: Urban & green. City of Fresno, 500,000+.... 1/2 way between SF and Los Angeles.. ~3 hours from each. 363 acre campus.

CSU Fullerton

Average GPA = 3.60

Acceptance Rate = ~40%... 40 admitted

Total Enrollment: 40,235

Campus Thoguhts: Urban & good architecture. 236 acre campus.

CSU Long Beach

Average GPA = 3.89

TEAs score average: 86.5%

Acceptance Rate: ~18%.... 82 admitted

Total Enrollment: 37,446

Campus Thoughts: 323 acres. Very beautiful. Plenty of trees. 30 minutes from Los Angeles.

CSU Sacramento

Average GPA : 3.93

TEAs Score: 89.5% average

Acceptance Rate: ~19%... 80 admitted

Total Enrollment: 30,284

Campus Thoughts: Urban and green. 300 acres. Pretty.

CSU San Bernardino

Average GPA: 3.83

Average TEAs score: 86%

TEAs score minimum: 70%

Acceptance Rate: ~14%... 44 admitted

Total Enrollment: 20,767

Campus Thoughts: Urban. Rather open. Decent architecture. 430 acres. City of 216,000. 1 hour from Los Angeles. Very close to national forest.

CSU San Marcos

Average GPA: 3.83

Average TEAs composite score: 84.3%

Acceptance Rate: ~7%... 42 admitted

Total enrollment: 14,179

Campus Thoughts: 340 acres. City of 84,000. 35 minutes from San Diego. 1hr40 min from Los Angeles. Pretty campus. Urban with some green.

CSU San Diego

Average GPA: 3.75

Acceptance Rate: ~10%, 80 admitted

Total Enrollment: 33,800

Campus Thoughts: Very pretty. Good location.

Have you taken the TEAS yet?

Keep in mind, you still have a bunch of prereqs to complete so you still have time to bring up your GPA.

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Look, I know what it's like to feel like you've been at community college too long. I know what it's like to want to get a BSN the quickest route. I was on and off at my community college for around 6+ years figuring out what I wanted to do. When I didn't get into any BSN programs I was devastated. I put all my eggs in the BSN basket and it didn't work out. The next term I applied for ADN programs and boy am I glad that it worked out that way. The hospital I do clinicals at offered me a part time job last year so I've been working there while I get to make my own work schedule. I will be graduating with ZERO debt and a chance to be hired as an RN. Sure, it may be a slim chance, but since I'm already an employee there that just may help me out.

The point I'm trying to make is that you want to have options. If you go to a private school do you really want to end up in debt? My friend goes to a private school and is paying over $100k for her BSN. I, on the other hand, will have no debt and I plan on continuing to an RN-BSN program that costs around $10-20k. A BSN program would probably be more than the ADN program and a GREAT option, but don't limit yourself.

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The biggest reason on why I really want to focus on my BSN, and that alone - is because my family has been putting money into a college fund since I was born. It's at ~100,000 now, and I haven't used any of it in community college since I've been working part time and paying for myself. If I don't use the money for college specifically, then I'm going to apparently incur significant penalties in order to withdraw it, and will also face penalties if I don't use it within the next four years since I've already finished with 2 years of college.

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What about Cal State LA and CSUN?

Also, check out this site, I have found it to be very helpful:

American Association of Colleges of Nursing | Home

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I haven't taken my TEAs yet. I did the calculations, and with my 51.5 units thus far, if I get all A's in my future 33 units, I'll end up with a 3.756 GPA.

The only thing is, I don't really understand how units transfer over. I'll be ending my community college time with 84.5 units, and from what I have seen, apparently only 70 semester long units transfer over? I'm not sure how my additional units will play into my GPA.

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I went to Chico and really enjoyed it. It depends on what you are looking for and what you put into it. Nursing school is one of those things that you only get out of it what you put into it. Some people can get top grades by cramming, testing then moving on to the next subject but they do not retain anything. In nursing school, learning and retaining, is more important than top grades.

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