I'm a high school senior and my ideal route would be going to a 4 year uni right away... but I'm not completely sure if I'd get accepted. So I'm thinking worst case scenario, I go to a community college (CC). No matter where I go, my ultimate goal is to get a BSN (not an ADN).
** Can I go to a CC for 2-3 years for my general education/prereqs, then transfer to a university and complete their BSN program? Is this possible?
I don't want to go to CC for 3 years, wait YEARS to get accepted into the college's ADN program (community colleges are SO congested, esp in California), then get my ADN, be on the wait list again, then finally get accepted and complete a RN to BSN program. This route will take at least a year longer.
** So can anyone tell me if this is possible? Yes/No? Thanks!
I currently go to a university and looking to apply to the ABSN. From my experience here's what I saw.
I had friends who took pre-req classes at the community college and applied directly to the BSN programs, they were rejected. This is because the admissions know the difficulty level difference between community college and the university level. Universities prefer that you take the pre-reqs at the university. This fact applies to any program you apply to (ex PA, Medical, etc). They all prefer the classes to be taken at the university. Admissions know you're taking the easy way out by taking the pre-reqs at the community college.
To get your ADN and then apply to the university to transfer to a BSN, thats a smart choice. I would recommend this route.
I started at a community college which is one of the many in my state that have transfer agreements with at least four of the universities here. I did my pre-reqs and transferred without a problem for two separate degree programs, twice in my life. It's a much cheaper alternative than spending all of your time at a university for the SAME classes.
(I'm new to this site, sorry if I posted this in the wrong forum or if this is asked a lot)
I'm a high school senior and my ideal route would be going to a 4 year uni right away... but I'm not completely sure if I'd get accepted. So I'm thinking worst case scenario, I go to a community college (CC). No matter where I go, my ultimate goal is to get a BSN (not an ADN).
** Can I go to a CC for 2-3 years for my general education/prereqs, then transfer to a university and complete their BSN program? Is this possible?
I don't want to go to CC for 3 years, wait YEARS to get accepted into the college's ADN program (community colleges are SO congested, esp in California), then get my ADN, be on the wait list again, then finally get accepted and complete a RN to BSN program. This route will take at least a year longer.
** So can anyone tell me if this is possible? Yes/No? Thanks!
Contact your local universities to find out what transfers as well as the maximum credits they'll take from another school. You don't wanna take 3 years of classes just to have only 2 years transfer over. :) Good Luck!!
That's what I'm doing.. In fact my CC has a direct relationship with my 4 yr and provides a detailed list of the 64 credits I must earn first to get accepted into their BSN program. I have 6 more classes to complete and I apply to the program this Feb for Fall 2014 program. Then it's 4 consecutive semesters and graduate in Dec of 2015. Starting researching and talking to the nursing advisors. Sometimes this type is referred to as a "pathway".
I never said that universities don't allow transfers. So please don't discredit what I am saying as incorrect. I am speaking form my own experience and from what my university advisors told me.
But is it harder to get accepted into a BSN program where the pre-reqs were taken at a community college vs university? I believe so and was told so. In fact I do know people who were university students, took the pre-reqs at the community college and was rejected from the BSN program. One friend I know was rejected twice. On her third attempt, was accepted into the community college program that went from a ASN to a BSN that connected to the university. Others I met changed their majors.
I do think going through a community college ADN's route THEN transferring to a university to get the BSN is a smart move. Just taking the pre-reqs at a cc and applying directly to a university BSN can be tricky but also possible. But from my years of experience and talking to advisors. That's not what they recommended me.
I think it all depends on the university one applies to. I transferred last fall, but I was taking four classes at the university prior to applying to the program, and was accepted. But, there are incoming transfer students who are beginning the program along with us who haven't taken a single class at my university, so it's definitely possible to transfer into a nursing program depending on whether you have completed all required courses, or whether the program will allow one to finish certain courses while taking their nursing courses.
All programs and colleges are different though, so what may not be allowed for one, another may be lucky to have. :-)
Honestly it depends which University you want to transfer too. Some barely accept transfer students even with 4.0's. They prefer their own undergrad students. If you do end up transferring make sure you research what requirements each program has, because not all programs are the same.
I didn't have a problem transferring. I completed my AA at a College and am now transferring to a university. I was accepted into three, one state other two private.Even though state was cheaper I chose a private because I got a scholarship .
yes you can but bear in mind you still have to apply to the regular college's nursing program and if you don't get in there will still be some "wait" period. However some colleges require that you take X amount of their credits before you can even apply to their nursing program. So even if you have all the prereqs done you may still have to spend a semester or 2 taking bs classes just to fill their credit requirement. As many have said, check to be sure the CC credits will transfer over
I didn't have any trouble getting into my BSN program. I finished my prereqs at a community college Spring 2012, and then started my program at a CSU the following semester. So I think it just depends on the university.
...the admissions know the difficulty level difference between community college and the university level...Admissions know you're taking the easy way out by taking the pre-reqs at the community college.
Not necessarily true. It really depends on the school. I think your example is more of the exception rather than the rule.
I currently go to a university and looking to apply to the ABSN. From my experience here's what I saw.
I had friends who took pre-req classes at the community college and applied directly to the BSN programs, they were rejected. This is because the admissions know the difficulty level difference between community college and the university level. Universities prefer that you take the pre-reqs at the university. This fact applies to any program you apply to (ex PA, Medical, etc). They all prefer the classes to be taken at the university. Admissions know you're taking the easy way out by taking the pre-reqs at the community college.
To get your ADN and then apply to the university to transfer to a BSN, thats a smart choice. I would recommend this route.
You must have been on the adcom then otherwise how would you know why?
Someone told me the same thing about the local university and declared one day at lunch ( not knowing where any of us went to school) that "all these people go to community college just to get good grades but the university won't accept their transfer credits". I quickly ended her pompous attitude by letting her know that I did attend the community college and how I had been accepted to her same university no problem. I was accepted to 2 nursing schools and I turned down the local and attended the bigger name school and guess what? They accepted all my credits too!
The stigma to community college is not the same as it used to be. Some of us who work before starting nursing have to take night and weekend classes which a lot of the universities I have lived by do not offer. It's not about being easier maybe just more convenient.
I have my associates in science from community college, BSN from a large university and my MSN /anesthesia degree from a private school. Amazing what you can do after starting from a community college.
Nursing is an impacted course and difficult to get into so you need to check with the University that you are planning to attend. For example, you cannot currently transfer to Cal State Fullerton to do your BSN after completing your prerequisites at CC; they have restricted application to current students only. You can however obtain a ADN from CC and transfer after that. This is a longer route (5/6 years?), but you could work after you receive your ADN while you study for your BSN (this is what I am hoping to do - starting my ADN course soon :) ).
I don't believe that universities particularly look down on CC. I feel that because they can pick and choose their students, they give the places to the students that have paid them for 2 years rather than taken a cheaper option. Fullerton University has an agreement with Riverside Community College so that after completing the ADN, students can study at Riverside and receive a BSN from Fullerton. They would not offer this if they believed CC education was substandard.
Strive2Survive
48 Posts
I started at a community college which is one of the many in my state that have transfer agreements with at least four of the universities here. I did my pre-reqs and transferred without a problem for two separate degree programs, twice in my life. It's a much cheaper alternative than spending all of your time at a university for the SAME classes.