Central vs Capital

[tmah21]

I am 21 and interested in going to nursing school. I have heard great things about the program at the community college but because I am still young I was thinking of doing the 4 year program at Central. I have a lot of classes done already at Tunxis. If anyone could help me decide and give any advice on the route they took to becoming a nurse that would be greatly appreciated. Thank You so much!

[ready2getoutofCT]

It depends if you want to get your BS or your AD. There is obviously a pay difference, although not a MAJOR one, if you get your bachelors vs associates. Central is a good school, although the nursing program is basically brand new. Ive heard good things about the Capital nursing program and there isnt a huge waiting list anymore like there used to be which is a plus. I am enrolling into the Capital nursing program but I am 25 with a child so its a different situation, I dont have the time to devote to 4 years of college now. I'd honestly say go for the BS while youre still younger, i wish i did, but i was too busy partying to care when i was 21, all of a sudden i realized im just getting older now and have to buckle down and get stuff done! Good luck!

[mattfd37]

Unless you want to be a Nurse Manager or APRN anything more than a RN stay with the AD. Central is a good school as well as any of the CT Comm Colleges. Read the requirements and understand the application process for the CTCC. If you don't get any of your 3 choices you are wait listed (which is just your State rank). If there are 450 spots available in the CTCC's and your rank is 500 then your wait list number is 50...which is huge to me. You're young so go for the BA.

[kristak]

Hey, I would say go for the BSN. It is untrue that the only reason to do this is if you want to be a nurse manager or go on for your Masters. The pay difference really doesn't even exist. BUT, your chances of actually getting a job with the BSN are ALOT higher. While the "nursing shortage" may return, the fact is that hospitals are likely to take the BSN first. Middlesex has magnet status, which means that they must have a certain percentage of BSNs on staff, and I imagine other area hospitals are also hoping to become magnet hospitals, too.