Choosing the Right Path?

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I am a 26 year old woman, with two B.A. degrees (English and History). I would love to become a Nurse. I understand that at most colleges, it is difficult to get into the program, esp. if your prior course of study did not include math or science. One college in Boston recommends that you take two semesters of classes such as Anatomy and Physiology, Statistics, Algebra, Biology, Microbiology, and so on, before applying to the nursing program. This makes sense. My question is, does anyone know if I could apply as a full time student (non-degree?), take these classes, and if I do exceptionally well, do I stand a chance of being accepted into a nursing program? I'm also willing to seek out volunteer opportunities, which i'm hoping would improve my chances. Any advice? An advisor from a local state college recommended that I take a class, but I can't afford to do this without financial aid. Has anyone been in this situation? Are some schools in the country more inclined, or willing to accept more transfer or older students (as opposed to freshman)? Any comments or advice would be sincerely appreciated. Take care, and thanks so much.

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Have you considered direct-entry programs? These are designed for students that already have a bachelor's degree. They are usually accelerated programs that allow the student to become an RN in one year and then get a master's degree in two years. The programs are very competitive, but they are usually looking for individuals with a diverse background.

Whatever path you decide to take, you will have to complete the prerequistes. If you do well, you stand a good chance in getting into the program. I got in the first time that I applied to the nursing program and my school is very competitive. Volunteer experience will be very helpful. I would apply full-time as a pre-nursing student and complete the prerequistes. Good luck!

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Thank you so much for your advice. I live near Boston, and some direct-entry programs, or so I've been told by the schools, are geared towards enrolling freshman. Two schools nearby aren't even considering transfers for the fall, some only on a "space-available" basis. I haven't seen a school yet with "pre-nursing." Is this a major? One college recommends that you take a number of courses (2 sem worth) before applying to the BSN program. I asked an advisor if I could enroll full-time to take those classes, and she said I could do so as a liberal arts major. Does it make sense to do this? I"m thinking it might also increase my chances of getting into a BSN program to first complete an ADN. I'm just worried sick over this. I really want to become a nurse, I want to help people in this way, but I just don't know the best way to begin. I am a bit anxious hearing about how competive these programs are, and how some schools have waiting lists. What if I take the pre-reqs, do really well, and am still not admitted? Sorry to vent like this. I would just like to know that if I work hard and do whatever it takes, that I will be given a chance. Right now, I'm not even sure I will be given that opportunity.

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Specializes in ER at Level 1 trauma.
I'm just worried sick over this. I really want to become a nurse, I want to help people in this way, but I just don't know the best way to begin. I am a bit anxious hearing about how competive these programs are, and how some schools have waiting lists. What if I take the pre-reqs, do really well, and am still not admitted? Sorry to vent like this. I would just like to know that if I work hard and do whatever it takes, that I will be given a chance. Right now, I'm not even sure I will be given that opportunity.

I am in this exact position... and I know how you feel. (I am trying to take my prereqs (3 semesters) while working as a full time teacher - English and History- something in common!) And when I am done with those I will have to quit and hope I get accepted... It is a stressful situation. I visited the advisors on campus and they "dissected" my transcript to show me where I stood with the competition. That made me feel better. Have you done that yet?

The best 'therapy' for me is to talk with my husband, talk with others on here and pour my heart into studying so I WILL get in!! :) I hope this helps... Let me know if you find any other 'coping with the anxiety' strategies!!!:)

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Thank you, thank you so much for your words of encouragement. I'd feel better if there were a pre-nursing program I could apply to, but there are none in my area at all! God Bless all who have done it, and are thankful, and those who are trying, and are hopeful.

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im 100% in canada atleast that there is no pre-nursing program...if you want to take anatomy and microbio you would probably have to be in a science or health science program first, then it would be your "pre-nursing" i guess. but since you dont seem to come from a science background with your BA you may have to take like highschool refresher courses that your university offers first! before you even take the more advanced things like anatomy and microbio. thats what happened with me. anatomy required grade 12 biology, i dint have it, so i had to complete the equivalent that they have at the university.

good luck with your studies

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There are no pre-nursing programs that I am aware of. Register at school as a BA student and take the suggested core classes. Just prior to finishing the core courses apply to the nursing program.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

I was in a similar situation; my original BA is in economics. What I did was set up an appointment with the program director to find out exactly what the prereqs were and from which schools they would accept transfer credits (it turned out I was able to take developmental psych at a community college, which saved me $$$ - but A&P would not transfer. That was good to know before I registered!)

This may vary from school to school, but the university where I went had a "degree plus" designation for students who already had a bachelor's degree. That's how I enrolled. I was able to qualify for student loans based on the number of credits I was taking -- there is a category for that on the application. I did not actually declare a major until I finished the prereqs and was accepted into the nursing program.

You won't qualify for any govt. grants by seeking a second degree, but there are private scholarships out there (I got a job as a CNA and the hospital gave me $2K in tuition reimbursement.)

You'd probably be better off leaning toward a school with a high percentage of nontraditional/commuter students. The average age in my class was >30 and several others already had degrees, so it really wasn't an unusual situation.

If you are in the Boston area you should have a large selection of schools. Do some research and talk to people at different schools; some programs will be better suited to you than others.

Good luck and don't give up -- it is a long road but it can be done :idea:

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I just wanted to clarify- there are no "pre-nursing" programs. This is not a major. I attend a large state university and my major was "Exploring" (formerly "Undecided") before I was accepted to the nursing major. However, once I made the decision that I was going to apply, I contacted an advisor in the College of Nursing and they put me down as "pre-nursing". This just allows them to see that you intend to apply, but it is definately not required. Also, since I attend a large university, there are some nursing-related classes that you can take before being accepted to the program. For example, there is a class on patient-health professional relationships.

It makes sense to take the prerequistes as a liberal arts major. It really doesn't matter. You could also enroll as undecided. At my university, you can only apply to the nursing program once per year. Once you are accepted to the program, you become a nursing major.

If nursing is what you really want to do, stick with it!

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Oh wow, thank you all so much for all of the good advice. I see now that my options are not as limited as I imagined them to be. Thanks for the encouragement and support!

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