community college or 4yr BSN

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Hey everyone, this is my first post on here, and I am hoping you can give me some advice.

My freshman year i attended Fairleigh Dickinson University for their 4yr BSN program. I didn't maintain the required GPA so I ended up losing my scholarship. Since the tuition is so high without scholarships, I ended up going to community college. Now that I am almost finished with the fall semester at community, I am notified that I could get my scholarship back for the spring semester at FDU. FDU will not take my community credits so I'd have to retake the courses along with the courses I did poorly in when I attended FDU.

I am just so stressed out trying to figure out what is the best route to take right now.

Should I go to back to FDU (i will end up staying for an extra 3.5 yrs) and retake the classes, but put out more money?

OR

Should I stay in community, take the NCLEX, pass, and go for an RN-BSN program (this route will take about 4.5 yrs)?

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Well, the RN-BSN program would be cheaper for sure even though it'll take longer. I took all of my pre-requisites at a CC, and I chose not to attend the ADN nursing program there because I was bored living at home and just wanted to move to a university for a BSN program. I also chose it because it was the quicker route. It's really just personal preference and financial ability. Either option will eventually get you to the same place, so it's up to what you like best.

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@missnursingstudent19

Thank you for the insight. Right now I am leaning towards CC since it would be cheaper. The only thing that is keeping me at bay besides the fact that it would be a longer process, I would have to pass the NCLEX before being admitted in an RN-BSN program. I am just frightened of the idea of not passing my first attempt, because then this process would be pushed back even further.

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Are there not any other nursing schools in your area? I'd take everything I could at my CC, then apply to a 4 year (that accepts cc credits) to finish up my BSN

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Hi Sounds like you already put work into CC and should should probably finish it there and get an ADN. Seem like the other school is going to cost you more time and that is more valuable then money ??? I think you should stick with the CC and then transfer for your BSN.

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@missnursingstudent19

Thank you for the insight. Right now I am leaning towards CC since it would be cheaper. The only thing that is keeping me at bay besides the fact that it would be a longer process, I would have to pass the NCLEX before being admitted in an RN-BSN program. I am just frightened of the idea of not passing my first attempt, because then this process would be pushed back even further.

Well, you'll have to take the NCLEX at some point no matter what, and in either situation failing it would still slow things down because if you took it after finishing a BSN program and failed, it could slow you down from getting a job. It might actually be better if you can get it over with before even starting the BSN program so that you won't have to worry about it after you have already put all the work into the BSN program and graduated.
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Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
Are there not any other nursing schools in your area? I'd take everything I could at my CC, then apply to a 4 year (that accepts cc credits) to finish up my BSN

I second this thought. I attended a highly regarded University with a great nursing program for my BSN immediately after high school, and met many people in my nursing class who did their prereqs through a community college and then transferred those to the University. 10 years later and I still to this day wish I would have known that this was even an option when I was in high school (college counselors were only pushing the Universities rather than this bridged option) because it would have saved me a lot of money for those prereq classes.

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.

I'm thankful to Jesus I went the community college, ADN route; I just graduated, and no debt attached. It's a good feeling looking for a job without having additional concerns over financial debt.

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