Confused - Associates or BS

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Hello-

This is my first time posting. I'm a little confused. I have a BS in Business, and would like to go back for nursing. I'm awaiting my boards for the CNA license. Anyway, I'm wondering if I should do an Associates at the community college or my BSN at an expensive college. I have a mortgage so I would have to take out private loans for living expenses. My question is, is it worth it to take out a loan for the BSN and living expenses (app. 60,000) or just go to the community college which is so much less and I would just have to take loans for the living expenses. If I go to the community college, I have to take day classes, which means no decent paying job. (CNA's are only paid 10.00 where I live). If I go to the private college I would take classes at night, and Sat. so I could probably hold a higher paying job. Is it possible to work full time and do the nursing program at night. Will I make enough money upon graduation to re-pay a 60,000 loan. Or should I just do the Associates. and go back for the BSN. Any response would be appreciated. I've enjoyed the posts, they have provided great insight for me.

Thanks!!

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Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Psych.

Miss Aprehensive,

I'm a little apprehensive of your title for this thread. ;)

CrazyPremed

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Specializes in ER, Family Practice, Free Clinics.

First of all, welcome!

You are in a rock and a hard place with the money, and I can DEFINITELY understand since I am in the red with loans right now! IF you haven't even applied for financial aid yet, you really don't know where you stand. You should really apply for scholarships and financial aid at both schools and look into local hospitals that might be willing to help you pay for school in exchange for working there after graduation.

There are pros and cons to both paths. Many people will say that a new grad with a ADN makes the same or very similar to a BSN new grad. For my part, I am a student so I don't know! If you are looking to do a bridge program later to BSN or MSN, maybe ADN is the way to go to save you money now. If on the other hand, you are really set on a BSN and you are afraid you wont get back around to returning to school, that is something to think about too. Apply for aid at both places to get all the info together before you make a decision, you might be surprised! Best of luck!

Hello-

This is my first time posting. I'm a little confused. I have a BS in Business, and would like to go back for nursing. I'm awaiting my boards for the CNA license. Anyway, I'm wondering if I should do an Associates at the community college or my BSN at an expensive college. I have a mortgage so I would have to take out private loans for living expenses. My question is, is it worth it to take out a loan for the BSN and living expenses (app. 60,000) or just go to the community college which is so much less and I would just have to take loans for the living expenses. If I go to the community college, I have to take day classes, which means no decent paying job. (CNA's are only paid 10.00 where I live). If I go to the private college I would take classes at night, and Sat. so I could probably hold a higher paying job. Is it possible to work full time and do the nursing program at night. Will I make enough money upon graduation to re-pay a 60,000 loan. Or should I just do the Associates. and go back for the BSN. Any response would be appreciated. I've enjoyed the posts, they have provided great insight for me.

Thanks!!

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Since the thread was edited, what I said doesn't make sense anymore! Never mind :)

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Miss Aprehensive,

I'm a little apprehensive of your title for this thread. ;)

CrazyPremed

ROFLMAO:lol_hitti

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Specializes in Day Surgery/Infusion/ED.

Perhaps the OP needs some clarification; it's ASN/ADN. Definitely not abbreviated to sound like the word for someone's backside.

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hmmmm.

don't know how to provide the link, but a search of bsn vs adn, will reveal the depth and extent of this very same subject.

best of luck.

leslie

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Specializes in Psych.
Hello-

This is my first time posting. I'm a little confused. I have a BS in Business, and would like to go back for nursing. I'm awaiting my boards for the CNA license. Anyway, I'm wondering if I should do an Associates at the community college or my BSN at an expensive college. I have a mortgage so I would have to take out private loans for living expenses. My question is, is it worth it to take out a loan for the BSN and living expenses (app. 60,000) or just go to the community college which is so much less and I would just have to take loans for the living expenses. If I go to the community college, I have to take day classes, which means no decent paying job. (CNA's are only paid 10.00 where I live). If I go to the private college I would take classes at night, and Sat. so I could probably hold a higher paying job. Is it possible to work full time and do the nursing program at night. Will I make enough money upon graduation to re-pay a 60,000 loan. Or should I just do the Associates. and go back for the BSN. Any response would be appreciated. I've enjoyed the posts, they have provided great insight for me.

Thanks!!

Years ago, I chose the BSN route b/c I felt it was my only choice. I had a very unreliable car and the ADN program was a 40 mile drive through what could be very bad roads in the winter. Bsn program was 30 minutes away, tops. There are a lot of scholarships/loans available for BSN programs. There are also student loans at low interest from the gov't. Within the last 7 yrs I finally paid off my student loans which set me up nicely for taking out loans for my oldest son's college education this yr. (It never ends, does it?). I feel the BSN has opened a few doors for me in the lateral sense (not advancement "up the ladder" or increased pay so much as the opportunity to try new things such as a specialized unit or an opportunity to try case management). If you feel up to the challenge, go for the BSN by all means. You may have to take flak from your ADN co-workers (I know I did) but I think you will be better off in the long run. It's easier to specialize and/or pursue an MSN if you already have the BSN.

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Hmmm. I went the ADN route because of the money. Maybe I'll regret it one day, but I just could not justify the extra expense.

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I think that if you have the time (program might be longer, altho some BSN is 2 years), and the money (it wasn't too much of a diff for me, CC school was 1000ish and my current school is 1600ish) then go for your BSN. If you latter decide that you want to further your education/career with your masters then you will need a BSN.

Also, since you already have a degree, you might qualify for an accelerated program so it will take less time.

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I think that if you have the time (program might be longer, altho some BSN is 2 years), and the money (it wasn't too much of a diff for me, CC school was 1000ish and my current school is 1600ish) then go for your BSN. If you latter decide that you want to further your education/career with your masters then you will need a BSN.

Also, since you already have a degree, you might qualify for an accelerated program so it will take less time.

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