CSU nursing pre-reqs and BSN programs

[cardenas_a]

Hi, im a senior in high school and applying for college in the fall. Im a bit confused on Universities that have BSN programs... I read from a post on College Confidential.com that its best to go to a University that has a BSN program than going to a college/university that doesn't have a BSN program because you would EITHER need to get your Bachelors degree in another science instead of nursing, which is longer and more expensive i believe, OR transfer to a University that has a BSN program when you're done with your nursing pre-reqs, which can get complicated. I want to know, is this true? Whats the easiest path to take in order to become an RN?? And, lets say i get accepted to Cal State LA as a pre-nursing/undeclared/or other science major and take all of my required nursing pre reqs for that school. Will they be the same if, lets say, i go to Cal State Long Beach's Nursing School to get my BSN, or Cal State Northridge, Cal State Fullerton (these schools are just examples)???? to further emphasize on my question, will the nursing pre reqs i took at Cal State LA be accepted at any other Cal State University that has a BSN program, which would allow me to go to those other Nursing schools/BSN Programs???

I would really appreciate the help, Thank You!!! :)

[BonnieSc]

Post to the California forum for people with more specific knowledge. It's been a while but I think all the prereqs were the same at all the CSUs when I was there; look at a few colleges' nursing department websites for more information. Certainly all of the classes will transfer easily, they just might have slightly different requirements. Some are also going to be more competitive than others.

I had a previous bachelor's, went to junior college for my nursing prereqs, then transferred to a CSU--it was pretty straightforward. The junior colleges in California generally have alignment agreements making it so they transfer exactly to the CSUs. That's often the cheapest way, and a common way, but there are also advantages to going to a 4-year college from the beginning; it depends on your goals. (I would encourage most 18 year olds to start at a four year college if at all possible, if their goal is to get a bachelor's degree, for the social and academic support structure.)

Transferring is just another hoop to jump through, so I think the best thing to do is apply to CSUs with BSN programs and plan to stay there all four years. (It sometimes takes longer, just a word of warning... make sure you stay on top of the classes you need to register for, and do your best to get straight As in your prereqs.)

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Moved to schools/programs