Direct entry prereq weight

[Aurelia2012]

Hi all (:

I have a prior healthcare degree so I have much of my prereqs done but they will "expire" before I can apply to an MSN program.. does anyone know if state college/university is more favorable than classes from community colleges?

I moved a lot in undergrad, so I attended many campuses. I learned a ton at the community college where I took APII and nutrition, and breezed through the state school where I took API and Micro. I would prefer to go back to the community college so I'll have a clue but I don't know if, on paper, this will hurt.

Also, having previously worked as a nursing assistant and some surgical assisting, should I focus on non-healthcare-related volunteer work?

Grateful for any suggestions!!!

[phieud]

No, it does not matter where you took your prereqs or which school you went to.

[Aurelia2012]

Thanks! Some schools outright say it doesn't matter, but some don't.

[anichka]

I think the most important thing is simply that you make sure the pre-reqs match up to EXACTLY what the school wants. If you're looking at public/state schools, the community college may be the best place for it.

Example: the programs I have applied to require lifespan psych. They are very specific in that they want birth to death. I guess some schools offer something along the lines of developmental psych, but it doesn't cover the entire lifespan... so it doesn't count. It's pretty easy for me to check that my community college courses are equivalent to what the schools I am applying to want.

Re. volunteer work, I would stick with healthcare, and probably try to focus on doing something that relates to what you see yourself doing, such as working with kids if you think you want to go into peds, and so on.