Do Yall Think You Were Robbed of...

emily_mom · Feb 18, 2003

I don't think any program is easy. To say that marketing is easy compared to nursing is only b/c you are not knowledgeable about it.

Personally, I don't give a crap about my "college experience". I am there to learn and to get my degree...meanwhile trying to make myself the best nurse that I can be.

Many of us here are juggling jobs, husbands, kids, extended families on top of all the demands of school. I went to nursing school when I was 18, and I wasn't mature enough. I was more interested in the "college experience". Now that I am paying for it myself, I am much more appreciative of what is being offered me.

I go to school full time, work 32-40 hours a week, have a 4 year old, husband, etc....

You sound like you aren't ready to make the leap into nursing school. If you are unsure, don't do it. Take some time, work, grow up and educate yourself with the world.

Kristy

ava'smomRN · Feb 18, 2003

emily_mom

i am with you, however i don't know why i really don't care too much about the college experience. i'd rather study work hard and move on thsn party, party party, and fail. But on the cntrary i do enjoy some college experience but overall, no i don't feel cheated at all. i love nursing as a major

Rena RN 2003, RN · Feb 18, 2003

sounds to me like you are living the "college experience." you mention school, part-time work, sorority, and boyfriend. yep, that's college. enjoy it. :)

sjoe · Feb 18, 2003

You are right insofar as pre-med, nursing, engineering, etc. majors often take up so much time that less is available for socializing.

You need to decide on your priority for now, and pursue it. If it is socializing, dating, athletics, partying, working, etc. then take a decreased load or pick a major that doesn't require so much of your time and energy as nursing would. You can always switch later, with some "loss" of time, of course, involved.

It would be a shame if you kept your nose to the grindstone and only focused on an academic aspect of college, then kicked yourself in the butt the rest of your life because you thought you somehow had "missed out."

EmeraldNYL, BSN, RN · Feb 18, 2003

Those people I went to school with that had the "full college experience" usually had crappy GPAs and couldn't find jobs after they graduated. I managed to have a life AND pass my classes when I went to college for my bio degree, but now I'm in a one year accelerated BSN program so my life went out the window. It's only for a year though, so I'll live it up in September!!

Lausana · Feb 18, 2003

Originally posted by EmeraldNYL
Those people I went to school with that had the "full college experience" usually had crappy GPAs and couldn't find jobs after they graduated

exactly...or ones I think of have had to drop out or are still going..and going... and will be going for ever because it is usually impossible to really focus on a real classload and still go to all the parties and skip class.

The kinship you'll feel with your classmates & the pride you will feel when you have a career waiting for you after you hard work in nursing school is what makes up the college experience. School is what you make it, maybe you just need to take some time off to decide what you really want. I had a year off & it was the best thing to get me in the right direction.

natsfanrn · Feb 18, 2003

When I went to school for my first BS a "few" (ahem) years ago, I was in it for the "college experience." I changed my major from pre-vet (which is what I really wanted to do, but hey, it was hard) to journalism, which, as majors go, ain't exactly rocket science, and I went out drinking, heavily, pretty much every night. Don't know how I made it through in 4 years with a decent gpa, and to be honest I don't remember much of it either :eek: . I got the "college experience," had a blast in fact, but I would have been better off taking the tuition money and throwing it in the fireplace for what I learned.

Now here I am a "few" years later starting over again. I'm married with kid, so no "college experience," but I'm finding how great it is to actually be learning something! Odd as it sounds, I love going to class now and am enjoying school for what it is, not just putting up with it as a way to kill time between parties. I guess what I'm getting at is that you're young, and if you really feel like you have to cut loose for a while, take a break from school all together so you're not throwing your tuition money away and turning your back on something you really want to do. If not, then make school your number one priority so that you don't regret your actions years down the road.

Good luck

--karen

tonicareer · Feb 18, 2003

I spoke to some local state colleges about this. Many colleges are trying to make a BSN a 5 year program rather that 4 year. This way students would qualify for an additional year of financial aid. However the government must approve this. However they recommend students not do the program in just 8 semesters. They suggest taking some classes in the summer if possible. Many of the nursing students are carrying 20 credits a semester some of which is clinical and lab classes and require commuting to clinical sites and lab sites. Many students have to do it this way. But the colleges know it is difficult. They also are trying to get approval for teaching majors to be 5 years also due to the extensive field experiences and student teaching that our state now requires.

essarge · Feb 18, 2003

Like Kardut, I started my "college experience" (quite) a few years ago. Did the partying thing (among other things) and am now back in school. I am there to learn now but, when I was "younger", I had my priorities all screwed around. Partying and being "popular" were at the top of the list. Now they are at the bottom. Life has taught me that in order to have a life, I have to make sure that my priorities are right. Thus, my education is first, then my job (gotta pay those bills), then my home, then comes the partying (if there is any time left). Do I miss it....sometimes. Sometimes I just take a short break from everything and go ahead and go out with friends but those times are few and far between right now.

I will graduate in May '04 and then my priorities will change yet again. I will have more time for a social life and friends. But until then, my life stays the way it is....disciplined with very strict boundaries.

jdomep · Feb 18, 2003

When I was in college the first time (almost 20 years ago) I did not do all the "college" things. I was there for 1 thing and that was my education ( and I think lucky for me I dated a guy all through college who was serious about school) - I never understood how the students did it with all of their social stuff and trying to make the grade. I don't feel I missed out on anything.

Now back in school at 37 it is even more important for me to do well now - I am realy glad I learned to study the first time around which helps me prioritize and my 4 little guys are learning from watching mommy work so hard - but they know I will drop what I am doing for a hug:)

Hooligan · Feb 18, 2003

Originally posted by kardut
When I went to school for my first BS a "few" (ahem) years ago, I was in it for the "college experience." I changed my major from pre-vet (which is what I really wanted to do, but hey, it was hard) to journalism, which, as majors go, ain't exactly rocket science, and I went out drinking, heavily, pretty much every night. Don't know how I made it through in 4 years with a decent gpa, and to be honest I don't remember much of it either . I got the "college experience," had a blast in fact, but I would have been better off taking the tuition money and throwing it in the fireplace for what I learned.

Now here I am a "few" years later starting over again. I'm married with kid, so no "college experience," but I'm finding how great it is to actually be learning something! Odd as it sounds, I love going to class now and am enjoying school for what it is, not just putting up with it as a way to kill time between parties. I guess what I'm getting at is that you're young, and if you really feel like you have to cut loose for a while, take a break from school all together so you're not throwing your tuition money away and turning your back on something you really want to do. If not, then make school your number one priority so that you don't regret your actions years down the road.

Good luck
--karen

Wow!!! Karen, you sound like me!! I started out as pre-vet (which is all I ever wanted to do) and switched to English after I bombed my first semester (I chalk it up to misspent youth :rolleyes: ). My current "college experience" is a lot different from the first now that I'm paying the bills and having to juggle a full time job as well. But I guess I still wouldn't have listened back then anyway! Ah well, such is life! Some lessons are learned the hard way.

~Bean