Does completing your prerequisites at 3 different community colleges look bad?

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Hi there,

I am in the process of completing my prerequisites for an Accelerated BSN program. I completed my undergraduate at a 4-year university on the West Coast. I am currently working in Chicago, IL and have had to take two prerequisites at two different CC's in the city because one did not offer the correct Nutrition program. My lease is up in a few months, and because this city is incredibly expensive I am considering moving back West and finishing up the last of my classes there.

I am wondering if this will look bad to the Accelerated BSN programs that I am applying to? If I have my undergrad degree, plus 3 different Junior Colleges for my prerequisites? I have earned good grades, and have tons of extracurricular activities that I hope help me in the application process, but I am really hoping that the move-arounds will not look bad on my behalf..

Thank you!

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Specializes in Hospice.

I also did my prerequisites at several places. I'm enrolled in a BSN completion program and haven't had any problems with this.

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Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC.

No ... why should it? I did some prereqs at one college broke up with a guy that was my primary influence for being in that area, moved to another state and did more prereqs. Then my young son couldn't deal with Arizona weather (constant ear infections coupled with pneumonia).

It was advised to move to a wetter climate. So Oregon is where I finished my pre-reqs at a community college in one town. Did my BSN degree at the university in another. No one has ever commented about the amount of schools I've gone to.

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.

Not at all. I started at a university and went for 1.5 years. Dropped out to raise a family. Then I decided to go back to school and changed my major from business to nursing. Went to a CC to get my LPN. Took a couple of online classes from another university then finished up prereqs at still another CC. I'm in a BSN program now (my 5th school). I didn't have any problems.

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I sure hope not! I have a bachelor's in business (which I attended 3 different schools while I was earning it!) and some of those courses will go towards the requirements to get into NS. I'm taking pre-reqs at a 4th school and plan to attend a whole other school LOL

In researching nursing schools, I have seen where some have different ranking systems "1 point for out of county, 2 points for county residents" blah blah blah I guess one of their rankings could be for taking pre-reqs at their school, but Ive not seen it where I am (in the SE).

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Specializes in FNP.

I doubt anyone would care.

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Specializes in Psych, Emergency.

I had no trouble with prereqs coming from 5 different schools and two different time periods! As long as you get them done and the are accepted it shouldn't be a big deal, good luck!

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Someone might conclude that you were shopping around for easier courses, but they could also come to the conclusion that you traveled around to get the courses you needed. Too many schools have an impossible situation when it comes to getting required courses. Moving around can save time and money in the long run. If you ever were asked in an interview, this is what I would tell them.

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Specializes in LTC currently.

It shouldn't look bad....my mom went to exactly five communities colleges in two different states before obtaining her RN....I have been going to two city colleges in Chicago, but they are in the same system so I doubt it should have an impact on me getting into certain nursing programs....all that matters is that the courses you have taken are transferable to the school where you are trying to get your degree at. Good luck.

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Specializes in Emergency Room, Cardiology, Medicine.

You know what? Once you're a nurse, your patients and colleagues won't respect you less for it. You sound solid, so do whatever you have to do to finish with little worry about what you need to do to get it done -- as long as you feel confidant in your education wherever you go.

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Specializes in ICU.

speaking from personal experience (I went to 5 different colleges/universities), the answer is no. good luck with the process!

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Specializes in Cardiac Care.

Nope doesn't look bad. It looks productive. All that matters are your final grades! Some of us need to take classes where those classes are available. Some of the prereqs have waitlists themselves. Why waste time when there are others with open slots? I have gone to 4 different schools to get it done.

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