Published Dec 28, 2006
JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP
1 Article; 1,863 Posts
Here is my current plan: Finish a bachelor's online through Empire State College, take the science pre-reqs at Medgar Evers, and then apply to SUNY Downstate's accelearated BSN program. My main motivation is convenience--I have kids and a job and the less I need to leave the house, the more classes I can take at a time and the faster I can finish the degree. Also Empire will take some of my previous credits that are useless as far as nursing goes but will help me get the necessary bachelor's.
I have heard so-so comments about Medgar Evers--I understand it isn't the most highly regarded school. Its main attraction for me is that it's close to my house. The less traveling I have to do, the more flexibility I have in scheduling the classes.
Does anyone have any comments? Will I be at a disadvantage if I go through Empire and Medgar Evers? I am a very successful student academically--I have a 4.0--but I am not able to take care of my family, work and go to school unless I plan my schooling around location and convenience.
olivia28
144 Posts
I feel that some schools have better reputations than others, but a degree is a degree, period. You do what works for you and your family. I just don't understand why you are completing the bachelors at Empire if you plan to get a BSN from SUNY downstate?
Doofy
33 Posts
By finishing a Bachelors in another subject, you qualify for accelrated BSN programs. It makes a lot of sense for people with a lot of college credits.
Downstate is a very good school that is difficult to get into. I'm not sure a degree from an online program is going to help much.
SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN
10,263 Posts
Chaya, I'd look at doing a health science degree online via www.excelsior.edu. Part of SUNY, and you can get science credits that will be accepted towards your BSN. I did Empire - wanted to be a biology teacher - and I could NOT get the science classes I needed through them. I'd have had to cross-register at the local CUNY schools and, as you know, getting a seat in them even if attending there was nigh unto impossible.
nynurse2be
34 Posts
You can also take pre-reqs online (see distance learning and pre-nursing student forums). Are you near Brooklyn College? It has a better rep than Medgar Evers and lots of night/weekend classes.
Just to clarify: Excelsior isn't a SUNY school: University of the State of New York - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Actually I'm in Brooklyn College now, but it doesn't serve my needs very well. It does not have a nursing program and the courses that they do have don't correlate well to the classes I need for nursing. They're also not as flexible with letting me sign up for just the classes I need for nursing. Last semester I ended up taking 3 classes that really had little to do with nursing, because they were required by the school.
I was worried about that. Which bachelor's are more likely to be respected by Downstate? I guess my best bet would be to call Downstate directly and find out how best to prepare for their program.
Medgar Evers is a CUNY school. What do you mean about getting a seat in them? For their nursing program? I really want a BSN rather than an ADN, and except for Hunter, no CUNY school even offers a BSN. But, Medgar Evers can help me get the science credits that I need. I really don't want to do the science credits online -- I would rather go to a school with a lab available.
shippoRN
720 Posts
To comment on Olivia's question, when i myself was gunhoe to attend downstate, their program options were the the BSN accelerated program in which you HAD to have a completed bacchalors degree along with all the required pre-reqs OR the other option was RN-BSN option. Hence the OP has to complete her Bacchalors at another school before applying to downstate for BSN. I mean i could be wrong but this is how i understood it from their website and when i attended their open house this year.
Undergraduate Nursing Program
Hope this helps
~M
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No, I mean say the chemistry class at Brooklyn College. There are 30 seats in that class available. 40 Brooklyn College students want in. They pre-register. You're an Empire State student. You're going to have a hard time getting a seat in the class.
I won't have a problem because I'm already enrolled in Brooklyn College and I have a 4.0 average there. They are not going to turn me down from Chem. Maybe I will end up doing chem at Brooklyn College. However, they don't really have A&P classes that are geared for nursing students. They have a physiology class offered by their exercise and fitness department and a comparative anatomy class... BC doesn't have a nursing program so their sciences aren't really nursing friendly. Hunter won't accept A&P credits from Brooklyn College towards a nursing degree, but they will accept from Medgar Evers. That tells me something.