Feeling like I am spinning my wheels

[pullnshoot25]

So for a while now I have wanted to be a nurse. Here is the deal...

I am a 24yr-old EMT-B that is one class short of a BS in Human Biology from UCSD. The plan I had was to not finish my BS just yet (because of how tuition increases after one acquires a BS degree), get into an RN program at one of the local community colleges, complete it and then go back and finish my BS.

The rut though is that I have been turned down twice now by one of the schools and all the other local schools are impacted with 3 year wait times, all of which has me feeling pretty crappy and somewhat regretful about my education at UCSD, considering the time, money, blood sweat and tears I put into it and I can't even get into a nursing program. The worst part about it is that I am short points on the exam criteria because I don't have a degree nor any other life circumstances (e.g. kids, financial duress, etc). Being that I am now 24 and should be out of school or into a Masters program of some sort by now certainly doesn't help the ego either.

All that said (and I realize my above post is a bit disjointed), here are the options that I see before myself.

1) Finish my BS and get into an RN program

2) Finish my BS and get into University of Wisconsin's BS-to-BSN degree program ($37,500)

3) Pay 28k and get into a Kaplan program, get my RN/BSN and then finish my BS.

4) Finish my degree, forget nursing and go do something else.

What do you guys think? Any suggestions or other experience? Any help is appreciated.

[NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN]

You are only one class away from finishing your BS degree. I would say go for that because it's only one class away. Right now it's frustrating as heck as I've applied to many LVN-RN programs and still have yet to be accepted by them. I'm in my 2nd career and wish I had done it earlier. After you finish your BS, then you can look at ABSN programs or you can do the ADN route. Good Luck

[HapiRN]

I say finish that BS. You're still young, and you're one class away! It'll be great to have another degree under your belt since you're so close (besides the nursing degree if you decide to pursue it). I also have a BS in bio, and pursued a BS in nursing after. There are accelerated BSN programs in California. For example Cal State Sacramento and Northridge. Since they are public schools, the tuition is less than the Wisconsin program you suggested and the Kaplan program. I paid about $13,000 in tuition total. Go to your career center on campus and ask them how to search public schools in California that offer nursing programs. Then go to each college website to double check if they offer an accelerated BS to BSN program.

It's awesome you're almost done with getting your degree and you're at UCSD! THink positive, keep your head up, and Good luck!