Future Pediatric Nurse: UC Berkeley vs Sac State

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  1. Which school?

    • 10
      Sacramento State University (has nursing major)
    • 2
      UC Berkeley (does not have nursing major)

12 members have participated

Hello everyone,

I live in California and I have been admitted into UC Berkeley which is an amazing school and would be my dream school if they had a nursing major. Unfortunately, they don't. Whenever someone at my school finds out I got into UC Berkeley, they expect me to go there. It's a lot of pressure. I talked to my school counselor and she helped me in sorting out all of my feelings and I decided I wanted to go to Sacramento State because they have a very reputable nursing program and as a future nurse, that is my dream school. However, one of my teachers insists on me going to UC Berkeley. Also right after I spoke with my counselor, the college and career lady at my school came up to me and asked what my plans for the fall were. I told her was I was planning to attend Sacramento State this fall, even though I got into UC Berkeley. I explained how Sac State has the major I want and she was shocked. She said she didn't want me to be "selling myself short" (as a nurse and attending Sac State) and that she thinks I should be a pediatrician instead. Then she talked about doctors salaries and how her sister is a doctor and is happy. Everyone keeps bringing it back to the money but honestly, I don't care about the money! I just want to be a pediatric nurse. I have to make my admissions decision by May 1st. Can you guys weigh in on this? Are there any UCB students out there pursuing nursing? No one is taking me seriously because I'm choosing a school that isn't that prestigious over a school that is really prestigious. As a first generation college student, I don't have much guidance and I feel like the guidance I am getting at my high school isn't really helping. Can any nurses tell me the pros and cons of their careers? Do you guys have any advice for me? What would you tell the high school senior version of yourself? Thank you so much guys, sorry for the very lengthy post. I really appreciate any help.

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Also, I'm tired of people acting like nursing isn't a serious career or that doctors are so much better. Although they work together, they are two separate careers. Peanut butter and jelly. So many people treat nursing like it's a back up when it's a passion for so many people. "Oh, I'll just be a nurse." "Oh you're just doing nursing?" It gets so frustrating!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I have been a nurse for 38 years and I do not regret my decision. Could I have been a MD? Yes but I really did not want to be on call or have an office. I am a nurse and proud of it.

Go to the school with the major you want. Good luck!

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Specializes in Critical care.

I'm a 2nd degree nurse. I went back to school for nursing in my mid 20's. I'd had doubts when getting my first degree and had thought about nursing then- but my school didn't have a nursing program and I thought I needed to finish my STEM degree. I worked using my first degree, but was miserable and eventually decided to quit my job and complete an ABSN program.

I have mixed feelings about my path. I made wonderful friends I wouldn't have met otherwise and have some wonderful memories/experiences. However, I can't help but think how much further I'd be in my career if I had gone straight for nursing or even had the guts to change to nursing half way through school. I'd also have less student loan debt. I'm very happy with my decision to pursue nursing and love my job.

If you want nursing it doesn't make sense to go to a school that doesn't offer nursing just because it is a prestigious school. Go to a school with a solid nursing program.

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Just throwing this out there but since nursing is so impacted in CA could you go to Cal to do your prereqs and apply to nursing programs from there? If for some reason you don't get into nursing school right away you could study at UCB and continue getting an amazing education. Maybe you would decide to finish there and apply to an ABSN program after. The reason I would not say 100% go to sac state is because getting into their nursing program is not a guarantee. If you are waiting to get into a program you may as well get an education from UCB instead of sac state? Just exploring a different angle. Good luck with your decision!

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I would not trade my experience at a UC for all the tea in China. Nobody can take that away from me. Go to UCB and look into the high tier nursing programs.

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Like someone else said, there may not be a guarantee that you get into their nursing program if you go to Sacramento State for undergrad -- it could give you an advantage, I don't know for sure about that school. The school I went to for undergrad has a well-respected and good nursing program (which I didn't apply for b/c I wanted to do an ABSN which my alma mater's nursing school doesn't offer) -- many students who go there for undergrad get rejected from the nursing school unfortunately. I don't know if Sacramento State is like that.

I feel like with a degree from Berkeley, you would have a good shot at a lot of top tier nursing programs and maybe Sacramento State as well. Speaking of my school again, I feel like someone who has an undergrad degree from a school like Berkeley would be looked upon very favorably during the admissions process (unless that person got bad grades in their pre-reqs) for the nursing school.

With that said, I don't really think you can go too wrong whatever you decide -- you're obviously a good student if you got into a school like Berkeley so I'm sure you will be successful in your path to being a nurse regardless of which school you choose.

(I also get a lot of "but you're too smart to be a nurse, you should go to medical school!" and yes it is annoying but I brush it off, I'm happy with my choice to pursue nursing school, don't doubt your choice you may feel confused at times but ultimately you know what's best for you)

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Go to Berkeley. I take it you are 18 years old, right? So you might change your mind a lot before deciding on a major and it might not be nursing! If you are still feeling passionate after you get your Berkeley degree, go for an ABSN or a direct entry Master's (your Berkeley degree will help with that!). I am in a Cal State BSN program and one my classmates has a BS from Berkeley. She had one career and is now launching another. Living in the East Bay, I know tons of Berkeley grads, and while their education may not necessarily be "better" than a Cal State, that degree will open doors for you.

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Thank you for your input! Those are some of the reasons why I don't want to be an MD either and if I ever do change my mind, I can always go back to school.

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I'm a 2nd degree nurse. I went back to school for nursing in my mid 20's. I'd had doubts when getting my first degree and had thought about nursing then- but my school didn't have a nursing program and I thought I needed to finish my STEM degree. I worked using my first degree, but was miserable and eventually decided to quit my job and complete an ABSN program.

I have mixed feelings about my path. I made wonderful friends I wouldn't have met otherwise and have some wonderful memories/experiences. However, I can't help but think how much further I'd be in my career if I had gone straight for nursing or even had the guts to change to nursing half way through school. I'd also have less student loan debt. I'm very happy with my decision to pursue nursing and love my job.

If you want nursing it doesn't make sense to go to a school that doesn't offer nursing just because it is a prestigious school. Go to a school with a solid nursing program.

Those are my fears about UC Berkeley. I just don't want to go and get a degree that I know won't hold as much value (to me) as a nursing degree would. Thank you so much for your input!

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Just throwing this out there but since nursing is so impacted in CA could you go to Cal to do your prereqs and apply to nursing programs from there? If for some reason you don't get into nursing school right away you could study at UCB and continue getting an amazing education. Maybe you would decide to finish there and apply to an ABSN program after. The reason I would not say 100% go to sac state is because getting into their nursing program is not a guarantee. If you are waiting to get into a program you may as well get an education from UCB instead of sac state? Just exploring a different angle. Good luck with your decision!

That is true, I hadn't thought about that. Have a new perspective to look at this situation from. Thank you for your input!

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I would not trade my experience at a UC for all the tea in China. Nobody can take that away from me. Go to UCB and look into the high tier nursing programs.

Sounds like you had a great experience! I'll definitely consider, thank you for your input as well.

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