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So getting into any type of nursing program is so difficult! Well it's not hard but there are just so many prerequisites to finish! The only university I can think of getting into is Marymount in Arlington, VA. They don't require all these prerequisites like GMU. I would consider VCU or JMU but I don't want to move away. I want to study a lot for the TEAS test to get into MU. I just don't want to waste more time taking all these prerequisites I'm about to turn 21 and I'm still at NOVA! Which sucks! I feel so bad because so many friends and old classmates are about to graduate soon and I'm still stuck in a community college. Anyway, I know MU is crazy expensive, and at this point idk what to do anymore. I'm currently a CNA and work another job and still live with my folks so hopefully I can start saving up. I just feel like I've wasted so much time and I've already taken the TEAS test for MU and I was a couple of points shy of getting a passing score, so next time will be my last shot. I feel horrible because I'm literally too dumb to get into GMU but too poor to get into MU.

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Don't cut your nose to spite your face. I understand you see your friends graduating, but you will have to live your degree and debt (which you could be paying off for the rest of your life with massive amounts due every month, depending on which program you decide on). Also being a college graduate does not always equal success. If I were you, I would first look at the TOTAL COST for the programs you are interested in.

This is very important. For example, if college A has barely any prerequisites and does not require taking an admissions test, it might seem like a good deal. But, you notice it is a small, private college with a price tag of $30,000 per semester for just tuition (room and board, books, and other living expenses, like insurance, are usually not included with tuition). So, you discover it's a two year program, which sounds great, since that's not a huge amount of time. Only $30,000 x 4 (you'll typically go two semesters per year) equals $120,000. Now, let's add room and board $24,000 ($1000 per month let's say if you're in a populated area for 24 month, food $10000 over two years, $x insurance, $x for program fees, and so on, and now you're looking at close to $160,000 for a program that had less requirements. Now contrast that with a program that might have more prerequisites that might, but costs way less.

Now, my example might be extreme, but I've certainly see programs charge around that much. You can either finish your requirements and get into a good, cheap program that might take a bit longer (maybe even ADN and then BSN). Or, you can end with a huge amount of debt that you have to pay off for the rest of your life. And I don't know the total cost of the program your considering, so it might be cheap. But be smart (and don't beat yourself up, be confident that you're intelligent and you are capable of withstanding this journey).

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You're 21 ... you're young ... you don't need to rush...to only get in debt ...

what if I told you I'm 29 and only taking one course.. this semester... :( you're making me feel like I will never be done :p

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I apologize for all the typos in the post above. I just realized it makes my post look horrendous, but my point still stands that you need to assess how each pathway will affect your future. Seeing the webpages of a school can be misleading (especially if they can't even give you the total cost of tuition upfront), so you need to do some research into what will give you best outcome possible (with a minimal amount of debt) and what is just a bunch of smoke and mirrors.

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Actually I'm thinking of getting my associates instead at a community college. It's super hard to get in but I was thinking of next semester doing the pre-reques. Study for the TEAS test and apply next fall (to get into the spring 2017 one). Hopefully it all works out. Then later just to a ADN-BSN program. I feel like that is the cheapest way I can do it, and be done by the time I'm 26 the most. And thanks for the info I truly appreciate it! I did more research and it would cost me soooo much to go to MU! I'm just going to study and get really good grades to get accepts into the RN program next year :)

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Actually I'm thinking of getting my associates instead at a community college. It's super hard to get in but I was thinking of next semester doing the pre-reques. Study for the TEAS test and apply next fall (to get into the spring 2017 one). Hopefully it all works out. Then later just to a ADN-BSN program. I feel like that is the cheapest way I can do it, and be done by the time I'm 26 the most. And thanks for the info I truly appreciate it! I did more research and it would cost me soooo much to go to MU! I'm just going to study and get really good grades to get accepts into the RN program next year :)

That sounds like a good plan. I just turned 30 and will barely be beginning nursing school in Spring. You're super young still and you have plenty of time :)

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Just apply to everything you can - WHEN you are eligible to. Don't waste your money on applications if you don't have the required pre-requisites they ask you to have at the time of application. And apply to BSN and ADN programs, trust me, some ADN programs are a lot more competitive to get into than BSN programs. Lastly, if it's a public school and you get in, don't worry about taking out loans. In the end, it's worth it.

Nursing is worth every penny.

Sincerely,

RN, BSN, CEN

And I went to a private school =/

OUCH

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