a 4.0 GPA does not help

Rubbie · Jan 20, 2012

Wow! They do lotteries now! It used to be by grades....Just think in an employer that selects workers using a lottery system; mediocre and not very serious, right? Run away from those schools and look for schools where academics are more important. You also are going to have better instructors and more intelligent classmates.

RN In FL · Jan 20, 2012

Wow! They do lotteries now! It used to be by grades....Just think in an employer that selects workers using a lottery system; mediocre and not very serious, right? Run away from those schools and look for schools where academics are more important. You also are going to have better instructors and more intelligent classmates.

Maybe employers are interested in nurses that have passed the NCLEX and who are able to perform in the clinical setting. :eek:

2mint · Jan 20, 2012

(BeachsideNic) How can you be so sure that "This is completely incorrect"

when you yourself did not "Check with each CSU campus for their admissions criteria..." ?

It may be true for her uni (SFSU), and it's certainly true for SJSU (they only accept 2nd Bach. students for BSN major).

Given the tuition diff and grad prospects of getting hired, I personally am constrained to the ADN route.

And given the surplus of ADN students being pumped out from CA CCs, this ADN vs. BSN debate is a non-issue for me (and for most CA residents)--case in point: there are more applicants than seats available for all of CA CCs ADN prog.

holli_80_73 · Jan 20, 2012

....It may be true for her uni (SFSU), and it's certainly true for SJSU (they only accept 2nd Bach. students for BSN major).

Given the tuition diff and grad prospects of getting hired, I personally am constrained to the ADN route.

And given the surplus of ADN students being pumped out from CA CCs, this ADN vs. BSN debate is a non-issue for me (and for most CA residents)--case in point: there are more applicants than seats available for all of CA CCs ADN prog.

Ok..I am confused now (I don't mean to hi-jack this comment but I am worried). I thought that I would be okay if I went the ADN route vs. the BSN route since I already have a BA and a MPH....of course the nursing instructors say I will be fine but I am getting worried reading here that ADN is not as "desired" from people out in the field and not my teachers. I was accepted to a BSN program years ago but I wasn't approved for fin. aid because I already had a degree and they wouldn't give me any so when there isn't any money...there isn't any school in my case. So I decided this go-round now that I am able to go back and I haven't had kids yet...this is a do it or don't time in my life so I went for it..but the ADN program was much more affordable since I have to pay every cent and that is a miracle in itself. What do you guys think????

leenak · Jan 20, 2012

It really depends on your area and the types of jobs you are looking for on whether an ADN vs BSN is an issue for you. One person I know who had other higher level degrees got a ADN and had trouble finding work in my area. She also went to one of the best CC nursing programs in the area. Hospitals all said BSN preferred but she found a job at a long term care facility after about a year. And this is purely anecdotal but in the same year, a friend who had a BS as well then got a BSN had a job lined up at a hospital prior to her graduating.

I know the ADN person was putting in applications everywhere prior to her graduating. The fact that they both graduated the same year, both lived in the same city, etc. So for my area, I think it matters greatly while for other areas, not so much.

Ev1987 · Jan 20, 2012

I think that some guys make great nurses. You sound bitter and jealous to those that got accepted into the program. Don't hate, congratulate! And don't give up. A 4.0 gpa is something you should be extremely proud of. I wish you the best of luck!

watersamy · Jan 20, 2012

I can understand your pain. I finished 2 1/2 years towards a BSN at one college only to learn that I could not go on (cannot repeat a class - needed an 80 and I had a 79). I didn't let that stop me, I applied at other 4 year schools only to learn that nursing classes don't transfer. I finally found a 2 year school that let me just do the clinical portion and they accepted all of my sciences. I just finished and will be taking the NCLEX in two weeks. I now plan on doing an RN-BSN bridge program at the local state college since I have all the pre-reqs. It took a little longer than I wanted, but I made it. I didn't let anything stop me. Don't let anything stop you either. Keep looking and do your research on other schools and programs in your area. In the long run it will be worth it. I'm sure you'll make a wonderful nurse some day. We need male nurses on hospital floors.

Since you're paying out of pocket, I would highly recommend going the ADN route and once you're working as a nurse, then pursue a part-time RN-BSN program. A lot of the larger hospitals may require a BSN, but community hospitals, nursing homes and rehab centers hire ADN nurses.

BeachsideNic · Jan 20, 2012

(BeachsideNic) How can you be so sure that "This is completely incorrect"
when you yourself did not "Check with each CSU campus for their admissions criteria..." ?
It may be true for her uni (SFSU), and it's certainly true for SJSU (they only accept 2nd Bach. students for BSN major).
Given the tuition diff and grad prospects of getting hired, I personally am constrained to the ADN route.
And given the surplus of ADN students being pumped out from CA CCs, this ADN vs. BSN debate is a non-issue for me (and for most CA residents)--case in point: there are more applicants than seats available for all of CA CCs ADN prog.

Why would you tell someone that all CSU's are not accepting applications for second bachelor's when clearly they are doing so? I never said that ALL CSU's are accepting them, but certainly quite a few are. CSULB, California State University, Chico, CSULA, CSU Fullerton, and CSU Dominguez Hills have BSN programs that are open to students with a Bachelor's degree under their belt. These may not be convenient to the OP, but there are options out there for those who want a reasonably priced BSN program here in California.

willowita, ADN, RN · Jan 20, 2012

holli, I think it really depends where you live and what employers in your area are looking for. I know that in California the eventual trend is to favor BSN and eventually require it. But that does not mean that ADN degree holders are out of luck right now. I think people bring it up so you think about your future and go for the BSN eventually. I plan to do an RN to BSN after I finish my ADN.

Apart from the degree, people ignore the important factor that networking and connections play. All the ADNs I know graduated within the last 2 years and they all work at LAC+USC. I'm sure there were BSN new grads also vying for those spots but the people I know had networking connections in the hospital. So there are a lot of factors that are at play. It's not as easy as saying that you're automatically out if you have an ADN.

angelxeternity · Jan 20, 2012

This is completely incorrect.
I am a second bachelor's student accepted into the ABSN program at CSU Long Beach and will be starting next week. The job market is definitely leaning towards BSN vs. ADN degrees and it looks like the future will hold true to that even more. Check with each CSU campus for their admissions criteria and ask if they accept second bachelor's students. A lot of them do now, because of the ever growing population of second career applicants who are very desirable to admissions committees.

The OP is applying to the schools in the bay area...sorry, I should've specified bay area CSUs. Also to clarify further...according to SFSU's registrar, an ABSN program is not considered an ordinary bachelor's degree program and thus allows for 2nd degree bachelors to apply/attend. The example of SJSU the OP found that costs more for a 2nd degree BSN is because those students are classified as extended learning and hence also not part of the regular BSN program. Therefore, I amend my statement to bay area CSUs do not accept post bachs into their regular BSN program. :)

BeachsideNic · Jan 20, 2012

.....

angelxeternity · Jan 20, 2012

Once again, you are incorrect... I suggest you do five minutes of research before you try to give advice to people. The program takes 2 1/2 years and is not considered accelerated..it's just a regular BSN program.
San Francisco State University (in the bay area) lists this on their School of Nursing website: [h=4]"I have a bachelor’s degree in another discipline. Can I apply to your BSN program?[/h]Yes. Prospective students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree can apply to our BSN program on campus, our Generic MSN program, and our grant funded satellite BSN program with Sequoia Hospital at Cañada College. Admission criteria and program requirements are available on the Prospective Students section of the School of Nursing web site."

excuse me, but I actually spoke with the registrar's office. Due to the increasing budget crisis, they CANNOT apply to the regular BSN, only the generic MSN. Also the Sequoia program is discontinued as of last application period. So the sequoia class of Spring 2012 will be the last batch going through. I suggest YOU talk to a live person before reading and correcting people based on outdated online information. THANKS.

edit: my intentions are merely to help the OP because I DID DO RESEARCH (evidenced by the fact that I'm in my 2nd semester of the nursing program). I'm not here to argue with you (beachsidenic) who apparently feels the need to correct people who are only trying to help. I do not wish to argue with you further so please drop it.