Help!

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Hello, I'm currently going back to community college after an 8 year absence to finish up a general associates degree. I am really hoping to transfer into a nursing school/program after. I didn't get the best grades while in school 8 years ago, was unfocused and going through a difficult time. I only need 12 credits to finish an associates and was hoping to transfer straight into a nursing program after. My question is, what are my best options as of where I should go? I live in the northwest suburbs of Chicago and I'm not sure if I should go to a specialized school or a university? I don't have a lot of money and I'm really confused on this whole process. Will my associates degree transfer over to a nursing school such as Chamberlain or is it worthless? Would I be going for an associates in nursing or would I go straight to a bachelors since I already will have an associates, although it is not specialized in nursing. Any help would be greatly appreciated, I am so lost and confused in this whole process. Thank you!

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

Are you sure that your 8-year-old credits are still valid?

I think so? To the best of my knowledge they are

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
I think so? To the best of my knowledge they are

You need to be sure of that before you explore your options any further. There is a point where earned credits are no longer valid unless they resulted in a degree.

Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

my 1967 college hrs were valid in 2003, when I went back for AS Respiratory Therapist......

college hrs are for life ;)

Specializes in critical care.

I got an associates in general studies after being out of school for 10 years. I then transferred to a university to get a BSN. A couple of classes didn't transfer the way I expected but I had enough credits that I was okay. My bad grades from 10 years ago I was able to use to my advantage by basically saying I was unfocused then, but you can see by my 3.9 GPA from my associates degree that I'm focused now and ready to take this on. Totally nailed it, got accepted the first time I applied.

That said, you need to speak with an advisor at the school you will transfer to so that you can determine what you have and what you need. You also need to meet with the registrar with course descriptions and syllabi in hand so that you can determine if your classes will actually transfer. A bunch of people on the internet aren't going to be able to tell you if your classes will transfer.

Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

Often sciences aren't accepted if they are too old. One school I know requires they be no older than 10 years and another says no older than 5. This applies to other courses as well, but it's definite in sciences.

Make sure whatever school you apply to, is accredited. They may say they are approved, but that's not the same thing.

I agree with an earlier poster. The only way to get precise information is to talk to people at the schools in which you have an interest. Different schools do things differently.

Thank you so much for your help! When transferring over to a four year university for a bsn, were you required to attend the full four years or only 2 since you already had an associates?

All my credits were accepted. Follow up on your credits first!

Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

The number of years you have to attend depends on which specific courses you've taken that the school accepts. I had a BSEd and then got a BSN. It took me 3 years to get the BSN, but I didn't go full time for it, and also took some non-required courses. I had most of my sciences already done, and all my other pre-reqs finished.

Specializes in critical care.
Thank you so much for your help! When transferring over to a four year university for a bsn, were you required to attend the full four years or only 2 since you already had an associates?

Only the two years of the nursing program because I planned ahead from day one. I put the requirements for each program side by side, looked at what was in common, and what wasn't, and I made sure from the beginning that those first two years would knock out everything non-nursing.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
my 1967 college hrs were valid in 2003, when I went back for AS Respiratory Therapist......

college hrs are for life ;)

Ummmm....it would be exceedingly extraordinary if 1967 college credits transferred as valid to a 2015 program, even if a degree was involved.

Please provide proof for the OP.

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