If you had a choice between 2 year community, or a university....

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Specializes in N/A.

That is the question.

Right now I am a pre-nursing at my local Nashville community college, but I am making great grades, a high A (98) in my A & P, A in my First Aid & CPR, A in my chemistry, A in psychology, and a high C in math (I suck I know). I plan on studying my butt off and doing whatever it takes short of killing a man to make the grades and impress the schools so that I will hopefully have a choice of nursing school to choose from, knock on wood we'll see!

Anyways, to my point:

A relative of mine (who shall remain nameless out of respect) thinks it is okay to go to ANY college, the cheaper the better and the quicker the better. He says the degree doesn't really matter so long as it says RN, the college you go to doesn't make a difference so long as it's accredited, and really the grades don't even matter so much so long as you pass with decent ones.

I feel like I am going to be the one taking out the student loan, so I obviously have to make the final call...but I am leaning more towards a full college experience (academically speaking) at a state university, MTSU if you really wanna know. I know it will cost me a lot more in student loans because I would want to live on campus, the drive from Nashville to Murfreesboro would cost too much in gas. Plus I would be getting a BSN in the SAME amount of time it would take me to get an ASN (I already have previous college experience)!

In all I would be looking at taking out around 21k in student loans to finish out my last two years and get a BSN, that includes room and board, utilities, gas money, a meal plan, tuition, and estimated book cost.

If I chose to keep living at mom and dad's for free and try for an ASN, it would still take me two years but it would only cost about 10 to 12k.

I know I am crazy, what would you all do???????

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As far as CC vs 4 yr university, I think that should mostly come down to your long term/short term goals, and the plan you have in mind for your career as a nurse. If going for your BSN is what you have in mind for your career plan, then do that. Its all about what works for you, not what works for someone else.

I don't look at it as a one size fits all kind of thing, or one choice is always better than the other.

My choice is ADN through community college and later doing a Masters bridge program from ADN to MSN. That is the plan I have in mind for my career.

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Well, if you look at the "big picture", you could look down the road in say, 5-10 years. At the end of one road you have your dream job as an RN with 12k in student loans. At the other you have your dream job as an RN with 21k in student loans. Hmmmmm....:rolleyes:

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

Mangopeach, I thought one had to have a BSN in something to do the bridge to MSN ???? I was not aware that one could be an ADN and jump straight to MSN... am I missing something here? Please explain. THANKS!

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Mangopeach, I thought one had to have a BSN in something to do the bridge to MSN ???? I was not aware that one could be an ADN and jump straight to MSN... am I missing something here? Please explain. THANKS!

There are several schools all over the country that offer ADN to MSN bridge programs. I can't speak for other places but in my state there are a number of schools that do this. You can't go straight into the MSN program as a new ADN grad though. You must have some working experience as an RN before entering the program. In my state it varies from as little as 1 year to 3 years depending on the school.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

And this is EXACTLY why I love this site! All this great information! I was going to do apply to our BSN AND ADN program to see which one I got into first. if it was the ADN route, I was THEN going to get my BSN degree, THEN my MSN etc... You have saved me from having to do the BSN THEN the MSN knowing that I can jump straight to MSN. WHoohoo! Obviously I will check my state and see. Which state are you in?

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Mangopeach, I thought one had to have a BSN in something to do the bridge to MSN ???? I was not aware that one could be an ADN and jump straight to MSN... am I missing something here? Please explain. THANKS!

I was looking into this for myself. I have found that you can go from adn to msn if you already have a bachelor's degree in another field.

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And this is EXACTLY why I love this site! All this great information! I was going to do apply to our BSN AND ADN program to see which one I got into first. if it was the ADN route, I was THEN going to get my BSN degree, THEN my MSN etc... You have saved me from having to do the BSN THEN the MSN knowing that I can jump straight to MSN. WHoohoo! Obviously I will check my state and see. Which state are you in?

I'm in Georgia. Definitely check the requirements for the schools you wish to attend, its funny how they can be so varied.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

Yeah. Though it was short lived, I have found out that I do need a BS in something in order to pursue my MSN. Darn!

Oh Well. No worries!

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Specializes in N/A.

For those of you who actually answered my question, thanks.

As far as the bridge program..you might want to double check your information.

Every bridge program for ASN (or ADN) to MSN requires you have to AT LEAST have 78 hours of credit, not to mention the competitiveness and difficulty of an ASN to MSN program. They are NOT going to accept everyone, by any means. The ASN to MSN program is reserved for the best of the best.

I know this because a close family friend happens to run the Vanderbilt ASN to MSN program here in Nashville.

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Hi Lala, I think it is worth it to go for the BSN, especially considering it is going to take the same amount of time to finish as the Associates Degree. You never know what you might end up doing in the future, and having that BSN might make it easier for you to pursue another degree later on (a MSN, for example).

I personally do not think that $21k is a lot in terms of student loan debt, and because you are going into nursing you'll most likely 1) have a job and 2) be making a decent salary, so you'll be able to pay it off.

I say go for it! It will be great to have your Bachelors Degree and I think it might give you more options in the future (if you want them)!

Good luck whatever you decide, this is just my two cents!

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For those of you who actually answered my question, thanks.

As far as the bridge program..you might want to double check your information.

Every bridge program for ASN (or ADN) to MSN requires you have to AT LEAST have 78 hours of credit, not to mention the competitiveness and difficulty of an ASN to MSN program. They are NOT going to accept everyone, by any means. The ASN to MSN program is reserved for the best of the best.

I know this because a close family friend happens to run the Vanderbilt ASN to MSN program here in Nashville.

This is something I have already looked into extensively. The schools that my school has articulation agreements with do not require you to have 78 or more credits. Like I was saying to the other poster, different schools have different requirements so one should always check with the school they are interested in. What one does, another one may not do.

There are only 3 additional undergad classes not required for my ADN that I have not taken yet that I would need prior to starting the bridge program. That would be Statistics and Organic Chem. I plan to do them here even though they are not necessary for my ADN program. The third is a nursing course that must be taken at that school. I can do that during the 2 years that I'm working. I'm not worried about the difficulty, I'm up for the challenge.

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