Interesting Piece of Info From an Advisor

valentine_baby · Jul 14, 2007

This makes perfect sense considering that community colleges are much easier (or so I hear) than four-year universities. I realize that, in the end, you plan on having a BSN from Michigan State. But admission boards do look at how and where you obtained your prereqs, especially the sciences (as they should IMHO).

japaho41 · Jul 14, 2007

I would suggest that you just cut to the chase and bypass the Community college and just enroll in the BSN program, don't make it a two step process. The advantages of a going the Community college route is that they are typically cheaper and you can get into the profession quicker. However you still need to get your BSN to get to where you want to go. I would not say that community colleges are easier when it comes to nursing, I would say that some may have a different focus on how they are educating nurses compared to the BSN programs but in the end both are sitting for the same test and getting paid the same (most often).

It should be of no surprise that an advisor for would tell you that it would be unlikely that you would be accepted if you went to a community college to get your RN. Don't forget that you were asking an advisor from a school that has a nursing program. Education is a business as well and it would not make sense to suggest buying from a competitor is the better choice. I would suggest that if this is the case @ MSU then go their or shop around to another program.

ready4crna? · Jul 14, 2007

Valentine welcome to the boards! I will tell you that your statement is inflammatory- please see the board dedicated to the BSN/ASN argument. Otherwise-to the OP- I would like to know more about the specifics, but I would not think that having a two year degree would be a detriment unless the program director was looking at the following hypothetical:

Student A has the same experience, GPA, GRE, and interview ratings as student B. Student B has a BS in underwater basket weaving and an ADN from a community college.

Student A has a BSN from a top nursing school and is fluent in nightingalese.

The CRNA program they have applied to awards an MSN. Which student gets preference?

Student A- as the boooring/mostly useless theory classes will more likely be conquered with little effort as this student has already had to endure these classes before. This will improve the student's time in the anesthesia portion of the curriculum and make the course director look good.

This does not say that student B is any less capable of doing well in the program, just that Student A has a more LIKELY chance of not getting brain mush in the nursing theory courses.

Hope this helps

Spartan05 · Jul 14, 2007

Valentine welcome to the boards! I will tell you that your statement is inflammatory- please see the board dedicated to the BSN/ASN argument. Otherwise-to the OP- I would like to know more about the specifics, but I would not think that having a two year degree would be a detriment unless the program director was looking at the following hypothetical:
Student A has the same experience, GPA, GRE, and interview ratings as student B. Student B has a BS in underwater basket weaving and an ADN from a community college.
Student A has a BSN from a top nursing school and is fluent in nightingalese.
The CRNA program they have applied to awards an MSN. Which student gets preference?
Student A- as the boooring/mostly useless theory classes will more likely be conquered with little effort as this student has already had to endure these classes before. This will improve the student's time in the anesthesia portion of the curriculum and make the course director look good.
This does not say that student B is any less capable of doing well in the program, just that Student A has a more LIKELY chance of not getting brain mush in the nursing theory courses.
Hope this helps

This seems to be the case around here, Lansing Community College has a better reputation than MSU for nurses who are looking for positions in the Mid-Michigan area. However, I don't know how well that will carry over when I apply to a CRNA school but I know I do plan on bringing up that I already have a 4 year degree from MSU in engineering and that cost was a big factor on why I am choosing LCC over MSU for my ADN even though I plan on getting a completion from MSU.

Spartan05 · Jul 14, 2007

Valentine welcome to the boards! I will tell you that your statement is inflammatory- please see the board dedicated to the BSN/ASN argument. Otherwise-to the OP- I would like to know more about the specifics, but I would not think that having a two year degree would be a detriment unless the program director was looking at the following hypothetical:
Student A has the same experience, GPA, GRE, and interview ratings as student B. Student B has a BS in underwater basket weaving and an ADN from a community college.
Student A has a BSN from a top nursing school and is fluent in nightingalese.
The CRNA program they have applied to awards an MSN. Which student gets preference?
Student A- as the boooring/mostly useless theory classes will more likely be conquered with little effort as this student has already had to endure these classes before. This will improve the student's time in the anesthesia portion of the curriculum and make the course director look good.
This does not say that student B is any less capable of doing well in the program, just that Student A has a more LIKELY chance of not getting brain mush in the nursing theory courses.
Hope this helps

One quick point about your post that stands out. In order to get into CRNA school you need a BSN (in most cases I know some schools do provide exceptions but let's not debate that here) so both will have made it through the nursing theory cases its just that a BSN student takes them all at once and an ADN-RN-BSN student takes them once he/she already is an RN and goes back to get the BSN.

THe point I was trying to make is that it seems like some bull that I might be ranked lower than someone who got a four year degree if I get a two year degree and them go through an completion program.

dfk, RN, CRNA · Jul 14, 2007

One quick point about your post that stands out. In order to get into CRNA school you need a BSN (in most cases I know some schools do provide exceptions but let's not debate that here) so both will have made it through the nursing theory cases its just that a BSN student takes them all at once and an ADN-RN-BSN student takes them once he/she already is an RN and goes back to get the BSN.
THe point I was trying to make is that it seems like some bull that I might be ranked lower than someone who got a four year degree if I get a two year degree and them go through an completion program.

hey spartan,

well, here are my words worth one or two cents. i got my adn from a private nursing college, then went on to a four yr for my bsn. i have heard through the grapevine that adcoms prefer getting pre-reqs on the university level b/c they say that the courses are more challenging than comm. college. i am not taking a stand on that point, but i may be leaning toward the adcom's viewpoint. with that being said, if you have to go the adn to bsn route, then that's what you have to do. at the point you reach the university setting, kick some butt, as well as get some icu experience that really sticks out to them. my last thing is that i can't believe that an advisor would even say something like that. if it were possible, i would say see ya later to that school and go spend your money elsewhere. of course, that may not be as easy as pie.

good luck~

Spartan05 · Jul 15, 2007

hey spartan,
well, here are my words worth one or two cents. i got my adn from a private nursing college, then went on to a four yr for my bsn. i have heard through the grapevine that adcoms prefer getting pre-reqs on the university level b/c they say that the courses are more challenging than comm. college. i am not taking a stand on that point, but i may be leaning toward the adcom's viewpoint. with that being said, if you have to go the adn to bsn route, then that's what you have to do. at the point you reach the university setting, kick some butt, as well as get some icu experience that really sticks out to them. my last thing is that i can't believe that an advisor would even say something like that. if it were possible, i would say see ya later to that school and go spend your money elsewhere. of course, that may not be as easy as pie.
good luck~

I really do appreciate the advice. Right now, this just seems like one more hoop to jump through and also a way for schools for students to squeeze more money out of students but, I am a little bit of an idealist and probably still young and naive.

When you said adcoms, are you referring to CRNA school admissions?

Also, I already know that I am am going to bring up that I previously have a 4 year degree in engineering to all admissions committees that I talk to because 1)it sets me apart seeing as I haven't run into anyone else going from engineering to nursng 2)just to reinforice that I do already have a four year university degree and 3)and that one of the main reasons I went the ADN-BSN route was that is was more cost effective.

Hopefully that will help offset the notion that having a ADN makes me somewhat less of a desireable candidate.

japaho41 · Jul 15, 2007

Now that you say that you already have a BS you have more options.

1) you can get you ADN and then apply after you get experience to some programs that will except students that have a BS in other than nursing (may not be in Mich. though)

2) I think the best option, considering that I did this myself having already had a BS degree, is bite the bullet and go the BSN route, cut to the chase no matter the cost. The time difference is not that significant in between the programs. In the end getting the BSN could get you to where you want to be faster and it bypasses applying to another program following your ADN.

AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Jul 15, 2007

This makes perfect sense considering that community colleges are much easier (or so I hear) than four-year universities. I realize that, in the end, you plan on having a BSN from Michigan State. But admission boards do look at how and where you obtained your prereqs, especially the sciences (as they should IMHO).

Ummm, no, community colleges are NOT easier than universities!!!

'tooth

dfk, RN, CRNA · Jul 15, 2007

Ummm, no, community colleges are NOT easier than universities!!!
'tooth

well, sort of, they are, because you can't get into 3 and 4 hundred level courses, which ARE harder than 1 and 2 hundred level courses.

dfk, RN, CRNA · Jul 15, 2007

I really do appreciate the advice. Right now, this just seems like one more hoop to jump through and also a way for schools for students to squeeze more money out of students but, I am a little bit of an idealist and probably still young and naive.
what you could always do is call up the advisor to the program you are considering and ask them what they feel about the whole situation. they are usually more than glad to help out
When you said adcoms, are you referring to CRNA school admissions?
yep, admission comittees
Also, I already know that I am am going to bring up that I previously have a 4 year degree in engineering to all admissions committees that I talk to because 1)it sets me apart seeing as I haven't run into anyone else going from engineering to nursng 2)just to reinforice that I do already have a four year university degree and 3)and that one of the main reasons I went the ADN-BSN route was that is was more cost effective.
seems pretty reasonable to me
Hopefully that will help offset the notion that having a ADN makes me somewhat less of a desireable candidate.

hope this helps

good luck~