Is age an advantage or disadvantage for nursing school?

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I'm halfway done with Pre-reqs. By the time I'm 18 (which obviously I can't start actual nursing school til I'm 18.--Otherwise I'd be jumping on my pre-reqs harder. ) My grade average is B+ and A- but I'm worried about getting into the nursing program. (Does anyone not worry??) Will it be an advantage or disadvantage that I'll barely be 18 by the time I'm ready to enter? (Btw I am curious about this...but I'm also trying to get up my 15 posts to PM.)

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What kind of nursing program? 4-year BSN? 2-year BSN? ADN?

There are advantages and disadvantages to being in school at a young age. Good thing: you'll be earning a living early in life, if you manage your finances well, you can retire early! Bad thing: your prefrontal cortex isn't fully developed, and you won't have the long-term planning skills to save for retirement.

As far as admissions to school? No, they don't care how old you are. They care about your academic and personal credentials and your having demonstrated the ability to succeed in their program.

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I don't think age matters much either way.

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There are definitely pros and cons for being younger or older. Being younger the pros are you are probably ambitious and have a better memory. With age and plenty of alcohol my memory has gone downhill, but I'm more mature and I know what I want and don't want. My party years are over and I have work experience to help me deal with other people in the clinical setting. I'm currently almost halfway through nursing school btw.

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If you must interview with an admissions committee, they will be more interested in seeing how mature you act when you present yourself. Someone your age can come across as mature for their age, or as a "dipsy Valley girl". Certainly, if you are admitted, you will want to keep your behavior as mature as possible, taking responsibility for your learning, and how you represent your school at the clinical sites. Act mature, and you will be treated favorably. Good luck.

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Specializes in MED-SURG, REHAB, VENT, VIRTUAL CARE.

I believe your age finds you in an advantage state: I think schools like young eager students, with the understanding that you are ready to give a program your 100% effort than you will most likely get in.

If you Love it - starting early gives you a great head start for the rest of your professional goals. On the flip side - Lets say you decided it isn't for you. Well you have a great opportunity to work and earn income until you figure out what you would like to do? and Nursing has a way of opening doors to other areas of interest. You will should know pretty quickly, you either love it or hate it. I think it is great, Good luck!

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Specializes in NICU.

Age is irrelevant. Maturity is far more important than age. I have met 30 yr olds that had the maturity level of a 15 yr old and I have met 18 yr olds that had the maturity level of a 30 yr old. Being very focused to your career goals and focused on your schoolwork is a major advantage as an 18 yr old. There will be many times that you have to decide: go out with your friends and have a good time or study for nursing school.

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I'm already in my 40's with a Master's degree in Social Work and now I want to go into nursing. I'm not good in Math and that's a concern. Should I start from scratch meaning taking a course in nursing assistant before attempting an LPN or an RN program? I feel like now I can do it better than when I attempted 13 years ago. Please, feel free to comment. I live in an area where schools are limited and I want to really combined what I have with Nursing and I don't know how to proceed.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Guy in Babeland - is very wise.

Maturity is the key. Many times, very young nursing students have a more difficult time in clinical due to their discomfort dealing with intimate patient contact and unfamiliarity with 'professional' demeanor. I've had students (of all ages) lapse into inappropriate giggles or make inexcusably crass 'joking' comments... so I think that it's definitely is a maturity rather than an age thing.

And - it's a mistake to make a generalization about cognitive ability in relation to age. Check the evidence before you make this. declaration. From a practical standpoint, there may be some aspects of nursing (e.g., administration of schedule II drugs) that would be limited for anyone

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Traditionally, people went to nursing school right after high school. Lots of people start college at 17 or 18 and graduate with a BSN at 21/22. Your age won't be that much different. No big deal unless you are particularly immature for your age.

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Specializes in GENERAL.

Well there's no fool like and old fool and being wet behind the ears isn't great either.

So if you're somewhere in between these two states of unconsciousness, you might have a crack at it.

But know this. Sometimes when you get to be a certain age, the BS 'O' meter can't be cranked up too high before something's gotta give.

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