Is this even possible while in nursing school?

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I am about to start nursing school next month and need some advice from students already in the program. I am wondering if going to nursing school, working and being on my school's cheerleading squad is all possible. I am starting to think that all three of those activities plus trying to see my friends and my boyfriend wont be possible. Do any of you participate in your school's athletics while in nursing school? I definitely want enough time for school and I HAVE to work while in school. So those I have to do, cheerleading is an option. What is your advice? Thank you for your help in advance.

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That depends on many factors....native intelligence, no need for sleep, discipline to study when you REALLY want to see BF on and on.

I would suspect MOST NS would tell you that it is unlikely that you can succeed going to NS, working, having a BF AND cheerleading.

I am older. I quit cheerleading in college when I was in an EE program. I just didn't have the time for that, studying, AFROTC, working and BF. I am graduating NS next month. I work FT, have a hubby in Afghanistan, 1 teen still at home, and go to NS FT in the EVE/WE program. I am exhausted and nearly burnt out.

What price are you willing to pay and what is more important to you?

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Great advice above. It's a matter of discipline and priorities. If you're one that can work nonstop without much down time for relaxing and socializing then maybe those activities can be done. But if a little downtime for socializing is important you might have to give a little on the extra-cirricular activities.

You didn't mention how many hours you have to work, and hour many hours cheerleading takes a week. Presumably this includes travel to away games?

There are going to be times when you're spending hours a day studying, reading and writing care plans and getting up VERY EARLY for clinicals.

Good luck.

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That is what I am thinking too, but my mom is making me feel quilty for wanting to quit cheerleading and saying that I have a great opportunity to do cheerleading and get a scholarship while in NS.

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Simple reply.....then I would have a great chance at failing NS. NS will get me a paycheck. Cheerleading wont.

Your mother might not understand just how competitive and difficult NS is. I didn't!!!! I went through my youth thinking that my sis was "only a nurse" whereas *I* had an EE degree and was a "rocket scientist!!!" (How arrogant we can be!!!! LOL)

My brother, who has an even higher IQ than I have, told me that I should give up getting A's in NS because I had to work FT just like him! So if a guy who had a FULL RIDE in HIS youth to USC (trojans), had a triple major (German, Russian and Internation Relations) AND a 3.95 GPA while going through pledging a Frat and then becoming it's president.....couldn't work and do NS and get A's....I knew I would have to settle for a batch of Bs. (BTW, most of my grades are Bs (but also B is 88 - 92).

Maybe you need to enlighten her!

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this is all exactly what i have been saying. my mom thinks that since i could work, cheer and go to school in high school its the same. but i know nursing is VERY hard! thats why i am thinking of quitting cheerleading. i just wanted some educated advice from you so i can make my final decision. Thank you

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Couldn't you try doing it all for a little while and see how it goes? Can't you quit cheering at any time? I don't suggest that you spread yourself too thin... but if you WANT to do it all then, if you can, try it out. See how it goes. If it turns out that your grades are suffering then give up cheerleading. Just a thought.

When I was going to college the first go around (I'm now working on my second degree) I was straight out of high school, had a BF, took 15+ hours every semester, and worked full time. My grades greatly suffered, and I wasn't cheering. I also wasn't putting my whole heart into school either. I came out with a 2.54 gpa and a BSBA. Not proud of that GPA, and it kept me from getting into accelerated BSN programs because they rank you according to your overall GPA, not just science or pre-req's. If I was more dedicated to studying and concentrating on my grades I could have done it all and still had a good GPA. School just wasn't a priority for me the first time around.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Rehab.

Don't spread yourself too thin. My stepdaughter learned that lesson the hard way. If you have never been to college, it will be a new experience and will come with new expectations for your own performance in class. Your goal is to become a Nurse, not a cheerleader (though I suppose some girls can aspire to that). Even studying the basics will test your mettle and you should be shooting for a high GPA to ensure you stay in the nursing program. If after a semester or two you find yourself with an excess amount of time on your hands, then you can go out for it, but I'm thinking that probably won't be the case.

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this is all exactly what i have been saying. my mom thinks that since i could work, cheer and go to school in high school its the same. but i know nursing is VERY hard! thats why i am thinking of quitting cheerleading. i just wanted some educated advice from you so i can make my final decision. Thank you

Highschool is NOTHING like college, the classes are so much easier in highschool to be honest unless you are one of the people who challenged yourself by taking like 3 or 4 AP's at a time, cheered and worked @ the same time. I dont think you should risk it, just go to nursing school and forget about cheerleading because you should really mantain a good gpa to get those externships and I read that some hospitals ask for transcripts when hiring. When I go to nursing school I wont be working but i'll have a BF and an hour of commute by train and I'm still worried. But if you feel that you can balance all those things then go for it I guess. Good Luck! :))

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My first question would be, how stressed or pulled in every direction have you felt while doing all this in High School? If it has been tough for you now, it will only be worse in College.

I know many people who do very well in college (in lots of different majors) who are involved in extracurriculars on top of their regular studies and activities.

Personally I see nothing wrong with at least going in trying it all, especially if it means a scholarship. The worst that is going to happen is you will find out you cannot juggle it all, and have to give up something.

Another thing to keep in mind, you will be doing all of your pre-reqs before you start the Nursing program, so you will likely have a year or better of normal college course load to really evaluate if you can do it all while in Nursing courses as well.

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I already have my associate's degree....i am a transfer student and will be a junior. Only 2 years and I will have my BSN. I know how hard college is and I have heard nursing programs are even tougher. That's why I wanted to ask you all who have already been in the program. I have been part time college for 6 years and working full time. Going to full time school and working seems like a lot....not to mention the cheerleading. Thank you all for your inpute. You have confirmed what I had been thinking. I appreciate it :)

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.
this is all exactly what i have been saying. my mom thinks that since i could work, cheer and go to school in high school its the same. but i know nursing is VERY hard! thats why i am thinking of quitting cheerleading. i just wanted some educated advice from you so i can make my final decision. Thank you

FWIW, a girl I went to high school with went away to college & still continued to cheer. And she's in NS. Idk how she does it all, but I dont think she works though. So adding that to the equation would be reallllly hard.

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