I'm a sophomore in college who was originally a BS in biology. I had enough credits where I would actually be able to graduate a semester early as a biology major. My original plan was to take nursing school pre-reqs instead of minoring and go to accelerated nursing school after graduation.
After much debating and speaking with some of my family members who are nurses, as well as speaking to people on here, I've finally made the decision once and for all to change my major to Pre-Nursing now as an undergrad. Luckily, a lot of my science classes will transfer over into my new major, but I've still got about a whole year of pre-reqs ahead of me. I'm really excited about switching and feel like this is the best decision, but I am a little disappointed that I will not be able to graduate in 4 years, as my original major allowed me to.
My question is... will I "stick out" in nursing school since I am a year behind? I guess I'm just needing a little reassurance that "being behind" isn't as big of a deal as my over-achieving mind thinks it is.
My question is... will I "stick out" in nursing school since I am a year behind? I guess I'm just needing a little reassurance that "being behind" isn't as big of a deal as my over-achieving mind thinks it is.
My cohort had students as young as 19 and as old as late 40s. No one stuck out.
I didn't graduate until 23, but started college at 18. You do the math.
It is very common. I know some people who are still in college after nine years...undergrad. First degree. With almost half of students dropping out, just finishing makes you stand out in the crowd.
Its going to either take me 4 years to complete my ADN (financial reasons) or if I end up pursuing my BSN it will take me either 5-6 years. I think its pretty common now-a-days. Particularly that for a lot of people they either maintain a full time job or care for a family and end-up doing their pre-reqs part time.
I don't think 4 years is a thing of the past, I did it. However I don't think there is a "normal". Some of my classmates did it in 4 years, others took 5 or 6 years. As long as you graduate, who cares how long it takes. Once you get your pre-reqs, nursing school will take around 2 years. Will you stick it out? No one but you knows that answer. is it worth it? YES!!!
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
With almost half of students dropping out, just finishing makes you stand out in the crowd.
Precisely. I think many people forget that earning a college degree within a 'normal' time frame is the exception rather than the rule. This is evidenced by the approximately 70 percent of American adults age 25+ who are without college degrees.
Less than one-third of all adults have graduated college, yet many people seem to think graduation is a rite of passage that everyone undergoes. In reality, most people drop out of college or have never attended in the first place.
Honestly, who cares if you are "behind"? No one cares. You'll see in your nursing program that many people are older and some already have one or two degrees under their belts. I was in a class with a retired junior high teacher who already had an MBA. People have different paths in life. No one follows the same exact one.
There were many individuals in my nursing program that were not traditional students. Most of us were returning students after having other degrees and careers. Many of the "traditional" students were on time with being done in four years but there were some that had to repeat nursing courses or could not handle fulltime nursing school so they decided to not finish "on time" per se. No matter how long it takes you to finish go for it. Nobody was ever ostracized for not being a "traditional" four year student.
Yes, you'll stick out like a sore thumb and everyone will judge you, even your loving parents.
I hope you realize I'm joking. As a one-time "super-senior" and second-career non-trad, no one notices unless you make it a big deal. And even then they don't really care. Unless you make it a big deal. And even then no one "judges" you for it. Unless you keep making it a big deal.
When you complete all the graduation requirements, you graduate... on time. You're not going to graduate before that, and unless you've completed all your graduation requirements and not petition to graduate, well... at that point, it's on you as to why you didn't graduate when you were done with all the work. I think it would be highly unusual to complete everything and not take that extra step to actually graduate and officially earn the degree you worked toward.
Also as PP's have noted, it's not unusual for people to go 4 years (or more) for an Associates Degree or 5-6 years for their first Bachelors. I've had quarters and semesters where I couldn't get all the courses I needed/wanted at that time so my first degree took longer than 4 years.
RunnerRN2015, ASN, RN
790 Posts
My cohort had students as young as 19 and as old as late 40s. No one stuck out.