Lost!

Hey everyone,

I am brand new to this site and am hoping it will help me find quite a few answers to my questions! I am not sure this is the right forum to be posting in...but it seemed an OK option. First of all, I should say I live in WI. So, when I discuss school options, I'd like to stay in the WI, IA, IL, MN area. Anyway, I have been accepted to Mount Mary and Alverno College's nursing programs for this coming fall. However, Marian college has told me I can start nursing courses provided space is available next fall...which to me means...more waiting! The program I would really like to get into is the UW-Madison nursing program, but they make you wait until the very last week in April to find out if you are in!

So here is my dilemma...the private schools are very possibly going to be too much for me to afford, being that I pay for everything on my own and even with aid, it seems outrageous!

I am currently attending a state school and after this semester, I could graduate with a BS in Psychology in one year. However, would it be wiser for me to do this, and enter a masters program for nursing? or should I graduate and do a BS-BSN program? Or would it be smarter for me to simply basically start over in nursing program? The private school programs are at least three years since I have all the pre-reqs done but no nursing specific courses.

I suppose I should mention my original plan changed from pre-med to nursing. Then my plan was to get my RN, work for a few years and return to get my NP license. I really love the diagnostic aspect of healthcare. I am currently a CNA working EOW in a nursing home. Anyway, this is a lot of rambling...and a lot of questions...but I'm looking for any help out there! :) Thanks!