MDC medical college or Chamberlain or someplace else

[KatieB2485]

Hi everyone. I have a bachelors degree in anthropology from the University of Florida and I wasn't able to really do anything with it. Unfortunately, I wasn't focused and didn't reach my academic potential there, graduating with a 2.5 GPA which left me unable to apply to grad school. I worked as a receptionist for a law firm for 7 years and as a realtor for the last 2. Both of those careers left me incredibly unfulfilled.

Initially I was intrigued by nursing because of all the second degree bachelor degree programs that have been popping up. I thought it might be a good way for me to sort of recycle my undergraduate degree and turn it into something more useful. I've always felt drawn to healthcare and helping people, just didn't know if I could handle the emotional and physical stamina of a job like that, but I'm running out of options and it seems like a path worth taking at this point.

I've already begun the prerequisites that were listed at miami dade medical college after meeting with an advisor there. I received straight A's in Anatomy 1 and Lab, and CHM1033 and lab. The other classes I had taken at UF (statistics, human growth and development, college algebra and I received A's and B's in those classes). I will take hsc0003, anatomy 2 with lab, and microbiology with L next semester and am confident I can acquire straight As in those classes as well.

When I met with Dade, they told me that as long as I scored well on the Heisi and had good grades in the prerequisites I would most likely be accepted to their accelerated program since I already have a bachelors degree. My plan would be to then do a year, get the associates and then become an RN. However, I'm aware that hospitals prefer the BSN and I would want that as well so that in the future I could explore an MSN or Doctorate in nursing. I'm very academic, I just messed up the first time around.

I've also looked into Chamberlin because it seems that I might be able to get a BSN from there in a shorter amount of time. My only reservations are that it is for profit, and I'm not sure how it is perceived by employers or if down the road I would be accepted by a brand name university like UM or Emory for a masters in nursing.

My third option is to continue taking classes at community college after I have completed the prerequisites in an attempt to boost my GPA to the 3.0 required of most second degree nursing programs. I've been told it would take around sixty credits to make a dent in my 120 credits with a 2.5. It seems like a useless waste of time, but if I did that I could then probably apply to a better school with a second degree bachelors or direct entry masters without having to get the associates at dade first.

So my options are

1. finish prerequisites for Dade, attend Dade for 1 year get RN. Then do another year and get RN-BSN ( either at dade or elsewhere)

2. Start at Chamberlin in Jan (if accepted) and get a BSN in around 2 years

3. Continue with courses at community college until I get a 3.0 GPA, apply to more prestigious second degree bachelor programs

I should also mention that I'm ten years out of college and I just turned 30, so time is of the essence. I'm willing to put in the time to gain the best possible options in terms of the best education I can acquire, at the highest level to ensure the best employment and of course, be as skilled as possible to help the most people. I just don't know what option that is.

Any insight is appreciated!!

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Avoid for-profits. See also: ITT scandal.

I think your best bet is the MDMC program you can likely get into and out of quickly. That then opens up a quick trip through an online RN-to-BSN program like Online University | Online Degree Programs | WGU (as your previous bachelor's will put you in a position to just need the nursing component). Then you're golden.

[KatieB2485]

That was the route that seemed best to me also (MDMC). Thank you!!