Military spouse desiring to go to a Nursing School

[Cori26]

Hi! Thank goodness for this site. We just moved to the Bay area, and I am going to use my DH's G.I Bill to go to a nursing school. Tried calling some CC but they have very long waiting list, and a private school that I contacted wouldn't accept me since I have a degree (foreign/non-nursing) already. The VA is only giving me 4 years to finish it staring this month, so time is really of essence. Anybody knows of a nursing program in the Bay area that doesn't have a long waiting list? I would really appreciate it.

[applered]

I thought military spouses gets to go straight into the program, all they have to do is do the prerequisites and they're accepted. You can probably transfer some of your general education classes for the nursing program, but you need to have your transcript evaluated by an agency before you see the school counselor.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Generally the schools in areas with a high concentration of military are more receptive and catering to the military spouse, but usually the benefits aren't much more than giving them in-state tuition and easing residency requirements. I've never heard of schools allowing military spouses to skip the waiting list. Not to say that there couldn't be one out there, but I've yet to come across it and I've been a military spouse for a very long time.

OP: I don't know what schools are in the Bay are but I'd try them all. I'd also get on that one with the waiting list as soon as possible, so if all else fails at least you are in their system.

[Cori26]

Thanks for the info/suggestion guys! One of the VA rep did advice me to get the pre reqs from the school where I planned of attending since, the pre reqs varies from school to school. I will be meeting with the school counselor from Samuel Merrit and hoping I could qualify for the ABSN program.

[Peny]

I envy you with the benefits you'll receive because the more help the better but it is well deserved, please thank your husband for his service. I don't understand why the private school wouldn't accept you, because you don't have any nursing yet? Isn't that why you are going to school to get nursing? Can you elaborate, I'm really confused? There are many areas of nursing, what are you thinking about? I'm going to Unitek College, they don't have a wait list.

[Cori26]

I will tell him that when he gets home. Thanks Penny.Apparently in Samuel Merrit and most of the private schools that I talked to, they don't take people who have bachelors already on their Undergraduate Nursing Program. I guess they only take fresh grad highschool students. They have the ABSN (Accelerated BAchelor of Science in Nursing) which is a very extensive 12-month program available for individuals like me who has a non-nursing degree. They still have to evaluate your transcripts and see from there. I have an appointment next week. Keeping my fingers crossed. I will check Unitek. Thanks Peny.