Need advice: BSN or ADN???

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I know this has probably been asked a million times, but... To further beat a dead horse down, I'm asking in respect to how it pertains to me.

I have all my pre-req's done, well, I'm working on micro this current semester, but that's it after that. I've applied to the nursing program at my current school, Northern Essex Com. Col for my ADN, took the entrance exam, ect., I'm in the final candidate pool and I should know in a couple of weeks if I was accepted. At the same time, I've applied to a four year university, UMass Lowell, and I should also know in a couple of weeks if I got in.

Here's my dilema: If I go to Northern Essex, all I have left is my nursing courses and I'll graduate in 2 years with the ADN. If I go to UMass Lowell, I'll go in as a junior, cause they don't start their nursing curriculum until junior year, but I'll have to take 2 other courses that Northern Essex didn't require but UMass does, but, I'll still graduate in 2 years and I'll have my BSN. So, what's the dilema you ask?

Well, I'm 35 years old, I'm a 4.0 GPA student and I do very well in school. I work hard, study hard, ect. But, I'm used to the com. col. setting. Smaller classes, smaller environment. UMass is a huge school and although the nursing classes are not large, the others are. I'd have to take history and statistics and those classes are like 175 people in them. I'm scared to death to go into the big university setting.

So, my options are either stay where I am and get my ADN and take advantage of the agreement that Northern Essex has with UMass and bridge over upon graduation and immediately go to UMass as a senior to get my bachelors and then I don't have to take the other two classes, and that route will get me my bachelors in 3 years rather than 2 (2 years at com. col. then bridge to UMass and 1 more year there). Or... I just suck it up and go to UMass now and get my BSN in the two years. Now granted, I don't even know whether I'm accepted in either program but can't hurt to plan ahead.

They are both phenomenal schools and in this area they are known to be 2 of the best nursing programs, so that's not even a concern. I just honestly don't know what to do. I know a lot of my hesitation for UMass is fear of that setting. At the community college my age is pretty much the norm. At UMass, I'm "old" and the average age runs from 18 to 23. I just don't know if I'd fit in or if I'd be looked at differently or what the case will be. I know the nursing program at UMass has the more "nontraditional" student and the age of most of their students are the same as mine, but, still I'm scared.

What would you do? Should I just dig up some courage and go for the BSN right away or go the route of ASN and bridging? I think my biggest fear is I've been at my com. col. for a year now, I know the setting, I know what to expect, and UMass I don't. So, I'm worried that I won't do as well in a setting I'm not familar with where everything is on a much bigger scale. The other thing, a lot of UMass teaching is theory and not a lot of hands on, whereas Northern Essex is a good balance of both, a lot of theory and a lot of hands on clinical. I just don't know. Any suggestions or thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks for listening!!!

Janet :chuckle

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, PACU, Travel nursing.

i think that its going to be a rough new setting whether you are at a comm college or a university. nursing classes are scary everywhere. personally, i'd just go the bsn route. i'm going back for my bsn now and am having to take an entire year of extra online nursing courses for the bridge program i am at- and i'm pretty resentful about having to get an extra year of courses i don't need.[this is in addition to the regular bsn requierements that i didn't get with adn, like macroeconmics and history. i can understand the other classes, but not extra nursing courses. i am already an rn and had the same clinicals as regular bsn students]

plus its really hard to go back once you have your adn. if you have 2 years either way you should just go bsn. you'll be okay at the university.gotta learn to start facing fears if you wanna survive nursing school anyway.

good luck! :)

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Janet, the familiar is comfortable. However, trust me, nursing school is far from anything you've ever experienced before. You're going to be experiencing plenty of fears and new growing opportunities that will pale in comparison your your fear of going to a large university.

Bite the bullet and jump into the university setting and get that BSN! You can do it. Read my sig below!

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So basically what you are saying, from an academic and time standpoint, UMass only requires two more classes of prereq's and both programs would take 2 years to complete.

If both programs offer you acceptance for the same semester, I'd say you'd be crazy not to do the BSN. Many people, like myself, chose other programs because the waiting lists were too long. Back when I started LPN school, had an ADN or BSN program let me jump right in for the same starting time I would have done that but at that time I wasn't going to wait the 3 years it took just to get into an ADN or BSN program. It's going to take 2 years of your life to complete either program, you might as well get the most out of it.

Going the ADN then BSN route is more expensive and time-consuming no matter how you look at it.

Fitting in and concerns about being the "older" student at the age of 35, should not be on your high priority list when weighing your two options. I'll bet you won't be the oldest one and who cares if you are.

Maybe a BSN isn't important to you right now and that's fine. But if it becomes important to you later in your career you'll already have it done in the same amount of time your ADN program would have taken.

Look at how many people on this BB are going back for their BSN's after being ADN's for some time, that should tell you something.

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I'm just finishing up my pre-reqs (micro, psych, and soc. this semeseter) and have applied to a couple ADN programs as well as UMass Lowell (just got my acceptance letter last week ) However, I'm leaning towards a night and weekend program so I can be home with my kids during the day. Also, as I understand it at UMass you'll take nursing classes as well as thing like community health, research, pathopharmacology, etc. making it more credit hours per semester than an ADN program. Not necessarilly bad, but something to think about. I wouldn't be too nervous about your age. I know lots of people around my age and older (28) who attend Umass. They like it. If my kids were older I'd be considering it more strongly. I just think an ADN program would be easier on my family (and at my 1st choice you're automatically accepted into the BSN program and can keep on going). Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is, if the only thing holding you back is nerves, go for the BSN. Maybe a visit and a chat with a nursing professor or director would help calm your nerves. Good Luck!

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Thank you for all the replies, but, first, I want to clear some things up. The nursing programs at either school is not what is intimidating to me. Not at all. I KNOW that is challenging and I will be faced with a lot of changes and have tense times and fears all the way through that. I'm totally aware that there will be unfamiliar territory in either nursing program simply because, I'm not a nurse, so its all going to be new to me. I'm a CNA right now but that's not a nurse, so yes, I know it will be all unfamiliar. The other thing is I haven't even received an acceptance letter from either school yet. I'm just planning ahead, trying to make a start on my choices. And I didn't just swing into these programs. I have been going to school and working hard on getting my pre-req's, ect. So, I didn't just luck out and get into these programs with no effort, again, I don't even know if I'm in yet. I'll be thrilled if I get accepted to one nevermind both. Both schools, especially the ADN, has a huge waiting list and there are tons of applicants. So, its not easy getting in either way. And yeah, that should tell me something right there. But, what I meant was, not so much my age, its kind of a counter thought the age part, what I meant was, all the people I have been trudging through the pre-req's with will most likely be my fellow nursing classmates. And I just meant that will make things easier in the respect that we already have study groups formed, you get familiar with the people you are working with. I want to get the most out of anywhere I go and I'm questioning whether I should stay where I know everyone, I have a bunch of study buddies, I know a ton of the current nursing students, I know what to expect out of this program at the school I am currently at. Also, the previous post mentioned family. That's the other thing. I'm a mother of 4 (might I add a single mother) ages 7 to 13. This is an insane juggling act as it is and I'm right down the street from my current school. Also, cost is an issue. Northern Essex is about $1500.00 a semester, UMass is double that if not triple that. I can barely afford that now. I know UMass is the better choice because it gives me the BSN, but there are a lot of factors, the money, the commute, the bigger school environment where your lucky if you even meet your professor in the non-nursing classes. I don't know. I've got a lot to consider. I just didn't want to come off as someone who is afraid of the nursing program or appeared to be oblivious to how hard the nursing programs can be, I know that. That's why I'm trying to make a wise decision and make sure I make the right one, that's why I asked for suggestions. I've worked really hard to get her as did everyone else who's gone down this road. I just want to make sure that I make the right decision. But, I understand everyone's thoughts and I thank you for all the suggestions.

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