Need help deciding what to do!

NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Sep 5, 2014

Basically, you would pick a college (one that has an accredited nursing program), fill out the application and pay applicable fees, request that your current college send your official transcripts to you new institution (most places will not accept transcripts that the student handles), and once accepted, you will need to consult your registrar's office to either withdraw or transfer from your current institution to the new one. It should be just that simple unless you have outstanding financial obligations to the current institution.

Contact your registrar's office to find out exactly what you need to do, but I think what I said above is the gist of the process. Good luck!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Sep 7, 2014

Since I can ascertain that you are in California's Central Valley, I can also tell you that publicly funded nursing programs in your area are impacted with significantly more applicants than available seats.

My advice is to pick a couple of schools that have nursing programs such as CSU Stanislaus, American River College, and San Joaquin Delta College. Look on each school's website for the requirements to be admitted into these nursing programs.

Complete as many of the prerequisite courses as possible with 'A' grades. Take whatever pre-entrance exams they require such as the TEAS, NET, HESI, or NLN/PAX and attain as high a score as possible because you will be competing with other applicants.

Good luck to you!

PNW0212 · Sep 7, 2014

Community colleges may save you money, you can go that route whether you decide to do an ADN or BSN at a university. If I were you I'd take prerequisites at a community college. Get as many A's as you can. Pick the college, look up the nursing program, set up an appointment with an advisor/counselor. They'll give you all the info you need. And, if you can, get your CNA license and work as a CNA at a nursing home or something similar. It is wonderful experience and nursing school's love to see it on your application. Good luck to you. Nursing is a wonderful career path :-)

ThatBigGuy · Sep 7, 2014

How far along are you in your biology degree? If you're in your first two years, then I'd say transfer ASAP.

If you're in your junior or senior years, then you should finish your biology degree. There are many 2nd degree programs out there that have separate admittance apart from regular applicants and may get you in sooner.

Finishing your degree shows a professionalism that many nursing managers will find positive when you reach that point. As long as your grades are good, a previous degree from an accredited university is always a positive on your resume.

If you're a freshman or sophomore, it probably doesn't make academic sense to finish your biology degree, although it might make personal sense.

I went for my biology degree even though I wanted to be a nurse, because I had the opportunity to play college basketball. It put me behind the rest of my age group by 4 years, so it didn't make academic sense, but made plenty of personal sense.

I missed out on 4 years of nursing money, sure, but the memories and friends I made are worth much more than those lost paychecks. I even had the opportunity to grab a second degree in English., which looks great on my resume.

So it won't be an easy decision for you, but don't think about it in a concrete academic sense. Consider all the variables, including scholastic, career, and personal ones.