Accelerated BSN or BSN/MSN?

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I'm currently finishing my prereq's for nursing school and am looking to enter into an accelerated program summer or fall of 2005. My dilemma: BSN, or BSN/MSN? I know now that I definitely want an advanced degree, but I'm hesitant to pick a BSN/MSN degree program without having some practical experience in my specialty area (I'm strongly leaning toward perinatal or neonatal, but I know that could change). However, I've got the resources now to go for the advanced degree - I'm childless, spouseless, without any huge financial constraints - and I wonder if that will be the case for me in the future.

I'd really love to hear from people who went the accelerated route and which kind of program they chose (BSN, BSN/MSN) and what their experiences were from it, any general advice.

Thanks!

thank goodness your parents were prepared! i went back to school when i "grew up" :chuckle and "paid" my own way via loans.

credit rating has absolutely no bearing on the federal student loan amounts i mentioned above. if you take out private loans, from like your bank or something, then your credit rating comes into play. but federal money is for anyone!

yippee!

topcat

Hi Top Cat!

Thanks for that info about receiving financial aid. I too have a previous degree, but fortunately was already paid for by my parents. I am considering getting a a second bachelors by going the accelerated BSN route. My question is, so if the total lifetime limit loan of an undergraduate is $46,000, can I avail all that if I apply in accelerated BSN? I dont have any student loans from my previous degree, but I am thinking of applying for the ABSN in a private university here in chicago (Loyola University). And if my calculations are correct, the total amount I need to borrow including living expenses (dorm, books etc) is about 40,000. So I was wondering if I can get the maximum amount??

Thanks again!

hi top cat!

thanks for that info about receiving financial aid. i too have a previous degree, but fortunately was already paid for by my parents. i am considering getting a a second bachelors by going the accelerated bsn route. my question is, so if the total lifetime limit loan of an undergraduate is $46,000, can i avail all that if i apply in accelerated bsn? i dont have any student loans from my previous degree, but i am thinking of applying for the absn in a private university here in chicago (loyola university). and if my calculations are correct, the total amount i need to borrow including living expenses (dorm, books etc) is about 40,000. so i was wondering if i can get the maximum amount??

thanks again!

nope. since it's considered a second degree, you only are allowed financial aid for the last two years, your junior and senior year. since you already have a degree, you don't need to redo your freshman and sophomore years, so you don't get the whole shebang. the limit for junior and senior year is $10,500 per year = total $21,000. and that's all! sucks doesn't it? :p

maybe i've missed a calling, maybe i should be a financial aid officer? :chuckle i probably could, my fin aid officer likes me, but i'm sure he gets tired of me being up in his face all the time! but hey, i need money, honey!

topcat

Hey Chilliwings, I was looking at Loyola too (although I'm in Seattle). Maybe I'll see ya in 2005.

Hi! Have you started your pre-reqs yet? I just started mine and I plan to apply in 2005. When do you think is the best time to submit applications?

Hey Chilliwings, I was looking at Loyola too (although I'm in Seattle). Maybe I'll see ya in 2005.

that's not good. :( since i will have to stay in the dorms.. i guess i may need to borrow the rest from banks. which is not good. i guess i will also try to apply in direct entry msn too... i just wanted to avoid having to do the gre...! but hey if it can save me more money, why not right?

thanks top cat for all your info!

nope. since it's considered a second degree, you only are allowed financial aid for the last two years, your junior and senior year. since you already have a degree, you don't need to redo your freshman and sophomore years, so you don't get the whole shebang. the limit for junior and senior year is $10,500 per year = total $21,000. and that's all! sucks doesn't it? :p

maybe i've missed a calling, maybe i should be a financial aid officer? :chuckle i probably could, my fin aid officer likes me, but i'm sure he gets tired of me being up in his face all the time! but hey, i need money, honey!

topcat

Hi! Have you started your pre-reqs yet? I just started mine and I plan to apply in 2005. When do you think is the best time to submit applications?

Yeah, I sort of had a flash about this back in February, so I've *just* gone back to school for the first time in 9 years to take Biology 101 so I can get into A&P. I'm going to have to crank pretty hard to get the pre-reqs out of the way, but I think I can do it. I hope. I'm getting a 4.0 in bio so far, so I have hope.

I think I'm going to submit applications in January or so, once I've enrolled for winter quarter classes, so I can show them that my pre-reqs plan is underway. And I think I'm just going to go for a direct entry Masters.

Anyway, if I wind up in Chicago, maybe we can find a really cheap apartment and eat ramen.

Haha! It's funny you said that.. :chuckle I just started doing my pre-reqs too. That class was also my first after about 5 years. I was lucky I took Bio in college so that is out of the way. So far it's been alright. Anyway.. with this info about the limitations of financial aid for accelerated BSN, I may have to consider doing direct entry MSN. I was just hoping I could get out of having to do GRE, which is a requirement for MSN. Anyway... as far as I know, here in IL, the only university offering direct entry MSN is DePaul. I was wondering if anybody knows the NCLEX passing rate of DePaul. I know Loyola is known for their medical programs, but I am not sure about DePaul since I know they are good with computer programs.

Anyhow, I am crossing my fingers that I will be able to do good in my pre-reqs since my over all GPA for my 1st bachelors is barely a 3.0. With my luck, I am hoping to get into a nursing program by next school year and begin my diet of ramen, rice and water. :p

Yeah, I sort of had a flash about this back in February, so I've *just* gone back to school for the first time in 9 years to take Biology 101 so I can get into A&P. I'm going to have to crank pretty hard to get the pre-reqs out of the way, but I think I can do it. I hope. I'm getting a 4.0 in bio so far, so I have hope.

I think I'm going to submit applications in January or so, once I've enrolled for winter quarter classes, so I can show them that my pre-reqs plan is underway. And I think I'm just going to go for a direct entry Masters.

Anyway, if I wind up in Chicago, maybe we can find a really cheap apartment and eat ramen.

So, what I've seen about the GRE is that it's actually easier than I thought. It looks about the same as the SAT, but we haven't been in school in ages. Also, the other thing that I've seen is that, for the MSN programs, the GPA of your first BA/BS doesn't seem to matter. It's only what your GPA for the pre-reqs is. Anyway, tomorrow night I'll be getting back my Peterson's guide, so I can tell you about the other Chicago area schools. I'm also looking at Marquette up in Milwaukee.

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