So to all the fellow friends I've made here, I've been rejected to all three nursing programs I applied to (USF/SFSU/CSUEB) . It's only my first time, but it's very disappointing, and I feel like I worked so hard this past two years and have just hit a dead end.
Anywho, case in point is, by the end of this semester, I'll be done with my GE's and nursing pre-reqs. This summer I'm planning on volunteering at a local hospital to build up some experience in the medical environment, and just get have some sort of idea as to what I'm getting in to. :chuckle In the fall, I'll basically be applying to all the CSU's [that I'm eligible for], a few private colleges, and maybe out of state if I have to for next Spring, hopefully being able to even get into ONE with all this competition. :uhoh21: My greatest fear is that I will be denied yet again, and I don't want to waste an entire year doing nothing. It's even tougher because I have so much pressure from my parents to do well and I will be the first grandchild on my mom's side to graduate from college and the second on my dad's side, and everyone is expecting so much from me!
To my dismay, I hear stories of people waiting two, sometimes three years just to get into nursing programs . After much contemplation after my third (and final) rejection :zzzzz, I was thinking about getting a BS in Microbiology, while I wait to get into clinicals. If my nightmare does happen and I don't make it into the NS the second time around, I will at least have been studying and working towards something. & don't get me wrong, I DO want to be a nurse, but there's not much more I can do if I they just won't let me in, but recently, I've been very interested in Microbiology; I think it would lay a good foundation for me in the specifics of the particular field I am interested in. BUT, if by chance, I get called into the NS, I would take it, and perhaps finish the Micro degree later, or vice versa. What do you guys think? Am I aiming too high?
I know I'm still young (19 turning 20 this August ) but I'm ready to start working :typing and helping people!
I would look into the degree requirements and like you plan, continue with your courses over the next year. When you get accepted to a program, you can always switch your micro classes to a minor alongside your nursing major or you can pursue a double major. You are wise to look for ways to make the waiting time positive. Good luck.
I'm taking Micro with Rose right now, too! :chuckle LOL. Omg what a coincidence. Umm well my name's Julianne, I sit in the very front by the left window during lecture...I'm in the afternoon lab...do I know you already? Haha.
Oh, and any word from CSU-EB yet?
Hey, You! You the one sittin' there textin' while the teacher's talkin'???
Sorry, I couldn't resist. I'm sitting here in NJ, so I couldn't possibly know you. But dang, it's a small world, and you never know who you're going to meet on AllNurses!
And yes, people texting while the teacher is talking make me wonder...
julz16, if I were a young whipper-snapper like you :) I would hang in there. Do the micro thing. Goodness knows you may not have much time to pursue that once you're in NS and then working as a nurse. So if it floats your boat, go for it! Believe me, if I didn't need to hustle my butt to work asap due to my family situation, I would do chemistry full-time first and then do nursing school. So I know how you feel!
Another option is to go where the competition isn't quite as insane. California -- wow, it seems so intense to try to get into one of those schools. Maybe check out the east coast. Yeah, I know. People from CA don't want to be on the east coast, but maybe you could stand us for 2 or 3 years. There's always competition to get into NS, but some states are a little less intense than others.
But if you decide to hang tight, look at it as an opportunity to explore other subjects. You never know where it might lead you!
julz16, if I were a young whipper-snapper like you :) I would hang in there. Do the micro thing. Goodness knows you may not have much time to pursue that once you're in NS and then working as a nurse. So if it floats your boat, go for it! Believe me, if I didn't need to hustle my butt to work asap due to my family situation, I would do chemistry full-time first and then do nursing school. So I know how you feel!
Another option is to go where the competition isn't quite as insane. California -- wow, it seems so intense to try to get into one of those schools. Maybe check out the east coast. Yeah, I know. People from CA don't want to be on the east coast, but maybe you could stand us for 2 or 3 years. There's always competition to get into NS, but some states are a little less intense than others.
But if you decide to hang tight, look at it as an opportunity to explore other subjects. You never know where it might lead you!
Best of luck!
Whipper snapper....? :chuckle
But yes, I have considered going out-of-state for NS. Not TOO far, I'm looking mainly into the Washington/Nevada and potentially Texas area, but I'm kind of hesitant, feeling that I want to be close to home and just help out my family if need be. Just a thought.
It's kind of funny how fate has a way because I'm increasingly liking Microbiology as this semester is coming to a close. I think I might start summer school to start up on those pre-reqs just so:
a) I have something to do (no more Myspace...)
b) My brain doesn't go dead from not learning anything in those 2 & 1/2 months
c) If God really doesn't want me to do nursing and I don't get accepted in the Spring, I can fall back on this Micro degree
Filling another semester in just means more chemistry and physics...*puke*, but everyone loves a challenge, right?
My classmate in OChem says her best friend got her MD in Immunology/Public Health & UC Berkeley and is currently going for her Ph.D. I think I want that to be me in a couple of years!
& LoriS, you scared me for a second, because I do (occasionally) text in Micro....but it's ok because I got an A on the last test! Proves that I'm still being attentive in class! :chuckle
But yes, I have considered going out-of-state for NS. Not TOO far, I'm looking mainly into the Washington/Nevada and potentially Texas area, but I'm kind of hesitant, feeling that I want to be close to home and just help out my family if need be. Just a thought.
Getting into nursing school is just crazy. , especially in the bay area.
Have you looked at oregon schools? Many of the community colleges have agreements with OHSU, so that you get your ASN in two years and start working and you are automatically eligible to take online classes for another year and get your BSN from OHSU. The OHSU linked schools accept based on a point system rather than a lottery or waitlist, and they give points for prereq grades and other things, like EMT certification. The point system seems pretty transparent. Some of the cc's will accept california students. I was looking at Rogue CC in Medford as one of my plan B options if I didn't get into a 2nd degree program.
Oregon also has several private schools with nursing programs that have good reputations.
If you did get your micro degree while still waiting for nursing school, when you graduated you'd be eligible to apply to 2nd degree programs as well, plus some regular programs give extra points for having a previous degree. You could spend the time making yourself an attractive candidate with work or volunteer experience in research and healthcare. Plus you will have a marketable degree as a backup.
Good luck - I'm sure if you keep your options open you will find a way to succeed.
& LoriS, you scared me for a second, because I do (occasionally) text in Micro....but it's ok because I got an A on the last test! Proves that I'm still being attentive in class! :chuckle
Just make sure your prof doesn't see you! That's the one thing that makes all of my profs crazy -- besides people who chit-chat to each other during lecture. One of my profs doesn't say anything, but just makes a note to himself that so-and-so was texting in class. Yikes!!
I'm taking Micro this summer. I'm so looking forward to it! And the professor is a sweetie; I've already emailed him a couple of times about the textbook. But he's young enough to be my SON!
Just make sure your prof doesn't see you! That's the one thing that makes all of my profs crazy -- besides people who chit-chat to each other during lecture. One of my profs doesn't say anything, but just makes a note to himself that so-and-so was texting in class. Yikes!!
I'm taking Micro this summer. I'm so looking forward to it! And the professor is a sweetie; I've already emailed him a couple of times about the textbook. But he's young enough to be my SON!
How come I never get any "sweetie" professors?
As for texting in class ... put me in the section with the professors that go crazy - I find it beyond irritating. I have some girls at my table that are constantly texting - the entire class period. Click, click, click. Then they giggle about the responses they get. Very distracting. I get to wondering what is so funny, what is so interesting?
You can bet that when the instructors looks over at me - there I am - eyes on them, totally focused (even if I am daydreaming!) not fiddling. And you know what? I get a different grade than those girls - even when we have just about the same answers sometimes! I don't think that is just about me paying attention, either, it is about the instructor knowing who is paying attention and who is being rude.
I have had instructors tell the students they will be asked to leave if they choose to text in their class. One instructor even went so far as to tell the class, "Don't even think about texting in my class or you will fail." Alrighty then!
I personally wouldn't recommend spending the time and money getting your CNA. I did that last year, and applied for every single hospital in my area...and have yet to even get a call back Really, nobody is hiring CNA's right now...even pre-nursing student CNAs, which is very discouraging. I'm sure you'd be able to find a job as a CNA at a SNF, but that's definitely not something I wanted to do.
I personally wouldn't recommend spending the time and money getting your CNA. I did that last year, and applied for every single hospital in my area...and have yet to even get a call back Really, nobody is hiring CNA's right now...even pre-nursing student CNAs, which is very discouraging. I'm sure you'd be able to find a job as a CNA at a SNF, but that's definitely not something I wanted to do.
Wow! That is surprising to hear. My mom was encouraging me to do CNA classes since I have an "empty" schedule next semester...but heck, if they aren't even hiring...! :chuckle In addition to that, I'd have to shell out $1,100 for all the expenses
But thank you, MisStake for the advice. I am probably not going to take the CNA route anyway, I discussed my situation with my parents and they support me doing the Microbiology thing if the nursing thing doesn't work out. I think they might have finally realized my pain :zzzzz
Wow! That is surprising to hear. My mom was encouraging me to do CNA classes since I have an "empty" schedule next semester...but heck, if they aren't even hiring...! :chuckle In addition to that, I'd have to shell out $1,100 for all the expenses
But thank you, MisStake for the advice. I am probably not going to take the CNA route anyway, I discussed my situation with my parents and they support me doing the Microbiology thing if the nursing thing doesn't work out. I think they might have finally realized my pain :zzzzz
What about taking EMT over the summer? Its sundays 8-4:50...im thinking of taking it. I have heard its near impossible to get a job though (with no experience), but im sure where theres a will theres a way right? Im not sure what to do with myself this summer...take classes or work or EMT? Hmmm...have you decided what you are going to do?
I'm right there with you....I'm an alternate so I really don't know if I'm going to get into my program or not, but I know that I need to start thinking of plan B. My last year's plan B was the CNA thing but that really has not helped at all, lol! Seriously, I've had my CNA for a year now and after the millions of resumes/applications I've sent, I haven't received a single call back. And it was about $1500 for the program and 6 weeks that I wasted!! I'm not sure what I am going to do for plan B. Julz, the micro thing sounds awesome for you. You will work it out and in the end you'll look back and think, wow, this was exactly how it was supposed to go! Sometimes our best laid plans fail but give way to better and more exciting things later on....we just don't know it until we're there!
Now, I've got to go start taking my own advice!!!!
. It's only my first time, but it's very disappointing, and I feel like I worked so hard this past two years and have just hit a dead end. 
) but I'm ready to start working :typing and helping people!
caliotter3
38,333 Posts
I would look into the degree requirements and like you plan, continue with your courses over the next year. When you get accepted to a program, you can always switch your micro classes to a minor alongside your nursing major or you can pursue a double major. You are wise to look for ways to make the waiting time positive. Good luck.