please everyone help me.

Hi Trying,

If I were you I would contact the school. They will be able to give you a list of all the classes you need to take before you can apply for the nursing program. Since you've never been to college you will have to take English (composition and literature), some math, and a few other electives that vary from school to school (maybe psychology, an art class, general sciences, sociology).

I would start out taking maybe 2 of these classes a semester so you can kind of ease into it and become accustomed to the studying and time commitment necessary. Before you know it, you'll have a whole bunch of classes under your belt and will feel more confident to move on to some of the harder classes like Anatomy & Physiology and Microbiology.

Don't let other people's opinions scare you away. Only you know what you are capable of. Nursing scool is hard, but think of all the others that have done it and believe that you are at least as intelligent and commited as they were, if not more.

I agree with the above poster. Take your time. Since you have a family, it will take you some time to complete the degree, and it will be difficult, but IT CAN BE DONE! I am definitely a living testimony to this. When I began my pre reqs, I was newly divorced with a 4 year old, working full time and paying the bills. I started taking two classes at a time and have not looked back since. I just completed Nursing 3, which was the hardest semester of my life. But I am proud to say I will be completing my ADN in December. You will look back and wonder why you did not start sooner.

Good Luck!

CSI is a good school. You can go to Wagner or St Vincent's but they are private and expensive.

Hi there,

CSI is definitely a great school. I went there trying to get into the Nursing Program, but my grades weren't top notch so I left and am now attending Touro College in Brooklyn. My only opinion to you is that if you want to get into Nursing Program by Spring '09, that most likely will not happen at CSI. Being a new college student you'll have to take all your Pre-reqs which could take 2 semesters alone, maybe more depending how many classes you're willing to take. And if you do that, then apply to the program, you're not guaranteed to get into the program. CUNY schools - especially CSI - are extremely hard to get into because of the amount of people that apply. So if you want, take some Pre-reqs - your basics such as English, Psych, Math, and then try and get into a different Nursing Program like St. Vincent's or Touro. Yes, the private ones are more expensive - but worth it in my opinion. You can also try applying to CSI for Nursing, just don't count on ONE school to get into. Keep your options to go elsewhere because it is very competitive.

Hope I've helped a little.

I'm sort of in the same situation as you, tryingtobecome, except I've taken most of my pre reqs at BMCC already. My gpa isn't high enough to be able to get into BMCC's program so I too was thinking of CSI. I'll be commuting from Brooklyn. I'm also 23, I have a son, step son and husband as well so I sort of know what you're going through.

Am0r,

how competitive do your grades have to be to get into CSI? What is the gpa cut off? Do they look at your cumulative gpa or just your gpa for the pre reqs? Thanks!

Hi Tryingtobecome,

You and I are kind of in the same situation except I dont have kids. I work full time and can't leave my job to go to school. I too want to be a nurse. I am sooo scared because people make it seem like the hardest thing in the world. I also am starting from scratch.

I am trying to do it and I am going to take it easy even though I too am very anxious. Last semester I started looking at school and signed up to Farmingdale in Long Island. In order to get accepted into a nursing program there are classs you need to take first. Here is my advice to you:

Apply to the school as a liberal arts major. This way you are free to take any classes you choose.

Look into what classes are pre-reqs for the nursing program (usually it is 4 classes - most likey English 101, Psychology 101, Anatomy and Physiology I, and something else). Take these classes first.

As soon as you take those classes you can start applying to the nursing program. Dont be scared or discouraged if you dont get in immediately -- you might not. In the mean time you will still have to take other Liberal Arts classes anyways. The more liberal arts classes you have under your belt the better chances you have of getting accepted.

If you have any other questions, please let me know!

Hey everyone I am new to this site and I am trying to get all the information possible. I am 23 year old and the mother of two. I am thinking about going back to school(csi most likely). I want to get into the nursing program. But people kept telling me its the hardest thing I will ever do. People's comments have been getting me scared and I don't know what to do. I realle want to do it. I want to provide a better life for my children. What should I do? Should I go for it even though I have two kids and a hubby and a home to worry about. I live on Staten Island is csi a good school? Will it be very hard to get in the nursing program? Which are the easiest or best school to get in not to far from home? Please I need help what should I do? I want to try to get in as soon as possible. Most likely spring of 09. Please help what should be my first step. I never been to college it will be my first time. I really wants this is it possible for me to do this? Sorr for the long post. Thanks in advance to everyone that answers. Anyone wanting to be my guide through this send email adress thanks very much.

Do not rush this, there is no reason to. You are only 23. You have plenty of time. And you have 2 kids who need you. There is a reason people are telling you it is the hardest thing you will ever do. Sure you can do it, even with two kids. If you don't mind me asking, what kind of support do you have, to help you with your kids? The reality is, if you rush through it just to get through it, you will not do well. As an instructor, I would strongly advise you to take some pre-requisites. Besides, some schools will not even accpet you into the nursing program without some of them.

Well, I can't say anything about the school as I am not familiar with it, but if this is something you want to do, don't let someone talk you out of it...I let others scary tales prevent me from entering nursing school until just this past semester, and you know what...I lost a lot of valuable time doing something that I really enjoy. I actually enjoy nursing school and miss it now due to summer break.

I definitely agree with the other posters about taking it slow and getting your feet wet with a class or two.

If this is what YOU want, go for it!

Kris

hey there

im sorry I dont have more information about CSI, I know that because of the amount of students that apply each semester - the higher your grades the better.

So I agree with the others, take some Pre-reqs - get your foot in the door. See how it goes from there. Don't be in a rush though. It took me 5 years to get where I am today - and I'm still young and have plenty of time to enjoy my career

Good Luck with whatever decision you make!

hey there

im sorry I dont have more information about CSI, I know that because of the amount of students that apply each semester - the higher your grades the better.

So I agree with the others, take some Pre-reqs - get your foot in the door. See how it goes from there. Don't be in a rush though. It took me 5 years to get where I am today - and I'm still young and have plenty of time to enjoy my career

Good Luck with whatever decision you make!

I attend a cuny nursing school BCC-- and believe me it is the hardest thing you will ever do, besides the challenges of the program, cuny itself is a challenge, no guidance, no direction you have to figure everything out for yourself. I am almost finished with my RN but if I had it to do over and what you should consider. Take your pre-reqs at csi--eng, pysch. ap 1 & 2 gen chem micro etc. and take 1 or 2 classes to begin with get the highest grades you can, then apply to csi but apply to other schools too--you don't even need to get your bsn right away, you can get adn at say Beth Israel or ST. Vincents on staten island. this way your pre-reqs are out of the way and at a much lower cost and you just have to do your clinicals.