Post High School

[DorothyMichelle]

Hey Guys,

So I'm in high school(Sophomore)

I have dreams of being in the Nursing Field

I live in Massachusetts

My parents are very supportive and I have A's and B's and maybe a C

I'm kind of a lazy person but its easy for me to break out of the habit when I plan carefully and I put up a certain schedule.

few questions I have..:

What should I do after high school?:

Do I look into Universities to take pre-reqs classes

What kind of job should I get before starting my journey? Like CNA?

Should I live on campus? ( I plan to stay in state or at least in the New England area)

What are the classes like?

What is the competition like to get into the actual BSN program after pre-reqs?

How hard is Nursing School?

Everyone gives me these scary stories as if I'm not capable of succeeding, I understanding its to open my eyes and I know it won't be easy but this is something I realllly want.

I've looked online a lot and all I see are stories of people who already have families that are going back to school. I haven't seen any stories of young people post high school .

you guys can tell stories and things give as much details as possible. I understand not all programs are the same but I still Want to hear everyone's stories and advice.

Thanks!

[Nienna Celebrindal]

I say yes to a university for pre-reqs. Nothing against community colleges. The education is pretty equal imo. I think the environment at a university is better. This is my experience anyway. People seemed in general more focused and serious at the University than the CC. You need as close to a 4.0 as possible because nursing school is highly competitive so surrounding yourself with like minded people is really important. My vote is live on campus for a year and go from there.

Nursing classes are tough. What is hard is there is so much to learn in a short time. You have to study outside of class, read, utilize other sources etc. No teacher can feed you the information, it's just too much. It involves sacrifice of time from friends, going out, relaxing, social media etc. Nursing school itself is tough but it nursing school + life is what makes it crazy.

I really advocate being a CNA. It gives you good hours, and tons of experience. It's hard work but it's valuable in many ways.

If nursing is really what you want then go for it with everything and ignore the nay sayers. Just be prepared for a marathon because it is.

[dorkypanda]

I agree that BSN programs are pretty competitive. Have you checked out some program's requirements in your area ? Really good grades and a possible entrance exam score will be needed to get accepted into BSN programs. There's also the route of associates program if BSN programs are too competitive but you'll need to do an RN to BSN program after it though.

The prereqs themselves aren't too difficult. I think that there are maybe a few courses that will be a slight rigorous challenge compared to the others you have to take.

You can take your prereqs anywhere actually. Just be mindful that you want to do the best you can the first time you take them and take it seriously too. Don't try to jam your most science heavy courses together either. It's just cheaper at a cc. if cost isn't a worry for you, pick what makes you happy and motivated to learn.

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

You're a teenager. Aren't most teenagers lazy? Lol. You have many different routes you can take. If I was in your position and had it all to do over again, I would attend a 4 year college. Get your BSN. Get the college experience but do well in your prereqs. I often see people on here who said I partied too hard and now my grades are a mess and I can't get into nursing school. Live it up in moderation. Don't spend all your time studying but not all your time partying either.

[Psata]

First off, the fact that you are a Sophomore and is looking ahead post High School says a lot about your maturity! I would say start buckling down now and develop good studying skills while in High School. It will pay dividends in the long run.

Does your State have Dual Enrollment Program, where you can start taking college level classes while in High School and the tuition and Books are paid for by the School District? My son will have about 48 credits by the time he finishes his Senior year in 2015. Tuition, Books, Lab Fees and all associated cost for all the classes he took at a local community college was cover by the local School Board. Most of the courses he took at the CC also satisfied his High School requirement also, essentially killing two birds with one stone.

Commonwealth Dual Enrollment Partnership / Strategic Initiatives / Massachusetts Department of Higher Education

I'm a big proponent of doing prerequisites at a Local Community College and then apply to a 4-year University to complete your BSN. This approach is typically much cheaper and the student can live at home while completing their prerequisites. Also, being at home will hopefully make you a more focus student. Additionally, any bad grades earned at a Community College does not get transferred over to the 4-year institution and as such, will not affect the GPA at that school. If cost is not an issue, then I would apply to 4-year institutions (Some 4-years Universities give preference to their students that started at their schools).

Summing up: get good grades in High School and any college level courses you take while in High School. Do well during your time taking prerequisites and you will get into a good BSN program. Good luck!