PRE-NURSING HELP.

[_nursetobe]

Okay, I graduated high school in 2011 and I have always wanted to be a nurse. I went on and attended a community college in CA near home I am currently working on nursing pre-reqs as well as General Ed to transfer to a four year. This process is taking me a lot longer than I intended. I have to retake chemistry because at the time when I first took it I was taking a **** load of classes and working 36 hours a week. It was intense. I took a semester off spring semester of '13 after second guessing what I really wanted to do in life and took a CNA course. I am currently working as a CNA and it's not as bad as I thought it would be I work NOC. Shift and though it gets tough sometimes it works with my studying schedule. I have been doing BETTER in my classes. If all goes well next semester should be my last semester and I'm eligible to transfer to a four year. HOWEVER I still need to complete Microbiology and Physio. I no longer want to be at the community college I'm at now. Everyone in my hometown stays there forever and rarely ever makes it out!! I don't want to be one of those ppl!! So I don't know if I should transfer to a university and just take the left over pre-reqs I need for the university I'm planning to attend. I know staying at this JC will be cheaper but I'm tired of feeling like I'm going no where in life. I'm 21 and want to be done with school! I like reading posts on here where ppl understand the hard work and dedication this major has because my family and friends don't really understand. And I'm the first in my family to attend college. That's also why I'm aiming for a bachelors and I know in the long run it'll be more beneficial for me than an associates. Any input or tips are greatly appreciated! I'm even considering out of state universities!!

[RunBabyRN]

You must be in Santa Rosa, since you said JC. :) Yes, people get stuck there FOREVER.

Take the prereqs at your CC. Take everything you can there. There is NO benefit to taking them at the university over the CC, and you'll save a lot of money.

You're still young, believe me! The only 21 year old in our program didn't make it past the first semester (not to suggest that this is how it would go for everyone; I know there are plenty of 21 year olds who can handle it). Gain some life experience along the way while taking your prereqs and working as a CNA. Boost your GPA as best you can, and nail the TEAS when you get there.

Good luck!

[Career2_BSN, BSN]

I concur with RunBabyRun 100%!! Why pay more than double for a class (and books) when you can get an excellent education at a JC? JCs have smaller class sizes which means not only are you saving on tuition, but you get more small-group assistance and more attention from your instructors.

I'm back at my JC for the 3rd time (3rd major) over nearly a 20 year period. I fully intend to get my ADN through a JC and then immediately go into a RN-BSN program. Saving tuition and having more time with the instructor are major factors playing into this decision. A classmate of mine has her heart set on the local state school but when I compared the tuition difference, getting a BSN at the state school was going to cost $17k more than my RN-BSN route. That's just ridiculous. An extra $17k for what? So I can say I did all of it at a state school? Not worth it!

[JChristn, BSN, RN]

I agree with RunBabyRun and 1fiestymama - take your last two at the CC. I was in such a hurry to get out of the small town I lived in to transfer to the state school, that I could've saved more money and had less student loan debt if I would have stuck it out one or two more semesters. If you can, take micro and a&p in the summer and then transfer. And you are going somewhere, think back to all those classes you've taken and all the CNA experience you've gained. You're motivated and you won't get stuck in your small town. Hang in there and best of luck to you!

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

Don't forget to consider the fact that many CSUs are closed to new applicants for Spring term.

Furthermore, if your financial aid has been exhausted at the CC/JC, you will still be eligible at the State schools because of different unit caps.

But CSU tuition is getting to be expensive, especially if you have to pay out of pocket. But you may qualify for a pell or seog grant which means you don't pay tuition at the CSU.

The JCs in my area of CA have more flexible class times than the CSU.

Some JCs in my area are very good with excellent teachers and some....not so much. But I haven't ever had a really horrible teacher at the CSU.

One thing I love about the university is the number of study spots available on campus. You can eat, sleep, go to computer terminals, study in the library, go exercise, study in a group, on a comfy couch or a hard desk, etc. and the study spots are open really late. At the JC, you would get kicked out of the only places to study, the library or the cafeteria pretty early.