Misled by Academic Coordinator/Advisor

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

Published

I know the decision to complete pre-requisites is a very important one for all of us due to time constraints and prior engagements with our lives. My intent when applying to (nameless college- you can look in my previous posts to see the college) was to complete my pre-reqs as quickly as possible and when I had my meeting with my advisor today I completely felt mislead in a direction I did not want to be pushed in. A little background on me is that I am an early high school graduate (I recently graduated a year earlier than my graduating class) and wanted to kick start my butt into gear and get as many pre-reqs completed as I could to get into nursing school (for my BSN) and complete my BSN within 3-4 years. I am a very goal oriented person, and from my previous track record in high school this is obviously evident. What it seems like to me is that whenever I speak to college advisors the only thing going through their head is dollar signs b/c of my high GPA and early graduation. It is not about me, Nicole, the future nursing student, it is all about FAFSA/ government CHA-CHING they're going to be rolling in. I think what iritates me the most is that when I researched this whole nursing thing I really had a goal in place (what pre-reqs i wanted to complete this summer and upcoming fall) and during the meeting she just shifted those aside and basically TOLD me what to take (mind you my intent was to take courses ASU - my local 4 yr university requires for their BSN program). Having left after my meeting with the advisor I completely felt she jerked me right and left and never really listened to the needs I have. I know I really have nothing to complain about, but what are my rights as a student???? I guess the worst part is I feel they were very unprofessional in the fact that they had me, an underage 16 year old minor solely sign my summer/fall registration papers without any parental regard or consent. I do not feel that I recieved the best option for what my pre-reqs to be completed and she wouldn't even talk it over and somewhat scooted me out of her office in a sense that "NEXT, I HAVE OTHER STUDENTS TO ADVISE LATER" (when there WERE NONE in her office or waiting in the lobby for advisement. I know the pathway I want to take and if she's not working with me what should I do??? Would you back away from this school and basically wait it out until fall and just go to another school or just suck it up and get an education? Sorry for my long rant but it seems like I'm reading and wanting one thing but being pushed to another due to what she believes is lack of "college smartness" /whatever it may be. Responses are welcome, thanks for reading.

Specializes in I'm in on a floating NA team so I'm all.

CAC COST SUMMER 09- $180 FALL 09- $900 SPRING 10- $840 TOTAL- $1920

GCU COST SUMMER 10- $8250 FALL 10- $8250 SPRING 11- $8250 SUMMER 11- $8250 FALL 11- $8250 SPRING 12- $8250 SUMMER 12- $4125 TOTAL- $53625

TOTAL BOTH- $55545

Don't forget to factor in the cost of books and supplies, lab/clincial fees, any technology fees the school charges, scrubs and insurance...

thank you StephanieK I wont but when i did calculations i honestly had no clue how much those things were going to cost.... i assume they're all really expensive ... how much would you guesstimate? another 20 k ?

Specializes in I'm in on a floating NA team so I'm all.

It really all depends on the school... My old school had a technology fee of $238/semester and some other random fees as well. Plus the cost of books can be around $400/semester depending on the classes (could be higher could be lower). Some school charge a lab fee not all though. Check with the school though about what is included in tuition and what's not. My current school has all of my fees rolled into the cost of tuition (with the exception of books and any supplies I need but that's not for the actual program just the pre-reqs).

Also, whenever possible BUY USED BOOKS!!!!! They're always cheaper and the only thing you're missing normally is the pretty plastic wrap over the outside of the book!!!!

thanks for the tips on book buying... I was book shopping online today for books I need for my upcoming classes and WOWzers they are quite expensive.... So I guess my financial aid won't be in the office until mid-Fall semester (which makes no sense @ all) and I have to buy all my fall & summer books ON my own yet I have a 0 EFC and honestly don't know how i'm going to manage buying them since I have no job and my mom works day and night for my family to barely make it.... Oh the joys of financial aid and college.:uhoh21::cry:

Specializes in I'm in on a floating NA team so I'm all.

If you didn't fill out a FAFSA for 2008-09 you can't get spring/summer assistance. College is expensive everyone here can basically relate! Dealing with financial aid is a headache and a half! Having no social life because you're always studying pretty much sucks but I can tell you from experience... Walking across that stage to get your degree makes everything worth it!!!

Try using half.com to buy books! I've gotten pretty lucky there!

Make sure to apply for any scholarships you possibly can as well!!! Check with your church, old high school, the college you're going to, your bank/credit union, any clubs or groups you've been part of basically anything you can think of!!!

If you didn't fill out a FAFSA for 2008-09 you can't get spring/summer assistance. College is expensive everyone here can basically relate! Dealing with financial aid is a headache and a half! Having no social life because you're always studying pretty much sucks but I can tell you from experience... Walking across that stage to get your degree makes everything worth it!!!

Try using half.com to buy books! I've gotten pretty lucky there!

Make sure to apply for any scholarships you possibly can as well!!! Check with your church, old high school, the college you're going to, your bank/credit union, any clubs or groups you've been part of basically anything you can think of!!!

Blah financial aid is such a joke though, I mean at least my office is. They really don't care about cutting you a check to buy books - it's at their own leisure! :( Ah hopefully I'll be walking across the stage soon (cough cough 3 years). Thank you for the book buying tip! I also heard BigWords.com is a good search engine for finding the cheapest books!

Oh I will. After my first semester with this school I am applying to 6 or so scholarships each worth 500 dollars... so that will be nice money right there.

Specializes in ICU.

hey airforceguy, you know at the point I'm at I've already out ruled ASU as one of my options because honestly don't feel like I have time to waste if I intend on being a CRNA! I want to get my career started ASAP and I have been looking into GCU more recently b/c I have a nursing adviser on my tail these past two weeks who's really hounding me to join their program and she's willing to work with my academic achievements and get me the most funding and least debt possible. I think I'm going to get my prereqs at the college I'm attending now (CAC) since they're 60/credit hour which beats GCU's 687.50/ credit hour! I've managed to set up a plan for myself (which is as follows) and I've estimated costs to a tee here's my plan below---

While I think it is wonderful that you were able to graduate HS so early, I do think you should maybe allow yourself to slow it down a bit and not push yourself so hard to finish your schooling as quickly as possible. You mention that you want to become a CRNA and that you have no time to waste, but the reality is you have more time than just about anyone else applying to these programs! College work loads are very different than what you have experienced in high school (even AP classes) and you really don't want to go in and overwhelm yourself. I'm sure you can handle it no problem, but what benefit do you recieve by trying to rush yourself so?

While I think it is wonderful that you were able to graduate HS so early, I do think you should maybe allow yourself to slow it down a bit and not push yourself so hard to finish your schooling as quickly as possible. You mention that you want to become a CRNA and that you have no time to waste, but the reality is you have more time than just about anyone else applying to these programs! College work loads are very different than what you have experienced in high school (even AP classes) and you really don't want to go in and overwhelm yourself. I'm sure you can handle it no problem, but what benefit do you recieve by trying to rush yourself so?

You know there really isn't a reason why I'm trying to rush myself besides the fact that I've set up some pretty big goals for myself. For starters my plan is to graduate nursing school before the age of 21. I also wanted to buy a house by the time I was 23/24... so if I jump started my nursing career by the time I was 20 (which is basically what I'm doing now since I started my pre-reqs and I've found a few programs that allow me to complete my BSN by the time I'm 20 I will be well on my way towards my house owning goal.) I guesstimate that I'll finish nursing school a few weeks before I'm 21 and then I'll hopefully NCLEX test for my license, get a job in ICU, stay there for a year and then apply to Midwestern (in AZ's) CRNA program by the time I'm 22. 2years +22= 24 ... so basically that's just why I want to rush it (technically not rush it, but go for my goals sooner than expected). I'm young, have no kids, no job, I really don't have to worry about anything BUT my education.

Good luck with your situation, Do what you want to do and what works for you. Keep your goals high and work hard. You'll get there!

Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.
You know there really isn't a reason why I'm trying to rush myself besides the fact that I've set up some pretty big goals for myself. For starters my plan is to graduate nursing school before the age of 21. I also wanted to buy a house by the time I was 23/24... so if I jump started my nursing career by the time I was 20 (which is basically what I'm doing now since I started my pre-reqs and I've found a few programs that allow me to complete my BSN by the time I'm 20 I will be well on my way towards my house owning goal.) I guesstimate that I'll finish nursing school a few weeks before I'm 21 and then I'll hopefully NCLEX test for my license, get a job in ICU, stay there for a year and then apply to Midwestern (in AZ's) CRNA program by the time I'm 22. 2years +22= 24 ... so basically that's just why I want to rush it (technically not rush it, but go for my goals sooner than expected). I'm young, have no kids, no job, I really don't have to worry about anything BUT my education.

Don't cheat yourself out of a life just because you are focused on your education and have no kids. Though to be honest I don't think trying to be a CRNA by the time you are 24 is a realistic goal and maybe your academic counsellor is trying to express that to you. She sees alot of students like you with big plans but stuff happens

I did 24 units in my first semester of university combination law and cognitive science. I had a meltdown when life plus new freedom plus goals collide.

Don't cheat yourself out of a life just because you are focused on your education and have no kids. Though to be honest I don't think trying to be a CRNA by the time you are 24 is a realistic goal and maybe your academic counsellor is trying to express that to you. She sees alot of students like you with big plans but stuff happens

I did 24 units in my first semester of university combination law and cognitive science. I had a meltdown when life plus new freedom plus goals collide.

Thank you for your honest response, and I'm very sorry that happened to you. 24 credits is outrageous... :( I'm sorry you were signed up for that many, my max I'm gonna allow myself each semester is 16... anything else I know I'll be killing myself. You know I understand nursing school is a big leap and I'll be giving up my social life, but the fact that giving it up for 3 years is really not that important to me since I'll basically have my degree and that short time w/out a lot of contact with friends really won't kill me I think.

Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

Make sure you have regular gut checks and DO make friends. This is the stage in your life that you make the friendships that form your new family.

I also noticed you mention you don't have your own transportation and money is tight in the family. Been there!

Go for gold but don't feel bad if you have to slow it down. I did pass those 24 units btw and after that a normal course load was like sleepwalking but if you get the best grades you can you'll have the most options.

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