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Having lived in California for essentially my whole life, I would advise visiting and diving in deep into the culture here, just to embrace the lifestyle and consider it for yourself. I would not choose to live here had I been given the choice. I hail from San Diego, and have experienced much of what the city has to offer-- a bustling downtown area of the Gaslamp Quarter, shopping in Little Italy and gorgeous day trips to Coronado Island. All of these experiences have left me wondering "did I overdo it today?" but every time. The weather is something to write home about, it is more often than not beautiful and sunny, with some doom and gloom days sprinkled in for short bursts for us equally doom and gloom sort of people. To agree with many of the previous members, the weather really is divine. Less divine is the cost of living, and more importantly the cost of your sanity to make ends meet. I can completely understand how shacking up with a significant other to contribute together to the taxes, inflation and general living costs, might make circumstances a million times better-- but in actuality that often isn't enough. Since beginning my life as a single working adult, it was near impossible to account for rent, loan repayment and basic necessities before acquiring 3 other (lovely but terribly outlandish) roommates, without feeling that panic of meeting due dates. For a short term visit, like a travel contract or even working those per diem shifts, life is pretty sweet. You're outside the restrictions of everyone else in a sense, and I would encourage you to take the upmost advantage of such an opportunity. I wince every time I see the price of gas encroach on that $4 mark, and wish that the commute to my hospital is one that was bike worthy... In those times I compare the price of gas and even groceries to those I saw living in Austin for undergrad, and dream of what could have been, lol! (Texans, you've got it made) Culture wise, it feels more times than not that I am susceptible to the "patient is always right" mentality. I could write a separate rant about that, since at the three hospitals I have worked at have cultivated a culture of patient fits that result in their demands being satiated, even when protocol dictates otherwise. This happens on a near weekly basis working at my currently employment, and not to name names, but it could be considered that one system that is notoriously difficult to get into. Unfortunately, it is an attitude that permeates into different aspects of living here. I hate to sound so jaded about growing up in a vacation destination, but at the end of the day that is precisely what it is. Make California part of your journey, but not your final destination.

Hi all, I declined my acceptance for other pursuits. I wish you the very best of luck in achieving your nursing dreams. You all have such a passion for this profession, and I envy that. After some critical thinking, I do not find myself to have the same passion. I hope one of you that wasn't accepted gets pulled up as you are much more deserving for this new chapter.

if your teacher will allow it, try to take pictures of the models that will be used on the exams and print them out at home. Go through and identify the structures on your own without the word bank. You'll be able to do that just fine, but do it a few times so that when the test comes you've got it inside and out. I started doing this with APII (which was combined, i believe like your class) and it helped a lot! Not to mention you definitely remember everything after the class is done, which can't be said for a lot of students!! Reading your post again, it is absolutely the norm to not have a word bank-- professors are testing knowledge not familiarity (which can be prompted having the wb available). I'm sorry that's not the most positive and encouraging answer, but rest easy knowing we've all been in your shoes and had to work out methods to pass these pre-reqs. Good luck!

Hi everyone, I hope I can find some general guidance from nurses who perhaps wanted to go the MD/DO route and decided to do nursing instead. I was recently accepted into an ABSN program about 2 years in length which i am absolutely thrilled about. Prior to applying, I was a typical pre-med biology major that fell on financial issues that put graduating with a bachelors out of the question. My issue at the moment is deciding what path to take. I have been seriously blessed with having options, however I would really appreciate some input from all, and any, of you! I have the opportunity to apply to medical school abroad (with no intent to return to and practice in the US) and a US nursing program. I feel like I could be happy with either path, but I just cannot choose one path with greater ease over the other. My gut is telling me to go nursing, and maintain a life and career in California, but my family and whole support system is moving abroad around the time my program actually starts. Any input about growing as a nurse, finding career opportunities, or just anything really that would push me in either direction would be greatly appreciated. Specifically, if there are any nurses that found themselves totally fufulled and completely sound in nursing over medicine, I want to hear anything you have to say.

has anyone gotten a reply from the nursing department?

Congrats Ally!

You could say that you participated in the internship and found a love for nursing, due to the extra time you get to spend with patients. I would mention the aspects you experienced (the psych and PhD) and then emphasize how you realized your heart really went out to the patients you met during your nursing shadowing, and something just clicked for you in that time. I don't think it really matters that the internship was pre-med, but I do understand the desire to have a "genuine" nursing motivation, and pondering over how it would be perceived. At the end of the day you just need to convey that you want patient interaction, and to be able to provide an avenue for being their advocate. After all, nurses are the patient's biggest advocate since we spend the most time with them!! Personally, I am leaving the nursing route to go for medicine and pursue that MD. So believe me when I say that I truly understand the angst you're feeling about owning up to the nature of your internship and being validated by the interviewer in that way. You spent the time to complete the internship, and it was an awesome opportunity to experience the different realms of healthcare. At the end of it, you realized that you value compassion, empathy and the dedication to patient care, but you also appreciate the vast amount of science that goes with it... and that put you onto the path of nursing! (that's what I would say!) Good luck!!

same. haven't heard a thing either

I took the test first, without studying and scored actually pretty well... and i attribute that to taking it pretty much immediately after finishing anatomy and microbio. I applied with that score after opting out of the second TEAS date for money reasons. Prior to opting out, I was studying with the ATI TEAS study guides. I was not happy with that resource only because there are a lot of errors in it, and it doesn't cover what you are likely lacking in knowledge. What I did instead was take the topics out of the manual and do separate searches on them into YouTube and Khan Academy. I downloaded middle school and high school grammar worksheets and hammered those pesky little rules that we've all forgotten, into my head. To get into the testing mode I downloaded the TEAS Pocketprep app and did questions whenever I felt like going on instagram... SO SILLY. I moved the app to where instagram normally sat on my phone, so when my muscle memory took me there it actually opened up test prep (muahaha). I would do 10 questions pretty much every time I moved locations. That pin pointed areas of weakness that I would then do the above with. good luck!

I had W's in the heavy hitter classes of ego and physics and genetics (LOL @ premed dreams), and at first, the academic adviser counted them as 0.0 in a GPA calculation, which as you can imagine, would drop a GPA considerably. This was crushing because it slipped my GPA below 3.0 into the lows 2's, and I was blown away. I got a new adviser who ignored the W's, and even with the bad grades I did have, the method they used (ignoring, LOL), I had a 3.34. I knew I did poorly in college (similar issues as you had, I am SO sorry you had that happen, too), but to be in the 2.0 range was unbelievable! Thankfully that was wrong. So, my program required a 3.0 to even apply to the program, and it wasn't considered after the "checkpoint" sense. What was considered was the GPA of 4 classes: Biomedical Stats, Anatomy and Physio (Lab and Lecture) 1, AP 2, and Microbiology. Then it was the TEAS and an Essay. Beyond the initial GPA and fighting around those W's, it was smooth sailing. I would ask your programs how they consider a W-- is it on par with 0 points, or is it even acknowledged? I was ready to write a letter to the program, and even the dean, explaining my situation and showing proof that I was willing and capable of a nursing program despite my last struggle. That proof would have been A's in all nursing prerequisites (the four classes and their labs). To give you hope, It probably does not matter. But knowledge is the most significant power, so ask and see what's up. Good luck!

I agree with futureicunurse9! I did my prereqs at a school where each class was 2 months long, but just one class for that entire time (lecture and lab). It went anatomy and physiology 1, then 2 and then microbiology. We had the option to do stats online, and if you can get that, then I would 100% recommend doing the math class that way. I also have an iPad, and paid for the "notability" app. It's a great way to incorporate drawings (with the apple pencil) into your notes, as well as color code and record lecture audio. After taking notes from the book (which i did slack on toward the end) I would fill in the things the professor said that were not in the powerpoint slides into my book notes. At the end of class I would have the powerpoint slide notes and my textbook/filler notes. I would usually go back and read both and make a third set of really clean, concise notes that were shorter than both prior sets. It's really about repetition! After the book, filler and powerpoint, you've written important stuff 2-3 times and dont need to write as much for the final clean set. I would use that last set to read off of before exams. I really feel for you raising your son, managing a marriage and working. You are incredible! These classes will really make or break the GPA you apply with, so if you can do them solo and just focus on one thing at a time (plus the million other things you have to do) that will help you with getting in the first time you apply... versus just getting by and having to reapply. I say this because I've seen student around me just rush through this part, and have to take classes over to boost their grades. Also, going slowly and methodically over the coursework will really help when you have to take the TEAS or HESI (not sure which you'll need), because the material will be fresh and intentionally learned, rather than regurgitated for a test. I truly wish you the best of luck. You're picking a wonderful profession, and already you seem like the type of person that wants to succeed and help others.