futureTNnurse

I'm not sure where you are from. But, in some state there are paramedic to RN programs available. You could get your RN, get your foot in the door and take your BSN online. I'm in TN, but I'm sure there are several others.

Currently in Knoxville-but my husband accepted a new job in the Nashville area last month. So, as soon as our lease is up at the apt. myself and the kiddo will be moving to the area. I've been looking into all the colleges around there - including Belmont, MTSU (although I've heard its hard to get into), TSU, and the community colleges (which is why I went and spoke to Columbia State-they have a campus in Franklin and it's close to where we'll live), etc. But, since the lease isnt up until middle of the spring semester I'm applying for Fall '07 as a transfer at one of the schools.

I didn't mean all community colleges were bad. I had several friends go to Chattanooga, Vol State, etc. and had excellent experiences. I meant - while Columbia State may be cheap(er) than your traditional 4-year college and/or private school -- sometimes cheaper isn't always better. If your paying money to go to school, I personally, want instructors who will help me..which is NOT what I found at Columbia State. My experience (and apparently that of others) was bad. I'm sure everyone can find some people at every college that had both good and bad experiences. I just wish I had known what I know now about Columbia Stae before I invested my money into it. *Hope that clears up the confusion

I think some of the teachers are the same at both the Columbia and Franklin campuses, but I could be wrong. I took my classes at the main campus. A friend of mine was in the nuring program at the time I was getting my general ed. This girl was SMART! She had a 3.8 going into the program, but by graduation it was down to a 2.3 +/- (can't remember exactly but it was the low 2.0's). And, it wasn't for lack of studying - she studied CONSTANTLY. But, said the instructors were out to get you, didn't want to help, and wouldn't answer any questions--only told to "look it up." In my experience the general ed teachers (with the exception of my Psyc. teacher) were just as bad. The computers were operating on Win. 95, teachers were disorganized, and gave me the impression they didn't want to be there in the first place. I've heard it's got worse, but haven't had a reason to explore that more indepth. I do know that some of my teachers are retired (or left) just by scanning the faculty list on their website. All I can say is you get what you pay for -- you pay for cheap - you get a cheap education. Best of luck to you!!!

I wanted to agree with the previous poster. Columbia State, while it may have once stood as a meca for those who wanted to be an RN, is now a gateway to h***. I went there for my A.S. in General Ed. and it was terrible. The instructors were horrible, the class times inconvenient (unless you were available full-time which I wasn't). I have since rec'd my B.S. from MTSU in Business. I returned to CS to check into thier nursing program, and was met with an incredible rude instructor. She asked about work and family, and I told her I has a 2 year old daughter. Her reply, that I woudln't be seeing too much of her if I chose to be in thier program. I know it will be a lot of hard work, but telling someone to forget their children was a horrible thing to say. IMO.