marie_ash

j450n, It sounds like you are where I was three years ago. I graduated from Temple with a B.A. in history and realized that I belonged in the medical field. I am also a massage therapist. Anyway, as soon as I finished my undergrad I went right into completing three semesters of prerequisites for just about any accelerated program in the area. Then I feel in love, got married, and got pregnant the week I got married. Now I have an amazing nine month old and a husband who can't wait to have another baby. So here I am still wanting to go to nursing school but trying to be the best mom and wife I can be. I have heard that Drexel's ACE program is the most demanding and challenging accelerated program in the area. I have a friend who knows someone with a degree in chemistry who failed out of the program. I have heard great things about Thomas J's FACT program. I would look into that if I were you. As for the ASN programs, I guess it depends on what we want to do with our nursing degrees in the future. It certainly is cheaper and many hospitals will pay for you to get your BSN, but will we be able to find the job that we want with this degree? I guess this is the question. Also, many two year schools have waiting lists and virtually all make you take some annoying entrance test with math that you haven't done since highschool. I'm pretty sure that I have decided on the BSN. Plus I have taken all the prereqs for a BSN program. I just found out the Jefferson will accept science courses that have been completed within the last ten years. I can not tell you how happy I am about this. This means I can have my second child and stay home for a few more years and still go back to school before my classes expire. Anyway, I have written way too much. Good luck to you!

Thank you all for your advice. I have done a great deal of research and have decided that Jefferson's FACT program may be a better option. I heard that the program is a bit more flexible and it is with a teaching hospital. The only down side is that I will have to take another chem class. Does anyone know if the science prereqs. have to be completed within a certain time frame. I have also looked into La Salle's part-time BSN program. However, this will take over two years and I'm not sure that the program is as good. I am also considering just getting my ASN. It will cost much less this way. However, since I already have a BA I really wanted to get my BSN so that I can move to my MSN, which is my eventual goal. Does anyone have any insight on which option would be best? It is so difficult to decide. I am also right in the middle of starting a family. I am not looking to start a program for another few years. I have a nine month old and my husband and I have decided to have our second before I go back to school. This way I can focus on my career and not have to take time off soon after finishing school. Thanks again for the advice.

Hello everyone, I was hoping that someone could give me some much needed info about Drexel's ACE program. I have read the threads from the past but there doesn't seem to be any new info from recent students. I'm wondering just how rigorous the program is. Has anyone completed the program with children under three. Is it a bad idea for me to even consider such a thing. I have all my prereqs. and I really want to get my BSN, but time is an issue for me which is why Drexel's program is so appealing. They also have a 98 % nclex passage rate, which is great! I would greatly appreciate any advice from former students. I have heard that the nurses who graduated have poor clinical skills. I have also heard the program is impossible. However, if this were the case the program wouldn't exist. I appreciate any insight anyone can offer me. Thanks so much.:)