boston13

Right now I live in Mass near the NH border. I really hope I get in to this program but I'm nervous. My undergrad grades could be better, but I've done a lot academically and professionally since then so I'm hoping that will make up for it.

I'm waiting to get back a recommendation and then I'm submitting, hopefully this week as well. I'll keep you posted if I hear anything. Good luck with yours!

mcphs. they have a stated due date of june 1st for fall start, but admissions said they review applications as they arrive. previously worcester only had a spring start, but they now offer a fall start as well. the cohort that started this month has a thread under "mcphs class of 2012"

thanks for the updates everyone. the waiting is a lot tougher than i expected. i really wish there was a more standardized process for absn programs. i'm waiting to hear from mghihp before i submit my application to a second school because that school reviews applications on a rolling basis and send admissions decisions pretty quickly, but then want a deposit to secure your spot pretty quickly. plus i need a microbiology lab for that school, which i'm waiting to register for until i know i truly need it. even just a standard set of pre-reqs would be great!

like i said, i was oversimplifying. but if the op goes to a 2 year program and will not work as stated s/he is guaranteed to not be making a decent salary that second year. yes the job market is very tough, but if they do the one year accelerated they at least have the potential to begin to make a decent wage in year 2. also, i’m not suggesting the op or anyone take 55k in debt lightly, but equally you cannot disregard the financial impact of not working or only working part time for 2 years vs. 1 year. many people do work while in school, some do not. it comes down to choice, abilities, etc. my goal was to point out this wasn't just a black and white 55k vs 4k of debt question. everyone else was pushing the op in one direction, i simply wanted to point out the alternative viewpoints. best wishes to all.

with that i would say you could go either way. the way i look at it, the absn program is 55k of debt, and 1 year of lost wages. the 2 year program is 4k of debt but 2 years of lost wages. if you expect to make, say, 50k per year when you graduate, the second year of the 2 year program is like losing 50k, which makes it almost the same price as the absn. i'm oversimplifying here, but it's something to think about.

yes, it’s your adjusted gross. if you made about the same salary in 2009, to get an idea of what you're expected to pay you could fill out last year's fafsa. you'll get an expected family contribution (efc). in most cases your financial aid award will be your schools cost of attendance (coa) minus your efc. for absns coa usually includes an allowance for cost of living (rent, transportation, books, etc) since working is usually discouraged. however, note that in most if not all cases if your absn is a second degree you will probably not be eligible for any federal or state grants. you will likely be looking at financing though private loans only. there may be scholarships offered by the individual schools, but these are often merit- and/or diversity-based, not based on financial need. so the only thing you might gain by playing with your finances is lowering your efc which would increase your eligible loan amount. might not be worth the effort depending on your goal.

i’ll play devil’s advocate because i think the answer might not be as clear cut as it seems. the question is: can you work while you're doing the two year program? if not, is someone supporting you financially while you go back to school? if the answer to both is no, the absn is probably the better option. if you can’t work during the 2 year option the absn isn’t as expensive as it looks, since you’d be looking 2 years worth of personal debt of some sort while you finish the two year program. one big reason absn programs are so popular even though most are pretty pricey is because time is a major concern for some people. and as crazy as it might sound, hundreds of students in absn and direct entry programs secure loans of 55k and up each year, mostly from private lenders such as discover or sallie mae. also, i wouldn’t consider student loans the worst kind of debt. in fact, my finance-savvy friends claim paying off a credit card debt would improve your credit score more than paying off a student load of the same amount. and loan interest is tax deductible. also, your previous loan payment can be deferred while you go back to school. like any debt, you only run into problems if you default. either way it’s a really big decision and i wish you luck!

congrats on a great start! gen chem can be tough, but you did well in your other chem course so you should be in good shape. since you're coming from a cc, be sure to meet with your advisor regularly to make sure you’re taking classes that will transfer to the 4 year school of your choice. i know a lot of people that had to do an extra semester or year after transferring to a 4-year school because of equivalency or course credit issues. you should also have at least one back-up school in mind, both for your bs and msn. also check in with the ucsf program to see exactly what their pre-reqs are and confirm they accept cc credits (it’s rare but some schools do say they prefer 4-year college classes). plus some schools have time limits on the science pre-reqs (ex: must be within the past 5 years), but you should be able to plan your classes to make sure you don’t have to retake anything. finally, since you’re just starting out keep your options open. you might take a class and fall in love with a completely different field. also, direct entry programs are pretty competitive, and from what i've heard the nursing school competition in cali is brutal. you might need a plan b, even if it's only temporary. keep up the good work and best wishes!

also working as a cna while you're in school can help in getting a job once you're done. in addition to experience you'd have access to internal job postings and have the opportunities to make great connections. good luck!

i wouldn't worry too much about taking the a&p lab online. there are some great software programs and high quality textbooks that can get the job done. and you seem satisfied with micro online. but, regardless of where or how you take a&p it's a class that takes most people a lot of time and effort to master. anatomy requires a lot of memorization and some of the physiology concepts require extra time to truly understand. a history course is likely going to require a lot of reading, and depending on your abilities math might take up a lot of time with problem sets. four classes at most schools is a full time course load and if you’re working full time, that’s a pretty heavy schedule. if you decide to go for it, review each course syllabus carefully on the first day of classes. check to see how much reading and homework is required, and see what the timing is for the exams and assignments. you know your skills and abilities best so only you know if you can handle it. dropping a class and taking it later, even if it means delaying your application is probably easier than trying to overcome a bad grade. good luck whatever you decide! on a side note, i'd actually hesitate the most on taking public speaking online. while i've seen some really good virtual science labs, i'm not sure how you could mimic getting up in front of a group and speaking. :)

i would worry about trying to complete an lvn program while you’re also completing a ba or bs in some other field, it could be a pretty tough workload. if your eventual goal is an absn or direct-entry msn program you’re going to need strong grades to be competitive. if you want experience in the meantime, cna might be a better option. it’s shorter and cheaper, though you’ll likely make less once you’re done. good luck!

it sounds like you have worked very hard to get where you are and it seems like you have a compelling story to tell, but with your current writing skills you're going to have a tough time getting that story across. remember, the essay isn’t just a chance to tell your story; it’s also a test of your writing skills and your ability to communicate in a clear, concise manner. definitely work with a native speaker or english tutor to help complete this essay, it really does need a lot of work. have you taken any writing or english classes in addition to the language center courses, such as "expository writing" or "english composition"? if not i would highly recommend taking one. also, does your program require the toefl? if it does and you haven’t taken that yet, you should start preparing for it as soon as possible. just remember, nursing programs are very competitive and there are many wonderful applicants that do not get in each year. you should definitely have a back-up plan in case you don’t get in, even if it’s something you pursue for a short time before trying again for nursing later on. good luck!

I'm right there with you PequeSD. I'll be sure to post if I hear anything. Now back to trying to distract myself from checking these message boards, email etc...

Thanks for your input!