zonzabug

Thank you both for the resources and answers, definitely helps talking to someone who's gone through it!! I'll be talking to the recruiter when I get home :)

Hello all, I'm still in nursing school, graduate in December of 2013 with my BSN and am seriously (have been for a while) considering the Navy Nurses corps after graduation. I've spoken to a recruiter two years ago who was more interested in me applying to the Nurses Candidates Program. I opted out because at the time I was playing D1 water polo and couldn't take the additional stress. I'm done with polo now though, focusing on school and still playing around with the idea of applying for NCP my last year... however my questions are assuming I don't apply for NCP and go to join after graduation. -What exactly do they look at when determining if they'll accept you or not? (GPA, experience?) - is there a minimum graduating GPA required to be accepted? (all I've found was that they want you to be a US citizen, graduate from an accredited program and pass your boards.. but i feel like there's more to it then just that) - Should you apply before or after you take the NCLEX? - Will they accept new grads straight out of school? - do you get to choose your specialty or do they throw you where they need you? - if you get denied, can you reapply or is it a one time deal? My dad was in the navy, but doesn't know enough to definitively tell me about the med corps, Recruiters aren't always clear, I've asked the Nursing alumni association at my school if there was a navy nurse or any military nurse I could talk to (none apparently), and i'm from Arizona (not a lot of navy anything there) so I've never come across any to speak with. I see all the military posts and know that there are navy nurses who go on these forums. Thank you for taking the time to read this! ANY information/replies/advice etc. would be greatly appreciated!

I personally moved from Arizona to up sate New York to get my nursing degree. It's in the middle of nowhere, and it's MUCH colder than home... but MUCH less expensive, closest thing I could get to free education. For me it's worked out and I don't regret the move (after all i'm only here for 2 more years). But do what's best for you in your situation, If you want badly enough to get the degree, you'll do what you need to, but moving across the country or away from home isn't the worst thing in the world. school doesn't last forever. (thankfully!!) and you can always go back home after. hope this helps, good luck!!