smnoh

Here's my dilemma. I've been accepted into a very prestigious *but very expensive* ABSN program that is out of state. This school offers their ABSN students to continue straight onto MSN with an NP specialty of their choice as long as they maintain a 3.0 GPA in their ABSN. They also provide the preceptors for you while you get your MSN. Due to the high tuition and unnecessary living costs, I was going to come back to my home state after earning my BSN and apply for online MSN-FNP programs. However, now I'm doubting if I'd be able to get into any of them... How exactly competitive are these programs? (specifically, the ones that are offered online?) My first bachelor's degree had a horrendous GPA (3.19) and frankly, I'm not sure if I'm going to walk out of my ABSN program with a rocking GPA either. I guess I can make it up with superb work experience or something, but ideally, I want to go to NP school as soon as possible after my BSN. So I'm not sure if it'd be better for me to just stay at that expensive school and earn my MSN-FNP despite the cost, or come back home and try applying to MSN-FNP programs with a risk that I may never get into any of them... Even if I get in, I may have a hard time looking for preceptors depending on the program... Any thoughts? Advice?

Ok this thread is going to be *strictly* about money. I know that money isn't everything, but I just want to make sure that I know what I'm getting myself into. I am currently taking the pre-reqs for nursing and I'm torn between nursing & OT. I know that new grad salary is definitely higher for OT's than RN's, but it seems like the RN's get a pay raise every year as long as they keep working as to OT's salary leveling off after about 10 years of experience. (Correct me if I'm wrong) For example, I've seen many RN's with 20+ years of experience that started with 50K/yr as a new grad who now earn 110~120K/yr, but I have NOT seen any OT's with 20+ years of experience that earn more than 100K. If anything, it seems like 100K is pretty much the dead end for their salary. Is this true? If so, why? In the end, OTs DID get a higher education than RNs, and they DO build their "experience" just like RNs! Btw, I live in southern California.