sophia33

Hi everyone, Apologies for the age old "versus" question in advance. I'm at the point in my undergrad career where I can still flip flop between career choices and not have many repercussions, but that is drawing to a close as I want to decide on one by the end of the summer, join a preprofessional club, and get in substantial shadowing hours under my belt in the next school year. I've talked to various current students, current professionals, my parents, and friends about this question and Id like to ask for your polite opinions and thoughts, which I'm sure will vary since I will be posting this across many forums topics. Basically: -I want to work in health care. -I want a profession that will allow me to own my own practice. -Optometry: I originally wanted to pursue optometry and really love the profession, however the impending technology changes (self-online tests?, 1800 contacts, online glasses boutiques) in the very foreseeable future worries me very much and even the increasingly commercialization aspects (lens crafters, walgreens, etc)- to the point of steering me away from the profession. Especially b/c I intend to work in the Bay Area/Socal after graduation. -Dentistry: My parents work in the field of dentistry, and Ive seen how precision and details really matter in dentistry. I'm not the most comfortable with working in the micro world, and it's always frustrated me when I've had to work with my hands w/ very small materials/spaces. I also am not confident in my ability to be happy when I wake up in the mornings to go to work in a dental office. Mouths dont interest me as much as eyes/the general body. -Nursing: I would be fine w/ nursing, the only thing that gets me is that I don't think I can own a practice with just a nursing degree. -Physician: Never seriously considered this, so I don't know too much about it. When I think of physician I think of my pediatrician, a very cranky, serious, old man who drives a Mercedes convertible. -Pharmacy: Also never seriously considered this, doesn't really interest me as much. 1. Has anyone been in similar situations, and if so what was your conclusion/what profession did you choose? 2. Would you choose to go down the same path again? 3. Are there other medical professions that I am discounting? Please forgive my ignorance if so and be so kind as to share other career options. Thank you in advance, and I would greatly respect your civility in your responses. Thank you!

Hi everyone, I attend a top 20 university that does not offer a nursing major. I am new to the world of nursing and very, very lost as to how to get to nursing school given my circumstances. 1) What prereq classes do I have to take in order to apply to nursing school? If they vary school to school, could you please link a couple b/c I have had zero luck finding this info on nursing school websites. 2) I understand that I would have to get a BA in nursing, and that Columbia U offers an accelerated BS/MSN program. Are there any other programs such as this? (I believe JHU is closing their program after Summer 2015) 3) How do nursing schools determine acceptances? Is it mostly GPA/GRE scores? Is it more holistic? 4) Is there a stats thread on allnurses that lists major/gpa/GRE/internship experience for admitted students to specific schools? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP, I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE IT. Hugs and choco chip cookies to you all :)