For reference, I am 20 years old and live with my parents.
So I was accepted into a great BSN program that starts in January. It's a private university which means EXPENSIVE. This was the only nursing school to accept me because the other ones required me to have the pre-reqs (required courses for RN school) done before a certain time, which I did not. So if I wanted to apply for the other and cheaper programs, I would have to take a gap year. (most accept students once a year) I'm not sure how complicated this sounds.. but if there's questions just ask me lol.
I also just started a new job as a pre-school tutor. This is a full time position that pays well, builds up my resume, and offers tuition reimbursement as well as a generous monetary award to help with college. I would receive this award ONLY if I work for a full YEAR. If I were to start school in January, I would have to quit this job and lose all the potential benefits. (the program is too rigorous for me to juggle a full time job). In all honestly, I'm pretty tempted to take a year off of school, save money, apply for a variety of cheaper nursing programs that I couldn't this year, and use that award to fund my education!
**I forgot to mention that I have 4.0 GPA, lots of experience in the healthcare field, and am pretty smart (academically at least). I know I would be a great asset to any other nursing school I apply in the future.
I'm not going to lie though, I really don't like the idea of taking a year off of school. I've been in college since I graduated H.S, and my goal in life is to get a Master's degree in nursing. This field is my PASSION and I don't see myself doing anything else. I want to be a nurse and eventually a nurse practitioner! However, it would be nice to work for a year and save $$$ so that I avoid the burden of student loans (private university = very expensive), save my parents money, get experience, and become more social since I am really shy.
However, I'm so scared that the gap year would turn into gap years, and I will never achieve my goal of becoming a nurse practitioner in the future. I don' t know what I should do and need advice.. desperately
Gap year? Or do I quit the job before I begin school??? I want to specialize in peds!
