Second-time around, advice

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I guess I should introduce myself - I'm Kristin, I'm a stay-at-home-mom to 3 young boys (all under 6) and wife to a US Marine. We're stationed in Southern CA. I also have an Athletic Training Degree from Purdue University, though I never have used it and worked for 7 years in the biotech industry instead.

So here is my thing. I already have a degree but most schools around here require that I retake the sciences - A&P, Micro, etc. I had a 3.1 from Purdue but have a 3.6-3.7 (I haven't gotten the final tally yet!) in the courses I've taken post-graduation. I still have to retake the A&P and Micro and am also retaking Statistics as well as Organic Chemistry to round out my prereqs. I'm not really sure what is the best route to take - the ASN or the BSN. That and will my previous GPA affect my ability to get in? Or do they focus more on the recent things?

Good luck to everyone,

Kristin

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

Hi, I'm a Marine Mommy too but I am a full-time student and I work outside the home. I think the best thing to do is contact the schools you may be interested in and ask them what the requirements are for acceptance into the programs.

I also think you should look at both ADN and BSN programs (Traditional and Accelerated) and make your decisions based upon what you find and what works best in your life. I have spoken to some schools and they will accept many of my classes even though I took them a long time ago. On the other hand, there are others that will want me to retake them again.

If you are interested in any particular school in California there are many students on here that may give you their personal experiences. I am not in California. Good luck. ;)

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Hi- I know of many CSU's that dont have a recency requirement (within the last 5 years) on their prereqs, so you may be fine to just apply to an accellerated BSN or entry level masters program. Definitely call around and check if you have most of the prereqs done already. Why take them again?

Im in the central valley and I know CSU Fresno and Stanislaus dont care how far back you took them, so I'd call the others your interested in.

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I agree with the other posters. Talk directly to the schools you want to apply to. You do need to retake A&P, Miciro and Stats at the very minimum because most places in California want them taken in the last 5 years. It will also help you in nursing school because they assume you already know that stuff and will not go back to review it in class. Most schools look at two different GPAs: the U/G and the pre-req GPA. If you are showing you are doing well in your pre-req GPA, they are less concerned with your U/G one. But you need to contact the specific school. Good luck.

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Specializes in Anesthesia, CCRN, SRNA.

I've recently left California to attend a nursing program in a different state. I was tired of waiting to get into a nursing program. If you have a prior degree most state universities in California will not let you into their nursing programs. There is such a demand to get into nursing school that they only accept students who do not have previous degrees. You can get into private universities with prior degrees but you'll be paying big bucks ie National University, USC, USD, Point Loma Nazarene etc.

You can wait to get into an ASN program but the wait is anywhere from 2 to 3 years to get in with a long list of applicants ahead of you.

With a 3.0 GPA you should be fine for getting into a private university. The public community colleges only require you to have a C in their prereqs to enter the nursing program.

Good luck!

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DrugReptoNurse - I've been considering the private universities lately and have been trying to get the stuff ready to apply to National but I'm not so sure if I'll get accepted. But, I'll never know if I don't apply...

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