Senior @ university w/ non-nursing major... to finish & do accelerated second degree BSN?

[gizm0]

I am currently a senior at a university, where I have about 32 credits remaining to finish my degree. My major is a unique combination of health services/biology. However, this fall I decided that nursing is it for me, 100% and I want to become a nurse more than anything.

For a few months I have been looking into Accelerated Second Degree programs for BSN which last about 12-15 months. I can't figure out if I'd be better off finishing what I started with the degree I've been working on, then moving forward to do the accelerated BSN immediately afterwards, or just transferring to a different university that can get me into their traditional BSN route right away! I'm trying to figure out what to do

Option A: I finish my current non-nursing degree within a year, take 3-4 additional prerequisites, and then apply to accelerated second degree BSN programs. My top choice is at the University of Michigan. I'll have two bachelor's degrees then, basically about 3 years from now give or take. This option consists of me going to school year round with heavy course loads each semester leading up into the accelerated program, which would continue year round too.

Option B: I have the requirements (all but 1!) to transfer into the University of Michigan as a "sophomore transfer" in the traditional BSN program. They'd let me keep 30 credits total transferring in - meaning that I'd lose the other 60 I've already earned (since I'm actually a senior ) I'd be finished about 3 years from now, it appears, but there's no classes over the summers, as is the case with many traditional BSN programs. I just completed my CNA and I would plan on working as a PCA or something similar over those summers!

Anyone who can offer any type of advice or personal experience, I would absolutely appreciate it! I'm so lost and I don't know who I should ask or what I should consider. Thank you in advance!!

[dorkypanda]

I've been reading and I hear that accelerated BSN programs are quite expensive. Do you have a solid good undergrad GPA to boot? I would think that those programs care about your undergrad GPA along with your prereq GPA as well.

[gizm0]

Yes, they are looking pretty expensive! A friend of mine is doing an accelerated program right now, and she told me that once you have your first bachelor's degree, you don't qualify for federal aid anymore. Her loans are all private for the most part, it sounds like :/ My overall GPA and prerequisite GPA are both solid, and I also have a strong volunteering background.

[dorkypanda]

gizm0

I think your friend is correct and an excellent point to bring up. I guess another source would be scholarships if you can get something of the like.

The traditional BSN possible option seems the most feasible.

[mindofmidwifery, ADN]

If you want to get a nursing degree faster and if your area is okay with ADN nurses why don't you look into ADN programs? Then you can eventually get your ADN-BSN

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

Not all ABSN programs are expensive. Mine was $20k (4 semesters x $5k) + books, scrubs, etc.

[gizm0]

gizm0

I think your friend is correct and an excellent point to bring up. I guess another source would be scholarships if you can get something of the like.

The traditional BSN possible option seems the most feasible.

Thanks very much for the input! I have a friend who is in my exact same situation but he is choosing to go to a community college and later do RN-BSN completion, but I do not consider that an option for myself, I want to stay at a university :)

[windsurfer8, BSN, RN]

I did ABSN. If you are just asking the "what would you do" then I would know out the degree you are close to completing. Having that in your back pocket could help in the future. My first bachelors was business admin and it is helped me acquire managment position as I had additoinal education and degree. However that is just what I would do. There are not really any wrong or right ways..just the way you choose!