Should I apply to a nursing school or continue with 4 year?

[bannanelhag]

I’m a senior in high school and should be attending my freshman year of college this fall. I got accepted to Rutgers New Brunswick university’s school of arts and science but not accepted into the Rutgers nursing school. I wanted to become an RN, work for experience and save up to apply for PA school in the future. Should I seek other nursing programs like chamberlain’s BSN program or follow through with undergrad at Rutgers, somehow gain medical experience and apply to PA school then?

I'm sorry if this question is all over the place. in all honesty, I’m very lost

[caliotter3]

Very few nursing programs accept students right out of high school anymore. Look at your nursing school rejection letter carefully to see why you were rejected so that you are aware of what actually happened there. In general, a student attends a university, college, or community college for a length of time to complete prerequisite courses to the nursing program. Once they have completed the minimum requirements to apply to the nursing program, then they go on to the actual nursing program, provided they have been accepted as a student. That is why most nursing programs in their information presented on their websites, state that a student applies for admission to the school first, then applies to the nursing program separately, (when they have met the minimum requirements to apply: I.e. completion of courses in anatomy, physiology, Microbiology, psychology, etc.).

[caliotter3]

You should research the education required and roles of nurse practitioner and PA to see which role interests you more. If you decide you want to become a PA, then you need to pursue that. Going down the RN path first may just waste a lot of your time, money, and effort. The same advice is often given to those students who think that they should pursue an RN license before going to medical school.