So lost, confused, angry.. future in nursing troubles

[katerinsols, BSN]

It's funny that when your in high school you have expectations on what your gonna be doing in the future and deadlines by year or age. I always wanted to go into the medical field so when i went into community college my goal was, take pre reqs for a better college and transfer and i was set on becoming a physicians assistant. Not quite easy.. i ended up staying in that college from 2008 till 2012.. because it took me two tries/semesters to pass my math classes and for PA you need physics and i just could not get it! a lot of my friends were going into nursing and talked about how awesome it will be so i thought this would be perfect for me.(wish i'd thought of that when i just started college, would have been an RN by now) so i finally graduated and i bought a NLN practice book and it's been two months and i opened it only twice, i can't get myself to focus, sit down and study.. I'm used to having pressure and deadlines.. and peer pressure to do well, i work very well under pressure. Then my boyfriends family were upset that i'm not doing anything after graduation so march-april i did an intense job hunting and then last week i realized i missed an application deadline for one of the colleges i wanted to apply to... and a second choice deadline is next week -_-

After i graduated i called nursing schools asking when i can take the NLN exam because i wanted to start in fall 2013 and they all said either may or june.. if i knew deadlines were in early may/april it would have been easier to focus and study! i asked when the application deadlines were and they said it's not determined yet. That brought me down even more.. what do i do now? my other choices to apply to are ASA college (which i heard wasn't too great) and maybe medgar evers.. if they pick up the phone for once! I'm gonna be so embarassed telling my mom, friends and boyfriends family that i didn't get into the Associates RN program.. my plan B is LPN but again medgar evers haven't picked up their phones! Also i'm worried about my GPA, my overall GPA was 2.6.. not too great but my pre reqs GPA is 3.0 I have no idea how LPN is like and i'm 24 now and i feel that time is flying by! almost all my friends have bachelors, still looking for jobs but at least they have their degree, and i'm nowhere close! i mean.. how long do you have to work as LPN to be eligible for bridge program to RN? i feel by the time i become an RN i will be 30.. and by that time i already want to have a family. Would LPN job be able to pay bills? eventually i have to move out from my moms.. one of the most annoying things of all of this is my boyfriends family.. ha.. if i become LPN or RN they are expecting me to work as well.. they say well if this person can why can't you. Sure i understand many people can but not everyone is the same, since i was young i've always had trouble learning unlike other kids (dyslexia and adhd sufferer back then) even now when i was in college i always needed tutors and extra study time to catch up with others and the class, i didn't mind i just didn't have enough time for rest let alone a job and they've been pressuring me about this job so much that it brought tension between my relationship as well! if i didn't let this tension get to me so much i wouldn't have missed the deadlines.. ugh..

medgar evers picked up and it's confusing me.. they said i need to transfer to the college and be accepted by it and only then i would be considered for nursing program but its not 100%.. then when i hung up i asked myself.. what if i want to apply to multiple? i cant be enrolled in multiple and what major do i have to pick? and if i don't get accepted i would have to drop out? i come up with good questions after i hang up..

Sorry for long post i just needed to vent and hopefully get some advice =\

[zasaeki]

I'm 25 and feel your struggles. Cute cat btw... Just need to plan smartly ahead and realize its about reaching your dreams not to meet your boyfriends parents expectations. That being said, Be strong and if nursing is really in your blood then give it an all in. Trust me you're not alone.

[princesax11]

Do you know the average gpa of accepted applicants for the nursing schools you want to apply to? The nursing school I am going to apply to has a point system, but I still need to be maintain aleast a 3.5 gpa to stay competitive. Find out if they accept students with your gpa and if not you will have to retake the classes that bring it down. I don't think you should become an LPN if you don't plan on working as one. Your working situation isn't your boyfriend's parents business because you don't live with him. If you lived with him I could understand their concern. For most schools, you have to apply to the school and be accepted. Then you can apply to the nursing program. This is because nursing programs are very competitive and have a limited space.

[katerinsols, BSN]

The minimum gpa of pre reqs is 2.7. Becoming LPN would be my plan B because i want to start doing something! i want to start working and then take bridge program to become RN. Yea i know.. it's strange then how can people apply to different nursing schools if they are enrolled in one? so confusing.

[princesax11]

The minimum gpa of pre reqs is 2.7. Becoming LPN would be my plan B because i want to start doing something! i want to start working and then take bridge program to become RN. Yea i know.. it's strange then how can people apply to different nursing schools if they are enrolled in one? so confusing.

For most nursing schools the minimum gpa usually doesn't get you in. For example, I know of a few programs with the minimum gpa of 2.5, but the only students that get in have a gpa of 3.3 or above. I have never heard of only being able apply to the one nursing program and not to others. That is odd and I would look into other schools.

[Spinicki82]

The nursing school I got into this fall the minimum is a 3.0, but most people that get accepted have at least a 3.6. Nursing school whether associates or bachelors is very competitive. You are still very young, and have plenty of time to improve your gpa. You would be surprised the average age of those in nursing school.

[katerinsols, BSN]

If i was to raise my GPA what could i do? should i raise my pre requisites GPA or my overall? I am not eligible for financial aid and i'm a dependent until 26 and she said she doesn't want to pay for classes anymore. Maybe I'll shoot for LPN if i don't get in.

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

You really need to do your research on each school's admissions requirements. They are NOT the same for each school. Just because they list a minimum requirement, doesn't mean if you have the minimum, you're in. Our school only requires a 2.5 minimum, but if you have under a 3.5, good luck getting enough points to get accepted.

You also need to find out if they have a points system or if it's strictly weighted on GPA and an entrance exam. Some schools use HESI, some use other tests, some don't test at all. Some require a certain number of volunteer or patient care hours. Some require an interview or an essay. My point is, you'll have to find out what each, individual school requires.

I would highly suggest you make an appointment with a nursing advisor at each school, bring a copy of your transcripts and get an honest opinion from them on how competitive your application will be. You need to know if you're wasting your time or not.

I'm not sure if you're still looking to pursue the path to a PA, but if you are, most PA schools have a time limit on your pre-req credits, so don't wait too long to finish your Bachelor's degree, or you may have to end up re-taking a lot of pre-reqs. I'm planning on going to PA school when I finish my BSN. The PA schools in my area have a 5 year limit on pre-req credits. Schools vary by state, so again...you've got to find out the requirements from each program. It's even harder to get into PA school than nursing school, so you really need a 3.6 or higher to be considered for most PA programs. Yes, some people get in with a lower GPA, but they are the exception, rather than the norm. You also need extensive paid HCE (health care experience) hours before applying to PA school, so finishing your RN will be a huge plus.

[BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN]

If i was to raise my GPA what could i do? should i raise my pre requisites GPA or my overall? I am not eligible for financial aid and i'm a dependent until 26 and she said she doesn't want to pay for classes anymore. Maybe I'll shoot for LPN if i don't get in.

For many schools, the pre-req courses are the ones you need to concentrate on. They will look at the overall GPA, but if it's A&P that brings it down, your chances are not good.

Early may is kind of late to apply for most schools for a fall start date. People are already getting acceptances for fall. Can you take classes at one of the schools you are interested in, and that would take care of the requirement that you have to be enrolled. Take whatever pre-reqs you need, then start taking the BSN classes you'll eventually need.

If you are referring to Medgar Evers in NYC, then you definitely have a lot of other options. Start looking at other CUNY schools as well. You have LPN opptions too (although jobs are not as easy to come by, worse than RN). Be realistic about your timeframe and goals. You are 24, not 64. You have plenty of time (although I know you want to get started and feel like you have already wasted a lot of time. But you have to do it right, not fast.

[lauren_elizabeth]

I think you need to take a good hard look at yourself and make sure this is what you want to do. Just because your friends have bachelors does not make them any better than you. You should be doing this for yourself! Don't ever like anyone judge you.

Personally, I have a BA and now I'm living at home with my parents and in a long distance relationship while I'm doing my degree in Nursing (I'm 26)..it's easy to get down on yourself but just focus on the positive. I was recently accepted into a BSN program and my GPA is similar to yours. Focus on creating great connections (I.e references) writing a killer essay, and most importantly being honest with yourself.

If you can't get in for Fall, take CNA course and work as a tech in the meantime. You can do it!!

Also-get yourself a planner or put those dates in your phone girlfriend!