To wait or not to wait? Any input is welcome!!!!

[hdoe]

I am a student at a Community College in southern California, My CC offers a LVN program that has enrollment once a year and only admits 40-60 students per year, so my chances of getting accepted is like a coin toss, very uncertain. Admissions are 7 months away. Or I could enroll in a private college and be almost halfway finished with the private program by the time I would be able to enroll at the CC (without promise of admissions). Out of pocket I would spend about 15000 for private school (where i could take out loans), or 4000 at the CC. Is it worth the "gamble" to wait 7 months to have my name "picked out of a hat" or would it be wiser to go to school asap, even though it is more expensive?

[anonymous 456]

There is really no better or worse here in the game. Although it does cost more for private on the one hand, you will recoup that in making a wage while you could be waiting. Or you could take the gamble that you will get in and it will cost you less. You also need to consider your long term goals as well. Are you happy with the LVN license, or are you wanting to advance and get an ADN or BSN? I had a similar situation. I was enrolled in CC and on a waiting list for the ADN program. While waiting for my number to come up, I took additional classes because I knew eventually I would like to earn a BSN. The waiting list at the CC was scrapped and the waiting list method was changed to a points system. SO while I waited for the next enrollment period to apply for the ADN, I also applied at a few local private programs. As it turned out the private collage accepted me into their program first, and I recently graduated with my BSN, and as a result have recently accepted an offer in a Versant program on the PEDS unit, which is my dream. It would not have happened if I didn't formulate more than one game plan. So again, there is no right answer here, either way will either path will take you to your destination.

One side note, Yes, private cost me way more, however, I got my BSN sooner, and I am able to start my career out in a field of my choice. Most hospitals do not accept anything less than a BSN for PEDS. SO in the long run, I have to consider the lost wages that I could have been earning if I had waited and earned an ADN, and then gone through additional schooling for a BSN. Good luck to you in your endeavors. :)

[hdoe]

Yes, the LVN is only a stepping stone, I will join you with a BSN one day! But, right now I need to "get my feet wet" and begin my career. Then, I can simultaneously reach for the BSN while gaining experience and earning a living. Thanks for the input :)

[anonymous 456]

Your welcome. Good luck and the best success in your journey.

[sdwannabe1]

If I were you, I would look at the job market for an LVN first then decide if this is the route you want to take (hospital vs community setting). You want to make sure you are employable first and foremost. Do some research...call local hospitals, clinics, skilled nursing facilities, etc to find out if there is a demand for this type of nurse and what the projected market will be like once you graduate.

[zzbxdo]

There's really no point in getting your feet wet with a lvn. Work and study hard and just go strait to your bachelor's. A lot of lvn to bsn programs cost more than a generic bsn program and a public university.