uOttawa/Algonquin College Collab BScN Program Admissions

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Hi everyone! I am hoping to get some help advice as I am finding it harder and harder to figure out exactly which path I need to go down to get into Nursing. A little background, I graduated high school in 2005 I went to university for about a year, got pregnant and started working full-time. I picked up working on my degree (B.A Psychology) after my babies got a bit older (while working part – time). I am now decided that I will go ahead and pursue my dream of becoming an RN despite my setbacks, my children are in school and my husband is 100% supportive ( I am one lucky woman).

My question is this: I have a 75% high school average did not take Chemistry, received a 65% in Biology and did not do a university level math – I know, not good. However, I have a 3.2 GPA (8.6/B/78%) in university but I am only half way done. I have registered for the Athabasca U BIOL235 course to take over the summer and have the correct stats and research methods prerequisites as per uOttawa's admissions page. What should I do?

Scenario 1 – finish my Psychology B.A (will take me a year or so) and then apply to the 2nd entry program at uOttawa

Scenario 2 – Finish the university level prerequisites and apply to the 4 year program through Algonquin

OR

Scenario 3 – Go back to high school and focus on University level Chem, Bio and Math then apply to the 4 year program through Algonquin.

In your opinion what would get more more likely accepted?

Thank you so so much for your time and advice I am really trying to figure this out as I can't afford to waste my time, my families time or the school's time not to mention money.

All the best J

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I'm not sure if you have all the pre-reqs, but your cGPA is high enough to transfer to uOttawa's nursing program (I think the required gpa is a 2.7). If you want to pursue nursing, there's no benefit to completing your current degree.

I'm confused, isn't the 4 year program at uOttawa automatically with Algonquin?

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Hi not sure I can be of much help but I am a single mom with a daughter. I had always wanted nursing always put it off because I didn't have the pre-reqs or thought pre-reqs where too tough I was afraid to take math and chemistry. I went into other programs instead but in the back of my mind I kept wishing I was in the nursing program.. Finally after having my daughter at 23 I started going to basic classes for math and chemistry learning everything from scratch. At 25 I finally took Pre-Health nursing at my college I got exempt from some courses as I have also gone to the university. I did very well in Pre-health and was finally accepted into the nursing BScN collaborative program ! my daughter starts JK in September and I start the RN program :)

If the pre-reqs are offered at night I would take them if it fits your schedule better. I found the high school level classes dragged on too long but the pre-health classes semesters are shorter and the classes help you more with nursing as opposed to the high school ones where we learned alot about plants. Plus I was able to take some pre-health classes at night and some during the day. It would take another year to get in the RN program with it but if you work at it pre-health is not a very difficult program at all. As for the second entry nursing I would definitely call the school to find out or make an appointment to talk to someone about GPA's and how many people they accept things like that I have heard those programs can be even more competitive. I do hope you can get in tho that sounds like the faster/easier route. But whatever route you take you'll still get there :)

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Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my post - I REALLY appreciate it!

Congrats on getting in to nursing and starting school the same time as your babe! How awesome...you must be so so proud :)

One question, did you end up completing the high school courses AND doing pre-health? Did you do Pre Health (Nursing) at Algonquin (the entire program)? I think that makes the most sense to do however the $6,000 price tag on that 1 year course is daunting for me :S I have tried to call uOttawa numerous times but their admissions office seems to be extremely backlogged I was in queue once for 48 minutes...I had to hang up after 24 lol! I did write an email but it will be aprox 72 hours before I hear back. If you don't mind me asking, exactly what did you have upoun applying for the program? Did you have all of the high school prereqs even though you have already completed some university or did you have a combo of high school courses and health courses?

So sorry for all of the questions I am such a spaz with planning things out.

Thanks again and congrats on starting your journey in nursing - SO AWESOME!!!

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Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my post - I REALLY appreciate it!

Congrats on getting in to nursing and starting school the same time as your babe! How awesome...you must be so so proud :)

One question, did you end up completing the high school courses AND doing pre-health? Did you do Pre Health (Nursing) at Algonquin (the entire program)? I think that makes the most sense to do however the $6,000 price tag on that 1 year course is daunting for me :S I have tried to call uOttawa numerous times but their admissions office seems to be extremely backlogged I was in queue once for 48 minutes...I had to hang up after 24 lol! I did write an email but it will be aprox 72 hours before I hear back. If you don't mind me asking, exactly what did you have upoun applying for the program? Did you have all of the high school prereqs even though you have already completed some university or did you have a combo of high school courses and health courses?

So sorry for all of the questions I am such a spaz with planning things out.

Thanks again and congrats on starting your journey in nursing - SO AWESOME!!!

Sorry about the double post I'm having a hard time using the site on my phone lol.

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Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my post - I REALLY appreciate it!

Congrats on getting in to nursing and starting school the same time as your babe! How awesome...you must be so so proud :)

One question, did you end up completing the high school courses AND doing pre-health? Did you do Pre Health (Nursing) at Algonquin (the entire program)? I think that makes the most sense to do however the $6,000 price tag on that 1 year course is daunting for me :S I have tried to call uOttawa numerous times but their admissions office seems to be extremely backlogged I was in queue once for 48 minutes...I had to hang up after 24 lol! I did write an email but it will be aprox 72 hours before I hear back. If you don't mind me asking, exactly what did you have upoun applying for the program? Did you have all of the high school prereqs even though you have already completed some university or did you have a combo of high school courses and health courses?

So sorry for all of the questions I am such a spaz with planning things out.

Thanks again and congrats on starting your journey in nursing - SO AWESOME!!!

I took a program at the college called ACE it's a free program they have biology, math,chemistry, english and physics they are high school level but only college bound. You do not have to take them at all. I just choose too because they where free I had no chemistry background and they can be used as pre reqs to any college program except RN unfortunately so after ACE I took the 1 year pre health Science nursing course here its about 3000 for everything with books. Whatever you do don't buy the books brand new ! So many people sell them used. But because I had compelted the ACE program when I got to pre health I found it easy. If you study and do all the homework you'll do fine you can apply for RN before you complete the program then they send out conditional offers after Feb 1st every year.I think there should be information on the colleges website about the pre health Science program. I took pre health Science at St. Clair college and completed the entire program minus electives since I went to the university I did not have to take electives. You may be able to be excempt from the English classes too if you took an English course at the University. Sorry I'm typing on my phone and the keyboard is horrible lol.. another option you do have is applying as a mature student you can take the Pre health courses bio 1 and 2 and Chem 1 and 2 at night it's usually about 250 a course and with those you may apply as a mature student ! That may be the cheaper option. I know a few people who did that 😊

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I think you are still missing the maths prerequisite. I would talk to an admission officer to see what they can do. If you do not get in, try doing RPN at Algonquin and then transfer over to the BScN at Ottawa U.

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