What can a high school student do to get into....

SingDanceRunLife · May 4, 2010

I'm just finishing up my freshman year at a 4 year college, and what I suggest you do is to apply to direct entry nursing programs. These will be much less competitive (most of the people on these boards are older and are in a very different situation than someone still in high school -- from high school, the competition is much less, and much different), and will also allow you to have a normal college experience while not having to worry about prerequisites (they are built into the curriculum and you just have to complete them before you start clinicals), often start basic intro to nursing classes in your first year etc. This is your best bet for getting into school for nursing. Also, volunteer at a hospital or nursing home etc.

TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP · May 4, 2010

I'm just finishing up my freshman year at a 4 year college, and what I suggest you do is to apply to direct entry nursing programs. These will be much less competitive (most of the people on these boards are older and are in a very different situation than someone still in high school -- from high school, the competition is much less, and much different), and will also allow you to have a normal college experience while not having to worry about prerequisites (they are built into the curriculum and you just have to complete them before you start clinicals), often start basic intro to nursing classes in your first year etc. This is your best bet for getting into school for nursing. Also, volunteer at a hospital or nursing home etc.

I'm assuming that by "direct entry" you mean traditional 4-year BSN programs.

To the OP - if you want to be a nurse and can get admitted, just go for the 4-year BSN. If you're a good student, then don't be scared by the whining - the amount of complaining someone does on the allnurses student forums is inversely proportional to their GPA.

Besides, you won't be joining the workforce for at least another four-and-a-half years. By then the baby boomers will be retiring in droves and the hospitals will have to hire new grads to make up for attrition whether they want to or not.

SingDanceRunLife · May 4, 2010

By direct entry I mean 4 year BSN programs that admit you as a nursing student from the get go rather than admit you as a pre-nursing student and make you apply for the nursing program during your sophomore year and not start nursing classes til your junior year.

an0nymous · May 4, 2010

The only direct entry programs I know of are mostly private colleges... Which are expensive. I was planning on going for the BSN anyway. Thank you very much for your advice, if you can, private message me:)

cHaNkStA · May 5, 2010

You need 15 posts for PM privileges.

I know several students who transferred from everywhere and went straight into the private nursing programs you speak off. I'm currently at Holy Names (leaving in the fall to Samuel Merritt!). But honestly, I feel that if you really want to go for the CSU route, definitely go for it, don't take any of our words for it. But just know competition is pretty tough out there within CSUs. I know a few students in there, but I have met students from all over at my school. I, myself am a transfer from UCSC pursuing nursing (didn't have nursing program there). I've met a ton of students who were in the same situation. I met students who transferred from SFSU who went to HNU, my old elementary school friend transferred from UCLA to go to HNU for nursing. A few from my old school UCSC, some people from Chico State.

an0nymous · May 5, 2010

Wow, people from UCLA are actually transferring to other schools for Nursing?! What has this world come into?!! Sorry, I know so many people in my grade and in the graduating class that practically broke their necks just to get into any UC's, my friend was devastated because he didn't get into UCLA or UC Berkeley...

That's why I'm feeling better about trying to go into a private college directly out of high school so I won't have to worry about competing with so many other people to get a place in the CSU. I also like the smaller classrooms at private colleges, I prefer that rather than a huge lecture hall of 300 students.

Of course, nursing school won't just be a walk in the park...

SingDanceRunLife · May 5, 2010

Small schools are great! My LAC has about 2700 undergrads, and my nursing school only has about 300 students total between the weekday and weekend programs.

cHaNkStA · May 5, 2010

Wow, people from UCLA are actually transferring to other schools for Nursing?! What has this world come into?!! Sorry, I know so many people in my grade and in the graduating class that practically broke their necks just to get into any UC's, my friend was devastated because he didn't get into UCLA or UC Berkeley...
That's why I'm feeling better about trying to go into a private college directly out of high school so I won't have to worry about competing with so many other people to get a place in the CSU. I also like the smaller classrooms at private colleges, I prefer that rather than a huge lecture hall of 300 students.
Of course, nursing school won't just be a walk in the park...

I'm from both parts of this spectrum. I went to a school of 16,000 students (UCSC) all the way to a 500 student undergraduate school. Trust me, the level of detail professors put it are TOTALLY different. Comparing office hours, I went to everyday at UCSC, the professor never knew my name even though I signed in. My professors know me before I even start the class.

I do miss going to a big school, being that you can network and socialize, but where all in school to study right? :lol2:

As for my UCLA friend transferring out, I was shocked when I saw him at my school. I was like "WHAT? FROM UCLA?!?"

SingDanceRunLife · May 5, 2010

I love the size of my school. I know professors, administrators etc, and it's great. It's not so small though that it's hard to socialize. I refused to even look at schools with less than 3000 students when I was college searching.

StayingCalm, BSN, RN · May 5, 2010

UCs certainly are more prestigious than CSUs...there's no doubt about that. But in reality, it is up to the individual to take full advantage of those intangibles. Just because one's not accepted into a UC doesn't mean it's the end of the world. At the same time, just because one graduated from a UC doesn't mean he / she is "superior" academically. I had classmates during pre-requisite classes that were Cal, Davis, and Santa Cruz graduates & their grades were no better than mine (and I'm still working towards my first 4 year degree). Don't get me wrong, I would love to attend UCSF nursing graduate school one day. But I think choosing a school purely based on school prestige is not the way to go about it. I understand with certain majors, school prestige does largely matter. But as far as undergrad nursing goes, I think it's the license that matters most. Just my 2 :twocents: ...

Anoetos, BSN, RN · May 5, 2010

the amount of complaining someone does on the allnurses student forums is inversely proportional to their GPA.

So true...