Which nursing program should I commit to?

[jamieylo]

Hello everyone!

My name is Jamie and I am a current senior at a high school in the Bay Area. I want to pursue a career in nursing and eventually become an NP. 

I am having a difficult time deciding which school I should commit to by May 1, 2022. My top choices are SJSU pre-nursing, ASU 4 year direct program, UCR for biology, and University of Portland 4 year direct program. 

I am leaning towards SJSU but I am worried about the risks of entering their pre-nursing major because there is no guarantee of getting accepted to their actual nursing program in 2 years. However, if I knew I were to be accepted, I would definitely choose it over ASU or UOP because of its location and connections.

ASU and UOP reassure me because they are direct entry BSN programs, but their locations, demographics, and NCLEX pass rates aren't ideal for me.

I am also interested in UCR because it is well ranked, has the "UC reputation", and  I hear the social life is impeccable, but I'm not sure it will be a smart choice if I want to become a nursing student in the end.

I would be greatly appreciative of any insight to further educate my knowledge about entering college as a nursing major.

Thank you for reading!

 

[shin_eee]

Hello Jamie,

It is awesome to hear that you have your mind set on nursing!
That in itself is already a great start. I am not too sure about the four year direct programs or transferring from a UC; however, I can tell you about the traditional pre-nursing to nursing route. 

I go to SFSU nursing but I know SJSU has a fantastic nursing program. I know there is a lot of fear going into a pre-nursing program but it is not as bad as people make it sound. You may already know this but there are three major components when it comes to applying for the program: Nursing GPA, Cumulative GPA, and TEAS. 

Nursing GPA are your GPA from "pre-nursing classes" such as A&P 1, A&P 2, Microbiology, and General Chemistry. 

Cumulative GPA would be your pre-nursing classes plus your GE classes. 

TEAS is an exam you take around the time you are taking your final pre-nursing classes. It is very similar to the SAT but there is an additional science portion. 

Most schools require a 3.5 GPA but I highly encourage you try to keep it above 3.8 as most students who got in seem to be at or above 3.8. As for the TEAS anything above 80% is recommended but 90% is encouraged. 

It may sound daunting as of right now, but your pre-nursing classes will definitely help you prepare for the TEAS. 

Also, I know SJSU only accepts their pre-nursing students for the Spring cohort, so maybe something you can take advantage of if you decide SJSU!

I hope this helps!