Will getting a BSN be worth it? Really need advice!

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Hi all,

I'm in a real situation here and I really need someone's advice.

Here's my situation:

I currently am done with all of my pre-requisties. ( Micro, A+P 1 and 2, Soc, Eng and Psy) with decent grades. Around me on Long Island, there is not much of a choice for nursing programs so I've applied to 3 so far. I applied to 2 programs at a community college, which is very competitive and will get me an ADN (at 4k a year for 2 years). I have also applied to a private college for the BSN, but will cost me about 22k a year for 3 years. The community college is extremely competitive to get in, and with my grades I honestly ( just thinking realistically) do not think i'll get in because of a C+ in A+P II. I do however think that the private college will accept me based on a lot of other people who have gotten in. (both are accredited and good schools).

...now the question is: If things go as I assume(accepted to the BSN and denied from the ADN program), is it worth paying 22k a year for the BSN? Or should I just wait the year out and retake the other classes to get A's, and reapply to the ADN for the following year?Everyone is giving me extremely different ideas and I just need as many opinions as possible!

Any response is good, thank you!

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Thinking logically, I would probably re-take the classes and try for higher grades in order to pay less in the long run. However, depending on how long you must remain in school to get those higher grades, you might end up using the money you would've used at a University. It's a bit of a complicated situation.

Like I said, I'd probably go ahead a re-take the classes and try for all As. But maybe that's just me.

Best wishes.

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How is the job market in your area? I know in my area most hospitals are magnet status and require their nurses to have a BSN, especially new grads. This would weigh pretty heavily in my decision. I was accepted to an ADN program to start this winter, but I chose to apply to a BSN program in which I *shouldn't* have a problem being accepted in to. This was because the costs were going to end up about the same, because after getting my ADN I still had to return for my BSN so I decided to skip the middle process.

Also, how is your financial situation? Are you able to take an extra year and retake those classes before even being accepted in the nursing program? It sounds like it would probably take you the same amount of time to retake those classes and get accepted into the ADN program so you would graduate in the same amount of time it would take to earn your BSN.

For me personally, I would go the BSN route and pay the extra money. I would also look for every single scholarship or grant to help bring down the cost of my tuition. I just know the job market in my area is extremely tough so I want to give myself the best chance I can...

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Yeah absolutely. In my area same as well, the BSN is relied heavily upon. Although right now I work for a non profit agency that is doing tuition riembursement for me and requires me to work there 2 years after I graduate (get my RN) so they would probably hire me as an RN ( no guarantee) but I would only need a 2 year...

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Will they give you tuition reimbursement for the BSN program? If so, I would definitely go that route just to get it all done!

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
Yeah absolutely. In my area same as well, the BSN is relied heavily upon. Although right now I work for a non profit agency that is doing tuition riembursement for me and requires me to work there 2 years after I graduate (get my RN) so they would probably hire me as an RN ( no guarantee) but I would only need a 2 year...

That's a key piece of information. If you will be able to get a job with an ADN, it probably makes more sense to wait for it and save the money.

But ... have you really explored all the options thoroughly? How much financial aid will you get for the BSN program? The price tag is not the only piece fo relevant information: sometimes the most expensive schools offer the most financial aid. Get all of the facts on financial aid before you make a final decision.

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Yeah they'll give me tuition reimbursement wherever I go but it's only 2400 a year... Which isn't much. And there's no guarantee that they'll hire me as an RN if there's no openings than obviously they can't..

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