Will you please give me some advice on my specific situation?

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Hi Everyone,

I am very, very interested in UTA's AO BSN (pre-licensure) program. However, I have a few concerns.

Here is my background for referecnce:

33 year old male (I live in NW Houston)

I have a BBA in Business Administration (overall 3.31 gpa) from Sam Houston State University

I've been a CNA for about 1 year (I changed careers in 2017), and I believe my hospital is a partner for the program.

I am almost done with my pre-requisites (I have A's in Political Science, History, English, Psychology, Sociology (all of those general ed classes), A&P I and II, Microbiology, Nutrition)

I still have a few more pre-requisites to take (Technical Communications, Math, Statistics, Chemistry) and this is the only Nursing program those classes are required for because my backup BSN programs don't require those classes. I just want to know before I spend thousands of dollars on those classes that I at least have a fighting chance at getting admitted to UTA's AO BSN program. I would hate to plunk down $5,000 and not get accepted. Please let me know what I can do to strengthen my application. Am i remotely competitive? I am stressed out trying to decide what to do. Thanks!

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Specializes in Critical Thinking-Critical Care.
12 hours ago, Tyler118632 said:

Find out for sure if where you are working at is partnered or not. If the hospital where you are working at is partnered it increases your probability of getting in. You will get in before someone with the same GPA that is not partnered. Also from what I have heard you want to shoot for an 8.0 or higher combined score to be competitive for the AO program. However people have gotten in with less than an 8.0. Unfortunately nothing is certain in life. Im in the same boat spending thousands of dollars trying to get in. However I do know that if we dont at least try we will for sure not get in. Go for it. Take the classes and try to be as competitive as possible.

F

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8 hours ago, Sciencedude1 said:

F

Thanks for the advice. I have a question for you, Science,dude1, why are you choosing UTA over WGU’s Program? I keep flip-flopping between which one I would rather be in. The only differences I have noticed are WGU seems easier to get into (I mean they take StraighterLine’s easy pre-req courses) and WGU is 2 years instead of 15 months. What is the benefit of going to UTA? I can’t answer that question for myself. Thank you!

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Specializes in Critical Thinking-Critical Care.

Apply to both. Once you get your acceptances then decide. I prefer UT arlington since the program is only 15 months. I just took my first nursing course in pathophysiology. My impressions of the program at UTA are based on that one course. I honestly learned a lot and feel as if I would get a good eduction through UTA.

The WGU program looks interesting. I didnt know that program existed. I live in the Rio Grande Valley in south Texas and they have clinical rotations down here as well. The only thing I didnt like was that the program is 2.5 years. That is 30 months. Twice the amount of time compared to the accelerated program at UTA. Im 36 and have no time to waste so I prefer UTA for that reason alone. Also UTA has a tuition guarantee which is going to make attendance slightly cheaper. The tuition at UTA is $17,850 for the AO program. At WGU it is about 5000 a semester for 5 semesters. That comes to $25,000 approximately for tuition alone. So in other words at WGU you will pay more money and take twice the time to get the same degree.

I have a question for you. Why are you paying so much for your prereqs? The prereqs you have left can be taken at a community college. I took the intro to developmental psychology for about $700. I am only taking the nursing couses at UTA since the tuition is much more expensive. You should think about doing the same to save some money.

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Being employed by a partner hospital doesn't guarantee you a spot in UT's AO program. They only give you preference, which means they'll look at your application before other's. They also give you points for taking your pre-reqs at UTA so there's incentive to take those classes with them over a community college... Yes, it'll be cheaper at a CC but that's an extra .5 point for your application.

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Specializes in Critical Thinking-Critical Care.

Well yeah if you take 30 credit hours or more at UTA or all your sciences. But I dont think he needs that many.

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It was more of a general FYI over a specific one. You're right, he only has Chemistry to take and you have to have taken 12+ credit hours CON lower div natural science for points. But if there is anyone reading looking at why anyone would take their pre-req's at UTA, it's because of what I stated above.

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