Worried about my chances

How did you pick Colorado, Penn and Miami.

I can think of other great places for accelerated BSN programs.

Do you think you might be interested in combined degree programs?

How important is location? Cost?

I do know that the programs I was accepted into granted some scholarship money to male nursing students (10K).

1. I researched schools individually and applied to programs that seemed to suit me. There are so many programs all with slightly different requirements to apply and it became a little overwhelming so I am not going to pretend that my decision of schools to apply was completely objective. There are so many schools and in order to not spend a fortune in application fees I picked a few of what I considered to be good programs.

2. I have no particular preference for location as far as region but I would like the opportunity to go to a school where I could have clinical in a fairly metropolitan area (for experience).

3. Cost is a factor but the quality of education outweighs the importance of low cost. Scholarships would be great of course (I don't expect to become independently wealthy as a nurse).

4. I would possibly be interested in combined degree programs but I missed the date to take the GRE and that would set me back some time.

I would be interested to hear some of the programs that you alluded to. Where did you end up studying and how many scholarships are awarded?

Thanks,

Derrick

Hey there, I'm currently in a second-degree program in Central Illinois and I am enjoying it so far. Most of the people in my program, including myself, have no clinical experience prior to coming to nursing school. I think your GPA and your prior experience with research will be big pluses on your application.

Unfortunately, many of the combined degree programs deadlines are fast approaching or have passed. I do know of some programs that have later deadlines. Some combined degree programs will waive the GRE requirement for you because your undergrad GPA is so high.

Do you know what you would like to do eventually? Do you want to do nursing research? Education? Become a nurse practitioner?

I did a lot of research on schools and types of programs. You can go on US news and World Report for rankings of nursing schools. These rankings are for graduate programs, but it stands to reason if a school has a good grad program they are likely to be well-regarded in general. As well, the list will give you a spring board from which to do your own research in order to ascertain if you will be able to do research as a second degree or combined degree graduate student.

I am choosing to attend an accelerated BSN program at the University of Pittsburgh. I start in January. There were scholarships available to male students. I saw the same scholarship available to DePaul MENP program in Chicago, IL (another school I was considering).

I think you need to consider more how you would like to see yourself 5 years from now. Then you can pick the most appropriate program. Also, there may be some oddball prerequisites you need to take, depending on the program. Finally, generalist masters and accelerated BSN program can have multiple starting dates per year. Combined degree programs tend to have one start time.

I bet you will get into most programs. Since there is no list that ranks schools, it is impossible to say which program is a sure thing.

Good luck.