Worried I won't get into a BSN Program

Hmm - sorry, but I have a "mom" perspective. Depending upon what you mean when you use the term 'college experience', you may not get much of that as a nursing student either.... if you mean free time with lots of new friends in (er, uh) social settings. In most university settings, you can easily pick out the nursing students. They are the ones surrounded with stacks of books in the library at 10PM; heading to bed early because they have to be at clinicals by 6:30AM; studying for 4 hours every evening to maintain their GPAs... because the "nursing grading scale" is higher than everyone else's.

If you are just referring to the ability to move away from home and exercise your independence - there will be plenty of times when you wish you were back home with Mom doing your laundry and making sure you had something to eat - LOL.

I ditto everything HouTx says above. Bear in mind that "good" grades in any other program in the same university as your nursing school are "drop out" grades in the nursing school. Like medical school, nursing school demands higher-than-normal grades, 100% attendance, and 100% commitment. You will not be hanging out, browsing the bar scene, or attending sorority functions. Between school and clinicals, it is basically like going to school and having a job at the same time. And then having a job, if applicable, to pay your expenses. It is so grueling and time consuming that you will have time for nothing else - and in fact, it will feel like it is over in a flash.

Hmm - sorry, but I have a "mom" perspective. Depending upon what you mean when you use the term 'college experience', you may not get much of that as a nursing student either.... if you mean free time with lots of new friends in (er, uh) social settings. In most university settings, you can easily pick out the nursing students. They are the ones surrounded with stacks of books in the library at 10PM; heading to bed early because they have to be at clinicals by 6:30AM; studying for 4 hours every evening to maintain their GPAs... because the "nursing grading scale" is higher than everyone else's.

If you are just referring to the ability to move away from home and exercise your independence - there will be plenty of times when you wish you were back home with Mom doing your laundry and making sure you had something to eat - LOL.

Hi thank you for your response. I'm not much of party or drinking person anyways. I think I was seeking that moving away independence feeling. Not sure if I should just apply to the private schools here that will accept me easier then university nursing program.

I ditto everything HouTx says above. Bear in mind that "good" grades in any other program in the same university as your nursing school are "drop out" grades in the nursing school. Like medical school, nursing school demands higher-than-normal grades, 100% attendance, and 100% commitment. You will not be hanging out, browsing the bar scene, or attending sorority functions. Between school and clinicals, it is basically like going to school and having a job at the same time. And then having a job, if applicable, to pay your expenses. It is so grueling and time consuming that you will have time for nothing else - and in fact, it will feel like it is over in a flash.

Thank you for your response! I'm not looking for a party drinkin scene anyway. More seeking the moving away and independent feeling.

I definitely think you should go to whatever route is cheapest. The college experience is important and I totally think you should seek out the school that can give you that experience. I mean, why not? You only go through undergrad one time. But, bear in mind that nursing school is very tough and you may have to make sacrifices if you are not the type of student to understand and comprehend large amounts of material in a small amount of time like nursing school demands. IF you are the type of student that is great with critical thinking exams and have great test-taking abilities you may be able to handle both. Most nursing students will tell you that nursing school is like a full-time job and that social life and all the college experiences that go with being in a "college environment" does not exist in nursing school.

But, really, you should definitely get the college experience if you so please.