This is my first post but I have been lurking around for about a year. At the age of 25 I am finally going to college. I did the whole get married, have 3 kids and THEN go to school thing. Not planned but such is life. Anyways, I've always wanted to do nursing and I am excited that my family is finally in the position that I can do just that.
My issue is that I am located in Michigan where wait lists can be as long as 5 (!) years!!! Did I mention they are still growing?! That's just to get an associates!! That adds up to do at least 2 years of pre-reqs, apply to nursing school, wait possibly 5 whole years to get in and then do the 1.5 years of nursing school for a grand total of 8.5 years to get an associates in nursing. That is absolutely ridiculous and I could honestly be well on my way to becoming a doctor in that amount of time. Plus I don't want my family to have to wait all that time for mom to finally get her dream and be successful. My question is this, would it be quicker to:
-Get a bachelors degree in something different and then apply to a an Accelerated BSN nursing program??
-Work my butt off and apply to university after pre-reqs then pray like crazy I get accepted into the nursing program?? If I don't get in just forget the dream and get my bachelors in something else. (
These wait lists are getting WAY out of hand. I'm sure the entire medical system is losing a number of would be wonderful nurses to this. It's completely discouraging =(
I'm also in MI. I did GRCC back in 2001 and Ferris State University in 2011. Have you looked into Montcalm Community College or Kellogg Community College? Ferris also has a traditional BSN program that many people commute to. You'd be surprised at the options many people get into just to finish.
That is an extremely long wait time, but I doubt it's that long for students with excellent grades and whatever other qualifications the schools look at.
I would go ahead and start taking prereqs, bust your butt, and go from there. And who knows, maybe by the time you're done with that something will come up and your family will end up moving. Apply into LPN, ADN and BSN programs all at once and hopefully you will get into at least one of them.
There are some areas that are extremely competitive but a waitlist that long for a very strong applicant is still pretty unheard of.
Thanks!! I know Lansing is the closest to do Point systems. My choices are MCC or GRCC. I would move back to Lansing in a heart beat (I'm actually from Dewitt) But we have to stay near my husbands job =(
We have people in our class who commute from Detroit, Flint, Battle Creek & Cadillac. If you can't get in quickly locally, think about commuting. Our commuter students record the lectures and listen to them again while driving. They do very well :) Luckily, the commute is only for 4 semesters!
Don't find a "quick way," find the best way. Nursing is a sacred discipline that requires intelligence, compassion and excellence. It's not last resort or just a job for anyone. Please respect the profession.
I was going to ask if you lived close to the Indiana border. We don't really have wait lists here. Nothing crazy like that anyway. You apply and IF you get wait listed, you wait for the people to decline their spots then you get it. You just pretty much are either accepted or rejected. Try Ivy Tech in northern IN. I am going to the one in the East Central Region.
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I completed a 12-month fast track LPN/LVN program at a private school and worked as an LVN for a few years before completing an LPN-to-RN (ASN) completion program.
Matthewandrew -Really?! "Please respect the profession?" Did you read my entire post? Do you even know me?! Calling me disrespectful?! I have nothing but upmost respect for the profession. This has been a dream of mine since I was a child. I was inspired to keep going through all 3 of my kids NICU stays and through my childs treatments in Oncology. I am not looking for "fast track nursing school" I am looking to not be on a waiting list for 5 years doing nothing. I am looking to provide financially for my children like I want to and like they deserve as quickly as possible. I am looking to not be in my mid 30's before this is all over when it doesn't have to be that way. I have very valid reasons for this post. I'm going all the way for my BSN and hopefully one day my MSN. I suggest you read before you post. Maybe respect your fellow soon to be nurse. You never know, one day you could be working along side of me. Thank you
Matthewandrew -Really?! "Please respect the profession?" Did you read my entire post? Do you even know me?! Calling me disrespectful?! I have nothing but upmost respect for the profession. This has been a dream of mine since I was a child. I was inspired to keep going through all 3 of my kids NICU stays and through my childs treatments in Oncology. I am not looking for "fast track nursing school" I am looking to not be on a waiting list for 5 years doing nothing. I am looking to provide financially for my children like I want to and like they deserve as quickly as possible. I am looking to not be in my mid 30's before this is all over when it doesn't have to be that way. I have very valid reasons for this post. I'm going all the way for my BSN and hopefully one day my MSN. I suggest you read before you post. Maybe respect your fellow soon to be nurse. You never know, one day you could be working along side of me. Thank you
Cadillac?! WOW..that is a LONG commute!! I can't imagine what they spend on gas!! I think I am going to stay with MCC for pre-reqs and hopefully transfer to university in a year or so. My goal is to get the BSN right away. I really don't want to have to go back later for it. I would love to graduate from MSU's nursing program . We are a total green and white fam
My dear, I am 31 and have one more prerequisite to complete before I can apply to a nursing pool. The wait list is one 1-2 years here in Phoenix. While I'm waiting I will finish the other 4 prerequisites I have. Then I can apply to a concurrent enrollment program. By the time I begin actual nursing school I will be 32 or 33. I will graduate around 35-36....I did what you did. Had the kids and the marriage THEN went to school. Girl, don't give up! 25 is still young!!!!
I agree with many of the other comments: begin working on your pre-requisites now while researching BSN programs. :-) I, myself, started working on my pre-requisites as soon as I finished a Medical Assisting program which was in 2007. I was working full time, so part time classes took a long time. I applied twice to the community college I was attending and was rejected, so even though I applied a third time after being accepted into a university, I continued working on my transfer credits with the intention of applying to the university's nursing program. I transferred in the fall of 2012 and was accepted into the nursing (BSN) program at the end of my first semester. If you are able to get into a BSN program, go!
I am now in my second semester of nursing school and I am 30. I think one of the biggest misconceptions is that nursing programs are full of young students, but I think a lot of programs are beginning to be full of non-traditional students because like you, many are returning to school to provide financially for their families. Wonderful goal, I might add. :-) I believe one of the oldest in my cohort is 50 and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! Try not to look at age as a factor because you obviously have it in you to be successful. After all, this is your dream and it's obvious that you'll stop at nothing to be achieve your dreams and goals.
Matthewandrew -Really?! "Please respect the profession?" Did you read my entire post? Do you even know me?! Calling me disrespectful?! I have nothing but upmost respect for the profession. This has been a dream of mine since I was a child. I was inspired to keep going through all 3 of my kids NICU stays and through my childs treatments in Oncology. I am not looking for "fast track nursing school" I am looking to not be on a waiting list for 5 years doing nothing. I am looking to provide financially for my children like I want to and like they deserve as quickly as possible. I am looking to not be in my mid 30's before this is all over when it doesn't have to be that way. I have very valid reasons for this post. I'm going all the way for my BSN and hopefully one day my MSN. I suggest you read before you post. Maybe respect your fellow soon to be nurse. You never know, one day you could be working along side of me. Thank you
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redbonne
8 Posts
I'm also in MI. I did GRCC back in 2001 and Ferris State University in 2011. Have you looked into Montcalm Community College or Kellogg Community College? Ferris also has a traditional BSN program that many people commute to. You'd be surprised at the options many people get into just to finish.