Anyone an RN? BS or AS degree?

speedbump

I'm going back to school.  Woot woot!  I'm 4 classes short of my AA and could transfer to a university and do my BS, though the program is VERY VERY competitive and no guarantee to get in.  And take about 2 years to finish.

OR, I can go back for my AS also 4 classes short but less nursing classes to take than BS RN and be done faster and while the program is competitive it's not as much as the BS.  And I would be working faster.  This would take about 1 year.

Obviously a BS is a better education than an AS, but at the end of the day each has to take the RN certification and have the same license.

Should I go for the BS or the AS?  Does it make a big differnce?  What is your experience with salary and finding a job, etc?

 Thanks

 

JenMJM

As an academic advisor at a community college, I would recommend that you do an RN to BSN transfer once you've got a job and are working.  If you're looking at UCF's BS program, it's super competitive and requires As or Bs in all of your science classes - A&P, Micro, and Chem.  The min GPA required is 3.0, but our UCF advisors have told us that students should shoot for AT LEAST a 3.5.  I guess it all depends on what your academic history looks like. 

The RN will also be cheaper to complete if you don't do it at a 4-year.  Just something to think about.

With that said, I'd head to your closest AS RN program and talk to an advisor there - they should be able to give you the best advice based on YOUR academic profile because each student brings something different to the table.

GrayGhost13

JenMJM:

As an academic advisor at a community college, I would recommend that you do an RN to BSN transfer once you've got a job and are working.  If you're looking at UCF's BS program, it's super competitive and requires As or Bs in all of your science classes - A&P, Micro, and Chem.  The min GPA required is 3.0, but our UCF advisors have told us that students should shoot for AT LEAST a 3.5.  I guess it all depends on what your academic history looks like. 

The RN will also be cheaper to complete if you don't do it at a 4-year.  Just something to think about.

With that said, I'd head to your closest AS RN program and talk to an advisor there - they should be able to give you the best advice based on YOUR academic profile because each student brings something different to the table.

This  is what my H is thinking about doing. He's taking time away from school right now, so he can SAH when our LO arrives, but we noticed that the AS RN to BS programs are usually accelerated, plus he liked that he'd get some working experience while going to school.

Of course, he hasn't actually been through it yet to determine if it's the right choice, but it seems like a really good option.

JenMJM

TobioLovesAce:

JenMJM:

As an academic advisor at a community college, I would recommend that you do an RN to BSN transfer once you've got a job and are working.  If you're looking at UCF's BS program, it's super competitive and requires As or Bs in all of your science classes - A&P, Micro, and Chem.  The min GPA required is 3.0, but our UCF advisors have told us that students should shoot for AT LEAST a 3.5.  I guess it all depends on what your academic history looks like. 

The RN will also be cheaper to complete if you don't do it at a 4-year.  Just something to think about.

With that said, I'd head to your closest AS RN program and talk to an advisor there - they should be able to give you the best advice based on YOUR academic profile because each student brings something different to the table.

This  is what my H is thinking about doing. He's taking time away from school right now, so he can SAH when our LO arrives, but we noticed that the AS RN to BS programs are usually accelerated, plus he liked that he'd get some working experience while going to school.

Of course, he hasn't actually been through it yet to determine if it's the right choice, but it seems like a really good option.

This is exactly what I tell my students.  And maybe he can get his hospital/doctor's office to pay for part or all of the BSN:)