<p>Do you declare a nursing major at any university or does the university have to have a nursing program? I want to go to USC but could not find any nursing information on there for undergrads. BTW, my goal is to become a nursing anesthetist.</p>
<p>No, you can only major in nursing at a school with a nursing major. There’s really no such thing as a design-your-own nursing program, as far as I know. You can, however, start college at a school that does not have a nursing program and transfer to one where the nursing program can be completed in either 2 or 3 years, and still graduate on time if you get your gen eds done beforehand. Of course, gen eds change from school to school, so keep that in mind.</p>
<p>As much as possible, you should try to get into a “direct entry” nursing program where you can get a BSN degree within 4 years at the same college. You apply to be a nursing major during your senior year of high school. You don’t actually start nursing classes until your sophomore year, but you are guaranteed to be a nursing major as long as you maintain a minimum gpa and don’t get arrested, etc. </p>
<p>Many direct entry nursing programs fill up early - you should apply in Sept. or October. Also be careful, because some programs do not let you wait until May to pick a college. At a couple colleges, if you don’t put a deposit down by Dec, you lose your nursing spot. </p>
<p>One college even has a two step process for freshman - you needed to do a supplemental application ASAP for nursing after you were accepted to the college. </p>
<p>At many non-selective colleges, nursing is the most difficult major for admittances. Therefore, apply to multiple colleges. However, you don’t need to be superhuman to be admitted as a direct entry. </p>
<p>It is much more difficult to be accepted into many nursing programs as a junior or as a transfer than to enter from high school.</p>
<p>There are a ton of direct entry nursing programs in the Middle Atlantic states. It appears there are fewer in the southeastern US.</p>
<p>Just to be clear, most all colleges that have science classes generally offer a ‘pre-nursing’ program that requires you to transfer in your Junior year to a college/school that has a BSN program.</p>
<p>Don’t rule out the idea of going to a Community College for your RN and then finishing at a BSN completion program - both are easier to gain admittance. Also, in many cases, you may be able to work as a nurse while having your employer pay for your BSN completion degree…Kind of a double win because you can’t get admitted to any Nurse Anesthetist programs without at least a year of real nursing work, in most cases in an ICU…so you can be fulfilling that requirement at the same time as you finish your BSN. </p>
<p>Also though the programs are almost over the top competitive, don’t rule out the idea of Anesthesiology Assistant programs - There are only a few in the US, but the end job is the same…You can finish a degree in Pre-Med and apply directly to these without the year of nursing (or an RN degree at all)</p>