Hello. I have few questions about transferring as a nursing student. The whole process is so complicated.
So background. I decided I was going to a community college and earn my general education classes before I transferred to a four year university. I am taking classes that are highly transferrable for nursing.
However because I want to transfer end the end of my sophomore year instead of freshman year I have found it so hard to find a school that will accept external transfers that late.
I know their are RN-BSN programs but all the ones I have seen are online and I am looking for a program where I can live on campus.
One school that specializes in junior year transfers is Thomas Jefferson University in Phila. They have a 2-year track and that is what I want but not that school. Does anyone know if there are other schools with a program like TJU?
Location does not matter.
It sounds like you have been taking general education classes. A RN-BSN program is for nurses that already have an RN (via an ADN program). You just need a “regular” nursing program that you can transfer into. What state are you in? Your credits are more likely to transfer in state. Also, you don’t want to pay a lot. Many schools are highly selective for nursing and take a large chunk of their class a direct freshman admits. A good place to look is your non flagship state schools. Kent State would be an example in Ohio. https://www.kent.edu/nursing/admissions/transfer
You may want to consider doing an associates degree in nursing (ADN) / RN at a community college, if that is available to you. Then, if money is an issue, you can work in some nursing jobs while still having the option to do an RN->BSN program at a four year school later.
Note also that the path to BSN often has many “weed out” points, any one of which can result in your time in school being “wasted” if you get “weeded out”. ADN / RN followed by RN->BSN does give you a useful credential at the half way point to a BSN, so the potential cost of being “weeded out” is lower.
Thank you for your responses. So state schools, specifically the one in my state, is my best option for living on campus and transferring junior year without a RN degree.
I don’t need an RN degree especially if it means I will need to earn my BSN through an online program.
However because I want to transfer end the end of my sophomore year instead of freshman year I have found it so hard to find a school that will accept external transfers that late.
I’m surprised you are finding this, because transferring to a BSN program as a junior is more the norm. BSN programs tend to be competitive and they look for juniors (either already on-campus in a pre-nursing program or as transfers from other colleges) who have completed all the prerequisites.
It would help if you mention what state you live in and whether you can afford OOS or private colleges
I am in Illinois. I would like to save money but any school ideas you have would be great. Thanks.
You are mixing together two different things. RN is a professional license not a college degree. Candidates trying do get an RN license may have either an Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelors Degree in Nursing (BSN).
What is your GPA? Entry into some programs can be very competitive. For example, 75% of Illinois State nursing transfers have a GPA above 3.77.
https://illinoisstate.edu/academics/nursing-bsn-traditional/transfer/
BSN Programs in Illinois lists nursing programs in Illinois.
I picked Illinois State to see their requirements which are at Transfer | Mennonite College of Nursing - Illinois State It sounds like they are looking for transfers to enter their 2-year program as juniors, not sophomores. And I’d expect it to be the same elsewhere.
Since you are at a community college they must have a transfer office. I suggest you set up a meeting with them to discuss your options and next steps.