<p>Could anyone give an opinion on the pre-med nursing program at Creighton..just wondering if this might be a good way to gain a valuable undergraduate degree and could lead to med school. Or if med school does not work out, maybe a DNP would be a good career????
Thanks</p>
<p>I can’t tell you anything about the specifics of the program (I honestly didn’t even know it existed). But, as a creighton senior about to graduate and attend medical school next year, I can tell you that it is NOT a good idea to go into the nursing program with medical school in mind. If you are serious about medicine, I highly recommend going the normal premed route through the college of arts and sciences (Creighton has a great premed program by the way!). And if you feel that during your time, medicine is not the field for you could either go into an accelerated nursing program after college (I know one person who has done that) or try to gain entry to the nursing school during undergrad, but that could be difficult if not impossible. I have no idea as to how one attains a DNP. Try to find out what your goal is in the healthcare field, then decide which route to take because going through the nursing program as a premed has its definite disadvantages.</p>
<p>Thanks pccool52… So you do not think that a vocational degree such as nursing or Creighton’s EMS program would be a good angle to go if your primary goal is med school?Is this because you may not be able to fulfill premed prereq courses such as Organic Chemistry (for example)? I just know how competitive med schools have become and thought that a “hands on” angle might be an edge in the med school admissions process…
Have you been accepted to med school already?
Just for your information, I am helping my son look for the best angle. He is currently a HS Junior and is very interested in the med field. He will be touring Creighton soon and has told me that Creighton is currently his top choice. (He has a friend from Nebraska that told him about the school)…
I have heard of kids working hard for 4+ years to earn a premed friendly degree (such as Chemistry, or Biology) and then are unsuccessful in finding a med school and left with a very difficult career path with their dgree…
Thanks for your help.I have enjoyed reading several of your responses on other threads. This was my first time to use CC, although my daughter said that CC was very helpful for her when she selected a college last year. (this was her account)</p>
<p>Yes, going through a vocational degree program such as nursing or the EMS program is a bad idea if your ultimate goal is med school. Here are just a few reasons.
- Those students take different “watered down” science courses compared to the normal ones a premed would take. Med schools require you to take certain classes for them to consider you. These “watered down” classes will either not be accepted or will be frowned upon at best. They probably wont’ prepare you as well for the MCAT either.
- Med schools will wonder why the student is in the vocational program and question whether medicine is really the correct career for them. Any time med schools have to question whether you have the motivation or academic aptitude to complete med school, things get ugly quickly in the admissions process. </p>
<p>I understand where you are coming from in that it looks like it would be a good idea to go this route as a good plan b and to get more “hands on” experience, but really, it isn’t. You can get hands on experience as a normal premed by volunteering in hospitals, becoming a CNA, EMT, or phlebotomist, etc. There are opportunities out there for premeds to get experience and med schools expect it.</p>
<p>I have been accepted to several med schools already including Creighton as Bio major. It is true that many people will go through the 4 year premed curriculum and fail to gain admittance into med school. This is actually a common occurrence at all schools including Creighton. It is risky, but if medicine is someones passion and they have the work ethic and intellect, there should be no reason they can’t get in. Many people who don’t get in the first time, find out what is wrong with their application and apply again the next year. For some people it will take multiple application cycles to get admitted, which is unfortunate but also the reality of the competitive process.</p>
<p>Creighton has a great premed program and premed advising. So if your son decides to go here he will be in a favorable environment. Hopefully he enjoys the visit.</p>
<p>Thanks for your input. Coming from someone who is “walking the walk”, your opinion is quite respected and I will certainly discuss this with my son…We will see you on campus in about 3 weeks… Good luck…</p>