Should I even bother applying as nursing?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Irvine
1

Hi all,

I’m having trouble gauging my chances at direct BSN. The program is so competitive and I am already applying as a pre-med to every other UC besides UCLA. I’m interested equally in nursing and the pre-med route (most likely bio) and what I choose will really just depend on which universities I am accepted into. The question is- with my stats should I even bother applying as nursing? Or just bio or whatever to maximize my chances of getting in?

My stats:
4.14 W, 3.85 UW
1540 SAT
SAT Math II: Haven’t taken yet, definitely 760+
SAT Lit: Haven’t taken yet, definitely 760+
AP’s: World History (3), Calc AB (5), Lit (5), Gov, Econ, Stats, Biology (all yet to take) and two community college classes (both A’s)
School: Public, CA, Female and Asian
Rank: like 120/700, but our rank is merely unweighted, so probably doesn’t matter much

EC:
-Competitive dancer for 11 years, won over 15 state competitions
-Taught free classes at ^ academy for free for 3 years, led that team to state champions as well x5
-Founded school’s chapter of a national religious/service organization. Acting president for three years, leading consistent service events.
-NHS member for 2 years.
-I think I qualified as National Merit Scholar finalist.
-250+ hours as a hospital intern, 500+ hours as a camp counsellor, 50+ hours free tutoring.
-Co-founder and instructor in a non-profit teaching free fitness lessons to local mothers. (50+ hours)
-Cultural drum (6 years), hold multiple awards from an internationally-recognized institution, predominantly male
-Taught 30+ hours of free lessons of ^ to elementary-aged children.
-Guitar (2 years), singing (lessons and choir member for 5 years)
-Officer of school’s cultural club and school dance captain for 3 years.
-Getting a job this summer.

Essay topics:
-Being homosexual. A big one for me as it’s shaped my choices and character, as well as plays a role in where I go to college and the possibility of me becoming independent from my family soon.
-Suffering from depression for 5 years: my recovery, and the stigma in my community surrounding mental illness.

Why nursing/med?:
-The death of the family member who raised me, due to inadequate health-care, and how this relates to my attraction to the medical field.
-My mother is a nurse and through her hard work as a nurse she escaped an abusive marriage and raised two children alone.
-I’ve spent 100s of hours volunteering in the hospital setting and I’m obsessed.
-I’ve spent time in and out of hospitals and have experienced amazing care (as a burn victim as a child, and later for depression)

Sorry for the huge post and if i posted in the wrong place. I just need to see if I’m on the right track. Thank you all in advance.

2

You look like a competitive applicant, so definitely worth an application.

3

Nursing can actually be a good major if you plan to go to medical school, but you might have to take an extra semester or two to get the medical school prerequisites. As far as premed, there’s no such thing as a “premed” major. As long as you take the prerequisites, you can major in anything you want. I would go for nursing and take the extra classes to qualify for medical school. This way, if you don’t get in right away, you have a strong degree to fallback on.

4

Well, you will never know if you can be a nursing major at your dream school if you don’t apply. So, OF COURSE you should bother applying! And if you don’t get into the school of your choice, don’t let that stop you. Same goes if you were admitted to the school of your choice, but for a bio/pre-med major and not nursing. Whatever happens, it’s for the best.