<p>@blue652 is your in-state option where you are accepted to nursing school from the get-go, or do you continue to need to apply/interview/etc going into junior year? The main goal is to obtain that nursing degree. Some states it is a very difficult process in that the limitations on interested students versus who actually gets trained junior and senior years. </p>
<p>As mom2ck referenced, in AL the nursing programs are spread for training in 5 semesters beginning junior year (so you attend with major hours summer between junior and senior year). That is costly for OOS - if a student has a tuition scholarship, it covers 8 semesters -so you can apply it to that summer but the final semester will have to then come out of pocket. Most OOS students apply the scholarship money to their fullest terms and pay out of pocket for summer.</p>
<p>UAB (web site <a href=“http://www.uab.edu”>www.uab.edu</a>) has a nursing scholars program, where you apply for that program (check on web site, but historically it has been Dec 1 during HS senior year). If accepted, you will have a seat in junior level classes as long as you complete the pre-reqs and have the required GPA on coursework. Check for automatic scholarships levels, and sharpen your pencil/prep for ACT for best achievable scholarship level. ACT offered Sept/Oct/Dec - again check to see when last score can apply to scholarship. My DD is in that nursing scholars program (we are in state) - she starts her junior year courses in Aug. UAB also has honors programs that you can be part of (then can also apply/continue with nursing honors program - she is in that too). There are several really good opportunities - they have a VA scholars program where 20 students are accepted and have their clinicals together under the advisement of program director (DNP) - she also was selected for that.</p>
<p>Also explore if you may want to go further into nurse practitioner? See what is available within AK. Explore resources etc with Alaska Board of Nursing - web site <a href=“http://www.dced.state.ak.us/occ/pnur.htm”>www.dced.state.ak.us/occ/pnur.htm</a> If you were my DD, I would fully see what is available where you are first. Maybe graduate program going somewhere OOS paid for another way?</p>
<p>Have you thought about options such as military nursing? My DD did Air Force ROTC training sophomore year, but due to funding cuts this year did not go into field training this summer. She is applying for Navy nursing now, which has a process early junior year. The paradigm is ever changing on those options. DD wants to have graduate school training paid for via military. It is very attractive to her to have a 20 year military career with option for retirement, and living in many locations.</p>
<p>You want to have good training - and be able to feel competent going into taking the licensure exam. Check the pass rates on various nursing schools - preparation is key with decreasing anxiety. Schools do everything they can to properly prepare their students - however with everything, the key is to check out their nursing dept. A great nursing dean or nursing dept chair is often key. Everyone seems to take review courses now. I just bought some review books and drug guide book so DD can study along with her courses for preparation. That way when she takes the review course, she will be totally ready. I am a RN, and I was in the paper/pencil generation of nursing exam - we didn’t have review courses or materials; I knew where I was weak - my school used a med/surg book that was flaky; I checked out from the hospital library the good med/surg book that other nursing programs used, and studied it from cover to cover - back then you got scores in 5 areas, med, surg, Psych, OB, and Pediatrics. My highest scores were med and surg then psych (even though I was a psych double major). My niece was telling me a little about the score areas (she is preparing now for exam; graduated nursing school in MN in May).</p>
<p>Good luck with the process.</p>