UCI or LLU for Nursing?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Irvine
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<p>Hey all.</p>

<p>I'm currently attending a community college and plan on applying this fall for the nursing program at either UCI or LLU. I'd love nothing more than to apply to both and not have to choose only one to apply to, but I can't because the prerequisites for both are almost completely different. It would be impossible to complete both UCI's and LLU's prerequisites in a year, so I need to make a decision now and stick with it.</p>

<p>UCI is where I'd choose to go, but it's extremely competitive and only accepts applicants once a year. LLU accepts applicants 3 times a year. So if I don't get accepted the first time around, I can apply a couple more times that year. Additionally, LLU is easier to get into, and I hear you're almost guaranteed to get in with a GPA over 3.5 (I have around a 3.63 GPA) and a good TEAS score.</p>

<p>I attended UCI for a quarter but left due to financial reasons. I really loved the school and would be so happy if I could go back. I left on decent academic standing. Therefore, according to UCI counselors, I don't need to apply to the school again. I'd just need to change my major to nursing. I'm just really afraid of the big risk I have of not getting in and having to stay at a community college for another year to complete LLU's prerequisites.</p>

<p>There are a few things I dislike about LLU. First, it's close to where I live, so I'd commute rather than experiencing college life in a new city. Also, it's a religious school, which wouldn't be a problem other than the fact that they have a code of conduct that they expect you to follow, such as a dress code, no drinking, etc. The only rule that would really affect me is the dress code, since I won't be living on campus and they won't be able to watch my every move. I'm also not a fan of the location. Basically, with LLU, I feel like I wouldn't get the full college experience that I want.</p>

<p>The main issue with UCI is the risk of wasting a year taking prerequisites for a school that will end up not even accepting me. Is a 3.63 GPA good enough? I've gotten A's in all my classes except for the 3 I took at UCI (D+ in calc, C in bio, B+ in chem). Also, I volunteered at Loma Linda's Children Hospital for 100 hours. Do I even have a chance of getting in UCI's nursing program? I read that I'll find out in the beginning of UCI's winter quarter whether I got accepted or not, and I don't think I'd be able to drop UCI's prerequisites for LLU's at that point if I find out that I didn't get accepted.</p>

<p>Another thing I'm worried about with UCI is having to take genetics and biochem over there the summer before the start of the nursing program. I hear that they're hard classes and that it's a lot of info to cram in one summer.</p>

<p>I'm just so confused about what to do. Please give me your guys' thoughts and opinions.</p>

<p>Thanks so much!</p>

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<p>Hello. I got accepted into UCI for Nursing this fall. If I was in your shoes, I would go to another school. I went to UCI’s “meet and greet” 2 months ago, and the nursing faculty was made it very clear to the people who didn’t get in, but thought they could change their major or be admitted as a transfer that their chances of getting in were slim to none. They said they got almost 2000 applicants this year, but only accepted 80 students, that includes transfers and undergrads. They do place the most emphasis on grades (their words.) There is no waiting list. </p>

<p>Is LLU your only other choice? CS Long Beach has a great nursing program. I imagine it would be cheaper than LLU because it’s public, and you’d still get the traditional college experience you want. </p>

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<p>Thanks for the information. I might look into the CSUs for nursing as well.</p>

<p>Did you get accepted as a freshman, change of major, or transfer student? Also, can you tell me what your GPA and extracurricular activities are?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

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<p>SDSU has a direct admit program for high STAT applicants for their nursing program. Since you are a transfer, it may be different. I would check it out.</p>

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<p>I got accepted as a freshmen. I had a 4.5 weighted GPA and 3.95 unweighted. I had no EC’s, but I did complete a 4 year biomedical program offered through my high school. The first two years were dedicated to the admin/infrastructure side of hospital care. The last two years were all clinical. We did rounds with RN’s and worked with PT’s at whatever hospital we were assigned to, and even got to observe surgery and an autopsy. I think completing that program helped me get in. I had volunteer work and a part time job as well. </p>

<p>Gumbymom is right about SDSU. It’s a good nursing program as well. If I hadn’t gotten accepted into UCI, I would have gone there. </p>

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<p>Thanks for the info guys. I’ll have to think about this more and look into different colleges.</p>

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<p>to the OP, hi! I’m a 2nd year at UCI’s nursing science program and genetics and biochem can be taken over the summer but they’re usually taken during the normal academic year :slight_smile: </p>