Hey I was just wondering if it’s easier getting admitted into a nursing program if I attended the school or if I transferred in. For example, would I have a higher chance getting into UCI’S or Cal state Fullerton’s nursing program if I attended TO THAT school rather than if I attended a DIFFERENT school and applied there as a transfer? I would originally apply for the major but my gpa and SAT score isn’t as good as other people that had been admitted in recent years so I was planning on doing two years in cal state to do my requirements and then reapply to either UCI or UCLA or stay. Or apply to UCI undecided and applying later as a nursing major there. What do you think, or is there any advice you can give? Thanks!
Applying to any UC undecided isn’t necessarily a good idea. Your best bet is going to a cc and building up your gpa while also knocking out general ed and lower division requirements in the process. UCs are more likely to accept a transfer with a solid gpa and completed coursework pertaining to your major than someone without those applying undecided. I was a little bit confused about the question so feel free to elaborate if this didn’t answer it.
@jtorps9 I apologize for the confusing question. I currently have a 3.6 gpa as a junior, and I’ve been told and have seen that I probably won’t get into a nursing program as a freshmen. I’m currently setting up a Plan B, and was wondering if it’d be easier getting admitted in a UC as a freshmen and undecided, specifically UCI.
But I’m not sure if for example I attended UCI if my chances of getting accepted to the nursing program there (after one to two years of doing my requirements and getting a solid gpa) would be higher than attending a different school and applying as a transfer to UCI.
My other plan was to attend cal state Fullerton for two years and then hopefully transfer to UCI or UCLA or stay at cal state fullerton if I got into any of the programs there. However I had been told it is harder to get into a UC coming from a cal state.
Sorry if I just made it more confusing.
How about Plan C?
An increasingly popular path is to get an Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN) and then as an RN complete a RN to BSN program. You go to a CC and get an RN degree and then apply to RN/BSN programs. Most colleges with a nursing BA/BS degree offer this. For example http://nursing.fullerton.edu/programs/rnbsn/ .
These RN->BSN programs are easier to get into; on the page at http://nursing.fullerton.edu/programs/rnbsn/faqs.php they say every applicant meeting the minimum requirements has been accepted. You can bet that isn’t true of those applying for the transfer program. At Fullerton they say “The School of Nursing admits around 5 to 10 students into the Traditional BSN (CSUF Student Pathway) program” and you know they get more than 5-10 applicants!
Not only that, with just a RN degree via this path you can get a good job (although a BSN is better for long-term advancement and some larger hospitals might prefer it). By contrast a student trying to xfer into the BSN program from a prep curriculum that you are considering and who is not successful has to pick some other major/career or spend 2 years in a ADN program if they still want to be a nurse for a total of 4 years in college for a 2-year degree.
The CC then xfer to ucla path is a longshot; according to the page https://www.admission.ucla.edu/prospect/adm_tr/Tr_Prof16.htm the admit rate for nursing transfers is 5%.
Since you are a junior before you make any further plans I strongly suggest getting exposure to nursing thru paid or volunteer work this summer (or even starting now) to make sure it is a fit for you.
If your Plan B is to go to Fullerton, I would recommend going to a community college. You save money, you can get an Associate Degree for Transfer and increase your chances of being accepted to UC nursing programs.
Applying undecided to a UC probably isn’t a good idea, in my opinion you’re just giving them an application fee for them to tell you no. I’m not saying you don’t have a chance because I don’t know you. I’m just saying community college sounds like your best bet to get into a nursing program at a UC.
As someone who has gone to community college, I have seen all of its benefits. It’s cheap and offers a lot of tools to help you be succesful/ transfer to the school of your choice. Counselors give you a path to follow and if you follow it, you will get into the college of your choice 99.99% of the time.
I know a lot of people love the idea of going to a university straight out of high school, but honestly, CC’s are where it’s at. I’ve seen friends from my high school take out loans for $40k for their first year of college, only to drop out and go to a CC because they realized they could get a lot more done for cheaper.
Sorry for the rant, just know that there are cheaper ways to go about doing what you want to do.
So to review---- Community College for Associate Degree for Transfer— UC of your choosing for their nursing program.
Pros: Cheaper and higher chances of you getting in
Cons: none