how about going back to school? any opinions?

[tallcoolone 102]

All Nurses - Be Careful if you go to the international site discussions. They tend to be hateful to international students on that forum. If your from Philippines their are some haters on that forum. Suzanne used to me the main mod, but she left a few years ago. Now you have a SilverDragon who is very jealous on international students who can work in the USA.

SilverDragon was not allowed to work in the USA from England, and now she has a grudge against others who can work in the USA.

Pay no attention to the haters in that section and you will be fine.........

[silvana.toma 15]

Thank you for all of your insights. I have to say i still don't know for sure what i want to do. I always knew though that i want to do something where i am helping people as part of my job. But in the same time, i would also like to make money doing it.

Trust me i also thought long and hard if this is for me-nursing i mean, because as you mentioned:beeing a nurse, or a doctor IT'S NOT FOR EVERYONE. i could not agree more. Now the big question is how do i find out if it's for me or not?

As i was saying earlier, i was thinking either radiology tec(but they don'y have schools close to where i live), or ocupational therapist...but now i also have nursing in my head. I like chalenges, and i am a very hard working person(on ships i used to work 7 days a week, 10-12 hours a day...sometimes even 14 or more...for 10 months straight...and i did it for 7 years)SO, i am not afraid of working hard, i am afraid that i would start school and then realize i don't like it. I also thought i would like journalism so i went to collage in romania dropped out of that after 3 years, i ended up hating all the bs in the media...all the lies and the coruption...

the fact that you said chemistry is not that hard ..gives me so much hope. Chemistry in romania was brutal...

Also, i want to coment on tallcoolone post and say thank you for warning me. To be honest i never went into that section, but now that you mention it i have to check it out . That's so silly and imature, those kind of people who have nothing better to do then judge, and criticize other people they must be some frustrated fellas..

P.S. my spelcheck doesn't work, so pl bare with me.

[silvana.toma 15]

Can you guys give me a better ideea what a pre-requisite is? I know there are some courses that you have to take to be accepted into the program. I guess my question is how long do they last? So let's say math...how many courses of math do i need to take? i would assume after you're done there will be a test.

Coming from Romania, it's so hard to understand TOFEL, GED, Pre-requisites, grants, and etc...i am

also one more question...has any of you done their MBA? my husband is planing on doing his next year, and he has to study the G-MAT. How hard is it?

ok one more question and i promise this is it. Is it true that most collages test their students with multipole choice tests???? If that's true it's awsome!

[Flames9_RN 358]

Thanks for the comment. I'm seeking the BSN because I hope to go to a nursing graduate program later. That simply explains why. That's very true that nursing is not for everyone, and that implies in everything else as well . Was only offering my insight to the Romanian lady who's trying to decide on a school major that might suit her.

There are ADN to MSN programs available. All that classes i took at community college will transfer over. I know a lot of nurses that hate their job, and the only reason why they stay--huge school bills!! Just saying

[Flames9_RN 358]

Each school will have their own pre-course requirements, so you have to contact them, best to sit down with an advisor. And most have you take a pre-enterance exam which gets scored, usually has topics such as math, science english.

Many take their pre-req classes at community colleges (check to see if they transfer!!) as the classes cost less. But check with each school!

Some people start off as techs, nurse assistants to see if they like the atmosphere. As well one can volunteer at many hospitals as guides, etc and if you ask the right people, too easy to shadow a nurse for a bit.

[juliava 80]

Each school will have their own pre-course requirements, so you have to contact them, best to sit down with an advisor. And most have you take a pre-enterance exam which gets scored, usually has topics such as math, science english.

Many take their pre-req classes at community colleges (check to see if they transfer!!) as the classes cost less. But check with each school!

Some people start off as techs, nurse assistants to see if they like the atmosphere. As well one can volunteer at many hospitals as guides, etc and if you ask the right people, too easy to shadow a nurse for a bit.

I concur with all the above.

[juliava 80]

Silvana - how about working towards getting a position in Medical Administration or becoming a Paralegal? I read yesterday an article on yahoo and they were mentioned as very well paid jobs nowdays.

[웃 910]

In today's structure, I always suggest starting out at the community college levels. It's not as prestigious, but much cheaper and for the most part every bit as good.(...) Once you're transferred, you'll get the same degree, just a few thousand dollars cheaper.

More like $10,000 or more cheaper...

If I were you I would become a nurse...You don't have to go to a top school to get the certificate. My cousin got hers at a community college. I thought she'd never be able to find a job with listing that school. I was dead wrong. All they care about is that you are certified....You'll get a lot of hours and start more than $20/hour or on salary...And your pay will continue to increase each year...

Edited January 21, 2011 by Lord Infamous

[웃 910]

If I were you I would become a nurse...You don't have to go to a top school to get the certificate. My cousin got hers at a community college. I thought she'd never be able to find a job with listing that school. I was dead wrong. All they care about is that you are certified....You'll get a lot of hours and start more than $20/hour or on salary...And your pay will continue to increase each year...

The other thing is when you get your student loans and grants you won't have to worry about how you will pay them back. You'll have a great job and be able to work as soon as you get your degree.

Even the University of Phoenix has quite a few Nursing Programs.

My degree, which I'm not done yet, is very broad...I'll be very lucky to find a job when I am done.

[silvana.toma 15]

Silvana - how about working towards getting a position in Medical Administration or becoming a Paralegal? I read yesterday an article on yahoo and they were mentioned as very well paid jobs nowdays.

Funny you mentioned paralegal..cause i was looking into that as well. And to be a paralegal= lawyer assistant you have to have a 4 year degree and at least 4-5 year experience. I looked everywhere. So chances are i will be a secretary then after a while maybe get a chance of becoming a paralegal, while beeing a nusrse is not only in demand but you know for sure you get to be a nurse right after the RN program of 4 years is done.

And medical admin is beeing a hospital admin when you are done with school? that is what my husband wants to do, but they will not even look at him without his MBA. It's really good money-i mean 6 figures a year, but it's a lonnnggg way to go.

Even 4 years of nursing i thought it's long, but as someone once told me, the time will pass regardless if i do the school or not, and in 4 years i will look back and say:what did i do in the last 4 years except nothing or maybe a very very low paying job that even for that one it's a fight aparently .

HAve you decided what you will do?. It's great that at least you have a collage degree from romania, so now all you have to do is a masters, and you're good!

I remember you were the first one who inspired me with "going back to school" that was long time ago when we were still talking about AOS package...and you told me without a degree it is hard to get a good job...and it was like an awakening for me. thank you for that! I needed it.

[juliava 80]

Funny you mentioned paralegal..cause i was looking into that as well. And to be a paralegal= lawyer assistant you have to have a 4 year degree and at least 4-5 year experience. I looked everywhere. So chances are i will be a secretary then after a while maybe get a chance of becoming a paralegal, while beeing a nusrse is not only in demand but you know for sure you get to be a nurse right after the RN program of 4 years is done.

And medical admin is beeing a hospital admin when you are done with school? that is what my husband wants to do, but they will not even look at him without his MBA. It's really good money-i mean 6 figures a year, but it's a lonnnggg way to go.

Even 4 years of nursing i thought it's long, but as someone once told me, the time will pass regardless if i do the school or not, and in 4 years i will look back and say:what did i do in the last 4 years except nothing or maybe a very very low paying job that even for that one it's a fight aparently .

HAve you decided what you will do?. It's great that at least you have a collage degree from romania, so now all you have to do is a masters, and you're good!

I remember you were the first one who inspired me with "going back to school" that was long time ago when we were still talking about AOS package...and you told me without a degree it is hard to get a good job...and it was like an awakening for me. thank you for that! I needed it.

I am going to apply for a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology, specialization would be School Counseling. It just makes sense to me as I worked in school setting before as a teacher and Special Ed teacher, and I have a BA in Psychology. Hopefully things would work out.

[silvana.toma 15]

The other thing is when you get your student loans and grants you won't have to worry about how you will pay them back. You'll have a great job and be able to work as soon as you get your degree.

Even the University of Phoenix has quite a few Nursing Programs.

My degree, which I'm not done yet, is very broad...I'll be very lucky to find a job when I am done.

thank you for the encouragement, i have to say unfortunatelly i am such a sucker for what other people say. If i get negative coments like: to be a nurse it's sooo hard and etc, i get down,and i start doubting my decision:(

Yesterday my hubby went to a comunity collage-very popular here, and got me the book with all the programs and the pre-requisites...OMG it is hard, the nurse program had the most pre requisites , but I already decided, this is what i want to do...help people+get paid to do it...it can't be that bad, right?

I have to go to the school and ask them where to "convert" my high school diploma.

[silvana.toma 15]

I am going to apply for a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology, specialization would be School Counseling. It just makes sense to me as I worked in school setting before as a teacher and Special Ed teacher, and I have a BA in Psychology. Hopefully things would work out.

Have you decided when do you want to start? I wish you all the best, and hopefully few years down the line we can still writte here on VJ with all sorts of success stories

[juliava 80]

Have you decided when do you want to start? I wish you all the best, and hopefully few years down the line we can still writte here on VJ with all sorts of success stories

Thank you, the same to you!!!!

I want to start this coming fall, as I have some things going on in the summer.

[silvana.toma 15]

Has any of you done a placement exam? Is it different from school to school? I have to do that and some other stuff i can't remember right now, and take a year of pre-requisite before i even get accepted into nursing...