06-17-2020, 03:00 PM
This isn't really the most appropriate question for this forum and I haven't been here in awhile but have been a bit stressed about this so I figured I'd try here.
Background:
So, I took a bachelors degree in IT and have had a very hard time finding an entry position in help desk or anything else the last two years. I've been very much considering going back to school again for an associates in Nursing because I really need a career that is stable / not very location restricted. So Nursing or the trades seem like the most viable alternate option to IT for me, though I'm still considering getting a few certifications and trying some more.
Problem comes with the Pre-requisite classes needed to enroll in most nursing programs. Generally you need around 18-26 units of sciences like Anatomy & Physiology (with lab).
Some schools specifically want a butt-in-seat science course when it offers a lab, and others are perfectly happy accepting an online lab.
Some schools want ALL of your pre-requsites graded (so no pass/fail) and some only want the core sciences graded.
So far, the most ideal for me as far as sciences go was a platform called Portage Learning which is a division of Geneva College, a regionally accredited institution. The courses are in a fully online format, books and all fees are included. It's a bit pricey, to me at least, coming in at $792 for a 4 credit course but once you factor in saving on distance learning fees, driving to testing centers etc it seems to balance out with the $500 or so community college course. The Portage courses are also self-paced and give you a full year to complete them.
Problem? So far it seems incredibly hard to find out which schools locally in this region / state will accept them. Whenever I contact program advisors for their nursing / allied health programs I generally get a 'Well I don't know, maybe, we had a student before with a course or two from there.' One told me a year ago the courses would be accepted and then last week when I emailed them again to double check said that a faculty member said they weren't up to par with the community college courses, but even then the advisor didn't really seem to show much interest in helping.
Are there any very direct ways / departments that I can contact at a school and get back a 'Yes, we will take them.' | ' No, we won't take them.' without sending them a transcript? I really shouldn't have to gamble with a few thousand dollars and then send a transcript and hope.
Background:
So, I took a bachelors degree in IT and have had a very hard time finding an entry position in help desk or anything else the last two years. I've been very much considering going back to school again for an associates in Nursing because I really need a career that is stable / not very location restricted. So Nursing or the trades seem like the most viable alternate option to IT for me, though I'm still considering getting a few certifications and trying some more.
Problem comes with the Pre-requisite classes needed to enroll in most nursing programs. Generally you need around 18-26 units of sciences like Anatomy & Physiology (with lab).
Some schools specifically want a butt-in-seat science course when it offers a lab, and others are perfectly happy accepting an online lab.
Some schools want ALL of your pre-requsites graded (so no pass/fail) and some only want the core sciences graded.
So far, the most ideal for me as far as sciences go was a platform called Portage Learning which is a division of Geneva College, a regionally accredited institution. The courses are in a fully online format, books and all fees are included. It's a bit pricey, to me at least, coming in at $792 for a 4 credit course but once you factor in saving on distance learning fees, driving to testing centers etc it seems to balance out with the $500 or so community college course. The Portage courses are also self-paced and give you a full year to complete them.
Problem? So far it seems incredibly hard to find out which schools locally in this region / state will accept them. Whenever I contact program advisors for their nursing / allied health programs I generally get a 'Well I don't know, maybe, we had a student before with a course or two from there.' One told me a year ago the courses would be accepted and then last week when I emailed them again to double check said that a faculty member said they weren't up to par with the community college courses, but even then the advisor didn't really seem to show much interest in helping.
Are there any very direct ways / departments that I can contact at a school and get back a 'Yes, we will take them.' | ' No, we won't take them.' without sending them a transcript? I really shouldn't have to gamble with a few thousand dollars and then send a transcript and hope.