shit black moms say
Well, Tumblr, nearly a year ago, I applied to the Nursing program at ODU and was disappointed to find I didn’t make the cut. Out of over 400 applicants, I made 113th on the waiting list last year. (see http://laortiz.tumblr.com/post/4102433193/im-doing-the-best-i-can)
Over this past year, I’ve evaluated my career goals and realized that not getting into the program at ODU doesn’t mean I can’t get a Nursing degree somewhere else. I began pursuing a minor in Psychology. In turn, I ended up loving the subject; instead of working hard to make A’s in my classes, everything I learned came naturally. Having a love for Psychology, I chose to “double major” at ODU. But what if I didn’t get into the program again? Am I ready to deal with the same level of disappointment? Is the Nursing program at ODU my absolute last resort? No, it shouldn’t be.
On that note, I looked into the Sentara School of Health Sciences BSN Program.
PROS:
- It’s so close to home, costing me virtually nothing to commute compared to going to ODU for classes the past 3 years.
- It’s the same cost as ODU tuition and books for 1-year Out-of-State, but I’ll get the degree I’ll be working for in 2 years.
- It’s a nationally accredited program, vs ODU’s regionally accredited program, so I’ll be able to work anywhere in the US, especially when I go to grad school.
- I get to keep my job that is literally across the street from my house, while going to school full-time.
- They only accept as many people as they can give jobs to, so if I finish my degree there, I have a solid chance on getting a job right out of college.
- Also, Sentara assists graduates with paying for tuition debt, so I can potentially pay off my college debt a lot sooner than anticipated.
According to these standards, I have nothing to lose! I began formulating a “Plan B” for my Nursing goal: who says I can’t finish a degree at ODU? I certainly don’t want any of my credits to go to waste. With that thought, I began working toward my Plan B, not making ODU my only option. I applied to the SCOHS and have a pending spot for the class this coming Fall (2 months and nearly $200 later.) Turns out, that was a good decision. My sister, a freshman at ODU, got into the SoN her first try. I am incredibly proud of her. I got my results for ODU’s SoN and got wait-listed, but this time 40th instead of 113th. Not too shabby, if I do say so myself. More than likely, however,they won’t pick me up over the summertime. Sentara sent me a letter saying my spot for their nursing school is contingent on my pre-admission test scores, and certifications prior to taking the classes. Fingers crossed! I take the test in a few weeks. Hopefully, I have a better turn-out with this school than my current institution.
Reflecting on last year’s disappointment, I have to say I’m quite pleased that working toward my career has given me gratifying results this year. I feel incredibly secure in my choices, while it may cost me just as much to commute and go to school in Norfolk. If I continue with my plan, I’ll graduate from ODU with a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology with a Minor in Management in the Spring of 2014, and a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree the following spring, 2015. I’ll get to stay with my sorority doing service and get the degrees I want. Around that time, my little sister will be graduating ODU with her Nursing degree as well. It helps that Will and I have similar time frames when it comes to graduating school. Since he works so much, he probably won’t be able to graduate with his Bachelor’s degree until 2015 as well. I’ll have had my college experience, I got to meet the love of my life, and I’ll have 2 degrees. One day, I’ll want a Masters for both of them. Pretty sweet deal, if you ask me.
