11.23.10

Hi Readers!

I hope you've found the recent posts to be helpful and entertaining. They both did a really great job explaining how great UVA SON really is. I just realized we left a question unanswered from a couple months ago, so I want to address it as it sounds like something that would help a lot of people looking into UVA SON.

Q: I am currently working full time at MJH, raising my daughter and taking classes at PVCC just because I love college. I've finally decided what I want to do, and its Nursing! I've never been so excited in so long. However, do I just go in as a first year? I've been told that its impossible to work full time and go to nursing school. Is this true? I feel that I am MORE than capable! I've never wanted anything so bad, and I cant believe it is impossible and has never been done! Any advice would be most helpful!!


A: SO glad you have found your way into Nursing! It is such a great field, because not only do we get to learn and apply our medical knowledge, but we also get to connect with patients on a very personal level.

Judging from you enthusiasm, it is definitely not impossible for you to get your BSN! It will take a lot of work and coordination to balance school with your home life, but it's not impossible and it has been done before. In fact, there is someone in the SON right now who lives in Richmond, has two children, and commutes to UVA. All it takes is dedication.

In terms of where to start, it depends on whether you have an undergraduate degree yet? If not, I would suggest applying to the BSN program. If you already have a degree in another field, I would suggest you look into the Clinical Nurse Leader program (yes, it's still nursing!). Because each situation is different, and because I don't work in the SON Admissions Office, I can't really tell you exactly how to go about applying because I'm not sure if there are other options for you aside from applying directly as a first year. You may qualify to transfer into UVA SON if you have certain classes under your belt (found on the UVA SON Prospective Student Website "Prerequisites").

This advice goes to everyone...please remember that although we REALLY want to help and we may know a lot about applying to the SON, we can't give you 100% fool-proof admissions advice because frankly, that's not our job (although many of us would LOVE to work in Admissions because we love UVA SON so much-- maybe that's just me.. :-D )

Hope everyone has a GREAT Thanksgiving!
...For anyone following the VT vs UVA game..... GO HOOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Haley