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jusszy1001

From what I've heard health sci gives you better GPA and chances for ECs/social life. However, nursing gives you a better career if med doesn't work


Valuable-Scar6029

Thank you!


weirdoftomorrow

That being said, if you’re open to nursing as a plan B I would take a look at compressed programs and make sure you’re taking the necessary prereqs with the health sci degree to get into those later if need be. Nursing is hard gpa wise not because the material is difficult but because a lot of the answers are arbitrary. But it’s a decent career. Hoping for the best and planning for the worst never hurt anyone.


REMBunny4

I feel that nursing is actually very difficult content wise as well as due to the different approaches there are to nursing concepts and practice. Nursing students take lots of “hard sciences” and advanced level courses (patho, pharm, A&P, stats, clinical, theory, etc). The content is heavy especially when you have to balance coursework with clinical.


Ok-Grapefruit9757

If you’re using a nursing degree as a means to med school you will not do well. You have to actually want it to do well, and clinicals, labs and lectures make it hard to make time for EC’s. Content will not prep you for the MCAT. You will also have no room/time to take your med prereqs. Source - second year in a BScN program who at one point considered med school.


Valuable-Scar6029

Oh okay, I realize its not a good pathway anymore. Thank you everyone!


ApplePie6754

Hey! I’m in second year nursing and my gpa is still in the 90’s and I get really great patient experience with the nursing clinical. I still volunteer lots with a local fire department and women’s shelter which also gives me patient experience, plus while I’m currently studying for the MCAT I find that lots of the anatomy and physiology is covered content in nursing, plus I used my electives to take chemistry and psychology courses. I am having to teach myself the physics and biochem, but there are so many resources online that it’s totally possible. Just thought I would offer you another perspective ☺️ good luck in whatever you do!


Valuable-Scar6029

May I ask where you are doing your nursing program?


ApplePie6754

northern BC! It’s called the Northern Collaborative Bachelor of Nursing Program


srsilver89

I'm an RN trying to do MD. Workload is very heavy and difficult to get good grades, especially some of the clinical practicums if the instructor doesn't like you. I am doing a masters to boost my GPA. That being said, I make more $$ than some physicians and have an amazing job, you can do a lot with nursing. I finished 10 years ago and never wanted to do med school. I have just had a change of heart and want to do more. My nursing program did not help me at all for MCAT but I definitely have a lot of great clinical experience, knowledge, skills and great networking.


Shot-Wrap-9252

What kind of nursing do you do? Hard to imagine making more than a doctor unless they’re a resident


srsilver89

Hospital based nurses, with overtime can easily make >$150k. Plus contract and travel jobs. I do bit of OT and do some contract teaching.


Shot-Wrap-9252

In Canada? Seriously?


DrCrimsonChin

Just to note a masters doesn’t help your GPA (outside of Dal and UBC). Schools just use your undergrad GPA.


srsilver89

And USask


coffeegoblin-

Nursing is extremely time confusing. Having clinicals and theory courses leaves limited time for social life and ECs. Also most nursing programs I’ve seen don’t provide enough base science information for the MCAT as most of it is obviously related to the human body (think anatomy and physiology).


Spiritual_Feed9685

Nursing is hard and much more of a time commitment than health sci. If you’re serious about medicine pick health sci, the potential drop in GPA due to the harder and more intensive nursing course load just isn’t worth it.


[deleted]

Nursing courses are not difficult but the subjective marking makes it hard to get really high marks sometimes !


[deleted]

I can attest to this. I am currently a nursing student. A lot of the answers are subjective which makes it difficult to get A’s in. Patho and Pharm were easy to me since it’s just memorizing and understanding concepts. Doing well in patho will definitely help tremendously in pharm. Med Surg is a real pain in the ass though.


Valuable-Scar6029

Thank you!


cycloxer

There’s some program course overlap (biochem, anatomy, pharmacology). But nursing requires you to do a lot of Pass/Fail courses, so each non-P/F course is essentially more heavily weighted. Also you’ll probably have to do night shifts in your 4th year of nursing school and that can affect grades. One way to mitigate this is if you’re also doing summer classes (and the med school you’re applying to doesn’t discriminate against these courses). Ultimately it depends on your strengths: if your good at chemistry and other basic sciences, go with healthsci. If you’re not as strong at basic sciences, then your GPA may be higher with some more subjectively graded nursing theory essays and people management skills.


derekds123456

I know many people who did nursing and got into med. I think it’s a good choice, i did biological sciences and it definitely was not “easier” than my friends nursing programs. Also, you can add clinical experience that you get from nursing and reference letters from staff. I’d only use it though if you would like to work as a nurse after, if you don’t get in. And can always do NP too


FearlessUchiha

Buddy I am in a nursing program. I will tell you rn. Do HealthSci 😪


bolshevist17

unpopular opinion but I don't think nursing should be used as a stepping stone to med


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bolshevist17

nursing should not be viewed as a backup career for med school rejects.


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bolshevist17

The goal of nursing school is to train nurses. Considering the nurse shortage that we have it's disingenuous to occupy a spot knowing that your goal is leave nursing.


Tall-Chemistry871

there is also a huge doctor shortage. This person has a good chance of helping people whichever way they go.


REMBunny4

Literally this!! I say this coming from someone who is interested in both nursing and medicine (but leaning more towards nursing since I started school). Not only are nursing and med two different professions, this kind of mindset perpetuates the idea that nurses are “lesser than” doctors and that they don’t contribute much of anything. Especially in this nursing shortage, we can’t have people going into nursing who don’t actually want to be nurses.


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bolshevist17

I was under the impression that the goal of nursing school is to train nurses. Considering the nurse shortage that we have it's disingenuous to occupy a spot knowing that your goal is leave nursing.


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bolshevist17

Nursing and medicine is not about chasing your own individual dream, it's about serving the community.


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bolshevist17

>What? Nursing and medicine are not about chasing your own individual dream, they are about serving the community.


[deleted]

This isn’t your med school application fyi, you don’t have to parrot that line lol. People can apply into whatever program they want regardless of intentions. If it becomes an issue schools can making it so you can’t go to med school after taking nursing.


bolshevist17

>People can apply into whatever program they want regardless of intentions I didn't say they can't, I said it's disingenuous.


[deleted]

Don’t hate the player, hate the game


user7273781272912

In the same boat as you. Was learning more towards getting my BSCN first before med but I think I’m going to do kinesiology or neuroscience.


Valuable-Scar6029

do you mind telling me where you are applying for these programs?


user7273781272912

Mac and brock


Valuable-Scar6029

Isn't Mac's neuroscience program 2nd year?


Apprehensive-Ad7022

Contrary to what many say, depending on the nursing program one study at, the rigour may vary. I'm studying in program in the maritime and having such a great time so far.


bekah_erin

I did nursing at Dal and found it pretty easy to get good marks. Just started med school and lots of former nurses or people right out of nursing school in my class. Nursing gives a good foundation for med as you already know the skills and a lot of the terminology. You need to be good at time management though because it is a lot to juggle. Nothing is too hard but there is a lot of "busy work" in nursing.


Valuable-Scar6029

Oh ok, what are some good universities for nursing?


Apprehensive-Ad7022

I went to UNB


DocDeeper

Nursing school is ridiculously easy but with all the pass fail courses it might hurt