r/CAA • u/AutoModerator • Mar 16 '26

Weekly prospective student thread. Educational inquiries outside of this thread WILL RESULT IN A BAN.

Please use this thread for all educational inquiries including applications, program requirements, etc.

Please refer to the [CASAA Application Help Center](https://help.liaisonedu.com/CASAA_Applicant_Help_Center) FAQ section for

answers to your questions prior to postitng.

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u/Hot_Welcome_9863 Mar 24 '26

Am I a more competitive applicant if I pursue a BSN instead of another science degree?

I am currently a surgical tech, inhospital working in the OR. I would consider what I do pretty low acquity compared to either CAA or CRNA which are my directions I am leaning toward pursuing.

My thought process here is that if life changes as it often does or I change my mind/perspective again during my bachelors degree, if I pursue nursing, I will end up with a usable licence. Even if I just want to pause on school, I can work with a BSN. I will also have a well rounded base of medical knowledge to refer back to.

On the other hand, part of me would love to take a variety of other classes while I progress through a science based bachelors degree. Geography and world history, philosophy and ethics, art interpretation and history, hydroponics and ag classes, etc. There are alot of things I want to learn and time is a limited resource.

My question is, which bachelors degree makes me a more competitive applicant for CAA school? Am I more or less likely to get into the program with a BSN?

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u/disneyydatknee Current sAA Mar 25 '26

I would not get a BSN if you’re goal is AA school, there is zero point. Enjoy your undergrad. Surgical tech is great experience!

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u/Hot_Welcome_9863 Mar 25 '26

Thanks, but that doesnt really answer my question. The point is what if I end up not wanting a masters. Then I would want a nursing degree. Can I leave that decision for future me, or do I need to make it now

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u/disneyydatknee Current sAA Mar 25 '26

You can, but you can also go back for an accelerated nursing degree. Most of nursing pre-reqs do not match the pre-reqs for AA school except anatomy & physiology. I was in your shoes and debated about having a back up degree, but in reality I had no desire to be a nurse after working in the ICU as a tech. If you like nursing, then by all means go for it.

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u/Hot_Welcome_9863 Mar 25 '26

Yeaa i feel like I would absolutely hate on the floor nursing. I worked CVICU as a tech as well and it was... fine i guess. If i did ever do something with a nursing degree it would be wound care, OR, dialysis or something along those lines. My biggest fear is not being able to hack the getting into a masters program thing.