Virginia College New RN program - anyone know anything about it?

Glad I found this. I have 2 pre-req classes left at Jeff State and then was going to try to get into the night RN program, but my math class killed my points! So I thought instead of retaking classes and wasting time and money (on school and baby sitters for my 2 children) that I'd go to Virginia College. I got a nursing brochure in the mail today and it said "Look where some of our graduates are working"...and listed Brookwood, St. Vincents, and several others around here. So I am wondering why it says that if nobody has graduated yet?
They told me to send my Jeff State transcripts to them, so do they not accept any classes you have taken? The lady on the phone said once she saw my transcript and they determined what could transfer, then she could tell me how much my remaining classes would be. Hmmm, supposed to meet with her Fri, I'll still go just to see. There is no way I can make the points for Jeff with a 2 yr old and a newborn to tend to! I was hoping VC would be good.
And I can't believe someone paid 20k to become a pharmacy tech! I've been a tech for 3 yrs and NEVER went to school for it. And 20k is a lot considering techs don't make much until they have some experience! It's like the school charges what your annual salary will be for the job you are studying to get into.
Another question, say you complete VC program and take the exam to get your RN, wouldn't it only matter that you passed that exam to show you are competent rather than where you went to school?

Did some research on approved colleges with the AL state board of nursing and Virginia College IS approved! So that's good to know. Checking on the exselcior college that is a complete online RN program...will post when I find out.

Shutterbug, Im not really sure of your location, but you should also consider Wallace State. What are your pre-req grades? If you only have say one C and a pretty good Compass test score you probably have a better chance of getting into Wallace.
As someone who started Virginia College years ago, I would make them my last option. I went there several years ago and what I didn't know was that the credits don't transfer anywhere so basically you finish with them or you are screwed. Once I heard that my credits would not transfer and tried to confirm it they would not give me a straight answer. They wanted to know who gave me that information. They never would just come out and say that nobody would accept their credits. I basically called every school I could think of and asked if they accepted their credits and kept getting "NO".
I work for a hospital and they DO consider where you attended nursing school. I have heard the complaints about new grads that are not prepared. I'm not saying that nobody would hire a Virginia College nurse, Im just letting you know what I hear.
Please know that I am not trying to discourage you, I just think you should explore every other available option.
Think about it even the things you mentioned in your post are questionable/misleading
Our pharmacy techs here take a math test to be considered for a postion PERIOD. Why would you go to school for that?
Good luck on whatever you decide to do!

I am in Hoover, where is Wallace?

It's in Hanceville. It takes me 30 minutes to get there from Gardendale.

Hi,

I am currently in the night/weekend program at Jeff State. It is very hard, and is certainly not really a part-time program in the amt. of studying you have to do for exams, but it is a good program, and they do prepare you well. I have some friends who have also checked into Wallace, and they found out it is a "Hybrid" program. You take your classes online (audio podcasts/or taped visual lectures), so you don't have to go to campus except to take your exams and labs. I do not know where students do their clinicals, though--you would have to check into that. Also, they have times set up for "chat sessions" with the instructors online so you do have opportunities for questions, etc. So, even if you are 30-60 minutes away from Wallace, it might be worth it, if you are a person who can discipline yourself to handle classes that are set up this way. I am already towards the end of my 4th semester, so I am not going to switch programs as long as I am passing. Also, at Jeff State the part-time program is set up to where you go year-round, and if you don't pass a course, you have to remediate and re-apply, and you cannot take a certain class again in the evening program until it is scheduled again, usually only during a certain semester, so you have to wait a year to get back into rotation. You do have the option to switch to the day program if you fail a class and have to repeat one, but this doesn't work for someone who has to work. I'm not sure what the requirements are to switch from night to day if you fail and have to repeat a class, but the opportunity is there. Jeff State's tuition is reasonable, and overall, they do prepare you extremely well. Several of us have also been able to find "flexi" positions with Brookwood Hospital as PCAs as well, which enhances your chance of being hired as an RN on graduation if you are a good employee. Good luck! Another option, for those who are looking for work, and have completed Fundamentals of Nursing course and the clinical, you can sit for the CNA exam and the skills exam and then you work as a CNA. (www.nacesplus.org--for information).