Re: Apollo College Associates Degree Program
I find it hard to believe that a school's reputation is more important during hiring than the totality of the Rn graduate sitting in the chair. While Apollo may have a less than stellar rep in the Phx area, my potential initial employer and I were too busy during our interview discussing my skills and experience and what I could do for them, than what school I had attended in order to get to, and pass, Nclex. Besides you'd be amazed at how many people don't even care where you went, it's easy enough to tell the intelligence and competence level of the grad by speaking w/ them, and not by those who taught the classes.
The pgm there has become seriously overpriced, as have all private 2 yr schools, so I got mine quite "cheaper" but I got into the market just before the hiring crash, so I have to say that it was well worth the $$ to not still be sitting on wait lists..... I've heard that most CCs now reqire CNA before you can get into the Rn pgm, so yet another span of time tossed onto the wait list.
Personally I would not waste my time on a BSN if I planned to stay in AZ; but w/ employment outlook dropping still, 1 has to weigh spending more $$ vs waiting to get into the field, where experience is far more imp than anything.
Originally Posted by Calzonan RN 
I've seen this argument over the years that I've been posting on this board. I personally think Apollo is a waste of money. You caN get an ADN from a CC for around $6000 and if you work it the right way, you won't have the huge wait that most people have. OR you can go to a 4 yr college and get a BSN for around the same cost as Apollo (maybe even less expense). There are ways to get into the 4 yr colleges without a huge wait and you'll have a BSN when you're finished, just one step ahead of everyone else. Where I work they won't hire Apollo grads. People who graduate from Apollo think that it has a good reputation, but it really doesn't. I've asked around (my friend is considering going there) and the consensus among the RN's I work with is that the school really isn't that good. Sure you may be able to pass the NCLEX but as a new hire skills are really important too. JMHO
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