The Bad & The Ugly About West Coast University, Orange County

U.S.A. California

Published

Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

Hi All!

I am in an LVN to BSN program currently, however since graduation is almost 3 years away (yes it's 3 years of nursing even if ur an LVN!) I decided to look into some quicker programs.

So I looked at West Coast University, Anaheim...

And I decided to go with them...and now I'm not.

I thought I would "warn" others about some of the issues I have had with them. I wish this knowledge had been presented to me sooner and I wouldnt' have wasted my time. Hopefully I can save other people some agony.

They will transfer in prereq classes that are less than 5 years old. Great, I have 6 of them. I turned in the transcripts VERY early. They said it takes about a week turn around.

Two weeks go by...no response for prereqs. I'm concerned because the classes start in 3 weeks, and I have to let my job know my school schedule.

So I call, and she calls back "Ok we have your schedule" and starts to list the classes they said they gave me credit for, which I tell her. "Oh...let me get back to you"

This is not the only issue, they also tried to make me fill out the same form three times, because they thought I hadn't. They also told me several occaisions, "well you haven't given us all your transcripts yet" or "we're missing that". Then I have to tell them over and over again, "I already gave you everything" Then they would call me an hour later saying they have that but they need something else.

The cycle never ended, I got frustrated of run-arounds and no one knowing what was really going on.

Soo...for those of you that are there good luck! I apoligize for the vent, but I think it's good for a lot of people to express their opinions on various things so others can make decisions. :banghead:

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Thanks for sharing your experiences. You've provided a good service to those that are considering attending this school. Good luck in finding another program.

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I had an awful experience with them as well.

I was in their LVN to RN program in LA. Classrooms have 50-60 students. Sometimes there was no instructor available to tutor even though there were flyers of where and what time tutor sessions were held. This happened often.

What nattlebug says is very true.

For me however, it came down to microbiology before entering the actual nursing part of the program. I needed an A in the final to move along and was told they would contact me if I didn't make it. This was a friday and new class started the following thursday. I received an A in micro! Yay! I sat through 2 weeks of lecture before they called me saying, "I'm very sorry but you did not pass micro with A." Within a week I was dropped from the program and my financial aide status was closed from the school. I was devastated! I cried until I couldn't any more. After all this I got ANGRY! Turns out my micro instructor did not add an assignment to my overall grade. At this time I was told I can appeal so I can return to the program. WHAT?!!!!

After numerous calls and 3 visits from Orange County to Los Angeles I was told I needed to re-submit an application for financial aide. Not to mention return to the program 2 months after with a different batch of victims.

I pay $440 every month for the education I received from there. I'm on a waiting list for a RN program at SAC now.

I think they handled this situation very poorly.

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Specializes in Orthopedics, Neuro, Trauma.

My goodness, that sounds like such an awful ordeal. I can't believe they wouldn't take responsibility on behalf of the mistake that their school and/or professors made and get you back into the same slot that you were originally in. I wouldn't want to do with crap like that either. Thanks for the heads up!

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I finally got somebody to tell it like it really is.I had a strong feeling thats what they do to keep the numbers so high.Thank You so much for your honesty.

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Well, I am currently enrolled and did want to share that WCU was granted the full five year accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

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Thank You Calstate1967,I just got the email from West Coast.This is good news to hear.Thank you for letting me know.

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Well, I am currently enrolled and did want to share that WCU was granted the full five year accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

This is only one accrediting body..there is the BRN, NLNAC, and most importantly WASC. This school is NOT accreditted by WASC which is the most basic of accrediting bodies. Without this accreditation, your education at this school may not be recognized by other schools. SO, althouogh you may get your BRN from here, and even perhaps get a job afterwards, if you decide to get your master's degree and they still have not been accredited by WASC, you will not be in a good place to say the least...this is not even mentioning the cost of $100,000 for your BSN when you can get the same education MUCH cheaper somewhere else. Plus, if I am not mistaken, you must start paying back your student loans 6 months after graduating...regardless if you are employed or not...God forbid you drop out and owe the money anyways!!!

My advice to all my friends when they mention private schools like Concord, Everest, and West Coast is FORGET IT!!! I did it and ended up in debt, without any transferrable credits, and no job....and I am not the only one...always check accreditation!! Do your research on ALL the potential accrediting bodies! And go to public community college or state universities by always keeping your grades as high as possible...Your grades are a permanent record that will provide the foundation of your future...

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Thank you all for sharing your experiences with this school! Last year I was thinking about applying because I was told that they had a weekend program. Looks like I made the better choice and stayed in the school that I was in.

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Wow, you guys are all wrong. I attend WCU Orange County. The campus is fully accredited and I have never once had a problem getting my schedule. Also, they have gone to the ends of the earth to make sure every student is fully prepared to take the HESI exams. Personally, I wouldn't want a nurse on my floor who can't pass a competency exam anyway. I have received almost all straight A's for every class and will graduate with honors. They try to weed out all the nurses or wannabes that can't tough it out. The school tuition is a lot, but I will be graduated sooner than waiting for years on a waiting list. As far as transfer credits go, do you think a school would want a student who has taken anatomy ten years ago to go into their clinicals or nursing program without being up to date? I think not.

West Coast also has job placement programs. Sounds like some of these comments are from whiny people who can't get good grades or can't hack nursing period.

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There is no "weekend" program...

I do realize that there are several bodies of accreditation.

I contacted the local hospitals that I would be interested in working at; and they all hire WCU graduates - the attitude was fairly consistent that if you pass the state board that is what they are looking for. As far as going on for further education beyond your BA - it is always up to the school you are applying to if they will take your under graduate work. My stepson is going to a New York State School and in the program he is in, it would be hard for him to go onto other schools for graduate work.

Thus far I have been pleased with my education and the people on staff at the school.

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

I was sharing my initial frustrating experience, it must have improved it's system. They were shocked when I told them I wouldn't go there because of the lack of organization. They repeatedly signed me up for classes they had already given me credit for, and we're talking two days before classes were supposed to start. The representative I had was lousy, and the program is not a bad deal if you have a decent representative. I currently work with a nurse who graduated from WCU and she is a great nurse.

I'm glad it worked for you, I incidentally found a program that was quicker for me (didn't have a 5 year recency rule on prerequisites, and was cheaper).

Most nursing programs require competency tests in order to graduate these days.

Kissmightxkill, By the way, don't make assumptions of someone, I was top of my LVN program and my RN program, and have straight A's in the bachelors program where I am currently pursuing my BSN, while working full time as an RN in a critical care unit.

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