[sahmed1022]

Hello all!

I am a science major at Penn State, and am graduating in a week with my BS in Science. I used to be in the pre-medical track, but I recently discovered nursing, and I love it.

Sooo... I applied to Drexel's ACE, and University of Pittsburgh's 2nd degree programs, and was accepted to Drexel. I need to complete a couple of pre-requisites to be accepted into University of Pittsburgh's BSN program, which I can complete next year, and be admitted Fall 2009. I am already 30K in debt with loans for my current undergraduate degree.

My options are:
A. Go to Pittsburgh and work full-time for a year at the hospital (and gain valuable experience) while I complete three prerequisite courses to be admitted into Pitt's 2nd degree program for Fall 2009.

B. Go directly to Drexel Fall 2008 year and be done with a BSN in only one year (the shortest BSN program in the country)

My overall goal is to become a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, and so the quality of my undergraduate degree depends on where I get accepted for my MSN.

Which is better, Drexel or Pitt for a second degree BSN?

Any input at all would be greatly appreciated!!

[ghillbert]

Where you do your undergraduate degree is NOT as important to where you're accepted for your MSN as how well you do in the BSN. Go where it's best for you - sounds like Drexel will be faster, cheaper and you're already accepted.

[sahmed1022]

would it be better to have experience (most likely as a nurse assistant or patient care technician-- both of which involve having direct patient care and working along side nurses) for that year i do my prerequisites if i decide to go to Pitt?

and as far as money, drexel may be cheaper in the sense that i'd be working as a bsn nurse sooner, but if i worked full time in pittsburgh, that would allow me to save money. i think drexel's ace program is 32k for the year. i think Pitt is just the equivalent of three semesters, which is 21k, plus the cost of prerequisites, around 8k, equaling 29k for Pitt.

is Drexel a better BSN program or is Pitt?

[Arievilo]

I'm also like you on this one! I was a Penn State student who had a change heart too late in college. I graduated a semester early last fall 2007 (to save money) and looked at several and applied to a few accelerated programs. I looked at Pitt also, but found that they had several prerequisites that didn't match up to other programs. I applied and got into Drexel for Spring 2008 and I also applied to WCU's new accelerated program starting summer 2008 (I start next week!). I opted for WCU mostly becasue of money (and I can work part time). Drexel is a whopping 32k all up front and WCU was only about 14k all together. Drexel is an excellent program and has a great reputation but it is grueling (there are several threads about it) and you won't be able to work at all - so add living expenses on top of the 32k.

Also, if you opt for the Pitt program, you may want to look into taking preqs at a community college instead of Pitt if they can transfer. Its much cheaper!

Good Luck in your decision!

[hiddencat]

In my experience, you lose a lot of momentum when you take time out of school to work. Bills start to catch up to you, and it becomes a lot harder to just drop everything and re-enroll. Go to Drexel, work hard, and start earning a nurses salary in a shorter amount of time. You'll get work experience when you graduate.