Re: Anybody Else Doing Howard CC's Accelerated RN Program Starting May 2009?
Congratulations! Yeah, we'll have to exchange information via PM (private message) or whatever so we can stay in touch. Our orientation is in early March.
I believe you're right about the May-August, December-January, and May-July 'mini-mesters' being the only accelerated portion of the program itself. I like the idea that it's going to be intense for a few weeks, then calm down, then pick up pace again. You know, so there won't be enough time in between to lose interest (which is what I fear from a standard two year ADN program).
As far as wondering about the BSN and whether or not that would be a better route, it's my opinion that you shouldn't worry about it one bit. If anything, we're at an incredible advantage, and here's why:
-The ADN program is
tens of thousands of dollars cheaper than the BSN.
-At UMB, you're awarded up to 90 credits for completing the prerequisites for the RN-to-BSN program and possessing your RN. For somebody who went to school for two years to get an RN, this means 'sacrificing' up to one year's worth of time to go from RN-to-BSN. For an accelerated student, however, it's really not a sacrifice at all. You go to school for 13 months, graduate with your ADN, then go to school for another year (full time) to get your BSN. Either way it takes about two years.
-During the time after you graduate with your ADN and are going to school for your BSN (which, by the way, is offered mostly online through UMB), you can work, thus earning a significant amount of money. Plus, your employer will most likely pay for most (if not all) of your tuition expenses. Furthermore, since you'll be working, you'll be learning that much more (and getting that much more seniority over your BSN counterparts).
In my opinion, that route is the best by far, and for the reasons above, you should completely put out of your mind which makes the most logical sense to you.
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