Need help choosing which school?

U.S.A. Missouri

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I am trying to decide between SCCC, Maryville or UMSL..for nursing. I basically have to start from scratch and do my pre-reqs regardless of where I choose to go. I have heard/read alot of conflicting information in regards to which one is easier to get in to. I spoke with an advisor at SCCC.. who wasn't very informative or helpful and was told that I could not even apply to their nursing program until 2013. I meet with an advisor @ Maryville on Wednesday. My major concern with Maryville is the cost. I am looking to do the part time BSN option at either Maryville or UMSL. The advisor at SCCC told me that getting my bachelor's would only give me about 50 cents more an hour. So I am just lookong for some advice from current students or graduates from any nursing program in Missouri! I am a mother of five..my youngest 3 are under 3 so I will have to go to school/ clinicals during nights and weekends! Thank you for any information that you may have!

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you can apply for nursing program at sccc as soon as you have few of your pre-reqs done (i believe math and biology- but not for sure). then you can at least be on the list while you are doing all of the other pre-reqs (which take a while depending how quickly you get through them-just the science classes alone is minimum of like 3 semesters because im not sure you can or would even want to take some of them at same time). That way you are getting pre-reqs done while waiting to get into the program. Then you would probably be ready to start the program in 2013 (assuming you were called to take the dosage test Spring time 2013 and passed it).

If you want a lilttle timeline...this is how it has worked for me (I start the program in August)

I started taking classes (prereqs) August 2009. I took the classes first that I needed to get "on the list." Then took my ACT in Dec. 2009, and applied for the program January 2010. Then continued taking classes Spring, Summer, and Fall 2010 (about 6 credits each time). I was able to take the dosage test Feb. 2011 and pass it. Within a couple weeks, got a letter that I was in for this fall.

It has actually went by quite fast- I have three kids and have stayed busy (still am-4 weeks left!) with my pre-reqs. I have heard great things about UMSL and Maryville and if cost wasn't an issue I would have chosen UMSL because it is closer to me. I plan on transferring there to get my BSN/MSN when I get done with SCCC's program.

And yes, according to nurses I have talked to, it is true you only make about 50 cents to a dollar more per hour with your BSN (if you work at a hospital). However, it seems that are a lot more opportunities if you have a BSN, I think it just really depends on what kind of nursing you want to do.

Let me know if you have any other questions about pre reqs at SCCC, thats about all I can answer for now! :)

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Thank you or answering so quickly! I really think that I want a BSN too! I want to get started as soon as I can and I don't want to take on more than I can handle!One thing that I liked about Maryville is that they take your " life experiences" into account and you can credit hours based on them. I just wish they weren't so expensive.

As far as SCCC..it just seems so hard to actualy get into the nursing program..what with only 80 spots available at a time and having to get a 20 on your ACT's and a 90% on you dosage test. My fear is that I will finish my pre-reg's and then be sitting/waiting to get into the nursing program. The advisor wasn't very informative or helpful. Can I take the nursing classes without actually being in the program?

I am curious who is easier to get in to when it is time?

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I'd be pretty curious as to how much credit you really get at Maryville for "life experiences" It seems that when it really comes down to it, youu have to have the classes and knowledge..hmm..

I really don't think SCCC is hard to get into at all...the hardest thing is being sure you pass the dosage calculation test, thats really the only thing that could completely throw it all off- however, there is a class and as long as you really study, you can surely pass it with a 90. As far as the ACT, you can take that several times. A 20 is not a very high score at all. If you don't get the result you want the first time, you could keep taking it until you do..

Yes, you can still take your pre reqs at SCCC- I know they transfer to UMSL (all of them except an englsh course) and I'm sure they transfer to Maryville as well. Someone told me, Maryville likes you to have completed a certain amt of pre-reqs at their school. But I also have heard that is not necessarily true. You could start pre-reqs at SCCC while applying to SCCC, UMSL, and Maryville. There are quite a few more pre reqs at UMSL and Maryville before you can start their program (but that's why its a BSN). But the advisor at UMSL said they even take those extra pre reqs from SCCC...so thats pretty nice.

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I think you can take the ACT up to like 5 times....

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Thanks for the info..I have never had to take the ACT..just started doing research on what I needed to do to get started in a nursing program. When I talked to Maryville they told me about the life experiences program.. Not sure what the name of it is.. It's for their WEC enrollees only and according to their website you can get up to 60 credit hours..I wonder what the average person really gets?

It probably will come down to the cost of it all. I really wish Maryville wasn't so costly. Their WEC program sounds amazing with two to four nights a week and rotating weekends. My schedule for fall at SCCC would be Mon - Thurs nights and Saturday mornings.SCCC does get bonus points fo cost. I wasn't impressed with the advisor that I spoke to. She didn't give me much hope or information... I appreciate you giving me more information!

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Isnt the WEC program at Maryville only AFTER you have all your pre reqs? If your schedule for fall at SCCC was 4 nts a week and on a Saturday, that must be fulltime, probably be a pretty full load regardless as to where you took your pre reqs. I agree, if Maryville and UMSL werent so expensive I probably would have already been there. If you are looking to save money, but get your BSN, you can save about 20k-30k by waiting to transfer for BSN after having your ASN. I'm sorry the advisor wasn't much help. I always ask for Page, she is very helpful. Also, did you get just any advisor or a nursing advisor? There are 2 or 3 advisors there that are soley for nursing, so they really know their stuff....

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The person that I spoke to @ Maryville didn't say that I could only do WEC after pre-reqs..? On the website it shows intro classes on the WEC curriculum.

I had/have gone to SCC previously and completed/ passed Intro to Psych and the A&P I lecture..I had dropped the lab part because the instructor at the time would just come in , put up a slide on the projector and basically leave the room.. I don't know if I can just take the lab part or not? I am not sure if the advisor I spoke with at SCC was strictly a nursing advisor or not.I guess because I had previously been there she figured that I didn't need that much advising?

I meet with an advisor at Maryville on Wednesday. I need to make a list of questions for him and then call and try to talk to a nursing advisor at SCC as well!

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hmm..yea let me know what they say wed about the WEC program....I thought that was the nursing part of the program and would need pre reqs first, but maybe not??

The guy that sits next to me in Micro Lab is only taking the lab portion, he has already taken to lecture, so I cant see why you couldnt just take the lab, but not sure.

I agree- make that list of questions so you don't forget one! :)

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thanks! I will let you know what I find out! I know to ask obviously about cost, times, length of program..the PLA program, if you can think of anything that may be important as well let me know!

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I agree with paramedical girl. I don't think its that hard to get into SCCC. I truly wasn't expecting to get in this fall. I already had a bachelor's degree from a different college so I was it was a bit different for me. Basically when I decided I wanted to be a nurse it was in Summer of 2009. My GPA wasn't good enough plus I had to retake all of the science courses because they had expired. So the advisor told me to apply for the program and once my GPA had gotten up I'd be able to register for the dosage test. I was eligible for the dosage test last year, took it in January and I'm in for the fall 2011....I think you should give SCCC a shot! You can do it!

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The problem with SCC..at least for me is that I went there back in 1997 and 2002.Some classes I withdrew from or didn't get that great of a grade or it has been too long so I would have to take again. I have to meet with the heads of several departments so that I can get approval to take the classes again. Because of this I also have to meet with the financial aid department to appeal a suspension of aid. Alot of hoops to jump through!! I have small children and watch children from my home and can't make it up to SCC during business hours. I started at Maryville on Tuesday and am looking into STLCC as well..everywhere seems to have a 2 year wait list..which is very frustrating and disappointing.I am thinking of going fulltime come fall..does anyone know of a reputable school that I can go to and get an associates that doesn't have a crazy long wait list?

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