La Salle ACHIEVE program acceptance!

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Aug 3, 2010

Congrats!

soraji · Aug 3, 2010

Thanks! No one else here's accepted for fall 2011? Seems like everyone else is going for Drexel or Temple's program.

tap87 · Aug 10, 2010

Congrats! :yeah:I will also be in the Achieve program starting this fall. Good luck to you!!

OneDayAttaTime, BSN, RN · Aug 11, 2010

Congrats on your acceptance!

Drexel is sooo expensive--and it's not really conducive to if you still need to work or have other responsibilities (kids/family etc.). You can't really work in those accelerated programs. Temple, on the other hand, is more reasonable pricewise but hard to transfer into for just the nursing part--they like you to already be a TU student and taken the prereqs there. I've also heard that they've cut the actual number of their nursing slots down which makes it that much more competitive. But in any event, I hope you get in wherever you really want to go. :)

La Salle ACHIEVE is working just fine for me, I finish next December (2011). I needed an evening/weekend program since I still work fulltime and have 3 kids (4 if you count my husband). So trust me, classes two nights a week and clinical on selected weekends when you still have a fulltime life outside of school is PLENTY enough. :uhoh3:

soraji · Aug 11, 2010

Congrats on your acceptance!
Drexel is sooo expensive--and it's not really conducive to if you still need to work or have other responsibilities (kids/family etc.). You can't really work in those accelerated programs. Temple, on the other hand, is more reasonable pricewise but hard to transfer into for just the nursing part--they like you to already be a TU student and taken the prereqs there. I've also heard that they've cut the actual number of their nursing slots down which makes it that much more competitive. But in any event, I hope you get in wherever you really want to go. :)
La Salle ACHIEVE is working just fine for me, I finish next December (2011). I needed an evening/weekend program since I still work fulltime and have 3 kids (4 if you count my husband). So trust me, classes two nights a week and clinical on selected weekends when you still have a fulltime life outside of school is PLENTY enough.

Yeah, oh my gosh looking at Drexel's accellerated BSN program is intense! It's so expensive! I work full-time (no kids though) and I really don't want to give up my job during my schooling since the loss of my income would be harsh.

I'm glad to hear that the La Salle ACHIEVE program is doable by a working Mom. If you can do it, I'm sure I can. :)

Aside the work/personal life balance, how is your experience going with La Salle? Do you feel like you're getting a good education and ready for your NCLEX? I heard rumors the pass rate for NCLEX from La Salle was low, but I'm not sure I quite believe it since it didn't come from a reputable source.

OneDayAttaTime, BSN, RN · Aug 11, 2010

I think the program is fine--with any program, you get out of it what you put into it. Some people think because they were able to fly right through the prereqs that they don't have to study or apply themselves but that's not so true in nursing school. It's not so black and white like A&P and psych, it's all about application and critical thinking. Especially with the eve/weekend class--we have so much other life stuff to juggle, you really have to be organized and diligent with your studying/reading. It's definitely intense and we are learning a LOT. I have no doubt that I will be ready for the NCLEX.

La Salle's first-time NCLEX pass rate has actually gone up 10% in a year (I thought it was a little on the low side myself when I first applied). If you want to see the actual pass rates yourself go to http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/document/770539/nclex-performancern_pdf. Last year they also started using the HESI so I don't know if that has anything to do with it. And from what I understand we now have to take Kaplan after the program is over before they'll sign off on you taking the NCLEX. We're supposed to do 3000-3500 NCLEX practice questions over the course of the program (I LOVE the Davis Success books for these) The professors are for the most part approachable and willing to help and the school seems to be putting the supports in place we need to do well. I never really weighed NCLEX pass rates too heavily since some schools will weed out the bad test takers (or they will drop/fail out) way before they get any where near the NCLEX anyway.

soraji · Aug 11, 2010

How much, on average, do you think you study per week?

And thanks for the NCLEX rate PDF! :)

OneDayAttaTime, BSN, RN · Aug 11, 2010

No problem--they're always interesting to look at. The 2010 ones should be out sometime after September...

Honestly, I couldn't tell you how many hours I study as it varies--by class, by professor, by semester, by how much time before the next exam or quiz.... Sometimes you'll have two classes together for 14 weeks, and other times you may take one at a time for 7 weeks each. You have to be able to adjust your studying.

Some instructors have really good/helpful ppts and some who really don't lol. I like to read my book along with the notes and some profs notes' are all over the place so you can't really do that. I also study at all different times of the day, whenever I can squeeze it in...that might be 6am at work before I clock in, home before I pick up the kids, waiting for a doctors/other appt, after the kids are sleep...the list goes on lol. I also record the lectures and listen to them in the car, doing dishes, etc.

soraji · Aug 11, 2010

Just one other thing is kind of worrying me about La Salle. Since I got accepted into "intended nursing" does that mean that even if I finish my last pre-req (microbio) and do well on the NLN that they possibly won't accept me?

I thought as long as you do well in the rest of your pre-reqs and score decently well on the NLN you were unofficially-officially offered a spot.

Now I'm fearful that I won't get in even if I get a good score on the NLN and get an A or B in microbio. (>___

Any idea how big the ACHIEVE yearly classes are? I imagine they only accept a certain number of slots per year.

OneDayAttaTime, BSN, RN · Aug 11, 2010

Ah yes, the "intending nursing"...I was one of those at first lol. This is what they call you while you're finishing your prereqs. They can't officially accept you to the major (though you are accepted to the school in general) until you have 60+ credits of the nursing prereqs.

I don't know anyone personally that was "intending" that wasn't offered a spot so I'm not sure if that actually would happen (unless you don't get at least a C+ in micro) but of course I can't guarantee it one way or another. One thing I DO remember them saying is that the students who finish up their prereqs up at La Salle (I guess after you're accepted as "intending"--DO get first dibs on the program spots). I don't know how true or not that is either, as I still decided to finish my prereqs right where I was (at CCP) and save on tuition. And I was still accepted (though I did have a 4.0 at CCP) so go figure...

As far as class size, there are normally two ACHIEVE classes in a cohort (Section A & B)...each class can have up to 35 students I believe.

soraji · Aug 11, 2010

Whew, I feel more reassured now!

Oh wow, only ~70 people or thereabouts for each semester? I feel incredibly lucky to even be considered for "intended" nursing then! Honestly I didn't think my credentials were that stellar and based on how competitive I've heard the other Nursing schools in the area are I was surprised to hear back from La Salle so quickly. I applied and within a week of receiving everything I was sent an acceptance.

The only kind of meh thing is I applied for spring 2010 not noticing that spring classes are only in Newtown, PA. I've talked to the nursing coordinator and had my application moved to fall 2011 so I can start at Philadelphia's campus. I really hope changing my campus choice doesn't hurt my chances of being accepted. I want to start sooner!

(I feel so anxious about getting accepted. It's like applying for college back in high school all over again!)