Overview Penn (Accelerated), Jefferson (FACT), Villanova (BSNExpress), Drexel (ACE)

U.S.A. Pennsylvania

Published

To help those of us considering any or all of these 4 schools I thought I'd start a thread where we can put down why we like or dislike one over another. I have yet to visit Penn or so those sections are a little sporifice. Please feel free to add or correct any information I list here. I've pulled it from websites, admissions officers, and discussion boards.

Penn

Ranked #1 (4.6/5, US News & World Report)

Affliliated with the Penn Hospital System (13 Nat'l ranked specialites, 3 high performing, US News)

Considered research-oriented

18-month program

NCLEX pass % = 95%

Use of SIM dolls

Use of electronic health records

Mentoring w/in faculty

Clinicals 8-16 hrs/wk

Rough Price: $99,000 (though probably less via "no-loan" aid packages)

Villanova

Ranked # 64 (3.5/5, US News)

Affiliations with numerous hospitals in the region; no main affiliation

Community service/volunteer service oriented

14-month program

Near 100% job placement rate

NCLEX pass % = 90%

High student retention rate

Use of SIM dolls

Option of taking grad school courses w/in program

Cliniclas 12-16 hrs/wk

Class tied with clinical (i.e., Psyc lectures during psyc clinicals)

24-hr study lounge in library

Religion not a huge influence despite being Catholic university

Possible time for externships during breaks

Rough Price: $38,000

Jefferson

Ranked # 127 (3.2/5, US News)

Affiliated w/ Jefferson Hospital system (11 Nat'l ranked specialties, 2 high-performing)

Also has affiliation with many other hospitals in region

Interprofessional program (doctors, nurses, PT, other health professionals learn to work together)

12-month program

NCLEX pass % = 95%

High student retention

Integrating iPad 2 into clinicals (though may not be used much according to former students)

SIM dolls (access to them 24 hrs w/ advanced notice)

Free supplies for practice

Several grad school courses w/in program

Possible to go straight to MSN after BSN

Stress paperless (eBooks)

5G network; high tech

Library open 24 hrs

Probably no time for externships

100% job placement w/in 5 months

Rough Price: $45,000 ($41K base +library, IT fees, other)

Drexel

Ranked #127 (3.2/5, US News)

Affiliated with Hahnemann system (not nationally ranked, high-performing in 9 specialties)

11-month program

NCLEX pass % = 98% (reportedly artificially inflated w/ req of passing practice test to graduate)

Emphasis on wide use of technology w/in program

Moderate retention; appears to accepts large number of students and weeds out a number of students

Rough Price: $42,000

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This is so helpful! I've applied to all these programs! I didn't get into Jefferson's one year FACT program but I have an interview for their 2 year APW next week. I think I'm leaning toward Villanova even though they don't have an automatic MSN option but I'm still on the fence. Thanks for posting this it's so helpful!

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Agreed, great info. Have you heard back from Penn yet? Or come any closer to choosing an alternate program?

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I haven't heard from Penn yet, but I think I'm leaning toward Villanova as my second choice. I got into , Eastern, and Villanova so far but Easyern only has an 85% pass rate for the NCLEX and Drexel seems too accelerated with 24 credits a quarter. I've narrowed it down to Jeff and Villanova. Have you heard from Penn?

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Glad this could be of some use. I've not heard back from Penn either. Looking back on my correspondence from Penn I found this:

November to January – BSN Interviews for the BSN Second Degree applicants

Applicants will be contacted between November 5, 2012 and January 23, 2013 to schedule an interview, if invited.

December 15, 2012: Financial aid application deadline

Early February 2013: Admissions Decisions will be available online

Admission Committee meets mid-January

And last Friday and today the MSN/PhD applicants should have had interviews so we may be contacted soon.

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I'll be obsessively checking my e-mail until January 23rd

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sinbad, upenn doesnt offer "no-loan" finaid packages, does it? i thought their no-loan policy is only for undergrad students who have yet to earn their first bachelor's degree. i know second degree BSN students are also considered undergrads, but because we all have our bachelor's degree, their no-loan policy didn't apply to us. the website said that financial aid packages for ABSN students included both loans and grants...

it would be great if ABSN students also qualified for financial packages without loans, can someone please clarify? thanks so much!

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If I'm reading these right, I believe the following links indicate the "no-loan" packages apply to ABSN students as well:

http://www.nursing.upenn.edu/news/Pages/PennNursingreceives.aspx

http://www.nursing.upenn.edu/about/Documents/UPfront_fall_09.FINAL.pdf (search "no loan" or on page 17 of 68)

The "no-loan" packages may not be quite as much as you need. According to the second link, "...two-thirds of students who applied

for aid received grants of $30,000 or more." That still may leave a large burden on many students (considering the sticker price is close to $100K) so they may still need to seek other aid.

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wow sinbad, thanks for the info!

i know the information on their financial aid website for ABSN students has changed in the last two years, and i know last year's website included a little tidbit on the sidelines that said UPENN gives no-loan packages and meets 100% financial need, but they removed it this year and did not mention it at all in their new finaid pdf brochure. i really hope UPENN's no-loan policy still applies for ABSN students *crosses fingers*.

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Yes, that's true. The info is dated so I guess that would be a good question for the interview just to make sure.

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I found this in the Sept. 12, 2012 chat transcript which hints at need-based aid though not "no-loan" per se.

filomena(FilomenaAdmissions): Anthony, the tuition for the BSN portion is approx 95K, please note financial aid is available and it is based on need.

Anyone have the other chat transcript for this year by any chance?

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I had my interview yesterday for Penn's BSN program. The financial aid package includes grant money and is need based, though loans are included if you do not qualify for the grants. This is about what Filomena said to me, but don't completely quote me on it. Something I LOVE about the program is the study abroad options we can do in the accelerated program, which will not derail us from completing it in the alotted time. One overseas study option is Public Health in Botswana in Summer 2014. If accepted into the program, I am most definitely trying to take advantage of that opportunity.

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