UPenn Nursing vs. Drexel Nursing Undergrad

U.S.A. Pennsylvania

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I have been lucky enough to be accepted at both institutions as I am about to embark on my decision to go into Nursing Undergrad. I have completed two years at a different University as an English Major and am now making the big switch to become a nurse ( I want to be a Nurse Practitioner in Women's Health). I have been given a large scholarship to , and with the Co-op I would make about $13,000, and am eligible to be in the program Bsn to MSN, achieving my Master's in one year. However, despite all this, being accepted at Upenn is also a fantastic achievement. I know that with the high demand of nurses, it doesn't really matter the Name of the institution you go to, however it is very difficult to turn down a name like Penn. If I did go to Penn, because they don't give academic scholarships, my parents would be in a lot of debt what with loans, and I would have to go on to get my Masters while working. My question is I've been told that if I want to accelerate quickly to, say, a directing position, or travel internationally, it is best to go with UPenn, because it is a bigger name. I am wondering if this is true, and considering I have always wanted to go to Penn I should accept and go there, despite the more economically friendly option that is Drexel.

(also, in a shallow sense, Penn's campus is much more appealing)

sorry for the long post, but who better to ask the opinion of, than people who know what they are talking about?

thanks for your help!

Um.. if I was lucky enough to have to worry about picking between those two it would def. be U Of P hands down. Boy wouldn't I like to have a diploma with University of Penn. on it. Congrats! You must be a very hard worker. Good Luck I am sure you'll do great at either school.

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But of course, I am bias as a graduate of U of P SON (BSN '96)

I was a non-traditional transfer student who was independent of my parents (for financial aid reasons) and the financial assistance provided by Penn is second to none. I had all kinds of loans, grants, etc for the first year and then applied for and received the Rita Hillman Foundation Scholarship which covered my junior and senior year.

Of course the right answer would be "go with your gut". Take advice, but ultimately do what serves you best.

Good Luck,

Mike

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I work with nurses who graduated from Penn, U of Washington (several), Johns Hopkins, Duke (2 of them), and other good universities. The other approx. 50% of the staff have ADNs. No, it doesn't really matter where you get your nursing degree -- it's for personal satisfaction only. It's interesting to work with grads from a mix of programs -- I think it makes for a stronger unit -- but the actual schools make absolutely NO difference in the hiring decision. I think someone said above that hospitals just want "warm bodies" -- this is really true about the nursing field. All hospitals everywhere, the best and worst, need nurses, ie. "RN"s.

As for which program is more technically/clinically strong -- this doesn't matter either. After about 6 months - 1 year, all graduates are in about the same place. A good nurse is a good nurse is a good nurse. Once again, the type of education someone has doesn't matter, but how someone performs after graduation does -- and it's been my observation that the type of schooling had makes no difference, that most graduates succeed regardless of where they attended nursing school.

It sounds like you really want to attend Penn. For that reason, my vote is to go where you would be happiest. Perhaps you could pay your parents back after graduation? Having a nursing degree from Penn won't give you any real advantage in the marketplace to work as an RN, but it may be a boost in getting you into a graduate program of your choice (or some other field, if you later decide to make a change, such as med school). Besides that, you only live once , so go where your heart pulls you.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Drexel's pass rate on boards is slightly higher than Penn, both good scores. Penn's name but also your GPA will be the deciding factor into getting into grad school. Applying to a more expensive school, you make get more financial aid than you realize. If your parents can afford to help you with the loans, go were your heart will make you happiest.

Just maybe I'll see you as a student at my homecare agency some day as we're clinical site for both programs!

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I am currently a student at U Penn, and I love it. If you are a non-traditional student, you may be eligible for lots of financial aid-- people who are old (I don't remember the exact age-- I'm thinking 26 but it might be higher) are considered independent from their parents-- that will make them eligible for a lot more financial aid (unless you are independently wealthy.) The teachers here are great, and most of the students are really (no kidding) wonderful. It makes going to school great. I do wish that Penn had a co-op program, though. I work with someone who attends , and it seems like she loves her program too. If I'd known about Drexel's program, I might have applied... but I didn't know about it. I probably would have gone to Penn any way though...

Can you visit at both schools and talk to students? (For example, Penn has summer nursing classes-- you could sit on one or two and talk to students about how they like the program.)

I think wherever you go will be great. Wait to see what the financial aid packages look like. If you're close to the age when you can be considered independent, ask the financial aid offices how that will affect your aid in future years. Best of luck to you!

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Thank you everyone for all of your input, believe it or not, I did consider responses when making my decision. What ultimately ended up happening, I matriculated at Penn and decided I would go there, however the scheduling became such a conflict that I would be two years behind and have to start as a freshman, pushing me even further back in the financial category. I have ultimately decided to go to . I am very content with my decision and excited to be part of a wonderful program. As I said I've been accepted into the BSN-MSN program where I get my Masters in a year, but I have yet to decide whether or not I want to shoot for Penn for my Masters. I guess that will be a few years down the road in which case I will most certainly ask for opinions. :) Once again I am grateful for all the responses. The co-op will be a great experience and I am interested in possibly getting out of the tri-state area and working in a different part of the country. Anyway, talk to you all soon :)

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Specializes in Educator.

congratulations on your decision!! sounds like it will work well. one of the WORST things about Penn is what they accept as transfer credit- sometimes it's enough to make you go bald! you'll get to meet lots of nursing students from other schools as we often overlap in clinicals.

:balloons:

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If that worked out for you by now, it is good, but most people got in , BS-Ms, they either drop out or switched to BS only. Drexel is a tough school and they need 950 to pass hesi, now you know why they have high passing rate than Penn. Also, their MS is not the greatest; Coop is good but do you really have to waste your time?.

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It's funny you say that....4 years later, I am taking the dreaded comprehensive exit hesi today. I took it two weeks ago and did not get the requisite 950. So I am taking it yet again. Despite having an exceptional GPA, I'm still here, trying to get out because of this ridiculous hesi. If i could've done it all over again, I would've stuck with penn...

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What a coincidence ? me too took the hesi today and passed :nuke:. i was in room 3803, I think I know you..

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I think I know you too! I too was in 3803 (and passed as well!) :) congrats to you now we can focus on the rapidly shrinking job market.

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Iheartnursing, I'm glad I found your post, can you give me any insight on the 's program. I'm really interested in attending for the co-op program but I'd be moving across the country from AZ to PA .... ahh so scary. How was your time in the program? I've heard the hesi exams are killer...... Tell me everything please!

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