Has anyone attended/ing NP program in Dallas/Texas?

[nichefinder]

Hello dear respectable colleagues, first, I give you my respect for pursuing greater autonomy and schooling. I am recent BSN graduate, and working in hospital has greatly made me desire to go back to school for nurse practitioner.

I work in Dallas area, and I am considering UT Arlington, TWU, Baylor and etc, but also highly considering UT Tyler (alma mater).

The key thing is, that I would really need some flexibility with school so I can work at least 36 hrs a week because my hospital will give tuition reimbursement AND possible $6,000 grant every semester or year not sure as long as I work full time.

Online program would therefore be a preference. By the way, a sub-question would be: is online program better than offline? I think online can be much more flexible for work schedule... And was working while school reasonable and possible?

Anyways, I highly appreciate your recommendations and answers. Thank you and best luck to your journey!

[s-whnp, NP]

Both TWU and UT Arlington allow you to go to NP school part or full time. Their classes are both online and on campus. I'll be starting at TWU this January and any classes on campus meet once a week. I'm pretty sure this is the same for UT Arlington. Most students still work full-time and go to school part-time (1-2 classes per semester). I know once it comes to clinicals it would be difficult to still work full-time.

I'm not as familiar with Baylor but it does say on their website they give acceptance preference to students who go to school full-time.

[nichefinder]

I heard from a coworker that UTA requires 2 yrs of RN experience, probably TWU as well. I do not want to wait that long to start NP program. Therefore, I am leaning high towards UT Tyler since it is excellent facility, and I don't think it requires 2 yr experience. The only thing is that it's 2hrs away from Dallas, and I would hate to commute there ever, so I am praying for flexible online program... flexible enough to work full time of course.

[s-whnp, NP]

Yes, UTA requires at least 2 years of experience. TWU requires one year before you start your clinicals. So you could still be accepted and take the initial classes like theory, patho etc while you finish up that one year of RN experience. Everyone I know who goes to NP school at either UTA or TWU works full-time. Most people do since they have families and can't afford to work less than full-time.

[nichefinder]

yes, I have heard and seen people with families, kids, and work ft and go to NP school ft (or pt sometimes), and the word incredible is probably an understatement. I am 24 yrs, single, no kids, no loans, with very supportive family... boy, if I don't finish the program, I still got no excuse. I appreciate your input on TWU requiring 1 year experience. By the time I would have done taking didactic, I would already have had my 1 yr exp!

The only thing here is that since UT Tyler is where I got my BSN, in its website, claims that I am exempt from taking GRE if my GPA during school was >3.2, which I believe was, and that already is a big initiative. Plus knowing the professors personally during school encourages me to ask questions about the program, its flexibility, admission process, fee, rigor, etc; good thing I visited them often :).

Anyways, I can call both on Monday and see what fits me the best. Thanks so much for your continued inputs!