Walden vs Chamberlain FNP??

Dranger · Jan 7, 2016

Neither, I would avoid for-profit schools that accept anyone with a check.

lila29629 · Jan 7, 2016

Ok...not too encouraging so far from Dranger ...but I have seen many experienced NP posters here who have said they have seen and worked with outstanding NP grads from for-profits -Walden, etc. Depends on the PERSON as well as their education and background.

Even so, I do totally understand that the traditional, brick-and-mortar programs are very well established and include the required program rigor to turn out excellent NP grads.

However, I honestly believe that THE INDIVIDUAL makes every bit of difference in whether or not he/she will become an excellent NP. A lot of people had a LOT of hardship going through undergrad - for example several single moms on these boards who left an abusive marriage with nothing but their kids in tow and entered a BSN program out of need rather than calling. These women never ceased to amaze me. They got through school with young kids, barely hanging on to their homes, no child support and often no family support. So their undergrad GPA's were often not as stellar as it could have been had they had a perfect world...a 2.9, or a 3.0 instead of a 3.5-8, for example. Let's face it...what would your priority be if you were in their shoes? The kids. NOT your undergrad GPA.

I just think that before we discourage posters here who are asking reasonable questions on this board, we need to think before we just flat-out discourage them. We don't know them and we have not walked in anyone's shoes but our own. There are a lot of stellar, super-smart students from all walks of life out there who had a rough undergrad experience (like the example or for whatever legit reason) and have landed on their feet to become amazing RN's, despite their undergrad GPA's. If they can't get into the "best" NP schools now because of their lower GPA's, why should that stop them from reaching their dreams post BSN?

Glad those schools do exist for people just like the example...some simply cannot get in to the better, established programs, and NOT because they are below average...on the contrary. I can't imagine being shut out for life from achieving your dreams, because of a rough undergrad start, or because you're a few 10th's of a point away from acceptance. I realize a lot of these for-profit schools have issues, but I believe if you go into it with eyes wide open, you can do with it what YOU make of it...

Dranger · Jan 7, 2016

Ok...not too encouraging so far from Dranger ...but I have seen many experienced NP posters here who have said they have seen and worked with outstanding NP grads from for-profits -Walden, etc. Depends on the PERSON as well as their education and background.
Even so, I do totally understand that the traditional, brick-and-mortar programs are very well established and include the required program rigor to turn out excellent NP grads.
However, I honestly believe that THE INDIVIDUAL makes every bit of difference in whether or not he/she will become an excellent NP. A lot of people had a LOT of hardship going through undergrad - for example several single moms on these boards who left an abusive marriage with nothing but their kids in tow and entered a BSN program out of need rather than calling. These women never ceased to amaze me. They got through school with young kids, barely hanging on to their homes, no child support and often no family support. So their undergrad GPA's were often not as stellar as it could have been had they had a perfect world...a 2.9, or a 3.0 instead of a 3.5-8, for example. Let's face it...what would your priority be if you were in their shoes? The kids. NOT your undergrad GPA.
I just think that before we discourage posters here who are asking reasonable questions on this board, we need to think before we just flat-out discourage them. We don't know them and we have not walked in anyone's shoes but our own. There are a lot of stellar, super-smart students from all walks of life out there who had a rough undergrad experience (like the example or for whatever legit reason) and have landed on their feet to become amazing RN's, despite their undergrad GPA's. If they can't get into the "best" NP schools now because of their lower GPA's, why should that stop them from reaching their dreams post BSN?
Glad those schools do exist for people just like the example...some simply cannot get in to the better, established programs, and NOT because they are below average...on the contrary. I can't imagine being shut out for life from achieving your dreams, because of a rough undergrad start, or because you're a few 10th's of a point away from acceptance. I realize a lot of these for-profit schools have issues, but I believe if you go into it with eyes wide open, you can do with it what YOU make of it...

Everyone has anecdotes and those anecdotes come with excuses. This is an anonymous message board and everyone is entitled to their own opinion as well as being subject to the scrutiny of others. For the OP there are about 100 different threads on Walden/Chamberlain so starting a new one was probably not even needed. The OP asked which school was better and I said neither, a pretty simple answer to be honest.

Kids, divorce, domestic issues? None of those are relevant to the topic at hand. In addition, we know nothing about the OPs situation. Kind of grasping at straws, eh?

Overcoming personal struggles, while commendable, is not an excuse for lax admission standards and the proliferation of for-profit 100% acceptance schools. Being a provider is a luxury and not a right. Not everyone's life situation allows for it and that's okay, but it doesn't mean every Tom, Dick and Harry has a right to a script pad. A big problem within nursing is an overwhelming sense of entitlement.

Last time I checked, medical schools, PA, PT and other healthcare fields are extremely selective with applicants and only take the best of the best. Across the board EVERY med school is difficult to get into with GPA, research and the MCAT being top priority. Why should nursing be any different? Would you want your provider to be the guy/gal who came from a program with 0 standards for admission and minimal campus visit time?

smileyfacefee · Jan 9, 2016

I don't know anything about chamberlain but I am currently attending Walden University. I am in the beginning stages and so far the focus has been on understanding the studies on for evidence based practices and current nursing issues. I am actually learning so far but I do believe the individual will play a part because u can do a lot of assignments without putting in the effort they ask u too. U can also visit Walden community Web page and speak to students there without being a student. Hope this helps.

JoJo_Mommy, BSN · Jan 17, 2016

I've never heard of Walden but I always hear about Chamberlain and was actually thinking about attending in Dallas. Then I spoke to a NP who went to a UTA El Paso and told me about her difficulties finding a preceptor because all the brick and mortar schools seemed to have set up agreements with the area hospitals/establishments. She had to drive 3 hours out to get a clinical site which doesn't seem too appealing to me. Keep that in mind when you decide to attend a school that doesn't set up your clinical rotations for you. It's going to take a lot of effort on your part to find a clinical location.

Ad Pa · Jun 16, 2020

On 1/7/2016 at 1:13 AM, lila29629 said:
OK...not too encouraging so far from Dranger ...but I have seen many experienced NP posters here who have said they have seen and worked with outstanding NP grads from for-profits -Walden, etc. Depends on the PERSON as well as their education and background.
Even so, I do totally understand that the traditional, brick-and-mortar programs are very well established and include the required program rigor to turn out excellent NP grads.
However, I honestly believe that THE INDIVIDUAL makes every bit of difference in whether or not he/she will become an excellent NP. A lot of people had a LOT of hardship going through undergrad - for example several single moms on these boards who left an abusive marriage with nothing but their kids in tow and entered a BSN program out of need rather than calling. These women never ceased to amaze me. They got through school with young kids, barely hanging on to their homes, no child support and often no family support. So their undergrad GPA's were often not as stellar as it could have been had they had a perfect world...a 2.9, or a 3.0 instead of a 3.5-8, for example. Let's face it...what would your priority be if you were in their shoes? The kids. NOT your undergrad GPA.
I just think that before we discourage posters here who are asking reasonable questions on this board, we need to think before we just flat-out discourage them. We don't know them and we have not walked in anyone's shoes but our own. There are a lot of stellar, super-smart students from all walks of life out there who had a rough undergrad experience (like the example or for whatever legit reason) and have landed on their feet to become amazing RN's, despite their undergrad GPA's. If they can't get into the "best" NP schools now because of their lower GPA's, why should that stop them from reaching their dreams post BSN?
Glad those schools do exist for people just like the example...some simply cannot get in to the better, established programs, and NOT because they are below average...on the contrary. I can't imagine being shut out for life from achieving your dreams, because of a rough undergrad start, or because you're a few 10th's of a point away from acceptance. I realize a lot of these for-profit schools have issues, but I believe if you go into it with eyes wide open, you can do with it what YOU make of it...

I thank God for you , you are a wonderful person ❤️

PMHP61, BSN · Jun 17, 2020

On 1/7/2016 at 1:47 AM, Dranger said:
Everyone has anecdotes and those anecdotes come with excuses. This is an anonymous message board and everyone is entitled to their own opinion as well as being subject to the scrutiny of others. For the OP there are about 100 different threads on Walden/Chamberlain so starting a new one was probably not even needed. The OP asked which school was better and I said neither, a pretty simple answer to be honest.
Kids, divorce, domestic issues? None of those are relevant to the topic at hand. In addition, we know nothing about the OPs situation. Kind of grasping at straws, eh?
Overcoming personal struggles, while commendable, is not an excuse for lax admission standards and the proliferation of for-profit 100% acceptance schools. Being a provider is a luxury and not a right. Not everyone's life situation allows for it and that's okay, but it doesn't mean every Tom, Dick and Harry has a right to a script pad. A big problem within nursing is an overwhelming sense of entitlement.
Last time I checked, medical schools, PA, PT and other healthcare fields are extremely selective with applicants and only take the best of the best. Across the board EVERY med school is difficult to get into with GPA, research and the MCAT being top priority. Why should nursing be any different? Would you want your provider to be the guy/gal who came from a program with 0 standards for admission and minimal campus visit time?

Curious to know how you got your information on these schools or is this just an opinion?