GMU vs NOVA vs Marymount

nursinggirl05 · Jul 23, 2005

I'm graduating from Marymount soon with associate degree in nursing. I didn't get into Nova because of the large waiting list there. Marymount at that time ( 3 years ago) didn't have waiting list so I got in. I thought that since it was a private and so expensive university, I would get better education there. WRONG! It was definetely not worth of the money, and everything so disorganized. We didn't practice enough clinical skills, and professors were not the nicest either. If I knew, I'll be better off to go to community college. NCLEX doesn't care whether you went to private or public school, the board exam at the end is the same. Nursing books are pretty much the same in each school. Nobody will ask you in the hospital what school you finished. Your clinical skills are much more important, and you don't learn them at school anyway.

chicagrl72 · Jul 23, 2005

i used to live in no VA

I know the high rate of competitiveness in that area ..even as a high school student ..must go to the right school get the right job , drive the right car ..i was nothing like that so i moved after college ...I took some courses at NOVA and i would totally go for that ! I used to live right across from GMU on commonwealth with a bunch of friend ..this post is making me a bit sad for some reason ..missing the old days ..ha ha ha

anyway

you will come out an RN anyway if you pass NCLEX so go for nova - i am just psyched for you that you got in

in the city we had over 500 apps for 100 spots ..i heard upwards of 800 apps but that part is a rumor

take care

les

poetryeclipse · Nov 21, 2005

Okay so judging by what i've heard here when it comes to Nova and Gmu, Nova is definately a better place to get your degree? What exactly is the difference between an associates degree in nursing and a bacherlors degree? Since I'm going to Ecpi first to get my degree in medical assisting I have a lot of time to think about where I want to go next. Isnt the medical building in springfield for Nova as well?

~Amber~

RN_Jen · Nov 23, 2005

Okay so judging by what i've heard here when it comes to Nova and Gmu, Nova is definately a better place to get your degree? What exactly is the difference between an associates degree in nursing and a bacherlors degree? Since I'm going to Ecpi first to get my degree in medical assisting I have a lot of time to think about where I want to go next. Isnt the medical building in springfield for Nova as well?
~Amber~

I'm not sure I'd say NOVA is "better" (I took my pre-reqs there). It just depends on what you're looking for degree-wise. Both programs prepare you to take the NCLEX...the passing of which will get you the title of RN. Both programs have a great reputation; but if you think you want to go to NOVA, better get yourself on the waiting list now! Last time I heard there was at least a 1 year wait. That was one reason I decided to go to GMU....and I'm very glad I did!

poetryeclipse · Nov 23, 2005

I heard its hard to get into GMU? I know that a couple of girls that Im going to ecpi with in february couldnt get into GMU and one had a 3.7 GPA and the other had a 3.9 GPA...they to decided to get their associates in medical assisting and go up from there. I know that I want to be a RN eventually and work in the neonatal field but right now im trying to keep my options open. I know that GMU offers a program for health administration and I know that most medical assistance go on to get their degree in health administration. Either choice I make I'll be doing something that I love.

~amber~

RN_Jen · Nov 25, 2005

I heard its hard to get into GMU? I know that a couple of girls that Im going to ecpi with in february couldnt get into GMU and one had a 3.7 GPA and the other had a 3.9 GPA...they to decided to get their associates in medical assisting and go up from there. I know that I want to be a RN eventually and work in the neonatal field but right now im trying to keep my options open. I know that GMU offers a program for health administration and I know that most medical assistance go on to get their degree in health administration. Either choice I make I'll be doing something that I love.
~amber~

Yes, admission is competitive. They said this year they had more well qualified people than last year and they had to turn a lot away. There were close to 400 applications for 130 spots. I was a CMA in my last life....good luck to you!

poetryeclipse · Nov 25, 2005

Thanks for your response :). I think I've actually decided to move to Delaware after I graduate from Ecpi. My boyfriend will be transferred there for work eventually and I read that they are in need of Nurse's very badly there and that it will only get worse, the number's will keep decreasing. Delaware State University offers a BSN and it's only about 45 minutes from where my family lives in Maryland. The rent for apartments are a little cheaper then where I live now in manassas virginia. Besides I just received an email from someone at GMU who said that they had to turn away a lot of students who's GPA's were 4.0's. A friend of mine who goes to Nova said the waiting list there is over a year long now and besides if I'm going to be working in the neonatal unit I will need to have my BSN not my ASN in nursing. So many confusing choices to make:o.

~amber~

amya215 · Feb 24, 2006

Hey, just curious...I just applied to Marymount for transfer admission into nursing and I was wondering was bad things you heard about it...I don't really know too much about it and I don't want to get into a worse situation than I am now. Thanks!

lexy3227 · Feb 28, 2006

Hey, just curious...I just applied to Marymount for transfer admission into nursing and I was wondering was bad things you heard about it...I don't really know too much about it and I don't want to get into a worse situation than I am now. Thanks!

Well Marymount is about $500/credit while NOVA is $72/credit...not saying that this is a bad thing b/c if you've got the money then great. But I've heard it's not necessarily worth the money and the school tries to keep you in for as long as they can to try and get some more $$ out of you. Again, this is just one opinion I've heard. I also heard that the clinical experience you gain at NOVA is better than Marymount...however, I am talking about the accelerated program which is only a year long. Obviously since I'm in a 2 year ADN program I am going to get more clinical experience vs. a 1 year BSN program. I think I've just heard that Marymount isn't necessarily worth the huge difference in tuition. I will say this, NOVA is great at preparing you for the NCLEX. I'm only in my second semester and we're already being prepped. Good Luck!

sumihane · Mar 18, 2008

I also have a Bachelor's degree from another field but want to go into nursing. I will be applying to NOVA because it is very flexible and affordable and I've heard it is an excellent program. I've living close to dulles airport so it will be a bit of a drive. I would try for an accelerated program but I think that it would be too fast paced and I want the material paced so I can learn it properly and also not be around lots of very stressed out students who might back stab each other. I have been working as a med tech in assisted living and recently got a new job in an allergy office. Even though it is an associate's degree, aren't there plenty of hospitals and clinics who hire new grads with Associates in Nursing?

Flames9_RN, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Mar 18, 2008

I also have a Bachelor's degree from another field but want to go into nursing. I will be applying to NOVA because it is very flexible and affordable and I've heard it is an excellent program. I've living close to dulles airport so it will be a bit of a drive. I would try for an accelerated program but I think that it would be too fast paced and I want the material paced so I can learn it properly and also not be around lots of very stressed out students who might back stab each other. I have been working as a med tech in assisted living and recently got a new job in an allergy office. Even though it is an associate's degree, aren't there plenty of hospitals and clinics who hire new grads with Associates in Nursing?

Im at NOVA now, and sometimes during each clinical rotation, get the opportunity to talk to the people do the hiring and they all say they love NOVA students! Talked to a girl that graduated last May, she applied for 4 positions one day, and by the time she got home, she had 4 messages on her answering machine. From my understanding it is a well respected college.

I do believe starting this Fall semester, its competitive to get in and they have raised the GPA to 2.5. Not sure what they are using for marks; based solely on your GPA or the count the HESI entrance exam as well.

I'm enjoying NOVA so far,lot od lab time if you want it, at the hospital once a week the first year, not sure if you go more than once the second year. My thoughts are pay for the Associates degree myself, and let the hospital pick up the BSN degree tab! Oh ya, NOVA does have a new online RN program!! Just for the lectures of course, I think it would be sort of neat to do it that way as the program that the use (centra) you see the powerpoint slides, can hear the prof speak, and ya stil have the capability of asking question, AND the whole thing is recorded, so one can log on at anytime and go over it again. I personally hate driving to school for lectures. One just has to be dedicated to pay attention online!! As well NOVA offers another program that takes place in Arlington. They attend classes Friday/Saturday;one day, consists of your major theory class (3 hrs) then ur CLS (sort of a review class, go over scenarios) (1 hr) and lab (2-3 hrs) and the other day is their hospital/clinical time!! They goto school all year round and finish one semester earlier than the rest of us.

We started with 220 at the medical campus and now down to 170 students. if ya have any questions, feel free to PM me!

FA to CRNA2b · Mar 20, 2008

I also have a Bachelor's degree from another field but want to go into nursing. I will be applying to NOVA because it is very flexible and affordable and I've heard it is an excellent program. I've living close to dulles airport so it will be a bit of a drive. I would try for an accelerated program but I think that it would be too fast paced and I want the material paced so I can learn it properly and also not be around lots of very stressed out students who might back stab each other. I have been working as a med tech in assisted living and recently got a new job in an allergy office. Even though it is an associate's degree, aren't there plenty of hospitals and clinics who hire new grads with Associates in Nursing?

Hi Sumi,

I live in Ashburn and will be graduating from GMU this May. I started nursing at Marymount but found it to be totally overpriced. GMU's program is much better IMHO. If you have no intentions of going into advanced practice nursing, then I'd say just do NOVA's two-year program. NOVA's NCLEX passing rate is higher than GMU because they have mostly clinical time. GMU students have quite a few more classes designed for leadership, management, critical thinking and lots of research. Once you've passed clinical ladders for RN I and RN II at work, it may be a little more difficult to move on to RN III and IV without having taken those research classes. It can be done but I've been told that BSN students have an advantage there since they've taken three research classes already. In other words, advancement in pay as well as position may be limited to an ADN but that may not matter if those are not your goals. I need my BSN to go on to grad school. The ADN was never an option. BTW, it is true that the transfer GPAs are very high. In 2006, the transfer GPA was between 3.7-3.8. There are some in my class that had a lower GPA, but that was because they started their freshman year with a declared 'nursing major' which requires a 3.0.

Good Luck and pm with any questions.