Accepted to Platt College Colorado, Sept 2013, HELP!

[x0dinosaur]

Hey Everyone,

I have a small dilemma. I recently got accepted to Platt College in CO, FALL 2013 BSN program. This is a nlnac accredited, 36 month program split up into 4 "semesters." I have read many Platt Programs reviews but nothing recent, all 3 years or older which are outdated and from when the school just rolled the program out.

Has anyone recently started or graduated the program and what did they think? Program runs about $21,000 per 9 months, so without any financial help just federal and private loans that is about $80,000 in student loans after graduation ( this is is giving me cold feet,) but compared to other well known universities in Denver such as Regis, CU Boulder that is about the same is what I'm told and you need close to perfect GPA because of how competitive they are. I also have a lot of my pre-req's transferred in which saved me some $$. I do not want to do the community college waiting list route and those I believe only give you an ASN.

Is there anyone who can give me RECENT feedback on PLATT college in Aurora, CO? I don't want to invest so much money into the unknown. Is that about average in student loans after graduation with a BSN (without any financial aid/ scholarships)? (Also I do not have a previous degree so I can't go that route either.)

Appreciate any feedback,

x0dinosaur

[DidiRN]

Moved to CO State Nursing Programs for best response.

[neecie242]

Hello!

I am now contemplating the same thing. Platt is soooooo expensive!!! Did you go through with it?

[SummitRN, BSN, RN]

80K

holy macaroni and cheese (that's what you'll be eating while you pay off those ridiculous loans)

for profit schools...

[kanielelani55]

I attended Platt. Recently graduate in March. I had an excellent experience, it was expensive but getting your pre-reqs done while in school is great. Please let me know if you have any questions.

[neecie242]

Hey SummitRN and kanielelani55 thanks for the responses!

kanielelani55- Congrats on graduating!! Do you feel as though you were well prepared after the program against your peers from other schools? The only thing that worries me is the decline in their NCLEX test scores. I guess Im not too worried because I know for $80,000 I better get my $$$ worth and have all of my questions answered but did you notice a decline in the teaching ethic at all?

I did an orientation and a tour about a week ago. The facility was pretty nice and the labs were sweet. The simulation with the pregnant lady made top five of the coolest things I have ever seen! When we got to the overview of tuition…….."cricket…cricket" that was probably about where everyone got turned off.

I agree it's really expensive it will definitely hurt but I think I can get past that. My logic is, waiting on a wait list, or the extra year that I'll make up in their accelerated program is the difference in pay on the loans that I will take out anyway. I currently work at Kaiser Permanente I know an ADN there that is making $84,000 a year, I currently make $45,000. The difference in pay to me is worth it because I'll make it back sooner rather than waiting. I have a few general credits that I can transfer in, paying the transfer in fees will probably suck too but I am kind of teetering towards going ahead with it.

What about loan forgiveness? Are you exploring any of those options now that you are finished? I wonder how hard it is to be approved for it.

Thanks

[kanielelani55]

I felt very prepared for the NCLEX. I went in feeling very confident and passed it in 75 questions. We used ATI throughout the program which really helped. I never noticed a decline in teaching ethic. I felt that all the staff really cared about us. That's what is nice about having smaller class sizes. I haven't looked into loan forgiveness.

[neecie242]

Nice! I think I will go ahead and start in September or January depending on when I can transfer to a department that will work with the school schedule. Do you know of anyone from the school that got accepted into any residency programs? That is my goal once I finish.

[kanielelani55]

Most of the residency programs are still in the hiring process right now. I applied to Children's so I will let you know. I am not sure if anyone ahead of me got into one, but I do know that graduates are getting hired into hospitals.

[SummitRN, BSN, RN]

kanielelani55 where did you do your clinical rotations?

I currently work at Kaiser Permanente I know an ADN there that is making $84,000 a year, I currently make $45,000. The difference in pay to me is worth it because I'll make it back sooner rather than waiting.

It is important to manage expectations especially when making financial plans.

I hope you realize that 84K is not the type of pay you are going to see until you have been an RN for many years. Actually, in CO, very few RNs make that much even with heaps of experience unless they are working overtime, nights, and weekends.

For a realistic view, HCA (Health One) pays new grad RNs less than you make now. They make around 40K per year. Most new grad RNs in CO make 40-48K working in hospitals.

[kanielelani55]

I spent majority of my rotations at Denver health, but I also went to Littleton and did both my peds rotation and senior practicum at Children's. I was at a few smaller facilities for my basics rotation and community health. Many of my classmates went to places like St. Joes, Aurora medical, University, and Craig.

[neecie242]

Hi SummitRN!

I definitely agree with the starting average, I did research the pay. Hopefully if it comes to that I'll be getting loan forgiveness or doing a ton of OT. The nice thing where I is we have a union and I have seniority, so hopefully I can continue working and just transfer departments. Our RN's start at about 75000 but of course they get yearly raises that will change everyones pay. Crossing my fingers! However, if it doesn't work out hopefully it will only be for a couple years since I plan to go directly into a masters program. Do you know of anyone or are you in a masters program?