Advice needed on where to apply (FNP)

[athrun340]

Hi guys, I have a bit of a dilemma here. I'm thinking about applying to these FNP programs. I'm gonna list the pros and cons and I hope you guys can help me decide which schools i should apply to.

School #1

- takes 3 yrs full time to complete; 4 yrs part time

- Well known state school

- has their own preceptors

- cost $11,000 FT/semester, $8000 PT/semester

- not far from where I live; most likely will take public transport due to lack of parking

- starts Fall 2014 if I get in

**would love to go to this school because it has a good reputation and they have their own preceptors. However, program wont start until fall 2014 and there's no assurance I'd get in. This school is very competitive.

School #2

- takes 2 1/2 yrs to complete

- known as for profit school (Chamberlain)

- mostly online; takes 2 classes every semester (program is designed as trimester)

- will cost me approx $27000 (job discount)

- not far from where I live; 20-30 mins drive

- Have to find my own preceptors

- Starts asap (Spring 2014)

**I like the flexibility of this school but I'm a little bit hesitant due to its "for profit" reputation; I also have to find my own preceptors which I don't like.

School #3

- takes 2-2 1/2 yrs to complete full time; part time can take as long as 5 yrs

- really cheap = $279 per credit hr (state school)

- will cost me approx $15000 for the program

- far from where I live; campus is 37 miles away; takes 1 hr to drive on a good day (if there is snow, bad weather condition, or traffic, it can take up to 2 hrs drive)

- have to go to campus once a week for the whole day (No online classes)

- Have to find my own preceptors

- Starts Spring 2014 if I get in

** I love the cheap tuition but its far from where i live and I have to find my own preceptors

For me, it sounds like school #3 is a no brainer because the tuition is really cheap but the fact that its so far is making me rethink my decision. The thing i worry about is I live in Illinois and we get quite a lot of snow during winter. If there's a winter storm, it'd be hard to drive that far just to get to school. Also if i account the traffic, I might have to leave 2 hours before class starts just to get to the campus on time.

PS: I'm not saying i'm going to get into these programs but you all know its costs a lot of money just to apply to these schools so if I can eliminate one school from this list, i'd be able to save some money.

thank you so much.

[zmansc, ASN, RN]

Apply to #3, if you get in you can figure out the logistics. The drive is once a week and I would kill to have my school be 37 mi away! lol Who knows for those 1-2 times when the weather is going to make it crappy, you might find a friend to spend the night with or find a cheap hotel. For the savings, it would all be worth it.