advice for a soon to be west coast university student!

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hello everyone! So i passed the hesi test needed to get into west coast university (la campus)

and i just have a few questions for students that already go there.

do you like it there? & also

they gave me a financial aid packet and im so confused!!!

what type of loan is best to get? I was considering the parent plus but i believe the re-payment for that starts 60 days after graduation so that scared me.

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Have you done most or all of your preq's at a city college or are you taking all your preqs at west coast? I'm actually studying for my hesi planning to go to WC in la.. But I hate that you have to take the hesi before the financial part.

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Well, I'm graduating high school this month and since community college is so packed right now the only pre-req I was able to get added into was Psychology so instead of wasting time and not being able to add classes I'm going to do the rest there I just don't know which loan is best for me... Good luck on your hesi!

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Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

Moved to California State Nursing Programs for more response.

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I think its better to take as much classes as you can from a cc and then transfer. I understand that its hard to get into all classes that you need but this will reduce the cost. WCU their classes are fast(9wks classes tons of infor.) but doable and have no waiting list but $$$$$$. If you don't want to wait thats fine it be prepared to study hard. Its only one year to complete all the required classes

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Hello! I am a WCUOC student. I like it here a lot. It is HARD work though and definitely NOT a perfect school. But Be prepared to study all the time. I underestimated how much studying the prereqs would take. so much! And they no longer give curves in the science classes at my campus, so that is a big downer and as a result, a ton of students (that do not take it seriously) are repeating courses. You can only repeat a class one time and then you are kicked out... so do NOT fail any prereqs because you will want to save them in case you need them in the nursing classes. And regarding the loans, take all the government loans you can because the private loans suck and have the worst rates. I have govt and private, and my govt intimidate me much less than my private loans do. They will direct you, just get to know a financial aid person and stay with them all the years you go there. They will help you out and if they know you, they seem to help you more and are not unorganized with your papers at all. If you have any other questions, let me know!

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It's great to hear something from an actual student, thank you! Did you take any pre-reqs at a cc? I've only taken one class so far because I've been in high school and right now community college is so packed I just wanna go straight into the program. I will definietely take your advice about the loans because my financial aid meeting is this friday! I wanted to ask what the math class you have to take there is like, 9 weeks to learn algebra 2 seems impossible! & do you mean you can only fail one class your whole 3 years there? if you fail more then once you get kicked out? I plan to devote my life to this these three years, I just want to know all the info before I start. Also I wanted to ask do you have to get approved for the second loan later on in the semester? Is it possible that you dont get approved for the second one and arent able to finish the program? It all sounds so scary I've done a lot of research and there are a few people who have such bad things to say so its constantly on my mind, but there is also a lot of good things so I'm just trying to stay positive that this is the right choice!

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Yes, I transferred in 5 classes which cut my cost down a lot. I feel you on community colleges being so packed. It really sucks. And yes, the college algebra class is pretty hard. I had the very best math instructor ever, if I may say so lol. So he made it easier on us.. but You have to push through that class. If math is not your strong suit, go on khan academy . com and watch ALL the algebra videos starting from the basics. I did that last summer and it saved my butt. Also, go to tutoring on day 1. Do not wait until it gets hard. And with failing, it is a 2 fail rule. Basically if you take math and fail it, you have one more chance. If you fail it again, you are out. But you WILL NOT fail if you put your mind to it. You can do anything you set your heart on. And they have you apply for financial aid in the middle of the program, so I guess that yeah... maybe you could get denied for the loans? Just make sure that whoever is signing with you has good enough credit. I have to reapply in November and I am gonna try to qualify without my mom on the second. The government loans are all me. the private is her. And yes, I know the feeling. It took me 3 years to decide on west coast. I wish I would've done it earlier, but I was not ready. Most people that say bad things do not look past the price tag. It is not cheap, so you gotta know, without a doubt, that this is what you want. Good luck :)

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Thank you so much for your advice! My financial aid meeting is tomorrow so I will find out how much i will be getting, hopefully it will reduce my loan a bit! I'm supper nervous but its worth knowing if I work very hard for three years ill be a nurse at age 21! I'm glad things are going so well with you, update me on your progress, its motivating! :specs:

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the reply is above, I forgot to press reply lol:scrying:

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I understand the desire to get into a school soon but the idea of walking out of school as an RN with $100k+ in loans, especially if you have to take your pre reqs there is ridiculous. Understand that the starting salary for an RN is not the same as the average salary. I caution you to really reconsider this option. I went to CC for all my pre reqs and got into a nursing school on my first time applying. I will graduate next Decemeber and the entire program will cost me arond $6,000. I choose community college because I didnt want to be paying loans back for 20+ years. Honestly for that much money you might as well go to med school. Or go cheaper and go to a LVN school that cost $15-20k and then you can easily get into a bridge program at a community college and save $50k

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Have you taken hesi?

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