Anyone attending or taken the Accelerated BSN at Concordia in Irvine?

Amanda1985 · Jan 29, 2009

I was looking to apply for Summer 2009 but I think I missed the deadline.

sbgradinnb · Jan 29, 2009

Gotcha, thanks. Anyone else go there or applying there? Feedback would be great.

Cyn2school · Feb 11, 2009

I started the program @ Concordia and unfortunately had to withdraw due to a family emergency.

The good thing about Concordia, it's new! The bad thing about Concordia, it's new!

If you are young and have very recent prereq's you'll probably do fine, if you can handle cliques, you'll do fine. Survive on very little sleep, you'll do fine.

The grounds and landscape are beautiful, its a gated campus. loads of opportunity for Chapel. It is a very conservative school. The instructors will pray with you and are very conservative. There were 2 religion classes required before admission.

It would help to have a CNA B4 you start, as you're thrown into clinical rotation very fast. There was also one really mean (hospital only) clinical instructor who told one student (probably one of the smartest student in the class with hospital experience, reserved and modest studentl) that she wasnt going to make it as a nurse when she hung back on her first day of the hospital clinicals.

MisterSimba, BSN · Feb 11, 2009

I started the program @ Concordia and unfortunately had to withdraw due to a family emergency.
The good thing about Concordia, it's new! The bad thing about Concordia, it's new!
If you are young and have very recent prereq's you'll probably do fine, if you can handle cliques, you'll do fine. Survive on very little sleep, you'll do fine.
The grounds and landscape are beautiful, its a gated campus. loads of opportunity for Chapel. It is a very conservative school. The instructors will pray with you and are very conservative. There were 2 religion classes required before admission.
It would help to have a CNA B4 you start, as you're thrown into clinical rotation very fast. There was also one really mean (hospital only) clinical instructor who told one student (probably one of the smartest student in the class with hospital experience, reserved and modest studentl) that she wasnt going to make it as a nurse when she hung back on her first day of the hospital clinicals.

Ick! I'm glad I didn't apply there! I thought about it, but the religious studies classes made me decide against it. My BA is in English and Philosophy (with a religious studies emphasis) and Concordia specifically stated that you had to take the religion classes there. Clearly, another way to rake in money from their students! No thanks, I'll pass!

touchhealth · Feb 26, 2009

Ya, I looked into this program too. The first year, they didn't require you to take their religion courses at their school, so I figured I was fine since I hold an undergrad degree in religion. The following year I noticed the change requiring students complete the religion classes AT THE CONCORDIA CAMPUS (!!??!!)...there's something real shady about a religious school that makes you take THEIR religion courses on THEIR campus. Very cultish if you ask me...I called to inquire if I could be expempt from this pre-requisite since I already have BA in Religion, and they said no. They would only accept religious coursework from Concordia University. Am I supposed to just pick up and move there to take a semester worth of overpriced classes I don't need to take? Is there some kind of special brain-washing they must subject me to that's specific to their religious teachings?? I definately got a bad feeling about that place...completely ridiculous....:angryfire

Cyn2school · Feb 27, 2009

The religion classes can be taken online. I was in the first class and it was required from B4 the beginning. Comparable colleges like Loma Linda, College of the Masters, Point Loma Nazarene & Biola are all dry campuses, If U R 21, Concordia is not dry. A cold beer in the fridge is AOK. I understand that they may want a common religous back ground. I'm just from a more moderate branch of the Lutheran church and found it annoying that I wasnt considered "Lutheran" enough and that dispite having graduated from Cal Lutheran, with Christian ethics and religion classes comparable, still had to take the classes.

touchhealth · Feb 27, 2009

I don't know what having a common religious background has to do with nursing studies. I definately think religious studies are important, since I will be working with patients from a wide variety of faiths and belief systems... but I don't like the idea of a school mandating I study their single religious belief system, when it has little to do with my career development. I attended a liberal Catholic University, and was really put off by the ridgidity of the administration at Concordia. It just seems so unecessary!

Cyn2school · Feb 27, 2009

That 'tude is probably why they are the smallest of the Lutheran denominations. They are Missouri Synod. A $30K +/yr nursing program makes them money even with the gigantic school start up costs. Since they're private, with private donors, they can pick & choose to a degree that public schools can't/won't. The Nursing school secretary was sooo nice though. I think a big part of the administration is because of the location,attitude works in the gated OC, proably wouldn't work in LA.

eclaire · Mar 2, 2009

Hi..Im in the Concordia program right now, and I love it. The teachers are great, accomidating and fair! Yes, it is a new program so there are inperfections...but every school has its issues. The first class (those who started in August) had to deal with a lot of stuff, the staff definitely listened to their complaints and made big changes. As for the theology class, ya they are expensive but they are easy, and your learning, every bit of knowledge is good!! This school really cares about us as students, they are compassionate and caring. My clinical instructor is amazing, smart, and I have had great hospital experiences. This is an accelerated program, its very fast, so some days you are sitting in class from 7:30am-5:30pm and your tired and you have to get up the next morning to go to clinicals, but in my opinion, it is soooo worth it!!!! If anyone has any other questions, I would be happy to answer them! Hope this is helpful : )

eclaire · Mar 2, 2009

One more thing, as I was reading through all these replies I noticed everyones concerned with the religious aspects...once you have taken the theology courses, the religion part is over. I was brought up Christian, so I enjoyed it, but I definitely understand if your not interested, and you have nothing to worry about! It does not matter what religion you are. They offer Chapel 3-4 days a week but it is totally optional. We have prayed a couple times in class, and they have bible verses written on the first page of some of the lectures, but thats it. Lutherans are very low key, and the instructors are far from intense about religious stuff. So I hope that clears things up!

everydayprayer · Mar 13, 2009

Hi, Dear eclaire!

this is kim who is attending CSUN right now. And i already applied(fall 2009) for

BSN program at concordia in irvine. i really love to go to this school. As a

Christian, your message inspired me so much about school life. now, i am

waiting for the acceptance. I am wondering that concordia university requires

high GPA or not. and do they care about personal statement and reference

letters? My GPA is not high enough, so i am worrying too much.. do you have

something to advice me?