Apollo College Associates Degree Program

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Hello,

I have spent the last 6 months scouring Nursing websites and talking to nurse friends and relatives. I am 40 years old and have decided to change careers and become a RN! After extensive research on local school options, I've come to the conclusion that the time it would take to actually graduate from MCC negates it as a possibility for me. I earned a BFA 20 years ago and have no transferable credits. I am in need of information/opinions of APOLLO COLLEGE (westside campus) from Nurses who have graduated from this school or students who are presently attending the associates degree program. I have concerns about their accreditation. They are approved by the Arizona State Board of Nursing, Dept. of Education Private Post Secondary, and the ACICS....Not NLNAC or CCNE. There are only 2 schools (U of P, U of Wisconsin) that will accept transfer credits from Apollo to advance to a BSN. I am interested in ER work and assume I will eventually want to get my BSN. A few of my many questions are:

1. Do I need a BSN to work in an ER?

2. Assuming I pass the NCLEX, will I have any problems relocating to another state? I realize all states have their own criteria for licensing...

3. Will the lack of NLNAC and CCNE accreditation prevent me from working in any particular place?

It has been VERY difficult getting information from anyone other than Apollo employees ...I'm looking for unbiased opinions and info. I look forward to hearing from someone with insider info on this School..

Anxiously awaiting replies!

MV

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I just graduated from Apollo and passed my NCLEX! Nursing school is not meant to be fun, you will not be babied, this is an accelerated program and requires a significant amount of study time. It is also highly recommended that you get a job as a nurse extern to expose yourself as soon as you get to that level.

Also I will be starting in ED so you don't need a BSN unless you want to get away from the bedside eventually.

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Congrats on Passing!!! Yay for you! What's a Nurse extern and are you recommending this while still in school? How difficult was it for you to get a job?

Thanks so much for responding.

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Glad to see people doing actual research before committing! There are many reasons you should investigate Apollo before signing on, and NONE of them relate to those accreditations. Two years is a very long time to be in a non-stop pgm, and there's really no transferring out to another school once you're in without tons of work and lots of expense and lost time.

You know more about those accreditations than most, but if you live in AZ then you'd probably take online classes at UOP anyway, so if I were you, I would not let that "distant" detail stop me right now, from beginning my RN goal.

You can send me a private message if you want to discuss the Apollo details. Also, extern positions are great but every RN student in the Phx metro area is competing for the very very few that arise, so shoot for that spot but do not rely on getting 1 unless you have inside connections, you'll be disappointed.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

1. Do I need a BSN to work in an ER?

2. Assuming I pass the NCLEX, will I have any problems relocating to another state? I realize all states have their own criteria for licensing...

3. Will the lack of NLNAC and CCNE accreditation prevent me from working in any particular place?

1. no

2. no

3. no

Now my question to you is, how much is this associate degree going to cost you?

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Have only posted once, so can't PM yet...would love to discuss the details...I'll contact you soon and thanks for the info.

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Ya ready for this one??? 46 big ones. Yep. 2 Semesters of Prereqs (8 months) and 4 core nursing blocks...6 semesters total(with a week in between each)...Includes: all books,NCLEX fee(if you pass it first try) and a few other minor fees. I'm looking at this enormous tuition as the cost of not having to wait for 3 years just to START school, which is how long it would be for me at MCC...

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Lots of people use the timeline as justification to use these expensive programs.

It reminds me of my favorite line.

"exercise impulse control"

46K for an ADN is absurd.

And how will you afford a BSN when you are already that much in debt over an ASSOCIATES DEGREE?

Silly.

I know I will catch a lot of flack for all that but oh well.

Is three years wait really that bad? Really?

We are in an economy like no other. And you're going to spend that much on an ADN?

What's the rush? You may not even get a job after you graduate as it is...

OR...You can be patient, and pay for your ADN outright, and by that time, we may have new grad positions available...

Heck, you might even find some direct entry MSN schools available for that price, and they ARE accredited.

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Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.
Hello,

3. Will the lack of NLNAC and CCNE accreditation prevent me from working in any particular place?

I have read here that the Scottsdale Healthcare chain of hospitals will not accept Apollo graduates. That could of changed.

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I obtained an AOS degree 3 years ago from a tech shcool in respiratory therapy. I still owe 14,000 and my monthly payment is $110. You're going to owe a car payment if you choose any tech school route.

O and buy the way, my credit report shows that loan as unpaid dept. That can lower your credit score by owing $46,000. Say you try to get a house. I don't know. You'll start out making $27 and hour. But you will more than likely have a hard time finding a job here in the AZ valley. My husband had to wait 6 months. There are so many nursing programs now. It's competative as a new grad RN to even get an interview. BUT since you are 40 years old you should take the fasted course. Good luck. :typing

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Ya ready for this one??? 46 big ones. ..........

OK I just got up off the floor,:cry: I just graduated there and when I entered, the entire pgm was $40k I believe, 2 short yrs ago. I transferred in every single pre-req so only paid for the nursing block more or less. I really want to inform you of some things so I suggest you get enough posts so you can PM me, as we can't post our private emails here. That is a gigantic debt load, but unfortunately it's still in line w/ the enormous wait time for comm colleges.:banghead:

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back on track...yes this program cost me an arm and leg, but after trying to community college route for 7 yrs, working full time, it was my best bet. I will ALWAYS be in debt so whats some more...expecially to get my emplotment and a career I can always count on. I am proud to be a nurse and I cannot wait to see where this life takes me.

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