Apollo College RN Program

crangel · Jan 13, 2010

I don't have the time to wait on the list for the community college. I know in the end the expense will be worth it because I will be working as a RN in two years, when I would just be starting a program at the community college. I will just have to deal with the cost and hopefully qualify for grants next year because I will quit work in July when I am a full time student. I am only taking two prereqs the first semester. I plan to eventually get a BSN. Hopefully, I can find an employer that will help with the cost because I will be in debut for a while.

Thanks for all your feedback.

Cant wait to start!!!!!!!!!!

Planning · Jan 14, 2010

:yeah:I just want to thank you, Bugout for giving me hope! There are very few posts on this site from people who have recently graduated and actually got jobs. Furthermore your advice is very helpful. I'm currently deciding which school to go to. I want to be an RN asap, and I'm willing to pay top dollar, IF I can get a job when I'm done. I'm so scared to drop (or borrow!) $30K and then NOT be able to get a job like soooo many of the new grads here. You and your wife both graduated within the last year and are working? Do you have any advice as to how to get a job once I graduate? How did you both get jobs when so many others are struggling for months on end? Thanks!

crangel · Jan 14, 2010

If you go to apollo and you dont have your pre-reqs done is will cost you closer to 45k for the program. I think in the end it will be worth it if I can find a good job as well. Even making 50-60k a year would be fine with me!! I know I will have a huge loan payment, but hopefully I can get grants next year since I wont be working half the year.!

I just want to start school and get my rn asap.!!

Bug Out, BSN · Jan 14, 2010

:thankya:

Well you either start waiting for a job now or start waiting later, either way your working a year to two years sooner than you would waiting for a Community College.

I know there are a ton of people that look at the 30-40k tuition and think OMG that is too much! Those are the same people who struggled through basic math lol.

As a CNA I was making 25k a year. As a RN I am making 80k a year. That is a 55k difference. Since I am working a year to two years sooner than I would have if I waited on the CC list I have made an extra 55-110k more than I would have if I would have stayed a CNA. Subtract the 32k I paid for Apollo means I am plus 23k-78k in the end if I pay off my loans in cash.

Throw in tuition reimbursement when and if I can find it and I am plus even more money...

Unless you are making a decent living prior to Nursing school and can wait I would highly advise you to pay the extra cash.

Yes both my wife and I have found jobs. She found one a couple of months before me but we were both lucky.

What we did was look up the Medicare ratings for Nursing homes in the valley and started applying to all of them. The nice thing with this approach is that you can find all the tiny facilities that may not have websites and are otherwise difficult to find.

If and when you go to Apollo I would strongly encourage you to take the IASIS contract, if they are still offering it...which I am not sure that they are.

Bug Out, BSN · Jan 14, 2010

To speak a little on pre reqs.

I would strongly advise looking into the pre reqs you have to take at Apollo and then take them at a Community College. The only pre reqs that tend to have a waiting list are the A&P classes, which are two parter classes that take 1 year total.

I would take everything except maybe the A&P class and college math at the Community Colleges. The only reason why I say math is few people can test high enough to into a math class to satisfy the Apollo requirements, most people start math in the sub 100 level and then have to take 2 semesters to complete math. 1 semester in the sub 100 class and 1 semester in the college math course.

Should only take you 1 semester at the community colleges to satisfy the other Apollo requirements.

Play it by ear, no reason to set off Apollo for an entire year to save a few bucks at the CC level but if you can squeeze in a semester before the next start date, why not?

Planning · Jan 14, 2010

Thanks a lot for the advice. I already have a B.A. in Psych, but I graduated way back in '94. Not sure if they will accept those classes toward my prereqs, but hopefully I can at least test out of a few things. Right now I live just inside the Pinal county line so I'm thinking of going with Central AZ College. They don't have a wait list, but if I can't get proof of my previous Bio class to them within the next 2 days I won't be able to begin Bio 201 until the summer semester... which means the earliest I could get admitted to their nursing program is Fall 2011. (I was told I can't apply to the nursing program until I complete Bio 202, which means I miss the application deadline for spring 2011) I don't have that kind of time. So, if I'm not able to get into this Bio 201 class this semester I'm gonna go the private school route so I can get started this year.

So another question for you guys!: Seems like having experience as a CNA helps one to get hired once you become an RN. Is it tough to get a CNA job right now?

Thanks!

Bug Out, BSN · Jan 14, 2010

So another question for you guys!: Seems like having experience as a CNA helps one to get hired once you become an RN. Is it tough to get a CNA job right now?

Yes.

CNA work will also help you through school.

Hausfrau · Jan 17, 2010

How does the apollo loan repayment work? I am familiar with the FAFSA type loans but not with private school loans.

Like how much do you have to repay each month and how long do you have to pay it back?

Angelsinthesky · Jan 17, 2010

Has anyone attended apollo's rn program? What is the schedule like? I recently read that apollo was bought out by devry and apollo's credits will be eligible for chamberlin's bsn program? Has anyone heard this?
I would love someone feedback.

Yes, apollo was bought out by Devry and they do have an online program for the BSN, but I would double check for the credits. I finished the nursing program and my credits don't transfer. the shcedule is very busy. And you have to stay on top of things, there is no rooom for mistakes or lacking there of. have you applied yet or gotten accepted? Last I heard there was a waitn list.. Best of luck but I would check all ops for schools

Angelsinthesky · Jan 17, 2010

Yes.
CNA work will also help you through school.

Yes it maybe but once you get so far into the program working full and doing clinicals is very hard and you could burn yourself out, fail a class or mess up on clinicals, but remember when you take your boards they say not to use your experience because it will not help you on the exam and it possibly could be the wrong answer

Angelsinthesky · Jan 17, 2010

How does the apollo loan repayment work? I am familiar with the FAFSA type loans but not with private school loans.
Like how much do you have to repay each month and how long do you have to pay it back?

It all depends on what the loans are for..Everyone is different. you would have to talk with the finical aid personal.

Bug Out, BSN · Jan 17, 2010

Devry now owns Apollo...the ASN wing of the RN program, Devry also owns Chamberlain...the BSN/MSN wing of the RN program.

Chamberlain will grant Apollo graduates 80 articulation transfer credits to the 128 required credits for a BSN. That means you need 14 courses (48 credit hours) to get your BSN online (1 year through Chamberlain).

Apollo credits do not transfer as you would typically assume. However...unlike many other degree programs out there nearly every University in the country that has a BSN program also has a RN to BSN program where they accept your license as a kind of transfer credit to allow you to achieve your BSN if you so wish.