Are private schools really easier to get into?

mangopeach · Mar 15, 2010

I may be wrong here Teresa, but it sounds like you and Strwbrywine are talking about 2 different kinds of private institutions. I believe Strwbrywine was talking about schools like Sanford and Excelsior. The more non traditional types of private nursing schools. Not the traditional private universities.

Anoetos, BSN, RN · Mar 15, 2010

Teresa,

That's comparable to my school. The requirements for getting in are very high, but there's no waitlist and competition isn't as rough, you either get a seat or you do not, it's all based on academic merit.

A private university can be an excellent choice for someone who has a high GPA, tests very well, doesn't mind loading up some debt and doesn't want to wait 18 to 24 months for their application to come up at a public school.

And again, the distinction between private university and for-profit diploma/certificate mills is well made. The latter can be very expensive and oftentimes credits from these places will not transfer when you want to go on for a BSN in a larger school.

EndoplasmicReticulum · Mar 15, 2010

It's not easier but once you're in - it's like a guaranteed graduation - with a very good effort of course. I believe they have higher graduation rate compared to public colleges (at least in my area)

10 out of 40 students in my local CC drop out the first semester.

2bnurseTV · Mar 15, 2010

It's not easier but once you're in - it's like a guaranteed graduation - with a very good effort of course. I believe they have higher graduation rate compared to public colleges (at least in my area)
10 out of 40 students in my local CC drop out the first semester.

I wondered about this as well. I think it has to do with the fact the private universities are for profit so they try to do everything they can to keep you in school and help you pass so they get their $$. State schools and CC arent as concerned with this and have a reputation for trying to weed people out. Hey, I like the fact that they want me to graduate, even if its only because they want my $$. Not that I am saying they pass people who dont make the grades because if you dont meet the cutoff, you are out. But its nice to know they arent out to get you:devil:.

cnszja · Mar 15, 2010

I'm in the process of applying to Direct-Entry MSN programs and it has definitely been my experience that it's easier to get into private schools. Public schools have way more applicants and tend to chose the top of the application pool. Private schools initially admit the top-of-the-class students too, but since they are often people's "back-up" schools so when all is said and done, the top applicants chose public schools and the middle-range applicants end up at private schools. That's just my opinion though. :) I think what is more telling though, is the total # of applicants. Fewer applicants = less competition.

eeyorelov · Mar 17, 2010

I don't know it they are easier, but I found one they not only had not waiting list for me but I paid less then the universities I was looking out in my home state (UW). I ended up going to a small christian college on the Illinios/Iissouri border and they were not only were cheaper even for an out of state student but every student recieves some sort of financial aid plus the hospital we are attached to for clinicals offeres to pay in full if you agree to work you dept off (or it ends up a private loan). My nursing program has grown in the years i was there and they had a wait list of about 10 people for the first time in forever. Mind you they also had 80 or 90 freshmen and 60+ sophmores in the program. Don't know how that compares but one of the local schools I looked at weren't going to accept more then 30 and less then 10 at graduation! :uhoh3:

Like others have said if you do your homework and figure out just want you want out a program ie large or small, local or can you travel and what kind of financial aid do they have? Also what kind of NCLEX pass rate do they have I don't care what school you go to if they can't help you pass boards then they don't deserve you participation!!!! My school gave endless test which at the time I hated, but because they were harder then boards I was ready.

Purdue725 · Mar 17, 2010

I think private schools, public schools (cc and unis) are all very tough to get into..nursing is highly in demand, the economy sucks, lots of people dont have jobs and are moving towards healthcare. Including myself....I have a BS from Purdue, did a ton of my pre-reqs b/w 2004-2006, applied to ABSN for fall of 2006 in private schools and got rejected. My GPA wasnt so good from BS degree but I got all As and Bs in my science courses and even then, I was rejected. Now, I dont have a job and desperately want to go into nursing and willing to go anywhere where I can be prepared to the NCLEX. The thing you all need to take in consideration is that the longer you wait to get into a program, the more money you are losing cause you are not working or even if you are in a 3-4 yr program, you are still not making money, hence you are better off going to any school where you can get in, finish your degree and practice. The other thing I am running into is that my chem (done in 97), stats (done in 2000), A&P & Micro (done in 2004-2006) can be all considered to be old and I really dont want to repeat any of them to waste my time and money. At this point, I am willing to go anywhere and will take loans out cause i know at the end, I will always have a job and I could careless about the economy AND, i will be able to pay off the loans...Good luck!!

alex08 · Mar 17, 2010

Well in my experience, the private, for-profit institution is way easier to get into than our local CCs. At the private schools around here, you only need a pulse, $40K & decent TEAS scores.

Our local CC requires numerous pre-reqs, experience, damn-near perfect NLN scores, CPR stuff, etc...

And there's also no wait list. If you don't get in, you have to re-apply the next year.

But that's just what I've encountered. I'm sure it's different everywhere.

OgopogoLPN, LPN, RN · Mar 17, 2010

In my province, all BScN degrees are at public universities only.

LPN education can be at public CC colleges, or private-for-profit schools. Here are some comparisons:

Public tuition $4,500

Private tuition $22,500

Public prereqs---need 86% or higher to get in

Private prereqs---just need a pass

Public waitlists---can vary from no wait list to 2 years, depending on college and part or province you are in

Private waitlists---no such thing. Pay the highway robbery...uh, I mean tuition and you start the next intake, usually within 3 months

Public eduction---typically very good to excellent

Private eduction---anywhere from poor, mediocre, good, even great...but I tend to hear its more on the mediocre side

Public national exam pass rate---typically 95%-100%

Private pass rate---80%-100%, depending on school

cirdan2004 · Mar 18, 2010

I would say that if you are going for a good nursing program (i.e. competitive admission rather than a wait list) it is going to be difficult at a public or private institution. I live in Colorado and out of the three best nursing schools in the state, 1 is a private catholic university and the other two are state universities. I would look up NCLEX pass rates before applying to any nursing school. The higher the pass rates/the better the program. I went to Regis University (the catholic school) and my senior year, the nursing accreditation board came through and didn't mark a single thing off. That is a good program!

2bnurseTV · Mar 18, 2010

Also, as I hinted to before, my local cc has a reputation for trying to flunk people out, making students cry and clinicals and so on. Their attrition rate in the nursing program in ridiculous. Like 50 people start 15 finish. Not a big fan of those odds. Be sure to look at those stats as closely as you look at the NCLEX pass rates because if you dont make it thru who cares about the NCLEX. If the majority of the students dont pass I dont think it is a good program regardless.

elkpark · Mar 19, 2010

I would say that if you are going for a good nursing program (i.e. competitive admission rather than a wait list) it is going to be difficult at a public or private institution. I live in Colorado and out of the three best nursing schools in the state, 1 is a private catholic university and the other two are state universities. I would look up NCLEX pass rates before applying to any nursing school. The higher the pass rates/the better the program. I went to Regis University (the catholic school) and my senior year, the nursing accreditation board came through and didn't mark a single thing off. That is a good program!

Also, as I hinted to before, my local cc has a reputation for trying to flunk people out, making students cry and clinicals and so on. Their attrition rate in the nursing program in ridiculous. Like 50 people start 15 finish. Not a big fan of those odds. Be sure to look at those stats as closely as you look at the NCLEX pass rates because if you dont make it thru who cares about the NCLEX. If the majority of the students dont pass I dont think it is a good program regardless.

NCLEX pass rates are certainly one consideration, but you can't just take them at face value as an indicator of the quality of a program. Many schools use a variety of "sneaky tricks" to make sure their pass rates are high, esp. failing out or otherwise driving away students the school isn't confident are going to pass the NCLEX on the first try, as nurseTV notes.