ASU vs GCU

[maneses]

Hello!

I have been recently accepted to Arizona State University and Grand Canyon University. I plan to apply to the nursing program offered, but I'm having a difficult time trying to decide which school to attend. I would like to know if any nursing graduates from either one of these schools can share their experience including clinical and internship experience (if possible) and job recruitment experience - was this available to you at the school you attended? What was this like for you? Were you able to obtain a job prior to graduation? Were the benefits offered good for new graduates - did this include new grad orientation and/or other additional training? Also, what was your experience like with the instructors - were they supportive?

Please provide any additional information you may have.

Thank you for your time.:)

[queen mother]

Wish I could help but I am a Phoenix College student 2nd. year. I have heard a lot of good things about the morale and overall athmosphere of Grand Canyon. They seem to run their course curriculum in a more sensible way, completing each class at a time. Take a closer look and make the comparisons. I do wish you the very best and congratulations, :balloons: not too many people get accepted at the BIG ASU.

AKOS :) :)

[Marnaby]

I graduated from ASU in Dec of 2003. I just had a discussion with some nursing friends about the benefit of going to ASU versus a community college. While we agree that the community college students have wonderful practical skills we believe that ASU prepared us well in management, leadership, organization, and critical thinking skills.

By the time you graduate you will probably have multiple job offers from any one of the hospitals where you do your clinicals. Arizona is desperate for nurses. Many of the hospitals do externships and you can work with a nurse (and get paid) before you graduate. ASU does not have a job placement program, but like I said you wouldn't need it anyway.

The staff is very supportive and they are there to see that you DO succeed not IF you are going to succeed. The instructors are emotionally and physically present. They are willing to do almost anything to help.

The program is not a cake walk and believe me we all wanted to quit at some point. However, the program has been redone multiple times since I graduated and I hear that it is much more organized now.

I think you would be making a good choice at any college in AZ, but I have to go with my home team and support ASU. I moved to Boston shortly after graduating and I had no problem finding a job with my BSN. It seems to me that many hospitals prefer that you have a BSN these days.

I hope this info helps and if I forgot anything please send me a message and I'd be glad to answer any more questions.

Good luck :)

[maneses]

Queen Mother,

Thank you for sharing the information. Any additional information will definitely help me to decide which school to attend. I just want to take everything into consideration and make the right choice based on what I've gathered.

Thank you for your time!

[maneses]

Marnaby,

Thank you for sharing your experience at ASU. I really appreciate the information that you have provided me. I'm sure I'll have more questions and I'll definitely send you an email - if you don't mind.

Thanks for your help!

[RainDreamer, BSN, RN]

I don't have any advice, but just wanted to offer my congratulations to you in getting accepted to both ASU and GCU, both great schools. I go to school in TX but I've lived in AZ all my life and have heard great things about both schools.

At GCU it would be a BSN program too, correct? So you'd be in a BSN program regardless of which school you chose, although if you were in an ADN program you'd have no problem getting a job in AZ either. I understand you're just wanting to get some feedback from people that have gone through each program to compare the two, I would do the same. And I agree with queen mother, you can take a closer look and make the comparisons. I hope you can get more feedback from others that have gone through these programs to tell you about their experiences.

Good luck to you and again Congratulations!!

[queen mother]

Hey Maneses!

One thing I forgot to tell you is that Grand Canyon is a christian institution. They pray every day before classes and also before taking tests.

Queen Mother

[Kabin]

Yep, unless you enroll in the nontraditional programs such as the accelerated BSN, online courses, and (I believe) master degrees. Also, the traditional degree programs are required to take two additional general education christian bible studies courses.

[Kabin]

I should also add, traditional program GCU students are expected to attend religious functions including pep motivation rallies, church service, etc.

[maneses]

I should also add, traditional program GCU students are expected to attend religious functions including pep motivation rallies, church service, etc.

Wow, is this really true? Even if you consider yourself nondenominational you are required to participate in these events? I know you have to take a couple of religious courses, but I was not aware of the additional requirements.

[maneses]

I don't have any advice, but just wanted to offer my congratulations to you in getting accepted to both ASU and GCU, both great schools. I go to school in TX but I've lived in AZ all my life and have heard great things about both schools.

At GCU it would be a BSN program too, correct? So you'd be in a BSN program regardless of which school you chose, although if you were in an ADN program you'd have no problem getting a job in AZ either. I understand you're just wanting to get some feedback from people that have gone through each program to compare the two, I would do the same. And I agree with queen mother, you can take a closer look and make the comparisons. I hope you can get more feedback from others that have gone through these programs to tell you about their experiences.

Good luck to you and again Congratulations!!

I just wanted to say thanks and yes, it is the BSN program.