Published Apr 29, 2010
tracey87
16 Posts
hello!! so, i'm thinking of attending westcoast university and taking the bsn/rn program in either june or sept.. i was wondering if anyone has gone to this school at all? is the entrance test hard at all? or anything i should be getting ready for? -- i'm not worried about the money. jus want feed back please :)
NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN
2,387 Posts
Someone just recently asked this question. Do a search, there are multiple threads about west coast university.
The general consensus is: Don't do it. The student loan payments would easily be 1500/month for 10 years. In this economy with so many new nurses not finding jobs and uncertainty of what the future will bring it is not a wise investment.
I dont go to this message board alot .. I don't know what to look for i go here to ask questions, not really to browse..
I mean, I understand its alot... So is.. LVN then jumping back to school as a RN.. its the same thing?? So why not going straight to it? Is there some other career that's better than LVN/RN right now? Medical Field wise?? Help?? I really wanna go back to school..
Sarah010101
277 Posts
Hi question...
1500/month? holy moly! .... why is it so expensive?
I am a Canadian BSN Student... and i go to the University of the Fraser Valley based just outside
Vancouver,BC... and for my entire program... its about 30,000 $... (as well as the 3 year option).
Im not sure about the US programs... but I know that all of the Canadian ones are generally the same.
So why would westcoast be bad? To be honest BCIT and University of the Fraser Valley
are actually better in some ways than the University of BC one... we start clinical right away first semester,
and they dont get into a hospital until the end of 2nd year...
I have a question.. Is BSN like RN? or is it different?
Yes they are the Same.. well sorda.. i guess. To be a Registered Nurse you need to have your bachelor of science in Nursing Degree.. since you have to graduate from an accredited program.
However you are not an RN until you have taken the NCLEX-RN exam.
Oh okay. Yeah thats what i want to take at WCU the BSN/RN program. It's every 10 weeks as i've heard. I'd rather do that than having to go to community college and wait thru lottery and see if i got in the RN program..
But.. Thanks! =)
ah ok. A lottery? seriously? wow things are super different down there. In my class there are 48 of us.. and 16 are sent into the fast track through summer for the 3 year program. the Remaining 32 are to complete the regular 4 year.
But even when i applied out of highschool we were required to have C+ in chem 11, B in Math 11, and bio 11, and bio 12 with a B. But even so, we are all admitted by GPA and by hours of volunteer work.. along with our interview and essay we had to write. So its all by competition. And when you dont get in.. you re apply and try and get in the next running program
Alright Tracey, I'll try to help you out with it since you are in the US, the rules to be an RN are different in Canada.
There are actually FOUR routes now in the United States to become an RN (ridiculous I know, but that's how it is).
We have:
Diploma Programs
ADN programs (associate degree in nursing)
BSN programs (bachelors degree in nursing)
Accelerated entry-MSN programs (masters degree for those who have a bachelors in another field).
All of these programs allow you to take the NCLEX-RN (boards) upon completion in your state, which I'm assuming is California since you talk about west coast university.
West Coast University is a private university that provides a BSN, however the cost is somewhere around 116,000 dollars, that's what medical school can cost you!
There is no "great career" right now, the economy has hit everyone. You should just follow your heart.
oh yes way different than Canada.. we dont have Diploma programs anymore... i think they were phased out a couple years ago. As for Associates... ive never heard of. And to get your Masters you need to have your BSN first.
Sorry for the confusion!!
Yeah, for sure I know its alot of money SADLY! I heard it is 8,000 per semester or something like that. My heart says do BSN/RN. But WILL I AFFORD it in the long run??? Jus thinking of my future.. I don't know what else to think of when it comes to a career. I'm still young, im 22.. But i wanna jump start my career now.. Boohoo!
Sarah - Its okay haha thanks for you help!!!