Azusa ELM Summer 2016

ienurse · Sep 1, 2015

@chemshark

Unless you are an absolute genius with a photographic and audible memory, I don't see how anyone can work full-time through a program like this. Even if you weren't a genius and able to, I don't think it would be worth the years that you would cut off your life. It sounds like you know this already though - I did something similar with my Bachelors Degree and it took me almost 2 years to get myself right. If this were an ADN program, I think it would be possible to work as that program or even a regular BSN program would be at a slower pace. From what I hear, this program and others like it are like drinking through a fire hose. In fact, I think at each of our respective campuses, we will need each other to get us through the program. I am actually really looking forward to that part as I think going through an entire program like this with one cohort will enable us to develop lifelong relationships.

I second YUYU1219's post. We should be finding out soon though I would imagine. I know APU said that letters will be generated within the first couple weeks of September but based on previous forms it sounds like there is an e-mail as well as potentially a phone call for those that are accepted. I hope for all of our sake we get an e-mail and a phone call.

adamastor · Sep 2, 2015

To rate the ELM objectively is difficult, I guess the only way to do it would be to look at NCLEX pass rate over the pass few years. It averages the high 80% which isn't bad but isn;t great neither, behind many community colleges. I believe this defines the school really well, it's "ok", "so-so", "average". The teacher are fine, some more than others, same applies to clinicals. Most of the learning is done through self-teaching which is the way to really learn I guess. Knowledge can't be spoon fed.

The only problem is that I believe you end up paying big money when you could have the same thing or better for much less money. It's paying $50k for a golf GTI when you can get a big shiny new Mercedes for $10k, that's a no-brainer. Many students chose to not do the MSN portion at Azusa, that says a lot. I myself opted to transfer to a public school.

I second what was said about working full-time while in this program, it is impossible not even part-time. It gets very intense, very crazy. There won't be much time to do anything else aside from studying, preparing for clinicals etc.

Also, religion IS present during the program eg praying in the classroom, useless courses on spiritual care that the university charges thousands $ for. It might work for some but not for others.

B_rac777 · Sep 2, 2015

Is this program online at all?

YUYU1219 · Sep 2, 2015

@CHEMSHARK Hi!

If accepted (fingers crossed) I will start off working, I work Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights (40 hours) in Moreno Valley. If I get into SD, I plan on moving to SD within a year. I will eventually have to take out some loans for living expenses though

I've thought long and hard about this new endeavour, and although scary at times, I can't help but feel excited too! Because, I don't see myself being a Social Worker until retirement.

Do you know anything about these three areas of SD and the schools within? Tierrrasanta: Serra High, Clairemont Mesa: Clairemont High and Point Loma: Point Loma High? I also like North Park, but I don't see a High School in that area? Any 411 would help, as I plan on enrolling my 12-year-old there (if accepted).

BTW, I know for a fact that NOT EVERYONE that applies to the program gets in. I know of a co-worker who tried earlier this year and got a rejection letter.

ienurse · Sep 3, 2015

@YUYU1219 - just curious but if you work in Moreno Valley, why not attend the IE campus? Also do you know any details why your co-worker didn't get into APU?

@B_rac777 - no the program at this point is all in person. After you pass the NCLEX and find a job, you can continue on to get your Masters. That part of the program is designed to be part time while you work a normal 36-40 hour job as a nurse. I believe the APU said the classes for the Masters program are held on Fridays.

@adamastor - there are many methods of self teaching. What do you specifically mean by that?

YUYU1219 · Sep 3, 2015

@IENURSE, because SD is where I will settle down anyway. No details, I just saw letter. She's trying again for next cohort.

Good luck!

Which campus did you apply to?

ienurse · Sep 3, 2015

@YUYU1219 - I applied to the IE campus. I live out this way so it makes sense in terms of dealing with traffic, etc. In theory I could go to the main campus as it wouldn't be that much further but figured that I didn't need the added stress of dealing with traffic patterns.

Good luck to you as well.

chemshark, BSN, LVN, RN · Sep 4, 2015

@chemshark
Unless you are an absolute genius with a photographic and audible memory, I don't see how anyone can work full-time through a program like this.

I agree, @ienurse. I suffered through depression while I sat in lecture for hours then sludged through campus to work at the hospital next door. Those were 16 hours days at the worst. I was pursuing a biochemistry degree but at least it wasn't an accelerated program. After graduating last year, I joined a football team and then choir and made some awesome friends. Just like you, it took me a while to get my personality back.

In fear of what @adamastor said, I began researching my alternative schools and found some information about Western Governors University below if anyone is interested. It seems that they are a legit program and would allow me to keep my lucrative job and minimize my student loans since they only charge $6000 flat fee for an entire year compared to APU's $33,000 annual tuition. They also only offer pass/fail grades so that can either be an pro or a con depending on if you want to continue on to grad school. Then I went and looked at the "best rated" grad nursing programs like the Medical University of South Carolina that are also entirely online. (Isn't that neat?). They offer DNP degrees since they realize that most advanced practice nurses will be required to have doctorate level education now that Obamacare is in effect. But then I saw their website and it mentioned that those who graduated from schools that are only pass/fail are not considered competitive. The same thing goes for Kaiser's CRNA program (they emailed me back).

BOTTOMLINE: I want to keep my job. I want to get an advanced nursing degree. I don't want to have high student loans because I just paid off my last one. I want to do a degree online but not at the cost of my applications to other schools. I want to make lifelong friends with people in my cohort. APU vs. WGU.

I'm so torn by my decision!!! THEN I REALIZE THAT I HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN ACCEPTED YET LMAO. Waiting sucks.

Links about WGU

Student Reviews and Feedback for Western Governors University - lots of reviews on the site but one accused other reviewers as being planted. There were a fair amount of negative reviews so I'm not sure about it yet. One of the important things to note was that WGU charges $3000 for a six month term but you can complete however many courses as you like. This sounds appealing.
Western Governors University - Colleges & Universities - Millcreek - Salt Lake City, UT - Reviews - Photos - Yelp - of course Yelp was kind of an easy search but the website is reputable so I know the reviews aren't planted. One of the reviewers said that WGU is accredited on many counts:
For those considering WGU: If you are looking for an easy, run-of-the-mill, just pay your fees and get your degree kind of school...WGU is NOT for you.However, if you are interested in attending a REGIONALLY ACCREDITED NONPROFIT University (be aware of those schools that are only nationally accredited and are for-profit) AND you are willing to:- Spend countless hours (nights and weekends) studying,
- Participate in dozens of (if not a hundred or more) weekly sessions with a student mentor,
- Complete upwards of 40 or more challenging projects (some group/team based),
- Develop and record a 45-minute Video Presentation (or just write another report),
- Compete in a nationwide Capsim Business Simulation, and
- Write (in my case) 697 pages worth of essays, reports and presentations
And I verified the regional accreditation through NWCCU. Also, one of the reviewers even uploaded her student ID as a pic on Yelp to prove that it was her! However, there were a fair amount of 1-star reviews from unhappy students.
http://www.rn.ca.gov/schools/passrates.shtml - pass rates from WGU according to the California RN board are ~85%. Not great, but not bad.
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/western-governors-university-33394 - tuition confirming that it is $3000 per 6 month semester (making it a total of $6000/year which is amazing compared to APU's $33,000 annual tuition.)
http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/western-governors-university/salt-lake-city-utah-84107/western-governors-university-wgu-nursing-maserts-program-is-a-joke-salt-lake-city-utah-753686 - There is a rebuttal from the director of the WGU nursing pre licensure program here! Still don't know if it's real but...
http://www.onlinedegreereviews.org/college/western-governors-university-reviews/ - more mixed reviews but if you filter down to the RN-BSN program reviews they are mostly happy (except for the people who are not as computer literate or irritated at their mentor's grading habit.
http://article.wn.com/view/2015/03/27/WGU_Washington_Celebrates_Nurses_with_New_Scholarship_Progra/ - some videos regarding WGU's nursing program
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/magazine/septemberoctober_2011/features/the_college_forprofits_should031640.php?page=all - a Washington State article regarding the future of online education through WGU.

chemshark, BSN, LVN, RN · Sep 4, 2015

@CHEMSHARK Hi!
Do you know anything about these three areas of SD and the schools within? Tierrrasanta: Serra High, Clairemont Mesa: Clairemont High and Point Loma: Point Loma High? I also like North Park, but I don't see a High School in that area? Any 411 would help, as I plan on enrolling my 12-year-old there (if accepted).

Hi @YUYU1219! Unfortunately, I'm a San Diego transplant originally from Los Angeles. However, I've been here for a few years. I utilized Zillow's best school rating website since Zillow has a good reputation as a company.

Without having a firsthand knowledge of the school system, I can at least mention that the locations you mentioned above are all included within the large San Diego Unified School District. As you can see from the screenshot, it is rated average--as you would expect since it is the most populous area of San Diego proper.

sandiegoschoolsmap.jpg?resize=828%2C579

Some personal opinions:

Tierrasanta - I used to go swimming at the public pool there. They have a good middle class location. Very suburbia. I'm not a parent and I'm still a little wild so it's not my cup of tea. Few minutes driving distance to Frye's, Best Buy, and Walmart. Nuff said.

Clairemont Mesa - a little more industrial location. That's where I bought my Chevy and go to the gym. It's more of a place to buy used cars or try out a dim sum place that your more adventurous friends would check out if not for the ethnic food then at least for the strip joints and adult book stores stationed right in the middle of the mini mall. But the rents are cheap!!

Point Loma - I go there to take sunset selfies with my friends at the cliffs overlooking the beach. It's a picturesque town just far enough from Ocean Beach where the hippies are. They also have Point Loma Nazarene where my coworker got his nursing degree. It's a private institution catered to a private and wealthy community. Would definitely find good schooling there amongst the snobby rich kids (second only to the Coronado Island kids). They are religious which may appeal to your faith sensibilities I'm assuming because you applied to APU. But there's a small Navy base there, too, so you may find some affordable housing if you're lucky.

North Park - is the best of all worlds. It is close enough to Hillcrest (my town) & downtown so you can enjoy prime restaurants, festivals, and events on any budget but not have to feel like you're actually in the middle of the city. It used to be a decrepit neighborhood but is beginning to experience gentrification. So finding someplace to live is a hit or miss. It's cheaper than posh places in SD but rent is starting to go through the roof since cool, new, hipster stores, bars, and art galleries are popping up everywhere. Since it was such a bad place a decade ago, I don't think the town was able to erect many schools. They do have Saint Augustine High, though.

Good luck on your choices! Ever since moving to San Diego I don't ever want to leave. My L.A. friends miss me but this is my home now. That's why I only applied to APU and USD (too expensive) for nursing school.

ienurse · Sep 4, 2015

@chemshark - the old saying, "You get what you pay for," I think applies here. I think if your end goal is a BSN and you have absolutely no interest in doing anything beyond that, WGU may be the way to go. I have a friend of mine that has a lower gpa in the 2s and really wants to be an BSN RN. She had decided that she would probably go to a community college to get her ADN, get her grades up overall, then transfer into a RN-BSN program. However, even though she doesn't work, she does have 2 kids that she is responsible for and child care is very difficult for her. She's divorced and all of her expenses are paid for by her ex. This sounds like a perfect program for her as she can do everything she needs to do with her kids but get the education that she desires.

For you on the other hand, I think this program would be a huge mistake. Although it would allow you to work while going to school, I believe it would prevent you from moving onto the next level. All of these schools seem to be getting more competitive not less competitive. There may be some online schools that would allow you to get your Masters as a transfer student but you would be severely limited under the pass/fail system. Either way it is a huge sacrifice. However, I have made decisions to go the easier route in the past and it later comes back to burn me.

I totally hear you regarding the cost. APU is a lot less than say West Coast University but is still pricey. A state school may be the way to go for you if the cost is prohibitive and you aren't in a rush to get the BSN. For me, I haven't been working for a couple of years now so it is crucial for me to get in and get back to the workforce as quickly as I can. My two cents for what it is worth....

chemshark, BSN, LVN, RN · Sep 5, 2015

I totally hear what you're saying @ienurse. Man you seem like a really level headed dude I wish you could've applied to San Diego.

ienurse · Sep 5, 2015

@chemshark - appreciate that man. No one has all the answers but together hopefully we all can navigate and figure this out. Maybe we'll get to graduate together.