Baptist School of Health Professions vs. SAC

iHeartNICU · Nov 30, 2007

I don't really know much about either one but I have a friend that just graduated from Baptist and she liked the program and got hired at a local labor & delivery unit here in SA.

The only thing I know is that Baptist is a diploma program and at SAC you get an associate's degree.

Just in case you didn't know, there are other RN program in San Antonio. It's UT Health Science Center at San Antonio & Incarnate word. These are both BSN programs. I can tell you all about UTHSCSAthat one since that's where I'm at but really know nothing about the other ones.

Best of luck in everything. If you have any questions about UTHSCSA feel free to PM me!

jessica<3RN · Dec 1, 2007

What exactly is the difference between a diploma and degree? Would I be able to jump straight into a BSN program with a diploma? I am also considering this route.

iHeartNICU · Dec 4, 2007

A diploma isn't a college degree...the associates and bachelors degrees are college degrees (that's really the only difference I know of). If you went to a diploma program you would be able to go to a RN to BSN program. My friend who graduated from the baptist diploma program is going to work for a year or two and then do the RN to BSN program. I don't think you have to wait though, I think you could just go straight to it. But, if you are gonna go straight into it, why not just go for the BSN upfront? It seems like that would be easier. Hope that answered your question :) Best of luck!

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Dec 4, 2007

i have always wanted to go to baptist but i live to far away. if i had a choice i would do a diploma program before any other program...but that is just me.

violingirl · Dec 13, 2007

Baptist is actually getting it changed over so the students will be rewarded with an associates degree by graduation. I'm not sure when exactly it will be changed, but I graduate in May of 09 and they said we'd probably have it by then... Even so, their program will be the same. It doesn't really make that much of a difference... an RN's an RN, and bridge RN-BSN programs acknowledge diploma as equivalent to an ADN.

As far as the school goes. I've just loved it so far. The first sem. instructors are awesome. Everyone is really nice and encouraging. We have rotations at really good hospitals... and the people there seem to think more highly of baptist students than ones from other programs. We get a lot more hands-on then the UTSA nursing students and the focus is more on bedside hands-on nursing. As soon as we learn something we're doing it in clinical. And we started clinicals practically right away.

SAC's supposed to be good too... but the drop rate's a lot higher. And you have to wear all white scrubs. As opposed to navy blue. =) I've heard mixed things about the instructors there too. But overall I'm sure it's a good program. Both of the schools NCLEX pass rate is in the 90's.

My advice would be to go for Baptist. But I probably am biased some. Haha.

jessica<3RN · Dec 13, 2007

Thanks so much for your input. Could you tell me a little bit more about the program itself? I'd like to know how many students are admitted, and what the average GPA for acceptance was/is.

I've read the admissions guidelines, but prefer to hear it from a student, since these programs are so competitive.

Thanks!!

Tiber Grim · Jan 1, 2008

I just graduated from the Baptist School. You will probably get your best statistics about GPA needed from the Student Services office. The receptionist there is especially helpful as are the rest of the staff. If you are concerned about getting in then do a few things: 1. Apply to more than one school. 2. Maybe also apply to the LVN program. You can then do the LVN to RN program later. 3. The school puts plenty of weight on your score on the Nurse Entrance Test (NET). You could study up for that. Just study up on your applied math, doing word problems. And maybe get an SAT prep book and go over the Reading prep part. If you score well enough on the NET then that can help offset any problem grades you may have.

From what I was able to see, the Baptist students were allowed to use their skills a lot earlier than students from other schools. And yes we start clinicals the second or third week of school for the first class. For the rest of the classes you start clinicals the first or second week of class.

Learn about the scholarships available from the Baptist Foundation. And if you get "A"s in your first semester then apply for a merit scholarship.

mandeeh · Jan 11, 2008

I am attending SAC, we start clinicals the first week of school, even in our 1st semester. Some of the first level instructors are very student friendly and some....not so much. I had a 4.0 GPA and had completed all of my pre-req's. From what I understand SAC is now trying to have 120 students start per semester, which I belive is quite a bit more than Baptist, we didnt have to take the NET either. I would put in for both. The program at St. Phillips that was mentioned above is a LVN to RN program, so if you're not an LVN its not for you. SAC has a lot of applicants. Hope this helps. Good luck!!

lvrs8489 · Jun 10, 2008

I heard that bshp will have an increase in their tuition rates. I think they said that as of right now, it is 14,000 for two years. Does anybody know how much it may increase to? Also, they had mentioned that the school will pay for the two years that you are enrolled, if you agree upon working for them for a certain period of time....this acquisition, they said was very competitive. Any info on that one?...or has anybody ever heard of this?

TXRobyn · Jun 16, 2008

I will be attending Baptist in the fall and the current tuition is up to 17000 now. They do give you credit for some gen ed classes if you have done them elsewhere. I think they are college algebra, freshman comp, developmental psych and a couple of others. They are about 665 per class.

The program you are talking about where they pay for school commits you to 4 or 5 years in the Baptist system. I'm not sure how competitive it is. I know you can get partial coverage with a 2-3 year commitment which may be the better way to go.

lvrs8489 · Jun 16, 2008

thanks.

how is the net exam? is it as similar to the accuplacer they require at community colleges?