Cal State San Marcos ABSN Fall 2018

Vingt8 · May 1, 2018

Hi Everyone.. first time poster. I received my acceptance email April 24 but have been holding off on accepting. I hear CSUSM is a great program, but all the expenses that go along with it are making me second guess my decision to attend. I am waiting for an acceptance at an LA program but I doubt they will be getting back to me by next week. I will most likely accept and pay the $150 for now. I was also emailed a couple of days ago about my financial aid. They are giving me a loan of $12,500 for two terms. I had 40 points. This is the only CSU that I was accepted at so it's a hard decision to make on whether I should bite the bullet and spend all the money or stay in LA and go to a CC. Anyway, best of luck to the rest of you still waiting!

BiscuitStripes, BSN, RN · May 1, 2018

Hi Everyone.. first time poster. I received my acceptance email April 24 but have been holding off on accepting. I hear CSUSM is a great program, but all the expenses that go along with it are making me second guess my decision to attend. I am waiting for an acceptance at an LA program but I doubt they will be getting back to me by next week. I will most likely accept and pay the $150 for now. I was also emailed a couple of days ago about my financial aid. They are giving me a loan of $12,500 for two terms. I had 40 points. This is the only CSU that I was accepted at so it's a hard decision to make on whether I should bite the bullet and spend all the money or stay in LA and go to a CC. Anyway, best of luck to the rest of you still waiting!

Yes, generally you can obtain $12,500 in financial aid per year, so $25,000 for the entire program. You'll be left to fund the remaining $25,000+ via private student loans. I already applied for and was approved for a private student loan through Sallie Mae. They seemed to have the best interest rates.

Viisk8 · May 2, 2018

Hi Everyone.. first time poster. I received my acceptance email April 24 but have been holding off on accepting. I hear CSUSM is a great program, but all the expenses that go along with it are making me second guess my decision to attend. I am waiting for an acceptance at an LA program but I doubt they will be getting back to me by next week. I will most likely accept and pay the $150 for now. I was also emailed a couple of days ago about my financial aid. They are giving me a loan of $12,500 for two terms. I had 40 points. This is the only CSU that I was accepted at so it's a hard decision to make on whether I should bite the bullet and spend all the money or stay in LA and go to a CC. Anyway, best of luck to the rest of you still waiting!

In the same boat! I ultimately think it is a program that is worth the money because of the fact that many people from the program get jobs before graduation and there are many loan repayment options like the nurse corps, military, or maybe even the future hospital we work in may help!

inkabruce · May 2, 2018

Agreed. It's also not an expensive program relative to other ABSN programs out there. It's actually very average. I know going the ADN then bridge to BSN route is going to save you money but it seems like it would take at least another year and it's also incredibly hard to earn employment without the BSN at a hospital. I think it's a great option but everyone's situations are different. I plan on applying for the Sallie Mae loan as well and I know Wells Fargo has one for healthcare students with differed payments until 6 months after graduation as well.

Aprils · May 3, 2018

Hi Everyone.. first time poster. I received my acceptance email April 24 but have been holding off on accepting. I hear CSUSM is a great program, but all the expenses that go along with it are making me second guess my decision to attend. I am waiting for an acceptance at an LA program but I doubt they will be getting back to me by next week. I will most likely accept and pay the $150 for now. I was also emailed a couple of days ago about my financial aid. They are giving me a loan of $12,500 for two terms. I had 40 points. This is the only CSU that I was accepted at so it's a hard decision to make on whether I should bite the bullet and spend all the money or stay in LA and go to a CC. Anyway, best of luck to the rest of you still waiting!

I have heard that CSUSM is a great school, but they've recently replaced the dean of nursing and are making changes to the program. What kind of changes? I'm not really sure. I have a friend who chose a local CC over CSUSM because of the costs. A lot of people are forgetting to factor in cost of living and expenses related to class/clinicals. It's more like mid-$70k if you can be really frugal. One thing that sucks about CSUSM is that you don't get to choose your clinical site and they vary from Riverside to Oceanside. This is another thing my friend didn't like. She didn't want to move from LA to Temecula just to commute 2 hour round trip for clinicals. But I was told that they are working to change that.

Anyway, those are just the things my friend told me. She also advised me to look into CSUDH's "pre-bsn" program. It's basically like the CC-CSULA collaboration program, but you're not actually in any program, rather you're taking online BSN courses over the summer through their extension center. She just started her 4 semester ADN program this Spring. She'll take 2 BSN courses through CSUDH extension during summer 1 then another 2 over summer 2 and apply for the RN-BSN program going into her 4th semester. If everything goes according to her counselor, she'll be taking BSN courses concurrently with ADN courses for her last semester of nursing school. She'll be done with the BSN by Summer 2020. She's fine with that because it'll probably take her a few months waiting to take the NCLEX anyway (California BRN is notorious for being super slow in giving ATTs). Basically, it'll cost her $3k for the ADN program and $15k for the BSN program and it'll only take an extra 6 months compared to CSUSM's 24 month ABSN program. If money is not a problem, go with the ABSN program. But the ADN+BSN route is definitely more financially viable.

Many hospitals in LA area are being lenient in the "BSN only policy" now that there is a shortage of nurses. A friend of mine working at CHLA actually told me that they are allowing ADNs to apply there if you're a student from one of the many community colleges CHLA affiliate with. You'll just have to sign a contract that you'll get your BSN within 3 years. It'll only get worse come 2020 when 1/4 of the older nurses retire. Do your research people!!!

BiscuitStripes, BSN, RN · May 3, 2018

I have heard that CSUSM is a great school, but they've recently replaced the dean of nursing and are making changes to the program. What kind of changes? I'm not really sure. I have a friend who chose a local CC over CSUSM because of the costs. A lot of people are forgetting to factor in cost of living and expenses related to class/clinicals. It's more like mid-$70k if you can be really frugal. One thing that sucks about CSUSM is that you don't get to choose your clinical site and they vary from Riverside to Oceanside. This is another thing my friend didn't like. She didn't want to move from LA to Temecula just to commute 2 hour round trip for clinicals. But I was told that they are working to change that.
Anyway, those are just the things my friend told me. She also advised me to look into CSUDH's "pre-bsn" program. It's basically like the CC-CSULA collaboration program, but you're not actually in any program, rather you're taking online BSN courses over the summer through their extension center. She just started her 4 semester ADN program this Spring. She'll take 2 BSN courses through CSUDH extension during summer 1 then another 2 over summer 2 and apply for the RN-BSN program going into her 4th semester. If everything goes according to her counselor, she'll be taking BSN courses concurrently with ADN courses for her last semester of nursing school. She'll be done with the BSN by Summer 2020. She's fine with that because it'll probably take her a few months waiting to take the NCLEX anyway (California BRN is notorious for being super slow in giving ATTs). Basically, it'll cost her $3k for the ADN program and $15k for the BSN program and it'll only take an extra 6 months compared to CSUSM's 24 month ABSN program. If money is not a problem, go with the ABSN program. But the ADN+BSN route is definitely more financially viable.
Many hospitals in LA area are being lenient in the "BSN only policy" now that there is a shortage of nurses. A friend of mine working at CHLA actually told me that they are allowing ADNs to apply there if you're a student from one of the many community colleges CHLA affiliate with. You'll just have to sign a contract that you'll get your BSN within 3 years. It'll only get worse come 2020 when 1/4 of the older nurses retire. Do your research people!!!

I know some hospitals in Orange County are also relaxing the BSN requirement; however, I'd recommend reading some threads on this forum regarding the nursing shortage. Mission Hospital is now allowing ADN nurses to apply; however, you need two years of acute care experience AND must already be enrolled in a BSN program.

Although there are some shortages in certain parts of the country of nurses, the "shortage" is mainly qualified experienced nurses, or nurses in fields such as LTC or hospice, not new grads in acute care. The other "shortage" at the acute level is not having enough staff, which is due to hospitals not filling vacancies as a cost saving measure, not because they have a shortage of applicants.

It's very interesting to read about. Most states are expecting a huge surplus of nurses due to nursing schools pumping out new grads. Combine that with hospitals wanting experience and not filling all vacancies, and you have a very tough job market. I know people have said a few times here most CSUSM grads have jobs lined up before graduation, but I find it hard to believe almost 180 students from CSUSM each year are getting Job offers prior to graduation. I'm fully prepared and expecting to move somewhere rural to get a new grad job due to the terrible job market for new grads. Hopefully I can network a job during school but I know it's going to be very difficult.

Anyways, This is all opinions of mine and others I've read on this board. Interesting topic to look into. If you have a half hour one night, I'd recommend reading this thread in its entirety...I did it and it gave me a great perspective from nurses going through it all. Many believe the "shortage" is all smoke and mirrors.

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/so-is-there-1074244.html

Goodbye shortage: Feds now predicting a 34

picklerick · May 4, 2018

We do have a new Director of Nursing, she came in during 2017 and I believe she is the best thing that could have happened to this program. She has been advocating to slash a lot of the busy work/unnecessary assignments that are currently a part of the curriculum. Of course, the changes will take time because multiple people have to be on board, but she is an amazing woman who is very involved and truly wants the best for the students.

As for the ADN/BSN route, it depends on how flexible you are willing to be post-graduation. You will definitely find work at a SNF and you will find work if you are willing to relocate. I'm in San Diego, I'm trying to stay in San Diego, and I am hoping to have a job lined up before graduation. This would be very difficult with an Associates. Of course, there are exceptions, but that's the *general* struggle for new grads in SD. After nursing school, I cannot imagine going back to school for a VERY long time, so you have to weigh out the pro's and con's of needing to work towards your BSN shortly after getting your Associate's.

As for the post-graduation job offers: many students do actually have jobs lined up. You have to keep in mind that not everyone is applying for jobs right after graduation. A lot of students plan on taking a break, preparing for the NCLEX, and then looking for jobs after some down time. So, it's not 180 students with jobs lined up right away because not that many are looking for jobs immediately after.

Every decision comes back to weighing the pro's and the con's, everyone has different levels of flexibility and different goals.

lacroixislife · May 7, 2018

You got your financial aid/loan information already? Where does it tell you your loan information? :0

Also, Congrats on everyone who got accepted! and hang tight to those waiting :) I just turned in my paid my deposit. I had 30 points. Should we all make a facebook group? :)))

BiscuitStripes, BSN, RN · May 7, 2018

Yes, I got an email. Also, if you go into your student center, on the left side it'll say financial aid. If you click it, it will have all the information. I submitted my FAFSA a while ago though for a different school and just added CSUSM once I got my admission letter, so I'm not see if that sped it up.

Viisk8 · May 8, 2018

Hi everyone,

How many of you are planning on working during the program?

lwhj · May 8, 2018

I was thinking about working.. but does anyone know how our first semester will look like?

Viisk8 · May 8, 2018

I emailed my advisor and she said we won't know the schedule until it comes out. She said we could be attending 1-3 days per week. It's 3 GE's for the first semester