Need some input please.

Nursing Students Chamberlain College

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  1. Are you willing to pay 88K for a Bachelor’s degree?

    • 2
      Definitely!
    • 13
      Reconsider your options.
    • 23
      It’s not worth it.

38 members have participated

I am an aspiring nurse at 46. I've been working as an Ophthalmic Technician for 14 yrs and decided to pursue a career in the same field but more in depth caring for patients. I came across Chamberlain University while I'm searching for universities and community colleges. They are offering a BSN degree in 3 yrs at a cost. Factoring in my age and the mandated situation in hospitals for ADNs to acquire their BSNs. Would you recommend paying 88K for a Bachelor's degree? We are not rich by any means , just a very supportive husband.

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I'm in TX and the slots for the program is very competetive and limited. The lure of having the BSN in 3 yrs and not waiting until Fall of 2018 is very tempting. I'm 46, you can imagine my dilemma.

I don't see it as a dilemma. Next year, you'll be 47. In three years, you'll be 49, and you'll be taking the NCLEX and starting to work as a nurse with FAR less debt. You won't have your BSN yet, but you can be well on your way. Spend the time taking classes you'll need toward your BSN if you've already done all of the prereqs for an ADN.

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Are you hoping to work as a nurse on an ophthalmology unit? Are you willing to work anywhere to pay those loans.

Ophthamology units are few and far between. My hospital has an eye clinic and the ophthalmology ward. The nurses there tend to stay forever and rarely move until they retire.

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Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.
Hello! Thanks for your input. The classes for Chamberlain's start in January and that was really an attractive lure for me. But I'm definitely reconsidering.

Please do. I mean not reconsider nursing school but going a route that will leave you with almost 90k in debt. There has to be some not for profit schools in your area that wont charge you nearly so much.

One of the coolest things I love about nursing now is being able to alter my schedule to suit my lifestyle. I currently do three permanent shifts a week which gives me enough to pay my bills and basic expenses and 1-2 per diem shifts for extras. There would be no way I could be able to do that with 88K in student loans

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If she already has at least 10 years of recent pre reqs then the cost will be less then 88k

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DO NOT DO IT. You will have your RN in 3 years from now, starting the nursing program next fall. You can be working as an RN in 3 years, and you can immediately enroll in a BSN program at that time, which you would be able to finish in a year, for $10,000 or under. DO NOT mortgage the next 20 years of your life for nearly $100,000 in student loan debt.

Have you looked at taking a statistics class next spring/summer? That will be a class you can check off your list, as well, since you've completed all your prereqs to the nursing program.

Yes, I will look into taking Stats during Spring. I sure appreciate all the response I'm getting. Thanks for the advice.

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Chamberlain should be called Scam-berlin. Is it even legal to charge that much for a BSN degree? You may as well agree to a contract that says, after you do start working, you will sign all of your checks over to the college. Basically you will be homeless and have to wait in the bread line.

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Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.

The other things to look at would be what is the schools pass rate for the NCLEX exam

If a nursing school doesn't have a high pass rate I would avoid it

In NZ our schools have a standardised curriculm which is dictated by nursing council, as a result the pass rates for state finals (NCLEX) are usually between 95-100%

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My response is different from everyone else. I would say it depends on your situation I myself will be starting Chamberlain as a sophomore I have completed my reqs already. Yes the cost is high yes I will pay less then some others but it's my only option because most of my sciences are expired in traditional schools eyes and at Chamberlain your sciences are good for up to 10 years. I have waited a long time to get in this position and don't see any other options so for me I'm taking this option. I will deal with the loans later. Money comes and money goes I cold be rich one day who knows it depends on the individual if you are a person like myself who plans on having income coming from different ways then you will be fine. I'm not worried about my loans they will be paid off before time. That's just me if you have a financial plan then you should have no worries about your loan people see lots of money and get scared they probably not thinking about making more money. Have a financial plan don't follow the crowd. I move to my own beat."

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
My response is different from everyone else. I would say it depends on your situation I myself will be starting Chamberlain as a sophomore I have completed my reqs already. Yes the cost is high yes I will pay less then some others but it's my only option because most of my sciences are expired in traditional schools eyes and at Chamberlain your sciences are good for up to 10 years. I have waited a long time to get in this position and don't see any other options so for me I'm taking this option. I will deal with the loans later. Money comes and money goes I cold be rich one day who knows it depends on the individual if you are a person like myself who plans on having income coming from different ways then you will be fine. I'm not worried about my loans they will be paid off before time. That's just me if you have a financial plan then you should have no worries about your loan people see lots of money and get scared they probably not thinking about making more money. Have a financial plan don't follow the crowd. I move to my own beat."

It is really troubling when you say things like "It's my only option" and "I don't see any other options for me". You could re-take your sciences (and refresh your learning to boot) and apply to a far less expensive school. And while you "plan on having income coming from different ways" and tell OP she should have "no worries about (her) loan" - none of that is guaranteed. What happens if you get halfway through and can't finish- either due to academic circumstances or some life event? You still owe a LOT of money. What happens if you cannot pass NCLEX? Then you owe a WHOLE LOT of money and no nursing job to pay it back.

I just think that this all-or-nothing thinking is not helpful advice to give.

For the record, the Chamberlain in my area turns out good nurses. So this is NOT an anti-Chamberlain bias, it is an anti-exorbitant, avoidable debt bias.

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I'm sorry you feel troubled I'm fine with my decision so that's what matters MEANmaryjean

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I'm not retaking my classes you sound crazy lol I waited a long time get where I am yeah retake them and SPEND more money that makes no sense by time I spend money on retaking 6 classes that money could go towards my current school lol and then my HESI score will expire and then I would have to retake it all over again clearly you didn't think all that through before you decided to reply thanks for your suggestion but that is a terrible one

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Your a negative thinker talking about what if this and what if that. Don't speak negative things to me if I work hard the results will show and that's what I will do I'm good over here focus on you.

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