CHAMBERLAIN!good or bad rep?!

LAS16 · Apr 4, 2008

hello. i am applied to chamberlain college of nursing in illinois. it is a new campus in our state. i would like to know how is the chamberlain in your state? does it have a good rep because i am worried about not being able to get my masters bc of this new school. I have no info about this school from other ppl since it is new. i have been trying to find any forums or comments but none from my state. so did anyone go to this school and how was thier bsn program?! were you qualified to get your masters? from forums i read from other states, i heard it isn't as good except thier online courses. please if you know anything about this school or even went to this school..tell me how it was because i am going to a school where i have no idea what to expect. im not even sure this school is accreditted. PLEASE GET BACK TO ME ASAP.

Oh goodness I just wrote out such a long reply and somehow it got deleted. OKay so I'm going to try this again; just a shorter version and you can message me with specific questions, but being 2 different campuses I can only give you my reponses on experince within my campus. I am getting very close to graduation with the BSN on campus program. If you happen to read any threads about negativity towards the school IGNORE THEM!!! They pertain to the online program (which doesn't exist anymore)---they are totally seperate and people love getting the facts misconstrued.

Okay, since I am already into my speciality rotations I have experience working along side students from other area schools. The education is closely comparable to say the least. We take the same classes, have the same quality in clinical roation and lab experience. I am fully planning on getting a post graduate degree and I have already began talking to an admissions counselor from a univeristy who told me all of my classes are transferable. Furthermore, I feel like I am academically prepared to earn a graduate degree.

I also wanted to tell you, that you are entering a new program so it may have it's little wrinkles that will need ironing out. I also know that almost all nursing schools have long wait lists. So, even though being a "guinea pig" for a new program may prove to be slightly irritating at times, it sounds like the lesser of the 2 evils to me:chuckle!!! Just kidding about the evil part, its really not that big of a deal. I honestly think you made a good choice, honestly! I also believe your state's program should be accredited since it is in the Chamberlain network. I would check into it just to be safe, but I couldn't imagine the school would proceed with enrolling if it wasn't.

I really love my school and almost all the instructors I have had the pleasure of mentoring and learning from. I actually had the chance to meet a few instructors from your campus. They were visiting and sat in on our small group simulation lab. They were very nice and also very knowledgable (both amazing qualities to have concurrently in an instructor).

I hope this helps you relax a little:nuke: and congrats on taking your first step on your path to becoming a nurse. I truly find it rewarding (even through the really rough moments!!!!)

I know I had so many questions before I started and didn't have a reliable outside source to turn to. I will be happily be a reliable resource for you and I hope I addressed your main concern! Like I said previously, please ask any questions I will be glad to help you in anyway!

cakesbyjess · Apr 21, 2008

Hi! I go to Chamberlain in Columbus, OH. Chamberlain just came to Columbus a little over a year ago. I am in the first BSN class at this Chamberlain campus, and I'm halfway through my third semester. Overall, I have had a really positive experience thus far. Like the PP said, there are always kinks with new schools, and my campus is no exception to that. However, I have loved all of my professors so far, the class sizes are pretty small (around 30 people or less), and I am learning so much. I already have a Bachelors Degree from another university (Ohio University), so it's hard not to compare Chamberlain to OU. I do like that fact that Chamberlain is only a nursing school, so that's the sole focus. I do believe that they really want each of us to succeed, and do everything in their power to ensure that this happens. I would say that my only complaint about Chamberlain is the high cost of tuition. But, since there's not a lot I can do about that, I just have to hope I'll get a nice signing bonus when I graduate and maybe some tuition reimbursement from my future employer. :nuke: My Chamberlain campus is not fully accredited yet ... it's conditionally accredited, but I assume that will be changing to full accreditation soon. I think any time a new school opens, it has conditional accreditiation for a period of time. Since Chamberlain's first campus in St. Louis has been around forever and is fully accredited, I have no doubt that it will be just a matter of time before all of the newer campuses also have full accreditation. I am also planning on going to grad school after I get my BSN, and I have no doubt that as long as I pass my state boards and maintain a good GPA in undergrad, I will get into a Masters program. I definitely recommend Chamberlain, and I hope that you have a great experience there if you decide to go. Please let me know if I can answer any other questions for you. :)

student-to-be · Mar 17, 2009

You two were SOOOO helpful. I've been researching forever and think I might have found something with Chamberlain!! I have so many questions though - feel free to answer one or all if you get a chance! Any comments or advice is so much appreciated. I'm ready to stop stressing about school and actually START!! :yeah:

So far the reviews seem to be positive. I am starting from scratch though and I'm hoping to knock out my prereqs in about a year and then begin the application process. Can you tell me how competitive the school is? What the program is like, like the day-to-day? The teachers? Is it trimesters and if so how does that work? I read that there's a lot of writing... Are you consumed with homework? Any time for a social life? Is class M-F? Wow, ok I'm really springing these questions on you... like I said.. even answering one question would be most helpful!

cakesbyjess · Mar 18, 2009

Hi! Where are you? Are you in Columbus? That's where I am, so I can only give you info about the program I am in. I just started my senior year, so I have a little less than 3 semesters (trimesters) left. As I said in my last post, I am part of the first graduating BSN class on my campus. There have been growing pains along the way, but I have been very pleased with the program and the school. The classroom and clinical instructors (minus maybe one or two) have been absolutely amazing ... everything I could have ever wanted and more. From what I hear, the school is very competitive, mainly because there are just way more people trying to get in than they could ever accommodate. This semester, I have class two days a week, and I have one 12-hour clinical day per week. The classes are very intense ... each 16-week trimester is divided up into two 8-week sessions, so the time goes by very quickly and there is a LOT of material to cover in 8 short weeks. But, the BSN is an accelerated program (3 years instead of the typical 4), so I guess that is par for the course. If I were you, I would try to take as many prereqs as possible at a community college or public university. Chamberlain's tuition is very expensive, and you will save a lot of money if you get the prereqs out of the way somewhere else. That said, once I was accepted at Chamberlain 2 years ago, I was told that I could no longer take any classes anywhere else, so I was stuck taking some of my sciences (pathophysiology and microbiology) at Chamberlain and paying the high tuition for them. There is a lot of reading and a lot of homework, but never more than I can handle. It is a stressful program, but I would guess that is the case no matter where you go ... nursing school is tough and intense. I have some time for a social life, but not a whole lot. Again, I think that is just part of being in nursing school. It becomes your life and your top priority. There are three 16-week trimesters every year ... fall, spring, and summer. You go to school year round, with a two week break in both June and December. The trimester schedule doesn't match any other college schedule in my area, but oh well. I hope this helps. Please let me know if I can answer any other questions for you. I wish you lots of luck and good thoughts as you take this next step!! :)

meatballexperience · Mar 22, 2009

I just started at Chamberlain in St. Louis in March. Although I am still finishing up some gen eds, I have to say so far I really like the school and am very happy with my decision to attend. I get the feeling that they really care and really want you to succeed. When I was at my orientation for clinicals, our clinical coordinator got teary eyed when she was telling us that she is here to see us through and seeing us graduate every year keeps her going. Our school is accredited by both the NLNAC and the CCNE. I'm sure your school is headed in the same direction. As far as Chamberlain holding you back from graduate school, did you know that they just rolled out a new online MSN program? Before I decided to attend, I emailed a lot of past Chamberlain grads from the BSN program, and they all spoke highly of it. I would suggest looking for people in the Chamberlain network on Facebook and contacting them to get their thoughts. But in the end trust your gut. If it feels right, go for it! If it doesn't seem like a good fit, keep looking.

meatballexperience · Mar 22, 2009

Ok, I just realized I replied to the original post from 2008 and not your post, student to be. :banghead: Anyway, I completed about a semesters worth of pre reqs at community college but I have to say I really like taking my gen eds through Chamberlain because you have the opportunity to take them online. In my math class, you were able to work at your own pace and I worked my butt off and finished it up in 2 1/2 weeks! And I am learning a lot in my online A&P because a big part of your grade is posting in online discussions and it really forces you to read the text. As far as competitiveness, I honestly don't know how competitive it is, but I do know that they are able to admit more students because they admit 3 times a year. We have a TON of nursing programs in St. Louis so I didn't have a problem with getting in with my grades. You do have to take the HESI entrance exam, but I got the study guide from Barnes and Noble and made like a 93 on it. It does seem like there is a lot of writing, but they make help readily accessible. As far as schedules go, when you get to the nursing classes, at our campus there is a day and evening option. Day is M-TH, all day and evening is M-TH evening with clinicals on the weekends. I am busy, I have a family and I have found this to be a great fit for me! If I can answer anything else let me know!