Choosing a school - diploma vs A.S. Degree

[Daniellemw]

Hi..

I have decided to go back to school to become an RN; however, I am struggling on choosing a school and hoping that I can get some advise here. The first school of thought was MCI. They unfortunately are very expensive but offer an A.S Degree program, on the other hand it is not currently accredited by the NLNAC but they are a candidate for this. It is a 15-month accelerated program and they offer evening classes which is what I need to take because I will continue work. The classes are 5 days a week and last only 5 weeks, clinicals are done on the weekends. Second is Riverside Health Professions school which also offers an evening class 2 nights a week and every other weekend for 3 years. This school is accredited by the NLNAC but offers a diploma program. This school is significatly less costly at 18,700. However, I am not sure how important an A.S Degree is vs a diploma or how important NLNAC accrediation is versus just the regular accrediation - comission of colleges accrediation. I just want to make sure that I make the right choice. Would love some opinions..

Danielle

[adamva]

I'm a 23 year old veteran that is currently attending MCI in Newport News. I can't speak for the rest of the nation but here in Hampton Roads the diploma vs ADN probably won't be an issue. The NLNAC accredidation probably won't be an issue either. I say that because as long as you pass your NCLEX and get your license most colleges will base the credits they award you on your license, not your diploma/degree or the accredidation of your school. I know this is the case for ODU's BSN program and every other school I have looked at for a BSN program.

MCI is great for some but not for all. It is very fast paced. You will go through classes 3X FASTER than other colleges do. You will still get taught and tested on the same stuff. But you will do it 3 times faster. That is one thing that I love about the school. I don't get as much time to get bored with a class as I did at other schools. But that pace doesn't fit everyone's learning style. I'm not saying that if you can't do it that fast that you are dumb. I just mean that having classes that are that fast paced can stress people out faster and burn them out more quickly.

@ MCI you will be in class alot, its like working a full time job. You won't get much time off. We get occasional holidays off and we get 2 weeks for Christmas. Other than that we are in school year round.

MCI is great in the respect that you get done FAST. I mean really really fast. At MCI you can go from start to finish in 16 months... most people have at least 1 month of prereq's and then 15 months for the program.

If you go to Riverside you are gonna have to take alot of prerequisite courses before you actually start the program. Time was the deciding factor for me.

If you attend Riverside the program takes 2 or 3 years(for night classes) after taking at the very least 1 year of prerequisite courses. And of course Riverside only starts classes twice a year and you have to have a certain amount of your prerequisites done to be able to apply early enough to get in. It also pretty competitive and they don't take many students.

MCI takes 60 students 4 times a year so your chances of getting in are twice as good. I do agree that the price for the school is ridiculous. It was $33,800 when I started in Sept 08. Now I think it is like $40k or something. There are two ways you can look at the price. Either its just too damn much money for an associates degree or its worth is because you get to start working as a nurse 2+ years earlier(since you wanna do nights).

Honestly I don't know if I would have done it if I didn't have the GI Bill to help pay for school but every one has to decide if its worth the money for themselves.

In case you are wondering MCI does have a really high NCLEX pass rate (88% I think) but there are also alot of people that drop out. Your class will start with 30 but graduating classes are usually 10-20 graduates.

Its not for everybody and if you can't make it to class or clinicals on time they will FAIL you because the courses are attendance based. If you are willing to work really hard for 15 months then go for it and I hope to see you at school soon.

Whether you go to MCI or somewhere else, good Luck in whatever you do,

Adam

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