Choosing between two programs

[kiera92]

Hi everyone.. Like many, I am a long-time browser and have decided to make an account and participate today.

I am getting a little ahead of myself here, but it is likely I could be accepted into both of the two programs I will be applying for in Fall '14. I don't want to sound like I'm complaining about it, because I would be grateful to even be accepted into one of them - but I have a decision to make and I would appreciate any input at all on it.

One program is a university, the other a community college. I am applying to their associate degree programs. I'm also applying to the university's bachelor degree program since I'm eligible but the preferred admission criteria to the university's associate program are more so in my favor. Anyway.

I have a friend in the last semester of the university's associate degree program who tells me she has really enjoyed her time spent there. She already has a job for after she graduates. She tells me this program is more organized than the community college's (she transferred from the CC to the University). She also told me the CC's program requires 5-days a week attendance for lecture component, whilst the university averages about 2-3 days a week - and even then, there is no attendance policy, although it is recommended, the actual lectures are recorded and made readily available for students should you need to miss. This isn't necessarily a problem for me, though. It's just that she emphasized how the university's program's faculty provides a more collaborative and reinforcing environment, she said that she felt the atmosphere created by the instructors at the CC was more hostile and unnecessarily scrutinizing.

I'm not trying to find the "easiest" program or anything, I know it will be challenging wherever I choose, and I am fine with that. It's just that I don't know anybody at all who is in or who has graduated the CC program to ask their thoughts. My friend did mention that out of the 60 people admitted to the CC program, as she kept in touch she found out only around 22 graduated and less than that passed boards from what she heard. I also looked at both school's NCLEX pass rates, the CC has averaged about 85 the last 3 years and the university 97%. I know this means little when considering retention rates, though.What I am mainly asking here is if anybody has any experiences from which they attribute bad qualities to Community College programs versus the University ones. Obviously programs will vary no matter what institution facilitates them, but do you think there's anything widely "unique" to a university versus a community college program? I know the decision is ultimately my own, but I just don't want to get stuck somewhere I don't want to be (the CC requires much less commuting time, so that is really the only thing favorable about it to me).

[Stephalump]

I don't have any advice really, because my experience would've be applicable to your specific choice.

But I'd like to point out that you wrote an essay on the greatness you've heard about the BSN, and at the end stated that the only plus of the CC is a shorter commute.

So all it really comes down to is how important your commute is to you.

[Kran1990]

It seems like you already made a choice.

Good luck.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

The OP's listing of the differences is very accurate in most instances. First of all, these two 'learning institutions' have different missions. University missions generally include research & service in addition to teaching. CC missions are focused on delivering competency-based, affordable for technical/ vocational programs as well as education that can serve as a spring-board for higher degrees.

Universities attract faculty that are committed to education as a profession. They provide ongoing development for faculty & support career advancement. On the other hand, CC's can't offer all of that. They utilize a very high number of adjunct faculty (hired by the course) who may be teaching part-time to supplement another job. University faculty participate in ongoing improvement and development of new curricula. CC faculty generally are just handed a syllabus and told "teach this".

So, the differences between CC & University environments are hard-wired. It should not be a surprise that the nursing programs reflect those differences. It's apples and oranges.