Community college or University?

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Hello, I need a lot of help because I am really confused on what to do. I am a high school senior who is about to graduate in 2 months. My father and step mother is trying to force me to attend a university to gain my BSN. I rather go to a community college and obtain my ADN and then transfer to a BSN program at a university. My community college is also accredited by ACEN and is partnered with a four year university so I can transfer to get my BSN. Financial funds are not so great and I do not want to rely on my family so much to pay back my tuition. I live with my mother and she is totally fine with me going to a community college and thinks that's the better route, as well as I do.

My dad and step mother believe that I am too smart to attend a community college and that the quality of the education is poor or not as rich as a university. They also believe that by my attendance at a community college, I will find the left over jobs or not be paid as high as someone who has a bachelors degree. My step mother has also told me hospitals do not pay for you to return to school.

My questions are: Nurses who attend community college, is it harder for them to get a job?

Do hospitals still pay for you to better your education?

Is the education at a community college is poor than a university?

Is it hard to find a job as a nurse overall?

I have researched and researched, and my dad and step mother has done none at all. The stress is weighing in on me and i'm not too sure what to choose.

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Specializes in LTC and Pediatrics.

I know lots of people who have done the community college then university route you are talking about. One thing that your father needs to understand that courses taught at any nursing school are approved by the BON (board of nursing). Also, once you take the NCLEX, you are an RN whichever route you take. Nursing school in community colleges are not dumbed down at all.

Going the community college route will give you the opportunity to start working as an RN two years earlier as you will be able to work while obtaining your BSN.

Ultimately, the decision is yours to make.

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Community college grad here! I went through LPN school, then ADN, at the same community college, and the education was excellent. My school had very high NCLEX pass rates. Found jobs just fine, in an ICU now that I love.

I'll graduate the end of this year with a BSN and no debt - saved $$ on tuition by doing a distance-learning option at my local university.

How you like them apples?

Tell your dad and stepmom to butt out.

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I did the ADN and then BSN a year later thing and felt that I got a great education. However, if I were going to be starting now, I would go straight for my BSN, but that is because of my area and the job market climate. I live in an area with a lot of magnet designated hospitals, and while they say they will hire ADN prepared nurses as long as you sign a contract saying you'll go back to get your BSN within so many years, they typically won't actually hire one unless you were working for that hospital as a tech or CNA while you were in nursing school. I was working for my current employer as a CNA while in school so it was a moot point for me, but many of my classmates had a hard time finding jobs in an acute care setting for that reason.

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The bit about hospitals paying your tuition: it's true, tuition reimbursement is harder to come by these days.

You've applied for financial aid, I hope?

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I have applied to financial aid (:

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

A lot depends on where you live. In my area, new grads with BSN have better opportunities available in the job market because a lot of hospitals prefer them over new grad with an ADN. My hospital won't hire new ADN grads unless they are already enrolled in a BSN program -- not just planning to go later. But in some areas of the country, it doesn't make that much difference. You'll have to talk with people "in the know" at the major hospitals in your area.

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Hospitals paying their ADN RN's to go back and get their BSN's, I haven't seen that really happening the past few years. But it may depend on certain areas of the country. Here in the Midwest there's an overabundance of RN's.

I have my BSN. But that was a personal choice for me and I'm looking at NP schools right now. I also knew *myself* that if I got my ADN I'd lose motivation and not go back lol. That's just me though.

Since your young though I would encourage you to get your BSN, if your able to, just to get it all over and done with. When I graduated from nursing school a nurse was a nurse and no one really cared what degree you had. But now, at least where I live, there are so many nurses and not enough spots that they are hiring the BSN grads over the ADN. Stupid I think, but it is what it is.

Either way. You need to decide what works for *you* and go from there.

And no, a community college is not 'less than' a university. I took a lot of my pre-reqs at a CC and enjoyed it. BUT once I transferred over to the university it was more rigorous in general with all my classes. But there is absolutely nothing wrong whatsoever with whatever choice you make.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Basic rule - you don't have to even pretend to consider the academic advice of anyone who is NOT funding your education :no:.

Actually, recent studies have shown that community colleges are not as affected by "grade inflation" as the 4 year schools. Just last week I saw the results of a 2015 survey showing that "A" was the most common letter grade awarded at universities!!!! There's no hard evidence, but one of the causative factors is believed to be the influence of student "opinion" on faculty evaluations - which are, in turn, used for tenure decisions. So, you'll have to work harder for those A's in a CC than at Humongous University.

Your $ will go much farther at a CC while you take your pre-requisites... then those credits are transferable to the BSN program. Fill out your FAFSA - and you may be pleasantly surprised. If your Mom isn't a high earner, you'll probably be eligible for a full Pell Grant - and in most areas, this will cover most of your CC expense.

Give your Mom a hug for us -- she sounds like a keeper!!

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