CUNY Lehman College?

wanna-be-nurse · Dec 28, 2005

Hey Echinacea,

Just posted a thread of the same topic. I am also interested in more info on Lehman. I just got accepted this past fall and will be starting in January as a nursing student. First let me tell you that it was very difficult to get into because it is a very reputable (CUNY) and affordable (only about $6,000/yr) BSN program. Although their minimum GPA is 2.5, this past year they didn't go further down 3.2, which I think is fair. I will be doing my clinicals in Veterans Hospital in the nursing home dept. But they did give me another hospital to choose from but it was just a bit far for me to travel so Veterans was my choice since its closer to me. I took some of my pre-req at Lehman and to be honest, the teachers (graduate students) I had were not at the top of their fields and when asked a question, they had to look up answers instead of knowing them. You learn what you needed to learn to pass the course and no more. I graduated from Baruch and took science courses there and were taught by professors that were Princeton and Yale graduates and at the top of their fields. You always learned more than what you needed to to pass the course. If you take classes in the morning, you will see the majority of students there. I say this with not offense but most of the students there look ghetto and sometimes I fell I was in high school again. I have to say that the campus is beautiful, especially during the summer when you can sit in the grass and relax. Well I hope you find this helpful. I would also like to know what to expect when I enter the program.

Best of Luck to you!!

echinacea · Dec 29, 2005

Hi wanna-be-nurse, Thanks for answering. Are your clinicals at the VA hospital in Manhattan or The Bronx? Best of luck to you, and congrats on being accepted!

wanna-be-nurse · Dec 29, 2005

Thank you. Its the VA in the Bronx, which is not far from Lehman, about 10 minutes away which is great. Where are you in your studies? Have you decided in a particular school?

Lee-Lee · Jan 6, 2006

I have just submitted my application to Lehman for my pre-reqs. I want to apply to the nursing program there as well. One of my bigger reasons for choosing Lehman was the fact that if offered child care at night and on weekends so I could take my pre reqs at night or on weekends.

wanna-be-nurse · Jan 9, 2006

I see the little kids all the time on campus. When the teachers take them out, the they put them in a line and they look so cute and happy. I don't know much about their childcare programs but it seems great. Best of luck!!

olivia28 · Jan 9, 2006

wanna-be nurse, please tell how long it took you to get into the program at lehman (from pre-reqs to acceptance). My biggest problem with CUNY schools is not wanting to wait 3 years to get into a program, especially since I am not taking my pre-reqs at that particular school. I think they prefer if you do take your prereqs there, but I chose not to for the reason you stated earlier about the lack of knowledgeable instructors.

wanna-be-nurse · Jan 9, 2006

Well Olive, I had some pre-req. from my previous degree but I entered Lehman on Sep. 2004. I was done with my pre-req by Summer 2005 and applied to the nursing program on January 2005 (Remember you have to apply to the program eventhough you are accepted to the school). Got accepted for the Spring 2006. Lucky me I guess cause I can't say that I had a competitive gpa but a good one. Yes the instructors aren't as good as the ones I had at Baruch (for my pre-req) but they are very nice and helpful and not all of them are grad students. Most of the staff are phd's and tenure or asst. profs. Yes, some of my instructors were grad students but you do learn and remember, 90% of it is you and your effort to learn. The most important thing is that you get in. Have a back up also. I applied to other schools just in case I didn't get accepted. Where did you hear you have to wait 3 years to get in? Is this after you're finished with your pre-req? I hope not. Also I heard that they are now implementing an admission test as part of the requisites to get in. Is that true?

sassysapphire916 · Feb 2, 2006

I attended Lehman College and do not recommend you go there. I find that with all the CUNY schools the professors make it very difficult for obvious reasons, but some more than others. I have had a lot of RN's from the two year colleges (BMCC, Hostos) in my courses and it seems the feelings of disgust run mutually in all the CUNY colleges. The old really eat their young unfortunately. Lehman is now implementing a new entrance exam, which you haveto pay for, on the computer and going to use that as the basis of admission and weigh the pre-req's less. I do not know about other schools but in your final semester, Lehman Nursing program will do all they can to prevent you from taking the state boards because their passing rate is not as high as it was a semester ago. They require you to take the National League for Nursing Exam, which is a general exam which does include many of the things you may not be taught. I do not know of other colleges, but this college is short on staff and will hire just about anyone to teach a course. If you do not get the score they want you to get on the NLN they will not give you permission to take the NCLEX. There are students that are still waiting from a year ago to have the school send their info to Albany.

Many of the professors are rude and constantly throw in your face that they can fail you at any given point in time. If you have a personality conflict with a professor they can fail you and according to the WONDERFUL department chair she does not want to hear any complaints about her holier than though staff. There are only four professors I know that I consider to conduct themselves as professionals. I am not familiar with the professors that teach the Grad school level courses. I could continue going on and on and on and on about this college. I, in a way, regret going there. I was better off going to a private college and maybe I would have been treated with some dignity and respect. I feel like CUNY is welfare and the professor's make you feel like you are begging them for a grade you deserve.

wanna-be-nurse · Feb 2, 2006

I sent you a pm since I am interested in what you have to say more about Lehman. I do agree with you about some things.

I do not believe it is welfare. I was not handed anything to get into the program and got in by my own merits. I have a 3.5 gpa and am very proud of that. And I do not receive any financial aid, all out of my pocket.

I do understand your frustration. Well so far, my professors are all RN's, with MS and three out of four are PhD. students. So I feel good about that but I have my eyes open. Look forward to your PM.

sassysapphire916 · Feb 3, 2006

I do not believe it is welfare. I was not handed anything to get into the program and got in by my own merits. I have a 3.5 gpa and am very proud of that. And I do not get any fianacial aid, all out of my pocket.

I meant that in the sense that they make the students feel like they are begging for a handout when in reality they aren't. I share your sentiment. I also have a high GPA, paid my own tuition with no financial aid, was on Dean's List, am part of a major Honor Society, and will graduate with honors. That being mentioned, it does not take away from the fact that the staff lack courtesy and to some degree professionalism. Again this is my opinion. You have only seen one side of the coin,whereas, I have seen both from the program. I sent you a PM.