Does this Family Nurse Practitioner program sounds shady?

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Specializes in ER nurse, FNP student.

Hello all! Before I begin, here's some information about myself:

-I got my first RN job in 12/16, in Home Care Agency.

-On 7/17 I got a full time job in a hospital.

So I have almost 1 year of experience as RN, but only 4 months bedside experience

-GPA: 3.08

I need an advice. I applied to this FNP program and the way they sound doesn't feel right. Or maybe it's just me, maybe I'm just not used to this, after all I've never applied to grad schools before. Which is why I need your opinion on this.

Anyway. In the beginning of November I came to conclusion that I want to further pursue my education and become FNP. I researched colleges that are relatively close to me, I came up with maybe 6 or 7 that interest me. That night I started application on just one of them, Keiser University. I saved the application and decided to finish later. I researched the university, their accreditations are legit, and I didn't find any bad reviews.

The very next day, admissions counselor from called me, and said he will guide me through the application process, and explain what documents they need. He also said they still accept applications for Spring 2018 semester, which I thought was awesome. Long story short, I wasn't home so I said I'll call them back in 20 minutes. In exactly 20 minutes, he calls me back again. This was the first part that surprised me. Since that day, I've been in touch with them every other day (via phone or emails), and I just feel like they are pushy. Since when do colleges chase you to apply to their program? When I was applying to undergrad, I did everything by myself, I had to chase them, not the other way around. I finished my application on 11/13, and since that day I called them maybe just one time. They are the ones who have been calling me to check when my Letter of Recommendation will be ready or if I'm ready to sign Masters Promissory Note(sign MPN when I don't even know if I'm accepted yet? Is this normal?).

I had interview with them over the phone, we talked for good 30 minutes, and then I was told that I'm accepted. It's been almost 2 weeks since that phone interview, and I never received an acceptance letter by mail. When I asked them if I'm going to receive the letter, they wrote a long email "Dear (first name), (last name), I would like to congratulate you on being accepted to FNP etc etc". Is this weird?

Please, I just need your opinion on this. I've heard so many stories where people had hard times getting into NP schools, and here I am, with 3.07 GPA (I didn't take GRE) and almost 1 year of experience (4 months bedside), got accepted without any effort. Is this normal? Maybe they just want my money? The program is 56 credits, and fully covered by loans, they said I'll be done during summer 2020.

I know that it'd be ideal to apply to other programs too, and then pick the best one. But because I have two jobs, I barely have any free time. I spend all of the free time that I have left on Keiser, sending documents, filing out forms etc. I don't want to miss out on this opportunity, but at the same time I'm surprised that they are so involved with their students

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Moved to student NP forum

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Specializes in Home Health, Primary Care.

IF this school isn't on the top of your list, I would say leave them alone. Just reading your post makes me shady about them.

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Maybe they just want my money?

Sounds like you may have answered your own question --- especially with the high pressure pitch to get you sign a promissory note so quickly...

I'd attempt to do a lot more research on them prior to signing... and especially consider the cost, which I'm guessing is pretty astronomical.

If you do enough digging you can actually find some of their tuition prices.. and at > 12k per semester I wouldn't even touch it personally... I just received my tuition bill for next semester and without any financial aide it's a whopping 3694$.

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Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.

Just your description makes them sound shady. Why all the push to get you to sign up if they are a good school?

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Just your description makes them sound shady. Why all the push to get you to sign up if they are a good school?

my thoughts exactly.. and just doing a little digging on their website.. they only admit 18 FNP students each semester.. so WHY are they scrambling in December to still fill seats for their Spring cohort? uhmmmm?

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Don't do it! MPN shouldn't have been part of the discussion unless you asked about financial aid and/or were already accepted. I don't like when schools push. Schools, especially nursing schools don't harass students. There's a nursing shortage and wait lists for schools because there's an educator shortage. The fact they're basically begging you to go into debt means run, and fast!

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Specializes in ER nurse, FNP student.
Don't do it! MPN shouldn't have been part of the discussion unless you asked about financial aid and/or were already accepted. I don't like when schools push. Schools, especially nursing schools don't harass students. There's a nursing shortage and wait lists for schools because there's an educator shortage. The fact they're basically begging you to go into debt means run, and fast!

You are right. I calculated everything, and I would be in $70k debt after I'm done. And I researched other schools, they are way less expensive. The only thing that was so attractive to me about Keiser, is that the program starts in Jan, while it's too late to apply for Spring semester in other universities. But after I thought about it, I'd rather wait a few months and pay $20-$30k than follow my emotions of excitement and start right away and pay $70k at the end. I just want to be FNP so bad, I want to start as soon as possible... But it's a decision that will effect the next 5-10 years of my life (paying off loans). Also, given my information, in your opinion, how good are my chances to be accepted into other programs?

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Specializes in ER nurse, FNP student.
Just your description makes them sound shady. Why all the push to get you to sign up if they are a good school?

My thoughts too. I wrote email to them that I want to withdraw my application. I bet they will explode my phone tomorrow trying to change my mind haha

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Yes they sound a little shady and like they just really want your money. If you have other schools are your list that you are more interested in and are more reputable, I would say go for those. You can also try searching for reviews on their program or see if you can speak with any current students enrolled in their program.

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Specializes in Psych/Mental Health.

Since this is a non-profit private school, my guess is that they're struggling to recruit applicants and students, so they want to give you special attention in hopes that you will apply and attend.

This school has no name recognition, is online, does not arrange for clinical placements, and probably isn't cheap. Based on these characteristics, it's basically competing with hundreds of other online FNP programs. But then it throws in couple weeks of on-campus requirement, which will turn away a good number of out-of-state students who want a solely online education.

The school should probably spend money on buying more digital ads rather than chasing after students.

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