Drexel ACE vs. Jefferson FACT - ABSN Program

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Hi Everyone,

I am looking to gain some insight as to which program is better, Drexel ACE (11 months) or Jefferson FACT (1 year).

The price and length for both programs are about the same, so that is not a deciding factor for me.

I have read many things online about Drexel’s program, and honestly I don’t know where I stand. I have heard very little about Jefferson’s program. Below I have compiled a list of pro’s and con’s. Please correct me if I am wrong about anything and please add your opinion on the programs. If you have graduated or are a current student of either programs, that is a plus!! Please let me know of your experience.

Drexel:

Pro’s: Highly regarded program in and out of philadelphia. I have heard many employers like to hire ACE students because they know how hardcore the program is and that Drexel really does crank out top notch nurses. At the info session, we were told that one hospital hires more Drexel students than their own students.
Cons: Any accelerated program would be hard, but from what I’ve read online, Drexel makes it that much harder for you to graduate. I have read that Drexel has a high NCLEX pass rate due to the fact that they do not let you graduate and sit for the NCLEX unless you pass the HESI exit exam with at least a 950 (most nursing programs I have researched only want 800-900). If you do not pass the exam, you must retake it. If you do not pass it again, you must take a remediation course which will lengthen your program time and add to tuition cost.

Jefferson:

Pros - To be honest, I haven’t heard much good or bad things about this program. I have yet to go to an info session, but I have heard everything is state of the art there. If you graduate from this program with at least a 3.2 GPA you are automatically accepted into any of their MSN programs (except anesthesia). You also get a couple grad credits while in this program. I don’t believe they do a HESI exam but then again I am not sure.

Cons - It’s still a fairly new program I believe and therefore is not that highly regarded compared to Drexel.

The only reason I am leaning towards Drexel is because the job opportunities seem better. I know many drexel students in the traditional BSN program and everyone has said yes, it is hard, but we all get jobs pretty quickly, sometimes right out of graduation, and we really know our stuff. The only thing that scares me about Drexel is the HESI exit exam and that some people say the professors seem like they hate their job and are unorganized. Also, if you don’t pass the HESI exam after some point, you don’t get to graduate with a nursing degree. They give you some other degree apparently.

Jefferson sounds amazing, but I really am worried about how well regarded it is in state and out of state. Jefferson sounds like a dream, yet I still lean towards Drexel. I don’t know why. Maybe it is because I grew up in Philly and always heard about Drexel as a school and never about Jefferson?

What do you think?

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Hi! I recently confirmed enrollment to Drexel and now I'm getting nervous. Hopefully someone already in the program can provide insight into how it is.

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I am struggling with this same issue! Jefferson was my top choice and I got in yet I lean towards Drexel and I too dont know why. I don't know how to choose and I defiantly dont want to make the wrong choice. Maybe we can help each other out. I made a excel doc with pros and cons id love to share and maybe we can help each other out.

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@tgreene227 That would be great! For some reason I am not allowed to PM yet, so I can't send over my email :-(. Would you feel comfortable commenting a sharable link? Thanks!

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Specializes in prospective student.
On 5/3/2020 at 12:47 PM, tgreene227 said:

I am struggling with this same issue! Jefferson was my top choice and I got in yet I lean towards Drexel and I too don't know why. I don't know how to choose and I defiantly don't want to make the wrong choice. Maybe we can help each other out. I made a excel doc with pros and cons id love to share and maybe we can help each other out.

Hi! I'm also deciding between the two programs and I'm curious to know if you made a choice and what helped you decide? I would love to see your spreadsheet if you are willing to share it. 

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Hi! I’m thinking of applying to these programs and I’m wondering how you all feel about them now?

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11 minutes ago, Maxwell Atkinson said:

Hi! I’m thinking of applying to these programs and I’m wondering how you all feel about them now?

Decided to go to Jefferson and I absolutely love it. I’m so glad I picked Jefferson over Drexel. Would do it all over again in a heart beat! Jefferson’s instructors want you to succeed and the information is really well taught. I thought before that Drexel was more well regarded, but that’s not the case! They both are really known in Philly and Drexel is only good if you do the traditional program bc you get the co-op experience (accelerated program you don’t). It also helps that Jefferson has their own hospital so we are able to get clinical placement there if anything happens with COVID (many places have limited clinical spots for students bc of COVID).
 

If you go to jefferson, you won’t regret it. Promise!

Also, if you’re debating between fact 1 or fact 2 for jefferson, do fact 1! Fact 2 is double the price and the classes are just as fast as fact 1, but you just have longer breaks (which is not worth paying that much extra for) and maybe less of a course load some semesters.

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I've heard amazing things about Jefferson! I'm about to graduate the Drexel ACE program though and just wanted to say that it's also amazing! It's difficult, but not impossible and most of the staff really care about the success of the students. We also do clinicals all over the area, including at Jefferson! Both programs seem like great choices, honestly! 

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Specializes in Psychology.

Does anyone mind telling me their stats for admission into the Jefferson or Drexel programs? I have a B.S. in Psych with a GPA of 3.79 and prior volunteer experience at UPMC Presbyterian. I also have work experience as a caregiver in a Senior Care Center and I completed my CNA certification so that I can get a job at the hospital. I have all of my pre-reqs except lifespan development which I know I will get an A in. I know Jefferson has an interview, does Drexel? Can anyone tell me about the interview process/what questions I should anticipate? I am working on my personal statement for Jefferson and am so nervous that they won't like it. Is there anyone that can provide guidance? I write a lot so the 750 word limit is anxiety inducing.

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5 minutes ago, gusso8179 said:

Does anyone mind telling me their stats for admission into the Jefferson or Drexel programs? I have a B.S. in Psych with a GPA of 3.79 and prior volunteer experience at UPMC Presbyterian. I also have work experience as a caregiver in a Senior Care Center and I completed my CNA certification so that I can get a job at the hospital. I have all of my pre-reqs except lifespan development which I know I will get an A in. I know Jefferson has an interview, does Drexel? Can anyone tell me about the interview process/what questions I should anticipate? I am working on my personal statement for Jefferson and am so nervous that they won't like it. Is there anyone that can provide guidance? I write a lot so the 750 word limit is anxiety inducing.

I had a 3.76 GPA at my main university and graduated with a B.A. in Psych. I had a 4.0 from a community college where I completed all my prerequisites. I had prior research experience and little pharm tech experience. 

Judging from your stats, I have no doubt you will get into both programs. I was accepted to both Drexel and Jefferson.

Drexel does not have an interview. You just submit an application, nice and simple. Jefferson had a group interview over zoom where we were broken into breakout rooms of 4-5 people. Interview questions were sent the night before, but you were also asked one question that was not sent beforehand. 

Honestly, do not worry too much about your personal statement. I bs'ED my personal statement for Jefferson because I thought I wouldn't want to go there and they accepted me. I wrote about what made their program stand out to me compared to other accelerated nursing programs. 

I ended up choosing Jefferson by the way. Best decision. Highly recommend Jefferson over Drexel. Also, my original post said that Jefferson's program is fairly new and not as highly regarded, that is a lie LMAO. I don't know where I got that assumption from. Also, I believe Jefferson favors their own students so if you want to work at Jefferson Hospital once you graduate, there's that.

If you want to make sure you get accepted, submit your application early. People were getting rejected even with great stats because they submitted their application too late and seats were already filled.

17 minutes ago, gusso8179 said:

Does anyone mind telling me their stats for admission into the Jefferson or Drexel programs? I have a B.S. in Psych with a GPA of 3.79 and prior volunteer experience at UPMC Presbyterian. I also have work experience as a caregiver in a Senior Care Center and I completed my CNA certification so that I can get a job at the hospital. I have all of my pre-reqs except lifespan development which I know I will get an A in. I know Jefferson has an interview, does Drexel? Can anyone tell me about the interview process/what questions I should anticipate? I am working on my personal statement for Jefferson and am so nervous that they won't like it. Is there anyone that can provide guidance? I write a lot so the 750 word limit is anxiety inducing.

Also, to further reduce your anxiety, people in my program had previous GPAs that were close to a 3.0 with no previous healthcare experience.

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Specializes in Psychology.

Thank you so much for your quick response! Are you attending the Center City or Dixon campus? Are clinicals for both campuses at the Jefferson hospital in Center City? I wonder how long the commute from the Dixon campus to the Jefferson hospital is? I feel like the Dixon campus is safer and may offer more help due to the small class size but I also worry that I may not get in because it has a small class size compared to CC. 

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43 minutes ago, gusso8179 said:

Thank you so much for your quick response! Are you attending the Center City or Dixon campus? Are clinicals for both campuses at the Jefferson hospital in Center City? I wonder how long the commute from the Dixon campus to the Jefferson hospital is? I feel like the Dixon campus is safer and may offer more help due to the small class size but I also worry that I may not get in because it has a small class size compared to CC. 

I attend the center city campus. Clinical assignments are mainly at Jefferson hospitals (Methodist, Abington, Center City, Cherry Hill, etc.) but we have also been assigned to other places as well such as Einstein, CHOP, DuPont, Eaglesville, School District of Philadelphia (schools that assisted with disabled individuals), etc.

I'm not sure what clinical placement is like for those at Dixon. Sometimes we saw Dixon people at Jefferson hospital, but I have no idea where else they get assigned to.

If you apply to Dixon I think it should be a bit easier to get in. Usually people want to go to the main campus in center city. You definitely will save on parking if you choose Dixon as I believe parking is free there. People that did not get into center city were sometimes passed on to Dixon.

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