Duke ABSN loans? Should I even apply?

[ICU11]

I live in Raleigh and there are only three choices for an ABSN- UNC, Duke, and apparently NC Central has a program (although supposedly Central's NCLEX pass rate is not great?) Since I already have a degree it would take much longer to get in and complete an Associates degree. With the economy going so badly I really have started to question whether it is wise to take out loans to Duke because of the job outlook for new grads and disappearance of repayment programs(and who would loan me that kinda money anyway?!!!) I really want to go to UNC-Chapel Hill but I hear they take like 30 people. Who knows how long it would take for me to get in that program if ever. My previous degree is BA English and Linguistics w/French minor GPA 3.82. My prereqs are all A's except for a B+ in Stats. I volunteer at the hospital as a doula.

Should I apply to Duke or just work on getting in to UNC-Chapel Hill eventually?

Is anyone in Duke's program willing to give advice/thoughts about the loans they took out?

[nmk685]

Thanks for the information, Deneb. I agree with the whole scholarship aspect. You really do have to be a one in a million unique individual with a rediculous background/requirements in order to gain a penny. It's really sad that it is based more on the aspects we can't control over teh ones we can: the grades, the accomplishments, etc. I guess I will just apply for the federal loans and seew what I can get, and then apply for private loans for the rest like I did with my other degree.

[s_david_a]

DUSON's in-house scholarships are definitely worth applying for--not a waste of time at all!

[Deneb]

Thanks, David. I never heard of anyone in my class who had one, but people tend to be close-mouthed about this. Can't hurt to try. I was actually speaking about general scholarships that you hear about online, from guidance counselors, etc. Those tend to require an awful lot of effort for a pretty small return--$1000-2000 is chicken feed, given a private school's tuition--and it's very long odds that you'll get one.

Seems to me the country should be financing loans for all qualified applicants. When it's a lottery where a few win and the many lose, then we all lose in the end. An investment in student talent pays off for the country, too. (Okay, I'll get off my soapbox.)

[GenevaMarie]

Wow! Is it in the form of a 3 year post-grad contact @ Duke Hospital?

[singer88]

Hello,

I applied to the Fall 2010 ABSN program and am waitlisted, so hopefully I will get in! My question is how do I apply for loans (are they through Duke?) I am wondering what life was like in NC, I am from AZ so it would be quite a change. I have been struggling to decide so any advice or info would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks

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[schaeb06]

The Duke tuition reimbursement is $16,450 per year for 3 years. It went up about 6,000 from last year. I doubt that it will go down for the next in coming class. Duke has promised everyone in our graduating class a job at Duke, which is a lot more than UNC can say.

UNC is not currently hiring new graduates and even though their tuition program gives you the money up front, they may not have jobs for the students (both Duke and UNC students) who signed their contract and then the students have to pay that money back. A UNC rep is coming to Duke to speak to this issue sometime in the next week or two, so I will update everyone when we know more.

Duke2009Grad

I am going to graduate in May 2011 with an Athletic Training and Exercise Science degree. Righ now my GPA is 3.75 and I recently decided that I want to become a Nurse Anesthetist. Therefore I'm looking at ABSN programs and I was interested in Duke's ABSN program and I was wondering if you had any advice for me about admissions and the program itself. Do you belief I have a decent chance at getting accepted even though I don't have any nursing volunteer hours? Anything you could tell me I will appreciate. Thanks

[codrn]

I am a graduate of the first ABSN class.....while it was a great program, I can't really say it was worth the money. Starting salary for nurses is just okay for the first few years and those loans are steep! I loved my time at Duke but if I had a cheaper alternative I would have done it. No doubt.

[danceluver]

I am graduating from Duke's ABSN program in December... I would be happy to answer any questions you have about the program, Duke's tuition reimbursement program, or the Duke hospital system. pm me.

@Duke 2009Grad:

How did you end up paying for the program? Were you able to get federal loans over investing in a private loan? Approx how much did the entire program cost with regards to tuition and supplies? Was it around 50k? Was it easy to get tuition reimbursement? Did you get the job you wanted?

What was your experience in the program like? What was your schedule like?

Did you transition into the MSN program?