Duke, UPenn, John Hopkins ABSN - Worth the Price Tag?

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Jan 19, 2012

yep. and it will also be helpful when you apply to grad school. faculties in these institutions know each other and are familiar c each others' programs. bite the bullet. (been there, done exactly that) :twocents:

2bEsqtoRN · Jan 20, 2012

Thanks for your insight. Are you an alum from a top nursing school?

Clovery · Jan 20, 2012

A few of my instructors went to UPenn and they all said they wouldn't have gone there if they hadn't gotten a scholarship because of how much money it is. Going into debt in the neighborhood of 100k doesn't sound like a good idea to me just for an undergraduate degree. I would go to a respectable state school, do awesome, get involved with volunteer work & student associations, make relationships to get phenomenal letters and I think you would have no problem getting into one of these schools for graduate school. If you or your parents already have money saved for college, then it could be a different story.... But personally I would never want to have those student loans.

leenak · Jan 20, 2012

I replied in your other thread that I'm applying to JHU. I have the money saved for it though but it is definitely something that is a tough decision.

Annachu512, BSN, RN · Jan 20, 2012

Hi all,
I'm a prospective accelerated BSN student in hopes of attending nursing school some time next year, however, some of my dream schools (Duke, John Hopkins, UPenn, etc.) cost between 70k-130k+ to attend. It is my eventual plan to pursue a PhD, DNP or CRNA and as such I'm not sure if its worth paying the huge price tag for a BSN. Thoughts or opinions on this? Should I only look at less expensive programs and save my money for an advanced nursing degree? If I were to attend one of these schools, would I get what I pay for with respect to quality education, networking and job prospects?

IMO, I really do not think you should spend that much for the BSN. Many schools do have quality learning to gain your BSN at a much lower price tag. I would say that even if you could afford it, that money would be better invested in the graduate programs you are seeking. Remember that no matter what school or how much into debt you go, all nurse make similar baseline pay, with few exceptions. That would make it easier to [ay back a smaller loan.

Whatever you do, good luck regardless!

Wrench Party · Jan 20, 2012

I got a scholarship to a state university for my last degree, and also for the BSN I'm working on.

I do my clinical rotations at the same places that students in the big expensive programs around here do,

so I have the same opportunities. In fact, I would say I have more, as we have a choice of more

hospitals in our program. We also have staff and faculty that also work at a majority of those hospitals.

At the end, we're all going to sit for the same licensure and for the same standards.

I'm saving my money for my graduate degree and for other things in my life.

inthedistrict · Jan 20, 2012

Hi!

I just started at Georgetown's ABSN a few weeks back. I looked at Yale, Hopkins, Columbia etc, but Georgetown was a) right next door and b) offering a hefty scholarship (which is something to look in to!). If they weren't paying 80%, I'm not sure that I would have accepted.

Now that I'm in and beginning, however, I am really impressed by the caliber of the instructors, the hands-on attention, and the student body. It is night and day from the state school where I did my pre-reqs. The classes are very hard, but that's because Georgetown expects to train leaders in the field (90% of graduates go on for grad degrees within 5 years). However, they give you tons of support, free tutoring, lovely facilities, and, most importantly, top notch instruction. They seem to have a heavy emphasis on networking with alums, and offer research and study abroad opportunities. I've been happier than I even imagined at the school, and I think it is worth the price tag (even out of pocket) IF:

-It's not an enormous financial hardship. If you have to sleep in your car to attended (I know a student in a class before me who did that), do not go!

AND

-You have certain goals in the field-- doctorate, teaching, etc-- that you want to pursue at a regional or national level or in the best institutions (Mayo, Hopkins, Mass General, etc)

AND

-You thrive in a competitive enviroment with lots of stress, not from courses but from your classmates!

AND

-You are ok with the fact that you are going to go through all of this stress, competition, and financial burden and still be seen by many people as "only a nurse".

AND

-You can stay humble and recognize that your name brand school isn't a golden ticket or a mark of superiority (not saying you would think that, but some do...)

(note that I didn't say, "Get in to grad school". From what I have seen in the hospital where I worked, and in my own family, if you have a decent degree, good experience, and make the right career moves, you can get in to a grad program. There are lots)

Honestly, I believe there are great teachers and great students EVERYWHERE, and in nursing more than most fields, where you go is not of primary importance (right now). Do my patients care where I went to school when I am cleaning them up? Not even a little bit. Half of them don't even know recognize the names of any of these schools. Some of the best nurses I worked with as a tech were ADNs.

That being said, nursing is changing, and I think mostly for the better. As we fight for more professional responsibility and respect, I think that where you go will count for more. In some ways, I celebrate this-- I'm GLAD i'm getting such a rigorous background in patho, for example, even if we are literally told to study 15 hours a week while taking 5 other classes, and I know it will make me a better practitioner. I'm GLAD we are going to be more educated and have more autonomy. (And always disheartened by people who don't understand the point of theory or, say, a gen ed like literature. We want to be well rounded, thoughtful people in all senses!) I'm GLAD to be taken seriously. I worry, though, that as we professionalize we risk becoming elitist. That would suck. It goes against everything nurses stand for, I think. I don't want to be in a field where people care where I came from, I want to be in a field where people care what I'm doing.

Sorry, I don't know if that helped. In summary--

From my experience, these fancy-pants programs are awesome. Really, honestly awesome. But not going to one won't stop a truly motivated person. It's icing, I think. Just make sure to seek out the challenge anywhere you go, and you will be a great nurse.

Pneumothorax, BSN, RN · Jan 20, 2012

i would say if u have the opportunity to talk to students who went thru these programs try to pick their brains, and if you can tour the facilities and ask questions to see what their respective programs offer.

i think that will be a good way to make a decision.

and you could also look at less expensive public universities/colleges/community colleges as well

good luck.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Jan 20, 2012

in answer to your question, yes. bs from one, mn from another. and yes, i really notice the difference.

leenak · Jan 20, 2012

GrnTea - If you don't mind, what schools did you go to?

I went to the open house for Johns Hopkins a couple weeks ago and it was amazing. The students were helpful and I collected a bunch of email addresses from current students. Johns Hopkins also has student blogs on their website which are insightful to read.

I talked to the admissions office a couple times this week and they are incredibly helpful. I go for my interview next week so I'm pretty excited about that.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2012

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