Early ??thoughts about U. San Francisco, U. Portland, Seattle U.??

bonn_bai · Sep 8, 2010

Is it totally based on the merits of the university? No dilemmas based on moving far away from home or tuition costs or anything like that?

Really, all three universities would be great. Me personally, if I had a choice to stay near home I would choose the one nearest home. If I had the choice to even LIVE at home, I would do that. Much cheaper and easier to study than living at school.

I don't think I would choose Univ of Portland, just because I like Seattle and San Fran better...but that's just my personal preference. Seems like more is going on in Seattle and San Fran. Seattle in particular.

Giulia · Sep 8, 2010

thank you bonn_bai. I'm thinking like you, though since we're closest to the SF Bay Area, USF is currently at the top of my list. Scholarship offerings may be sketchy in a couple of seasons..who knows..the best package may override location. I noticed that the 2007 US News WR Grad School Nursing ratings had USF rated at 54 (tied with other schools), Portland in the 70s and Seattle in the triple digits, but I tend to think that all three schools have improved even in the past three years. I'll keep my head down, and continue to scour this site.

I have many cousins who have ventured away from home for their studies and have found--either as a happy accident, or unintentionally--that they've settled into their newly adopted community. Well, i want to make every attempt to settle into my longstanding SF Bay Area community if at all possible. Do Nursing students always meld into the community that holds their clinical rotations, especially with jobs at a premium? that would seem to be the case.

sorry i am jumping around so much. back to class.

bonn_bai · Sep 8, 2010

You sound like a very amiable and flexible person - I think you would probably meld into whatever community you were in.

Having been in your shoes not THAT long ago :), and come out on the other side (I'm 25), I realize now that you have your entire life to go anywhere you want to go. I wish I had stayed closer to home for college and used it truly as a transition time between being a teenager and a true working adult, rather than acting like college was my time to really leave the nest. It would have been nice and much easier for me had I been able to go back to the nest sometimes. Now, though, I am kind of like, I can go anywhere, I can do anything, because I have that grounding...who I am, what I want in life, etc. And like I said I'm only 25. So try to look at college as a continuation of your schooling and your growth, rather than as the beginning of your "life". Your "life" so to speak as an adult can begin after college, when you are a little more experienced and knowledgeable (not that you aren't now, but believe it or not, you do learn a lot as you age). When you graduate you can focus on what community you want to be in and what you really want your life to be all about. I hope that makes sense. Basically I'm just trying to convey the idea that college shouldn't take you completely out of your comfort zone - it should be challenging in such a way that you grow toward being on your own, but it should also be a time when you can still rely on those people you've grown up with (ie your family).

jjjoy, LPN · Sep 8, 2010

Given that you're looking at private unis and out of state, I'm imaging that finances may not be an issue for you. Still, don't make any assumptions about how much school costs, what living expenses are, how much your family may be able to help you out financially or what amount of loan is reasonable. You've got time to get information about your options.

Also, know that it's competitive to get into nursing school. Most programs have a very limited number of seats as opposed to other majors at uni, such as 60 or less students accepted per year! There may be hundreds of applicants competing for those spots. In general, though, between the time investment (4 years) and the high price tag (compared to public uni and especially compared to community college RN programs), there's generally less competition for private uni RN-BSN programs.

Do also know that nursing students may not have the same "college experience" as some other uni students because schools of nursing are often their own little world (perhaps even off the main campus) and tend to be rather all-encompassing. Nursing classes and clinicals will be made up of only those students in your specific cohort (eg 60 people) and you'll have much less time flexibility than a liberal arts major, for example, which can make participating in larger university-wide activities a bit more difficult for nursing students.

It's great that you're thinking ahead about school and that you're interested in nursing. Have you considered volunteering at a hospital to get more exposure to the field? Maybe you're already doing that!

Giulia · Sep 9, 2010

You sound like a very amiable and flexible person - I think you would probably meld into whatever community you were in.
Having been in your shoes not THAT long ago :), and come out on the other side (I'm 25), I realize now that you have your entire life to go anywhere you want to go. I wish I had stayed closer to home for college and used it truly as a transition time between being a teenager and a true working adult, rather than acting like college was my time to really leave the nest. It would have been nice and much easier for me had I been able to go back to the nest sometimes. Now, though, I am kind of like, I can go anywhere, I can do anything, because I have that grounding...who I am, what I want in life, etc. And like I said I'm only 25. So try to look at college as a continuation of your schooling and your growth, rather than as the beginning of your "life". Your "life" so to speak as an adult can begin after college, when you are a little more experienced and knowledgeable (not that you aren't now, but believe it or not, you do learn a lot as you age). When you graduate you can focus on what community you want to be in and what you really want your life to be all about. I hope that makes sense. Basically I'm just trying to convey the idea that college shouldn't take you completely out of your comfort zone - it should be challenging in such a way that you grow toward being on your own, but it should also be a time when you can still rely on those people you've grown up with (ie your family).

Thank you so much bonn_bai. That was incredibly wise. Staying close to home makes the tough days less tough. My cousin went to Mt St. Mary's near my Aunt, and there were countless times when her help was invaluable. tough days are less tough. There is also a cautionary tale in our family lore of a member going too far away, when they were too young. I'm pretty lucky to have such a close-knit extended family. I don't want to lose the love and energy i get from my Nonna/Nonno, Mom/Dad and especially my younger sister. I think love and compassion is a gift from Above. being around unselfish family has been perhaps the best gift I have been given (thank you for letting me ramble).

Giulia · Sep 9, 2010

Given that you're looking at private unis and out of state, I'm imaging that finances may not be an issue for you. Still, don't make any assumptions about how much school costs, what living expenses are, how much your family may be able to help you out financially or what amount of loan is reasonable. You've got time to get information about your options.
Also, know that it's competitive to get into nursing school. Most programs have a very limited number of seats as opposed to other majors at uni, such as 60 or less students accepted per year! There may be hundreds of applicants competing for those spots. In general, though, between the time investment (4 years) and the high price tag (compared to public uni and especially compared to community college RN programs), there's generally less competition for private uni RN-BSN programs.
Do also know that nursing students may not have the same "college experience" as some other uni students because schools of nursing are often their own little world (perhaps even off the main campus) and tend to be rather all-encompassing. Nursing classes and clinicals will be made up of only those students in your specific cohort (eg 60 people) and you'll have much less time flexibility than a liberal arts major, for example, which can make participating in larger university-wide activities a bit more difficult for nursing students.
It's great that you're thinking ahead about school and that you're interested in nursing. Have you considered volunteering at a hospital to get more exposure to the field? Maybe you're already doing that!

thank you jjjoy! hmm, being in one's own sub-group of heads-down workers--sounds like me alright.

i've been volunteering for Stroke Survivor's support. We meet about once/month. at the end of this month we will be hosting a 3-day camp.

I would also like to volunteer in other geriatric settings..this is a very comfortable scenario for me, because it reminds me of my great aunt. But i think that i would do anything in a hospital setting if it meant making me more comfortable, and more knowledgeable. I will start to look for more opportunities right away. I know.. pretty lame so far.

Can I ask two of the most random, dumbest questions ever?

DQ#1: Do corrective lenses (glasses) work against a person's chance to become a nurse? I'm 20-20 with my frames.

DQ#2: has anyone read "A Nurse's Story" by Tilda Shalof? I loved it.

thank you once again jjjoy.

Sincerely, Giulia from No.Cal.

SingDanceRunLife · Sep 9, 2010

I'm a college sophomore, and in my first year of nursing classes...so I was in your position quite recently!

I will preface this with the fact that I have a bias which I will use in my suggestions...

I would go with either USF or SU because they are both Jesuit institutions, and I absolutely love Jesuit education! I go to Le Moyne College, a Jesuit college that's on the east coast, and I know people who go to other Jesuit institutions who also feel that they are top notch in many ways.

Another thing I have to say is keep your options open. As you said, you're only a sophomore! By the time your senior year rolls around, you might want to go farther away from home, or you might change your mind about what you want to do...so while I commend you for thinking ahead, make sure that you remain flexible!

Giulia · Sep 9, 2010

I'm a college sophomore, and in my first year of nursing classes...so I was in your position quite recently!
I will preface this with the fact that I have a bias which I will use in my suggestions...
I would go with either USF or SU because they are both Jesuit institutions, and I absolutely love Jesuit education! I go to Le Moyne College, a Jesuit college that's on the east coast, and I know people who go to other Jesuit institutions who also feel that they are top notch in many ways.
Another thing I have to say is keep your options open. As you said, you're only a sophomore! By the time your senior year rolls around, you might want to go farther away from home, or you might change your mind about what you want to do...so while I commend you for thinking ahead, make sure that you remain flexible!

SDRL i remember you on CC! thank you for the valuable advice. I remember seeing Le Moyne listed for Jesuit schools. I went to a jesuit grammar school--(we won the state title in Academic Decathlon! old news..) HS is Catholic but not Jesuit. My M/D have shown me your posts! back to class..but first--need to know origin of SingDanceRunLife!