Fort Worth nursing school

[mama_flora]

Hey all. I have a question for you in Fort Worth--which school do you think has a better program--TCC or UTA? Ive attended both and acutually graduated with BS from UTA. I want to do the nursing program but worried about spendig the time and money to take my pre reqs and then not getting accepted in. What heppens if you dont make the cut? Do you keep re-applying every semester?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Instead of continually reapplying every year, many people have opted to attend the outlying nursing schools which tend to have less competetive admissions criteria. You will need to commute many miles to get to these schools, but you won't have to do much waiting to get accepted...

1. Tarleton State University - Stephenville

2. North Central Texas College - Gainesville

3. Grayson County College - Denison

4. Hill College

5. Navarro College

6. McLennan College - Waco

.....and many more.....

[sjt9721, BSN, RN]

Texas Christian has an Accelerated BSN track for those already holding a BS degree in another field. http://www.hsn.tcu.edu/

Just another option!

[gauge14iv, MSN, APRN, NP]

And if you have a prior degree from UTA, and take your pre-reqs there, that carries some weight as well.

[gauge14iv, MSN, APRN, NP]

Oh - and I hear TWU's accelerated program is now in place in Dallas!

[txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN]

If I had a BS degree already... you better believe it Id be applying to the Accelerated programs.. I hear someones got one that is 12 or 15 months . I thought it was TCU but I could be wrong..

[gauge14iv, MSN, APRN, NP]

TCU and TWU both have them now

[mama_flora]

Yes TCU does have one. I looked into it...Im just not so excited about the tuition. Im still paying off my last student loans from UTA and we are trying to pay down our debt to start saving for us and the kids. What are the clinicals schedule like at TCC and UTA for those who go there?

[gauge14iv, MSN, APRN, NP]

TCU actually has more grant and scholarship funding available - you may come out ahead on the financial aid end at TCU than you would at UTA or TCC. I have kids at both private and public Universities - the one at the private U will end up in LESS debt than the 2 at the public universities - we thought it was going to be the other way around! What a pleasant surprise that was!

So don't let the posted cost keep you from applying and applying for financial aid and seeing what they offer. Once they make a financial aid offer - tell them it isn't enough and you need more grant/scholarship money. See what they counter with before you decide not to go.

[txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN]

I talked to a girl who was going to TCU's BSN program and she was telling me that she had so much financial aid that she hardly has to pay anything back. One woman told me that she went to TCU as well and what she got in scholarships paid for one complete year of her nursing school. You may have to dig but the money is out there....

[mama_flora]

Thanks for all the info. I may try to apply and see if I can get some grants and scholarships (although my GPA may not get me a scholarship :-(

Have any of you attended there? What are the hours like for school. I have to think of the times I can have someone watch my kids if I go.

[fleur-de-lis, BSN, RN]

TCU actually has more grant and scholarship funding available - you may come out ahead on the financial aid end at TCU than you would at UTA or TCC.

One BIG caution - there are severe restrictions on financial aid for second degree students. This is my situation and I do not qualify for any grants, and there is not a great deal of scholarship $$ through the school. I did get one scholarship that is $3,000 for the year, but when tuition is over $20,000 that does not help much. The schools are not always forthcoming about the lack of aid available to second degree students (they want your money), so just be VERY careful unless you are willing to put the entire tuition on loans.