Johns Hopkins or University of Maryland?

Nurses General Nursing

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I already have a degree from UNC-CH in something other than nursing, but I decided a year or two ago that I wanted to be a nurse. I did my pre-requisites and applied, and I have been accepted to two schools. YAY! But now I need to decide which one to go to.

First I was accepted to the University of Maryland's Clinical Nurse Leader program and was waitlisted at Johns Hopkins for their Accelerated second-degree BSN. So I sent in my deposit to UMD and planned to start there this fall. But JHU called me last week and said they have a spot for me and did I want it (I had like 5 minutes to decide!). I said yes and they sent me a letter, and I now need to send them my deposit. If I went there I would start at the end of May (which would be great because I hate my job and want to leave it ASAP).

I would be an out of state student for half the time at UMD, making it only about 12k cheaper than JH (46k vs 58k, both seem like huge numbers to me, but my dad the accountant says I should go for the cheaper option).

Also, starting at JH earlier in the year I would have little money for moving expenses, etc (moving in with my bf :redbeathewho just bought a house, in a month). But it would save me the 2 hour commute to northern virginia for my job for a few months. But leaving my job earlier to go to JH would force me to repay my company 2k that they gave me for my prerequisite classes (i don't owe it back a year after completing the courses).

The financial aid office at JH said since I was waitlisted and my acceptance just came in now, I might not get as much financial aid from them. But the lady claimed that private loan rates are actually lower than federal right now. And I could get a job where they agree to pay some of my loans off in return for a few years working for them.

JH is so competitive, I feel like I should go there just because I got in, and because it is so prestigious. Although UMD has a really good nursing school too. Both seem to have great technology and hospitals, yet JH seems smaller and a better faculty student ratio. I'M SO CONFUSED! :no: Any guidance would be appreciated! Anyone out there go to either of these schools?

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Specializes in mostly in the basement.

Well, Teeny, that's quite a pickle! OTH, not a bad one to find yourself in. Congrats on your acceptances.

I'm fairly well versed in the vagaries of "second degree" schooling choices and so usually feel fairly confident in quickly sharing my assessment of such a quandary and usually with relative ease.

My opinions, though educated, certainly carry no threat of personal repercussion if i were to choose wrongly.

Dang, I love butting in.

Asked even!

But this one is tricky to me! How long is the UMD, and it's a masters entry generalist, correct? Hmm...

There is a specialty tab up top that says students. If you go under there to the MSN/DNP student link there are tons of students making these same touch choices. Also, a JHU student thread ongoing as well.

Good luck!

I might have to say, even though JHU is a tad more expensive, in this instance it may be worth it.

OH, please try to avoid the private loans as much as you can. You may already know this but, unlike federal sudent loan interest rates, those with private loans have NO cap whatsoever on how high a private institution can set them. AND, you can NEVER discharge student loans in bankruptcy. Please...allll...max out the fed first. Even if the rate is a bit higher for now. It's a better deal in the long run!

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Miss Mab,

I realized 10 seconds after posting this that there was a students tab, whoops! Good to get lots of people's opinions though.

The UMD program is from August 2008-December 2009, so it's a bit longer than JH (May08-July09). And yes the CNL program at UMD is a master's generalist program. You have to take a few extra courses to make you a "Clinical Nurse Leader," but from what i can tell it get's you to the same places as a BSN would.

Interestingly, the NCLEX pass rate for CNL students at UMD is 97.96% (Their BSN program is 92.69%) as opposed to JH where BSN NCLEX pass rate is 94.4% (the first time taken). UMD CNL students have a higher rate than JH BSN students, but it doesn't say if that higher rate is for the first time taken or not.

hmmmmmm ;)

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Specializes in mostly in the basement.

One presumes that students in the UMD CNL program are all 'older' students with previous academic degrees and so probably greatly skew the class toward focused type A personalities who would arguably apply themselves much more strongly to focused test prep than one would generally assume a 'traditional' BSN cohort filled with younger students might.

This perhaps also explains the JHU BSN rate. I wonder, then, is that the regular JHU BSN group score or the accelerated? Actually, let's be real, I don't think it even matters. They're all pretty respectable scores.

Assume you're safe in the student haven...

Good luck to you. You really can't go wrong, y'know.

Prepare for a crazy adventure in any case! :)

"no private loans....no private loans.....sssshhhhh"

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Hi TeenyBug,

I'm a UMB grad, who became involved with a state nursing association and so got to know a few of the students and faculty at JHU.

I'd ask yourself what you want out of your nursing career. If you want to be a mover and a shaker, I'd go to JHU. I was hugely impressed with the faculty and with their involvement and mentoring of the students.

If you want a flexible career and will be happy working as a staff nurse or maybe one day a NP, but without political or management aspirations, then I'd go the cheaper route.

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JH is so competitive, I feel like I should go there just because I got in, and because it is so prestigious. Although UMD has a really good nursing school too. Both seem to have great technology and hospitals, yet JH seems smaller and a better faculty student ratio. I'M SO CONFUSED! :no: Any guidance would be appreciated! Anyone out there go to either of these schools?

A nursing education doesn't merit the JH price tag. Move to MD, obtain residency status and attend the university as in-state. Your dad will thank you.

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My dad isn't paying, I am. I will be taking out loans. And quite frankly the idea of commuting to northern virginia to work for a job I hate at a crap salary for another year might wind me up in a mental institution.

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I went to Hopkins for the accelerated. It was miserable. There is definitely a lack of quality teaching and at least one of the teachers is psycho. They just lost their best teacher to the University of Maryland (Janice Hoffman). Some are wonderful people (who still can not teach). I regret paying such a high price tag to be told over and over again that I would learn it during hospital orientation. I graduated having given 1 IM shot and never having drawn blood.

I really recommend sitting in on some of the classes in order to decide. Find a nice student to tag along with.

The one really positive thing about Hopkins: your classmates are amazing people. They are all really kind and supportive.

Ok, I might be more bitter than most. I would weigh the decision carefully. Definitely ask about class size. We had 160 in my class and they later dropped it back to 120 for the following year. I think that overcrowding may have really impacted our experience. I'm told that the faculty hated my class and that they are nicer to other classes.

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I don't want to drive you one way or the other. Sorry for the rant above. I don't know what other nursing schools are like. Perhaps in comparison, Hopkins is still a good school? I just wish that I had graduated with more skills and more confidence. I definitely would not pick schools based on prestige.

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Specializes in NeuroCritical Care, Neurosurgery.

I graduated about a year ago from another university with an Accelerated BSN so I understand what you are dealing with.

School is expensive and no matter what anyone says student loans will take a huge bite out of that RN paycheck. Both of these programs are accelerated so you will not be able to work and go to school. So you need to factor in money for room and board. Textbooks, uniforms and supplies are expensive. My 2nd degree program was 60K for 1 year, and I spent another 40K on living expenses. I now pay Uncle Sam 700 bucks a month in student loans. Not fun.

And many hospitals do not pay for education if you are not already an employee there. I work at Maryland and they didn't offer anything for previous school loans. But after 6 months of employment they will pay tuition up front.

As for being prepared-1 to 2 years is not enough time to learn to be a nurse, no matter what school you go to. Thats the problem with accelerated BSN programs. But thats another story. Good luck. :up:

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