Community College Courses for Top Ten Nursing Schools

Logos · Nov 15, 2007

I don't think they will think anything of it.

I think my CC IS one of the top 10 nursing schools.

GeauxNursing · Nov 16, 2007

What do top ten nursing schools think of community college coursework for prenursing requirements?
I am going to be graduating from Stanford next year with a BA in Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity and a MA in Education.
Would top ten nursing schools look at my transcript with prenursing requirements negatively if many of my courses are from a community college?

what are the "top 10 nursing schools", anywho?

WDWpixieRN, RN · Nov 17, 2007

I can't imagine that being a question as long as the CC is accredited and your grades are good. Good luck!

wayunderpaid · Nov 17, 2007

What do top ten nursing schools think of community college coursework for prenursing requirements?
I am going to be graduating from Stanford next year with a BA in Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity and a MA in Education.
Would top ten nursing schools look at my transcript with prenursing requirements negatively if many of my courses are from a community college?

Top ten?? Quality of nursing education has nothing to do with school rankings, if you ask me. Most of those statistics are complied by faculty's opinions, and that does not strike me as accurate. I attended a ranked nursing school for entry level nursing, and I think that the undergraduate program was pretty badly staffed. By that I mean, I think that only one tenured professor with a doctorate taught us. Most others were clinical faculty (contract). They all had other jobs, and school was a gig to make more money.

Be careful to choose smartly when applying to schools. Just because a school is ranked up there, it does not mean that it will have a quality program. A lot of unranked schools put out better nurses, including community colleges.

As for where you take nursing prerequisites, I don't think it matters much. When I was looking at schools for nursing, I remember reading that UCSF preferred 4 year college instead, but don't hold it as accurate.

If you are on going to a particular school, I would call them specifically and ask them. Good luck

Wayunderpaid

WDWpixieRN, RN · Nov 17, 2007

Don't forget to check the state boards of nursing for schools you are considering. If they're not putting out student nurses who can pass the NCLEX, rankings don't matter.

jla623 · Nov 18, 2007

I highly doubt it.

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 18, 2007

OP: You'll find that employers will not care that you graduated from Stanford (I attended name schools too and have already worked in two different careers). So it is not a surprise that Nursing schools don't care where you receive credit from to meet the requirements. In fact, Nursing Schools only care about your GPA and test scores.

llg, PhD, RN · Nov 18, 2007

You need to talk with the particular schools that interest you and ask them. Some schools may prefer that you do you prerequisite courses at a 4-year college, but others will probably not. The only thing that matters is whether or not the particular school that interests you cares.

Many years ago, I served on the admissions committee of a top notch school that DID care. Admission was based on the number of points that an applicant scored on their application. Student who did their prerequisites at a 4-year school got an extra point. That didn't have a lot of weight in the total point count as most people scored between 15 and 25 points total ... but that one point was part of the decision making process. I don't know if that school still uses that system, but your question is a good one.

The only way you will know is to ask the particular school in question.

gkbroaro · Nov 20, 2007

hey everyone!

thank you all so so much for sharing your advice and knowledge! here is another follow.up question that i hope you guys can assist me with...

what are the advantages to attending a big name nursing school? schools like...

harvard, ucsf, yale, columbia, john hopkins, etc.

i want to be on a fast-track to getting my masters in nursing (so that i can be a nurse practitoner) and a masters in public health...

when applying to nurse practitioner jobs will graduates from big name schools be preferred over state schools?

please please help! thank you sooooo much!

llg, PhD, RN · Nov 20, 2007

hey everyone!
thank you all so so much for sharing your advice and knowledge! here is another follow.up question that i hope you guys can assist me with...
what are the advantages to attending a big name nursing school? schools like...
harvard, ucsf, yale, columbia, john hopkins, etc.
i want to be on a fast-track to getting my masters in nursing (so that i can be a nurse practitoner) and a masters in public health...
when applying to nurse practitioner jobs will graduates from big name schools be preferred over state schools?
please please help! thank you sooooo much!

for most intents and purposes, it doesn't matter. however, in extreme situations, it can make a small to moderate difference. for example, if you go to a school wit a terrible reputation:

1. you have to ask yourself why the have such a bad reputation. is it realy a bad school that will give you a substandard education? you don't want to graduate not knowing the things you really should know.

2. if your school's reputation is really bad, you may have trouble getiing a good job. you'll probably get a job, but it may not be the one you want.

at the other extreme, going to a school with a great reputation won't necessarily guarantee you a great job ... but in a competitive situation, you might be chosen over someone from a school with a lesser reputation. in addition, the school might have a great reputation because it actually provides a better education.

in the end, choose the school that is right for you ... that has the "right feel," the culture that will be comfortable for you, the right sized classes, a curriculum that suits you well, etc. schools are not all identical and you should find the one that will teach you well in an environment that suits your personality. focus on schools with good reputations, but don't feel you have to go to the "highest ranked" school if it isn't a good fit for you.

SparklyGirl · Nov 20, 2007

I think it depends on the nursing school.

In my experience, one of the private schools I looked at *did* care where you did your prereqs, meaning that they looked favorably upon courses completed at rigorous four year schools. They didn't look "down" upon community colleges though, but it is an advantage to be from a name-school.

Many public nursing schools are simply on a point system though and couldn't care less where you did your courses.