Does it matter what school you get your degree from?

[Nyzpitbull]

Hello - I have been accepted into Gonzagas nursing school, and had an interview for the Washington State University nursing school as well - I will hear from them either way in 2 weeks. They are both BSN programs - not ADN to BSN. My question is does it matter what school you graduate from as far as employment? The advisors here say it makes no difference, but I think that's a local's perspective - I am considering other places to live too. I know I haven't heard from WSU yet, so I may not have to decide between the two if I don't get in to WSU, but I would like to get some input as to how I should decide in case I do. A few more facts to consider: Gonzaga's job placement is 75% before they graduate, WSU don't state theirs. The NCLEX passing rate is the same as WSU. I like Gonzaga in the fact that they have more faculty to student ratio, and your clinicals are with 2 of the major hospitals here. WSU has their clinical with one of them, and the other clinicals are in LTCs and a psych institution. The locations of the schools are the same - one is across the river from the other (I live in Spokane, WA).With Gonzaga I would have to go to school in the summers to complete the university requirements for the philosophy and religion. It costs more to go to Gonzaga, but I got scholarships to reduce the cost of tuition. With WSU, I would just start fall quarter. The cost difference over the next 2 years would be 15 - 20K total. What do you think? Thanks.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

I know this is a "necro-post," but I imagine that prospective students still wonder about this. I was hired as a new grad RN at a magnet hospital alongside graduates from a BSN program ranked #5 in the nation and also graduates from a for-profit (but accredited) BSN program. There were even some ADN new grads who signed contracts agreeing to get their BSN within 3 years. Personally I went to a good-but-not-top state school and have been perfectly happy with the results.

It it did not seem to matter one bit what school they went to. What mattered was GPA, the personal statement, and letters of recommendation. Choose a school where you will personally thrive, not one where you hope people will be impressed.

Do you think its because of the good-not-top school that you had to accept a job at a Magnet hospital?

[windsurfer8, BSN, RN]

It depends on what your goals are. If you plan to get a BSN and that's as far as you are going then not really. As far as schools Ivy League and maybe like Georgetown and a few others it might. However 99% of the schools it is what your GPA is as far as for going to grad school. Get a good GPA at either of those schools you list and you will probably make it into grad school.