Hello Nurses! I decided on a school, need feed back! =)

perseveRaNce23 · Jun 5, 2010

Considering all the schools in in LA are impacted, it depends on how bad you want it. I feel that time is money, and if your young, i would put my name on a waitlist for a school like SMC where you'll be guarenteed to start in like 2 yrs, and in the meantime, keep applying to schools with a lottery. Trade schools and for profit schools can be a rip off, and you don't want to go anywhere that isn't going to allow your credits to transfer, because having to repeat classes is more of a deterent than waiting for a better program. Also, 23K is a lot of money to not finish with at least an ADN RN. Especially when you consider that programs at city colleges cost 5K for an ADN RN. I would take some time to really think about it because unless you have the money to pay for it up front, you won't make the salary as a new grad to comfortably pay back your student loans.

Good luck with whichever path you choose.

omgitsmari · Jul 23, 2010

did u end up going to any of those colleges u mentioned? i got into marian.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Jul 23, 2010

Hmm - trying to figure out how to respond without generating a bunch of animosity but I have to 'speak my piece' about the commercial schools that are cropping up everywhere with the same 4 types of programs (criminal justice, nursing, education and IT). Right now, commercial schools are in the same place as the sub-prime mortgage business was a few years ago... and generally preying on the same vulnerable populations.

There has been a huge increase in the number of "career colleges" - commercial businesses - who are taking advantage of the myth that nursing is a bullet-proof career. Since the general population has bought into this myth, it's no wonder that there are people who are gullible enough to pay such an outrageous amount of money to attend. These "schools" all use the same sort of sales tactics... just like car salesmen. They act rapidly ("No waiting, we can get you started right away") and pour on the individual attention and 'help' to get started ("Don't worry about a thing, just sign right here - your nursing salary will be more than enough to cover the loans") By the time people have wised up - it's too late. God forbid if you have slogged through an inadequate program long enough to amass a huge amount of debt but fail to graduate or pass boards.

There is a Federal initiative underway to limit the total amount of student loan debt to 12.5% of the expected first year's salary that can be earned with that degree. Remember, student loan debt can not be resolved through bankruptcy - it doesn't go away if you fail to graduate or pass boards. Buyer Beware!

Stop and think for a minute. If your local nursing schools are bursting at the seams - that means that the pipeline is full. There's no way there will be jobs for everyone who graduates in the near future. You would need to relocate to a more promising area just to get a job. So, why not make the move now?? Find a part of the country where traditional nursing schools are actually admitting students - chances are, there will also be jobs when you are ready for one.

FYI - accreditation by one of the 5 regional accreditation bodies is the highest level for any school... not state.

awesome_aly · Apr 11, 2017

How did you like the experience at marian? Im in the same shoes you were.